Expressbuzz, Jan 30, 2009
BHUBANESWAR: A council formed to root out the regional imbalances, particularly in western Orissa, remains bogged down over the shifting of its headquarters. Everyone wants the office to be located in areas of their choice and the issue drags on pending a semblance of collective decision. Yet again today, the contentious issue of the Western Orissa Development Council (WODC) headquarters remained unresolved in the absence of unanimity among legislators and members of Parliament from the constituent districts.
A meeting of the WODC held here today under the presidentship of chairman Niranjan Panda failed to resolve the issue. It seems neither the council nor the State Government is prepared to take a decision in an election year. With hardly a month before election date is out, announcement of a location of the headquarters does not seem possible. A sub-committee headed by Panda had been formed to take a decision. Sources maintained the sub-committee has not met even once since its formation.
Former Planning and Coordination Minister Padmanabha Behera had announced the sub-committee in the Assembly on November 20, 2007. Putting the ball in the government’s court, sources today maintained that the State Government can take a decision on the headquarters in consultation with the council.
The sub-committee was mandated to suggest a place after taking into account parameters like administrative convenience and location advantages. The Government had further promised in the House that a decision will be taken by September 30. More than a year has elapsed but things have not moved.
As expected, legislators from Kalahandi, Bargarh, Balangir and Sambalpur districts wanted the headquarters in their areas. WODC comprises Angul, Bargarh, Balangir, Boudh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Sundargarh districts and Athamallik sub-division.
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