XI LOK SABHA DEBATES,   Session IV (Budget) 

Wednesday , May 14, 1997 / Vaisakha 24, 1919 (Saka)



Type of Debate: SPECIAL MENTION

Title: Request for not to shift the Chief Engineer's Office of the National 
Water Development Agency located at Bubaneswar to Allahabad.

TEXT :
 DR. KRUPASINDHU BHOI (SAMBALPUR): Madam Chairman, I want  to  raise  an  issue
relating  to  an unprecedented and irresponsible move by the Director-General,
National Water Development Agency to shift the Chief Engineer's office located
at Bhubaneswar to Allahabad. Not only this move is grossly  illogical  but  it
also has vested interest.

	The  National  Water Development Agency is an autonomous society under
the Ministry of Water Resources and was instituted in 1982 by  the  then  hon.
Prime Minister, Shrimati Indira Gandhi. After an expert study, the feasibility
report  has  told  that  the office of the Chief Engineer should be located in
Bhubaneswar and it cannot be shifted. But unfortunately, due to some political
reason or something else  which  has  been  there,  the  Director-General  has
already instructed to shift it to Allahabad.

	The  Chief  Minister  of  Orissa  has  written  a  letter to the Prime
Minister and to Shri Janeshwar Mishra telling that  the  State  Government  is
very much concerned over this news item.

	At  present,  the office of the Chief Engineer (North), National Water
Development Agency, Bhubaneswar is  taking  up  survey  and  investigation  of
Manasa-Sankosh-Tista-Ganga    and   Ganga-Subarnrekha-Mahanadi-Godabari   link
canals. The above works will take considerable time  for  completion  and  for
satisfactory  progress  of these works, it is imperative that the headquarters
of the Chief  Engineer  (North),  National  Water  Development  Agency  should
continue  at  Bhubaneswar.  furthermore,  there  is  bound to be severe public
resentment if an office  functioning  for  several  years  at  Bhubaneswar  is
shifted for no apparent valid reasons.

	Meanwhile,  the  former  Chief  Minister and late lamented leader Shri
Biju Patnaik also had written a letter to Shri Janeshwar Mishra. I  quote  his
letter. It says:

        
        "	I  am enclosing a copy of notice dated 12th March, 1997
        regarding shifting of Chief Engineer  (North),  National  Water
        Development Agency from Bhubaneswar.

        
        	Although you had given me personal telephonic assurance
        on  17.2.97  that the proposal of shifting is cancelled, I will
        be grateful if you have taken any action  in  this  regard,  as
        assured by you again on 17.3.97 on telephone."

        
	In  this  connection,  the  hon.  Minister  of  Water  Resources  Shri
Janeshwar Mishra has received a minimum of 25 letters from the hon. Members of
Parliament, from the Legislators of the State, from  the  Chief  Minister  and
also  from  the  former  Chief  Minister  and  late  lamented leader Shri Biju
Patnaik. But he has not yet acknowledged even to the  letter  of  the  present
Minister Shri Srikant Jena also, which is most unfortunate.

	Madam,  Orissa  has,  always,  been  facing drought, flood and cyclone
intermittently.





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DR. KRUPASINDHU BHOI: Madam, the post of the Chief Engineer (North),  National
Water  Development  Agency  at Bhubaneswar was sanctioned by the late Shrimati
Indira Gandhi. If the headquarter of the Chief Engineer's office is shifted to
Allahabad, about 150 workers of Orissa, who are  working  there  in  different
capacities,  will  be affected. In addition to that, the catchment area of not
only Orissa, but also of West Bengal, Assam and Bihar also will not  be  taken
care of.

MR.  CHAIRMAN:  Dr.  Bhoi,  please  conclude  in  five  seconds.    Otherwise,
nothing will go on record.

DR. KRUPASINDHU BHOI: Madam, I am just concluding.

	So, I request the present Government and the Minister  to  immediately
give  a  categorical  assurance  on  the  floor of the House that the order of
shifting of the Chief Engineer's office from Bhubaneswar to Allahabad would be
cancelled.

SHRI IMCHA (NAGALAND):



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SHRI SUKH LAL KUSHWAHA (SATNA):



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SHRI SUKH LAL KUSHWAHA (SATNA):



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DR. KRUPASINDHU  BHOI:  Madam,  I  want  an  assurance  from  the  Government.
(Interruptions)  The  Minister of Parliamentary Affairs is present here and he
can respond to this.

MR. CHAIRMAN: No; he is not required to react to every matter. If he wants  to
give a reply, he can do so.



SHRI SRIKANT JENA:  Madam Chairman, I would bring this issue to the notice  of
the Minister of Water Resources, Shri Janeshwar Mishra, positively.




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