Congress calls Kalahandi bandh over rail project

BHAWANIPATNA: The opposition Congress today decided to intensify its agitation over the Railway decision to shift the proposed rail wagon repair factory at Narla in Kalahandi district of the state to Andhra Pradesh.

Announcing a 12-hour Kalahandi bandh on Wednesday next, AICC Secretary Bhakta Charan Das told reporters that all types of survey was conducted by the Railways in 2014 and decided to lay the foundation stone of the Railway wagon repair/ maintenance factory at Chapatkhanda of Narla.

"However it could not be done due to imposition of ban order by the Election commissioner for the general elections," Das said adding the establishment of the factory would have created employment for the local youths.

However both the state and central Governments did not pay adequate attention towards the project, Das alleged adding that he saw conspiracy behind the decision of shifting the proposed project to Visakhapatnam of Andhar Pradesh on the pretext of lack of land and water.

Das said the Sandol River was located at a distance of only one km from the proposed site and water was not a problem. The local villagers had also given undertaking with affidavit to the Railways to offer their land for the purpose and hence there was no problem for the land matter either, he said.

Das alleged lack of sincerity on the part of the state government, the ruling BJD MPs and the BJP led NDA government's lack of political will for the development of a backward region like Kalahandi.

He appealed to observe the bandh peacefully and sought cooperation of all organizations and unions.