NDA-II focus on energy, agri & food security sectors-Nov 26, 2010,

NDA-II focus on energy, agri & food security sectors

Law Kumar Mishra, TNN, Nov 26, 2010, 01.35am IST


PATNA: Soon after getting a massive mandate, CM-elect Nitish Kumar had declared he would work harder and longer in his second innings. Nitish had also admitted there would be more challenges and prayed to the Al-mighty to give him strength to face these challenges. At the same time, Nitish told the people,

The NDA-II in Bihar will work on energy, agriculture and food security sectors which Nitish had been telling in his election rallies for the last two months. Nitish had told the electorate that energy scenario would change and if the Centre failed to supply power, the state would invite private in-vestors to launch power projects. The state government would increase the generation capacity of Kanti and Barauni thermal power plants and set up new power plants.

Nitish, this time, has an expert on energy in Rajeeb Ranjan, former chairman of Jharkhand State Electricity Board and Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board, who also worked as advisor to Chhattisgarh government in New Delhi. Rajeeb, a colleague of Nitish in Bihar College of Engineering, was elected to the state assembly from Islampur constituency in Nalanda dis-trict on November 24.

Nitish's agenda in NDA-II would be to provide food to the people below line. He had accused the state was not getting enough food materials under the Public Distribution Scheme (PDS) and repeatedly said the state gov-ernment would give food to the BPL families on its own, even if the Cen-tre did not give us food for the BPL families.

Nitish as expected will give priority to the agriculture sector and augment irrigation facilities. The existing canals will be desilted and he will launch schemes for inter-linking of rivers in the state. Nitish had told the elector-ate uninterrupted power would be supplied for irrigation of farmland.

According to Nitish, the government will open Krishak paltforms in the blocks to ensure remunerative price for the farm produce.

According to Nitish, Rs 320 crore development project for Ganga, Kosi and Gandak basins would be launched and all rivers would be desilted.

If Nitish concentrated on development in NDA-I, the next phase will be devoted to augment development through agriculture and irrigation and relief to the families under BPL.

His drive against corruption would be intensified further. In the NDA-I, the vigilance had caught the then DG of police, a minor irrigation secre-tary and a district magistrate on charges of corruption. Against eight vigi-lance trap cases in 2004 and seven in 2005, the figure went up to 60 in 2006, 108 in 2007, 88 in 2008, 80 in 2009 and 54 in the current year. Dis-proportionate assets worth Rs 8 crore were identified by the state vigilance investigation bureau.

The CM-elect will implement his announcements to confiscate the ill got-ten property of corrupt officials and promised to open schools for the poor students in these buildings. The Bihar Special Courts Bill (2009) passed by the state legislature has already got the Presidential assent and in NDA- II regime, the newly promulgated Act would be enforced.

Campaign against criminals and crimes would be further intensified in NDA-II. In NDA-I, Nitish had claimed 52,000 accused in various cases were sent behind the bars through speedy trial by special courts. They in-cluded several politicians even of his own party. His police had busted 23 mini gun factories in the last three months. According to DGP Neelmani, the criminals had gone either underground or behind the bars during the elections. The rule of law will prevail, the DGP said.

Display of arms by the politcians, builders and contractors have become a thing of the past. Private armies have been abolished, he said and added the police would liquidate all criminals gangs now.