Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Feb 20 – The issue of delay in execution of the mega railway projects in the North-east, including the Lumding-Silchar Broad Gauge conversion work on account of militancy, rocked Parliament for the second day today, even as Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad hinted at special focus on completion of railway projects in the region. Rajya Sabha on Friday witnessed heated exchanges over the dismal condition of railways in the region. The agitated mood of Biswajeet Daimary prompted Lalu Yadav to intervene to assure that Railways was not ignoring the interest of the region, during a discussion on the Interim Railway Budget.
Earlier, during Question Hour, Daimary had charged the Railway Ministry with citing flimsy grounds for the delay in execution of vital projects. At least three MPs including Biren Baishya, Kumar Deepak Das, besides Daimary participated in the discussion.
At the end of the discussion, the Railway Minister announced that survey work would be undertaken for the long-pending Jogighopa-Barpeta-Hajo-Guwahati line. Electrification work in Assam is going on, he said, assuring that special attention would be paid for completion of all these projects.
The Railway Ministry is going to find funds to complete these projects, he said.
The Railways currently has 112 ongoing new line projects in the North-east.
Denying the charge that the North-east has been neglected, Lalu Prasad said Assam is part and parcel of India. He argued, Bihari people also live in different parts of Assam though at times they have to make sacrifices, apparently referring to the killing of Hindi-speaking people in the State.
Pointing towards the gauge conversion project, he said the Home Ministry has been contacted for security cover. He blamed insurgency activities for the hold-up, though he added that funds would not be a constraint.
Earlier in the morning, during Question Hour, his deputy, Minister of State for Railways, Dr R Velu forwarded the same grounds that Railway Minister, did in Lok Sabha, yesterday for the inordinate delay in implementation of the big ticket projects.
Dr Velu held that militancy-related violence in North Cachar Hills has disrupted the Lumding-Silchar Broad gauge Conversion Project. He said that railway engineers were abducted and railwaymen killed in the area by the militants, expressing helplessness of the Ministry.
He reiterated that the Railway Ministry has approached Assam Government to provide security in the project site to ensure resumption of work. If the State Government provides security, the Railways will start work, the Minister said.
He also added that timing of the passenger trains running through the hill district has been rescheduled. Train operation in the area has been regulated and currently trains run between 7 am and 7 pm, he added.
However, the Minister’s reply to a question by Motilal Sarkar left Biswajeet Daimary upset. He charged that the Minister’s reasoning for the delay was not convincing enough. If this is the reason for stopping the work on the project, then why train services were resumed after the blasts in train compartments in Mumbai.
Later, participating in the discussion on the Interim Budget, Daimary charged the Government with raising a security scare. When the Railways can complete the rail project in Jammu and Kashmir, which is also hit by extremists within seven years, why is it taking so long to complete the Lumding-Silchar Gauge Conversion Project?
“Wrong statements from Delhi are creating more confusion in North-east. When we as MPs are not convinced about sincerity of the Government, then how can we convince militant outfits like ULFA, NDFB and NSCN,” he asked.
“The Railways always try to find flimsy ground, when it comes to meeting the demands of the people of the State. When we ask for electrification, we are told that there is scarcity of power. When we ask for fast trains, Railways tell us that the soil in Assam is not suitable for running such trains,” he alleged.
Joining the discussion, Biren Baishya alleged that there was discrimination against the region. The Central Government should seriously think of establishing train network in North-east, where most of the states are yet to see any tracks. He said the Railway Minister announced 42 trains but not a single train for Assam and the region.
Calling for 100 per cent job reservation for locals in Railways, he demanded setting up of an exclusive zonal railway, barring West Bengal and Bihar, a coach-factory and expediting the completion of the Bogibeel-rail-cum-road bridge.
Participating in the discussion, Kumar Deepak Das held that the railway in the region has not developed much. In the last 60 years, the Railways have managed to set up only 700 Km of the 1700 km rail network laid by the British, barring the broad gauge tracks, he charged.
He demanded survey of the Jogighopa-Barpeta-Hajo-Guwahati tracks.
source: Assam Tribune 21.02.09
NEW DELHI, Feb 20 – The issue of delay in execution of the mega railway projects in the North-east, including the Lumding-Silchar Broad Gauge conversion work on account of militancy, rocked Parliament for the second day today, even as Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad hinted at special focus on completion of railway projects in the region. Rajya Sabha on Friday witnessed heated exchanges over the dismal condition of railways in the region. The agitated mood of Biswajeet Daimary prompted Lalu Yadav to intervene to assure that Railways was not ignoring the interest of the region, during a discussion on the Interim Railway Budget.
Earlier, during Question Hour, Daimary had charged the Railway Ministry with citing flimsy grounds for the delay in execution of vital projects. At least three MPs including Biren Baishya, Kumar Deepak Das, besides Daimary participated in the discussion.
At the end of the discussion, the Railway Minister announced that survey work would be undertaken for the long-pending Jogighopa-Barpeta-Hajo-Guwahati line. Electrification work in Assam is going on, he said, assuring that special attention would be paid for completion of all these projects.
The Railway Ministry is going to find funds to complete these projects, he said.
The Railways currently has 112 ongoing new line projects in the North-east.
Denying the charge that the North-east has been neglected, Lalu Prasad said Assam is part and parcel of India. He argued, Bihari people also live in different parts of Assam though at times they have to make sacrifices, apparently referring to the killing of Hindi-speaking people in the State.
Pointing towards the gauge conversion project, he said the Home Ministry has been contacted for security cover. He blamed insurgency activities for the hold-up, though he added that funds would not be a constraint.
Earlier in the morning, during Question Hour, his deputy, Minister of State for Railways, Dr R Velu forwarded the same grounds that Railway Minister, did in Lok Sabha, yesterday for the inordinate delay in implementation of the big ticket projects.
Dr Velu held that militancy-related violence in North Cachar Hills has disrupted the Lumding-Silchar Broad gauge Conversion Project. He said that railway engineers were abducted and railwaymen killed in the area by the militants, expressing helplessness of the Ministry.
He reiterated that the Railway Ministry has approached Assam Government to provide security in the project site to ensure resumption of work. If the State Government provides security, the Railways will start work, the Minister said.
He also added that timing of the passenger trains running through the hill district has been rescheduled. Train operation in the area has been regulated and currently trains run between 7 am and 7 pm, he added.
However, the Minister’s reply to a question by Motilal Sarkar left Biswajeet Daimary upset. He charged that the Minister’s reasoning for the delay was not convincing enough. If this is the reason for stopping the work on the project, then why train services were resumed after the blasts in train compartments in Mumbai.
Later, participating in the discussion on the Interim Budget, Daimary charged the Government with raising a security scare. When the Railways can complete the rail project in Jammu and Kashmir, which is also hit by extremists within seven years, why is it taking so long to complete the Lumding-Silchar Gauge Conversion Project?
“Wrong statements from Delhi are creating more confusion in North-east. When we as MPs are not convinced about sincerity of the Government, then how can we convince militant outfits like ULFA, NDFB and NSCN,” he asked.
“The Railways always try to find flimsy ground, when it comes to meeting the demands of the people of the State. When we ask for electrification, we are told that there is scarcity of power. When we ask for fast trains, Railways tell us that the soil in Assam is not suitable for running such trains,” he alleged.
Joining the discussion, Biren Baishya alleged that there was discrimination against the region. The Central Government should seriously think of establishing train network in North-east, where most of the states are yet to see any tracks. He said the Railway Minister announced 42 trains but not a single train for Assam and the region.
Calling for 100 per cent job reservation for locals in Railways, he demanded setting up of an exclusive zonal railway, barring West Bengal and Bihar, a coach-factory and expediting the completion of the Bogibeel-rail-cum-road bridge.
Participating in the discussion, Kumar Deepak Das held that the railway in the region has not developed much. In the last 60 years, the Railways have managed to set up only 700 Km of the 1700 km rail network laid by the British, barring the broad gauge tracks, he charged.
He demanded survey of the Jogighopa-Barpeta-Hajo-Guwahati tracks.
source: Assam Tribune 21.02.09
No comments:
Post a Comment