Haatgamharia road's ghost still haunts, Munda to offer 'shramdan'

Ranchi, Feb 21 (UNI) In middle of 2006, Mr Madhu Koda, then a senior minister in the Arjun Munda-led NDA government in Jharkhand, protested the dilapidated state of Haatgamharia road, in a issue that snowballed into a major crisis resulting in formation of UPA government led by him in September last.

Even after five months, the ghost of the road continued to haunt the state politics with former Chief Minister Arjun Munda, backed by strong BJP 15,000 workers will offer 'shramdan' tomorrow to construct 44.8 km 'worn-out' link known as Haatgamharia-Noamundi- Baraiburu road in West Singhbhum.

Mr Munda alleged the condition of the road remained poor though Mr Koda vowed to get it constructed on top priority basis.

''We will construct it through ''shramdan'' with the help of around 15,000 party workers from 0800 hrs to 1700 hrs tomorrow starting from Noamundi,'' the former Chief Minister said.

The BJP has appealed to all to pitch in with their contribution by way of tractors, mixers and trucks for the job.

However, the nature of the road, whether a concrete or semi-concrete, would depend on people's assistance,'' Mr Munda added.

A tender for Chief Minister Madhu Koda's ''dream project'' was cancelled the first time as the lowest bid was a whopping 83 per cent, which was more than the actual estimate approved.

Last week, the Cabinet had approved the revised tender with a 20 per cent increase in the actual estimate of Rs 127.32 crore.

As Mr Munda took the battle to West Singhbhum, the home district of Mr Koda, and the latter chose to term it as a ''ploy by his opponent to gain political mileage only''.

Significantly, Mr Koda, since taking over the reign of the state made at least four trips to Saraikela Kharsawan, Mr Munda's home turf, for inauguration of projects that were started by the former Chief Minister.

Mr Koda siad when the decks were cleared for the construction, then the shramdan was nothing but a ''desperation of the BJP to keep non-issues burning''.

UNI