Congress MLA moves privilege against Chief Minister

Bhubaneswar, Mar 19 (UNI) Congress MLA Umesh Swain today moved a breach of privilege against Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the matter of finalisation of a bid in the Upper Indravati project.

Raising the issue in the House, Mr Swain alleged that a huge kick-back has been committed in the deal in connivance with government officials and politicians.

The Congress MLA said he has moved the privilege notice under article 140 of the Orissa Legislative Assembly rules and procedure as Mr Patnaik was also the member in-charge of the Water Resource Department.

Mr Swain said the reply furnished by the Chief Minister in response to a question on March 17 last was far from the truth and a deliberate attempt to hide the fact and mislead the House.

He said the Chief Minister had stated that a construction company called M/s A P Nirman Limited had participated in the tender process for the left canal work of the Upper Indravati project and used its own machineries.

However, the truth was that the company being an outsider has brought machines from other states and for which he had deposited one per cent more EMD in respect of the tender.

Mr Swain urged Speaker Maheswar Mohanty to examine the matter and refer it to the Privilege Committee for further investigation and submit a report.

UNI DP PP LS AS1740