Infrastructure development activities, especially road construction and repair work, have come to a grinding halt in Koraput, one of the worst Maoist-infested districts in the state, seriously affecting vehicular traffic and security force mobilisation in the region. In the event of any Naxal attack either in southern parts of the state bordering Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, force mobilisation — under the present circumstances — looks a remote possibility.
The infrastructure building activities have been stalled not because of any threats from the rebels, but because of junior level officers posted in the area fighting an “ego-war,” sources in the government said.
The sources informed that the state government, keeping in view the strategic need for infrastructure development in Koraput, had engaged one ARSS Infrastructure Projects Limited to undertake construction and repair of several roads, including the Ranchi-Vijayawada national highway that connects Jharkhand with Andhra Pradesh via Orissa. The company, after fulfilling all required norms and obligations, was allowed to work in the district.
However, local officials recently ordered the company to stop work citing violations of laws, over exploitation of stone materials from quarries and non-payment royalties on raw materials.
The officials, who sources added, are divided on exercise of their power, have even stopped operations at stone quarries from where raw materials were being lifted for construction works. Transport vehicles and construction material have also allegedly been seized. The ARSSIPL authorities said they had not defaulted in royalty payment. “The company has paid nearly `1 crore royalty to the state in the last two years. As regards over exploitation of materials from quarries, there is no mention of the quantity to be lifted by the company,” said ARSSIPL statement.