Former Cabinet Minister and senior BJP leader Prem Prakash Pandey accused the Congress government in Chhattisgarh of claiming credit for development projects that were approved during the previous BJP rule in State. Pandey, addressing the media in Bhilai, alleged that Chief Minister and local MLA have little to show for their own initiatives in the past five years. According to Pandey, several significant projects, including the Durg University, Nehru Nagar flyover, railway under-bridge, English medium model college, Sector-2 Basketball Ground, and Sector-1 Park, were all given the green light during the BJP’s tenure. However, the Congress government is now presenting these projects as their own accomplishments.

 

Pandey also criticized the local MLA for what he referred to as “low politics.” He pointed to the distribution of water bottles featuring the MLA’s photograph in areas affected by the sudden collapse of twin overhead water tanks. Additionally, Pandey alleged that the MLA was taking credit for the Sheonath river water project, which aims to provide an alternative water supply to Bhilai due to water crisis situations. He emphasised that the State Government is the sole working agency responsible for implementing this project.

 

Furthermore, Pandey raised concerns about the township residents being deceived in matters related to lease deed registry, property titles, and the implementation of a half-Bijli bill scheme, particularly as elections draw near. When asked about measures to address the ongoing water crisis, Pandey said they had discussed with the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) management regarding the construction of iron water tanks as a quicker alternative to concrete tanks, which could be put into service within one and a half months, as opposed to the two and a half years typically required for concrete tank construction.