Naveen Patnaik launches ‘Letter War’ on Centre

After feeling the CBI heat in the multi-crore chit fund scam, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched a war on the centre by shooting off two letters in two days. Earlier, Naveen had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking Rs 1,800 crore for Pradhan Mantri Gramya Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

He has shot off another letter today. This time, he has targeted union Rural Development Minister Ch. Birendra Singh, seeking Rs 1,195 crore for MGNREGA.

In his letter to the PM, Naveen had written that Rs 1,178 crore was allocated to Odisha under PGSY, but only Rs 1,051.50 crore has been released so far in the current financial year 2014-15. He further added that Odisha spent Rs 1,615 crore under PMGSY in 2013-14. Thus, Rs 1,800 crore is needed to smooth implementation of PMGSY Programme in Odisha, he said.