Nitish Kumar govt practising development politics: Kalam
Press Trust of India / Patna Jul 16, 2009, 15:31 IST
Former president A P J Abdul Kalam today lauded the Nitish Kumar government for practising development politics, which he said was always "good for the people".
"Development politics means the government's concern for its people... When development takes place it is always good for the state," Kalam told reporters after having a breakfast meeting with the chief minister here.
Later, the chief minister said that the former president appreciated the state government's decision to inter-link north Bihar rivers that would help in controlling floods and irrigating the parched lands of south Bihar.
There were also fruitful discussions with Kalam on water management, inter-linking of Bihar rivers and Nalanda international university of which the former president is a visitor, Kumar said.
"Kalam has proposals for some innovatives schemes for controlling floods which he will discuss with officials of the state water resources development department later," Kumar said.
Kalam is scheduled to leave for Muzaffarpur to inaugurate the new campus of JM institute of Speech and Hearing and participate in a seminar on Inclusive Development and Empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Why does this plan of inter-linking rivers keep coming back each time it is debunked and discredited. Are people coming up with improved plans? How does the CM propose to link the rivers of North Bihar? Will there be displacement? Where will the displaced people go? Is this project that is being planned in the name of the people of South Bihar, actually benefit them? When?
It is especially alarming to hear a statement from Kalam that "When development takes place it is always good for the state ..." but who pays the cost? Who reaps the benefits?
I hope that policy makers are reviewing reports, analyses and recommendations put forward by concerned scientists and people's organizations, discussed on sites such as http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar/ or http://www.sandrp.in/
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