JMM demands Das government issue white paper on SMP status

The main opposition JMM today demanded the Raghubar Das-led Jharkhand government issue a while paper on the status of four-decades-old Swarnarekha Multi Purpose (SMP) project which remained incomplete even after thousands of crores being spent.
"JMM wants the state government to issue a white paper on the status of SMP, which still remained incomplete four decades after the project begun," the JMM MLA from Baharagora (East Singhbhum), Kunal Sarangi said here today.
Sarangi, who is also the Chief Spokesperson of the party, demanded that the government should form an all party committee to assess the feasibility of the project and shelve it, if found none viable.

Hundreds crores of rupees have already been spent in the project, which was likely to irrigate vast agriculture land in Jharkhand and part of West Bengal but the money was wasted as the project remained incomplete owing to lackadaisical approach of the government, Sarangi alleged.
Sarangi said the chief minister had misled by saying on the floor of the house recently that water has reached the canal in Manusmudia under Baharagora block of the district.
The statement was not true as not a single drop of water reached the long stretch of canal constructed under SMP, Sarangi said.
In fact, the money meant for the project was plundered, he alleged while demanding CBI probe against SMP Officials, who allegedly amassed huge property.

He also demanded CBI probe against officials deputed in the project for years and some of them even having got extension to their service.