Quartette of Bihar Politics Must Work in Tandem for Development

11/12/2008

Quartette of Bihar Politics Must Work in Tandem for Development

Prateek K Anand *

file phto Patna, (Bihar Times): In the national agenda for inclusive development, case of Bihar seems to have been relegated to mere individual efforts by the union ministers coming from the state. However, the same is not enough for the state which has faced a development deficit over a prolonged period borne out of skewed policies, plans and programs loaded heavily against it. Situation has been brought to such a pass now, where, even symptoms do appear to be the cause of the underdevelopment of state. Federal authorities, though acutely aware about this, have failed to come out with suitable remedial measures and have largely preferred to keep themselves to paying lip services instead. Under the circumstances it befalls upon the political leadership from the state to compare their notes and make a synchronized effort to get state what it so acutely deserves. This, inter alia, calls for coming together of the Quartette of Bihar politics represented by Mr Nitish Kumar, Mr Lau Prasad Yadav, Mr Ramvilas Paswan and Mr Sushil Kumar Modi. An all party meeting should be convened with the specific agenda and then these leaders should lead a joint all party delegation to meet Prime Minister.

The agenda of political consensus should be drawn up to include, among other things, the following items:

i. Approval and immediate release of package for Kosi Reconstruction & Rehabilitation of over Rs 14,000 crores as submitted by the state government

ii. Expeditious upgradation of National Highway to four lanes under NHDP program even if it requires EPC approach. More stretches of NH needs to be taken up for four lane program.

iii. Immediate allocation of coal linkages for proposed power plants in the state.

iv. Approval for New Medical College Hospitals and introduction of PG and MCH courses in the existing ones

v. Development of Patna as 'A' class city equipped with Metro Rail/Mono Rail systems, Piped Gas Grid, Wi-Fi connectivity etc.

vi. Expeditious completion of DPR for Sapt Kosi Sun Kosi Project in Nepal and also execution of the same through a fast track mechanism.

vii.Development of "Eastern Economic Corridor" from Kathmandu to Paradip around an infrastructure comprising of an access controlled expressway, a trunk gas grid, a broadband 3g communication network and also a double track high capacity high speed rail line.

viii. Setting up of an Integrated Research Complex in Bihar spread over an area of 3000 acres with due participation of ISRO, DRDO, DAE, CDAC, CSIR, DBT, DST, CDoT, NAL, ICMR and also ICAR

If expeditiously implemented, these projects can help redeem the cause of development of the state. However, getting all these implemented may be very difficult without complete political consensus among the leading four of Bihar politics.

Most of the above projects have been victim of inimical treatment by the guardian ministers at center. There appears to be a ploy to entangle these things in a web of circuitous policies. Result is for every one to see. Long after approval NHDP III projects are nowhere near start. One step forward two step backward have been the norm here. Approval for medical college and hospitals is another such specific instance. In fact central government did not desist from putting spoke even in case of direct ethanol production from sugarcane by a non sugarcane mill. Similarly, Bihar power projects may be made to wait till eternity for coal linkages unlike those in other states. Even after that some may not get any approval. Attitude of central government to Kosi Reconstruction and Rehabilitation package is another sore point. I wonder why they have been so prompt in case of Tsunami or in case of farmer suicides in certain agrarian crisis hit states. Political leadership having their stake in state must apply their thoughts to such discrimination. If one can not redeem for past, at least, one should strive to protect the present and plan for future.

True, the state has seen significant improvement in recent times. All the individual leaders of Bihar are trying hard for development of Bihar in their own individual capacity. Now it is not the question about the intent but the pace at which progress is happening. Only a concerted effort reflected in taking up the aforesaid ambitious projects will provide the necessary leverage to achieve the 2015 development objective of the state. At current pace Bihar may fail to keep pace with the rest of India. State cannot be well off in 2015 if it were to achieve the development objective equivalent to what other leading states have in 2005. This goal post is continuously sifting. Even now better off states are enjoying a better growth rate than Bihar. For Bihar to develop, the famed Quartette of Bihar should fire all their engines together.

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*A Financial Sector Consultant and Research Analyst