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This is an archive article published on January 6, 2000
PSU postings irk Orissa Oppn
BHUBANESWAR, JANUARY 5: The appointment of political persons as chairmen of 13 loss-making state-owned public sector undertakings PSUs b...
BHUBANESWAR, JANUARY 5: The appointment of political persons as chairmen of 13 loss-making state-owned public sector undertakings PSUs by Chief Minister Hemananda Biswal has drawn flak from the Opposition. These appointments have also gone against the spirit of White Paper on state finances, which was tabled in the Assembly during the budget session.
These 13 corporations are incurring losses and the appointments are only likely to increase their administrative overheads. The White Paper had identified administrative overheads as one of the reasons for the majority of PSUs which were on the verge of closure. With the Assembly elections round the corner, the hasty manner in which these appointments were made, has also raised questions.
While the Congress does not feel that it will help the party in the elections, the Opposition has demanded the cancellation of the appointments, alleging that these were contrary to the austerity measures initiated by the government after the super-cyclone devastated 14coastal districts.
However, Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee president J.B. Patnaik refused to comment on the appointments, saying it was the chief minister8217;s discretion.
Criticising the decision, Biju Janata Dal leader Ramakrushna Patnaik said it was an unfortunate attempt to placate various factions of the ruling Congress, adding that the appointments would affect the state8217;s financial condition. Predicting that the Congress would be wiped out in the next elections, Patnaik said Chief Minister Hemananda Biswal would preside over the liquidation of Congress in Orissa.
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