Jharkhand tells Bihar to settle assets and liabilities of road transport cooperation

Jharkhand Governor Syed Ahmad today asked Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar to transfer of assets and liabilities of State Road Transport Corporation located in Jharkhand and transfer of cadastral maps of villages in Jharkhand but lying with Govt. Press at Patna.
“There are some state reorganization issues, which are yet to be settled after 13 long years. I urge Hon’ble Chief Minister, Bihar to settle them, the important among them being transfer of assets and liabilities of State Road Transport Corporation located in Jharkhand and transfer of cadastral maps of villages in Jharkhand but lying with Govt. Press at Patna”,said Ahmad while addressing the Eastern Zonal Council meeting held in Kolkata today.
The meeting of the council was taking place after a long gap of eight years.Its last meeting was held in 2005.Stressing the need to improve road connectivity within the state and the neighboring states since it was the basic requirement for creating a sustainable access to these primary resources, utilities and transportation of industrial goods.
“ We thus suggest taking up of four-laning/widening of 18 km Bahragora – Jharpokharia NH-6and 81 km Jharpokharia – Baleshwar NH-5 stretches for port connectivity to Dhamra in Orissa and 47.7 km Barhi-Rajauli stretch of NH-31, NH 32, NH-75, NH-75, 13.2 km missing link of NH-80 and a bridge over river Ganges between Sahebganj and Manihari(Bihar) for improving connectivity among member states and the nation. I urge your support for persuading MoRTH/NHAI taking it up”,he said.
He pointed out that some issues relating to environment and related clearances for developmental projects was necessary.” While land for compensatory afforestation is not needed for CPSUs for diversion of forest land, state projects do not have that facility. As a result, State development projects suffer. I urge the Council to resolve for ending this inequity”,he said.
Governor Ahmad emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation in the area of tax administration.” Almost all the States in this region have inter-state border check posts for collection of taxes. I suggest that instead of constructing check post on either side of the state boundary, by both States, we should construct common check posts on fund sharing basis and share the infrastructure so that public money is best utilized”,he said.
He said another area of mutual cooperation is prevention of interstate illicit trafficking of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. Mechanisms are needed for regular interaction between Police, Excise and Narcotics Bureau is required for states of this Zone.
“Reciprocal agreements for Inter-State Permit needs to be revisited and new routes and permits added as traffic volume has increased, roads have become better and new roads have come up.
Disaster Management requires cooperation not only among the member states but also support from the Union Government. I suggest a common body for eastern states to meet any eventuality to utilize the resources to its fullest. The NDRF should work in tandem with SDRF”,he said.
He said that the ongoing rail line project between Koderma to Tilaiya is stuck due to non-clearance of forest land lying on the Bihar side of the border. I urge Hon’ble CM, Bihar to fast track this clearance.
“On the request of Government of West Bengal, a survey of 48 Mauzas was conducted with the consent of both the states, but I have been informed that the officials of the West Bengal are not signing the joint survey report. This should be looked into”,he said.
Before concluding his speech,Governor Ahmad said that urban water supply project at district headquarter of Pakur was crucial for Jharkhand.” The water for the same will be drawn from Ganges at Farakka, thus land is required in district Murshidabad for establishment of small infrastructure such as intake jetty, power unit, pump house, etc. This is being monitored by the Hon’ble Jharkhand High Court, Ranchi. We request CM, West Bengal for her cooperation in this matter”,he said.