. FP NEWS SERVICE Ujjain Two contentious issues of local nature have cast effect on district politics to such a level that two each MLAs from Congress and BJP appear to teach lesson to each other in days to come. According to observers her
e, these developments may lead to new political equations during the 2013 Assembly elections and could also affect the course of development.
One of the issues which have generated a lot of heat was of creating a new district bisecting Ujjain district. Mahidpur and Nagda have claimed for this designation. Four tehsils viz Mahidpur, Nagda, Khachrod ( of Ujjain district) and Alote ( of Ratlam district) have been proposed to be part of the new district. If it happens, then Ujjain district will have only four tehsils – Ujjain, Tarana, Barnagar and Ghattiya.
Both Union and State government have mooted a proposal of creating small districts for better administration, redressal of peoplesalt39grievances and pace of development.
But, in Ujjain district, such an idea has poised serious difference of opinion at least between Mahipur MLA Kalpana Parulekar and Nagda- Khachrod MLA Dilip Gurjar.
Both the MLAs belong to Congress party, and taken a posture of arch rivals on the issue.
Though, voices of support and opposition have been raised from public fields as well; these MLAs seem eager to score points having their eye on ensuing Assembly elections.
Almost similar is the case of constructing a dam on river Kshipra at village Alampur- Udana wherein sitting BJP MLAs from Ujjain South and Ujjain North segments Shivnarayan Jagirdar and Paras Jain ( Minister of State for Food and Civil Supply), respectively, looked drawing lines against each other. State government wanted to construct the dam under the preparations of Simhastha Fair- 2016. The construction site is located in the Ujjain South segment and land owned by Jagirdar is also learnt to go submerged. Interestingly, Paras Jain is claiming that he had made allout efforts for clearing the mega project ( of Rs 192 crore) as it would cater the water needs of the denizens for manymany years. On the other hand, Jagirdar is in no mood to compromise and led a delegation of affected farmers to meet the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan during his short visit to Nagda on Tuesday to oppose the construction of dam. Some social activists, who had also played active role against construction of dams at Narmada valley, have already announced to agitate here on April 28.
However, local observers are not giving much weight to the politics being played by Congress and BJP MLAs on the issue of carving a new district and constructing a dam on river Kshipra, respectively.
Requesting anonymity, they told Free Press that debate created in the name of carving a new district was nothing, but a political gimmick of the BJP government so as to unsettle strong Congress MLAs as the party leadership thinks that they do not have alternative candidates to defeat Parulekar from Mahidpur and Gurjar from Nagda- Khachrod. Interestingly, Ujjain is not such a big district as compared to Indore district, but issue of carving a new district was given much importance here only. Observers also feel that quest of taking credit has in fact pushed the issue of constructing a dam on river Kshipra under controversies.
Initially, about Rs 500 crore were to be spent on its construction, but looking to the stiff opposition of Jagirdar, the proposed height of the dam was reduced significantly and now a provision of Rs 192 crore has been made on its construction.
.. Mahidpur, Nagda MLAs try to score against each other over new district .. BJP MLAs fight for credit on proposed dam on Kshipra river
