Rajauli Nuclear Power Plant still a non-starter

Speed Post News Network

Nawada: Nawada district, the gateway to bordering Jharkhand and spread across nearly 2,500 square km and having a population of over20 lakh is a paradox in terms of development. Sadly, despite its upgradation from a sub-division to a district in 1973 to facilitate development, it has only witnessed all round deterioration. The situation can be best compared to the upgradation of primary schools into middle schools where the qualitative change has remained invisible. Capitalizing on the sorry state of affairs, the number of private schools has mushroomed in epidemic proportions.

The only industry flourishing here is the brick manufacturing industry owned by private individuals. The lone government industry of the district, Mohini Sugar Mill at Warisaliganj, was shut down in 1993. Despite assurances of its revival becoming the prime agenda on the lips of every prospective MLA and MP candidate ever since, none ever bothered to give it a second thought after getting elected.

The much touted Nuclear Power Plant proposed at Rajauli in 2006 and for which nearly 3000 acres of land was earmarked, has remained a non-starter. Illegal sand mining has flourished allegedly due to criminal-politician nexus. One former JD (U) MLA accused of defrauding the state exchequer of crores due to illegal sand mining is on bail while an RJD MLA is in jail in a rape case.

Crime reached its peak between 1996 and 2003 with the district witnessing the murders of around 300 persons, including women and children in backward vs. forward caste-based killings, an envious record yet to be shattered by any other district.

The district with more than 60 percent people living before the poverty line exports nearly one-fourth of its population as migrant laborers to other states. Students too prefer to migrate to other states for higher education as all the four constituent colleges here are acutely understaffed due to retirement and deaths.

Agriculture, being the main preoccupation, is losing its sheen as weather conditions have changed to the detriment of farmers. Sharecroppers are reluctant to cultivate land in the absence of conducive weather conditions and migration of labour.