"We have prepared a detailed report, covering various details like the places to be served by the new road, the length, the investment required, the schedule, the benefits to be derived from this project etc. A copy of the report has already been sent to each of you. Hope all of you have gone through the report. You may share your observations" said the Secretary of the Highways department.
"This is an excellent scheme. Construction of the six lane highway will cut the time for commuting between the two cities by half. This will result in huge savings of time and fuel cost to the people who travel in this route. It will also boost the commercial traffic in this route and thereby improve the economy of the state substantially" said the representative of business and industry.
This was followed by a few more participants listing yet other benefits, the project was expected to provide.
"Only after listening to these people, I realize that so many benefits could result from this project" said a junior officer, murmuring into the ears of another junior officer, sitting next to him.
"Apart from the benefits mentioned by these people, there are other benefits too. But no one will talk about them" replied the other.
The former threw a blank look at the latter, unable to decipher the meaning of what the latter had said.
"I was referring to the windfall benefits that will be received by some politicians and officials" clarified the other, smiling.
An official sitting a little away from them, raised his hand, indicating that he wanted to say something. The mike was handed over to him by the attendant, who was roaming with a remote mike.
The official rose from his seat and asked, "The sources for the investment and the details about the losses to the people living in the regions along the proposed highway have not been mentioned in this report."
The Minister, who had all along been listening with a beaming smile, to speeches extolling the virtues of the scheme, was visibly upset by the question.
The Secretary stood up and hastened to clarify. "We have indicated the amount of investment required for this scheme. The central government has agreed to fund this project."
"Sir, this is a scheme of the state government. How will the central government fund it?" asked the official.
The Chief Secretary got up and told the official, "I get your point, gentleman. This is a state government project, alright. But the central government will get this project funded through an international agency, by way of a long term loan. The loan will carry a low interest and will have a repayment period of fifty years. Therefore, this will not be a burden on the state's finances. This is only a preliminary report. Therefore, it did not carry those details. All the details will be included when the detailed project report is prepared. By the way, which department do you represent?"
He sounded as if he was questioning the locus standi of the official.
"Planning department."
The Chief Secretary cast a reproachful look at the Secretary sitting next to him, his expression conveying an admonition, 'Why did you invite people like him to this meeting?'
He then turned his gaze at the official, who raised the question and continued with a smile, "We have already crossed the stage of planning. We are in the implementing stage now. Therefore, your department may not have much of a role here."
'Don't poke your nose into this' was the unmistakable message contained, albeit hidden, in his words.
"I also asked about the losses" persisted the official.
"Losses? What kind of losses can be there in a project like this?" asked the Chief Secretary, in an irritated tone.
"The government will have to acquire large extents of agricultural lands and sites housing homes, shops, other establishments etc. Since the traffic on the existing road will be reduced, the shops and restaurants functioning there will see a sharp decline in their business volume. How are we going to compensate them? And then, there are environmental issues..."
The Chief Secretary turned to the Secretary and spoke to him angrily, in a low voice, keeping his mouth close to his ear, "It is only for preventing these kinds of questions being raised that I asked you not to invite farmers, traders, local people, environmental enthusiasts etc to this meeting. But, you have invited a person, who is voicing issues all these people would have raised. You may deal with him yourself."
The Secretary got up and told the official, "Thank you for the points raised by you. They are under our consideration already. As the Chief Secretary had clarified, all these issues will be dealt with in detail, in the Detailed Project Report."
He then signaled the attender, who went to the official and got the mike back from him.
Section 2
Acting After Due Consideration
Udhiyamum sUzhndhu seyal.
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