“There are over half a dozen projects of the Centre, which were hijacked by Mayawati for cheap publicity,” said state Congress Committee chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi. “It is unfortunate, immoral and unbecoming of her and she should not indulge in it.” What particularly raises the Congress’ ire is the Rs 34-crore solid waste management plant in the district, “launched” by Mayawati alongwith other projects on February 6. The party says the chief minister not only stalled the project by failing to provide land, but is now out to take credit for it.

In May 2008, the Centre had released Rs 34 crore for the establishment of the plant at Naini in Allahabad. The money is still lying with the Allahabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). In August, the state government had refused to give land for the project and later agreed to spare some against Rs 4 crore. The corporation made an advance payment of Rs 1.5 crore to the state government on November 11, 2008 but they are yet to grant permission for the land acquisition despite repeated reminders, said AMC sources.

 “How can the chief minister take credit for the Central government projects — the solid waste management plant in particular — for which the money has already been sanctioned,” said Joshi. In reality, it is the state government which had stalled this project by not giving permission for land acquisition, she said. “I have informed Sonia Gandhi and the party would launch an agitation to expose the BSP government.” Nearly 90 per cent fund for the development projects in the state is granted by the Centre through various ministries.The Centre had selected 62 districts under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) to develop their basic infrastructure. Under the scheme, the Centre releases 50 per cent of the total fund, with the municipal corporations of these districts pitching in with 30 per cent and the state government only 20 per cent.