Mr President, Please come to Jharkhand again and again

Sanjeev Shekhar

With President Pranab Mukherjee proposed visit on April 29, the Ranchi city is being spruced up as like never before. The beautification work at the war-footing indicates that President should have stayed in Jharkhand for a little longer period. This would have helped more than 20 lakh population of Ranchi to see their city beautiful and stunning. Right now the main roads are being taken care, the longer stay of President might have alerted the government machinery to spruce the lanes and by-lanes even.

“The way the city is beautified, Ranchiites have already started praying Almighty that President Pranab Mukherjee should stay here as state’s guest for long, so that they could get the feel of quality life in the state capital,” says the lawyer practicing in the High Court. If this has to happen the President should come here again and again.

The speed of work is an indication if the government wants, it can change the face of the place overnight or within a very short span of time. Laying of grass or green patch in the middle of the main roads, painting of grills, colouring of zebra crossing/road dividers, construction and cleaning of roads overnight, planting of some ready plants, laying of red earth by the side of the roads has added a different and fresh look to the city, which was never seen before.

Even during the visit of former President Pratibha Patil some two years back, such beautification work was not seen. She was here for the convocation ceremony of the Ranchi University.

Strict orders have been passed to all the general managers of the State Electricity Board to take care of round the clock power supply. Engineers of the respective area will be taken to task if there is power failure in any locality. Officers of the Board have been asked to keep their mobile on for 24 hours so that any contingency could be tackled.

The way administration is handling the two-day visit of President Pranab Mukherjee this time, it appears that the officers can do wonders if they want. Under normal circumstances, it’s always the resources crunch in terms of manpower, money, and fund availability. The question lingers in the minds of conscious citizens as to how come things are translated into reality so fast now? The administration is same, officials are same, workers are same and people associated with the work and responsibilities are same, but the work goes on without any complaint, the rare thing that has been happening.

The approval time which used to take long is now happening fast, in fact very fast. Budget preparation for any work to be done at the government level involves several days and is apparently a cumbersome process, they say. But with President visit knocking at the door, the speed is unimaginable. This actually reminds of the student days when you prepare for your examination well. And with each approaching day the speed of preparation gets escalated to ensure that the questions are answered well. It appears that the administration too is preparing for the similar test to give its best.

As per itinerary, during his two-day visit, Mukherjee will lay the foundation stone for the first mega power plant of Santhal Pargana at Baristand village in Godda district and will also pay visits to Dumka and Deoghar.

Raj Bhavan, it is said, a raj bhoj of four to five courses will be planned in Mukherjee's honour, who will spend a night in Ranchi. The consent of his secretariat will be taken for this. "It will be a non-vegetarian platter and we are planning to have at least three to four varieties of fish including Hilsa," said a media report adding that they are also trying to get the famous Bengali sweet ‘rosogolla’ and other desserts which Mr Mukherjee likes.

Alas, the government machinery could have developed sensitivity, irrespective of the demand of situation.