Odisha CM launches tasks value over Rs 2085 cr in Kalahandi, addresses first public assembly in 9 months

By Express News Service
BHUBANESWAR: Kalahandi just isn’t a laboratory of poverty — it has change into a mannequin of growth, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stated on Thursday whereas addressing a public assembly at Mangalpur in Jaypatna block of the district, his first in 9 months.

During his to a Western Odisha district amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the Chief Minister launched tasks value over Rs 2085 crore. He has been impressed by his father’s deep dedication to Kalahandi, stated the Chief Minister, who additionally recalled phrases of Biju Patnaik after he was harm by a stone pelted at him in Bhawanipatna within the Nineties. Biju Babu had forgiven the boys who had pelted stones at him, Naveen stated and added, “When I asked him about the incident, he said nothing to be worried. People of Kalahandi love me very much and I also love Kalahandi very much.”

“When I took over as the Chief Minister of Odisha in 2000, the words of Biju Babu came back to me many times and showed me the path of Kalahandi’s development. Now the picture of the district has turned around,” Naveen stated.

Appreciating Kalahandi’s growth within the agriculture sector, the Chief Minister stated as soon as identified the laboratory of starvation, it has now change into rice bowl of the state. Stating that the district now holds the second place within the manufacturing of paddy in Odisha, the CM stated the transformation has change into attainable because of the arduous labour and dedication of the farmers.

The Chief Minister stated irrigation amenities has elevated three fold within the district and fish manufacturing has additionally gone up considerably. He stated that Rs 1200 crore was deposited within the accounts of farmers in the course of the procurement season by means of direct financial institution switch (DBT). Stating that Kalahandi has been adjudged as one of the best performing district in well being and vitamin parameters, Naveen stated the toddler and maternal mortality price, which was 76 and 432 per 1000 respectively in 2000, has now come down drastically.

Naveen stated that the event of the district has change into attainable as a consequence of river Indravati, and therefore a museum and park will likely be arrange on its banks. A temple of Goddess Indravati will likely be constructed on the premises of the park, he stated.

The Chief Minister inaugurated 54 tasks value over Rs 1064 crore and laid basis stones of 52 tasks estimated at Rs 1020 crore in the course of the go to. Projects inaugurated included the Upper Indravati Lift Canal system constructed at a value of Rs 987 crore. He additionally inaugurated 10 consuming water tasks value Rs 20 crore and 13 examine dams constructed at a value of Rs 4.83 crore.

Minister for ladies and youngster growth Tukuni Sahu, Minister of state for water sources Raghunandan Das and Minister of state for industries and residential Dibya Shankar Mishra additionally addressed the general public assembly.