Naveen’s G139-crore bonanza for Sundargarh

ROURKELA:Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid foundation stones for projects worth above `139 crore besides inaugurating a few others during his three-hour visit to Kutra block and Rourkela city in Sundargarh district on Sunday.

Naveen arrived in Rourkela in an aircraft and took a helicopter to Bihaband hockey field of Kutra block where he laid foundation stone for a stadium project worth `10 crore. From the same venue, the Chief Minister also laid foundations for two Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) for Kutra and Koida blocks worth `19.47 crore and `19.80 crore respectively.

Later, the Catholic Board of Education felicitated Naveen for being awarded as Best Administrator at a public meeting. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister attributed the State’s development and good work of his Government to the support of people of Odisha. He said tribal-dominated Sundargarh district is the cradle of hockey and his Government has taken initiatives to ensure that talented sportspersons of the State get exposure at the international level.

On his return to Rourkela, Naveen was felicitated by members of the Muslim community at Bhanja Bhawan ground. On the occasion, the Chief Minister said his Government is working on a priority basis for development and welfare of people of all religions and sections in Odisha. He further said the Haj House at Bhubaneswar would be completed soon and the quota of Haj pilgrims enhanced to 800 from 650.
Naveen also promised to improve graveyards in the district and announced that ambulances will be provided to Madrassa committees of Rourkela, Rajgangpur, Bonai and Sundargarh.

Subsequent to it, members of Sikh and Jain communities felicitated Naveen at the adjacent Civic Centre from where the CM drove to Uditnagar to unveil the bronze statue of Dr B R Ambedkar. He also inaugurated a cultural centre-cum-e-Library at Uditnagar and a 100-bed Mother and Child Hospital besides laying foundation stone for augmentation of drinking water supply project under Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns worth `90.69 crore.

Among others, senior BJD leader Prasant Nanda, Rourkela Development Authority chairman Sarada Prasad Nayak and RN Pali MLA Subrat Tarai were present Dozens of BJP and Congress members were taken into preventive custody for protesting Naveen’s visit. They were later released.