State Govt committed to development: Naveen

PHULBANI/BERHAMPUR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday reiterated State Government’s commitment to all-round development of Kandhamal and announced projects worth `276 crore for the tribal-dominated district.
The projects include a high level bridge worth `15 crore at Nuaripadar over Salunki under Sadar block, reconstruction of Khamankhol-Gudimaska road at as cost of `8 crore, construction of Raikia-Karada new road at a cost of `16 crore and piped water supply to Baliguda town at a cost of `7 crore. These have been long standing demands of the people of the district.

He also inaugurated 19 projects worth `56.97 lakh during his visit to the district on Monday.  A 300 bed girls’ hostel of Women’s College, automated driving testing track, district panchayat resource centre at Phulbani, district library, a multi-gym, two hostels (one each for boys and girls) in Government Autonomous College, a number of roads, pipe water supply at Raikia and six buildings under Anwesha scheme across the district were inaugurated by the Chief Minister.

Naveen also attended the regional convention of Biju Yuva Vahini at Kandhamal stadium where he released an anthem for Biju Yuva Vahini and distributed land pattas to 3,000 slum dwellers of Phulbani Municipality and G Udaygiri and Balliguda NAC under Jaga Mission. He  felicitated volunteers in the meeting attended by around 20,000 people from five districts including Nayagarh, Boudh, Kandhamal, Ganjam and Gajapati. Among others Rajya Sabha MP Achuyta Samanta, chairman of Biju Yuva Vahini

Arup Patnaik, Collector Brunda D along with other officials were present.
As many as 50 platoons of security forces including CRPF, Cobra, DVF and SOG were deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the Chief Minister’s programme. At least 37 Congress, BJP and Jagrata Kandhamal workers, who were protesting Naveen’s visit to the district were taken into preventive custody by police near Gopabandhu square. They were later released.