BALANGIR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated development projects worth `72 crore in Balangir district on Thursday. He visited Loisingha, Saintala and Muribahal blocks of the district and laid foundation stones of many projects.
In a bid to woo farmers a head of the panchayat polls, the Chief Minister reiterated his commitment to development of farmers and agriculture.
Addressing a public meeting at Loisingha, he said the State will flourish only with development of the farmers. Naveen said the farmers will get promised special drought assistance (SDA) of `100 per quintal of paddy due to drought situation in the last kharif season. He also said the State Government has set a target to disburse crop insurance amounting to `1, 170 crore and the Central Government has agreed to its proposal. Laying thrust on strengthening of irrigation, he said his Government has planned to provide irrigation to 10 lakh hectares through deep bore well, check dams and irrigation projects. The Government is also committed to development of Kendu leaf pluckers and binders, he added.
Naveen inaugurated various projects under Loisingha Assembly constituency including bridge over Kusangi Joar on Paadrani-Manhira Road, 33/11 kv grid sub-station in Salebhata, girls’ hostel of Jharmunda Model School, water supply projects in villages of Gaintala and Ankiriapadar, besides many gram panchayat offices and anganwadi centres.
Subsequently, he visited Gurunda in Bangomunda under Kantabanji Assembly constituency and laid foundation stone for various projects and inaugurated projects including 33/11 kv sub-station at Bangomunda, lift irrigation projects in villages of Jamilsar, Gharla and Sriram, girls’ hostel of Bhalumunda and Jharni Model School. In the last leg of his tour, Naveen visited Phapsi village under Titlagarh Assembly constituency and inaugurated mega irrigation project at Belgaon, 33/11 sub-station at Pipalpadar and cold storage at Titlagarh. Heavy security arrangements were made at the venues and many Congress and BJP members were taken into preventive detention.