CUTTACK: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday made a whirlwind tour to Cuttack district and inaugurated several projects and laid foundation stones worth `140 crore at Cuttack Sadar, Niali and Salepur as part of ruling BJD's Jansampark Yatra ahead of panchayat polls.
Addressing public meetings at three places, the Chief Minister said, "The State Government is committed to development and welfare of people who are the strength of my Government." Speaking on Mahanadi river water dispute with Chhattisgarh, Patnaik said the river is the lifeline of the State and particularly people of Cuttack district depend on it for livelihood and other purposes. The Government will continue its fight to protect the Mahanadi, he added.
While the Chief Minister inaugurated 18 facilities and laid foundation stones for 12 projects worth `102 crore including renovation of Kendrapara canal and construction of road from Khaira to Lokanathpur at Salepur, at least 24 projects worth `15.98 crore were inaugurated at Niali.
Three LI points, five anganwadi centres, an electrical sub-station, two GP godowns, a kalyan mandap, a market complex and an Aahar centre on the premises of SVNIRTAR were inaugurated by the CM in Niali. Foundation stones were laid for construction of three roads and one drinking water supply project.
At Deuli in Cuttack Sadar block, the Chief Minister inaugurated eight projects and laid foundation stones for six facilities worth `22.36 crore. He also flagged off 10 city buses from Bayalish Mauza and Kandarpur to Cuttack and Bhubaneswar under Cuttack Urban Transport Service Limited (CUTSL).