SAMBALPUR: A life-size bronze statue of former President APJ Abdul Kalam was unveiled at Chandra Sekhar Behera (CSB) Zilla School Chowk in the city to mark the birth anniversary of the Missile Man on Sunday.
Locals still cherish the visit of Kalam to the school on November 29, 2014 and the words of wisdom he had shared with the students. The statue was unveiled by Sambalpur MLA Raseswari Panigrahi in the presence of Chairperson of Sambalpur Development Authority Bijay Mohanty, former Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra, Director of Technical Education and Training Balwant Singh and Collector Samarth Verma.
Executive Engineer of Public Works Department, Sambalpur, G C Sahu said the beautification work, along with installation of the statue, have been undertaken at an estimated cost of about `25 lakh funded by MCL. Apart from landscaping work, ornamental plants have been planted and two fountains installed in front of the statue besides lighting arrangement to make the place attractive, he added. Similarly, the historical Paltan Kuan (well) at the Chowk has been renovated.
Rich tribute paid
Jajpur: The 86th birth anniversary of Dr Kalam was also celebrated at Jaraka in the district by several social organisations. Youths and locals paid their tributes to the Missile Man. At a function, chairman of Brain Trust, a social organisation, and BJD Dalit Cell district unit president Ajit Kumar Jena, educationist P A Kumar and Bijay Kumar Das spoke on the contributions of Dr Kalam.