BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday reviewed implementation of several important projects at Naveen Nivas here.
The high-level official meeting at Naveen Nivas on a Sunday, which is unusual, was attended by Chief Secretary AP Padhi, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister UN Behera, Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan and Principal Secretary in Water Resources Department Pradip Jena. Several issues including the State’s response to the Polavaram dam project are reported to have been discussed.
In a tweet, the Chief Minister said he had a discussion with the senior officials at Naveen Nivas. Focus was on irrigation and employment, he said.
The State Government had come in for criticism in the recently concluded winter session of the Assembly for failure to fulfil promises for creating irrigation potential in 35 per cent farm land in every block.
In its manifesto for 2014 elections, the BJD had announced to create additional irrigation potential for 10 lakh hectares during next five years. Besides, the manifesto had announced to launch ‘Chief Minister Employment Guarantee Scheme’ to impart skill development to at least 150 youths from each gram panchayat to make them self-employed.
However, promises made in manifestoes for elections to create job opportunities for 20 lakh youths remained unfulfilled. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed has crossed 10 lakh in the State.