BOUDH:Ten lakh hectares of land will be irrigated in days to come to benefit 60 lakh farmers in the State, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday.
After laying the foundation stone of a bridge over river Mahanadi here, Naveen said 64 per cent of land in Boudh have already been irrigated.
The bridge will connect Athamallick in Angul district with Dhalpur in Boudh district.
Reiterating his commitment to make Odisha one of the most developed States of the country, he said the Food Security Act will cover 78 per cent of people in the State and steps are being taken to provide vocational training to 11 lakh youths. This is in addition to the steps being taken for self-employment of women. The Chief Minister also spoke about his vision of pucca houses for the poor under Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana.
Later in the day, Naveen dedicated four projects to the people including 132/33 KV grid station at Landibandh, an ANM training centre and ANM hostel, soil testing laboratory and Padhel minor irrigation project.
He also laid foundation stone of Onion and Garlic Research Centre to be developed over 50 acres of land at a cost of Rs 550 crore at Paljhar under Baghiapada gram panchayat, Model Degree College at Boudh, model schools at Ghodadain in Harbhanga block, Ainlachuan in Kantamal block and Tetelenga in Boudh block. The Onion and Garlic Research Centre will be set up by the Centre.