CM goes on stone laying spree

Naveen laid stones and inaugurated as many as 20 development projects in the district
Chief Minister laying foundation stones at Nabakrushna Choudhury Stadium | Express
Chief Minister laying foundation stones at Nabakrushna Choudhury Stadium | Express

JAGATSINGHPUR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik went on a foundation laying and inauguration spree at Jagatsinghpur on Monday. He laid stones and inaugurated as many as 20 development projects at the Nabakrushna Choudhury Stadium in the district headquarters town of Jagatsinghpur.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said Jagatsinghpur has entirely changed after the 1999 Super Cyclone due to development projects being implemented by the State Government. So far, 10 lakh pucca houses have been provided to people who were affected by the cyclone in the district. "Government's focus has been on development of agriculture, irrigation, industrial growth, road communication, health sector and generation of employment," he said. With an eye on the ensuing panchayat election, he said the State Government has been providing more funds to panchayats for development of rural areas.

Some of the projects that he inaugurated include Sanskruti Bhawan, administrative block of DIET. Foundation stones for Adarsha Vidyalaya at Salijanga, high-level bridge at Biluakhai, Devidola, district employment exchange office, minor canals at Machgaon, piped water supply project at Nuagaon to provide safe drinking water to 192 villages and a skill development training centre at Tirtol were also laid.

Among others, Cooperation and Excise Minister Damodar Rout, MPs Bishnu Das and Kulamani Samal, MLAs Prasant Muduli and Rajshree Mallick besides Collector Yamini Sarangi were present.
On the other hand, laying of foundation stones and inaugurations at one venue did not go down well with the Opposition leaders, who claimed that Naveen did not visit villages apprehending opposition from the locals.
Heavy security arrangements were made at the venue. Earlier in the day, Jagatsinghpur Police detained Congress leaders including Student Congress leader Sunil Matia. Nine platoons of police force were deployed.

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