Keonjhar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday inaugurated, announced and laid the foundation stones for 340 new projects in Keonjhar district with a total budget of around Rs 1,155 crore.
The Chief Minister was the chief guest at the state-level birth anniversary celebration of great revolutionary Dharanidhar Nayak at his birthplace, Kusumita, in Keonjhar district.
On this occasion, Majhi laid the foundation stone for a memorial museum and interpretation centre at Kusumita, with an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore.
Speaking on this occasion, the CM said that Dharanidhar was a symbol of both revolution, spirituality and a resolute fighter who led the anti-British movement in Odisha. The state government has taken various steps to immortalise the memory of Dharanidhar, he said.
Majhi said Dharanidhar’s life teaches us to work with integrity and strive for development. In the first phase of his life, he ignited the fire of rebellion for independence, and in the later phase, he pursued a spiritual path, seeking divine blessings for the country’s freedom.
Though Dharanidhar is no longer with us, his legacy and the revolutionary spirit he ignited remain alive. Today, the fight is not for independence but for development, he added.
The Chief Minister announced that a guest house will be set up in Bhubaneswar in memory of Dharanidhar.
The memorial site, for which the foundation stone was laid, will preserve Dharanidhar’s ancestral home and safeguard the items he used. A museum will be established on two acres of land near his house, along with an interpretation centre. To develop it as a tourist destination, a park and other facilities will also be created.
The Chief Minister further stated that a mega steel plant by JSW will soon be established in Keonjhar, with an initial investment of Rs 35,000 crore. This apart, 30 projects worth a total of Rs 1,29,800 crore will be implemented in Keonjhar, creating employment opportunities for 30,000 to 35,000 young men and women, he said.
Alongside industrial establishments, priority will be given to projects in education, healthcare, transportation, and irrigation, which will propel Keonjhar forward economically.
