Attending a special event, the Chief Minister also oversaw the distribution of land and homestead rights to families affected by Cheligada Medium Irrigation Project.
Under the newly launched R&R package, each of the 1,371 eligible families will receive a one-time direct benefit transfer (DBT) compensation of ₹5 lakh, totalling ₹68.55 crore. Additionally, housing assistance of ₹4.25 crore has been provided to complete 998 incomplete houses and construct 10 new ones.. Over ₹2.80 crore is designated for local infrastructure at the Nua Kirtipur colony, including roads, street lighting, an Anganwadi centre, a market complex, public toilets, a cyclone shelter, and shoreline levelling for fishing boats.
At the same event, 96 of 112 families displaced by the project received titles for homestead land and agricultural land. They are being rehabilitated at Santrapur in Digapahandi with 10 decimals of homestead land and two acres of farmland. The remaining families will receive their pattas shortly.
The Chief Minister, whom women of Golabandha welcomed by tying rakhis, noted that the completion of the Cheligada project by next year will irrigate over 6,000 hectares of farmland across Ganjam and Gajapati districts.
Addressing the gathering, Majhi emphasised that the sacrifice of Golabandha residents had gone unaddressed since 1984, when land was acquired for the Army Air Defense College. He criticized previous administrations for ignoring the issues of the displaced Nolia families and reiterated that the double-engine government is committed to providing permanent security and sustainable livelihoods.
Outlining coastal development initiatives, the Chief Minister detailed plans for the blue economy, including the modernisation of the Arjipalli fishing harbour, establishment of 28 fish landing centres, expansion of Gopalpur Port, and a proposed ₹21,500 crore mega port at Bahuda. Furthermore, an investment exceeding ₹40,000 crore across 14 projects at the Gopalpur Industrial Park is slated to create over 18,000 jobs, he informed.
With more than five lakh jobs expected to be created in the state over the next two years, he urged the youth to skill and train themselves.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said fulfilling people’s hopes and aspirations is the government’s primary goal and that the Revenue Department is giving special attention to accelerating the long-pending rehabilitation project. He assured that all facilities would be provided to the displaced of Golabandha and Chelighad at the earliest and that no delay would be tolerated in the land patta process.
Steel and Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena said 14 projects in the Gopalpur industrial park would bring investments of over ₹40,000 crore and create jobs for more than 18,000 young people, while the mega port at Bahuda would transform Ganjam’s commercial landscape.
MSME, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallick, Aska MP Anita Subhadarshini, Berhampur MP Dr. Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi, regional MLAs, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue Department, Arabinda Padhee, Southern RDC Sangram Keshari Mohapatra, and Ganjam Collector V Kirti Vasan alongside senior district officials were present.