Balangir: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched 83 development projects worth Rs 890 crore in different sectors in Balangir district on Saturday.
During his visit to the western Odisha district, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of several projects and inaugurated a number of others. A total of 83 projects in irrigation, health infrastructure, piped water supply, bridge construction, and road construction were launched. Majhi addressed two public meetings in Belapada and Patanagarh.
Official sources said the CM first laid the foundation stone for upgrading the 1,330-meter Tusura airstrip runway to be taken up at a cost of Rs 65 crore. After upgrade, the airstrip will be categorised as 2-B, enabling direct flights between Balangir and Bhubaneswar, and accelerating development in the district.
Majhi then laid the foundation stone for improving the Upper Lanth Irrigation Project in Belpada Block, costing over Rs 300 crore. The CM stated that the government aims to create more irrigation facilities in low-irrigation areas. The Upper Lanth project is said to be a special initiative.
Upon completion, over 15,000 acres of land will be irrigated in Kharif and Rabi seasons, benefiting 38,000 farmers from 25 villages in Belpada block. The project will solve water problems in Belpada, he said.
The Upper Lanth Irrigation Project will revolutionize irrigation, featuring a 2,495-meter-long dam on Lanth River, generating 210 kilowatts of electricity through hydropower units.
This apart, the Chief Minister inaugurated Patnagarh Sub-divisional hospital (SDH) and a dialysis centre and laid the foundation stone of a bypass road for the town. A dialysis centre for Titlagarh was also inaugurated.
The CM launched three mega and mini water supply projects in Patnagarh and Belpada. Majhi also inaugurated the newly built power house at Balangir.
A new circuit house building constructed at a cost of Rs 8.78 crore at Balangir was inaugurated by the CM during his visit.
Deputy CM K V Singh Deo, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling and Balangir MP Sangeeta Singh Deo were among the dignitaries who attended the event.
Stating that Balangir remained neglected for the last 75 years, Majhi said the BJP government is determined to remove regional disparities and bring development in all parts of the state.