Odisha CM’s ‘Follow Rules Strictly’ Appeal Amid COVID Resurgence Fear

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday appealed to the people to strictly follow COVID-19 guidelines of wearing masks, social distancing and others in the wake of spiking of positive cases in Maharastra and other parts of the country.

Replying to the motion of thanks on Governor’s address in the Assembly, the chief minister said even as the world went through an unprecedented crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic over the last one year, Odisha could overcome the challenge due to the state’s disaster preparedness and cooperation of the people.

“This was a completely new type of war we were fighting against an invisible and unknown enemy. However, with courage and determination, we as a society have been able to effectively rise to the occasion,” he said.

Stating that Odisha was the first state to declare the situation as a disaster even before a single case was detected, he said the government went for targeted lockdown much before the national lockdown.

“We were the first state to set up large scale dedicated Covid Hospitals and partnered with the leading private hospitals in this regard. Many of these facilities were provided in record time period,” he said.

The government managed the return of lakhs of migrant Odias, he said and lauded the contributions of sarpanchs, PRI members, Mission Shakti groups, field level workers like ASHA workers for their crucial role in the successful management of the COVID.

“From a situation of uncertainty and social stigma, we have reached a stage of vaccination and return to normal daily life. We still have a long way to go before declaring the end of this war. With spiking of covid cases in Maharastra and other parts of the country, I appeal to the people to strictly follow wearing of masks, social distancing and other COVID guidelines,” he said.

Stating that state economy recovered from the impact of the pandemic and its revenue increased by 7.3% compared to the corresponding period last year, the chief minister said Odisha emerged as leading investment destination with over Rs 1.2 lakh crores investment in the last one year.

Stressing that heritage conservation and development has been a top priority for the government, he said large scale development projects in Puri, Ekamra Kshetra, Maa Samaleswari Temple, Harishankar Temple, Nrusinghanath Temple, Konark, Tara Tarini have been taken up.

“We are firmly and determinedly on a path to new and empowered Odisha which will satisfy the aspirations of the people and provide them opportunities to dream big and realise their potential,” the chief minister said.