Bhubaneswar: Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra on Monday directed Health department and Sundargarh collector to strictly adhere to COVID-19 norms and follow all the standard operating procedures during the visit of President Ram Nah Kovind to Odisha on March 21.
At a high-level meeting to review the preparations for the President’s visit to Rourkela for National Institute of Technology (NIT) convocation on March 21, the Chief Secretary said COVID-19 testing – RTPCR – is mandatory for every official on duty.
Mahapatra directed all the guests, educations sharing the stage with the President and students receiving degrees and certificates from the President as well as drivers engaged on duty to undergo COVID-19 test.
During his one-day visit to the Steel City, Kovind is scheduled to attend the 18th convocation of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela.
Later in the day, he will inaugurate the Super Speciality Hospital on the campus of Ispat General Hospital (IGH). Odisha Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will also attend the function.
At the meeting, Special Secretary of Home Department Santosh Bala presented details of the measures taken for the visit. The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Sanjeev Chopra; Odisha DGP Abhay, Commissioner of Police Soumendra Priyadarshi and collectors of Khurda, Puri and Jharsuguda attended the meeting via video conferencing.
The President would stay at Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar the same night. On March 22, he is likely to visit the Sun Temple at Konark. This is the first time that Kovind will visit Konark after assuming office as the President.
Also Read: President Kovind To Visit Rourkela On March 21; Know His Odisha Itinerary
