Balangir: Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Sunday said that Balangir district was neglected by the previous BJD government.
“There was no dearth of leadership, but no developmental work was carried out. The new government has initiated welfare projects worth Rs 890 crore here that will help in the ‘vikas’ of the district. Work will begin on Tusura airstrip and Khurda-Balangir railway project will also be completed soon,” the CM, who is on a two-day visit to the district, told a presser.
He assured that the district would be given the topmost priority under his government. “With two Cabinet minister – Deputy CM K V Singhdeo, also Patnagarh MLA, and Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, an MLA from Loisingha – in charge, Balangir has a triple engine government working towards its development,” he said.
“Balangir experiences drought-like situation as it receives less rainfall. Though projects were announced to tide over the crisis, those have not been expedited. We are taking steps to provide proper irrigation facilities, check dams, deep borewells, piped drinking water and better road and health infrastructure,” he said.
The CM further said that construction of the Rs 300 crore Upper Lanth Irrigation Project was the main motive behind his Balangir visit. “Apart from the foundation stone laying, I have stressed timely completion of the project. This project will irrigate over 15,000 acre of land in both kharif and rabi seasons benefiting 38,000 farmers from 25 villages in Belpada block. A hydropower project is also being planned on the 2495-m dam across Lanth river for generating 210 kw electricity,” he said.
He also informed about state Cabinet’s decision to increase the MSP of paddy to Rs 3100/quintal. “Likewise, our government will also provide Rs 10,000 to farmers under PM-Kisan and CM-Kisan Yojanas in 3 and 2 instalments respectively,” he added.
Provisions have been made for drinking water supply for Patnagarh and Belpada, he said.
On the Mahanadi dispute, CM Mohan Majhi said that he has had held discussions with his Chhattisgarh counterpart twice. “The state government is contemplating speeding up proposed projects over Mahanadi,” he added.
On Saturday, Majhi laid foundation stones and inaugurated a slew of infrastructure projects worth Rs 890 crore in the presence of Deputy CM KV Singh Deo. He laid the foundation stone for development of Tusura airstrip’s 1,330-metre runway at a cost of Rs 65 crore, following which it will be categorised as 2-B and allow for direct flights between Balangir and Bhubaneswar.