[Watch] Odisha CM’s Balasore Visit: Black Bags Forbidden & Roads Blocked

Balasore/Bhadrak: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth Rs 1500 crore in Balasore district and Rs 300 crore in Bhadrak.

The Chief Minister also distributed smart health cards under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) in Balasore and inaugurated it through virtual mode in Bhadrak.

Ahead of the Chief Minister’s visit to Balasore during the day, the district administration and police had virtually shut down several routes to avert protests by the opposition parties.

School and college students as well as office-goers had to face problems in reaching their destinations. Many had to take diversions and longer routes to reach their destinations.

The steps were taken after egg attack on the CM’s vehicle in Puri.  Tight security arrangements were made under the supervision of Eastern Zone Police Superintendent Himanshu Lal. Balasore SP Sudhanshu Shekhar Parida, Additional SP, 13 DSPs and 25 platoon security forces were on duty to prevent protests.

Protesting the tight security and accusing the government of  causing inconvenience to the the public, Congress and BJP marched to the routes that the CM’s carcade was to pass by and showed black flags besides raising slogans.

BJP district president Umakant Mohapatra, former MLA Govind Chandra Das, Congress district president Sanjib Giri, BJP leader Gaurang Das, Rajesh Mohapatra, Srinivasan Pradhan and other leaders of both parties were detained at a government guest house before Naveen’s visit.

Some local leaders led by BJP youth wing state vice-president Manas Kumar Dutt, marched to the ADM Chowk where they engaged in a scuffle with police when they were prevented from entering the restricted zone.

Despite the security arrangements Congress workers hurled eggs at Minister Sudam Marndi’s vehicle near Sergarh while he was on his way to Nilagiri from Balasore.

in Bhadrak, BJP workers engaged in a scuffle with police at Townhall Square ahead of CM’s video conferencing programme. Police detained several BJP workers including party’s district unit president for taking out black flag rally.

Other incidents like a woman BJP protestor being stopped by an alleged BJD worker and a photo journalist not allowed to carry  black bag to the venue were reported on the day.

Highlights of CM’s visit

20 lakh people in Balasore and 11 lakh in Bhadrak to benefit from BSKY health cards

Rs 900 crore for mega pipeline project in 6 blocks. Nearly 6.5 lakh people in 660 villages will benefit from the project.

Wholesale fish market to come up at Basta on 20 acre land at an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore.

A 300-bed hospital to be built in Bhadrak

Construction of two mega drinking water projects worth Rs 950 crore under process. The schemes will benefit 7 lakh people

Rs 245 crore loan given through Mission Shakti.