Berhampur: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Monday inaugurated a number of projects including a public health centre and four Anganwadis in Ganjam district.
During a visit to his home constituency Hinjili amid tight security, Patnaik also opened an OPD centre in Sheragada hospital and a panchayat building. The Chief Minister also inaugurated the new urban water supply project for the Hinjili Notified Area Council (NAC) area readied at an estimated cost of `6.14 crore.
Without holding any public meeting in his home constituency, the Chief Minister covered around 20 villages and distributed benefits to the individual beneficiaries of different schemes.
In Hinjili town, he held a road-show, while hundreds of people were standing on both sides of the National Highway-59, which passes through the town.
“We have submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister at Takarada, near Sheragada, appealing to extend the Harabhangi canal to Sheragada area,” said Samir Pradhan, secretary, Ganjam district sugarcane growers’ association and former member of the Zilla Parishad. Farmers of the area, who are now depending on lift irrigation and other sources for irrigation would be benefited with the extension of the canal, he added.
The Chief Minister also held a road-show at Kamapalli area in Berhampur and addressed a gathering at Markandi, a fishermen village, near Gopalpur.
In Berhampur, Patnaik laid foundation stone for six children’s parks which would cost around `1.50 crore and inaugurated the newly-constructed building of the district education office (DEO) here.
He also inaugurated six new buildings including four hostels, academic block and laboratory complex at MKCG Medical College here at an investment of over `70 crore.
Similarly at Markandi, the Chief Minister inaugurated a fish landing centre. The fish landing centre, a long-standing demand of the local fishermen, was established at an estimated cost of `5 crore, said higher education minister Pradeep Panighrahi, who represents Gopalpur Assembly segment.
At least 10 youth Congress activists were taken into preventive custody by the police for allegedly trying to show black flags and burn Patnaik’s effigy here during his visit to Berhampur. They were released later, said SDPO SK Das. PNN