Kotagarh: Following a directive from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Saturday, four secretaries of energy, rural development, health and PWD departments – Rajesh Burma, Madhusudan Padhi, Arati Ahuja and Nalini Kant Pradhan – visited Gumudimaha village in tribal-dominated Kandhamal district Sunday.
They held a meeting with the officials of all departments at DRDA conference hall and discussed about development of Gumudimaha where five innocent tribals were killed by security forces recently.
Rural development secretary Madhusudan Padhi said that there was a discussion about development of various sectors like communication, electricity, education, health, drinking water, solar lighting in all villages of the district.
Electricity will be provided to the village in seven days and 60 families will get connections,
Padhi said. A motorable road will be laid to the village after drawing up an action plan, he added.
“We asked officials of all the departments to carry out development of villages like Gumudimaha. Road connectivity projects will be undertaken in all villages in the district within three months so that four wheelers and ambulances can get access to the areas,” Padhi said.
Development programmes cannot be carried out in rural areas in the absence of motorable roads, he added.
Keeping in view various problem of the district, a master plan will be prepared soon, Padhi said. PNN
