A comprehensive plan estimate for 2014-15 worth `1,54,205.46 lakh was approved in the district plan monitoring committee meeting here. It was presided over by Revenue Minister Bijyashree Routray.
The district, having geographical area of 3,479 sq km, has 16, 98, 730 persons living in the municipality, four notified area councils (NACs), eleven blocks, 230 gram panchayats and 1,715 revenue villages with a population density of 488 per sq km.
The plan envisages `8,122.14 lakh for development of agriculture, `19,552.09 lakh for rural development, `10, 410.25 lakh for irrigation, drainage and flood control, `33,420.77 lakh for energy sector, `634.13 lakh for industries and minerals, `35,471.01 lakh for road and transport, `152.26 lakh for science, technology and environment, `5,771.11 lakh for general economic services and `40,617.70 lakh for social services sector.
Under the infrastructure development projects for Nabakalebar scheduled for June next in which over 30 lakh devotees are expected to throng the city to witness the ritual and annual Rath Yatra, special provisions were made for smooth conduct of the pilgrims during the fete.
About `3.66 crore has been released for widening of national highway 203-A from Puri to Alarnath temple under Brahmagiri block; `1.5 crore for development of Deuli mutt and Ma Mangala temple at Kakatpur and `3.5 crore has been provided for creating temporary pilgrim shelters for one lakh devotees in the city.
The committee plan documents released to media reflect that there are 963 females against one thousand males in the district, while its literacy stands at 84.70 per cent. The district has 1, 88,745 hectares of cultivable land, including 76,865 hectares non irrigated land. The total forest land is only 142.25 sqkm.
Apart from Minister Routray, district Collector Arabind Agarwal, the officials of planning department, the MlAs, the chairpersons of Puri civic body and four notified area councils, besides the Zila Parishad president were present.