Continuing his tirade against the Union Government, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday said the interest of Odisha has been not been protected by the Centre even as his Government is striving hard and taking measures for an all-round growth of the State.
Patnaik said this while addressing a gathering at Belpada, 60 km from here. He said drought-hit farmers would be given bonus of Rs 100 per a quintal of paddy that has already been procured by them. He inaugurated around 10 projects on the occassion.
“Construciton of barrages by the Chhattisgarh Government upstream Mahanadi will affect millions of people in Odisha. While the Chhattisgarh Government has acted against the interest of Odisha people, the Center has not taken steps to protect it,” he said and called upon people to help his Government to save Mahanadi.
Balangir MP Kalikesh Singh Deo placed a proposal before the CM to declare Belpada as a NAC and implement Upparlanth irrigation project early.
Among others, Minister Snehangini Chhuria and MP AU Singh Deo were present.
Around 50 BJP and Congress activists had been detained ahead of Patnaik’s visit.