Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the much-awaited Dhokra Festival at the Mini Stadium here on Saturday. Speaking on this occasion, Patnaik said his Government has taken all possible steps for promotion of handicrafts and economic development of village artisans. He said steps have been taken to provide irrigation facility to 10 lakh hectares of cultivable land soon.
Dhenkanal MP Tathagat Satpathy, who attended the programme as a guest, termed Patnaik as the builder of future Odisha and slammed the Narendra Modi Government on many fronts. He said the present mining policy of the Centre would pave way for corruption. Among others, Parjang MlA Nrusingha Charan Sahu, Sadar MlA Saroj Samal, Hindol MlA Seema Rani Nayak, Zilla Parishad President Binodini Samal spoke on the occasion. District Collector Rupa Roshan Sahu delivered welcome address and DRDA PD Madhu Sudan Mishra gave vote of thanks.
The Chief Minister inaugurated marble stones of eleven other projects at the meeting besides distributing pension and land patta to beneficiaries. Sources said though mountaineer Kalpana Dash was scheduled to be felicitated by the Chief Minister, yet the plan was cancelled at the last moment. At least 30 dhokra groups have put up stalls at the festival ground to sell their metal products.