Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated a number of projects and laid foundation stones for some in Jagatsinghpur district during an hour-long tour to the district headquarters town on Monday.
The district administration sponsored the Government function where the Chief Minister released a display board for both the inaugurated and upcoming projects, besides addressing a huge public meeting.
Patnaik was accompanied by Excise Minister Dr Damodar Rout, MPs Dr Kulamani Samal, Bishnu Das, MlAs Rajashree Mallick, Prashant Muduli and the Zilla Parishad president. District Collector Yamini Sarangi presided.
Significantly, old intra-district intra-party rivals Minister Rout and MP Das shared dais with the Chief Minister at the meeting which created flutter among the audience. Political observers opined that the coming together was to show that the BJD is united ahead of the panchayat polls.
Rout and MP Samal raised the Central neglect issue by saying that the Centre had slashed funds under various schemes in past few years to Odisha affecting development of the State. They also raised the Mahanadi water issue. Das expressed his gratitude to the CM for inaugurating and laying foundation stones of several projects in the district.
The Chief Minister inaugurated Sanskruti Bhawan, DIET administrative building, Erada bridge at Naugaon and skill development Centre at Tirtol. Similarly, he laid foundation stones for a few road projects, a milk chilling plant, a few pipe water projects, minor and major irrigation projects and administrative building of district employment exchange.
Tight security arrangements were made during the CM’s visit.