On the 157th birth anniversary of poet Gangadhar Meher, a bronze statue of Meher was unveiled in front of the District Collectorate office on Sunday by Bargarh MP Prabhash Singh along with Jharsugada MlA Naba Das and district Collector BB Patnaik.
Chairman of Chauzila Meher Samaj Chandrashekhar Meher, forum’s district president Suresh Meher, city president Pramod Meher and Odiya film actor Ratan Meher were also present at the ceremony.
A grant of Rs 30 lakh has been provided from MCl towards the statue of the legendary poet and its beautification.
Addressing a large gathering, MP Singh described it as a matter of pride to unveil the bronze statue on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the poet. Similarly, in the district, the statue of leading freedom fighters and luminaries will be set up in different places in the coming days, he told.
MlA Das said that nature poet Meher was not only the pride of Odisha but also a precious gem of the whole country.
Prior to the unveiling, the statue was duly worshiped according to the tradition of the Meher Society.
Hundreds of people from nearby Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Bargarh and Meher Samaj of Jharsuguda district were present on the occasion.