Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated hundreds of projects costing about Rs 200 crore in Nuapada district on Wednesdayto mark the completion of 80 years of formation of Odisha and Biju Patnaik birth centenary.
The CM arrived at Khariar after attending meetings in Kalahandi district and proceeded to Nuapada after inauguration of projects at one site in the Khariar Assembly constituency followed by a public meeting.
The inauguration of projects in the Nuapada Assembly constituency was done at one place at the Police ground of Nuapada.
More than 50 members of both opposition BJP and Congress parties had been detained by the police beforehand in anticipation of creating troubles during the CM’s visit. In spite of this and although there was tight police security at both the places, Patnaik was shown black flags and leaflets by Congress and BJP youths, who also shouted slogans of “CM go back” and demanded immediate payment of crop insurance money to farmers and provision of irrigation facilities in the district.
Patnaik in his address to people said his Government would provide farmers insurance worth of Rs 90 crore and banking provision would be made at the panchayat level. Regarding distress migration, the CM assured that it would be totally stopped.
The public meeting was attended by about 7,000 people. “The Anganwadi and ASHA Workers of our village told us that if we do not attend the meeting, the loan to our SHGs would be cancelled; so, we have come here,” said a group of women. Some Government officials, unwilling to be identified, revealed that the fund meant for the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana (BPGY) was diverted to meet the expenses of such functions all over Odisha, which the CM is attending.