Prime Minster Narendra Modi’s attention has been drawn to the Maoist-hit and tribal belts of Keonjhar and Dhenkanal districts urging him to fulfill a slew of demands for the development of the backward areas.
A letter to Prime Minister Modi said both Dhenkanal and Keonjhar districts have contributed around Rs 32,971.22 crore of coal and iron ore during the Financial Year 2013-14, but in terms of development, they have been neglected.
Citing that these areas remain backward in rail and road communication, education and all other sectors, the Prime Minister was urged to take special initiatives for them so that Assembly Constituencies like Athagarh, Dhenkanal, Kamakhyanagar, Parajang (Kankadahad belt-highly tribal dominated), Telkoi and Harichandanpur of Keonjhar (highly tribal belt) and Keonjhar get better infrastructure.
The rail service from Dhenkanal to Keonjhar via Joranda and Marthapur will help connect Keonjhar district with places like Joranda, Kapilash and Dhenkanal. Each year more than 10 lakh tourists visit these places. The project will help to integrate Dhenkanal with Keonjhar, boost economic development of the two districts, connect places hitherto not provide rail link like Kamakhyanagar, Parajang , Telkoi, Ghasipura areas and facilitate urbanization and industrialisation in these areas.
Similarly, a National Highway from Bhubaneswar to Kankadahad via Jiral and Mathakarogala will shorten road link between Dhenkanal. From Mundali to Dhenkanal via Deopada (Manipur) is around 27 km. If a four-laning road can be made on this route, it will help Dhenkanal to integrate with Bhubaneswar. Dhenkanal as a city has never grown rapidly since independence. This district has a very poor urbanisation rate of around 9 per cent.
A two laning road from Dhenkanal to Kankadahad will connect Joranda, Banasingh, Jiral, Mathakarogala and Kankadahad. In turn, this road will link up to Keonjhar. This National Highway will help to improve the connectivity in Dhenkanal district and ultimately help to assist in urbanisation, industrialisation and rapid growth.
These apart, setting up of the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIElIT), the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research and the Indian Institute of Forestry Research and Education in Dhenkanal and Kamakhyanagar region will provide the much needed boost to the region’s educationl growth. The Prime Minister was also urged to develop Baji Rout Memorial and nearby areas of Bhuban of Dhenkanal district as a tourism hub in India.