Keeping the 2014 elections in view, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik blew the election bugle through a series of development measures for the voters in his home district here on Monday.
While addressing the public in the local ITI ground, Patnaik said his Government is determined to bridge the gap between the rural and urban folk. For construction of new concrete cement roads in Brahmapur, an amount of Rs 150 crore would be spent which would strengthen the communication system in the district, he added.
While dedicating 28 ambulances under the Odisha Emergency Ambulance Service (OEAS) to Ganjam district, he made many pronouncements for the welfare of his home district, including Government’s plan to supply energy to slum areas, proposal for spending
Rs 409 crore on the Janiballi Water Project to meet the drinking water scarcity of Brahmapur town and its adjoiing areas, establishment of water treatment plant at Dakshinpur and the vision of his Government to provide several such basic civic amenities to the public. While drawing the public attention to health sector, the Chief Minister said that the introduction of OEAS which ensures the ratio of one ambulance per one lakh population would help boost the health sector and around 400 ambulances would be deployed in phases, he informed.
The OEAS service, in first phase, has been introduced in 15 out of 30 districts, including Ganjam. The mega Janiballi water project has been conceived keeping the emerging drinking water needs of the public for coming 30 years, he envisaged. Addressing the public, Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Damodar Rout described the dedication of OEAS as a milestone in the health sector. State Revenue Minister Suryanarayan Patro in his customary speech described Patnaik as Kamadhenu of contemporary age.
A bunch of Ministers and public representatives, including Bikram Arukh, Usha Devi, Sidhanta Mahapatra, Ramesh Chandra Chyau Pattnaik, PradipPanigrahi also spoke. Among others present were MlA Purna Chandra Sethi, Adikanda Sethi, Debaraj Mohanty and BMC Mayor Siba Sankar Das. Ganjam CDMO Dr Suryanarayan Routroy offered vote of thanks.
However, the Chief Minister’s visit was marked by chaotic scenes with protest march and sloganeering against the BJD Government. The Asha Karmis shouted slogans against the Government’s apathy for not paying their dues and demanded assurances from Patnaik and Health Minister Rout for payment of their salary at par with regular employees.
They put up a road blockade for three hours which led to a scuffle between the police and the Asha Karmis. Interestingly, the Home Guards on duty acted as mute spectators apparently to settle scores against the police excess on them during their demonstration at Bhubaneswar.
The Nagar Congress workers marched in a protest rally and showed black flag to the Chief Minister protesting police excess too. All commercial establishments of Gosaninuagam remained closed protesting Goondaraj and hooliganism in the town.