The State Government on Monday constituted a taskforce headed by Central Division RDC AB Ota to ensure development of the Nagada area in Jajpur district following reports of death of 18 children due to acute malnourishment.
Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan, who on Monday convened a meeting of officials after receiving the report of the Social Welfare Director at the Secretariat here, informed that the taskforce would look into an overall development of the area including health, roads, electricity and drinking water.
Moreover, a nodal officer would be appointed in each line department to review the work and the RDC would submit a report on the progress every week, informed Balakrishnan.
It was reported that as many as 18 children have died of malnutrition in the last three months in the mining area.
Nagada is situated on a hilltop in a dense forest in minerals-rich Sukinda block. located about 30 km from Sukinda chromite valley and more than 50 km from the Kalinga Nagar Industrial Complex, there is virtually no road to the village.
Even for basic necessities, the villagers have to trek more than 15 km through dense forest to reach a motorable road.