Bhubaneswar/Phulbani: Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg concluded a two-day visit to Kandhamal district, during which she reviewed tourism potential and assessed the implementation of key government development programs, including livelihood generation, education, healthcare, and drinking water supply.
The Chief Secretary arrived in Phulbani on Tuesday and was received by the district administration. This was her first visit to Kandhamal after assuming charge as Chief Secretary. During the visit, she emphasised strengthening tourism infrastructure and ensuring the effective delivery of welfare schemes at the grassroots level.
She interacted with tribal students undergoing civil services coaching and encouraged them to pursue their goals with determination. The coaching program is being conducted by the district administration with support from the Odisha Mining Corporation. She also visited the district e-library and the medical college, offering suggestions to improve healthcare services and medical education.
On the second day, Anu Garg visited the Eco Retreat and coffee garden at Daringbadi, appreciating the café operated by the Bethinia Women Self-Help Group. She also toured Hill View Park, managed by the Sanjasaru Trust, highlighting its role in promoting community-led tourism. At Siritiguda, she inspected the OPTCL power transmission project and instructed officials to make a two-phase transmission system operational by June 2026.
The Chief Secretary reviewed development works in Nuagaon and Phiringia blocks, including the turmeric processing centre at KASAM and integrated farming initiatives at Manipadar village. Women are engaged in mandia cultivation and tank-based farming, while KASAM is diversifying products such as black rice, hand-pounded rice, and jackfruit chips. She inaugurated the KASAM outlet and reception centre. The integrated farming system is supported by the Horticulture Department, Odisha Livelihood Mission, and ITDA, covering crops like strawberries, marigold flowers, and peas.
At PM Shri Government Girls SSD High School in Phiringia, she interacted with students and hostel residents, expressing satisfaction with the infrastructure and assuring prompt attention to their concerns. Later, she visited the water purification centre at Harabhanga and directed officials to expedite water supply. She also convened a meeting of district-level officers at Sadbhabana Sabha Gruha in Kandhamal.
During the visit, she was accompanied by District Magistrate Vedbhushan, CDO-cum-EO Sambhunath Nandi, ITDA Project Administrator Gadadhar Patra, ADM (Revenue) Ramesh Chandra Jena, Sub-Collector Pranita Dash, and other senior officials.
Expressing displeasure at the delay in the Harabhanga Water Treatment Plant, she issued strict instructions to L&T, RWSS officials, and other stakeholders to adhere to prescribed timelines.
After inspecting water supply projects in the neighbouring Boudh district, the Chief Secretary returned to Phulbani to chair a review meeting. Speaking to the media, she said the visit aimed to monitor government schemes, identify implementation challenges—particularly in drinking water and biodiversity-related projects—and ensure timely resolution through coordination with the state government.
