Jajpur/Bhubaneswar: Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja visited Jajpur district today and inspected Nagada under Sukinda block to assess the ground situation and review developmental projects.
Despite intense summer heat, accompanied by Secretary of Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department Girish S.N., Departmental Director Vineet Bhardwaj, and District Collector P. Anvesha Reddy, he went door-to-door to inquire about the well-being of Nagada residents. District Collector P. Anvesha Reddy briefed the Chief Secretary on the progress of various projects in the Nagada area.
The Chief Secretary reviewed ongoing projects, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, public health, women and child development, and drinking water supply initiatives.
At the Upper Nagada Anganwadi Center, he conducted a ground-zero assessment. Observing that some beneficiaries’ houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana were only 60% complete, he expressed concern and directed the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad, Ashok Kumar Behuria, and BDO Pradipta Kumar Sethi to ensure their swift completion.
He inquired about the health of Suba, the wife of Shikar Pradhan, who had given birth at home without vaccinations, and instructed officials to immediately include eligible beneficiaries in the Mamata Yojana who had been excluded.
In the presence of Chief Engineer Balram Mishra and Executive Engineer Ratnakar Sahu, the Chief Secretary was informed about the quality of drinking water supply and the fluoride content in it. Visiting the home of Katikia Pradhan, he observed grain storage methods and Juang traditions.
Responding to the villagers’ demand for a pond for bathing and sanitation, he inspected the site near a spring above the village and directed the Jalachhaya Project Director, Ramakant Parida, to take necessary action. He expressed satisfaction upon learning that many women were using Subhadra scheme funds for goat and poultry farming.
Under the Forest Rights Act, he instructed the District Collector, Tehsildar Manas Ranjan Tripathy, DFO Anil Ray, and ACF Santosh Kumar Pati to expedite the issuance of agricultural land titles. Accompanied by DEO Nityananda Barik and BEO Narayan Das, he visited the Nagada Government Upper Primary School, where School Management Committee President Kripa Pradhan and Chukuli Pradhan demanded education in the Juang language, school boundary walls, and spring water conservation. Noting irregular attendance by some students, he advised improvements.
At Deogaon, he inspected a 200-bed tribal hostel, unused for three years, and directed DWO Sarat Chandra Behera, Special Officer Sunaram Singh, and Public Works Department Superintending Engineer Kamal Kumar Swain to make it operational promptly. Finally, at the Kaliapani Primary Health Center, he advised CDMO Dr. Prakash Chandra Bal, Superintendent Dr. Jaydeb Nanda, and DPM Bishwaranjan Rath on upgrades.
Other officials present included DSWO Parbati Sahu, DSSO Rabindranath Behera, Assistant Director (Horticulture) Radheshyam Behera, Executive Engineer of Rural Development Department Abinash Barik, DMF Team Leader Dr. Satya Swarup Panda, Ashirbad Nayak, Ombudsman Education Officer Deepak Nanda, and others.
