Bhubaneswar: Much to the delight of the inhabitants of Padampur in Bargarh district, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday announced that Padampur will get district status within a year. “I announced about Padampur district last December. This must be done within one year,” the Chief Minister announced.
The Chief Minister made the announcement while addressing a public meeting during his visit to Padampur Assembly constituency today. The Chief Minister also visited Jharbandh and Paikmal in Bargarh district today.
Aside from the announcement, the Chief Minister inaugurating a number of welfare projects in the area. He disbursed financial assistance of Rs 1.23 crore to Self Help Groups (SHGs) members in the region. “Our mothers are present in large numbers in today’s meeting. They are doing very well in the mission force. Today, Rs 1.23 crore is being given to the girls here. I hope you will become good entrepreneurs with this money,” the Chief Minister said.
“Last time I announced something for Padampur constituency. Out of that Paikmal Primary Health Center has been converted into Community Health Center. Dhachakra dam work has already started. Land for 133/11 KV substation has been identified. I believe in action, not words.
Addressing a gathering at Paikamal, the Chief Minister said, “I have sanctioned Rs 64 crore for the development of your region. You had met me during the last by-election. You have given me a proposal for the development of every panchayat, every NAC and every ward. I am happy that this money has been sanctioned based on that proposal. Sanctioning money based on people’s proposals is the first in the history of Odisha. I fully believe it will help in the development of the region.”
Making an oblique reference to the Union Ministers, Patnaik said that during the by-election, Union Ministers had visited Padampur and assured about railway project, kendu leaves subsidy, crop insurance and other issues. “I pray Lord Nrusinghanath to make sure that the Union Ministers do remember such assurances,” he added.
It is worth mentioning here that an action committee demanding district status for Padampur had met the CM at his residence in Bhubaneswar in November 2022. Following their discussion with Patnaik, the action committee members had said that the Chief Minister has assured them to accord district status to Padampur sub-division of Bargarh by December 31, 2023.
