By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The 5T and Nabin Odisha Chairman VK Pandian visited Bhadrak District on Saturday as per the direction of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Pandian reviewed the progress of the Baitarani Left Embankment Strengthening and Road Development Project at a total cost of Rs. 150.24 Crores. This was a project which has been taken up based on feedback from people during the last visit to Dhamnagar in December 2023.
The embankment strengthening project will reduce the impact of floods in the Bhandaripokhari, Dhamnagar and Chandbali areas during flood situations in river Baitarani. The Pucca Road from Biridi to Tintar Ghat over the river embankment will reduce the travel time by 2 hours between Biridi to Tintar Ghat, and provide faster access to Jajpur Medical College and also to NH 16. The Baitarani left embankment and road strengthening project will benefit approximately 1.20 lakh people of the Bhandaripokhari, Chandabali and Dhamnagar areas of the Bhadrak district.
He also reviewed the progress of Akhuapada and Kochila Instream Storage Structures over river Baitarani at a total cost of Rs. 681 Crs. Both the projects would provide irrigation facilities to an ayacut area of 81,200 Acres. Water would also be available in the Rabi season for cultivation. It would also help in fishery sector development in the area.
The above projects have been sanctioned and taken up based on people’s grievances and demands to Sh Pandian during his visit to Bhadrak last June.
All along the route large number of people gathered and welcomed Kartik Pandian. They appreciated the pro-people approach and travelling for a long distance by bike and checking the ground situation personally. He participated in public meetings at Akhuapada Field and IGM College Field in Dhamnagar.
During his interaction with the public, he informed about the major decisions taken by the Hon’ble Chief Minister like an increase in social security pensions across all categories by Rs. 500 each that would benefit around 58 Lakhs beneficiaries.
He also informed that financial assistance under MAMATA Yojana has been increased from Rs. 5000 to Rs. 10,000. This will further benefit women and infants towards improved nutrition and better health outcomes.
For the benefit of undergraduate and postgraduate students studying in State universities, Govt and non-govt. aided colleges including Sanskrit Colleges and unaided colleges under the Higher Education dept, he informed the novel initiative of the Hon’ble Chief Minister in providing Nua-O Scholarships under which Male students will get Rs 9,000, while Female Students will get Rs 10,000 per annum; The students belonging to eligible SC/ST and Nirman Shramik Families will get Rs 10,000 ( Male) and Rs 11,000 (Female) per annum. The scholarships for the current academic year will be deposited in the bank accounts of the eligible students from Feb 26th onwards.
