Post News Network
Bolangir, August 30: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Sunday laid the foundation stone of a proposed medical college here during his one-day visit to the district.
Patnaik who arrived at the helipad near the medical college site from Tushura where he was received by Rajya Sabha MP AU Singhdeo, Leader of Opposition Narsingha Mishra, MSME minister Jogendra Behera and health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak.
‘‘I am delighted to lay the foundation stone of medical college at Bolangir,’’ the Chief Minister told the media. The construction of the medical college is expected to be completed in two years. The Chief Minister also gave away laptops to meritorious students.
Later, addressing a public meeting at Rajendra College, Patnaik said irrigation and migration of labourers have been the major problems of the district. Biju Janta Dal has all along made efforts to ameliorate the condition of labourers and working class people. The government has raised the daily wages to `200 and introduced pension and insurance schemes for the labourers.
Talking about the development of irrigation in the district, he said construction of Lower Suktel, Lower Indra, Titlagarh irrigation project (stage II) is under way and would help irrigate 48000 hectares in the district. He also sought the people’s cooperation to make Orissa a developed state.
Rajya Sabha MP AU Singhdeo demanded an agriculture university and a permanent bench of High Court at Bolangir. He requested Patnaik to take steps to extend deadline of crop insurance to help people who suffered crop loss in the district.
Among others, health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, minister Jogendra Behera, agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy and BJD state council member Arkesh Singhdeo spoke on this occasion. The CM then left for Titlagarh to inaugurate other development projects. The CM laid the foundation stone of a 50-bed mother and child care hospital, kalyan mandap and 132/33 kv power grid besides inaugurating a Krushi Soochana Kendra in Titlagarh and model school at Jharni.