Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday directed to double the annual financial grant to Western Odisha Development Council (WODC). The fund allocation to WODC will be Rs 200 crore in 2021-22 financial year, the decision was announced while reviewing the programmes of the council via video conferencing.
Patnaik also directed to open WODC offices in 10 districts in the western Odisha and one office at Athamallik in Angul district to expedite the development works in the region. He also emphasised on the creation of more job opportunities for the youths.
The direction of the Chief Minister came ahead of his visit to Sundargarh district on Tuesday to lay the foundation stone of the country’s largest hockey stadium on the campus of the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT).
It was decided at the meeting that WODC would take steps to expedite the completion of many major projects in western Odisha in a timely manner. Large-scale infrastructure projects such as Biju Expressway, Lower Suktel Irrigation Project, etc. are expected to contribute to the development of western Odisha. The official put emphasis on creating infrastructure for poultry in Bolangir, fish farming in Kalahandi, dairying and milk production in Sonepur and Boudh, rice and its value addition in Sambalpur, Baragarh and Sonepur and handloom cluster in this region.
