Religious: Gajapati District Administration has taken various infrastructure development works worth RS 18 Crore for Gangabad Panchayat dominated by tribes at the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border, which is damaged by Cyclone titli in 2018.
Development work will include a long pending road from Kainpur to Gangabad (Rs 9.65 crore), other 2.5-km roads from champapur to gangabad (rs 5.4 crore), cyclone shelter center (rs 1.71 crore), pipe water supply to household in gangabad and manikpatna (rs 17 lakh) and system installation Solar power in five places from three Panchayat villages, including Gangabad, Manikpatna and Champur (Rs 5 Crore).
“We have taken all works in different development schemes after conducting a review of the border panic problems during field visits,” said Gajapati Collector Lingaraj Panda.
The work has begun and will be completed in six months, said another officer.
Panchayat infrastructure was badly damaged at Cyclone Titli, who was hit in October 2018.
Minister of Naveen Patnaik had visited the area as soon as the storm hit and asked the local government to take development work.
In addition, Gangabad often remains in news for his border disputes with neighboring Andhra Pradesh who is suspected of trying to disturb the pancidges by luring the population.
Apart from the development of infrastructure facilities, district administration has also taken various programs under the Mission of Odisha Livelihood (OLM) for the economic development of locals.
Financial support was expanded to female self-help groups to caress ornamental fish, collecting acids and start various other vocational activities, said sources.
Similarly, construction of 206 houses under a different scheme has been completed at 2020-21 in Pancrayat, the source added.