Boudh: Identify and promote the local entrepreneurs in potential sectors of success, directed Chief Advisor to Chief Minister and Chairman Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) Asit Kumar Tripathy here on Thursday.
Mr.Tripathy’s direction came during a review of the progress of various developmental projects of Boudh and Sonepur districts in the Collectorate conference hall of Boudh.
He asked the local officers to identify the youths with entrepreneurial talent and handhold them to start their ventures.
Boudh district has promising and proven potential for horticulture, fishery, handloom, handicraft poultry, rice bran oil, layer farms and vegetable processing units, he said.
Tripathy said that the local entrepreneurs could be linked with various bulk purchasers and online marketing platforms to sale their products at profitable rate and added, “WODC funds would be used for creating the deficit infrastructure in maintaining the supply chain in these sectors”.
The progress of the projects under WODC fund was reviewed in the meeting.
The major projects included establishment of agro polytechnic institute at Boudh, construction of cultural auditorium, construction of new library in Boudh Panchayat college, pipe water supply scheme in village Btamhanipali of Boudh block, children park at Khaliapali, Biju Patnaik stadium at Kantamal, improvement of Hrbanga-Dhalpur road, improvement Jagati village-Pherighat road, Tileswar-Ramgarh road and other road projects.
The review showed that so far 1616 projects of worth Rs.81.31 crore have been sanctioned for Boudh district under WODC fund.
As of now 1458 projects have been completed and 158 projects are in various phases of implementation and around Rs.77 cr havs been invested in construction of these projects.
The WODC Chairman directed the officials to complete the projects within the scheduled time for avoiding any possible price escalation in cost of the projects.
Similarly, around 1985 projects of worth around Rs.100 crore have been sanctioned under WODC fund in Sonepur districts.
Against this as of now 1505 projects have been completed with investment of around Rs. 84 crore and the balance 480 projects are in different phases of implementation.
Further, Mr.Tripathy also reviewed what role private sector can play in creation of new employment opportunities in primary sectors like agriculture and allied sectors.
He advised the district administration of both the districts to invite more private sector investment in these sectors and provide them all facilitating support to set up their units in these districts.
Collector Boudh Lalatendu Mishra, Collector Sonepur Monisha Banerjee, Superintendent of Police Boudh V Raghunath Rao, Chief Executive Officer WODC SK Patel, Project Director Babita Dalabehera along with senior officers of concerned departments participated in the review.
Before the review, Mr.Tripathy inspected the arrangements done for visit of tourists to the district museum at Boudh.
Expressing satisfaction over the displays in the museum, he said that the museum is a link between past, present and future. It will help coming generations to take pride in their history and culture.
He also directed Collector Mr.Mishra and museum officers to further develop the museum in coordination with INTACH and State Museum.