Bhubaneswar: Senior Congress leader Navajyoti Patnaik has urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for comprehensive development for Northern Odisha including setting up of a new RDC office at Balasore.
Writing a letter to the Chief Minister, Navajyoti said, “During the last five years, I have extensively worked in North Odisha as a political activist, particularly in Balasore District and have come to the conclusion that North Odisha is lagging behind Central part of Odisha and in fact, from a comparative perspective has been sliding backwards. Therefore, some special consideration needs to be made.”
Wishing the CM a very Happy New Year, good health and Godspeed, the Congress leader said he has been making suggestions to the State Government from time-to-time, but no action was taken.
A meeting of the State Cabinet has been convened on December 30, 2023 to look at issues relating to other regions in the State. Possibly that would also be an appropriate occasion to discuss issues relating to North Odisha, he said.
On behalf of the people of North Odisha, he raised several demands of the people of Balasore and urged the CM to fulfil those in the next Cabinet meeting.
He demanded for establishment of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) (RDC) office in Balasore District. That the Government of Odisha has constituted three revenue divisions for the effective discharge of general and revenue administration. Unfortunately, Northern Odisha seems to have been left out in establishing effective regional representation, Patnaik said.
He also demanded for upgradation of Balasore Municipality to Municipal Corporation. The Government has, in times, upgraded several Municipalities to Municipal Corporations, In this process. different regions of the state have got Municipal Corporations viz. Sambalpur & Rourkela in Western Odisha and Berhampur in Southern Odisha. However, North Odisha seems to have been ignored in this aspect, the Congress leader stated.
Navajyoti further demanded for establishment of a Sub-Division Office at Jaleswar of Balasore District.
“Some matters must be above partisan consideration and electoral consequences. My suggestions here are entirely from a development perspective and hopefully, they will be considered by the state cabinet in that spirit,” he wrote to the CM.
Navajyoti said these interventions from the State Government will unlock the potential of North Odisha and contribute to balance as well as harmonious growth of the State.