Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Saturday inaugurated 24 Mega Watt Baitarini Mini Hydropower Project at Singhanali, Anandapur in Kendujhar district through video conferencing.
While inaugurating the project, Naveen Patnaik said, District Mineral Fund (DMF) is people’s money and will only be spent for the welfare of the people.
Patnaik said that Keonjhar has made a special contribution to both to the economy of the State and the country.
He informed that establishment of a medical college and hospital in Kendujhar district is on full swing.
Steps have also been taken for the development of all roads in the district, he added.
Similarly, work is in full swing to provide piped drinking water to all houses in the villages and towns in the district through a mega drinking water project, he said.
The Lower Baitarini Minor Irrigation Project is a milestone in the field of green and renewable energy, he further added.
Expressing happiness, he said it is a environment-friendly project and no one was displaced due to the project.
Giving thrust to environmental issues, he said, with small power projects, Odisha can tackle the encouragemental challenges.
Constructed over the Baitarini river, the project has been set up by the Hyderabad based Baitarini Power Project Private Limited. It will provide 100 million units of power to Grid Co annually.
Anandapur area will get quality power from this project, he added.
Speaking on the occasion Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Premanand Nayak said that people of Kendujhar and the entire State will get benefitted out of this project.
While participating in the event from Bhawanipatna, Energy Minister Dibya Shankar Mishra said, this project will play a vital role in providing power to the grid during peak load hours.
He praised the Chief Minister’s vision for this project.
Kendhjhar MP, MLAs of Ghasipura, and Kendujhar spoke on the occasion as well.
Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy, Development Commissioner Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, Principal Secretary, Energy, Nikunja Bihari Dhal and other senior officials of the Energy department took part in the event.
Secretary to CM 5T V K Pandian also present in the programme.