Nabarangpur: A district-level workshop on Odisha Vision 2036 & 2057 was held on Saturday at the Mission Shakti Conference Hall in Nabarangpur. The session was chaired by Minister of Steel, Mines, Commerce, and Transport, Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, with active participation from intellectuals across Nabarangpur district who provided various suggestions.
It was highlighted that since the gazette publication in 1966, no substantial publication from the district has taken place, despite many scholars conducting significant research. Participants urged the publication of those works. They also suggested the installation of statues in the villages of martyrs as a mark of tribute.
Nabarangpur is an agriculture-based district. The proposals included:
Establishing an agricultural university,
Upgrading the polytechnic college to an engineering college,
Setting up a central university,
Protecting indigenous plant species,
Creating riverbank plantations.
Further suggestions involved:
Providing sports infrastructure from the primary school level and implementing sports training programs,
Addressing the declining groundwater level with preventive measures,
Promoting organic farming,
Developing tourism, fishery, and flood management systems,
Constructing lift irrigation systems along riverbeds,
Promoting agro-based industries and simplifying business loan procedures.
Minister Jena assured that all opinions would be acknowledged, and the state government would bear the cost of land acquisition for railway projects. He emphasized the district’s foundational potential for growth.
He stated that tourist spots will be developed, and the government fully supports entrepreneurship, offering subsidies and necessary facilities. Individuals are encouraged to take the initiative in fertilizer use and become role models for others.
All suggestions made at the workshop will be submitted to the state government, and a Vision Document will be prepared accordingly.
On this occasion, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond expressed that development would happen with collective participation. MP Balabhadra Majhi mentioned that an engineering college proposal was lost due to mishandling of files during the previous government’s tenure.
The 460 km railway corridor from Bhadrachalam to Malkangiri via Nabarangpur and Junagarh was highlighted. Additionally, ₹3 crore has been allocated for establishing an e-library in Nabarangpur.
He also noted that the previous government unnecessarily moved the Mahanadi water dispute to the tribunal, which led to delays in the integrated Tel and Turi Gunithat irrigation project. However, the current government is continuing efforts to improve irrigation.
Nabarangpur MLA Gauri Shankar Majhi advised every household to keep at least one cow. Also present were Jharigaon MLA Narsingha Bhatra, BJP District President Kunj Bihari Dash, Additional District Collector Tapan Kumar Khuntia, Sub-Collector Prakash Kumar Mishra, and other senior district-level officers.
The workshop was coordinated by District Collector Shubankar Mahapatra.