Papadahandi: A preparatory meeting regarding the upgradation and renovation of the Shaheed Minar (Martyrs’ Memorial) was held in the conference hall of the Papadahandi Block Office. The meeting was chaired by District Collector Dr. Shubhankar Mahapatra and attended by key dignitaries, including Minister of Mass Education Nityananda Gond, Dabugaon MLA Manohar Randhari, Nabarangpur MLA Gaurishankar Majhi, former MP Parshuram Majhi, Block Chairperson Hemalata Majhi, MP representative Somanath Pujari, and Memory Committee Chairman Muna Tripathy.
During the meeting, the District Collector informed attendees about the approval of ₹6 crore from the state government for the memorial’s upgradation and renovation. A presentation was shown via projector to demonstrate the proposed design of the new Shaheed Minar. The proposal includes installing statues of martyrs, a martyrs’ pillar, a guest house, and a park.
Currently, the memorial stands on the bank of the Turi River, but due to the construction of a new bridge, it has become obscured from view. Additionally, riverbank erosion has made the site unsuitable for renovation, leading to a proposal to relocate the Shaheed Minar to a new site. With unanimous consensus, the proposal was passed. Local Tehsildar Tapan Nayak has been instructed to identify 5 acres of new land for this purpose.
Minister Nityananda Gond mentioned that he had expressed his intent to develop the site during Shaheed Divas (Martyrs’ Day) and submitted a written proposal to the government after consulting with the District Collector. He also met with Deputy Chief Minister Prabhati Parida to request approval for the memorial’s renovation, after which ₹6 crore was sanctioned. The Deputy Chief Minister has directed for immediate commencement of the work. Once the sanctioned amount is utilized, the minister said he would again request the government for further funds if needed.
Muna Tripathy offered a vote of thanks. Other attendees included Block Vice Chairperson Sushanta Behera, BDO Manoj Kumar Panigrahi, Harimohan Sharma, P. Venkata Rao, Dinabandhu Beshoyi, and Manoj Agrawal, among others.