Development of infrastructure needed in district

The Statesman, Feb 12, 2009
Statesman News Service

BHAWANIPATNA, Feb. 11: Intensive agriculture, job-specific technical education and development of infrastructure are few of the means to ensure the all-round development of Kalahandi district, opined speakers at the ninth foundation day celebration of Kalahandi Shikshya Vikash Parishad here recently.
Speaking on the occasion, Western Orissa Development Council chairman, Prof. Niranjan Panda said: "Though Kalahandi is a leading producer of pulses, oilseed and cotton, lack of supporting market network has always been a major hindrance for the farming community."
Underscoring the need of irrigation for agriculture in the district, he pointed out that there are lot of scopes for lift-irrigation particularly in the Tel river area, which is a perennial river like the Indravati. "In addition to the existing minor irrigation projects and Indravati major project, irrigation from Tel river would certainly boost the agriculture here," he said.
He also stressed on development of human resource through technical and professional institutions.
"A quantum jump is necessary to remove the alleged regional imbalance especially in the area of higher and technical education," he said.
Among others, collector Mr R Santhgopalan, parishad president Dr Gopabandhu Behera and Val COO, Dr Mukesh Kumar also spoke.
Eminent personalities like Mr Kailash Chandra Panda, Mr Banmali Majhi, Swami Ameyananda Saraswati, Mr Dhaneswar Patra and Mr Nityananda Patra were felicitated on the occasion.