Patnaik in western Odisha before PM's rally on Feb 14

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's farmers' rally at Bargarh on February 14, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated and laid foundation stones of different irrigation projects worth Rs 423 crore in Kalahandi and Balangir districts, also located in the western region of the state.
Patnaik laid the foundation stones and inaugurated 17 development projects including a mega irrigation project in Junagarh in Kalahandi district. He also addressed public meetings in Balangir and Kalahandi districts.
Prime Minister Modi was scheduled to address a farmers' rally at Bargarh, considered as the rice bowl of Odisha, on Sunday.
The opposition Congress activists, who attempted to show black flags to the Chief Minister opposing his attempt to take political mileage in the region, were taken in preventive custody in both the districts.

During his visit to Kalahandi district, Patnaik visited Junagarh and inaugurated four projects and laid foundation of four projects located in different parts of the district, which included a mega lift irrigation project at Utkella under Kesinga block constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 26.95 crore, which would irrigate 1,500 hectors.
Besides, he also inaugurated a high level bridges over Tel River at Chilpa in Dharamgarh block constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 12.12 crore, over Behera River near Tendapali in Dharamgarh block constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 2.5 crore and over Mudra River near Chilguda in Koksara block constructed with at estimated cost of Rs 3.29 crore.

Addressing a rally at Junagarh, Patnaik said the state government has been focusing on Irrigation, Communication and other infrastructure development for Kalahandi.
"We are getting dividend on our focused attention and Kalahandi as a district is on the path of development," he said.