According to a release of Vigilance Directorate, Cuttack, the arrested man, identified as Bhikari Pradhan of Gareijholi village under Polasara police station in the district had got appointment as Constable in Odisha State Armed Police (OSAP), 3rd Battalion, Koraput by producing fake educational certificate.

Pradhan was one of 33 persons who had produced fake certificates for appointment. After their certificates were detected as fake and a case was registered, Pradhan was absconding. The Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Jeypore had issued a non-bailable warrant against him.

Following reliable information regarding Pradhan, a team of Vigilance officials conducted a raid on Gareijholi and arrested him on Monday. Later, they produced him in the Vigilance court.

5T and Nabin Odisha chairman VK Pandian said this at a meeting with farmers in Shergad block office on Saturday. Stating that chief minister Naveen Patnaik has taken several steps to ensure irrigation to every acre of cultivable land, he said 90% of farm land in Shergad and 99% in Hinjili will be irrigated in one year.

Detailing the plan, Pandian said the irrigated area in Shergad panchayat will be increased from 9,314 hectare (ha) to 14,172 ha covering 90.56% of the total farm land. The irrigation will be provided to 21 panchayats through 66 projects.

Similarly in Hinjili, 13,779 ha of the total 14,470 ha cultivable land is irrigated covering 95.22% now. Of the rest area, 621 ha will be irrigated through different projects. The government plans to achieve 99.5% irrigated land through 37 projects in 13 panchayats at a cost of Rs 20.45 crore, Pandian said.

He also reviewed the progress of the ongoing transformation work of Maa Budhi Thakurani Temple at Berhampur for Rs 18.91 crore and Khambeya Dora Junior Science College at Pochilima in Hinjili block for Rs 1.71 crore.

Pandian participated in the Nua-O Programme organised at Mini Stadium, Hinjili and interacted with college students.

He also visited the Rural Industrial Park in Sheragada where he interacted with Mission Shakti members and discussed various livelihood projects being undertaken by them.

According to sources, the UTP, identified as Deepak Barik of Budhabari village under Tarasingi police station in the district, was found hanging from the ceiling of the kitchen in the prison in the morning. The jail officials rushed him to Bhanjanagar Hospital. But the doctors in the hospital declared him brought dead.

Later, police handed over Deepak’s body to his family after the completion of post-mortem. His family members accompanied by the villagers staged a protest before Tarasingi police station and blocked the National Highway demanding investigation into suspicious death of Deepak inside the jail.

Police along with district officials tried to pacify the agitating villagers. But they continued the agitation demanding a written assurance from the authorities.

Deepak was arrested a few days back for alleged murder of his wife Rashmita Barik on November 25. Since then, he was lodged in Bhanjanagar Jail.

It may be noted that a UTP died by suicide in a sub-jail in Odisha’s Jajpur district on December 6.

Accompanied by senior party leaders, including BJD organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das and several MLAs, Pandian visited the famous shrine in the afternoon. He offered prayers and paid obeisance to the Goddess inside the temple.

During his visit, Pandian also interacted with the temple priests as well as locals.

It may be noted here that Maa Tara Tarini temple holds special significance for Pandian as he had taken several measures for the development of the shrine during his tenure as the Collector of Ganjam district. Later, he played a major role in the transformation of refurbished temple.

Earlier in the day, BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik welcomed Pandian into the party fold.

The former bureaucrat took blessings of the CM by touching his feet before formally joining the Conch party at 10.15 am in presence of several senior BJD leaders, ending days of speculation about him taking a plunge into state politics after his voluntary retirement from service almost a month ago. “Pandian has been working hard for the people of Odisha for a number of years and he will continue to do so in the future as a member of the party,” Naveen said.

Pandian said with the blessings of Lord Jagannath and under the guidance of the CM, he will work for the people of the state with sincerity, dedication, selflessness and humility. He also sought the cooperation of all party leaders.

Following a complaint that Sagarika Mohanty, junior engineer, NAC, Buguda was demanding Rs 4,000 for processing the file of the plan approval of the building in favour of the complainant’s father, the Vigilance set a trap.

As per the plan, the complainant went to give the bribe and the Vigilance officials caught Mohanty red handed while accepting it. The entire bribe money was recovered from Mohanty and seized.

Following the trap, the Vigilance conducted simultaneous searches at two locations of Mohanty’s properties from DA angle.

Berhampur Vigilance has registered a case under PC Amendment Act, 2018 in this connection. Further investigation is in progress against Mohanty.

Twelve Assembly constituencies of Ganjam district have been granted Rs 251.50 crore under the scheme. As many as 5,706 projects in 503 panchayats under 22 blocks of the district will be executed with the fund. Assembly segments of Bhanjanagar, Chhatrapur, Khallikote, Digapahandi, Sorada, Sanakhemundi, Gopalpur, Aska, Chikiti, Hinjili, Polasara and Kabisuryanagar will be covered under the programme.

Similarly, Rs 54.50 crore has been sanctioned for two Assembly constituencies of Sonepur district. The constituencies are Sonepur and Biramaharajpur. Altogether 1419 projects will be implemented in 109 panchayats under six blocks of the district.

As per the provision, each panchayat will get Rs 50 lakh for implementation of various projects, official sources said.

Launching the scheme through video-conference from Bhubaneswar, the chief minister said that apart from ensuring speedy development of villages and panchayats, the scheme aims at promotion, preservation and protection of the Jagannath culture and tradition of the state.

Stressing that Odisha has always been rooted in its tradition, culture and history, he said Odisha is the land that gave Jagannath culture to the world. It propagates universal love, service and equality. It is based on inclusiveness and embraces everyone irrespective of caste and community.

Stating that development of digital infrastructure is one of the objectives of the scheme, the Chief Minister said internet connectivity, skill development centre, works hub and banking facilities are its other features. It will also open up vast opportunities for youths, women and farmers in rural areas, he said.

The CM said that primary schools of villages would be roped in this programme, which seeks to strengthen rural infrastructure in the state.

It would bring a lot of opportunities for youths, women, students and further brighten the identity of Odisha as a modern, progressive, empowered, and cultured state.

The Chief Minister sought the cooperation of all for the successful implementation of the programme which would bring confidence among the people in villages.

The scheme was launched with a budget provision of Rs 3397 crore. Total 90,723 projects will be implemented in 6794 panchayats across the state and an amount of Rs 10 lakh will be allocated for every village as part of the scheme.

The deceased has been identified as Anil Mohanty.

According to sources, locals spotted Anil in a pool of blood at a secluded spot in the locality and informed his family members. Along with his scooter, sharp weapons were found lying near him. Police have recovered the body, which bore grievous injury marks, and initiated an investigation.

Though the reason behind the attack is yet to be ascertained, it is being suspected to be the fallout of political dispute that had emerged in the area during the last panchayat polls, the sources added.

This comes four days after a 22-year-old man was allegedly hacked to death and his body dumped in a forest area in the district.

Irrigation and Drinking Water being crucial, Pandian reviewed the ongoing Instream Storage Structure Project at Jakamarapalli village across River Godahad at a cost of Rs.50 crore that would irrigate 1136 acre of land and would provide drinking water supply to Digapahandi block. The project would be completed by June 2024.

He also reviewed Kansariganda Instream Storage Structure Project across River Rushikulya at Barada village in Ganjam block at a cost of Rs.152 crore that would provide drinking water supply to Ganjam Block and Gopalpur TATA SEZ.

Pandian reviewed the progress of Ghateswar Multipurpose Project at Kukudahandi at a cost of Rs.210 crore. The project would irrigate 1500 Ac of land in Kukudahandi Block and supply 10 MLD water to Gopalpur TATA SEZ Industrial Park.

In Digapahandi and Sankhemundi, he reviewed the progress of Construction of Left Link Canal, Left Distribution System, Right Distribution System through Underground Pipe Line System from Ghodahada Reservoir of Chheligada Irrigation Project at a cost of Rs.182 crore. The project would benefit an ayacut area of 14233 acre in Digapahandi and Sanakhemundi block.

He also reviewed the progress of Biju Setu over Rushikulya River at Hansapur at a cost of Rs 23 Crore that would connect 05 GPs of Chatrapur Block with 10 GPs of Ganjam Block. The project would be completed by December 2023.

Focusing on strengthening the road connectivity, he reviewed the progress of various Road Projects: Strengthening and Widening of Palashpur Dengausta Road in Sanakhemundi at a cost of Rs 21 Cr to be completed by June 2024; Jhilimili to Sadangipalli Road in Dharakote at a cost of Rs 15.42 Cr and Surangi to Khariaguda Road at a cost of 9 Crore.

He also reviewed the progress of Biju Patnaik Indoor Stadiums at Digapahandi NAC, Chikiti NAC, Rambha NAC and Ganjam NAC at a total cost of Rs 25 Crore. These projects would be completed by September.

In Berhampur Municipal Corporation, he reviewed the progress of important projects like, Development of Beda Bandha at a cost of Rs 26 Crore to be completed in phases from November 2023; 200 Bedded Sports Hostel in Berhampur Stadium at a cost of Rs 16 Corer to be completed by October 2023; Ama Hospital Transformation Works in City Hospital at a cost of Rs 8 Crore to be completed by November 2023, Multilevel Car Parking at a cost of Rs 10 Cr to be completed by April 2024; Development of Giri Market at a cost of Rs 30 Crore and Development of Mission Shakti Bazar at a cost of Rs 5 Crore.

Later, he reviewed other projects like Construction of Sea Guard Wall at Ramayapatna at Chikiti Block at a cost of Rs 23.5 Crore; Flood Protection Work on Left Bank of River Rushikulya near Kainchapur village in Ganjam Block at a cost of Rs 4.2 Crore and Construction of Railway Over Bridge near Jaganathpur in Chatrapur Block.

Pandian discussed the progress of Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture at a cost of Rs 18 Crore under Sanakhemundi and Dharakote Block. The project will benefit an ayacut area of 5164 Ac and around 4000 farmers in the area.

 He held detailed discussion with Collector and revenue officials on the progress of Settlement of Gramkanta Paramboke Lands and status of Distribution of LRC under JAGA Mission.

He interacted with Mission Shakti Groups at various venues and assured them support from the government for their activities. He emphasized that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has high priority for women empowerment. He directed the Collector to facilitate the awareness about the interest free loans and also to organise loan melas at Panchayat level.

During the day, he participated in the Public Grievance Meetings at Berhampur, Sanakhemundi, Digapahandi, Chikiti and Chatrapur. He interacted with the public regarding their grievances. He emphasised that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik gives top priority towards citizen grievances and assured early resolution of the petitions submitted.

Special Secretary to CM R. Vineel Krishna, IG Southern Range Satyabrata Bhoi, Ganjam Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida, SP Ganjam Jagmohan Meena, SP Berhampur Saravana Vivek M and other district level officials accompanied him during the visit.