THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
JANUARY 18, 2026
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan
Majhi on Saturday attended the grand closing ceremony of the Kalahandi Ghumura
Mahotsav 2026, hailing Kalahandi as one of the state’s most culturally vibrant
districts that embodies emotion, courage, resilience and pride. The festival
finale turned into a landmark moment for the region as the Chief Minister
inaugurated and laid foundation stones for a massive 3,612 development projects
worth ₹891.39 crore, signalling a decisive
acceleration in Kalahandi’s growth trajectory.
The projects include the inauguration
of 971 works valued at ₹193.36 crore and foundation stones
for 2,641 projects amounting to ₹698.03 crore. Emphasising the government’s
development momentum, Majhi said that in just one and a half years, projects
exceeding ₹1,500 crore have been launched in
the district, reflecting a strong commitment to inclusive and balanced
progress.
The Chief Minister announced that the ₹3,325 crore Utei Raul Irrigation Project will commence
soon after receiving approval from the Central Government, while the stretch
from Kalahandi to Nabarangpur will be developed into a dedicated cotton
production cluster. He also outlined upcoming initiatives such as the Belgaon
intra-river reservoir project, the timely completion of the Sandul Barrage and
the organisation of a public grievance redressal programme in Bhawanipatna to
strengthen grassroots governance.
Highlighting the revival of confidence
among farmers, Majhi said pro-farmer schemes have encouraged many to return to
agriculture. In Kalahandi alone, the number of registered farmers has increased
from 1.12 lakh last year to 1.21 lakh this year. He noted that a farmer family
is now earning an additional ₹71,000
annually through a combination of initiatives including ₹800 per quintal paddy
input assistance, combined PM-KISAN and CM-KISAN benefits of ₹10,000, Subhadra
Yojana and other welfare measures.
Assuring full support for paddy
procurement, the Chief Minister said the Central Government is prepared to
offtake eight lakh metric tonnes of rice and called for collective efforts to
make Kalahandi the leading agricultural district in Odisha. On the cultural
front, Majhi released the festival’s special souvenir, ‘Kalajharana’,
celebrating the region’s rich heritage.
Other dignitaries, including Chief
Whip Saroj Kumar Pradhan, Kalahandi MP Malvika Devi, Rajya Sabha MP Sujit Kumar
and local MLAs, lauded the state government’s focus on balanced development,
cultural preservation and industrial growth across all districts, describing
the Kalahandi initiatives as a model for inclusive progress.
