Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi attended the grand closing ceremony of the Kalahandi Ghumura Mahotsav 2026, describing Kalahandi as one of the state’s most culturally vibrant districts, brimming with emotion, courage, resilience, and pride.
At the event, the Chief Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 3,612 development projects worth Rs 891.39 crore in Kalahandi district. This includes the inauguration of 971 projects valued at Rs 193.36 crore and foundation stones for 2,641 projects worth Rs 698.03 crore.
Highlighting the government’s commitment, Majhi noted that in just one and a half years, projects exceeding Rs1,500 crore have been launched in the district, accelerating its progress.
Major Announcements
- The Rs 3,325 crore Utei Raul Irrigation Project will begin soon after receiving Central Government approval.
- The region stretching from Kalahandi to Nabarangpur will be transformed into a dedicated cotton production cluster.
- Upcoming initiatives include the Belgaon intra-river reservoir project and timely completion of the Sandul Barrage.
- A public grievance redressal program will soon be organised in Bhawanipatna.
On agriculture, the Chief Minister emphasised how pro-farmer schemes have restored confidence, encouraging many to return to farming. In Kalahandi, registered farmers rose from 1,12,000 last year to 1,21,000 this year. A farmer family now earns an additional ₹71,000 annually through initiatives like Rs 800 paddy input assistance, combined PM-KISAN and CM-KISAN benefits (₹10,000), Subhadra Yojana, and others.
Majhi assured full efforts for paddy procurement from all farmers, with the Central Government prepared to offtake 8 lakh metric tonnes of rice. He urged collective efforts to make Kalahandi the top agricultural district in Odisha.
The Chief Minister also released the festival’s special souvenir, Kalajharana.
Other speakers, including Chief Whip Saroj Kumar Pradhan, Kalahandi MP Malvika Devi, Rajya Sabha MP Sujit Kumar, and local MLAs, praised the government’s focus on balanced development, cultural preservation, and industrial growth across all districts.
