In a major push for grassroots governance and development, Chief Secretary Anu Garg on Saturday chaired a high-level review meeting with all District Collectors of Odisha at the Conference Hall of Lok Seva Bhawan.
All Collectors joined via video conferencing, along with the Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh and secretaries of concerned departments.
The meeting conducted a comprehensive review of the implementation status of key schemes across housing, industry, agriculture, health, education, and rural development sectors. A strong emphasis was placed on strengthening coordinated district-level action under the Nasha Mukta Bharat Abhiyan to curb drug abuse and trafficking.
Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hemant Sharma highlighted the need for more robust efforts. District Collectors and SPs were directed to ensure regular quarterly meetings of the District Narcotics Coordination (NCORD) Committee with effective follow-up. Each district has been asked to prepare a special action plan for 2026-2029 focusing on demand reduction, trafficking control, strict law enforcement, public awareness, treatment, and rehabilitation, with regular review of decisions in every meeting.
Housing and Urban Development
Progress under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban 2.0 (Affordable Housing) and Affordable Rental Housing projects was reviewed. Collectors were instructed to expedite land identification, resolve land-related issues quickly, prepare project proposals, and ensure time-bound implementation. Similar reviews were held for AMRUT 2.0 water supply projects.
Industrial Growth and Infrastructure
Discussions focused on creating a land bank for industrial projects, speedy approval of land acquisition and lease proposals, resolution of local issues, facilitation of Gram Sabhas, and identification of land for compensatory afforestation. The Chief Secretary advised holding regular Single Window Authority Committee meetings at the district level.
Digital and Power Sector Push
In the Electronics & IT sector, directions were issued to complete pending telecom projects under the Digital India Nidhi Yojana, provide data on mobile network-deficient areas, ensure use of the CBU D app before excavation for underground utilities, grant quick NOCs for new mobile towers, and form Digital Access Committees at the Gram Panchayat level.
Under the Power Department, the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and Model Solar Village programme were reviewed. Emphasis was placed on selecting eligible villages, accelerating implementation through district-level committees, and promoting rooftop solar adoption to make villages energy self-reliant.
Health, Agriculture, Education & Rural Development
- Health: Strengthening of infrastructure and services under the Ama Hospital scheme and acceleration of TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan 2.0 for wider screenings, treatment, and nutrition support. Special focus was given to monsoon preparedness against water-borne and vector-borne diseases, ensuring medicine availability, public awareness, and regular monitoring.
- Agriculture: Technology-based services for farmers, identification of sites for automatic weather stations and rain gauges under the WINDS project, strict action against fertiliser black marketing, and advancing farmer registration under Agristack in mission mode with regular district-level reviews.
- Education: Fast-tracking the Adarsh Primary School scheme, quick resolution of land issues, making constructed hostels functional, ensuring Aadhaar linkage with student identity cards, and priority development of identified heritage schools.
- Panchayati Raj: Review of projects under Bikashita Gaon Bikashita Odisha, including expenditure status and approval of the 2026-27 annual action plan. Collectors were directed to expedite pending projects and approve block-level plans immediately. Implementation of the Viksit Bharat – Gram Swaraj and Livelihood Mission was also emphasised for creating durable village assets, water conservation, livelihood development, and disaster-resilient infrastructure.
The meeting concluded with clear directives to all District Collectors for swift, coordinated, and time-bound action to achieve Odisha’s development goals and advance the vision of a drug-free state and nation.
