Bhubaneswar, 27 August (H.S.): Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday launched a special ₹75.60 crore rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) package for 1,371 displaced families of Golabandh in Ganjam district, ending their four-decade-long wait for rehabilitation.

Under the package, each eligible family will receive ₹5 lakh as one-time compensation through DBT, involving a total outlay of ₹68.55 crore. Another ₹4.25 crore has been allocated for housing assistance to complete 998 unfinished houses and construct 10 new houses.

Over ₹2.80 crore has also been sanctioned for infrastructure in the new Kirtipur Colony, including roads, streetlights, an Anganwadi centre, market complex, public toilets, cyclone shelter and beach levelling for parking fishing boats.

The Chief Minister also distributed land titles to 96 of the 112 families displaced by the Cheligada Medium Irrigation Project. Each family is being provided 10 decimals of homestead land and two acres of agricultural land at Santrapur in Digapahandi. The remaining beneficiaries will receive land titles soon.

Addressing the gathering, Majhi said the struggle and sacrifice of the people of Golabandh had been immense. He said the issue, pending since land was transferred for the Army Air Defence College in 1984, had finally received a permanent solution under his government.

Majhi further highlighted development initiatives planned for Ganjam, including the renovation of Arjipalli Fishing Port, establishment of 28 fish landing centres, expansion of Gopalpur Port and a proposed ₹21,500 crore mega port at Bahuda.

He said investments exceeding ₹40,000 crore in 14 projects at the Gopalpur Industrial Park are expected to create more than 18,000 jobs. With over five lakh employment opportunities expected across Odisha in the next two years, the Chief Minister urged young people to acquire relevant skills and training.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the government is committed to expediting rehabilitation and ensuring that displaced families receive all entitled facilities without delay.

Minister for Mines and Steel Bibhuti Bhushan Jena and MSME, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik also highlighted industrial, fisheries and blue-economy initiatives planned for the region.

Several MPs, MLAs, senior officials and district administration representatives attended the programme.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda