What Are the New Developments in Local Governance by Odisha CM?

Bhubaneswar, Aug 31 (NationPress) In a significant move, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi declared on Sunday that Odisha will see the establishment of 16 new Notified Area Councils (NACs) and seven municipalities.

During his address at the state-level Local Self-Governance Day celebrations in Bhubaneswar, CM Majhi shared the details.

The newly formed NACs encompass Baramba, Narasinghpur, and Salipur in the Cuttack district, Gondia in Dhenkanal, Patrapur, and Jagannath Prasad in Ganjam, along with Chandikhole of Jajpur, Narla and Jaypatana in Kalahandi, Tangi in Khordha, Borigumma in Koraput, and Kaptipada, Jashipur, and Rasagobindapur in Mayurbhanj.

The newly designated municipalities include Karanjia in Mayurbhanj, Boudh in Boudh district, and Bhanjanagar, Aska, Chhatrapur, Kabisuryanagar, and Polasara in Ganjam district.

Notably, CM Majhi had previously announced the formation of 21 NACs in the state, while the official notification for 12 NACs has already been released by the Odisha government.

With the addition of the 16 new NACs, Odisha will now have a total of 28 NACs.

In his speech, CM Majhi directed the Department of Housing and Urban Development to ensure that all open drains in municipalities are covered by April 2026.

He emphasized that the municipalities should be free of potholes by the same deadline. Celebrating Self-Governance Day, Majhi expressed, "We aspire to develop a ‘Samruddha Odisha’ or a prosperous Odisha by 2036. The urban regions reflect our development, and our goals will remain unachieved without maintaining clean, pothole-free roads in urban settings."

He instructed the Housing and Urban Development department to guarantee that no complaints regarding pothole-filled roads are raised during the grievance hearings scheduled for April next year.

CM Majhi further mentioned that by April 2026, municipalities must self-certify that their roads are free from potholes.

The Chief Minister highlighted the significance of Local Self Government in providing governance at the grassroots level and ensuring quality services reach the citizens.

He noted that if local body officials and grassroots representatives fulfill their responsibilities diligently, there would be little need for involvement from ministers, MLAs, or MPs in minor local issues.

Majhi urged local representatives to be proactive in addressing the concerns of the public. On this occasion, he announced the extension of the 'Sahayog' program, supported by Tata Steel Foundation, to all urban areas, ensuring accessibility to various government schemes for all municipal residents.

Additionally, he launched a 24x7 toll-free number ‘1929’ (Sahar Sathi) for citizens to report grievances, queries, and proposals, along with the inauguration of the ‘Sahar Sathi’ call center.

CM Majhi also introduced several other key programs and initiatives during this event.