Bargarh MP seeks special development package for Padampur sub-division

Bargarh MP Pradeep Purohit has urged the Centre to grant a special development package for Padampur sub-division, similar to the KBK special development programme, highlighting the region’s recurring water crisis and limited livelihood opportunities. Speaking on Monday, Purohit said he submitted a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during his recent visit to New Delhi, seeking her intervention into the matter.

What does the proposed package include?

Purohit said the package could cover irrigation, drinking water, watershed development, groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting, rural connectivity, agro‑processing, MSMEs, skill development, healthcare, education, digital infrastructure and climate‑resilient agriculture. He elaborated, “The proposed package could cover irrigation, drinking water, watershed development, groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting, rural connectivity, agro‑processing, MSMEs, skill development, healthcare, education, digital infrastructure and climate‑resilient agriculture,” he said. The MP stressed that such a comprehensive approach is needed to tackle the multiple deficits faced by the area.

Which blocks would benefit and what challenges were highlighted?

The MP requested the package for the six blocks of Paikmal, Padampur, Jharabandh, Sohela, Bijepur and Gaisilet within Padampur sub‑division. He pointed out that Padampur’s agriculture‑dependent economy suffers from crop failures, indebtedness and seasonal migration, while industrial development remains minimal because agro‑processing industries, MSME clusters and food‑processing units are largely absent. Purohit also highlighted the region’s recurring drought, inadequate irrigation and drinking water facilities, declining groundwater levels and limited livelihood opportunities. Noting Padampur’s location along the Chhattisgarh border, he called for focused central investment in infrastructure and connectivity to address these gaps.

What are the next steps?

Purohit said he submitted a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during his recent visit to New Delhi, seeking her intervention. He asked for in‑principle approval of the package and a suitable allocation in the forthcoming Union Budget or through a supplementary demand for grants. The MP also sought authorisation for the Odisha government, via the Bargarh district administration, to prepare a detailed project report with sector‑wise proposals and financial estimates for central review. He expressed hope that the dedicated package would address the sub‑division’s long‑standing developmental deficits while improving irrigation, agricultural productivity, employment and industrial growth, and help reduce regional disparities in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat in 2047.

Related Coverage

• Students Flee Hostel Amid Alleged Assault at Bargarh's JNV Paikmal
• Odisha Rainfall to ease temporarily, more expected
• Bijepur logs Odisha's highest rain at 315 mm as west drenches