Sundargarh: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that the government would initiate the process to establish the North Odisha Development Council (NODC) within the next two to three months.
Addressing a gathering at a BJP-organized event at Sanskruti Bhavan in Sundargarh, the Chief Minister stated that a dedicated task force had been formed to oversee the formation of the NODC, with a minister assigned to spearhead the initiative.
The Chief Minister emphasized that Sundargarh district, currently under the purview of the Western Odisha Development Council (WODC), would be included in the newly proposed NODC. “I personally want Sundargarh to be included in the NODC to ensure its rapid growth,” he said.
Established in 1998, the WODC was designed to promote balanced development in Odisha’s western region, covering 10 districts: Bargarh, Bolangir, Boudh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Subarnapur, and Sundargarh, as well as the Athmallik subdivision of Angul district.
Over the years, WODC funds have played a pivotal role in the development of key infrastructure, including the construction of medical colleges in Bolangir, Kalahandi, and Sundargarh. The proposed NODC aims to extend a similar developmental focus to northern Odisha, addressing region-specific needs and unlocking growth potential.