Raipur, Feb 17: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai chaired the Surguja Area Tribal Development Authority meeting in Baikunthpur, Koriya district, on Tuesday, approving 543 development works worth ₹49.05 crore for the 2025–26 financial year. The meeting focused on accelerating infrastructure and welfare schemes across the Surguja division to integrate remote tribal pockets into the mainstream.
Chief Minister Sai stated that the empowerment of tribal communities in the Surguja and Bastar regions remains the state government’s top priority. He directed officials to ensure that all sanctioned projects are completed within the stipulated timeline without compromising on quality. The Authority also granted formal approval for 606 works pertaining to the 2024–25 financial year.
The Chief Minister issued a stern warning against negligence in providing basic amenities, particularly drinking water. He instructed district collectors and departmental heads to ensure an uninterrupted water supply during the upcoming summer months. Officials were also told to resolve farmers’ grievances, rectify errors in electricity billing, and take strict action against contractors involved in substandard construction.
The meeting highlighted the rapid progress of electrification in the Sonhat block of Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district under the Pradhan Mantri JANMAN Yojana. CM Sai emphasised that the benefits of such central schemes must reach the last person in the forest areas. To improve rural infrastructure, the installation of high-mast solar lights in affected habitations was also cleared.
Recalling the previous Authority meeting held in Mayali, Jashpur, the Chief Minister noted that the region has since gained global recognition as a tourist hub, with its Shivalinga entering the Golden Book of World Records. He expressed confidence that the current meeting in Baikunthpur would similarly boost the tourism potential of the Jhumka Reservoir under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
The high-level meeting was attended by Agriculture Minister Ramvichar Netam, Authority Vice Chairperson Gomti Sai, Food Minister Dayaldas Baghel, Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, and several other cabinet ministers, including Laxmi Rajwade, Rajesh Agrawal, Gajendra Yadav, and Lakhanlal Devangan. MP Chintamani Maharaj and local MLAs were also present.