Keonjhar: Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday inaugurated, laid foundation stones for and announced a string of irrigation, healthcare, education and sports projects worth over Rs 190 crore during a visit to his native Raikala village in Keonjhar district.The major projects include three lift irrigation schemes worth around Rs 120 crore, the Rs 17.97-crore Jhumpura community health centre (CHC), a Rs 24-crore sports complex and a Rs 30-crore residential school for SC/ST students at Raikala. The CM also inaugurated a new State Bank of India branch in the village.The three lift irrigation projects at Raikala, Satikudar and Jarakani, covering parts of Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts, are targeted for completion by 2028. They are expected to provide irrigation facilities to 4,280 hectares of farmland, benefiting villages in Jhumpura and Keonjhar blocks as well as the Jarakani region of Mayurbhanj.Majhi said the govt plans to bring 15 lakh hectares under irrigation over the next five years. “When farmers thrive, Odisha thrives,” he said, adding that improved irrigation would enable farmers to grow two to three crops a year and help increase their incomes.The CM further said Rs 14,500 crore has been allocated for irrigation projects in the current budget.Underground pipeline systems are being developed under the Anandapur Barrage, Lower Suktel and Kusumi Barrage projects, he said.Majhi announced that the long-awaited Kanupur irrigation project in Keonjhar would be inaugurated in Dec.The CM also inaugurated the Jhumpura CHC.Besides, Majhi announced a Rs 24-crore sports complex at Raikala and a Rs 30-crore residential school for SC/ST students. He said 10 grassroots-level projects worth Rs 8.2 crore had been taken up in the area, including a mini stadium, additional school classrooms, development of Dhabaleswar temple premises, a rural market, Yuva Jyoti Club, renovation of Gramyashree Thakurani shrine and a kalyan mandap.The CM turned emotional while speaking about his native village. “Raikala is not only my birthplace, but a sacred place for me. Whatever position your son, your brother has reached today is only because of your blessings and the values of this soil,” he told a gathering, adding no matter how far one rises in life, one should never forget one’s roots. “I will never forget mine until my last breath,” said the CM.Referring to other projects in Keonjhar district, Majhi said Rs 313 crore was being spent on the development of Maa Tarini shrine, while a textile park was being developed for Rs 287 crore. A disaster recovery centre and data centre are also being established.Taking a swipe at the previous govt, Majhi said the earlier promise of providing irrigation to at least 35% of land in every block had remained “only on paper”.“This govt belongs to the poor, farmers and working people,” Majhi said, reiterating his govt’s commitment to the all-round development of Keonjhar.Keonjhar MP Ananta Nayak, Patna MLA Akhil Chandra Naik, Telkoi MLA and district planning board chairman Fakir Mohan Naik, and Keonjhar special development council chairperson Mamita Naik were among those present.