Bhubaneswar: Nine days after he launched the Ama Gaon, Ama Bikash (our village, our development) Yojana, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday carried forward his direct interaction programme with elected representatives.

He spoke to three gram panchayats of Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj and Boudh districts and sanctioned 23 projects worth Rs 1.40 crore.

It has been decided that the chief minister will hold this direct interaction programme with the people's representatives on every Wednesday and Friday.

Accordingly, he spoke to sarpanchs of Korkunda gram panchayat of Malkangiri district, Bishipur gram panchayat of Mayurbhanj district and Banibhusan gram panchayat of Boudh district through videoconference. The sarpanchs put forth proposals for 23 projects (10 in Korkunda panchayat, six in Bishipur panchayat and seven in Banibhusan panchayat) for the infrastructure development in these areas. Naveen then accorded his instant approval to the proposed projects.

Official sources said the chief minister sought the co-operation of the people in the successful implementation of this newly launched rural development programme. He advised them to timely and effective execution of the projects.

Naveen launched the programme on March 5 on the occasion of the birth anniversary of his father and former chief minister Biju Patnaik which is celebrated as the Panchayati Raj Divas.

On the inaugural day, he interacted with the sarpanchs of four selected gram panchayats over videoconference and instantly sanctioned 32 projects worth Rs 2 crore, as proposed by the local panchayati raj representatives.