Jajpur: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday inaugurated the renovated Kusuma pokhari (pond) at the district headquarters town here to mark the 150th anniversary of the Jajpur Municipality.

The chief minister spent about 15 minutes at the Kuuma pokhari and moved around in a battery operated vehicle.

Naveen then went to the mini stadium at Jajpur town to inaugurate a host of projects. The launched projects include the newly constructed building for Mother and Child Health at the district headquarters hospital, Central School building and a memory pillar of the 150th anniversary of the Municipality. Naveen also laid foundation stone of a bus terminal at the town.

The total cost of the projects is about Rs 150 crore, official sources said.

Later, the chief minister inaugurated the weeklong celebrations of the silver jubilee of the formation of Jajpur district and 150th anniversary of the civic body.

Addressing a public meeting, the chief minister said his government had undertaken various development schemes across the state.

Naveen was accompanied by all seven BJD MLAs of Jajpur district.

However, observance of the municipality's anniversary one year before its actual date has invited criticism from the Opposition.

The BJP on Saturday slammed the BJD by terming the celebrations as "politically motivated". BJP leader Udayanath Sahu alleged that the BJD was trying to take political mileage by celebrating the 150th anniversary as the municipality elections were scheduled in October this year.

"The Jajpur Municipality came into existence in 1869, and accordingly, its 150th anniversary falls in 2019. By observing it ahead of the schedule, the ruling party has cleared that they are eyeing the 2019 elections," said Sahu.