Bhubaneswar, November 8: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday skipped Diwali celebrations at his residence and visited people in Keonjhar to hear their grievances, expressing solidarity with families affected by floods and Cyclone Arnab.

Majhi said providing relief and support to affected people was the government’s responsibility and took priority over festival celebrations. He interacted with residents, listened to their problems and assured them that the government was working to address their concerns.

The Chief Minister said celebrating festivals was inappropriate while people were struggling with the aftermath of natural disasters.

Earlier, addressing the state-level Local Self-Government Day programme in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, Majhi highlighted Odisha’s growing urbanisation. He said the number of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the state had increased from 115 to 143, with nearly 40 per cent of the population expected to live in urban areas by 2036 and around 60 per cent by 2047.

He stressed that achieving the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ requires a prosperous and developed Odisha, with safe, clean, inclusive and economically vibrant cities.

Majhi also urged elected representatives of urban local bodies to remain connected with people, address their grievances and coordinate with officials to ensure timely solutions.