Bhubaneswar, Jan 4: To keep its promise, the Mohan Majhi-led BJP government in Odisha has started the process of establishing Dakshina Odisha Vikash Parishad (Southern Odisha Development Council).

A task force meeting led by chairman Nityanand Gond was held to discuss the issue in detail. It was decided that a statutory committee would be formed to expedite the process of establishing the SODC.

The South Odisha Development Council will comprise seven southern districts of Odisha. The main objective of the SODC is to ensure development in the southern region and check economic imbalance.

Notably, the Mohan Majhi government had earlier announced the establishment of Development Councils for the southern and northern regions in line with the Western Odisha Development Council.