 "Hemant Kumar Rout")
Hemant Kumar Rout
Hemant Kumar Rout
With a strong command over public policy and governance, he writes extensively on economy, industry, infrastructure, defence, politics, science and technology, environment and health, bringing clarity and context to complex issues. He has an experience of over 20 years across print and online media. Currently, he is working as an Associate Editor at Business Standard. He has previously worked with The New Indian Express Group, The Times of India, The Statesman, Sahara Time, Indo Asian News Service and regional media.
With a strong command over public policy and governance, he writes extensively on economy, industry, infrastructure, defence, politics, science and technology, environment and health, bringing clarity and context to complex issues. He has an experience of over 20 years across print and online media. Currently, he is working as an Associate Editor at Business Standard. He has previously worked with The New Indian Express Group, The Times of India, The Statesman, Sahara Time, Indo Asian News Service and regional media.
Page 17 - Hemant Kumar Rout
Illegal mining rampant in Odisha, Assembly panel flags systemic lapses
House panel flags illegal mining, land encroachment, and weak oversight in Odisha, warning of revenue losses and environmental damage; seeks stricter monitoring and action
 "Illegal mining rampant in Odisha, Assembly panel flags systemic lapses")
Shyam Metalics' Odisha unit sealed over violations of pollution norms
Enforcement action targets multiple units at Rengali plant after repeated non-compliance with air, wastewater and hazardous waste norms despite earlier notices
 "Shyam Metalics' Odisha unit sealed over violations of pollution norms")
Odisha appoints 14 vice chancellors after 10-month delay in process
Appointments across key universities aim to restore administrative stability and address staffing shortages after prolonged delays that drew criticism from Opposition and academic stakeholders
 "Odisha appoints 14 vice chancellors after 10-month delay in process")
SAIL steel powers INS Taragiri, strengthening defence indigenisation
SAIL supplies 4,000 tonnes of specialised steel for INS Taragiri, strengthening India's naval shipbuilding capabilities and advancing defence indigenisation under Project 17A
 "SAIL steel powers INS Taragiri, strengthening defence indigenisation")
Customs duty cut fails to lift plastic sector as input costs remain high
Industry says duty exemption on petrochemical imports has had limited impact as raw material prices stay elevated, demand weakens, and MSMEs face mounting stress
 "Customs duty cut fails to lift plastic sector as input costs remain high")
Surplus rice pushes Odisha to open mkt auction, 100K T to be sold this yr
State to offload 100,000 tonnes of rice and expand free grain distribution under MAPY to manage surplus stocks and support over 32.8 million beneficiaries
 "Surplus rice pushes Odisha to open mkt auction, 100K T to be sold this yr")
SAIL's Rourkela plant posts record output across key units in FY26
Rourkela Steel Plant achieves record output across key units and improves efficiency metrics, driven by higher capacity utilisation and operational stability in FY26
 "SAIL's Rourkela plant posts record output across key units in FY26")
Odisha introduces SEBC quota, hikes ST, SC reservation in courses
State revises reservation policy for higher education, introducing SEBC quota and raising ST and SC share across medical, engineering and other professional courses
 "Odisha introduces SEBC quota, hikes ST, SC reservation in courses")
Odisha expands food net with Annapurna Yojana, to spend ₹8,813 crore
State to provide 5 kg additional rice per person monthly under new scheme, covering over 3.28 crore beneficiaries and significantly expanding food security coverage
 "Odisha expands food net with Annapurna Yojana, to spend ₹8,813 crore")
Indian Railways clocks record ₹6,735 crore scrap revenue in FY26
National transporter surpasses scrap disposal target by over 12 per cent, with multiple zones exceeding benchmarks amid push to monetise redundant assets
 "Indian Railways clocks record ₹6,735 crore scrap revenue in FY26")
Odisha Mining Corporation FY26 mineral production hits record 44.82 MT
State-run miner achieves highest-ever mineral production and revenue in FY26, driven by strong iron ore output, improved efficiency and rising demand in domestic and global markets
 "Odisha Mining Corporation FY26 mineral production hits record 44.82 MT")
Odisha's Puri airport project gets stage-I forest clearance from Centre
MoEFCC grants in-principle approval for forest land diversion for Puri airport, subject to afforestation, wildlife safeguards and pending CRZ clearance requirements
 "Odisha's Puri airport project gets stage-I forest clearance from Centre")
West Asia war: Plastic factories face uncertainty as machines fall silent
The second of a six-part series analyses the impact of the West Asia crisis on the plastic industry, based on a ground report from Balasore, Odisha
 "West Asia war: Plastic factories face uncertainty as machines fall silent")
Vedanta reports record production across businesses in FY26; defence push
Vedanta reports record production across core segments in FY26, while Chairman Anil Agarwal calls for reforms and private sector participation in defence manufacturing
 "Vedanta reports record production across businesses in FY26; defence push")
Railway Board move to split Khurda Road division triggers Odisha row
Move to shift Palasa-Ichchapuram section to Andhra's SCoR revives concerns over revenue loss and control of key railway assets in Odisha
 "Railway Board move to split Khurda Road division triggers Odisha row")
Nalco posts record FY26 performance with 77 lakh tonnes bauxite evacuation
Nalco achieves record production and sales in FY26, with bauxite evacuation crossing 77 lakh tonnes and strong growth across alumina, aluminium and power operations
 "Nalco posts record FY26 performance with 77 lakh tonnes bauxite evacuation")
ECoR tops freight loading as Railways earnings cross ₹1.7 trillion
East Coast Railway leads freight loading with record volumes in FY26 as Indian Railways earnings cross Rs 1.7 trillion, though revenue growth remains uneven across zones
 "ECoR tops freight loading as Railways earnings cross ₹1.7 trillion")
BCGCL, MCL sign land deal for India's first coal gasification project
BCGCL and MCL sign a land agreement for India's first indigenous coal gasification project in Odisha, aimed at boosting energy security and reducing import dependence
 "BCGCL, MCL sign land deal for India's first coal gasification project")
PM Modi projects Odisha as a key driver of India's next phase of growth
Cites infrastructure push, industrial expansion and welfare gains in Utkal Divas message to chief minister
 "PM Modi projects Odisha as a key driver of India's next phase of growth")
VFS Global opens Odisha's first visa application centre in Bhubaneswar
New VFS Global centre in Bhubaneswar cuts travel burden, boosts global access
 "VFS Global opens Odisha's first visa application centre in Bhubaneswar")