Page 11 - Odisha Government

Odisha government starts prepping for upcoming 'cyclone season'

The Odisha government has asked its officials to prepare for possible cyclones over the next two months despite no such forecast by the weather office. Chief Secretary SC Mohapatra directed officials concerned to take all precautionary measures at the state-level cyclone preparedness meeting on Monday. Odisha faces severe cyclonic storms in October and November, sometimes even till December 15. This two-and-a-half month is considered the "cyclone season" in the state, he said. "Odisha usually witnesses the wrath of cyclones during the withdrawal of monsoon in October and November. Odisha's geographical situation and climate change have also caused cyclones during the summers since 2019," he added. Regional Meteorological Centre director HR Biswas, who attended the meeting, said the IMD has not forecast any such cyclone for the next 15 days even as there are favorable conditions for a cyclonic storm. The chief secretary asked all the departments to remain prepared to deal with any

Odisha approves Rs 1,923 cr investment in 10 projects in different sectors

The Odisha government on Friday accorded in-principle approval for setting up of 10 different industrial projects with an investment of Rs 1,923.60 crore in different sectors. The approval was given at the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) meeting held here under the chairpersonship of Chief Secretary SC Mohapatra. The committee approved 10 projects worth Rs 1,923.60 crore that would generate employment opportunities for over 5,170 people in the state, said Industry secretary Hemant Sharma. He said the projects approved in the meeting come under diverse sectors like power and renewable energy, chemicals, IT & ESDM, food processing, oil & gas, metal downstream, technical textiles, tourism and infrastructure. The approved projects will be set up across Odisha with four projects being set up in Khurda district, and one each in Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Balasore, Keonjhar and Angul districts. A proposal of Luminous Power Technologies Private Limited to .

NGT stalls Odisha govt's Bali Jatra riverfront project in Cuttack

The National Green Tribunal has imposed restrictions on the Odisha government's ambitious Bali Jatra project, for which the Cuttack district administration had reclaimed an area of around 426 acres of the Mahanadi riverbed, environmentalists said on Saturday. As part of the Bali Jatra riverfront or the Barfi project, the district administration had reclaimed the floodplain zone of the river near Jobra barrage in Cuttack city by filling sand and garbage, they claimed. According to them, the move allegedly "reduced the water retaining capacity of the barrage and posed a threat of inundation to at least 38 nearby villages". A five-member special bench, headed by chairperson Justice A K Goel, said it was difficult to accept the state government's plan for construction on the reclaimed land, which has been clearly established to be part of the floodplain zone. "There's the clear anticipated danger of flooding. We're guided by precautionary principle under Section 20 of the NGT Act," the

Ahead of festive season, Odisha govt hikes staff DA by 3% wef Jan 1, 2022

The proposal has been approved by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The rate of DA will now be enhanced to 34 per cent from the existing 31 per cent, a statement released by the CMO said.

Only 25 % people in Odisha took Covid-19 precaution dose, says official

The Odisha government appealed to the people on Saturday to take the precaution dose against coronavirus as soon as possible as few weeks are left for the period of free jabs and only a quarter of the targeted population got vaccinated with the third shot. A total of 80.90 lakh people, including frontline workers and those in the 18-60 age group and above 60 years, have taken the precaution dose, Health Director Bijay Panigrahi said at a press briefing in Bhubaneswar. "Around 25 per cent of the targeted population have taken the precaution dose while many are yet to take the jab," he said, adding that 23 lakh beneficiaries of the first shot had the second one due even now. Panigrahi appealed to people to take the precaution dose by September 30, the deadline set by the Union government for giving free jabs at public healthcare institutions. The COVID-19 tally rose to 13,28,244 on Saturday as 174 more people, including 13 children, tested positive for the infection, a health bulleti

Odisha govt plans to set up MSME parks in every district: SC Mohapatra

Odisha government has plans to set up micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) parks in all the 30 districts of the state, a top government official said. MSMEs will get all infrastructure support including land, electricity and water in the districts, chief secretary S C Mohapatra said in a programme here. Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) has been given more than Rs 450 crore to develop the required infrastructure in the districts for the purpose, he said at the concluding session of Propack Odisha 2022 and MSME Odisha 2022 organised by Odisha Assembly of Small and Medium Enterprises (OASME) on Sunday. "In the last few years, we saw 30-40% growth in finance to MSMEs by banks which is encouraging. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has held two rounds of meeting with bankers in this regard, Mohapatra said in response to entrepreneurs allegation of non-cooperation from banks. Odisha Industries Minister P K Deb said the younger generation must take risk a

Odisha CM urges PM Modi to add default provision for funds in NREGASoft

Seeking the addition of a default provision in e-governance system NREGASoft, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Top Headlines: Common charger for all mobiles; banks rush to woo depositors

At a time when growth in bank credit is outstripping that of deposits, several lenders, including the country's largest bank, State Bank of India (SBI), have raised deposit rates ahead of the festival

BJD, Congress reject Amit Shah's claim of BJP forming next govt in Odisha

The Congress and BJD rejected Union Home Minister Amit Shah's assertion that the BJP will form the next government in Odisha

Odisha's health Budget doubled in 3 years, gets 358 more doctors: Patnaik

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik said on Friday that the state health budget doubled in the past three years as his government was committed to provide universal access to quality medical services.

Rural Odisha uses 'power of Twitter' to resolve governance issues

"Why shouldn't we try our luck with Twitter?" Tulsi Naik had thought, after having no access to ration supplies during the lockdown in 2020 despite innumerable appeals

Water from swelling Godavari inundates villages in Odisha's districts

Parts of Malkangiri district in Odisha are reeling under floods as backwaters from river Godavari in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh inundated villages and fields

Odisha govt hikes sports budget to Rs 911 crore to amp up infrastructure

Under this Rs 911 crore sports budget, an amount of Rs 719 crore is provided for the development of sports and youth services and other sports infrastructure in the state

Direct Bhubaneswar-Dubai flights very soon, says Odisha CM Patnaik

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has said that direct flights will be operated between Bhubaneswar to Dubai very soon. Patnaik made this announcement while addressing the Odia diaspora in Dubai on Wednesday. Nearly one lakh people of Odisha live in the United Arab Emirates. Direct air connectivity between Dubai and Bhubaneswar has been their long-pending demand. The chief minister's private secretary VK Pandian, who is accompanying Patnaik in the foreign tour, said that the Odisha government has already proceeded with a viability gap funding (VGF) plan for direct flight services between Dubai and Bhubaneswar. VGF is a grant provided to support infrastructure projects that are economically justified but fall short of financial viability. While attending the programme, Chief Secretary SC Mohapatra said that the Odisha government will give subsidies to airlines willing to operate direct flights from Dubai to Bhubaneswar under the VGF scheme. In that arrangement, the government .

Ultimate Kho Kho league gets Odisha govt as fifth franchise owner

Adani, GMR, Capri Global and KLO Sports are other team owners in the upcoming league

Odisha signs agreement to skill 10,000 women SHG members in apparel sector

The Department of Mission Shakti, Odisha in collaboration with Apparel Made-ups and Home Furnishing Sector Skill Council (AMHSSC) has signed an agreement to launch an initiative for skill development

Neelachal Ispat acquisition crucial for Tata Steel growth path: Official

The company plans to further expand it to 10 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by around 2030, the official said.

LIVE: Qatar, Kuwait summon India envoy over BJP leaders' remarks

Nupur Sharma had made some controversial remarks about Prophet Muhammad

Odisha Cabinet reshuffle: 21 ministers, including 5 women, take oath

The reshuffle has been done to give an opportunity to new faces and introduce a combination of young and experienced leaders from BJD into the cabinet ahead of the 2024 polls

Odisha CM asks all ministers to resign ahead of cabinet reshuffle

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday asked all ministers to resign from the council of ministers ahead of a reshuffle on June 5, a top official said.