Page 7 - Odisha Government

Fully prepared for 2024 parl, Assembly polls in Odisha: CEC Rajiv Kumar

Speaking about violence reported in the last assembly elections in Odisha, the CEC stated that the administration should ensure that incidents of violence are checked in the state

Odisha CM Patnaik lays foundation stone for JSW's Rs 65K cr steel facility

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday laid the foundation stone for a steel project of JSW Group to be set up at an estimated investment of Rs 65,000 crore. The proposed project would have an annual steel manufacturing capacity of 13.2 million tonne (MT) with a captive power plant and captive jetties with cargo-handling capacity, JSW Steel said in a BSE filing. The complex at Dhinkia Nuagaon and Gadakujanga under Jagatsinghpur district will also have a cement manufacturing unit and modern township and other components, it said. The chief minister was joined by JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal and his son Parth Jindal, State Industries Minister Pratap Keshari Deb and other senior company and government officials. "The integrated steel project by JSW Steel is expected to drive economic growth in the region by fostering a robust ancillary and downstream ecosystem with employment potential of approximately 30,000 direct & indirect jobs," the company said. The Industrial ...

Odisha govt to give interest-free loans to youth under 'Swayam' scheme

The scheme will be operational for two years and Rs 672 crore will be spent from the state's coffers

Veteran BJD leader, 10-time Odisha MLA V Sugnana Kumari Deo dies at 87

Veteran BJD leader and 10-time Odisha MLA V Sugnana Kumari Deo died at a private hospital in Chennai on Saturday while undergoing treatment, officials said. She was 87. Deo breathed her last at about 1 am after Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and other senior party leaders met her at the hospital on Friday night, they said. She belonged to the royal family of Khallikote. Odisha Governor Raghubar Das, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and many other dignitaries expressed their condolence on the demise of Deo. "Saddened to know about the demise of V Sugnana Kumar Deo. She was a very senior leader of BJD and she made a lot of contributions towards the party. She has left her mark in the public service by representing both Khalikote and Kabisuryanagar. She was elected to the Assembly 10 times, It is an irreparable loss. May her soul rest in peace and my deepest condolence to the bereaved family", Patnaik said in a post on X. Deo was first elected to

Parliament passes Bills to amend SC, ST list in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh

The Parliament also passed the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024 on Thursday, following its passage in the Lower House

Politics should not be done on sensitive crime issues: Odisha CM Patnaik

Recalling the efforts made by his government during the COVID-19 pandemic, CM Patnaik said that oxygen produced in Odisha saved thousands of lives throughout the country

Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh sworn in as new chief justice of Orissa HC

Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh on Wednesday took oath as the 33rd chief justice of Orissa High Court. Governor Raghubar Das administered the oath of office to the new chief justice in a swearing-in ceremony held on Orissa High Court premises here. Born on January 20, 1963, Justice Singh was enrolled as an advocate in 1990 after completing a law degree from the University of Delhi (Campus Law Centre). He was appointed as additional standing counsel in the central government in 1998 and continued as such till October 2001, official sources said. Singh also served as additional advocate general in Bihar and continued as such till his elevation as an additional judge, Patna High Court, in April 2012, they said. He assumed charge as acting chief justice of Patna High Court in February 2023. Last week, President Droupadi Murmu appointed him as the chief justice of Orissa High Court after consultations with the Chief Justice of India, they added.

BJP-BJD 'partnership' in Odisha, alleges Rahul Gandhi ahead of LS polls

Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that the BJP and BJD has a "partnership" in Odisha and the Congress has been opposing them to protect the interest of the people of the state. Gandhi resumed his 'Bharat Joda Nyay Yatra' in Odisha's steel city here. In a brief speech, he said: "As you know Naveen Patnaik and Narendra Modi run a partnership government in Odisha. They both have joined hands and work in tandem. I find in Parliament that BJD supports the BJP. The BJD people also disturb us at the instance of BJP". Gandhi claimed that it is the Congress party alone which has been opposing the BJD-BJP combine for the people of Odisha. Gandhi said: "I have come to Odisha to open a shop of love in the market of hatred. ('Nafrat ki bazaar me mohabbat ki dukan khulne aaya hu')". The Congress leader also came down heavily on Odisha's BJD government saying that as many as 30 lakh people from the state have migrated as labourers to other states for livelihood as the state government "was not

PM meets Padma awardees in Odisha, acknowledges their 'rich contributions'

The Prime Minister said that it was a privilege to meet Krishna Patel, a celebrated Sambalpuri folk singer, whom the Government of India had conferred the Padma Shri in 2023

PM lays foundation stone for 1st phase of NLC India Talabira power project

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the first phase of NLC India Talabira Thermal Power Project in Odisha. Odisha Governor Raghubar Das, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and several Union ministers including Dharmendra Pradhan and Ashwini Vaishnaw were present on the occasion, NLC India said in a statement on Saturday. "The government will always ensure to fulfil its promises. This government doesn't just lay the foundation stone of any project; it makes sure to inaugurate it. This thermal power project will ensure Odisha gets round-the-clock electricity supply and also open up employment opportunities for the youth," Modi said. With an estimated investment of over Rs 27,000 crore, this coal-based Ultra Super Critical Pit Head thermal power project signifies a monumental step towards fostering energy security and driving the nation's growth trajectory. The project encompasses a 2,400-MW capacity in its initial phase and plans for an additional 800 MW in th

PM Narendra Modi to unveil projects worth Rs 68,400 crore in Odisha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Odisha on Saturday afternoon to unveil projects worth Rs 68,400 crore in the state, including the new campus of IIM-Sambalpur, officials said. The prime minister will reach the Jharsuguda airport around 1 pm, and head to the IIM-Sambalpur campus where CM Naveen Patnaik, Governor Raghubar Das and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will join him, they said. Besides the Rs 400-crore campus, Modi will also unveil infrastructure projects worth Rs 68,000 crore. These projects span sectors such as power, roads and railways. Modi will address a public meeting at Remed Ground around 3 pm, before leaving for Guwahati, officials said. Stringent security arrangements have been made for the PM's visit, they said.

Odisha govt's anti-tribal schemes only to woo adivasis ahead of polls: BJP

Terming the ruling BJD in Odisha as anti-tribal, opposition BJP alleged that the state government rolled out special packages for tribals only to woo them ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and the assembly elections. The BJD's programmes for adivasis are a poll gimmick to mislead the one-crore tribal population in the state, Opposition chief whip Mohan Charan Majhi told reporters here on Tuesday. They were actually planning to grab tribal land for corporate houses by amending the Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property (by Scheduled Tribes) Regulation. However, the government failed in its bid in the wake of strong protests from different quarters, Majhi claimed. The Odisha Cabinet on Monday withdrew its earlier decision on tribal land transfer to non-tribals. The BJP leader also mocked the cabinet's approval of a new scheme Laghu Bana Jatiya Drabya Kraya (LABHA) to assure minimum support prices for minor forest produces. With the elections approaching, the state govern

Rs 800-cr heritage corridor project inaugurated around Jagannath temple

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday inaugurated the Rs 800-crore heritage corridor project around the historic Sri Jagannath Temple in Puri. The Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa was officially unveiled by Patnaik in presence of Gajapati Maharaja of Puri Divyasingha Deb and representatives of around 90 temples and thousands of devotees. The project has been possible due to the blessings of Lord Jagannath, the CM said. It includes parking areas, a new bridge and a road to ease pilgrim movement, a pilgrimage centre, restroom facilities, cloakrooms, toilets and other amenities for devotees in and around the Jagannath temple, officials said. The pilgrim town of Puri has been decked up with flowers, colourful lights and graffiti for the occasion, they said.

Law and order has 'collapsed' in Odisha: Dharmendra Pradhan attacks BJD

Calling Odisha's Biju Janata Dal government as "arrogant", Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan alleged that the law and order machinery has "completely collapsed" in the state and victims do not get justice. Pradhan said this at a meeting in the BJP state headquarters here on Tuesday. "Ruling BJD leaders are too arrogant and the people will teach them a lesson in the next elections," the Union Education minister said. However, Pradhan's allegations were rejected by BJD leader Pranab Prakash Das, who accused the former of not doing anything for the state and also for his home district of Angul. He also highlighted bad road conditions of national highways passing through the Union minister's home district of Angul. Pradhan alleged that the ruling Biju Janata Dal party leaders were involved in the exploitation and killing of a woman school teacher in Kalahandi district. The prime accused in the sensational woman teacher murder case was killed inside the jail. "The government has no ans

BJP's plea against BJD for using symbol to promote welfare schemes declined

The Delhi High Court on Friday declined to entertain a plea by BJP leader Jatin Mohanty seeking action against the Biju Janta Dal government in Odisha for using its party symbol of conch' while promoting the government's welfare schemes in advertisements. The court questioned the petitioner for approaching it instead of going to the Orissa High Court when the advertisements were being issued there. Why are you here? Go to Odisha and raise it before the appropriate court, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora said. It said it is not unique to one state and it is the story of every state now. As the bench was not inclined to entertain the plea, Mohanty's counsel sought liberty to withdraw the petition and file it before a court having jurisdiction over the issue which was allowed. The petitioner alleged there was arbitrary use and misuse of public funds by the BJD which was indulging in advertising various state government schemes, using the 'Conch' .

Odisha clears 14 industrial projects worth Rs 1,713 cr to boost employment

The Odisha government has approved 14 industrial projects that would involve investments of Rs 1,713.65 crore and create employment opportunities for more than 5,000 people, officials said on Thursday. The State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) headed by Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena on Wednesday approved the projects spanning sectors such as metal downstream and ancillaries, power, pharmaceuticals, plastics, food processing and tourism. The government has cleared a Rs 628.00 crore investment proposal of Anand Exports. It also cleared a proposal of Mahindra Holidays and Resorts India Ltd to set up a luxury resort at Sonapur beach in Ganjam district at an investment of Rs 228.45 crore, officials said. The proposal of Jindal Stainless Ltd for setting up a roof-top solar power plant in Jajpur district at a cost of Rs 110.24 crore was also approved by the SLSWCA. The government also approved the proposal of TS Beach Resorts Pvt Ltd to set up a convention centre al

Commercial drivers' strike continues in Odisha; fuel & milk supply affected

With the strike of commercial drivers entering third day in Odisha, passenger bus services, and transportation of petroleum products and milk were affected across the state. The Odisha Drivers' Mahasangha announced continuance of its stir even as the state transport commissioner Amitabh Thakur expressed optimism that the agitation would end soon. Drivers across the country were on strike over the recently enacted hit-and-run' Law under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which replaces the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Mahasangh is part of the All-India strike. "Our strike will continue as discussions are still underway with both the state and Central governments," Mahasangha president Prashant Menduli told reporters. The drivers also said that there was a provision for imprisonment of two years under Section 304 of the IPC for accidents. As per the provisions in the BNS, drivers who cause a serious road accident by negligent driving and run away without informing police

Odisha CM lays foundation stone of Rs 6,225 crore Bhubaneswar Metro project

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday laid the foundation stone for the Rs 6,225 crore Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project. Before laying the foundation stone at Ratagada Lenka Sahi near Trisulia, Patnaik held a roadshow on the 26 km route of the proposed metro project. People stood on both sides of the road and different groups performed traditional folk dance and music to welcome the chief minister during the roadshow. "Apan Mane Khusi Ta (Are you happy)", Patnaik asked the people gathered on the occasion. "Today (Jan 1, 2024) will remain in the history of Odisha's development. As promised earlier, we are laying the foundation stone of the metro rail project", he said. Stating that this is the state government's single largest investment made in any infrastructure project in Odisha's history, Patnaik said that this is also the flagship project of Odisha under the 5T (transformational) initiative. Patnaik said the project will have 20 stations covering 26 km from Bhubaneswar

CM Patnaik launches third phase of Odisha's flagship health scheme

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday launched the third phase of the state's flagship health scheme - Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY). Patnaik said with this third phase of expansion, it is estimated that over 1.10 crore families, covering nearly 90 per cent of the state's population will be provided health assurance under BSKY. The chief minister said that the BSKY will ensure that no family in Odisha is left vulnerable due to lack of financial resources to meet high expenditure for critical illnesses. The families left out in the first two phases of the BSKY, would be covered in the third phase, Patnaik said while launching the new 'BSKY Nabin Card' for the beneficiaries. "We are now launching the third phase of BSKY, where all left-out families of rural areas of our state will be assured of cashless health service in private hospitals, for all critical ailments," Patnaik said. Stating that the BSKY scheme was launched five years ago to provide health assurance to a

Odisha CM inaugurates India's largest Sports Science Centre in Kalinga

This Sports Science Centre features specialised labs to ensure that athletes receive care and support tailored to their unique needs, cultivating their potential and propelling them towards excellence