Page 10 - Odisha

Patnaik elected BJD chief for 9th time, urges workers to counter 'BJP lies'

Former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who was chosen as the BJD president for the ninth time in a row, on Saturday called upon party workers to expose the alleged false narrative of the ruling BJP. BJD's organisational election returning officer PK Deb announced Patnaik as the party president at the state council meeting held at its state headquarters, Sankha Bhawan. Addressing party leaders and workers after being named as the BJD president, Patnaik said, "We conceded defeat in the last assembly election by a narrow margin, even though our party got more votes. This is because we couldn't effectively counter the false narrative. Creating a false narrative is the main strategy against the BJD. We should be aggressive in exposing this, especially on social media." The leader of opposition in the Odisha assembly also said, "We need to improve our social media presence. Technology should be used to tell the truth and the facts, and without technology, we cannot reach out to ...

Gadkari unveils projects worth ₹4K cr, says Odisha to get US-like highways

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said Odisha will soon get America-like highways. Unveiling 19 national highway projects worth Rs 4,137 crore in the state, he said road connectivity will boost tourism in the state. "The Centre will provide world-class infrastructure to Odisha, and the people here will soon get America-like highways. The state has ports, minerals and forests. Road connectivity will boost its tourism potential," he said. Noting that the Centre has undertaken highway projects worth nearly Rs 2 lakh crore in the state, Gadkari said projects worth Rs 60,000 crore have already been completed. Works for projects worth Rs 60,000 crore are underway, while projects worth Rs 75,000 crore are in the pipeline, he said. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy CMs Pravati Parida and KV Singh Deo, MPs, MLAs and ministers were present at the programme at Baramunda Maidan in Bhubaneswar. Referring to the demand made by Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, Gad

Nitin Gadkari to unveil highway projects worth Rs 4,000 cr in Odisha today

Union minister Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate and lay the foundation of highway projects worth Rs 4,000 crore in Odisha on Thursday, an official release said. The Union minister for road transport and highways was welcomed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and state BJP president Manmohan Samal upon his arrival at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here. He began his day-long tour of the eastern state by attending the Dr Harekrushna Mahatab Memorial Lecture at Ravenshaw University in Cuttack, commemorating the birth anniversary of the former chief minister. Gadkari will deliver a memorial lecture on 'Infrastructure Development and Odisha' and attend a national conference on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatab. The Union minister will visit the World Skill Centre here in the afternoon, the release said. He will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of 19 national highway projects worth Rs 4,000 crore during a public meeting at Baramunda Maidan here around

Vedanta fined Rs 71 crore for illegal fly ash disposal in Odisha

Vedanta group firm Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL) has said that State Pollution Control Board, Odisha, has asked it to deposit a compensation of Rs 71.1 crore for unauthorised disposal of fly ash. Fly ash is a fine, powdery waste material created when coal is burned in power plants. "The issue pertains to allegation for unauthorised disposal of fly ash. The Member Secretary requested the company to deposit the environmental compensation of Rs 71,16,53,320," Vedanta has said in a filing to BSE. It said it intends to take legal recourse in the present matter before the appropriate forum. "The company is hopeful of a favorable outcome thereof and does not expect the said Order to have any material financial impact on the company," the filing said. Vedanta Ltd, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Ltd, is one of the world's leading natural resources companies spanning across India, South Africa, Namibia, Liberia, UAE, Korea, Taiwan and Japan with significant operations in oil and gas, zinc, le

Odisha govt to install over 21K tubewells to tackle water crisis: Minister

The Odisha government has decided to install 21,300 new tube wells across the state to tackle the water crisis during summer, Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik said. The decision is part of a broader strategy to ensure reliable access to water for all, he said. The state already has 5.2 lakh tube wells, and the new ones will be installed in places that face a crisis, he added. "No community will be left without drinking water access," Naik said on Friday. He said drinking water-related complaints will be resolved within seven days. Naik, who is also the panchayati raj minister, said the government has decided to allot 1.60 lakh new houses under the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana this year. Priority will be given to differently-abled individuals, destitutes, and victims of natural calamities like floods and cyclones, he said. The work orders for the construction of some houses have already been issued, while the remaining are in process, he said.

Nadda to launch Ayushman Bharat scheme during two-day Odisha visit

Union Health Minister J P Nadda will embark on a two-day visit to Odisha on Friday during which he will launch the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the state. Nadda is scheduled to arrive in state capital Bhubaneswar around 1 pm, after which he will head to Cuttack to attend an event alongside Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, where the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the Ayushman Vayo-Vandana Yojana and the state's Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY) will be officially launched, BJP state president Manmohan Samal said. Around 3.5 crore people are expected to benefit from these health insurance schemes, Samal said. During his visit to Cuttack, the Union minister will also inaugurate the new building of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Pediatrics, officials said. Nadda's itinerary also includes visits to AIIMS Bhubaneswar and the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET). On Saturday morning, Nadda will formally inaugurate a three-day training

Odisha govt allocates land to Inox Solar for solar cell manufacturing plant

INOXGFL Group on Tuesday said the Odisha government has allocated Inox Solar a land parcel to set up a cell module manufacturing plant in the state. The proposed 4.8-gigawatt (GW) solar cell and 4.8 GW solar module manufacturing plant will support India's renewable energy goals and bolster Odisha's industrial growth, INOXGFL Group said in a statement. Inox Solar, a subsidiary of Inox Clean, today announced the land allocation for a solar cell and solar module manufacturing plant in Dhenkanal, by the Odisha government, it said. Inox Clean is part of the INOXGFL Group. Earlier this year, INOXGFL Group had announced a Rs 4,000-crore investment through Inox Solar to establish a state-of-the-art solar cell and solar module manufacturing unit in Odisha. The High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA)-approved project is expected to generate over 3,400 jobs, thereby driving investment, creating employment opportunities, and supporting Odisha's long-term economic development. Industry sources

BJD leaders demand action against Sasmit Patra for confusion over Waqf Bill

A section of senior BJD leaders on Saturday demanded strong action against Rajya Sabha MP and national spokesperson Sasmit Patra for "creating confusion" among lawmakers ahead of the voting on Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the upper house of Parliament. Patra, also the leader of the BJD in Rajya Sabha, is in the eye of the storm after revealing that he had voted in favour of the contentious Bill. After the BJD announced it would oppose the Bill, and even party MP Muzibulla Khan spoke against it in Rajya Sabha on April 3, Patra put out a post on X before voting, stating that party MPs could vote "as per their conscience" and that there was no whip issued to them. This led to confusion among the lawmakers, and many senior leaders have raised questions about whether Patra could change the decision of Naveen Patnaik, who apart from being the BJD president, was also chairman of the parliamentary party. "I abstained from voting due to confusion... the party had earlier decided to oppose the B

Odisha govt lost Rs 864.45 crore mineral revenue during 2015-22: CAG report

The Odisha government has "lost revenue of Rs 864.45 crore" from minor mineral sources during the financial years 2015-16 to 2021-22, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) said in its latest report. In its audit report on collection of revenue from minor minerals, the CAG said the government failed to collect Rs 864.45 crore towards the District Mineral Fund (DMF) and Environment Management Fund (EMF) on royalty from minor minerals supplied by contractors and used in public projects without valid transit passes amounting to Rs 4,624.58 crore. The authorities in charge of public projects deducted royalty amounting to Rs 4,624.58 crore from the bills of contractors or project executants due to non-production of valid transit passes and purchase receipts in support of procurement from authorised sources. A total of Rs 885.70 crore towards DMF and EMF on royalty was to be realised in the state, during 2016-22. However, the authorities in charge of public projects in 14 ...

Murmu, PM Modi extend greetings as Odisha celebrates state's formation day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Tuesday India takes pride in Odisha's history, literature and music, as he greeted people on the state's formation day. He said on X, "Warm wishes on Utkala Dibasa! This day is a fitting tribute to Odisha's glorious culture. India takes pride in Odisha's history, literature and music." Praising the people of Odisha as hardworking, he said the Centre and the Odisha government have worked extensively over the last year to further the state's progress. The people of the state have excelled in diverse fields, he said. Utkala Dibasa is celebrated on April 1 every year to commemorate the formation of the state in 1936, carved out from the Bengal province.

Vedanta to set up aluminium park in Odisha's Jharsuguda over 253 acres

Vedanta Ltd on Monday said it will set up a modern aluminium park in Odisha's Jharsuguda, close to its aluminium smelter. Spanning over 253 acres, the park will attract more than 100 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and generate 2 lakh employment opportunities, the company said in a statement. Vedanta would invest Rs 1 lakh crore for setting up of the park and an aluminium plant of 3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) capacity in Rayagada district, it said. Our journey in Odisha has been nothing short of transformative. From breaking barriers with the country's first women-operated potline to fostering sustainable growth through our skill development and environmental initiatives, we are deeply committed to shaping Odisha's bright future, said Vedanta Aluminium's chief operating officer (COO), Sunil Gupta. Our latest investment of Rs 1 lakh crore is a testament to our enduring belief in the state's potential to lead India's industrial revolution, he said. At the Utkarsh ..

1 dead, 7 injured as Bengaluru-Kamakhya Express derails in Odisha's Cuttack

Seven people were injured as an express train derailed in Odisha's Cuttack district on Sunday, officials said. Eleven coaches of the SMVT Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Express derailed at Nirgundi near Manguli at 11.54 am, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the East Coast Railway Ashok Kumar Mishra said. Odisha Fire Service Director-General Sudhansu Sarangi said seven injured people have been rescued and taken to a nearby hospital. "The maximum number of injured persons should not be more than 10," he said. Personnel of the NDRF and Odisha Fire Service were assisting the railway in the rescue operation, he added. The train was heading to Kamakhya station in Assam's Guwahati from Bengaluru. Mishra said a relief train has been sent to the spot. "Arrangements are being made to help the affected passengers reach their destinations. Our priority is to restore the line at the earliest and accordingly, other trains will be diverted," he said. Three trains were diverted because of the ..

Nearly 28,000 women, children victims of atrocities in 11 months: Minister

Nearly 28,000 women and children were victims of atrocities in Odisha in 11 months till January 31, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida informed the state assembly on Saturday. While replying to a query from BJD MLA Sanjib Kumar Mallick, Parida, who heads the Women and Child Development Department, said, "As per information collected from the Crime Against Women and Children Wing of the Home Department, 27,973 women and children became victims of atrocities in the state in 11 months from January 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025." As per data provided by Parida, the maximum number of 2,099 women and children were tortured in Jajpur district, followed by Ganjam police district (1,823), Mayurbhanj (1,573), Bhadrak (1,371), Balasore (1,305), and Keonjhar (1,329). Similarly, 1,110 women and children from Dhenkanal, 1,102 from Cuttack, 1,201 in Jagatsinghpur and 1,089 in Cuttack Urban police district were victims of atrocities during the period, she stated. Informing the House about steps ta

Nepal student death in KIIT: NHRC seeks report from Odisha govt, UGC, NAAC

Finding gross negligence on the part of the authorities over the suicide of a 20-year-old B.Tech student from Nepal at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) here, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an action taken report from the Odisha government, UGC and NAAC within four weeks. The NHRC, which had sent a team to undertake an on-the-spot probe into the death of Nepalese student Prakriti Lamsal, on March 27 uploaded the case status on its website and stated that the rights panel has sought a report from Odisha's chief secretary, collector and district magistrate of Khurda district, commissioner of police, and chairpersons of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). The Nepalese woman's body was recovered from her hostel room on the KIIT campus on February 16 following which tension mounted and students from the Himalayan nation were assaulted and forcibly evicted after they staged protests. The .

Odisha govt clears ₹1.65 trn investment proposals, to create 50K jobs

The Odisha government on Thursday approved 10 investment proposals, including those of Vedanta Ltd and JSW Steel, worth over Rs 1.65 lakh crore, having the potential to create over 50,000 jobs, a statement said. The approvals were given at a meeting of the High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA), chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. Among the projects for which approval was given was Vedanta Ltd's two projects in the Rayagada district. The mining major will invest Rs 50,537 crore for setting up a 6-mtpa alumina refinery, and Rs 40,991 crore for a greenfield 1.2-mtpa aluminium smelter. The HLCA approved JSW Steel Ltd's Rs 35,000 crore investment proposal for a 5-mtpa integrated steel plant in Keonjhar. It also approved Shyam Steel's 1.5-mtpa integrated steel plant worth Rs 5,200 crore in Bhadrak. Approval was also given to OCL Iron and Steel Ltd's Rs 3,000-crore integrated steel plant, which has a capacity of 1.2 mtpa, in Keonjhar. Orissa Thermal Energy Ltd's 2,400-mw (3 x

New wild ginger species discovered in Odisha's Similipal Biosphere Reserve

Researchers from Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University in Odisha's Baripada have claimed to have discovered a new species of wild ginger from Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) in Mayurbhanj district, officials said. The discovery was made by Dr. Sudam Charan Sahu, assistant professor of Botany, and Sifan Priyadarshini, Ph.D research scholar of Botany, who have been studying and exploring the diversity of the Zingiberaceae family in Odisha for the past three years, the varsity said in a statement on Wednesday. According to researchers, the new species was discovered in August 2024 from the semi-evergreen forest at Kulipala, SBR. "After a detailed observation of its unique morphological characteristics, it was confirmed as a new species," said Sahu, adding that the research paper has been published in the international journal 'Phytotaxa'. They said the new species, 'Zingiber jagannathii Sahu & Priyadarshini,' has been named in honour of 'Lord Jagannath.' This new species ..

President Murmu visits Shree Nilamadhav temple in Odisha's Nayagarh

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday offered prayers at Shree Nilamadhav Temple in Odisha's Nayagarh district. She was accompanied by Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The temple is located at Kantilo on the banks of Mahanadi. "The President offered 'aarti'. She was happy to pray at the famous Lord Vishnu temple," the priest said, adding that this marks the first-ever visit of a sitting President to the shrine in independent India. The temple is situated near two hills and is surrounded by dense forests. In ancient times, Shree Nilamadhav was worshipped by the Sabar tribe. Today, a shrine dedicated to Shree Nilamadhav is also located to the right of the Maha Lakshmi temple within the Puri temple complex. According to Bhaskar Mishra, a researcher in Shree Jagannath culture, it is believed that Lord Vishnu was originally worshipped as Shree Nilamadhav before the idol of Lord Jagannath was created and installed at the Puri temple. Earlier in the day

Odisha reports 3 child marriages daily, Nabarangpur dist leads: Govt data

Odisha has reported at least three such cases every day during the last six years, despite several initiatives taken by the administration, according to government data. Activists working in this field attribute tribal practice, dowry, migration of labourer families and parents' fear that daughters may elope to this startling figure. The data reveals that 8,159 child marriages have taken place across Odisha from 2019 to February 2025. Of them, 1,347 cases have been reported from Nabarangpur, the highest among all 30 districts of Odisha during that period. While Ganjam district is in the second spot with 966 cases, Koraput comes next with 636. It was followed by Mayurbhanj (594), Rayagada (408), Balasore (361), Keonjhar (328), Kandhamal (308) and Nayagarh (308). The lowest of 57 such instances have been found in Jharsuguda district in those six years. Social activist Namrata Chadha said, Child marriage cannot be fully stopped overnight. We have to create such an environment and soc

JSW to set up 0.5 MMT capacity copper smelter in Odisha by 2028-29

In January, JSW said it was foraying into the copper business with a Rs 2,600 crore ($301.22 million) investment to operate two copper mines from Hindustan Copper for a period of 20 years

Three killed in clash over suspected witchcraft in Odisha's Ganjam

At least three persons were killed and three others seriously injured in the clash between two groups over suspected witchcraft practice in Odisha's Ganjam district on Tuesday, police said. The clash took place at Kharipalli village under. The clash broke out due to the suspected witchcraft in the village, police said. The deceased were identified as Khadal Behera (70), his son Ratnakar Behera (35) and Ramesh Behera (40), they said. The injured persons were first admitted to Dharakote hospital and later referred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital here. Their condition was stated to be serious, hospital sources said Senior police officers along with additional forces have rushed to the spot. "Though the situation in the village was tense, but under control after the arrival of the police forces," said SP (Ganjam) Subhendu Kumar Patra. Forces along with police officers were camping in the village, the SP said. Though the exact reason for the incident was not known immediately, ..