Page 2 - Odisha

'To serve nation': BJD's Amar Patnaik joins BJP ahead of Nuapada bypoll

Senior BJD leader Amar Patnaik joined the ruling BJP in Odisha on Monday. Patnaik, the IT Cell head of the BJD and its spokesperson, switched sides days ahead of the Nuapada by-election on November 11. A former account general, he joined the BJP as BJD president Naveen Patnaik started campaigning for the by-election. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, state BJP president Manmohan Samal and its Odisha in-charge Vijay Pal Singh Tomar welcomed him to the party. "I joined the BJP to serve the nation. I quit my government job in 2018 and became an MP in 2019. So far, I have worked for the development of the state, and now the time has come to dedicate myself to the nation," Patnaik said. "Therefore, I think, BJP is the right party to serve the nation," he added.

Odisha working to make every woman financially independent: CM Majhi

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday said his government was committed to ensuring that every woman in the state becomes financially independent, self-reliant and capable of entrepreneurship. Inaugurating the second edition of the 'Subhadra Shakti Mela' here, Majhi said the fair, which will continue till November 12, was a platform to showcase women's empowerment and entrepreneurship under the Subhadra Yojana. "Our goal is to create a prosperous Odisha by 2036 and to make it the growth engine of a developed India by 2047. This goal will be fulfilled when the power of our lakhs of Subhadra mothers is awakened. They will be empowered and their valuable contribution will be in every field of development," he said. The Subhadra Yojana is a unique model to achieve that goal, he stated. He added that Odisha has achieved unprecedented success by creating 17 lakh Lakhpati Didis in a very short time under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship scheme Lakhpati Didi Yojana.

SICSem begins India's first end-to-end chip manufacturing project in Odisha

Power electronics chip company SiCSem performed ground breaking ceremony here on Saturday for setting up the country's first end-to-end silicon carbide semiconductor production plant entailing investment of about Rs 2,000 crore. The integrated facility, expected to be operational by 2027-28, will have a capacity of processing 60,000 SiC wafers annually and packaging about 9.6 crore units. "?Our dream of bringing advanced technology to Odisha is coming true today, and our special focus is on enabling a seamless integration of industry and academia. "In this regard, we are partnering with IIT Bhubaneswar for a semiconductor research lab. I recently had the honour of approving Rs 4.95 crore from the MPLAD for establishing the NaMo Semiconductor Lab," Union IT and Electronics Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on the occasion through a video message. Silicon carbide chips are used for handling high voltage application in products like renewable energy, electric vehicle, power inverters, ..

Odisha imposes 7-month fishing ban to protect nesting Olive Ridley turtles

The Odisha government on Saturday imposed a seven-month-long ban on sea fishing activity within 20 km of the coast at the river mouths of Dhamra, Devi and Rusikulya as part of its annual Olive Ridley turtle conservation programme, officials said. The ban on sea-fishing, however, remains enforced round-the-year in the Gahirmatha coast, which is widely regarded as the largest habitation corridor of these highly endangered marine species. Besides, Gahirmatha has been accorded the status of a marine sanctuary in view of the congregation of turtles, said forest officials. The ban on sea fishing activity would remain effective from November 1 to May 31. It ensures the safety of marine animals during their breeding and mating season, said officials, adding that the ban has been clamped in accordance with Sections 2, 7 and 4 of Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA), 1982 and provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The ban will be strictly implemented as it is done every year to

Rain lashes parts of Odisha; landslides, damage to properties reported

Rain lashed several parts of Odisha, including the state's capital Bhubaneswar, on Wednesday as severe cyclone 'Montha' weakened into a cyclonic storm and was moving through neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, IMD said. Several incidents of landslides, uprooting of trees, and damage to houses have been reported from various districts, an official at the Special Relief Commissioner's office said. Light-to-moderate rain with wind speed ranging from 30 kmph to 40 kmph was recorded across the coastal belt, including Khurda, Cuttack, Puri, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts, in the state, the IMD bulletin said. The maximum of 105 mm rainfall has been recorded in Mayurbhanj district, followed by 93.5 mm in Balasore, 90 mm in Khurda and 74.4 mm in Chandbali, the bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Centre (IMD) said. With the severe cyclone 'Montha' losing strength after its landfall on Tuesday evening in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centr

Severe cyclonic storm 'Montha' weakens over coastal Andhra, says IMD

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday said that Severe Cyclonic Storm 'Montha' has weakened into a Cyclonic Storm over the coastal Andhra Pradesh and will maintain the intensity of cyclonic storm during the next six hours.As per the weather department, the Severe Cyclonic Storm "Montha" over coastal Andhra Pradesh moved nearly northwestwards with a speed of 10 kmph during past six hours, weakened into a Cyclonic Storm and lay centered at 0230 hrs IST of today, the 29th October 2025, near latitude 16.5°N & longitude 81.5°E, about 20 km west-northwest of Narsapur (Andhra Pradesh), 50 km northeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 90 km west-southwest of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), 230 km southwest of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 470 km southwest of Gopalpur (Odisha)."It is likely to move nearly northwestwards across coastal Andhra Pradesh and maintain its intensity of cyclonic storm during the next 6 hours, and weaken further into a deep depression during ...

Cyclone Montha: Severe storm expected; red alerts in Andhra, Odisha, Bengal

Cyclone Montha, brewing over the Bay of Bengal, is expected to make landfall near Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada coast as a severe cyclonic storm on October 28.

Deep depression in Bay of Bengal: Odisha puts all 30 districts on alert

The Odisha government on Sunday put all 30 districts on alert as the depression in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a deep depression and is slowly moving towards the east coast, officials said. Odisha will experience very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall on October 28 and 29, they said. The IMD has issued a red alert for five Odisha districts - Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati and Ganjam - and orange and yellow alerts for several other districts. The weather office also hoisted Distant Cautionary Signal No-I (DC-1) at all ports of Odisha and advised fishermen not to venture into the sea till October 29. An alert has been sounded across the Odisha coast from Ganjam to Balasore, with authorities urging fishermen and people to stay vigilant and not to venture into the sea as the conditions would be rough. Authorities are using loudspeakers and megaphones to alert fishermen who ventured into the sea, urging them to return to the shore immediately. The administration is

BJP govt in Odisha completes 500 days; CM says poll promises fulfilled

As the BJP government in Odisha completed its 500 days in office, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday claimed that his administration has implemented all the promises made by the saffron party in the 2024 Assembly elections. Majhi, who took oath of office as the first BJP chief minister of Odisha on June 12, 2024, in a statement thanked the people of Odisha for their support and said that keeping promises made to the people is the basic principle of his government. "Your unwavering support and trust are the foundation of our government's success. We have promptly implemented all the promises we made as a 'people's government'. Our basic principle is 'keeping our word'; inspired by this mantra, we have set a new and people-centric standard of governance in the state," he said. Listing the achievements of his government in the state, Majhi claimed that the farmers of Odisha are now getting Rs 3,100 per quintal of paddy as promised by the party. He said that though the MSP of

Odisha on high alert as cyclone likely to bring heavy rain from Oct 27

The disaster management teams in Odisha are on high alert due to a brewing cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal, which is forecast to bring heavy rainfall to the state from October 27.While the cyclone is not expected to make a direct landfall in Odisha, it is still likely to cause widespread downpours and gusty winds.Revenue & Disaster Management Minister, Suresh Pujari, assured that the state is prepared for the cyclonic storm expected to hit on October 22nd or 29th. He affirmed that the health, water, resource, and energy departments are ready to tackle the situation."Odisha is highly vulnerable to natural disasters such as heavy rainfall, flooding, river swelling, and cyclones. We are preparing for an impending cyclonic storm predicted to hit its coast on the 22nd or 29th. Departments, including Health, Water Resources, Energy, and Agriculture, are fully prepared. Local Administrations across Odisha, especially in vulnerable areas, have made arrangements for relief centres, ..

Vedanta to invest ₹1 trn more in Odisha, add 100K jobs across three plants

Vedanta Group to build three new plants - one for ferro-alloys and two for aluminium - taking its total investment in Odisha to ₹2 trillion and creating over 100,000 jobs

Low-pressure area forms over Bay of Bengal, IMD warns of rain in Odisha

The IMD on Tuesday said a low-pressure area has formed over the Bay of Bengal and is expected to intensify into a depression in the next 36 hours, which could trigger rainfall in Odisha. The weather office issued a 'yellow' warning (be aware) for several districts of Odisha for Tuesday and Wednesday. Under the influence of Monday's upper air cyclonic circulation over the sea, a low-pressure system has formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal at 5.30 am on Tuesday," the India Meteorological Department said in a statement. The system is likely to "intensify into a depression over southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal during the next 36 hours", it said, adding that Odisha could experience light-to-moderate rainfall under its impact. Thunderstorm, accompanied by gusty surface wind with speed reaching 30-40 kmph, is likely to occur at one or two places over Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Boudh, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri till 8.30 am on Wednesday

Naveen Patnaik to appear in public on 79th birthday, join BJD's yatra

After keeping himself away from public events for several months due to health issues, opposition BJD president Naveen Patnaik is all set to reappear in public on his 79th birth day on October 16 and join the party's annual Jan Sampark Padyatra. On the day, Odisha's five-time chief minister is scheduled to lead the party's march at Ganga Nagar Palli under Ekamra-Bhubaneswar assembly segment, said BJD's Bhubaneswar district president Ashok Panda. The regional outfit in a statement also appealed to the people to join the BJD's march. During the annual and month-long padyatra programme, the BJD while in power used to highlight the state's welfare schemes among people. Now in Opposition, for the first time, the BJD will highlight the alleged failure of the BJP government, Panda said. Sources said that Patnaik may address the public on the day before walking some steps on the Jan Sampark Padyatra. From the state capital, Patnaik may give some message to the people of Nuapada where the

BJD's probable Nuapada bypoll candidate Jay Dholakia switches to BJP

The BJD's prospective candidate for the Nuapada assembly bypoll, Jay Dholakia, on Saturday joined the ruling BJP in Odisha, in a major setback for the Naveen Patnaik-led party. He is the son of Rajendra Dholakia, the BJD MLA whose death necessitated the by-election in the seat. He joined the BJP in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy CM KV Singh Deo and state BJP president Manmohan Samal at the party's main office in Bhubaneswar. Welcoming him to the party, the CM said, "Jay will complete his father's incomplete works in Nuapada. He decided to join the BJP after witnessing the development works happening in the state." Jay was tipped to be the BJD's candidate for the bypoll, scheduled on November 11. However, his name was not officially announced by the opposition party.

PM Modi to lay foundation stones for fish market, aqua park in Odisha today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay foundation stones for a Rs 60 crore retail fish market in Odisha's Bhubaneswar and a Rs 100 crore integrated aqua park in Hirakud in Sambalpur district on Saturday, officials said. The PM will launch these projects through video conferencing from New Delhi, they said. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo and other dignitaries will remain present at the state-level function when Modi will launch the 'PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana', and the 'Mission for Aatmanirbharta' in pulses from the national capital. Odisha CMO, in a social media post, said, Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 'Prime Minister Dhan-Dhan-Ya Kisan Yojana' and the 'Dali National Crop Self-Reliance Mission' through a virtual medium, along with laying the foundation stone for an ultra-modern integrated aqua park at a cost of Rs 100 crore under the 'Prime Minister Matsya Sampada Yojana' and an ultra-modern retail fi

Clashes during idol immersion trigger arson in Cuttack; internet suspended

According to a Government of Odisha circular, a prohibition has been imposed on the use and access of social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, and X, until 7 PM on Monday

Fresh violence grips Cuttack; internet suspended, leaders urge peace

Cuttack remained tense on Sunday following fresh incidents of violence linked to a group clash two days ago during a Durga idol immersion procession, even as Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik urged citizens to maintain communal harmony. Majhi and Patnaik's appeal come after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) organised a motorcycle rally in the evening defying the district administration's order. In view of the prevailing law and order situation, the state government suspended internet services in areas under Cuttack Municipal Corporation, Cuttack Development Authority (CDA), and the adjoining 42 Mauza region from 7pm on Sunday to 7 pm on Monday to prevent the spread of misinformation. According to officials, CCTV cameras installed along the route were damaged, and shops in Gourishankar Park area were allegedly set on fire after police stopped the procession. The rally, which began at Bidyadharpur on the eastern outskirts of the city, moved through k

Two killed in Odisha's Gajapati landslide; CM announces ₹4 lakh ex-gratia

Chief Minister also held discussions with the district collector to assess the situation and directed Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena to visit Gajapati and oversee relief operation

Four places in Odisha receive extremely heavy rainfall of above 20 cm: IMD

Four places in Odisha recorded extremely heavy rainfall of above 20 cm during the last 24 hours under the impact of the deep depression, the IMD said on Friday. The highest rainfall of 352 mm was recorded at Thuumual Rampur in Kalahandi district, followed by R Udaygiri and Gumma in Gajapati district, receiving 291 mm and 211 mm of rain respectively, while Junagarh in Kalahandi recorded 210 mm of rainfall till 8.30 am on Friday, it said. Ten places in the state have also recorded very heavy rainfall of 12 cm to 20 cm, and 42 places reported heavy rainfall of 7 cm to 11 cm during the period, the IMD said. The IMD has forecast rainfall activities for the entire state and earmarked Sundergarh district under 'Orange' alert of heavy to very heavy rainfall and thunderstorm with lightning accompanied by gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph on Friday. The IMD in its latest bulletin said that the deep depression over Odisha moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 10 kmph and weake

Deep depression triggers heavy rain across Odisha, IMD issues alert

Heavy rain continued to lash Odisha on Thursday as the depression in the Bay of Bengal intensified into a deep depression and is moving towards the coast prompting the state government to deploy men and machinery in identified vulnerable districts to tackle the situation, an official said. Almost all parts of the state have received heavy rain since Wednesday, especially the coastal and southern region. The IMD issued an alert for heavy rains for all the 30 districts of Odisha on Thursday. In a statement, the IMD said that the deep depression formed on Wednesday night over the Bay of Bay of Bengal is moving towards the coast with a speed of 17 kmph. The system at 5.30 AM of Thursday lays centered at about 190 km south-southeast of Gopalpur, 190 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 230 km south of Puri (Odisha), 250 km east of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 310 km south-southwest of Paradip (Odisha), it said. The system is very likely to cross Odisha and adjoinin