Page 27 - Odisha

BJD-BJP alliance possible in Odisha: Saffron party to decide today

The BJP is likely to announce its decision on the possible formation of an alliance with the BJD in Odisha on Wednesday ahead of the Lok Sabha and assembly polls in the state, sources said. Top state BJP leaders held a series of meetings in Delhi for the past three days, they said. The BJD is not ready to reveal its cards, while the state BJP leaders - president Manmohan Samal, election in-charge Vijay Pal Singh Tomar and others - have been camping in the national capital. BJP state leaders held a series of meetings at the residence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the sources said. A section of state BJP leaders were against stitching an alliance with the BJD, which dumped the saffron party ahead of the 2009 general elections, months after a riot in Kandhamal the previous year, they said. The issue of alliance between the BJD and BJP came for discussion after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Odisha on March 5. The next day, the BJD held a meeting of its senior ...

PM Modi virtually inaugurates over 270 railway projects in Odisha

Over 270 railway projects were unveiled in Odisha on Tuesday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officials said. Among these are new railway lines, signalling systems, good sheds and a new Vande Bharat Express that will operate between Visakhapatnam and Bhubaneswar, they said. These were unveiled by the PM virtually from Ahmedabad along with other railway projects across the country. The new Vande Bharat Express train will operate six days a week, except Saturdays. This will be the state's third Vande Bharat Express train. The first two operate on the Puri-Howrah and Puri-Rourkela routes. The PM also inaugurated the Rs 234-crore Haridaspur-Byree section (16.8 km) of the Bhadrak-Nergundi third line, the Rs 131-crore Damanjodi-Baiguda section (14.6 km) of the Korapur-Raigada doubling project, Rs 167-crore Singapur Road-Rayagada section (9.2 km) of the Vijianagam-Titlagarh third line and the Rs 123-crore Similiguda-Araku-Gorapur (21.6 km) section of the Kotavlasa-Koraput doubling ...

Around 7,500 central forces personnel deployed in Odisha for elections

Around 7,500 central forces personnel have been deployed in Odisha in view of the Lok Sabha polls and the assembly elections, which are held simultaneously in the state, an official said on Monday. A total of 75 companies of CAPF have been deployed in Odisha for the smooth conduction of the elections, said CRPF IG Archana Shivhare, who has been appointed as the state coordinator of the forces by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. She said that 35 companies each of the CRPF and BSF along with five companies of CISF have been deployed in two phases since March 1. One company consists of nearly 100 personnel. "The forces have been deployed in sensitive and hyper-sensitive districts from an election point of view," Shivhare said. The central forces are conducting area-dominating exercises, including patrolling and flag marches in the Maoist-affected areas, to instill confidence among the people, she added. "We are continuously coordinating with the state police in all sensitive and

Around 1,300 youths join government service in Odisha: CM Patnaik

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday highlighted his government's dedication to enacting transformative changes in the lives of people and underscored the primacy of public welfare in his governance approach. The CM said this while gracing a function where 1,294 people were recruited for government jobs. He said the new employees should work with all their sincerity and commitment to serve the people. Of the 1,294 people who joined the state government, 725 were accommodated in the school & mass education department, 280 joined the finance department and 129 were recruited in the rural development department. Welcoming the officials, Patnaik said this is a huge achievement in our endeavour to accelerate the process of recruitment for filling up vacancies in the government. He expressed joy over the appointment of numerous outstanding sportspersons, noting that their inclusion would serve as a source of inspiration for budding talents in the sporting arena. Stating that

Why are the BJD and BJP joining forces against Congress in Odisha

The alliance is likely to be formally announced soon. It will mark a return to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of one of its original constituents

Odisha BJP leaders meet Shah, Nadda amid possibility of alliance with BJD

Odisha BJP leaders on Wednesday met Home Minister Amit Shah and the party's national president J P Nadda here amid indications that it may enter an alliance for the Lok Sabha and assembly polls, which are held simultaneously in the state, with the BJD. Sources said there is a strong possibility of an alliance between the BJP and the BJD but noted that a final call has to be taken by the top brass of the national party depending on various aspects, most importantly the number of seats it will get to contest. In case of an alliance, the BJP will definitely contest a majority of Lok Sabha seats in the state while the regional party will contest a majority of assembly seats, they said. Odisha has 21 Lok Sabha seats and 147 assembly seats. The BJD and the BJP won 12 and eight parliamentary constituencies and 112 and 23 assembly constituencies respectively in 2019. There has been a growing buzz about the alliance between the two parties, which have been allies in the past too. Prime ...

PM launches development projects worth over Rs 19,500 cr in Odisha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched multiple development projects worth over Rs 19,600 crore in Odisha's Jajpur district. Modi said the BJP-led central government was committed to the development of eastern India, which is filled with natural resources. Our government works for the present as well as for the future, with the aim of making a Viksit Bharat' (developed India), he said during a programme here. The projects that were launched are related to different sectors, including Oil & Gas, Railways, Road, Transport & Highways and Atomic Energy. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Bishweswar Tudu were also present on the occasion.

PM Modi to dedicate projects in Odisha, Rahul to visit Mahakaleshwar Temple

PM Modi will visit Odisha to dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects, while Rahul Gandhi is set to visit Mahakaleshwar Temple today

PM to unveil development projects worth over Rs 19,600 cr in Odisha today

The projects are from sectors including oil and gas, railways, roads, transport and highways and atomic energy

Odisha approves 22 industrial projects worth investment of Rs 4,000 crore

Furthering its industrialisation process, Odisha government on Monday approved 22 projects worth an investment of Rs 4,066 crore. The proposals got the state government's nod at the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) meeting chaired by Chief Secretary PK Jena. The projects are in different sectors such as green energy equipment, chemicals, textiles and apparel, steel, iron & ferro alloys, aluminium downstream, food processing, power & renewable energy, IT infrastructure and infrastructure & logistics, a release said. The projects after proper implementation are likely generate 25,525 jobs in 12 districts, officials said. In the green energy sector, Waaree Clean Energy Solutions Pvt Limited is planning to establish its electrolyser manufacturing plant in Khurda, with a project cost of Rs 435 crore, promising 300 jobs. In the chemical sector, Shalimar Paints has proposed to set up its unit in Balasore for paints varnish and its applied products project, ..

9 Bangladeshis detained for unauthorised entry into Puri's Jagannath Temple

Nine Bangladeshis were detained by the Odisha Police for allegedly entering the Jagannath Temple in Puri unauthorisedly, an officer said on Monday. They were detained on Sunday evening after a few Vishva Hindu Parishad activists found that several Bangladeshi non-Hindus entered the 12th-century shrine, flouting the temple norms, and lodged a complaint at the Singhadwar Police Station, he said. After getting the complaint, a police team reached the spot and detained the tourists for questioning, Puri Additional SP Sushil Mishra said. We have received a complaint that some non-Hindu people from Bangladesh have entered the temple. We have detained nine Bangladeshis and started questioning them, the additional superintendent of police said. As per temple norms, only Hindus are allowed to enter the shrine. If they are found to be non-Hindu, action will be taken against them, as per law, Mishra said. We are verifying their passports. It was found that one of them is a Hindu. We are che

Deciphering Naveen Patnaik: What is Odisha CM's political grammar?

The Odisha CM was once seen as the quintessential outsider, partly because of his struggle with the Odia language. Now he stands on the cusp of history

Centre raises concern about 5 states not signing PM SHRI School MoU

The Centre has expressed strong concerns about five states not signing MoUs with the education ministryfor PM SHRI schools and Punjab not implementing it despite continuing to take funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, sources said on Thursday. Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Delhi have not yet signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Ministry of Education, while 30 states and union territories (UTs) have done so. The scheme targets to upgrade 14,500 schools and is expected to benefit 1.8 million students. It also aims to ensure these schools serve as model institutes and encapsulate the spirit of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The government has already selected 6,448 schools from 28 states and UTs for the upgrade in the first round. "Despite taking funds from Centre for Samagra Shiksha Scheme, the refusal of five States/UTs, namely Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Delhi to sign MOUs for PM SHRI schools reflects a troubling patter

Gates meets Odisha CM, discusses tech-driven farmer empowerment initiatives

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates called on Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence here and discussed technology-driven farmer empowerment initiatives. Gates, who arrived here on Tuesday, held discussions with the chief minister about various state government initiatives. "Pleasure meeting @Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Mr @BillGates. Had a wonderful discussion on our technology-driven farmer empowerment initiatives, several welfare initiatives like #JagaMission, #MissionShakti, #OdishaSchoolTransformation, #BSKY and healthcare transformation," Patnaik said on X. He appreciated the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for supporting innovation in extending inclusive benefits to the people. "Thanked him for his praise for Odisha's welfare initiatives and success in different sectors through #5T transformative governance," he added. In the morning, he visited a slum in Bhubaneswar and interacted with the residents. He visited the Biju Adarsh Colony in the Maa ...

BJP has ended credibility crisis in politics, claims Rajnath in Odisha

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday claimed that the BJP has ended the "credibility crisis in politics" created by the Congress and the party has won the trust of people by fulfilling promises. Singh addressing party workers of three Lok Sabha constituencies of Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Bolangir, said: "The people had lost their trust in politicians as the Congress people do not fulfil promises made to people during elections. However, the BJP won the trust of the people by fulfilling all its promises. Therefore, the crisis of credibility in politics has ended. People now have faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi." Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, the Defence minister said that the Congress used to "forget" the promises made to the people after elections for which the people had "lost faith" in politicians. However, things have changed since Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, he said. "You can check our election manifesto and find that all the promises are met

Rajnath on cluster tour in Odisha, to hold public meeting at Mayurbhanj

The Minister will leave for Odisha from Vishakhapatnam in a few hours to attend meeting with ex-servicemen, BJP party bearers and attend public gathering

Odisha's first vaccine manufacturing plant to start production by May 2024

Commercial production at the Sapigen Biologix vaccine plant in Odisha, the first such facility in the state, will commence by May this year, officials said on Sunday. The plant at the Biotech Park in Andharua near here will have a capacity to produce 2.4 crore doses of different vaccines per day, they said. At full capacity, this facility will be the biggest vaccine-producing plant in the country, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a statement. It is expected to produce over 15 vaccines for various diseases, including cholera and malaria. The Rs 1,500-crore vaccine plant will create direct employment for 1,500 people, with most of them being local recruits, the CMO said. The variety of vaccines produced in Bhubaneswar will be supplied to many parts of the world, it added. V K Pandian, the chairman of '5T' technology-led transformative initiatives on Sunday visited the sub-units and interacted with the management and employees. He urged all government agencies to assist i

Patnaik lays foundation stone for Rs 3,000 cr textile facility in Cuttack

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday laid the foundation stone for the Rs 3,000-crore Welspun Group's Integrated Textiles Manufacturing Facility and Warehousing Complex at Choudwar in Cuttack district. The proposed complex is expected to create employment for over 10,000 people in and around Choudwar region. Speaking on the occasion, Patnaik said once the complex comes up, Choudwar will get back its glory of being the textile hub of Odisha. "Choudwar was developed as an industrial hub by former chief minister Biju Patnaik in the 1950s. Today, once again, a new history has been created in Choudwar," Patnaik said. The CM also informed that cotton farmers in the districts of Kalahandi, Bolangir, Rayagada and Gajapati will benefit from the complex, which will also provide employment opportunities for women. "Women will be provided skill training," he said. The state industrial department and Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha (IPICOL) had given a ...

Rajya Sabha elections: BJP fields Vaishnaw from Odisha; BJD extends support

The Bharatiya Janata Party has released names of four candidates for Madhya Pradesh and one for Odisha for Rajya Sabha biennial elections, slated for February 27

Odisha to give Rs 1,000 to PDS beneficiaries, interest free loans to youth

Ahead of the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, the Odisha government on Monday decided to distribute Rs 1,000 one-time assistance to all ration card holders and provide interest-free loans up to Rs 1 lakh to 2 lakh youths of the state. The cabinet of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved a total of 26 proposals, including the distribution of Rs 1,000 livelihood assistance to 95.90 lakh PDS beneficiary families, state Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak told reporters after the cabinet meeting. The minister said that the public distribution system (PDS) beneficiary families face hardship in fetching different items for consumption due to the rise in market prices, which is why the one-time assistance would be provided. The government also decided to provide two jute bags of 20 kg and 10 kg capacity to each of the PDS families for their daily use, free of cost, Nayak said, adding that the fund requirement for procurement and distribution of the jute bag