Page 28 - Odisha

Odisha CM raises pension for beneficiaries under social security schemes

In a relief for the distressed people covered under various social security schemes, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Saturday announced a hike of Rs 500 each in their monthly pension. As many as 36.75 lakh beneficiaries would receive the revised amount from February. Each of them will receive the minimum enhanced amount between February 20 and 25, a release issued by the CMO said. The beneficiaries include elderly, widows, persons with disabilities, unmarried women, AIDS patients, transgenders, orphan children and widows of COVID victims. In 2008, the state government introduced the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) after merging two old schemes of the 1980s. Under the MBPY scheme, beneficiaries up to 79 years of age were eligible for a monthly pension of Rs 500, while those beyond 80 years Rs 700 per month. Similarly, beneficiaries with 60 per cent or more disability and above 80 years of age were eligible for a monthly pension of Rs 900. They will now get Rs 1,000, Rs 1,20

JSW, Odisha govt tie up for Rs 40K cr integrated EV manufacturing facility

The JSW group on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Odisha government for establishment of an Integrated Electric Vehicle (EV) and EV Battery manufacturing project at an investment of Rs 40,000 crore in the state. At Naraj in Cuttack district the JSW group will set up an EV vehicle, and component manufacturing plant, while at Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district, it will set up a copper smelter and lithium refinery. The project consists of a 50 GWH EV battery plant, EV, lithium refinery, copper smelter and related component manufacturing units. The MoU was signed two weeks after the state cabinet approved a special incentive package for the group's ambitious EV and component manufacturing projects at Naraj in Cuttack and Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said this day marks a great leap forward in the state's journey towards industrial excellence and sustainable development.. "Powered by the 5T ...

Odisha govt presents Rs 1.18 trillion vote-on-account in Assembly

Noting that Odisha has now become more than a 100 billion dollar economy, Odisha Finance Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha Thursday presented an interim budget of Rs 1.18 lakh crore for the first four months of the 2024-25 fiscal in the assembly. The state government has presented a vote-on-account instead of a full budget in view of the upcoming elections to the Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly. The government estimated that the total budget outlay for the next financial year will be Rs 2.55 lakh crore, which is about 11 per cent more than the annual budget of 2023-24. Keeping in view the requirement of funds for expenditure on payment of salary, pension, interest payment, repayment of principal, relief, old age pension, scholarship of ST & SC students and other on-going scheme and programmes, a sum of Rs 1,18,000 crore is proposed in the vote on account, the minister said in the House. Of the total Rs 2.55 crore provision, Rs 1,03,500 crore has been allocated for administrative ...

Railway Board approves Rs 244.77 cr to set up wagon workshop in Odisha

The Railway Board has approved Rs 244.77 crore for establishing a wagon periodic overhauling (PoH) facility at Kantabanji in Odisha's Balangir district. This decision comes in response to the demands of the local people, including public representatives, East Coast Railway (ECoR) said in a statement on Wednesday. Recognising the need for such a workshop in the region, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had assured local people that their demand would be met, it said. The detailed project report of the wagon PoH was submitted in September 2023. The facility will be set up on vacant land available with railways at Kantabanji. The ECoR said the workshop will help increase freight traffic in the region. This apart, the wagon maintenance will improve efficiency and reliability.

Lightning strikes claimed 1,472 lives in state in 5 years: Odisha minister

Lightning strikes have claimed 1,472 lives and left 145 people injured in Odisha in the last five years, state Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Sudam Marndi told the Odisha assembly on Wednesday. Replying to a query by Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, the minister said the state government had declared lightning as a disaster in June 2015. An ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each has been paid to the next of kin of those killed in lightning strikes in accordance with state disaster response fund guidelines, he said. Similarly, a compensation of Rs 2.50 lakh is being provided to any person in case he or she loses an eye (s) or any other organ leading to a disability of more than 60 per cent due to a lightning strike, he added. If the disability is between 40 per cent and 60 per cent, the compensation amount is Rs 74,000, he said. The government has also made a provision for a compensation of Rs 16,000 if a person requires hospitalisation for more than a week due to a lightning ...

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.

PM Modi lays foundation stones of projects worth Rs 68,000 crore in Odisha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for projects worth over Rs 68,000 crore. Besides inaugurating the 400-crore permanent campus of IIM, Sambalpur, Modi unveiled several infrastructure projects across various sectors such as power, roads and railways. Modi had laid the foundation stone for the IIM campus in 2021. The PM also flagged off the Puri-Sonepur-Puri weekly express, which will improve connectivity in the region, and dedicated the Jharsuguda Head Post Office Heritage Building to the nation. He also inaugurated the 412-km DhamraAngul pipeline section of the Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra pipeline project (JHBDPL)'. Built at a cost of around Rs 2,450 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga', the project will connect Odisha with the National Gas Grid. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Governor Raghubar Das and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan were present at the function.

PM Modi to visit Odisha, address first public meeting in state in 5 yrs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Odisha on Saturday afternoon to unveil projects worth Rs 68,400 crore, including the new campus of IIM-Sambalpur, officials said. During the visit, Modi will address a public meeting, his first in the state in nearly five years. 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. He had addressed the last public meeting in the state in April 2019 in Kendrapara in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls and assembly elections in the state, which were held simultaneously. The prime minister visited the state

PM to inaugurate projects worth over Rs 2K cr of CIL arm MCL on Saturday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Saturday inaugurate projects worth over Rs 2,000 crore of Coal India arm Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd in Odisha. "Prime Minister will inaugurate pivotal projects of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) in Odisha on February 3," the coal ministry said in a statement. Among these is the Bhubaneswari Phase-I, a First Mile Connectivity (FMC) project in Talcher Coalfields, Angul district, built at a cost of Rs 335 crore. This project aims to reduce rake loading time, curb carbon emission and reduce transportation costs. Another important project which would be inaugurated is the Lajkura Rapid Loading System, constructed at an investment of about Rs 375 crore. This system is also designed to enhance coal quality and supply and reduce green house gas emission as well as transportation cost. "These endeavours not only significantly alleviate environmental impact but also create valuable employment opportunities for the local youth," the coal ministry said. Modi

PM Modi to launch projects worth Rs 68k crore during Odisha visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Saturday lay the foundation stone for the first phase of Talabira thermal power station in Jharsuguda, Odisha estimated at Rs 27,212 crore. Talking to media virtually, NLC India Ltd (NLCIL) Chairman and Managing Director Prasanna Kumar Motupalli said Modi will lay the foundation stone for first phase (2,400 MW) of the project. The CMD further said 800 MW of the Ultra Super Critical Pit Head Thermal Power Project is also planned in the second phase with an investment of over Rs 8,000 crore. Commercial operation is expected in 2028-29. Leveraging on the cost benefits of a pit head project, the coal for the units will be fed from adjacent Talabira II and III operational mines of NLCIL through eco-friendly conveyor system without involving costly road and rail transportation. The project would be able to supply power at one of the cheapest tariffs among all thermal power stations in the country. This project would generate huge employment ...

Petronet LNG Q3FY24 results: Net profit rises 1.2% to Rs 1,191 crore

Higher operational efficiency and capacity utilization at Petronet's Dahej LNG terminal drives profit

Modi wave felt across India including Odisha: Union minister Pradhan

Claiming that India has been witnessing a "Modi Wave", senior BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday asserted that Odisha is all set to witness a major political change with the people of the state reposing trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pradhan said this while attending booth-level public contact programmes in Bhubaneswar and Pipili. "Today, entire India including Odisha has been witnessing a Modi wave. The blessings and respect of the people of Odisha towards the Prime Minister are increasing. Modi guarantee is the hope of people," Pradhan said. During the booth-level public contact programmes, he had breakfast and food in house of BJP workers in different places and also painted the party's poll symbol 'lotus' at the doorstep of the house he visited. Taking to X, Pradhan said, "Joined a walk at Gobindpur Siula I Pipili, the heart of rich art, culture and heritage. I put stickers on Modiji's message in every house and met the village

PM Narendra Modi is likely to visit Odisha twice in Feb: Manmohan Samal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Odisha twice in February, state BJP president Manmohan Samal said on Sunday. Modi, who is scheduled to visit Odisha's Sambalpur on February 3 and address a public meeting, may also visit the state capital on February 10 when the saffron party holds its national women's conference here, Samal said. "The party has decided to hold two women's conferences, one in Madhya Pradesh and the second in Odisha in February. The prime minister is likely to attend the women's conference in Odisha tentatively on February 10. The PM has given his consent to attend it", Samal said, adding that the details of the February 10 programme will be announced soon. He said around 25,000 women from 14 states are likely to attend the Mahila Samavesh, which is being seen as an attempt by the BJP to make a dent into the trusted women vote bank of Biju Janata Dal. Earlier in the day, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who hails from Odisha had indicated ..

Odisha has created new history in all areas of development, says CM Patnaik

Odisha is on the path of transformation. In the last twenty years, the state has created new history in all areas of development, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday

Volvo Bus India bags order for 122 premium coaches from Odisha govt

Volvo Bus India on Thursday said it has bagged an order for the supply of 122 premium luxury coaches from the Odisha government. The order comes under the Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiative (LAccMI) Scheme, a flagship programme initiated by the state government to provide rural connectivity through Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC). "We are honoured to be selected as the preferred partner for this landmark initiative by OSRTC and the Government of Odisha," VE Commercial Vehicles MD and CEO Vinod Aggarwal said in a statement. OSRTC MD Diptesh Kumar Pattnayak said the collaboration for the deployment of premium buses is a testament to the shared vision of creating a modern, efficient, and sustainable public transportation network. "This will have a long-lasting impact on government initiatives that aim to transform transportation infrastructure and contribute to the socio-economic development in rural and urban areas," he added. Over the past 25 years, Volvo Bu

Schools, colleges in Odisha to be shut on Jan 27 for temple project launch

Schools and colleges across Odisha will remain closed on Saturday on the occasion of the launch of a temple redevelopment project in Sambalpur, officials said. The decision was taken to facilitate people to join the inauguration of the Samaleswari Temple Area Management and Local Economy Initiatives (SAMALEI) project, they said. All government offices will remain shut on that day as it's the fourth Saturday of the month. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to launch the Rs 200-crore project, spread over an area of around 40 acres. The initiative includes beautification and peripheral development of the temple, a heritage corridor and modern amenities, the officials said.

Odisha clears JSW's Rs 40,000 cr proposal to set up EV manufacturing units

The Odisha government on Monday approved 14 proposals including the JSW Group's plan to set up electric vehicles and component manufacturing units in Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur districts with an investment of Rs 40,000 crore, a senior official said. The proposals were approved at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. "The Cabinet approved a special incentive package for the JSW Group's ambitious EV and component manufacturing projects at Naraj in Cuttack, and Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district", chief secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena told reporters. These projects, with a combined investment of over Rs 40,000 crore and employment potential of over 11,000, are set to usher in a new era of industrial growth and job creation in the state, he said. The JSW Group has proposed to set- up an EV & EV battery manufacturing project at Naraj, Cuttack. The company is also planning to set up an original equipment manufacturing (OEM) plant for EVs and components in the same ...

Patnaik lays foundation stone for in-stream storage project in 13 districts

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday laid the foundation stone for 19 in-stream storage structures worth Rs 4,600 crore in 13 districts of the state. Besides becoming a major tool for flood control management, the structures will help in drinking water supply, fish farming, animal husbandry, and increase the groundwater level and balance the environment, Patnaik said. The structures will be built in Bargarh, Bolangir, Boudh, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Khurda, Puri, Sambalpur, Subarnapur and Sundergarh districts. Patnaik said such projects were very important for sustainable development. He said that in 2020, the plan for in-stream storage structures was prepared with an allocation of Rs 11,700 crore. So far, 72 such projects have been undertaken in three phases, he said, adding that no one will be displaced by it. The chief minister also spoke about the various measures taken by his government for the welfare of farmers. "Our programmes like Ka

Jindal Steel & Power commissions 6 MTPA hot strip mill at Angul steel plant

Jindal Steel and Power (JSP) Ltd on Friday announced the commissioning of a 6 MTPA hot strip mill at its steel manufacturing facility in Angul, Odisha. The mill has been commissioned in a record time of 29 months, the hot strip mill (HSM) produced the first set of coils on January 10, 2024, which were dispatched this week on Monday, JSP said in a statement. "Supplied by SMS SIEMAG, the HSM is capable of producing 1.00 mm thick and 1,680 mm wide coils and is equipped with advanced features like transfer bar cooling, edge heater, coil box, and heat shields, ensuring top-notch flatness, uniform mechanical properties, and production of superior value-added grades," it said. Commissioning of the HSM positions the company to cater to various sectors, including auto, construction, oil, downstream cold rolling, galvanising, colour coating, etc, JSP said. "Commissioning of HSM at Angul is an important milestone for Jindal to become a serious player in the flat products market. That it has b

Ram mandir: These states have declared a holiday on January 22. Check list

Several states have declared a public holiday or half day on January 22 in honour of the 'Pran Prathishtha' ceremony for the Ram mandir in Ayodhya