Page 3 - Odisha

Odisha eyes Gulf investors seeking a hedge against West Asia risks

Odisha will pitch 30 innovative projects to 30 wealth funds during the UAE roadshow from September 8 to 11

17 bidders vie for ₹8,300 crore Rameshwar-Paradip coastal highway

Ten bids received for the Rameshwar-Konark package and seven for Konark-Paradip as NHAI moves ahead with the 160-km greenfield coastal highway project

No admission fees for SC, ST students in Odisha govt medical, engg colleges

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has said students belonging to ST and SC communities will not have to deposit any fee at the time of admission in government medical and engineering colleges. Majhi issued the direction on Monday after learning that many meritorious Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students face financial difficulties during admissions even after cracking tough entrance exams, an official release said. "To solve this problem, CM Majhi has directed that students belonging to ST and SC communities will not have to pay any fees at the time of admission, and for a period of six months after admission," it said. A guideline in this regard will be issued by the state government soon, the release added.

Orissa HC backs Odisha tobacco curbs, rejects manufacturers' challenge

The Orissa High Court rejected challenges by chewing-tobacco manufacturers but clarified that the state notification does not impose a blanket ban on all tobacco products

Odisha widens probe into Vedanta water use, seeks historical drawal records

Water Resources department seeks details of Vedanta's water sources and drawal history amid allegations of unauthorised groundwater and river-water extraction

Odisha raises R&R assistance, but land losers seek fairer compensation

Revised assistance covers relocation, housing, farmland and maintenance until March 2028, but affected families say increases fail to reflect land values and livelihood loss

Haldiram's plans to invest ₹1,000 cr in new manufacturing plant in Odisha

Balaji among firms lining up major food-processing investments in Odisha

Panama-flagged cargo ship sinks in Bay of Bengal, rescue ops underway

A Panama-flagged cargo ship sank in the Bay of Bengal on Saturday, about 240 nautical miles from the Paradip coast in Odisha, officials said. The ship, with 24 crew members on board, was heading towards Singapore carrying iron ore from Odisha, they said. The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy have launched a rescue operation, they added "We are not sure how many of the crew members have been rescued," a senior IPS officer told PTI, adding that most of the crew members were Chinese. Other vessels in the vicinity have been alerted to assist in the rescue effort, he said. "The ship left the Odisha coast on Friday," the officer said.

Haldiram, MCL lead as Odisha clears 14 projects worth ₹2,780 crore

Odisha has approved 14 projects across 10 districts, spanning food processing, textiles, chemicals, electronics and steel, with potential to create 14,104 jobs

113 arrested over violence during drivers' protest in Bhubaneswar: Police

Odisha Police have so far arrested 113 people for their alleged involvement in the violence during a protest of app-based cab and auto-rickshaw drivers and motorcycle riders in Bhubaneswar, officials said on Thursday. While 113 people have been arrested and forwarded to the court, another 60 detained people have been released on bond of good behaviour, a police officer of the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate said. The police have also seized 354 vehicles for violating norms, he said. So far, seven FIRs have been registered against the protesters at Kharvel Nagar police station here in this connection with the violence. "Anyone taking law into their hands will be dealt with strictly as per law," he added. Drivers and riders registered with various online ride-hailing platforms began a cease-work on August 17, pressing for the fulfilment of their seven-point charter of demands, including a fare hike, reduction in application fees, social security and other benefits. Hundr

Odisha SIR: Decision on claims by Sep 17, final voter list on Sep 21

The final decision on claims and objections submitted during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Odisha will be taken by September 17, and the voter list will be published on September 21, an official statement said. The deadline for filing claims and objections for registration and revision ended on Wednesday, they said. A statement issued by the office of Odisha's chief electoral officer (CEO) said the final decision on all claims and objections will be taken by September 17 and the final voter list will be published on September 21. The CEO said that till August 19, notices have been issued to 58.36 lakh people. "Till now, a total of 3.09 crore eligible voters in the state have been considered for inclusion in the final voter list," it said, adding that the number may further increase as the hearing process is ongoing. Officials made it clear that the electors to whom notices have been issued but have been unable to submit the required valid certificate

Centre clears ₹9,450 crore for 410-km rail projects across four states

Four multitracking projects across West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu will add nearly 410 km to the railway network and ease congestion

Congress threatens Odisha Bandh over MMDR Bill, seeks special House session

The Congress alleges the MMDR Amendment Bill threatens Odisha's fiscal autonomy and mineral rights, and has sought an all-party meeting and a special Assembly session

Why do Laxmanananda Saraswati and Dara Singh matter to the Odisha BJP?

Why do Laxmanananda Saraswati and Dara Singh matter to the Odisha BJP? Hemant Kumar Rout analyses

Odisha orders probe into power firm's water discharge amid Keonjhar floods

The Odisha government on Saturday ordered a probe into the alleged discharge of excess water by a private power generation company into the Baitarani river without informing the authorities amid floods in Keonjhar district. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, after reviewing the flood situation in northern Odisha, said the discharge had aggravated the situation in parts of Keonjhar. "The flood situation in Keonjhar district worsened after a private power generation company discharged excess water into the Baitarani without informing the authorities or the district administration," he told reporters. Pujari said he had directed the Keonjhar district collector to investigate the matter and take appropriate action. "The company had created a similar problem during the last monsoon as well. Taking this matter seriously, the district collector has been directed to conduct a detailed inquiry," he said.

MMDR amendment sparks revenue fears, Odisha may lose over ₹1 trn dues

Industry and state-level estimates suggest Odisha could lose around Rs 12,000 crore in annual mineral-related revenue and over Rs 1 trillion in outstanding dues

Naveen seeks special Assembly session over MMDR Bill, flags revenue risk

Naveen Patnaik has sought an all-party meeting and a special Assembly session, warning that the MMDR amendment could weaken Odisha's fiscal autonomy and mineral revenues

Odisha Cabinet approves ₹12,458 cr to expand irrigation coverage by FY31

The Parbati Giri Mega Lift Irrigation Project will create additional irrigation potential of 262,275 hectares through 161 schemes across all districts of Odisha

Hindalco arm gets ASI certification for Odisha's Baphlimali bauxite mine

Utkal Alumina International Limited (UAIL), a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries Ltd, has secured Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard Certification for its Baphlimali bauxite mine in Odisha's Rayagada district, a company statement said. The ASI is a global sustainability standards and certification organisation for the aluminium value chain. Its performance standard evaluates environmental, social and governance across operations, covering areas such as biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, community engagement, human rights, occupational health and safety, and responsible business practices. The statement claimed that UAIL is the first bauxite mine to achieve this certification. The company said that the certification covers the planning, mining, onsite crushing and conveyor transportation of bauxite from the Baphlimali mines, which have an annual production capacity of 8.5 million tonnes. The mines supply bauxite to Utkal Alumina's refinery operations and

Odisha set to launch India's first rail-tech manufacturing park soon

The proposed facility at Sahaspur industrial estate will offer common infrastructure and services to railway manufacturers, ancillary units, MSMEs and technology firms