Page 37 - Odisha

Silicon Power to invest $121.7 mn in semiconductor plant in Odisha

Silicon carbide is a component that goes into chips used in electric cars and other industrial power and energy applications

7 airlines closed down in 5 years; 16 carriers operational now: Govt data

A total of seven airlines, including Heritage Aviation and Air Odisha Aviation, have been closed down in the last five years, the government said on Thursday. Currently, there are 11 scheduled operators and 5 scheduled commuter operators in the country, according to data provided by Minister of State for Civil Aviation VK Singh in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. As per the data, seven airlines have been shut down in the last five years till July 21, 2023. Two airlines -- Heritage Aviation Pvt Ltd and Turbo Megha Airways Pvt Ltd -- were shuttered in 2022. Three carriers -- Zexus Air Services Pvt Ltd, Deccan Charters Pvt Ltd and Air Odisha Aviation Pvt Ltd -- were shut down in 2020. In 2019, Jet Airways (India) Ltd and Jet Lite (India) Ltd were closed down, as per the data. Jet Airways, which was issued an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) on February 13, 2022, stopped flying on April 17, 2019, due to a financial crunch. "After closure, Jet Airways (India) Ltd. had undergone insolve

Odisha has highest drop out rate at secondary school level: Govt tells Parl

Odisha has the highest student dropout rate at the secondary school level followed by Meghalaya and Bihar, according to the Education Ministry. Union Minister of Education for State Annapurna Devi shared the data in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha. According to it, the national dropout rate for secondary school is 12.6 per cent while Odisha has a dropout rate of 27.3 per cent followed by Meghalaya 21.7 per cent, Bihar 20.5 per cent and Assam 20.3 per cent. States with drop-out rates of more than 15 per cent are Andhra Pradesh (16.3 per cent), Gujarat (17.9 per cent), Punjab (17.2 per cent) and West Bengal (18 per cent). At the primary school level, the highest dropout rate is in Manipur (13.3 per cent) followed by Meghalaya (9.8 per cent) and Arunachal Pradesh (9.3 per cent). At the upper-primary level, the highest dropout rate is in Meghalaya (10.6 per cent) followed by Assam (8.8 per cent) and Punjab (8 per cent). The data shared in Parliament is that of the Departmen

Heavy rain likely in Odisha, IMD asks fishermen not to venture into sea

Water from the Kaveri River reached sections of low-lying areas of Kodagu district and caused alarm among the residents, officials said on Tuesday

Odisha nods to 8 investment projects of Rs 1,250 cr, to employ 3,640 people

The Odisha government on Tuesday approved eight investment projects worth Rs 1,250 crore which will generate employment for 3,640 people, an official said. The approval was accorded at the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) meeting chaired by Chief Secretary P K Jena. The projects were approved under different sectors. In the Apparel and textile sector, BK International Private Limited has been allowed to set up a manufacturing unit for socks, projected to bring in an investment of Rs 52 crore and generate employment for 800 individuals, the official said. Mamata Fabrics Private Limited's readymade garments manufacturing unit will be established with an investment of Rs 50 crore and is anticipated to offer employment opportunities to 2,000 individuals, further fortifying the textile industry in Khurdha. In the Steel (downstream) sector, a reputed manufacturer will set up a cutting-edge manufacturing unit for producing 1,80,000 numbers of steel doors and windows

Low pressure area develops over coasts of north Andhra, south Odisha

A low-pressure area has formed off the coasts of north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha under the influence of a cyclonic circulation, the weather office here said on Monday. It is likely to transform into a depression by Wednesday, it said. The meteorological department has forecast very heavy rainfall on Tuesday in the Bapatla, Krishna and West Godavari districts All other districts of Andhra Pradesh, except Anantapur, Sri Satya Sai, Annamayya, Tirupati and Chittoor, may witness heavy rain. Meanwhile, Vijayawada city and its surrounding villages witnessed intermittent rainfall throughout Monday.

President Murmu to embark on a three-day visit to Odisha from today

President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to undertake a three-day visit to Odisha on Tuesday, a statement from the President's Secretariat said.

Heavy rainfall likely to occur in Odisha in next 24 hours, says IMD

With the formation of a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal on Monday, the IMD has predicted heavy rainfall very likely to occur at one or two places in 10 districts of Odisha during the next 24 hours. Under its (cyclonic circulation) influence a low-pressure area is likely to form over the same region during the subsequent 24 hours, the IMD said in a Twitter post. The district for which the yellow warning (be updated) of heavy rainfall has been issued are Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput, Nawarangapur, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Bolangir. This apart, the IMD said light to moderate rain or thundershower is very likely to occur at most places over the districts of South Odisha and many places over the rest of the districts of the state. The MeT office also forecast heavy rainfall across Odisha due to possible low-pressure area till July 28, a senior scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre said, adding that the intensity of rainfall will increase fr

Hirakud dam authorities in Odisha release season's first floodwater

The authorities of Hirakud dam in Odisha's Sambalpur district on Sunday released the season's first floodwater to downstream of river Mahanadi, official sources said. The water was released following a steady rise in the water level in the reservoir due to heavy rain in upstream of river Mahanadi. The authorities of certain barrages in neighbouring Chhattisgarh have released floodwater which went to Hirakud reservoir taking its water level to 613 feet against the full reservoir level of 630 feet. The officials said the floodwater was initially released from sluice gate number 7 of the dam at 9 am. Four more gates will be opened later in a phased manner. The release of water will lead to a rise in the water level in river Mahanadi and its tributaries. The Odisha government has issued an alert to the districts in the Mahanadi downstream and cautioned people not to venture into the river as flood water may reach soon. There are 98 gates to release floodwater from Hirakud Dam. While

Low pressure over Bay of Bengal triggers heavy rain in Odisha: IMD

Many parts of Odisha saw widespread rainfall on Thursday and in the early hours of Friday following the formation of a low pressure area (LOPAR) over the Bay of Bengal off the state's coast, the met office said. IMD officials said that the LOPAR was formed under the influence of cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal and under its influence squally weather with gusty surface wind speed reaching 40 to 50 km per hour is very likely along and off the Odisha coast till July 22. The weather office has also advised fishermen not to venture into the sea during this period. The circulation is likely to move across Odisha during the next two days and trigger light to moderate rains with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall across the state till July 24, it said. The IMD forecast the forming of another LOPAR on July 24 and issued both orange and yellow warnings till 8.30 AM on July 21. The orange warning (be prepared) has been issued as heavy to very heavy rainfall of 7 to 20 cm is ve

Odisha CM announces Rs 56 cr incentives for kendu leaf pluckers, binders

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced Rs 56-crore financial assistance for over 8 lakh kendu leaf puckers and others engaged in such a trade. In the third phase of the 2022 crop year, a 25 per cent bonus will be given to 7.75 lakh kendu leaf pluckers and a 5 per cent incentive to 40,000 binders and temporary workers, according to a release issued by the Chief Ministers' Office on Wednesday. A total amount of Rs 56.23 crore will be given to the kendu leaf workers, it said. In the first phase of the 2022 crop year, Rs 1,000 was given to each kendu leaf plucker, and Rs 1,500 to each binder and temporary worker, the CMO release said, adding that Rs 83.34 crore of financial assistance was provided then. Similarly, in the second tranche, Rs 1,000 was given to each kendu leaf plucker along with Rs 200 for water bottles and Rs 160 for chappals. During this phase, binders and temporary workers were given Rs 1,500 each, and thus the total financial aid was Rs 111.21 crore, the .

Odisha being neglected, not given enough funds by Centre: Naveen Patnaik

Odisha is facing constant neglect in transfer of state share and central funds, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik

Heavy rain lashes parts of Odisha, water-logging in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack

Heavy rains lashed many parts of Odisha, mostly the coastal region leading to water-logging in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack on Saturday. The IMD has forecast more rainfall in the state. The water-logging in the state capital led to traffic jams and caused difficulty for people to drive vehicles in knee-deep water in many places while many slums and low-laying areas were submerged under water. IMD said that the highest 118.4 mm rainfall was recorded at Jharsuguda followed by 68.2 mm at Chandbali, 35.2 mm in Bhubaneswar, 13.5 mm in Balasore, 6 mm in Paradip, 7.2 mm in Puri and 10.6 mm at Sambalpur between 8.30 am to 11.30 am. Similarly, the IMD record said that intense rainfall activities were observed in many areas before 8.30 am, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded 14.7 mm and 41.8 mm of rainfall respectively by 8.30 am, it said. The IMD also warned that moderate to intense rainfall was in the store for the state capital Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. It cautioned on temporar

Odisha train accident: 3 accused railway officials sent to judicial custody

A special court here has sent the three accused railway officials in the Balasore train disaster to judicial custody, after the end of their CBI remand period. Senior Section Engineer (Signal) Arun Kumar Mahanta, Section Engineer Mohammed Amir Khan and Technician Pappu Kumar, who have been placed under suspension by the Railways, were produced before the CBI Special Court on Friday after their remand period ended. The accused were arrested by the CBI on July 7. The special court had granted five-day remand of the accused to the CBI, which is investigating the case, on July 7. Later, on July 11, the court had extended the remand period for four more days at the request of the investigating agency. The next date of hearing is on July 27. The three accused have been booked under IPC Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence), and under Section 153 of the Railways Act. While the CBI is yet to submit its report on the case, the inquiry r

Balasore rail tragedy: 3 accused railway officials sent to judicial custody

A Special court here on Friday sent the three accused railway officials in the Balasore triple train accident to judicial custody after the end of their CBI remand period. The three - Senior Section Engineer (signal) Arun Kumar Mahanta, Section Engineer Mohammed Amir Khan and Technician Pappu Kumar who have been placed under suspension by Railways were produced in the CBI Special court here after the end of their remand period. The accused were arrested by the CBI on July 7. The Bhubaneswar Special CBI Court had granted 5-day remand of the accused to the CBI, which is investigating the case, on July 7. Later, on July 11, the court had extended the remand period for 4 more days at the request of the investigating agency. While sending the accused persons to judicial custody, the court has scheduled the next date of hearing of the case on July 27. The three accused were booked under IPC Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence) and u

Odisha approves 11 industrial projects worth Rs 3,266 cr investment

Odisha government on Monday approved 11 industrial projects worth Rs 3,266 crore which will generate employment for 9,146 people. The projects were approved at the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) meeting chaired by Chief Secretary PK Jena. The projects are spread across diverse sectors such as metal downstream and ancillary, chemicals, food processing, agro processing, plastics, textiles apparel, IT & ESDM, and renewable energy. The projects will be set up in Balasore, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Khurda and Jajpur districts, an official said. Though Odisha has consistently been a leader in the mining and metallurgy sector owing to its natural resource advantage, the state has been able to broad-base its industrial ecosystem in the last few years. The state has attracted one of the leading multinational companies in food-processing sector - Nestl India Limited. Nestle will be setting up a food processing unit with an investment of over Rs 890 crore providing ...

Odisha's new policy to check urban-rural divide, unplanned urbanisation

The Odisha government on Monday approved a policy to remove the urban-rural divide and address unplanned urbanisation with a growing population in cities. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik green-lighted the "Odisha Rural-Urban Transition Policy", which allows special budgets for the implementation of infrastructure projects and delivery of civic services in peri-urban areas. The policy provides for the constitution of steering and implementation committees with top officials of the state government, including the chief secretary, and experts in urban planning, finance, engineering, management, IT and others. This is a first-of-its-kind initiative that intends to introduce a series of progressive and pragmatic measures such as essential infrastructure, amenities and services to all citizens, residing in the fast-growing rural areas adjoining cities, an official of the housing and urban development department said. "The existing system of notification of declaring a rural area as an urba

Odisha Television introduces Lisa, India's first AI news presenter

Lisa utilises the power of AI and machine learning algorithms to deliver news, combining technology with journalism

Fire breaks out at Odisha govt's medicine godown in Bhubaneswar: Police

A major fire broke out in the Odisha State Medical Corporations (OSMC) godown at Mancheswar Industrial estate here reducing medicines and medical equipment worth lakhs of rupees to ashes, police said. However, there was no report of any injury as the fire broke out late on Sunday night. The fire was suspected to have been caused due to electrical short circuit, they said. Taking to Twitter, the Health and Family Welfare department said: "Accidental fire broke out at Mancheswar MARKFED Godown number 3 at late night on 9th July, 2023. Some OSMCL supplies were stored in this godown (PPE kits, sanitizers and empty cylinders). All goods are under insurance coverage. "The fire was controlled by prompt action of police and fire services. There were no injuries or casualties." Seven fire tenders and more than 50 fire personnel were engaged to douse the fire. The fire personnel had to break the wall to get access to the building in order to avoid the fire from spreading to nearby buildings,

Odisha to invest Rs 75,000 cr for development of water resources in 5 years

The CM said that the Water Resources Department is implementing 5-T principles in letter and spirit