Page 54 - Odisha

Govt rolls out high-speed 5G telecom services in Odisha; Rs 5,600-cr outlay

It means by August 2024, all the villages of Odisha will have telecom connectivity

BJP will raise voice against misrule of BJD govt in Odisha: Pradhan

Union minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan said the saffron camp would focus on strengthening its booth-level organisation in Odisha and voice against misrule of the BJD government in the state in a bid to oust the Naveen Patnaik-led dispensation from power in the 2024 assembly elections. Describing 2023 as a crucial year for the BJP, Pradhan, considered as the saffron camp's face in the eastern state, said party workers will reach out to the people across the state to convey messages of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda. The union education minister said that the BJP is well prepared to contest early elections in the state. The BJP has a two-point programme in focus. The first one is about strengthening the party's organisation at all the 37,000 booths across the state and the second is to remain vocal against the misrule of the BJD government, Pradhan said on Tuesday on the sidelines of a programme. He also said

Another Russian found dead in Odisha, third in fortnight, say police

Another Russian was found dead in Odisha on Tuesday, the third such incident in a fortnight, police said. The Russian, identified as Milyakov Sergey, was found dead in a ship anchored at Paradip Port in Jagatsinghpur district. The 51-year-old man was the chief engineer of the vessel, M B Aldnah, which was on its way to Mumbai from Chittagong Port in Bangladesh via Paradip. He was found dead in his ship chamber around 4.30 am. Police could not immediately ascertain the cause of the death. Paradip Port Trust Chairman P L Haranand confirmed the death of the Russian engineer and said an investigation was underway. Two Russian tourists, including a lawmaker, were found dead under mysterious circumstances in Rayagada town in southern Odisha in the latter half of December. Pavel Antov (65), a lawmaker in Russia, died after allegedly falling from a hotel's third floor on December 24, while his friend Vladimir Bidenov (61) was found dead in his room on December 22. Both cases are being

Odisha CID seizes burnt remnants of 2 Russian nationals from crematorium

The CID of Odisha Police seized burnt remnants of two Russian nationals including a lawmaker from the cremation ground at Rayagada for forensic examination as part of its probe into the mystery over the twin deaths of the foreigners. The CID which is probing the deaths of Vladimir Bidenov (61) and Pavel Antov (65), a lawmaker in Russia, was also planning to take the help of Interpol as the investigation may require interrogation and examination of certain people in Russia, an official said on Saturday. "We are yet to take a final decision in this regard," the official added. A senior official involved in the investigation of the case said "seizure of burnt remnants of the deceased could be useful for future investigation in the case." Odisha's premier investigating agency on Saturday also completed recording the statement of two fellow tourists of the deceased Russians. "Recording of the statement of accompanying Russian couple namely Turov Mikhail and Pane Senko Natalia with the

After death of 2 Russians, another man living in Odisha's Puri goes missing

After the mystery surrounding the deaths of two Russians, including a lawmaker, in a hotel in Odisha recently, the state police are searching for another man from the same country, a self-proclaimed anti-Ukraine war activist, who has gone missing. The Russian MP was a critic of President Vladimir Putin while the missing man, who used to stay in Puri, was also on the same page, having been sighted earlier on in Odisha's capital holding placards with anti-war and anti-Putin slogans, seeking financial assistance. About a month ago, the man was seen in the Bhubaneswar railway station holding a placard that read: I am Russian Refugee, I am against War, I am against Putin, I am Homeless, Please Help me. The photo of the man holding that placard, clicked by some passenger, has gone viral after the death of his compatriots - lawmaker and businessman Pavel Antov and his fellow traveller Vladimir Bidenov in a hotel in Rayagada district. Antov died after allegedly falling from the hotel's .

CM Patnaik inaugurates postgraduate medical college in Odisha's Bhubaneswar

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday inaugurated the new Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Bhubaneswar

5G services to be launched in Odisha before 2023 Republic Day: Vaishnaw

Asserting that the Centre has sanctioned Rs 5,600 crore for telecom services in Odisha, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday said 5G services will be launched in the eastern state before the Republic Day celebrations next year. In an apparent reference to the ruling BJD in the state, Vaishnaw also said "now, no one can make an allegation that the Centre is neglecting Odisha's telecom sector. "The Modi government has sanctioned a total of Rs 5,600 crore for telecom services in Odisha, and 5G services will be launched in the state before the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2023, he said. Vaishnaw, the minister of railways, communications, electronics and information technology, said a survey was recently conducted in all villages of Odisha where mobile towers are not available. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had directed officials to ensure high-quality 4G and 5G services in all villages, the minister said. Vaishnaw had in October said that 5G services would be availab

JP Nadda slams Odisha govt for not implementing Ayushman Bharat scheme

BJP National President JP Nadda has slammed the Naveen Patnaik-led government raking up several issues, including non-implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Odisha

ED attaches assets worth Rs 1.88 cr of former Odisha govt cleaning staffer

Assets worth Rs 1.88 crore of a former cleaning assistant working with the Odisha government have been attached under the anti-money laundering law, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said Wednesday. The properties belong to Lingaraj Jena, the former 'safei mohareer' (cleaning assistant), posted in the office of the additional sub-collector (settlement) in Puri district. The money laundering case of the ED stems from a case of alleged possession of disproportionate assets filed by the Odisha vigilance directorate against Jena. The charge sheet filed by the vigilance directorate said Jena had "illicitly enriched" himself and his family members by acquiring assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, totalling Rs 1.88 crore. The ED probe in the case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) found that Jena "acquired monetary proceeds through indulgence in criminal activities, concealed it and invested the same in the acquisition of various assets.

Nadda to address 2 public meetings in Odisha, inaugurate girls' hostel

BJP president JP Nadda is scheduled to address two public meetings and inaugurate a new 'Kanyashra' (girls hostel) in tribal dominated Kandhamal district of Odisha on Wednesday, party sources said. Nadda is coming to the state as part of his 'Lok Sabha Pravas' campaign, Odisha BJP general secretary Lekhashree Samantsinghar said. After reaching Bhubaneswar, Nadda will go to Tumudibandha under Baliguda assembly segment of Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency. He is scheduled to inaugurate the girls hostel at Jalespeta Ashram School for tribal girls, founded by late VHP leader Swami Laxamananda Saraswati. He will address the first public meeting at Tumidibandha mini stadium, the party leader said. Nadda is scheduled to reach Banapur under Chilika assembly segment of Puri Lok Sabha segment and address another public meeting in the afternoon. He will also visit Goddess Bhagabati Temple. The BJP president's visit to Puri Lok Sabha seat is considered politically significant as Odisha Chief ..

BJP President Nadda to visit Odisha tomorrow, to address 2 public meetings

BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda will be on a day-long visit to Odisha on Wednesday during which he will chair important party meetings and address public rallies. BJP chief spokesperson and MP Anil Baluni said Nadda will address a rally each in Kandhamal and Banpur in Puri. He will also pay floral tributes at Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati's statue in Jalespata Ashram in Kandhamal. Nadda will meet the party's mandal and booth presidents, parliamentary team in charge of Kandhamal and Puri seats, besides holding other organisational meetings. The BJP had won eight of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state, long dominated by the BJD, in 2019 and is working to improve its tally.

Police found 'no criminal aspect' in death of 2 Russian tourist: Embassy

The Russian embassy on Tuesday said the Odisha police has found "no criminal aspect" in the death of two citizens of the European country in a hotel in Rayagada district within days of each other. "The Consulate General of Russia in Kolkata is following the case in touch with local authorities. According to information available to the police, no criminal aspect is seen," "Russia Today" quoted the Russian embassy here in connection with the death of the two Russians in Odisha. Among the dead was Pavel Antov, a lawmaker from the Vladimir region, about 200 km from Moscow. According to reports in a section of the media, Antov (65), the founder of the Vladimir Meat Processing Plant, ranked among the rich list of lawmakers in Russia. He was found lying in a pool of blood outside the hotel in Rayagada on Saturday. Vladimir Bidenov, Antov's co-traveller, was found dead at the same hotel on December 22. He was found lying unconscious in his first floor room of the hotel with a few empty w

Russian MP Pavel Antov dies after falling from hotel window in Odisha

Antov was on vacation in the Rayagada region of Odisha where he was celebrating his 65th birthday

What has made Odisha Millets Mission a success story in such a short time

For thousands of farmers, the path towards relative higher income has been smoothened by active help from the Odisha Millets Mission

Women to play key role in Odisha's industrialisation process, says Patnaik

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday said women will play a major role in the state's industrialiation process, as his government has initiated various schemes aimed at the weaker sections for their economic benefit. Patnaik was speaking at a public meeting here after launching and laying foundation stones of different projects worth around Rs 1,806 crore for Balasore district. "My government is committed to uplifting the weaker sections in general and poor women in particular, he said. The CM announced a sanction of Rs 220 crore for 5,600 Women Self Help Groups under the Mission Shakti programme. They will be entitled for loans up to Rs 5 lakh at zero per cent interest, helping them become small entrepreneurs. The women will be provided credit of Rs 50,000 crore in the next five years. They will play a leading role in the state's industrialisation process in the coming days, Patnaik said. Earlier in the day, the chief minister inaugurated 69 development projects to the

Annual census of dolphins begins at Odisha's Bhitarkanika, Gahirmatha

The annual census of dolphins began in Odisha's Bhitarkanika national park and Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, officials said on Thursday. Over 100 wildlife experts were conducting the headcount in a three-day exercise, which began on Wednesday, they said. Each team is equipped with binoculars, GPS sets, rangefinders and data recording sheets for a foolproof headcount of the dolphins, officials of the Chilika Development Authority said. The exercise was being conducted using the 'Transact Survey Method', followed worldwide, they said. The Odisha coast has emerged as an ideal habitat for dolphins with an impressive rise of 33 per cent in their population, officials said, quoting the last census. A total of 726 dolphins were sighted during the census conducted in the last December-January season in the five coastal divisions in Chilika lagoon, they said. Six species of dolphins -- Irrawaddy, Bottlenose, Humpback, Striped, Finless and Spinner -- were recorded during the last census, th

Odisha govt issues Covid advisory after new Omicron BF.7 strain detected

The letter further said Covid-19-appropriate behaviour needs to be ensured along with testing, tracking, treating, contact tracing and vaccination

Odisha CM launches 'Drink from Tap' facility in 19 cities, towns

Noting that safe drinking water provision at every Odisha home has long been his dream, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday launched the Drink From Tap' project in 19 cities and towns of the state. Earlier, the facility was unveiled in Puri and Gopalpur. Under the project, drinking water will be supplied round the clock through taps installed in households. Patnaik said at least 5.55 lakh people in the 19 cities and the towns would benefit from the project. Describing water as precious to all, he appealed to people to not waste even a single drop. Places where the project was launched on Wednesday included Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela, Sundargarh, Biramitrapur, Rajgangpur, Keonjhar and some parts in Bhubaneswar.

Omicron BF.7 case detected in Sep in Odisha, person now in US: Officials

The infected woman had came out asymptomatic at the time of test

BJP says Odisha unsafe for women, children; BJD dismisses charges

Opposition BJP has alleged that Odisha has turned unsafe for women and children and that the BJD government's claim about women empowerment in the state is "hollow". Atrocities against women in the state has recorded an alarming rise in recent years and the situation is the same in the case of children, particularly the minor girls, Odisha BJP Mahila Morcha president Smruti Pattnaik said. The ruling BJD dismissed the charges and said its efforts to empower women through the SHG movement has been appreciated by the BJP government at the Centre itself, besides Niti Aayog and the United Nations. Dubbing BJD government's claim about women's empowerment in Odisha as "hollow", Pattnaik told a press conference on Tuesday, While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced several welfare schemes for women, the BJD government of Naveen Patnaik has been utilising members of self help groups for political purposes. The government, she claimed, is giving benefits to only a particular section