ODISHA

More than a year after it last auctioned a mineral block, the on Wednesday issued notice inviting tender (NIT) for online auction of as many as 11 mineral blocks in the state.

The mineral blocks up for grabs include seven iron Ore blocksNadidih (BICO), Purheibahal,Chandiposhi, Jumka Pathiriposhi Pahar, Dholtapahar, Netrabandha Pahar (West) and Gandhalpada, two composite blocks of iron ore and manganese–Nadidih (FEEGRADE) and Teherai, one composite block of iron ore and dolomiteKasia and one bauxite blockKarlapat.

While Kasia, Nadidih (BICO), Nadidih (FEEGRADE) and Teherai are the expired blocks, whose lease periods were expired on March 31, 2020, the remaining seven mines are virgin blocks. It is for the first time since beginning of the mining auction process, a bauxite block is going to be auctioned.

While last auction of any mineral block was done in January and February 2020, no blocks were auction since then in view of Covid-19 pandemic and awaiting Centres new auction rules.

Mining sector contributes significantly to states exchequer with the state government has earned over Rs 9,100 crore in the first quarter (April-June) of the current 2021-22 financial year.

The debt level of Odisha is now within stipulated limit and it is expected to increase by 4% by the end of financial year 2026-27, according to a status paper published by the Odisha Finance Department on .

As per the report, the total outstanding public debt of the State as per the revised estimate for the financial year 2022-23 stood at Rs 97,037 crore which is 12.7% of the States Gross Domestic Product (GSDP). Over the next three years, total public debt is expected to increase to approximately 16.7% of GSDP in 2026-27, which will be within the stipulated limit of 25%.

The Fifteenth Finance Commission and Odisha FRBM Act, 2005 prescribe for limiting the debt to GSDP ratio within 25%. The current debt level of Odisha is within the stipulated debt limit. Besides, the debt stock is considerably lower than that of the Central Government which is 57% of GDP as per the Union Budget.

The Government has expected that the total debt stock will increase to Rs 1,12,882 crore by the end of FY 2023-24 and again it will go up to Rs 1.40 lakh crore in 2024-25, Rs 1.72 lakh crore by 2025-26 and may rise to Rs 2.09 lakh crore by the end of 2026-27.

The Odisha Government has not resorted to open market borrowing during 2022-23 because of funds from other low cost sources like the Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC) and Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

The loan from these dedicated funds is available at interest rates 2 to 2.5% lower than the open market borrowing (OMB). The State Government can borrow up to 60 percent of the surplus fund available in these funds.

The open market borrowing stood at Rs 24,058.07 crore. As per 2022-23 revised estimate, the share of open market borrowing in total debt of the State is around 24.8%. The share of the open market borrowing has gone down from 30% in FY 2021-22 to 24.8% in FY 2022-23 and is expected to decrease further in the coming financial year.

Odisha improved its position in Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2019-20 to grade-I from grade-III last year, according to the report released by the Union Education ministry on Sunday. The state has also made significant improvement in domains like and facilities and Equity compared to the previous year.

Odisha scored 838 points out of 1000 to make it to grade-1 (801-850) along with Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh and Daman and Diu. Odisha had scored 749 and 734 in 2018-19 and 2017-18, respectively, and was in grade-III.
The state scored 138 out of 180 in Learning outcome and quality, 68 out of 80 in access, 109 out of 150 in infrastructure and quality, 219 out of 230 in equity and 304 from 360 in Governance process, totalling a score of 838.

The PGI scheme initiated by the department of school education and Literacy (DoSEL) is a tool to provide insight into the status of school education in states and Union Territories (UT). The PGI assessed states and UTs across 54 parameters.

The revenue generation in 2020-21 has crossed of Rs 56, 363 crore in absolute figures. These data were presented on Friday by Finance Department Principal Secretary Ashok Kumar Meena in a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra. While complementing the departments for good performances, Mahapatra set a target of Rs 40,000 crore from own tax revenue for the year 2021-22 which is around 15% more than the revenue generated in 2020-21.

Mahapatra also set a target of Rs 21,500 crore from nontax sources for 2021-22. The budget estimate from nontax and own tax sources had been fixed at Rs 20, 000 crore and Rs 37,500 crore, respectively, for the current fiscal. Based on the 5T principles in financial management, around 95% of the States revenue collection has been brought into electronic fold.

At present, about 95% of the own revenue is being collected electronically. The CS directed to achieve 100% electronic receipts of the taxes in the current financial year.

Odishacontinues to have maximum villages in the country without mobile phone Network. As many as 4,549 of the total 51,176 villages in the state still do not have mobile coverage, a reply in the assembly by electronics and information and technology ministerTusharkanti Beherarevealed.

Odisha had 6,592 villages without mobile phone network, which was highest in the country. However, no other state had more than 3,500 villages without mobile connectivity though Odisha still has more than 4,500 villages without network. Chauhan had quoted Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) data as on March last year.

The Union Ministry of Mines reported that till January 2022, the cumulative accrual of DMF fund in the country was Rs 59,129.86 crore out of which Odisha has built up the highest of Rs 16,952.64 crore. The amount is collected from mining companies engaged in mining operation in Odisha since 2015. About 90 percent of the fund comes from coal and other major mineral mines. The State also has got mineral royalty of Rs 7, 843.81 lakh in 2019-20(revised) excluding coal and minor Minerals.

But it seems the Government of Odisha is not much concerned about this dedicated fund of the affected people in the mining districts. It has been observed that the State hasnot been properly spending this very exclusive revenue collected at the district level ignoring the rules of MMDR Act (amendment) 2015 and 2021.

The amount spent as per guideline ofPradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY)is very less than the amount collected from companies as per legal provision.

The amendment of MMDR Act 1957 in 2015 with inclusion of clause 9B has empowered the Government to collect revenue from mining companies that is available with the locals/district and to spend the considering the local need and priorities of the affected people and the areas. But the fact is virtually the State has superseded the rules of spending by arbitrarily allocating funds out of the district pools.

Odisha is a rich mineral bearing State having major mining operation for last few decades and it will continue but the State has not set any example in handling many of the emerging issues out of long time mining. The State has experienced the worst example of illegal mining that is proved by the Shah Commission. Besides, there is illegally conversation of forest land. There are many instances of forcibly evicting people without proper public consultation, environmental assessment and socioeconomic rehabilitation package.

The Mahendragiri hill terrain FOREST ECOSYSTEM in Odishas southern district of Gajapati, in its Rayagada Block, on the Eastern Ghats, is located within east longitudes 83045 to 84045 and north latitudes 18015 to 18030. The Mahendragiri with more than 1,500 meters is the second tallest hill in Odisha after Deomali in Koraput district. The watershed of Mahendragiri hill complex drains into Rushikulya, Vamsadhara, Bahuda, Mahendratanaya river systems and numerous big and small streams.

The hilly terrain, endowed with dense tropical semi-evergreen forests, composes a unique ecological marvel in harbouring the . The Flora and Fauna here is interesting as it represents Himalayan as well as peninsular Deccan Plateau species. Because of unsustainable anthropogenic activities in the area the Population of wildlife including elephants and big cats is on the decline. Many of the plant and animal species here find their place in the IUCN Red Data Book as Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered and Rare. Over a period of time many more species may add to the list, it is feared. In view of the fact that the ecosystem is yet potent in sustaining wildlife in the wild, immediate intervention is needed for its eco-restoration.

The hill complex is the natural habitat of the tribes including the primitive Lanjia saura, Sudha saura and Bhima saura. The other tribes include Kondh, Gond, Santal and Kolh. Their livelihood security is intricately linked to the Biodiversity and other local Resources“>Natural Resources of the hill complex.

IIT Bhubaneswarwith the help of Odisha government has specially designed and developed mobile solar pumps for the rural farmers of the state. As many as 13 solar pumps have been distributed among farmers of different districts after development.

The project is funded by the state directorate of Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and food production under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) scheme. It is an affordable movable solar photovoltaic (MSPV) system for water pumping in remote and non-accessible areas of Odisha. The project work was started in 2017.

The villages which do not have electricity connection or load shedding can use these pumps for Irrigation purposes.

The solar pumps have been installed in 13 locations in various districts including Angul, Dhenkanal, Puri, Bhadrak, Korput, Keonjhar, Nayagarh andMayurbhanj. It includes three systems for Podapada, Kanaspada andKhudupurvillages in Khurda district. IIT Bhubaneswar has adopted these villages under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA). Besides the 13 solar pumps, one has been installed in the institute.

Odishas Biju Patnaik State Police Academy (BPSPA) has won the Union Home ministrys trophy for the Best Police Training Institution in the Gazetted Officers category for 2020-21.
The academy will get Rs 20 lakh aid from the Centre for the national-level recognition. The recognition encourages us to strive for further excellence. Over the past some years, many qualitative improvements has been brought in the police training, saidArun Sarangi, additional DG and director of BPSPA.

The award is given in the three categories of Central Police Organisations, State Police Organisations at theNational Level and State Police Organizationsat the Zonal Level.PSPAhad won the zonal-level trophy in the east zone for 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020.