ORISSA

The government will keep portions of the land for basic . Idco will have leasing rights on a part of the land and the individual landowner will have the leasing rights on the balanced developed land, according to the Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR) 2022, unveiled on the first day of the Make in Odisha investors’ meet.

The policy said at least three new industrial Infrastructure Development projects will be implemented. They are Odisha East Coast Economic Corridor along National Highway 16 which passes through Bhubaneswar and touches most coastal districts from Ganjam to Balasore, Biju Economic Corridor along the Biju Expressway covering the western Odisha districts and Odisha East-West Economic Corridor from Khurda toJharsuguda. What is being seen as a move to ensure regional balance, industries coming up in Biju Economic Corridor in western Odisha will be considered under “thrust sector”, eligible for maximum incentives.

The new industrial units in the priority and thrust sectors will be reimbursed power tariff of Rs 2 per unit for a period of seven and 10 years respectively. Eligible industrial units in thrust and priority sectors shall be provided 30% and 20% capital Investment subsidy respectively.

RAILWAY ministerAshwini VaishnawtoldLok Sabhaon Wednesday that a survey for construction of a new line betweenPuriandKonark(33km) has been completed and the cost of the project has been assessed as Rs 725.78 crore.

Vaishnaw said the survey report has been taken up for firming up the requirements and financial viability of the project, including the aspect of cost sharing with the Odisha government.

Though the ECoR had conducted a preliminary engineering and traffic (PET) survey for the proposedPuri-Konarkrailway line via Ramachandi in 2017, the route alignment was objected by the forest department. The rail line was supposed to pass through the Balukhand-Konark wildlife sanctuary located in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ).

On April 28, 2017, chief minister Naveen Patnaik had proposed to bear 50 percent of the project cost of the Puri-Konark new line to boost the tourism potential of the Bhubaneswar-Konark-Puri Golden Triangle.

The Odisha government has decided to include members of thetransgender communityin a social welfare scheme which provides amonthly pensionto the needy.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has approved a proposal to cover the members of the community underthe Madhu Babu Pension Yojana(MBPY) which aims at providing financial assistance to the destitute elderly, differently-abled persons and widows, he said.

Around 5,000 transgenders will get a monthly pension in between Rs 500 and Rs 900 depending on their age, Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) minister Ashok Panda said.

The government’s decision was taken in view of the promises made in the ruling BJD’s manifesto for the 2019 Assemble polls, the minister said.

Full exemption of motor vehicles taxes and registration fees on electric vehicles (EVs) was announced by Odisha Government.

Highlights:

This move was made to encourage the rapid uptake of electric vehicles.
The Odisha Motor Vehicles Act awarded the exemption, which is valid until 2025.
In accordance with the Odisha Electric Car Policy, the State Government also proposes to provide some incentives to electric vehicle producers, customers, batteries, and charging stations.
The government has stated that battery-powered vehicles will be exempt from all motor vehicle taxes and registration expenses.
In order to entice clients, the Transportation Department filed a proposal to the government to authorize subsidies on e-vehicles.
The plan has now been approved by the government.
These incentives will not be based on battery capacity, as they are in other states such as Delhi and Gujarat.

The AREMHL has signed definitive agreements with the Essel Green Energy Pvt Ltd to acquire 100-per cent economic value in a special purpose vehicle (SPV) that owns the solar project in Odisha, the company said in a statement on Thursday.

The project has a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Corporation of India (SECI) for `4.235 per unit with remaining PPA life of about 22 years, the company said.The closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions. The acquisition of project is at an enterprise valuation of `219 crore. Managing Director and CEO of Adani Green Energy Ltd Vneet Jain said, We remain focused on opportunities that help us create value for shareholders as well as facilitate Growth of Environment-friendly green power in India. With acquisition of this project in Odisha, AGEL will now have its footprint across 12 States in India. We are on an expansion path that will make us worlds largest renewable player by 2030. With this acquisition, the AGEL would achieve a total renewable capacity of 19.8 gigawatts (GW). The total portfolio includes 5.4 GW operational assets, 5.7 GW assets under construction and 8.7 GW near construction assets.

The Odisha Government’s pre-emption scheme of iron Ore has saved many industries, protected thousands of people’s livelihood and resulted in the industrialisation of modern-day Odisha.

The steel sector, especially MSMEs, in the State is struggling for survival. About 44 sponge iron making units out of 106 have been closed, and several companies are operating below their installed capacities due to the unavailability of iron ore at competitive prices.

Recently, several industrial bodies like the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), the Odisha Sponge Iron Manufacturers Association (OSIMA) and others have requested for intervention of the to address the iron ore crisis in Odisha.

More than 15 sponge iron and pellet companies are eagerly waiting to receive the allotment of iron ore from the Steel and Mines Department to supply iron ore under the State’s pre-emption policy.

On the occasion of the Rath Yatra, the Prime Minister greets the people.

Highlights:
This year’s Rath Yatra festival at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, took place on July 12th.
The festival was held without devotees due to the covid-19 pandemic.
Apart from Police officers, only officials and temple authorities were present.

About Puri Rath Yatra:
Rath Yatra is a festival honouring Lord Jagannath (Lord Krishna), Goddess Subhadra (Lord Krishna’s sister), and Lord Balaram (his elder brother).
Rath Yatra is widely celebrated and is one of India’s largest festivals.
According to the traditional Oriya calendar, the Jagannath Rath Yatra festival starts on the second day of Shukla Paksha in the Hindu lunar month of Ashadha.
The nine-day festival commemorates Lord Jagannath’s annual journey to the Gundicha temple with his brother Lord Balbhadra and sister Subhadra.

The State Cabinet has approved tenders for execution of eight rural drinking water supply projects worth Rs 2,312.11 crore in Ganjam, Balangir and Gajapati districts.

On the occasion of completion of the fourth year of the fifth term of his Government, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik chaired a State Cabinet meeting, in which 18 important proposals including the tenders for the drinking water supply projects were approved.

Speaking to mediapersons, Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena said supply of Safe drinking water to the people living in the rural areas is one of the priority areas of the .

Accordingly, the State Cabinet has approved the lowest tender amounting to Rs 1,509.91 crore for execution of a mega piped water supply project to provide safe drinking water in Ganjam district out of JJM (Jal Jeevan Mission) funding. By execution of the project, around 9,92,368 people of 770 villages under 228 GPs of 12 blocks of the district would be benefited, he said.

Similarly, the Cabinet also approved a tender worth Rs 379.17 crore for execution of two rural drinking water supply projects in Gajapati district to benefit more than 1.31 lakh residents of 346 villages.
The Government also cleared two tenders of Rs 423. crore for execution of five drinking water projects in Balangir district. All the drinking water projects would be completed in two years, Jena said.
The Cabinet also decided to spend Rs 364.40 crore in three years (2022-23 to 2024-25) for implementation of the State Plan scheme Sustainable Harnessing of Ground Water in Water Deficit Areas.
The Cabinet also approved allocation of Rs 330.17 crore for establishment of an Odisha University of Health Sciences.

It approved a tender worth Rs 209.73 crore for Konark Temple Complex. Konark Heritage Area Development Plan (KHADP) under Integrated Development of Heritage & Monuments and Tourist Destination scheme will transform the physical Infrastructure in and around the temple complex and upgrade the visitors experience, he said.

He said that creation of mangrove forest was the only viable solution to prevent devastation which was witnessed during the recent cyclonic storm Yaas, mainly in three districts including Baleswar, Bhadrak and Kendrapada. Jena observed that the need of hour is to create a wall of mangrove forests for a 480 km coastline with one km width. Per hectare while nearly Rs 50,000 is needed for 48,000 hectares of land the amount about Rs 250 crore would be required. Jena also opined that another option to construct a seawall wont work as it would cause water draining issues. When the trees along with the coast are being cut mindlessly and indiscriminately, it has created an ecological imbalance.

Except in the Bhitarakanika sanctuary, the mangrove forest of the State is almost nonexistent these days. Hence, the should undertake the mangrove forest plantation in a time-bound manner, Jena emphasised. Jena also observed that a programme entitled Coastal Shelter Belt was undertaken following a severe cyclone in 1971, which caused loss of human lives of over 10,000 besides huge damages to Livestock and other assets, by former CM Biju Patnaik as a long term solution to the tidal surge but the programme was stalled subsequently.

He further said the shrimp farming should be regulated through a regulatory authority and the mangrove forest should be revived and created along the sea coast in both the forest lands as well as Government lands.