Page 3 - Odisha Govt

India can do anything to save lives: Patnaik on Uttarkashi tunnel rescue

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that rescuing all 41 workers, who were trapped inside an under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand, proved that the country can do anything and everything to save the lives of its citizens. Patnaik thanked the rescue team for evacuating the 41 labourers, including five from Odisha, from the Silkyara tunnel after almost 17 days. It was a festival-like atmosphere on Tuesday evening in the villages of the five workers from the state as people distributed sweets, beat drums and danced to the tune of music. The family members of the five were now relieved and had thanked the government and all agencies involved in the massive rescue operation. "It gives me immense pleasure to learn about the successful rescue operation and I am very happy that our workers will return home safe," Patnaik said in a statement. The state government has sent a team and the family members of the trapped Odia labourers to the site in Uttarkashi district, he said. The

Poised to transform transportation landscape, says Odisha CM Patnaik

Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that this pact signals the emergence of a new epoch in the transportation history of Odisha

CAG suspects corruption in distribution of student scholarship in Odisha

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has suspected fraud and corruption in the implementation of the post-matric scholarship (PMS) scheme under direct benefit transfer (DBT) in Odisha. In its report on the performance audit of the implementation of DBT in payment of PMS to eligible students in the state, which was laid before the state assembly on Tuesday, the CAG said, "Due to the absence of detailed checklist for inspection of private educational institutions, 5,185 beneficiaries of 15 ineligible institutions, had been granted PMS, amounting to Rs 15.79 crore, during financial years 2016-17 to 2016-20." The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, in its revised guidelines issued in May 2018, made it mandatory for the inspection of private educational institutions by officials nominated by the district collectors. However, the CAG noted that there was no provision for inspection of private educational institutions, for sanctioning PMS. Joint physical inspections

Full trial run for Odisha's second Vande Bharat Express underway

The full trial run of the Puri-Rourkela Vande Bharat Express, which would be Odisha's second such train, was conducted on Wednesday, officials said. The train left the Puri station at 5 am to reach Bhubaneswar at 6.05 am, and left after five minutes for the onward journey. After brief halts at Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Angul, it reached Sambalpur at 10.15 am. The train was supposed to reach its destination, Rourkela, at 12.45 pm, they said. Earlier, a trail run was held between Puri and Talcher Road stations, they added. On its return journey, the train will leave Rourkela at 2.10 pm and reach Puri at 9.40 pm, covering the distance in 7.5 hours, officials said. "This is a historic moment for Rourkela. First, we got a flight, and now, the Vande Bharat Express. Rourkela's connectivity is getting enhanced and this is good for all," said Sunil Kayal, the president of the Rourkela Chamber of Commerce and Industries (RCCI). The train will connect the coastal districts of the state to its wes

BJD starts 'master trainer' programme ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls

With Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly elections due next year, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has started 'Master Trainer Programme' where at least 200 grassroots level party workers from each 147 Vidhan Sabha segment will be trained on skills to win elections. The 37-day long training programme began here at 'Sankha Bhavan', the BJD headquarters here on Monday. "The master trainers will take the party's message to each household in the state and development is our main agenda. The people will be told how the Naveen Patnaik transformed Odisha from a poor state to a developing region," BJD vice-president and convenor of the training programme Debi Prasad Mishra said. Stating that the focus is on the achievement of the Patnaik government, Mishra said the state government's flagship programmes like Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) where women are given health assurance worth Rs 10 lakh, will be highlighted. He said the BSKY, launched on August 15, 2018, is the most effective scheme

Odisha EOW detects 'rarest' QR code scam of Rs 14 cr, hints at Chinese link

The complainant had alleged that they had entered into Technology integration agreements with the Directors of Noida-based Company Payone Digital Services Pvt Ltd during April-May 2023

Staff alertness could have averted Odisha triple train accident: Probe

While the official responsibility by the CRS has been pinned on the signalling staff, the probe also found several systemic issues, which, if corrected in time, could have averted the accident

Amit Shah to address public meeting in Odisha's Dhenkanal on June 17

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Odisha on June 17 and address a public meeting in Dhenkanal, a senior party leader said on Saturday. Odisha BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said Shah, during his one-day visit, will participate in the 'Maha Jansampark Abhiyan' of the party in Dhenkanal. Harichandan said some other senior leaders will also visit the state as part of the BJP's nationwide mass outreach campaign which is being held to mark the completion of nine years of the NDA government at the Centre. Party sources said BJP president J P Nadda is also expected to visit the state on June 22 to take part in the campaign. The state BJP has chalked out a massive public outreach programme, which will include public rallies of Prime Minister Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Shah and Nadda. Union ministers Giriraj Singh, Arjun Munda, and Ashwini Vaishnaw are also scheduled to attend various programmes across the state, another BJP leader said.

On leave NDRF jawan sent 1st accident alert, 'live location' of mishap site

An on leave NDRF jawan travelling on the Coromandel Express was perhaps the first person to alert emergency services about the train's accident in Odisha's Balasore before he joined initial rescue efforts, officials said on Saturday. The Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express entered a wrong track and hit a stationary goods train on Friday. Its coaches got scattered all around including on an adjoining track and another passenger train -- Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express -- coming at a high speed rammed into them and derailed. The worst rail accident in India in nearly three decades has left at least 288 people dead and over 1,100 injured. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) jawan Venkatesh NK was on leave and travelling from Howrah in West Bengal to Tamil Nadu. He had a narrow escape as his coach B-7, though derailed did not collide with coaches ahead of it, the officials said. He was in a third AC coach and his seat number was 58. The 39-year-old, posted with the NDRF'

Ganjam of Odisha awarded as best district for National Water Award 2022

The Ganjam Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida stated earlier on Tuesday that the date of the award ceremony is still unknown and will be announced in due course

Be prepared for hospitalisation of patients: Odisha govt amid Covid cases

With Odisha witnessing daily Covid cases in double digits for nearly 10 days, the state government has directed its major health facilities to remain prepared for hospitalisation of the patients

Odisha spent Rs 261.76 cr to build Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium: Sports Min

The Odisha government has spent Rs 261.76 crore for the construction of the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, Sports Minister T K Behera informed the assembly on Thursday. He was replying to a written question from BJP legislator Subash Panigrahi. Behera said that while Rs 124.94 crore was spent from the state budget, the remaining Rs 136.82 crore was from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund. There was no funding from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, he said, adding the stadium was built by state PSU Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation in 15 months. It has a seating capacity for 20,011 people, he said, adding that apart from the Men's Hockey World Cup in January, Hockey Pro League was also held in the stadium from March 10-15.

Odisha announces Rs 500 crore worth livelihood scheme for tribals

The Odisha government has announced a new livelihood and income-generating scheme for the tribal people with an outlay of Rs 500 crore, an official said on Friday

Odisha approves 25 industrial projects worth Rs 5,827 cr to create jobs

The Odisha government on Saturday approved 25 industrial projects worth Rs 5,827.27 crore, which will create employment for 25,000 people

Odisha writes to Centre seeking release of pending food subsidy to state

It said that the anticipated cost is required to be released in the form of advance subsidy at the rate of 90% of admissible claims on a quantity basis in the first month of every quarter

Odisha assembly's Budget session to be held from February 21 to April 6

State Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari will present the annual Budget for the year 2023-24 on February 24 while general discussion on the Budget will start from February 27

Mortal remains of Odisha minister Naba Das brought to official residence

Health Minister Naba Das was shot at in Brajarajnagar in the Jharsuguda district and succumbed to his bullet injuries in Bhubaneswar hospital

Odisha health minister shot by cop in Jharsuguda district, accused nabbed

Odisha's Health and Family Welfare minister Naba Kishore Das was on Sunday shot at allegedly by an assistant sub-inspector of police in Jharsuguda district, an officer said. The incident took place in Brajrajnagar town around 1 pm when the minister was on his way to attend a programme. "Assistant Sub-inspector of Police (ASI) Gopal Das opened fire at the minister, who sustained bullet injuries. The minister was then rushed to a hospital," Brajrajnagar SDPO Gupteswar Bhoi told reporters. The accused ASI was nabbed by local people, who then handed him over to the police, he said. An inquiry has been launched to find out what prompted the ASI to open fire, Bhoi said. In a video footage that is in possession of PTI, Das is seen bleeding from the chest with people trying to lift the injured minister, who seemed unconscious, and place him on the front seat of a car. Initially, he was taken to the Jharsuguda district headquarters hospital, the SDPO said. Arrangements were then made to

Odisha cabinet approves inclusion of 22 castes in State's list of SEBC

The meeting was headed by state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, when the cabinet decided to approve the inclusion of 22 castes and communities in the state list of SEBC

Odisha cabinet nod for 9 piped water supply projects worth over Rs 1,287 cr

The Odisha cabinet on Saturday approved nine piped water supply projects worth over Rs 1,287 crore in three districts, including tribal-dominated Malkangiri, in a bid to provide safe drinking water to people, an official statement said. During the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the state government gave its nod to two such projects worth Rs 254.66 crore in Jajpur and three with an outlay of Rs 393.93 crore in Nayagarh district, it said. Execution of four mega piped water supply projects at Rs 639.26 crore under the 'Jal Jeevan Mission' in Malkangiri was also given go-ahead, and over 3 lakh people in 453 villages in the tribal district will be benefitted, the statement issued from the chief secretary's office said. Moreover, around 4.45 lakh people in Jajpur and Nayagarh districts will be benefitted from the drinking water supply projects. Elaborating on the decisions taken by the cabinet, Development Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Jena said an increase of gra