UGC for compulsory environment studies
Bhubaneswar: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked all universities to make environment studies a compulsory subject for undergraduate students of all branches. According to the directive
Times Of India (Bhubaneswar)
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Govt prepares for another Posco push
BHUBANESWAR: Taking advantage of the budget session being in recess, the Odisha government has begun preparations to shortly resume land acquisition for the proposed Posco steel project in Jagatsinghpur district, official sources said on Wednesday. "We intend to restart land acquisition for Posco this week," a government source told TOI, refusing to divulge the date from which the operations would be launched again. The issue was discussed at a meeting chaired by chief secretary B K Patnaik on Tuesday evening, but government and Posco representatives are tight-lipped about the deliberations.
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No role in giving poverty data: Srikant Jena
BHUBANESWAR: Countering the allegation of food supplies and consumer welfare minister Pratap Keshari Deb that a recent central government survey on hunger was 'politically motivated', Union statistics
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Angul drinking water project hanging fire
Angul: Three summers have passed and another is round the corner since its foundation was laid, but the Rs 12-crore project at Derjang in Angul block to provide drinking water to the town has remained
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Plans afoot for 12 hydro power projects
BHUBANESWAR: To meet the growing demand for energy in the state, the Odisha government is planning to set up 12 new medium and major hydro power projects, which can generate 2,000 MW of electricity. Besides, survey work for 600 MW pumped storage project at Upper Indravati has also started. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik announced this here on Thursday while inaugurating the global seminar on 'Hydro Power and Sustainable Development' being held under the joint aegis of Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC), Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP), New Delhi, and IIT, Roorkee. He said, "We are trying to have a positive mix of hydro and thermal power sources with more emphasis on the former."
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Mining industry faces Rs 250cr loss
KEONJHAR: The government and mining companies were feared to face a loss of over Rs 250 crore on the first day of the nationwide bandh in the district as mineral transportation by rail and road came to a halt on Wednesday. "There was no mining activity here today and the loss is tremendous," said deputy director of mines Ballav Ch Nayak. While no trains plied in the district, supporters and leaders of various trade unions blocked National Highway-215 (Rajamunda-Panikoili) and NH-6 (Mumbai-Kolkata) at different places, affecting transportation of minerals.
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Moderate earthquake measuring 2.9 hits Odisha
BHUBANESWAR: A mild earthquake measuring 2.9 on the Richter scale was recorded in Odisha Wednesday, an official said. There was no damage to property or any loss of life. The earthquake occurred at 10.45 a.m. with its epicentre at latitude 20.7 degree north and longitude 85.1 degree east in Angul district of the state, the meteorological centre here said in a statement.
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Villagers oppose Angul power plant
ANGUL: The agitation by Jibana, Jibika Krushi Surakshya Committee (JJKSC) at Baradamalia village in Kishore Nagar block of the district, opposing setting up of a power plant, has entered its 11th month. The state government had issued notification to the people for the acquisition of the land for the proposed 1980 MW power plant by J R Power Jain Company two years ago.
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314 villages declared drought-hit
BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Monday announced 314 villages of four districts, Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj and Nuapada, as drought-hit for poor rainfall during rainy season in 2012 leading to 50% crop loss. Revenue minister S N Patro told the assembly that the declaration was made based on the crop-cutting experiment report received from collectors of these districts. He said the affected farmers of the areas would be eligible to get compensation as per the relief code.
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Bhubaneswar to switch to solar streetlights
BHUBANESWAR: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday installed a solar streetlight on an experimental basis as part of Centre-sponsored solar city project. The solar lights, which will be installed in the stretch between Delta and OUAT square, would cost about Rs 1.14 crore. The Union ministry of new and renewable energy ( MNRE) will bear 30% of the project cost, said sources.
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Rights bodies condemn Posco land grab
KENDRAPADA: More than 250 international human rights organizations, comprising social workers, scientists, legal luminary activists, academics among others, have strongly criticized the Odisha government for using forces to acquire fertile lands and betel vines in the proposed Posco site in Jagatsinghpur district. They also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday, urging him to stop land acquisition works in these areas. In the letter, they also condemned the use of force against protesters, including women and children. They stated in their letter that the most recent wave of police violence between February 3 and 6 in Gobindapur village saw the men in uniform use the same pattern of abuse, threats, and intimidation by the government to forcibly acquire land for Posco's steel processing plant.