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)
-
Jindal steel unit to go on steam in two months
BHUBANESWAR: The Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) on Thursday announced it would commission the first phase of its six million tonne per annum (MTPA) steel plant in Angul within two months. "By March we will achieve two MTPA production capacity in the first phase," company chairman Naveen Jindal said after meeting senior state government functionaries at the secretariat here. About 30,000 people were working round the clock to meet the deadline, he informed, adding the facility would achieve full capacity of six MTPA within the next three years.
-
State unit on radiation safety soon
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha is all set to have a Directorate of Radiation Safety (DRS) soon. It will have the mandate to ensure that radiation in radio diagnostic facilities does not cause health hazards. Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) of the Union government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government in this regard on Thursday. AERB, constituted in 1983, is entrusted with carrying out certain regulatory and safety functions of radiation and nuclear energy in India. It has to ensure that the use of ionizing radiation and nuclear energy does not harm health and environment.
-
Farmers take to soyabean farming for better returns
CUTTACK: To improve the economic condition of farmers, the district administration has been encouraging them take up soyabean cultivation. And the efforts have yielded desired results with 300 farmers cultivating soyabean in 550 acre in the district. District agriculture officers claim soyabean cultivation ensures lucrative returns with less input for the farmers. . "A farmer has to spend only Rs 500 per acre while the government provides them seeds and fertilizers worth Rs 3,500 to boost oil seed farming," said an agriculture officer.
-
Four years on, no headway in waste management project
ROURKELA: There has been no headway in the solid waste management (SWM) project in the city despite availability of funds under the 12th Finance Commission. The Rourkela Municipality has received Rs 4 crore in the last four years. Earlier efforts of the civic body to find a suitable place for SWM have met the dead end. It had identified a plot in Balughat and started dumping garbage there after constructing a boundary wall. However, nearby residents complained about the stench and the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) also rejected the site stating that the waste may spill into the nearby river Brahmani. The municipality and Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) then chose an open space near the airstrip to dump solid waste but were soon slapped with show cause notices by OSPCB.
-
Odisha government set target of 25,000 bore-wells by June
BHUBANESWAR: The state government has set a target to sink 25,000 bore-wells by June this year. Besides, there are plans to construct 30,000 check dams in the next five years. These decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday. The government has so far drilled 13,000 bore-wells, while 4,500 have been provided with power connection. Naveen directed the officials to supply electricity to the remaining bore-wells. And at places where there is no electricity facility, the bore-wells should be connected to solar panels, the chief minister said.
-
Hi-tech disposal plan for hospitals
BHUBANESWAR: Hospitals generating large amount of biomedical wastes would soon be able to dispose them of without emitting toxic chemicals. Non-burn technology in the state's selected hospitals, would soon replace the old practice of burning biomedical waste in an incinerator, which emit toxic chemicals. The Odisha State Pollution Control Board will recommend a non-burn technology as part of the state government's special project, which was launched by forest and environment minister Bijayshree Routray here on Friday. The project will ensure scientific and hi-tech disposal of bio-medical wastes.
-
Second bamboo bazaar for Bhubaneswar
BHUBANESWAR: The state government has decided to set up the second Bamboo Bazaar in Bhubaneswar to promote bamboo products that will uplift the socio-economic condition of bamboo-growers in the state. At present, one Bamboo Bazaar is functioning near DAV school in Unit-VIII. The forest department would spend around Rs 27 lakh for the proposed bazaar under the Centre-sponsored National Bamboo Mission. Recently, it asked the textile and handloom department to explore the feasibility of opening the market in the Urban Haat.
-
Improve forest cover: Minister
BHADRAK: Minister of forest and environment Bijayshree Routray said community forestry should be taken up in at least 150 hectares of forest land in rural areas of Bhadrak district. While attending a review
-
Panels in districts to enforce gutka ban
The state government has asked district collectors to form coordination committees for effective enforcement of the ban on gutka and paan masala, containing tobacco. Chief secretary B K Patnaik discussed
-
Villagers up in arms against paper mill
People living in peripheral villages of Sewa Paper Mill, Gangapur, have threatened to lock the mill as the unit is releasing toxic water into their areas. "Farmlands have been damaged by the toxic water