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Odisha gets Centre’s nod to clear forest land for irrigation project

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had discussed the issue with Union Environment and Forests Minister Bhupender Yadav during his recent visit to New Delhi…reports Asian Lite News

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has approved the diversion of 1,524.17 hectares of forest land for the Brutanga irrigation project in Odisha’s Nayagarh district, officials said on Tuesday. The state government has awaited this approval for 30 years. The project will provide irrigation to 23,000 hectares of land.

A letter from Assistant Inspector General of Forests Dheeraj Mittal on Monday confirmed the final approval under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, for non-forestry use of the land. The legal status of the diverted forest land will remain unchanged, and the state must ensure compensatory afforestation on 1,524.17 hectares of non-forest land. This afforestation must occur within two years, planting at least 1,000 plants per hectare.

If planting this many saplings in the area is not possible, the balance will be planted in other forests. The state must also take mitigative measures to minimize the project’s adverse impact on forests and wildlife, including setting up anti-poaching camps and constructing watch towers.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had discussed the issue with Union Environment and Forests Minister Bhupender Yadav during his recent visit to New Delhi, according to the Chief Minister’s Office statement.

Recently, President Droupadi Murmu expressed concern over the terrible series of heatwaves witnessed in many parts of the country during the summer and flagged that extreme weather events have become more frequent around the globe in recent years.

President Murmu, who is in Odisha for the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, visited Puri’s Golden Beach and shared images from the visit on Monday.

Taking to X, President Murmu wrote in a series of tweets, “There are places that bring us in closer touch with the essence of life and remind us that we are part of nature. Mountains, forests, rivers and seashores appeal to something deep within us. As I walked along the seashore today, I felt a communion with the surroundings – the gentle wind, the roar of the waves, and the immense expanse of water. It was a meditative experience”

“It brought to me a profound inner peace that I had also felt when I had a darshan of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannathji yesterday. And I am not alone in having such an experience; all of us can feel that way when we encounter something that is far larger than us, that sustains us and that makes our lives meaningful,” her post added.

“In the hustle and bustle of the daily grind, we lose this connection with Mother Nature. Humankind believes it has mastered nature and is exploiting it for its own short-term benefits. The result is for all to see. This summer, many parts of India suffered a terrible series of heatwaves. Extreme weather events have become more frequent around the globe in recent years. The situation is projected to be far worse in the decades to come,” Murmu said.

Expressing concern over global warming and its impact, Murmu said, “More than seventy percent of the surface of the earth is made up of oceans, and global warming is leading to a rise in global sea levels, threatening to submerge coastal areas. “The oceans and the rich variety of flora and fauna found there have suffered heavily due to different kinds of pollution.”

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Majhi to be CM of first BJP govt in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, June 11 (ANI): File Photo of BJP MLA Mohan Charan Majhi to be the new CM of Odisha, announced by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during a programme in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

Mohan Majhi, who started his career as a Sarpanch from 1997-2000, was elected to the state assembly for the first time in 2000 from Keonjhar with the BJD-BJP alliance. He was re-elected in 2004…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Odisha CM-designate Mohan Charan Majhi. The BJP has dethroned the Biju Janata Dal in Odisha after 24-year-old reign of Naveen Patnaik.

Majhi is the four-time MLA and party’s tribal face after senior state leaders Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram were pulled into the Union government. The party has also picked two Deputy Chief Ministers from the state, KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida. The swearing-in ceremony of Odisha’s new Chief Minister will take place on June 12, Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal had said.

“PM Modi will reach on 12th June by 2:30 pm for the oath-taking ceremony. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at 5:00 pm,” he added. Majhi was elected leader of the BJP legislature party in Odisha at a meeting held on Tuesday.

Mohan Majhi, who started his career as a Sarpanch from 1997-2000, was elected to the state assembly for the first time in 2000 from Keonjhar with the BJD-BJP alliance. He was re-elected in 2004.

From 2005 to 09, he was the government deputy chief whip in the BJD-BJP coalition government. He was again elected as an MLA in 2019. In the recent polls, Majhi retained the seat by defeating BJD’s Mina Majhi by 11,577 votes.

In the previous assembly, Majhi was the opposition chief whip. He will be the first from the tribal-dominated Keonjhar district to become the CM. The appointment of a tribal is crucial since the state has 23 per cent of tribal population.

Deo who has been chosen as the Deputy CM of the state is a six-time MLA from Patnagarh of Balanagir District and belongs to the royal family of Patnagarh, a prominent place in western Odisha. He lost the election in 2019 but won in 2024.

He had also served as a minister in the erstwhile BJD-BJP coalition government. Singh Deo’s grandfather Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo is a former CM of Odisha. His wife Sangeeta Singh Deo is now the MP from Balangir.

Pravati Parida who has also been chosen as the Deputy CM of the state is a first-time MLA from Nimapada of Puri District in coastal Odisha. She had earlier served as the president of the party’s women’s wing in Odisha.

After being elected as the CM, Majhi on Tuesday said that he would be sworn in as the Chief Minister tomorrow and then go to Puri for the darshan of Lord Jagannath.

“Tomorrow, after the swearing-in ceremony, I will come to the Secretariat and then go to Puri for the darshan of Lord Jagannath,” he said.

Manjhi’s son Premananda Majhi said that they were speechless adding that they had a feeling that his father would become the Chief Minister.

“We are happy. We are speechless… we are so happy that we are unable to say anything. We had a 50 per cent feeling that he (Mohan Charan Majhi) would become the Chief Minister,” he said.

Majhi’s wife Priyanka Marandi expressed her happiness and said, “I never thought this would happen I was sitting in front of the TV when I got this news. We are very happy.”

Deputy CM designate Parida said that the government will work one by one on everything the Prime Minister told the Odia people, regarding Odia pride, Lord Jagannath, regarding Jagannath temple.

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What went wrong with ‘invincible’ BJD in Odisha?

A strong anti-incumbency against the BJD is the most important factor behind the party’s poll debacle…reports Asian Lite News

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has suffered the first poll defeat since its formation after splitting away from the erstwhile Janata Dal in 1997. The party remained invincible for over two decades after coming to power riding on the popularity of Biju Patnaik in the 2000 Assembly elections.

The party’s popularity can be gauged from the fact that BJD’s vote share in this election was 40.22 per cent which is higher than the vote share of BJP which stood at 40.07 per cent.

BJD President and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ruled the state for 24 years earning the honour of the second longest-serving Chief Minister in India. However, the party’s former alliance partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has put a break to its winning streak with a thumping win in the 2024 Assembly elections.

A strong anti-incumbency against the BJD is the most important factor behind the party’s poll debacle.

As per the political observers, among other major factors that led to the defeat of the ruling BJD in the state include an aggressive campaign by the BJP over Odia Asmita (Odia self-identity), Non-Odia successor to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, in a reference to Tamil Nadu-born BJD leader V.K. Pandian and the health condition of 77-year-old Patnaik.

After the alliance talks failed to materialise, the BJP immediately resorted to an aggressive campaign with the party heavyweights from across the country making a beeline to the state. The campaign was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who launched scathing attacks on the BJD government on various issues.

The BJP attacked Patnaik’s close aide Pandian by accusing him of using Patnaik in the poll campaign despite his poor health conditions.

The party accused Pandian of ruling the state as a proxy by holding a frail CM Patnaik hostage.

Tamil Nadu-born Pandian was at the centre of an aggressive poll campaign by the BJP.

It also raised the issue that Pandian, a former bureaucrat, would take over the reins of the party as well as the government after winning elections in 2024, which is a threat to the self-identity and pride of Odisha.

The BJP put all its efforts into convincing the voters about an impending threat to Odia culture, language, literature, and Odia Asmita following the takeover of BJD’s leadership by Pandian post-BJD victory in the 2024 elections.

The poll results suggest that the BJP has succeeded in convincing the voters regarding the probable takeover of the government in Odisha by non-Odia Pandian and the alleged threat to Odia Asmita.

The BJP also raised other issues such as the “mismanagement” in Shree Jagannath Temple — the “missing keys” of Ratna Bhandar (treasure of the 12th-century shrine), and migration of labourers to other states played a major role in the defeat of an “invincible” BJD.

Another factor that led to BJD’s defeat was the failure on the part of the party to create a strong and able second-rung of leadership.

Naveen Patnaik

Patnaik quits, BJP to form new govt

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday tendered his resignation to Governor Raghubar Das following the party’s defeat in the Assembly elections.

CM Patnaik will sit in the opposition bench for the first time in his over two-decade-long political career.

The outgoing CM went to the Governor’s house in the morning in a carcade and submitted his resignation.

Senior leaders of the party, including V.K. Pandian, Pranab Prakash Das, Arun Sahu, Debi Mishra and Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak also held a meeting at the residence of Patnaik to discuss the future strategy of the party.

The writer-turned-politician was first sworn in as the Chief Minister of Odisha on March 5, 2000, after his party came to power riding on the popularity of his father and former CM Biju Patnaik.

Naveen Patnaik will leave the CM’s chair after 24 years of his rule. His dream to become the longest-serving chief minister of the country with the sixth term was shattered by a strong anti-incumbency wave against his government.

The BJD managed to secure only 51 seats this time as compared to the 112 seats it got in the 2019 Assembly polls.

The Bharatiya Janata Party wrested the power from BJD by winning 78 seats out of the 147-member Assembly.

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BJD, BJP hint at pre-poll pact in Odisha

BJD vice-president acknowledges talks about a possible alliance with the BJP but refrained from confirming its formation explicitly…reports Asian Lite News

Leaders from Odisha’s ruling party Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have hinted at a potential pre-poll alliance ahead of the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections and state assembly elections.

BJD leaders conducted a prolonged meeting at Naveen Niwas, the residence of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, while BJP leaders held a similar session in the national capital, discussing election-related matters, including the prospect of forming an alliance.

After more than three hours of discussions, BJD Vice-president and MLA Debi Prasad Mishra acknowledged talks about a possible alliance with the BJP but refrained from confirming its formation explicitly. Speaking to reporters Mishra said, “Biju Janata Dal will prioritise the greater interests of the people of Odisha. Yes, there were discussions on the issue (alliance).”

As per a press release issued by Mishra and BJD’s senior general secretary Arun Kumar Sahoo: “An extensive discussion was held under the leadership of BJD president and CM Naveen Patnaik with the senior leaders of the party today regarding the strategy of the upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections.”

Following a meeting chaired by BJP president JP Nadda in Delhi, senior BJP leader and MP Jual Oram admitted to discussions on a pre-poll alliance with the BJD. However, he clarified that the party’s central leadership would make the final decision on the matter.

“Yes, there were discussions on the alliance among other issues. The party’s central leadership will make the final call,” Oram, who personally opposed the alliance said.

Amid the speculation, the Congress on March 7 called the BJD in Odisha and the BJP “two sides of the same coin”, adding that opposition between the two parties is only “shadowboxing”.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, “We’ve always been saying that the BJD and the BJP are two sides of the same coin. The BJD has always supported the BJP in Parliament and whatever opposition the two show to each other in the state is merely shadowboxing. The cat appears to be emerging out of the bag!”

Both the BJD and BJP had previously denied media reports about a potential pre-poll alliance on February 29, with BJD national spokesperson Sasmit Patra and BJP’s Odisha election in-charge Vijay Pal Singh Tomar dismissing the reports as rumours.

Although no formal announcement has been made, speculations of the alliance have been rife after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s March 5th visit to the state. They gained momentum after Modi, during his speech in Odisha, attacked the Congress and INDIA bloc but remained silent in the Naveevn Patnaik-led Odisha government.

PM Modi launched multiple development projects worth over ₹19,600 crore in Odisha’s Jajpur district on Tuesday. CM Patnaik and Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Bishweswar Tudu were also present on the occasion.

BJD’s strartegy

Meanwhile, the BJD held an extensive discussion with senior leaders of the party on the strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections.

“An extensive discussion was held under the leadership of BJD President and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik with the senior leaders of the Party today regarding the strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections,” a press release from the BJD General Secretary Manas Mangaraj stated.

The state will complete 100 years of its formation by 2036 and hence the party as well as the Chief Minister intends to work for the greater interests of people of Odisha, the release stated.

“In the discussions, it was resolved that since by 2036, Odisha will complete 100 years of its statehood and BJD and CM has major milestones to be achieved by this time, BJD will do everything towards this in the greater interests of people of Odisha and the State,” it said.

Odisha has 21 Parliamentary constituencies. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) got the maximum number of seats followed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. The BJD won 12 seats, BJP bagged 8 and the Congress won one seat.

The state has 147 Assembly constituencies. The BJD swept the state in the last polls, winning 113 seats in the 2019 elections held simultaneously with the general elections. The BJP came a distant second with 23 seats, followed by the Congress with 9, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) with 1 and an Independent candidate bagging another seat. (ANI)

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Konark Wheel: A Grand Welcome Gesture at G20

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed G20 leaders and delegates upon their arrival at Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, for the G20 Summit.

As the leaders arrived one by one, they were greeted by PM Modi, in the backdrop was showcased the Konark Wheel from Odisha.

The Korark wheel was built during the 13th century under the reign of King Narasimhadeva-I. The wheel with 24 spokes has been adapted into India’s national flag embodying India’s ancient wisdom, advanced civilisation, and architectural excellence.

The rotating motion of the Konark Wheel, symbolizes time, Kalachakra as well as progress and continuous change. It serves as a powerful symbol of the wheel of democracy that reflects the resilience of democratic ideals, and commitment to progress in society.

World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Managing Director of IMF (International Monetary Fund), Kristalina Georgieva, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and World Bank president Ajay Banga were among the first few leaders to arrive at th eBharat Mandapam venue.

India is hosting the G20 Summit, scheduled for today and tomorrow, under its Presidency amid divisions in the grouping over the Russia-Ukraine war.

World leaders including US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Japan PM Fumio Kishida, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are among leaders who arrived in the national capital yesterday.

The summit is being attended by more than 30 heads of state and top officials from the European Union and invited guest countries and 14 heads of international organisations.

At around 10.30 the first session of the G20 Summit: ‘One Earth’ will take place. One Earth will be one of the main topics of discussion during the session at the G20 leaders’ summit. This session will focus on accelerating climate action through increased mitigation and strengthening the agenda of global net zero emission as soon as possible.

The theme of this year’s G20 Summit, which is taking place under India’s presidency is “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth · One Family · One Future” – is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad. Essentially, the theme affirms the value of all life – human, animal, plant, and microorganisms – and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe.

After the conclusion of the ‘One Earth’ session, and followed by lunch, another session of ‘One Family’ would be conducted at 3 p.m. as a part of the Summit. At around 7 pm there will be a dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. Besides, the foreign delegates parliamentarians and ministers in the current Cabinet, the

G20 Summit dinner will be attended by some of the former senior leaders of the nation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be taking part in the weekend summit. China, however, will be represented at the summit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will represent Russia. (ANI)

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Blair calls on Odisha CM, discusses economic growth  

Blair also praised the CM for the state’s success in different sectors.  He appreciated the 5T initiative for bringing transformative changes in governance…reports Asian Lite News

Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday at the latter’s residence, Naveen Niwas in Bhubaneshwar, said the Odisha CM’s office.

The two leaders discussed the economic development and growth of Odisha and the future perspectives.

The Government of Odisha has inked an MoU with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) on July 21, 2023. As per this agreement, TBI will provide free policy support and assistance in developing a comprehensive economic strategy for Odisha, it said in a press release.

The Chief Minister appreciated the preliminary suggestions of TBI and expected this cooperation will help in securing balanced industrial growth and resultant inclusive benefit to citizens. He thanked Blair for the support, the release added.

Blair also praised the CM for the state’s success in different sectors.  He appreciated the 5T initiative for bringing transformative changes in governance.

The TBI will deploy 4 resources for a period of 24 months. This project team will work under the direct guidance of TBI’s leadership and its network of global experts.

The team will work in close collaboration with team Odisha team.

Headquartered in London and founded in 2016, TBI is helmed by Former Prime Minister of the UK, Tony Blair. TBI works in over 45 countries. TBI’s domains of expertise include governance, foreign policy, investments, infrastructure and cities, climate and energy, and human capital.

In Odisha, the project team will undertake a range of activities such as current-state analysis, external benchmarking, roadmap design, capacity development, and effective communication of core reforms to enhance adoption. Prioritization of emerging industries and development of multimodal transport logistics will be the main agenda to supercharge growth, the release said. (ANI)

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King Charles shocked by Odisha train accident

King's Coronation to welcome three India-born charity champions

Condolences poured from across the globe after the tragic train accident took place in Odisha on Friday evening last week. The accident claimed 275 lives and injured over thousand people…reports Asian Lite News

King Charles III has expressed his deepest condolences to President Droupadi Murmu over the tragic triple train accident in Odisha and said that he is “profoundly shocked” and saddened by the news.

He said that he is saddened by the dreadful accident that took place in Balasore. “Both my wife and I have been most profoundly shocked and saddened by the news of such a dreadful accident outside Balasore. I would like to express our deepest possible condolences to the families of all those who have so tragically lost their lives,” King Charles said, according to the official handle of the Royal Family which tweeted the message on Monday.

In the condolence message, he not only expressed solidarity with victims’ families but also recalled fond memories of himself visiting Odisha in 1980.

“I do hope you know what a special place India and the people of India have in our hearts. I have particularly fond memories of visiting Odisha in 1980 and meeting some of its people on that occasion,” the message read.

I pray, therefore, that you may be able to convey our most heartfelt prayers and sympathy to all those who have been affected by this appalling tragedy, together with our special thoughts for the people of Odisha, the Royal Family tweeted.

Condolences poured from across the globe after the tragic train accident took place in Odisha on Friday evening last week. The accident claimed 275 lives and injured over thousand people.

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday tweeted to express his grief over the tragic triple train accident in Odisha’s Balasore, which claimed the lives of 275 passengers and left over a 1,000 injured.

“On behalf of myself and my nation, I offer my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the train accident in Odisha, India, as well to the people and the government of India. We wish a speedy recovery to the injured. We stand by India as it mourns the loss of lives in the tragic accident,” Erdogan tweeted.

Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also made a phone call to External Affairs Minister Jaishankar to express his grief over the loss of lives in the horrific triple train accident.

Appreciating Blinken’s words, the EAM said that such sentiments are deeply valued at this challenging time.

“Thank @SecBlinken for the phone call expressing his support and sympathy on the Odisha railway accident. Such sentiments are deeply valued at this difficult time,” tweeted Jaishankar. (ANI)

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‘World stood by us at time of tragedy’

EAM Dr S. Jaishankar said the global support it received during the horrific train accident in Odisha shows India’s connect with the world…reports Asian Lite News

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday the condolence messages and the outpouring of support that he received in the wake of the horrific train accident in Odisha shows how connected the world is with India.

“A lot of leaders from all over the world and the foreign minister from here [Namibia] also has expressed solidarity and sent sympathy,” EAM Jaishankar said while addressing the Indian diaspora in Namibia on Sunday. “I received many messages and foreign ministers and friends from across the world. The Prime Minister also received lots of messages. This is an example of how globalised today’s world is and how the world is connected with India,” he said further.

“A tragedy happened in India and the world decided to stand with India,” the EAM added.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday reached the Namibian Capital Windhoek to further strengthen relations with Namibia.

The Balasore derailment incident, involving two passenger trains and a goods train, claimed 275 lives and left over 1,000 injured.

The three-way accident involved Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express and a goods trains on three separate tracks at Bahanaga Bazar station in the Balasore district.

Expressing grief over the accident, Jaishankar said, “I am physically here but the heart is in india. Our prayers today are for it.”

During the visit to Namibia, the EAM will call on the country’s top leadership.

He was received by the deputy minister of International Relations and Cooperation of Namibia, Jenelly Matundu.

“Arrived in Windhoek. Thank Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of Namibia, Jenelly Matundu for receiving me so warmly. Look forward to a productive visit that takes our time-tested ties forward,” Jaishankar tweeted earlier.

He will also meet other ministers in the Namibian government while also co-chairing the inaugural session of the Joint Commission Meeting with the Namibian deputy PM and Foreign minister.

Before arriving in the Namibian capital on Sunday, the External Affairs Minister was in Cape Town, South Africa to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

In Cape Town, Jaishankar invoked the three-decade-old ties between India and South Africa stating that there is a very “deeply emotional” connection between the two countries. He said India’s and South Africa’s respective struggles were “deeply intertwined”.

Jaishankar made these remarks while interacting with the Indian diaspora in Cape Town.

Jaishankar also recalled that when South Africa got its independence, there was as much celebration in India as there was in there.

The EAM also said that India had invited South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in 2019.

“We have really India and South Africa located at two different continents, but working together very closely in the United Nations, in the BRICS of which we are members in a body called IPSA, which is India, Brazil and South Africa, and in a variety of ways between the two of us directly now,” he added.

The relations between India and South Africa in these three decades have “flowered in every conceivable sense”, Jaishankar noted. (ANI)

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New Era in Odisha

Government of Odisha flags off the 16th phase of inauguration and ground-breaking of industries. The State Government held the ground-breaking ceremony of 17 projects. Two projects were inaugurated in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik

Odisha initiated the 16th phase of inauguration and ground-breaking of 19 projects in the state. While the investment intent was received during MIO Conclave 2022, the auspicious inaugural and ground-breaking event was held in the presence of Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik today. 4500 plus employment opportunities are expected to be generated from these 19 projects across sectors like plastic, sea food processing, manufacturing, tourism, IT and ESDM, refractory, agro and food processing, pharmaceuticals and steel downstream.

The Government of Odisha is relentlessly working to ensure that the investment intents generated during the MIO Conclave 2022 are transformed into ground reality. Located in various parts of Odisha, 2 projects were inaugurated and ground-breaking was done for a total of 17 projects. The projects included Supreme Industries Ltd., Ashirvad Pipes Private Limited, IFGL Refractories Limited, JMS Medicon amongst many others.

In the plastic sector, 2 projects were inaugurated, namely Supreme Industries Ltd, and Ashirvad Pipes Private Limited. These projects are located in Cuttack. A total of 470 employment opportunities are expected to be generated from the projects which fall under the plastic segment. In the food processing sector, the government initiated the ground-breaking for 6 projects namely Sao Breweries and Distilleries Private Limited, Indian Potash Ltd, Globus Spirits Ltd, Oriclean Private Limited, Amrit Dhara Nutrifoods LLP and DN Sea Shells Pvt. Ltd. which together are expected to provide 1459 employment opportunities. The segment saw a total investment of INR 803.6 crores.

In the manufacturing segment the government initiated the ground-breaking for 3 projects. From setting up of manufacturing unit for modular kitchen, workstation etc to that of PET Preforms and Closures for the F&B industries, the state accommodated projects of various magnitudes under the same segment. The manufacturing sector witnessed an investment of INR 293.34 crores and is likely to generate 243 employment opportunities for the youth of the state.

The ground breaking ceremony was also held for Incture Technologies Pvt Ltd in the IT & EDSM segment and for Mayfair Hotels & Resorts Ltd, Aspen Lake Suites LLP and Luxurio Assets Private Limited in the tourism segment. Mayfair Hotels & Resorts Ltd will expand their existing resort franchise to Gopalpur and Ganjam. On the other hand, Aspen Lake Suites LLP will set-up their 5-star resort facility in Barkul, Chilika, Khurda. Luxurio Assets Private Limited is also expected to come up with their resort facility in Gopalpur and Ganjam. In terms of investments, the IT & EDSM garnered a total investment of INR 46.79 crores while the tourism sector secured a total investment of INR 203.73 crores.

In the steel downstream sector, JSE Infotech Pvt. Ltd. and Nilachal Engineers will invest a total amount of INR 12.78 crores and they are jointly expected to generate 160 employment opportunities. The projects are coming up in Ramdaspur, Cuttack and in Jaymangal, Khurda respectively. Ramdaspur, Cuttack has also been chosen as the destination for JMS Medicon which has invested INR 21.44 crores and is expected to generate 203 employment opportunities. IFGL Refractories Limited which will invest INR 66.27 crores also witnessed their ground-breaking ceremony today.

The State Government of Odisha has always welcomed industrialists to invest in the state. The Government has promptly responded to investors and has worked hard to transform investment intents into reality. Under the leadership of the Honourable Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik, the Government has actively helped industrialists to set up their projects and initiate the inauguration and ground-breaking ceremony for all the projects, phase-by-phase.

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Odisha health minister Naba Kishore Das shot at by policeman

A team of the best specialists in the state, drawn from Apollo Hospital, SCB Medical College, and Capital Hospital are attending to him, a Health Department official said…reports Asian Lite News

In a shocking incident, an on-duty police officer opened fire at Odisha Health Minister Naba Kishore Das in Jharsuguda district on Sunday, injuring him critically, police said.

The incident occurred near Gandhi Chhak of Brajarajnagar in Jharsuguda as Das was on the way to attend a function. ASI Gopal Das, who was in his uniform, suddenly came near the minister’s vehicle and opened fire at him with his service revolver, said Brajarajnagar sub divisional police officer (SDPO) Gupteswar Bhoi.

The ASI was taken into custody, but the reason behind the brutal attack on the senior BJD leader is yet to be ascertained.

The minister fell unconscious at the spot. In such critical condition, he was first admitted to a local hospital. Then, he was airlifted to Bhubaneswar and is now under treatment at the Apollo Hospital.

A team of the best specialists in the state, drawn from Apollo Hospital, SCB Medical College, and Capital Hospital are attending to him, a Health Department official said.

Strongly condemning the murderous attack on the Health Minister, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed the Crime Branch to investigate the case.

He visited the Apollo Hospital, where Das is admitted.

“I am shocked at the unfortunate incident of the attack on Minister Naba Das. I strongly condemn the attack on him. I pray for his early recovery,” Patnaik said in a statement.

Senior officers of the Crime Branch have been asked to rush to the spot, he said.

Soon after receiving orders, ADG, Crime Branch, Arun Bothra left for Brajarajnagar along with his team to inquire into the incident, sources said.

Meanwhile, a forensic team visited the spot and started investigations.

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