CVPPL signs PPA with GRIDCO in Odisha
Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 14: In a significant development, Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited (CVPPL) has signed Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with GRIDCO Limited for off-take of power from its Kiru (624MW) Hydro-Electric Project at Bhubaneswar in Odisha on Friday. This agreement was signed by Umakanta Sahoo, Director (Trading & Business Development/Commercial) on behalf of GRIDCO & Amrik Singh, Group General Manager (Planning) on behalf of CVPPL in the presence of Trilochan Panda, Managing Director, GRIDCO and officers of GRIDCO, [] The post CVPPL signs PPA with GRIDCO in Odisha appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
IED blast kills CRPF jawan near Jharkhand border in Odisha
A CRPF assistant sub-inspector, Satyaban Kumar Singh, lost his life in an IED explosion in Odisha's Sundargarh district during an area domination exercise near the Jharkhand border. The incident occurred in Saranda forest around 6 am, with suspicion falling on Maoists for planting the device. The operation was initiated following intelligence regarding Maoist activity in the region.
Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government will assign grief counsellors to families of the Ahmedabad air crash victims to deal with mental trauma, a senior official said Saturday. Addressing a news conference, Alok Pandey, Relief Commissioner and Revenue Secretary of Gujarat said 230 teams have been formed to coordinate with families of the victims. In order to []
Duleep Trophy goes back to zonal format; Ranji schedule announced, Odisha in Elite A group
New Delhi: After a meeting Saturday, the Apex Council of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that the 2025/26 domestic will begin with the Duleep Trophy August 28 and conclude with the Senior Womens Inter-Zonal Multi-Day Trophy April 3, 2026. As per changes announced by the Apex Council, the Duleep Trophy []
Israeli drone strikes refinery in Irans South Pars gas field, Iranian news agencies say
Dubai: An Israeli drone has struck a refinery in Irans South Pars gas field Saturday, semiofficial Iranian news agencies reported. If confirmed, it would mark the first Israeli attack on Irans oil and natural gas industry. Israel did not immediately acknowledge the attack. Such sites do have air defence systems around them, which Israel has []
Putin, Trump discussed Middle East tensions, Ukraine talks on phone call: Kremlin
Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a 50-minute phone call Saturday to discuss the escalating situation in the Middle East and Ukraine peace talks, Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said. During the conversation, Putin briefed Trump on his recent talks with the leaders of Iran and Israel and reiterated Russias proposal []
Nepal To Export 40 MW Electricity To Bangladesh Via India From Saturday Midnight
Earlier last year, Nepal exported electricity to Bangladesh on Nov. 15, for a single day, as a token to implement the agreement.
Drugs worth over Rs 22 crore seized in Manipur; one held
Imphal: Manipur Police have seized a huge quantity of highly-addictive methamphetamine tablets valued at over Rs 22 crore and arrested a truck driver, officials said here Saturday. A senior official said that the Manipur Police intercepted a truck at New Keithelmanbi Police picket in Imphal West District Friday night and found huge amounts of drugs []
Odishas Pranati Nayak Wins Bronze In Vault At Asian Gymnastics Championships
Pranati Nayak wins bronze at Asian Gymnastics Championships, becomes Indias most decorated gymnast in vault event.
PM Modi to join Triranga Yatra, hold roadshow in Bhubaneswar June 20
Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to participate in a Triranga Yatra and hold a roadshow before attending an event marking the first anniversary of the BJPs maiden government in Odisha June 20, a senior minister said. Though Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhis government completed one year in office June 12, the administration is []
ASI urged to complete Puri Jagannath temple Ratna Bhandar repair work during Rath Yatra
Bhubaneswar: The authorities of the Jagannath temple in Puri have urged the ASI to complete repair work in the Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of the shrine in Puri during the coming Rath Yatra festival, when the deities will be in another temple for nine days. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the custodian of the 12th-century []
India satisfied with $400 million currency swap that boosted Maldives Forex reserves
Male: India Saturday noted with satisfaction that the $400 million currency swap between Male and New Delhi helped boost Maldives foreign exchange (FX) reserves. The comments by the Indian High Commission in Maldives came after global credit rating agency Fitch on Thursday affirmed the archipelagic countrys sovereign rating at CC, among other reasons due to []
Viral video: Top 10 Dogesh Bhai hilarious memes that will crack you up!
From barking at train passengers to waiting patiently for food, Dogesh Bhai is winning the internet. Here are top 10 viral videos and memes.
Ahmedabad plane crash: Air India to provide Rs 25 lakh interim payment to kin of deceased, survivors
Mumbai: Air India Saturday announced that it will provide an interim payment of Rs 25 lakh to the families of the deceased and survivors of the Ahmedabad plane crash. This interim payment is in addition to the Rs 1 crore compensation already announced by the parent company, Tata Sons, Air India said in a statement. []
Mayday was pilots final call before tragic crash: Aviation Ministry reveals alarming details
New Delhi: The Aviation Ministry Saturday said that the last words of the ill-fated Air India flight AI-171 radioed by the cockpit crew were a desperate Mayday, Mayday, moments before the London-bound aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad which led to the deaths of 241 people. The tragic crash occurred merely 36 seconds []
Madhya Pradesh: Four Maoists neutralised in Balaghat
Bhopal: In a significant breakthrough in the ongoing anti-LWE operations, security forces in Madhya Pradeshs Balaghat district neutralised four insurgents during a fierce encounter in the dense forests of the Pachama Dadar range under Rupjhar police station area. Speaking to IANS, a senior police officer member of anti-Maoist operations forces confirmed the development []
New Delhi: Air Indias ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed soon after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport June 12 underwent comprehensive maintenance checks in June 2023 and was due for the next scheduled comprehensive checks in December this year, according to airline officials. The plane en route to London Gatwick crashed into the residential quarters of []
The India Meteorological Department forecasts intense thunderstorms across multiple Indian states, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Kerala. Red alerts are in effect for parts of Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, while orange alerts cover areas in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. Kerala braces for extremely heavy rainfall, prompting red alerts in several districts.
CRPF jawan martyred in IED blast during anti-Maoists operation in Odisha
New Delhi: In a tragic incident, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was martyred during an anti-Maoists operation in the dense Saranda forest region of Odisha on Saturday, June 14, underscoring the persistent threat posed by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in several parts of India despite significant gains made in recent years. ASI succumbs Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
South Africa wins World Test Championship, its first major cricket title in 27 years
London: South Africa won the World Test Championship against titleholder Australia by five wickets after knocking off the last 69 runs required on the fourth morning of the final Saturday. The Proteas achieved their first major cricket title in 27 years, sparking celebrations at Lords. They moved from a portentous 213-2 overnight to 282-5, the []
Tehran will burn if Iran continues firing missiles: Israeli Defence Minister
Jerusalem: Defence Minister Israel Katz has warned Iran that Tehran will burn if it continues firing missiles at Israel as tensions escalated between the two nations. His comments came after Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Israel following Israels attack on Irans nuclear, missile and military complex. The Iranian dictator is turning the citizens of Iran []
President, Guv, CM greet people as Raja festival begins in Odisha
Bhubaneswar: President Droupadi Murmu, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik Saturday greeted the people of Odisha as the three-day Raja festival began across the state. The state welcomes the Raja festival every year as a mark of respect for womanhood, fertility, and the rhythms of Mother []
Israel slams Iranian media for spreading lies, calls downing of F-35 jets fake news
Jerusalem: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Saturday accused the Iranian media of spreading lies while terming reports about the downing of two Israeli F-35 fighter jets as fake news. Iran Saturday claimed that the air defence force of its army has successfully shot down and destroyed two Israeli F-35 fighter jets and a large number []
DNA samples of six plane crash victims match, bodies to be handed over to kin: Hospital
Ahmedabad: Authorities of the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital have so far identified six victims on the basis of the DNA samples and initiated the process to hand over the bodies to the relatives, officials said Saturday. Earlier, eight victims, who were identified by their relatives and did not need DNA profiling as their bodies were not []
Air India plane tragedy: Death toll touches 270; Centre forms panel to find causes of crash
Ahmedabad: The death toll in the Air India plane tragedy touched 270 Saturday, with doctors saying that this many bodies have been brought to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital from the crash site so far. Officials said the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Service (AFES) recovered a corpse and some human body parts in the last 24 []
Jaipur: Amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, several countries have suspended international flights due to heightened security concerns. This disruption has left many Indian citizens stranded abroad, including 61 people from Rajasthan, which also includes Mangalam Group Chairman N.K. Gupta and his wife. The stranded people were part of a delegation attending a []
Watch viral video: Forest picnic takes unexpected turn after unwanted guest crashes in
People often visit scenic forest-adjacent areas for picnics to enjoy the beauty of nature. But such locations sometimes come with the risk of unexpected encounters with wild animals. Imagine going for a picnic near a forest and suddenly coming face to face with a massive elephant; your first instinct would likely be to run for []
CBI arrests EPFO official on graft charge in Odishas Berhampur
Berhampur: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Saturday arrested a senior official of EPFO Regional Office in Berhampur while he was accepting a bribe, an official said. The accused official worked at the Regional Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) Office in Berhampur as a senior social security assistant. A CBI statement said that the CBI []
Kartik Aaryans Chandu Champion heads to Shanghai Film Festival
Mumbai: It has been a year since the release of Kartik Aaryan-starrer Chandu Champion, which is now heading to the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival. The films director Kabir Khan took to Instagram, where he wrote: ONE YEAR and the Champion is still running strong #ChanduChampion is selected for the @shanghaiinternationalff and its picked up []
Diarrhoea toll in Odishas Jajpur rises to five
Bhubaneswar/Jajpur: The diarrhoea toll in Odishas Jajpur district rose to five with one more person succumbing to the disease, an official said Saturday. The Jajpur district administration has cancelled Raja festival holidays for government officials as fresh cases were reported from three different places. In view of the diarrhoea outbreak in different parts of the []
Rajasthans Mahesh Kumar tops NEET-UG, MPs Utkarsh Awadhiya bags second rank
New Delhi: Rajasthans Mahesh Kumar has topped the medical entrance exam NEET-UG, while Madhya Pradheshs Utkarsh Awadhiya has bagged the second rank, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced Saturday. More than 12.36 lakh candidates out of 22.09 lakh test takers qualified the exam. The number is down from last years 13.15 lakh qualifying candidates. However, []
CRPF official killed in IED blast during anti-Naxal operation in Odishas Sundergarh
Bhubaneswar: A CRPF official was killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast during an anti-Naxal operation in Odishas Sundergarh district on Saturday, officials said. ASI Satyaban Kumar Singh (34) of 134th CRPF battalion sustained injuries on his left leg in the blast, they said. He was evacuated to a hospital in Rourkela, where he Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Iran confirms two additional high-ranking generals killed in Israeli strikes
Dubai: Two more high-ranking generals in Irans armed forces have been confirmed as being killed by Israeli strikes on the country, Iranian state television reported Saturday. State TV identified the dead as Gen. Gholamreza Mehrabi, the deputy of intelligence for the armed forces general staff, and Gen. Mehdi Rabbani, the deputy of operations. It did []
Four-legged hero: Viral video shows dog schooling train passengers on safety!
In a viral video, dog at train station is seen barking at passengers standing or sitting near the train doorway, as if teaching them safety.
India issues safety advisory amid Israel-Iran conflict
New Delhi: Amid escalating regional tensions, the Indian Embassy in Israel issued a fresh safety advisory Saturday for Indian nationals residing in the country as the conflict between Iran-Israel escalates. In a post on social media platform X, the official handle @indemtel stated: In view of the prevailing situation in the region, all Indian nationals []
CRPF Jawan killed in IED blast in Odisha's Sundargarh
A CRPF Jawan, Satyaban Kumar Singh, died from injuries sustained in an IED blast. The incident occurred during a combing operation in a forest area of Sundargarh district, Odisha. Singh, a member of the CRPF 134 Battalion, was 34 years old. He was taken to a hospital in Rourkela but succumbed to his injuries.
Matchmaking platforms in India, including Odisha, see a rise in registrations for second marriages. Individuals aged 50 and above are actively seeking companionship. The pandemic highlighted the need for a partner. Attitudes towards late-life marriages are changing. Compatibility and shared interests are key concerns for senior couples. Legal experts advise caution regarding property issues in second marriages.
Love rekindled: Age or a failed marriage is no longer a stigma to getting hitched again
Breaking societal norms, older individuals in Odisha and beyond are finding love and companionship later in life, driven by changing attitudes and longer life expectancies. Divorcees, widowers, and those who didn't marry young are seeking compatible partners for emotional support and shared experiences.
CRPF Officer Killed in IED Blast During Anti-Naxal Operation in Odisha
Blast occurred during joint combing operation in Sundergarh district
CRPF official killed in IED blast in Odisha's Sundergarh
ASI Satyaban Kumar Singh (34) of 134th CRPF battalion, who sustained injuries on his left leg, sucumbed to his injuries at the hospital in Rourkela
Watch viral video: Girl tries to go viral, horse says Not today and gives her shock
The soft rays of the sun, lush green mountains, and clear blue skies everything seemed picture-perfect in Nepals Kuri village. Amid this mesmerizing setting, a girl decided to shoot an Instagram reel. The camera was switched on, music started playing, and she began showcasing her dance moves. But in the very same frame where the []
NEET UG 2025 results expected on, final answer key released at.
New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to declare the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2025 for undergraduate medical courses results Saturday. The agency has also released the final answer keys for the NEET UG 2025. Candidates who appeared for the examination are advised to stay alert and keep their login credentials []
CRPF official killed in IED blast during anti-Naxal operation in Odishas Sundargarh
Rourkela: A CRPF official was killed in a blast during an anti-Naxal operation at the Odisha-Jharkhand border Saturday morning, officials said. ASI Satyaban Kumar Singh (34) of 134th CRPF battalion, who hailed from Kushinagar in UP, was part of a team that was searching the Saranda forest at the inter-state border for explosives robbed by []
IED blast kills CRPF ASI in Odisha forest weeks after Maoists looted explosives
ROURKELA: An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of the Jharkhand-based 134 CRPF battalion was martyred in an IED blast on Saturday early morning along the Odisha-Jharkhand border during a joint combing operation against Maoist operatives. The explosion occurred in the Banko forest under K Balang police station limits of Rourkela Police District (RPD), about 95 km from Rourkela, in Sundargarh district of Odisha. The martyred ASI, Satwan Singh (34), belonged to the 134 CRPF battalion stationed in West Singhbhum district of neighbouring Jharkhand. The blast site has remained tense, especially as it comes in the wake of the banned CPI (Maoist) operatives hijacking a truck and looting industrial explosives from the same Banko forest on May 27. After several years of relative calm, Naxal-related violence has resurfaced on the Odisha side of the border. Sources said that following the blast, the critically injured CRPF personnel was rushed to Apollo Hospital in Rourkela around 9:30 am, where he succumbed to his injuries around 11 am. DIG of Police (Western Range), Brijesh Kumar Rai, said, During the joint combing operation, an IED blast occurred around 5:45 am in the connecting Banko forest with the Saranda forest along the Odisha-Jharkhand border, in which a CRPF jawan was injured and later succumbed. He added that the Odisha-Jharkhand border has been put on high alert and security has been further beefed up. Both DIG Rai and Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani visited the hospital. SP Wadhwani said the anti-Maoist operation would continue with necessary safeguards. Following the explosive truck loot on the morning of May 27, security forces from Odisha, including SOG and DVF personnel, along with their counterparts from JharkhandCRPF, CoBRA and Jharkhand Jaguarhave been conducting intensified search and anti-Naxal operations in the Maoist stronghold of the dense Saranda forest in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. The hijacked truck was believed to be carrying nearly five tonnes of industrial explosives. During the ongoing operations, around 3.8 tonnes of the explosives have been recovered from different parts of the Saranda forest.
CRPF official killed in IED blast during anti-Maoist operation in Odisha's Sundargarh
A CRPF officer lost his life in an IED blast. The incident happened during an anti-Maoist operation in Odisha's Sundargarh district. Assistant Sub Inspector Satyaban Kumar Singh was critically injured. The blast took place near K Balang village. It occurred during a joint operation by CRPF and Odisha Police SOG. Singh later succumbed to his injuries in a Rourkela hospital.
Keonjhar: Four people, including a couple, were killed in separate elephant attacks in Keonjhar district and forest division Friday, officials said. The victims were identified as Ranjit Munda, 69, of Badhunidhara under the Janghira range, and Rina Munda, 40, and Santosh Munda, 45, of Kendudihi village under the Barbil range. The fourth victim, a youth []
2 mining officers injured in attack by sand mafia in Jaleswar
BALASORE: Thumbing its nose at the police, the sand mafia reportedly attacked two junior mining officers in presence of cops at Chalantai near Subarnarekha river bed in Jaleswar here on Thursday night. Junior mining officers of Jaleswar Jitendra Das and his Basta counterpart Satya Chinmaya suffered injuries after being allegedly attacked by a group of 10 miscreants having links with the sand mafia. The incident took place during a crackdown on unauthorised sand mining on Subarnarekha river bed. Jitendra said on a tip off, he along with Satya and local police raided the illegal sand mining sites on Subarnarekha bed at around 12 am. However, the sand mafia managed to escape with their vehicles on seeing the enforcement team. They were returning from the river bed when a group of miscreants intercepted their car and blocked the path with their motorcycles. They verbally abused the police personnel and mining officials and clicked our photographs with their mobile phones. When we opposed, the miscreants rushed towards us aggressively. Some of them dragged us out of our vehicles and assaulted us in presence of police, he alleged. On being informed about the incident, additional force from Jaleswar police station arrived on the spot. On seeing more cops, the miscreants fled. The injured mining officers were taken to Jaleswar hospital. They were later discharged after receiving preliminary treatment. Police said a mobile phone belonging to one of the miscreants was recovered from the spot. An SUV used by the sand mafia was also seized from the river bank. IIC of Jaleswar police station Jayanta Behera said a case was registered on basis of the complaint lodged by the junior mining officer of Jaleswar on Friday. The miscreants involved in the attack have been identified. Efforts are on to nab them. Further investigation is underway, he added. This is the latest in a series of brazen attacks on officials trying to curb illegal sand mining in the region. Three days back, junior mining officer of Balasore circle Tapas Kumar Behera was injured after being allegedly attacked by the sand mafia at Kathasangada in Remuna area. Last week, the additional tehsildar of Kaptipada also suffered injuries after being attacked by the sand mafia near Suno river bed in neighbouring Mayurbhanj district.
60-year-old man held for raping minor girl Odisha's in Gajapati
BERHAMPUR: Mohana police in Gajapati district on Friday arrested a 60-year-old man on charges of sexually assaulting a minor girl at Raiguda village. The accused is Laxman Nayak of Naringa village. Police sources said Laxman had gone to Raiguda to attend a feast on Thursday. After the feast, he decided to visit a relatives house in the village. On reaching his relatives place, he found that all family members had gone outside leaving the 13-year-old victim alone in the house. As the accused was known to the girl, she allowed him inside the house. However, finding the girl alone, Laxman allegedly raped her and returned to Naringa village. When her family members returned home, the minor narrated her ordeal before them. On Friday, the girls family brought her to Mohana hospital for treatment and also lodged a complaint with police. Acting on the complaint, police registered a case and apprehended Laxman. Mohana IIC BK Sethy said the victim was sent to MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur for medical examination. The accused has been detained and is being interrogated. Further investigation is underway, he added.
Bhubaneswar: Bacardi India Private Limiteds debut in the Indian whisky segment has earned remarkable global acclaim, as Legacyits first premium whisky crafted in Indiawon the Gold in the Blended Whisky category at the World Whiskies Awards 2025. This prestigious honour highlights a pivotal moment for Indian spirits, placing Legacy among the most celebrated premium Indian []
Water levels dip in key Sundargarh dams as monsoon falters
ROURKELA: Water level of Pitamahal, Kansbahal and Rukura medium irrigation reservoirs in the rain-fed Sundargarh district has gone down sharply due to inadequate rainfall in June so far. During kharif crop season, life-saving irrigation support is required during July and beyond in the event of monsoon playing truant. The current situation is worrying as despite early arrival of monsoon, the district has not yet received adequate rainfall in the last 13 days. Reliable sources said the live storage of Kansbahal medium irrigation dam in Rajgangpur block has now dipped to 422.263 hectare metre (Ham), which is barely 14.84 per cent of the maximum capacity of 2,845 Ham. Cumulative rainfall around the dam site is 280 mm since January with average inflow of 1.834 cubic metre per second (cumec). The designed ayacut area of Pitamahal dam is 4,218 hectare (ha) during the kharif season. Similarly, the live storage of Rukura medium irrigation dam in Gurundia block is 1199.25 Ham, which is 31.56 per cent of the maximum capacity of 3,800 Ham. In the last two weeks, the dam site has received cumulative rainfall of 84 mm with average inflow being 0.5 cumec. The Rukura dam has designed ayacut area of 5,110 ha for kharif season. The water storage position of Pitamahal medium irrigation dam in Lathikata block is slightly better than the two other projects. The present live storage of the dam is 782.002 Ham, which is about 38.78 per cent against the maximum capacity of 2016.60 Ham. Cumulative rainfall around the dam site is 188 mm since January with average inflow of 1.142 cumec. The designed ayacut area of Pitamahal dam is 2,630 ha. Sources said in the last fortnight, Rajgangpur, Lathikata and Gurundia blocks received average rainfall of only 52 mm, 32 mm and 84 mm respectively. To raise the water storage levels of the dams, good amount of rainfall lasting for a couple of days is required. Agriculture activities are largely dependent on monsoon rain and irrigation support is required to save crops during long dry spells, they said. Superintending engineer of Rourkela Irrigation division Dhananjay Kala said all the three dams released water during last kharif and rabi seasons. In absence of adequate rainfall, it is natural for water level to go down. He hoped that the situation would improve with good spells of heavy rains in coming days.
Odisha rivers in grave condition
Bhubaneswar: Magsaysay Award winner Rajendra Singh, also known as the waterman of India Friday made a strong pitch for the protection of rivers by saying that many rivers are in a grave condition and nearing extinction in Odisha. He was addressing the Odisha River Protection Conference organised by Mahanadi Bachao Andolan (MBA) and the Odisha []
Malkangiri police nabs two hardcore Maoists after gun battle in forest
MALKANGIRI : Malkangiri police arrested two hardcore Maoists after an exchange of fire in the forest adjoining Sodiguda and Tentuliguda villages in Mathili on Friday. The duo was identified as Kesa Kawasi and Rakesh alias Sanu Kunjam, both of Chhattisgarh. They were carrying cash reward of Rs 3 lakh each on their head. Police seized a pistol, six rounds of ammunition, 10 electronic detonators, codex wire, walkie-talkies, Maoist literature and other items from them. Malkangiri SP Vinod Patil said basing on credible intelligence regarding movement of a Maoist group in the forest near Sodiguda and Tentuliguda villages, a special operation was launched by Malkangiri police on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. In the early hours of Friday, the police team noticed suspicious movement of Maoists in the forest. Patil said the police team chased the ultras and warned them to surrender. But ignoring the warning, the Maoists opened fire at police and fled into the jungle. The cops responded with controlled retaliation, ensuring no casualties on their side. During subsequent search, the two Maoist cadres were apprehended while others managed to escape into the forest, he added. Kesa Kawasi, a native of Chandmetta under Darba police limits in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, was an area committee member (ACM) of Kangerghati area of the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit. He was involved in a series of crimes like exchange of fire and IED attack on security forces in Malkangiri and Koraput districts. Rakesh, a native of Tamod village within Gangour police limits in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur district, was also an ACM of the Andhra-Odisha border military platoon section of CPI (Maoist). He was also involved in exchange of fire and IED attacks on security forces in Malkangiri. We are keeping a hawk-eye vigil over areas bordering Chhattisgarh. Our special operations group (SOG) jawans, District Voluntary Force and BSF are on high alert to thwart any possible influx of Maoists from Chhattisgarh to Odisha side, Patil added. EXPLOSIVES SEIZED IN KANDHAMAL Phulbani: The Border Security Force (BSF) uncovered a large cache of Maoist explosives during combing operation in the forests near Khamankhol within Baliguda police limits in Kandhamal district on Thursday. Basing on intelligence reports of increased Maoist activity in the hilly and forested terrain of the region, personnel from BSFs 136th Battalion conducted a combing operation and found a stone marked with white paint. Upon closer inspection, the security forces recovered eight detonators, nine explosives wrapped in aluminium foil, one power bank, 10 metre of electric cable, two 12-volt batteries and a tiffin box buried underground. Following the recovery, BSF units in Kandhamal are on high alert while search and surveillance operations have been intensified in the area.
Raja: Social silence on menstruation persists
RESHMI YADAV, OP Bhubaneswar: With the arrival of Raja a three-day-long unique festival that celebrates menstruation, fertility, and womanhood, Odisha decks up in vibrant colours, swings, alata-adorned feet, and the sweet aroma of poda pitha, symbolic and distinct to the celebration of the festival. Yet, despite the profound message, the irony persists. Menstruation remains a []
Jajpur admin cancels official leaves amid diarrhoea outbreak during Raja festival
JAJPUR: On high alert over the diarrhoea spread in Jajpur, the district administration on Friday cancelled leaves of all government officials during the three-day Raja festival. Leaves of all officers have been cancelled from June 14 to 16 in view of the diarrhoea outbreak in different parts of the district in the last four days. In a letter, Jajpur collector P Anvesha Reddy said all offices in the district will remain open as usual and services of employees will be utilised in case of exigency. No leaves are allowed on these three days without prior permission of the undersigned (collector and district magistrate). Leaves allowed earlier stand cancelled, stated the letter issued by the collector. Meanwhile, the death toll in the diarrhoea outbreak rose to five in Jajpur after one more fatality was reported from Korei block. Chief district medical officer (CDMO) of Jajpur Prakash Chandra Bal confirmed the death and said a 45-year-old woman undergoing treatment at Korei community health centre succumbed to the water-borne disease. Over 750 people across the district have been affected by diarrhoea in the last four days. Among them, nearly 300 patients are undergoing treatment at different hospitals in the district. At least 450 patients have been discharged after treatment. The CDMO said the diarrhoea situation is improving as patient inflow in hospitals has decreased. Over 450 patients have returned home after treatment in the last three days. Around 20 new patients were admitted to different hospitals on Friday. Bal further said 30 critical patients are undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. The administration is hopeful that the situation will come under control within next three to four days, he added. Food safety officials are actively engaged to identify the source of the contamination. Reddy has directed all line officials to disinfect water bodies in the 10 blocks and two local urban bodies of the district on a war-footing. Emergency situation Over 750 people affected by diarrhoea in the last four days 300 patients undergoing treatment at different hospitals in district 30 critical patients undergoing treatment at SCB MCH in Cuttack
Its cholera in Jajpur, death toll 11; two more districts report outbreak
BHUBANESWAR: Even as the death toll surged to 11, the Odisha government on Friday confirmed the presence of cholera-causing bacteria in samples collected from the affected areas of Jajpur district. Adding to the governments headache, two more districts also reported the outbreak on the day. Official sources said, of the 41 faecal samples sent to the laboratory for testing, eight tested positive for Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium responsible for cholera. So far, over 700 others have been taken ill across four blocks and one urban local body in the district. The official death toll, however, is five. We are verifying the details of other deaths, director of public health Dr Nilakantha Mishra said. Health officials have intensified surveillance, water quality monitoring, and awareness campaigns in the affected regions, including Dharmasala, Danagadi, Korei, and Rasulpur blocks and Vyasanagar municipality to prevent the further spread of the disease. Two more districts - Bhadrak and Keonjhar - also came under the grip with several people from Bhandaripokhari and Anandpur blocks getting admitted in the hospitals following diarrhoea. We have received reports of people with diarrhoea in several places in Jajpur district, and small pockets in Keonjhar and Bhadrak districts. Health teams have been sent to affected areas to take stock of the situation. We are taking every possible measure to avoid further cases, said Dr Mishra. The state has been consistently reporting cases of cholera in last few decades, particularly affecting the lower socio-economic groups in districts like Rayagada, Koraput, Kalahandi, Nuapada and Sundargarh. In 2023, at least 13 people died and over 1,000 were affected in Rourkela while eight persons died and 104 others were hospitalised in Rayagada district in 2022. Poor access to clean drinking water, lack of sanitation, and delayed medical attention were cited as major factors contributing to the severity of the outbreak. On the day, chief secretary Manoj Ahuja reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting attended by Health secretary Aswathy S and senior officials from the Health and Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water departments. The Health department has appealed to people to consume boiled or chlorinated water and avoid open defecation. Ahuja directed the officials to conduct door-to-door visits and intensify awareness activities in the villages to prevent the spread of the disease and complete the disinfection work in 10 days. Affected districts have been asked to provide proper treatment facilities besides ensuring availability of drugs, saline and other essentials in hospitals.
Jan Poshan Kendras to be opened in all panchayats in Odisha
BHUBANESWAR: The state government is planning to open Jan Poshan Kendras in every panchayat to provide subsidised food items like atta, sugar, salt and pulses. Speaking to the mediapersons on Friday, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra announced that a pilot project with five centres will be rolled out initially to identify operational challenges and gather feedback before its full implementation in the entire state. The minister said that the initiative will also focus on the middle class who are overlooked in welfare schemes but affected by rising prices of essential commodities. The government is finalising eligibility criteria and guidelines to ensure transparency and effective implementation, he added. At present, more than 3.26 crore people in Odisha are covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The planned expansion via Jan Poshan Kendras is set to include an additional 50 lakh beneficiaries, mainly from the middle class, within the food security framework, the minister added.
Inscriptions reveal Utkalas victory over Delhis Tughlaqs
Bhubaneswar: A rare 14th-century inscription found at the Dharmalingeswar Temple at Panchadharla in Anakapalli district of Andhra Pradesh has brought to light the hitherto unknown military victory of the combined forces of the Eastern Ganga dynasty of Utkala and Haihaya rulers over the imperial armies of Delhis Tughlaq rulers. The discovery is featured in a []
Odisha clears Rs 3,878 crore investment proposals, over 10,584 jobs across 11 districts
BHUBANESWAR: The state-level single window clearance authority (SLSWCA) of the Odisha government on Friday approved 17 investment proposals worth Rs 3,878.86 crore. The proposed projects are expected to generate 10,584 employment opportunities across 11 districts. The SLSWCA headed by chief secretary Manoj Ahuja cleared the projects that span a wide-range of sectors including plastics, textiles and apparel, technical textiles, electronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM), food processing, power and renewable energy, tourism, logistics and infrastructure, chemicals and steel. The plastic sector continued to draw strong investors interest with six major proposals getting the nod. As proposed, Greenwave Circularity Pvt Ltd will set up a recycled flakes, pellets, and resin manufacturing facility with a capacity of 4.04 lakh tonne in Khurda at an investment of Rs 650.23 crore. Gurumaharaj Mining and Industries Pvt Ltd will invest Rs 239.07 crore to manufacture underground pipelines with an annual capacity of 2.5 lakh mtr in Khurda. Supreme Industries Ltd will establish a unit for plastic products in Cuttack at an investment of Rs 175 crore. Similarly, Lucro Plastecycle Pvt Ltd will set up a post-consumer plastic recycled granules and products unit in Jagatsinghpur with an investment of Rs 100 crore. Royal Touch Fablon Pvt Ltd will manufacture PP woven sacks, bags, and yarn liners with a capacity of 9,600 TPA in Balasore with an investment of Rs 60.78 crore. In the textiles and apparel sector, MAS India Clothing Pvt Ltd will set up a textile processing unit (fabric mill) in Khurda with an investment of Rs 885 crore, generating 1,700 jobs. Isolloyd Engineering Technologies Ltd will establish a unit for ceramic fibre and related products in Jajpur with an investment of Rs 51 crore. While Iron Triangle Ltd has proposed to invest Rs 310.75 crore to set up a 200 MWh battery energy storage system in Balangir district, Samaleshwari Ferrometals Pvt Ltd is planning to expand its sponge iron plant into a 0.5 MTPA integrated steel plant in Sambalpur with an investment of Rs 400 crore. In the tourism sector, Raysons Enterprises Pvt Ltd will set up an eco-resort Mayfair Hideout at Balukhand under Gop block in Puri district with an investment of Rs 53 crore. Special Blasts Ltd will invest Rs 54.99 crore to set up an explosives and accessories manufacturing unit at Talcher in Angul district. Other investments Bhubaneswar Logipark Pvt Ltd - Rs 218.8 cr Alpha Coal Beneficiation and Infrastructure LLP - Rs 217.4 cr Heraeus Technologies India Pvt Ltd - Rs 188.46 cr Addsoft Technologies Pvt Ltd -Rs 112 cr Ranisati Green Biofuels Pvt Ltd - Rs 110 cr Ganesh Consumer Products Ltd - Rs 52.38 cr
Odisha is becoming a model in womens empowerment: CM
CUTTACK: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday said the state government has provided business opportunities worth Rs 3,695 crore to self-help groups (SHGs) this year, setting a record in the states history. Addressing the state-level Nari Shakti Samabesh to mark the completion of one year of BJP government here, the chief minister said additionally `300 crore interest has been returned to over 3.07 lakh SHGs to help them realise their dreams. Stating that the event was aimed to empower women and build their self-confidence, the chief minister highlighted the governments flagship scheme Subhadra Yojana, describing it as the largest-ever welfare programme for women in Odisha. The government has collected data from every village before launching the scheme, Majhi said and added that special efforts have been made to include women from remote tribal areas. Majhi expressed confidence that the implementation of the scheme will usher in a golden era for the women of the state. The success of Subhadra Yojana is a testament to the governments strong resolve, he said. Stating that most women in different parts of the state are utilising the Subhadra assistance to engage in various economic activities and collective farming, thereby generating good income for their families, the chief minister said this is start of a journey towards making women financially-independent. Majhi also said by creating over 16 lakh Lakhpati Didis in one year, Odisha has set a record in the country. Womens empowerment is not just a slogan for our government. The state budget for 2025-26 has allocated Rs 89,861 crore specifically for women, demonstrating our governments commitment to their welfare. Odisha aims to be a model state for womens empowerment, inspiring other states in the country, he said. Deputy chief minister Pravati Parida said the celebration of women points to the commitment to build Odisha as a state of equality, prosperity and progress. She promised that the government will further accelerate the implementation of the Subhadra scheme and self-help groups. We aim to create one Lakhpati Didi per family and one Crorepati Didi per panchayat in the coming year, she said. Deputy chief minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo called for a collective effort to build a developed, prosperous, and proud Odisha.
Six arrested in cyber frauds totalling Rs 3.34 crore; victims include ex-minister, Balasore resident
CUTTACK/BHUBANESWAR : Crime Branch (CB) of Odisha Police has arrested six cyber criminals in separate cases of investment and digital arrest frauds amounting to Rs 3.34 crore. In the first case, the agency nabbed a woman from West Bengal for her alleged involvement in a Rs 74.10 lakh investment fraud case. The accused Anushka Mitra (24) of Bardhaman district was brought to Odisha on transit remand and produced before SDJM court in Bhubaneswar. According to CB sources, Mitra along with her associates posed as trade analysts and duped the complainant, a resident of Balasore district. CB had registered a case in August, 2024. In another development, CB arrested two more accused persons from Gujarat for allegedly cheating a minister in the previous BJD government of Rs 1.04 crore on the promise of providing him higher returns on his invested amount. The agency had registered a case in January this year and 11 persons have been arrested from different parts of the country in this connection till date. Similarly, CB apprehended another Gujarat native for his alleged involvement in investment fraud by cheating a Chhatrapur native of `50 lakh. The agency had registered a case earlier in February. While two more Gujarat natives were held for their alleged involvement in digital arrest fraud and cheating a Bhubaneswar resident of `1.06 crore. A case was registered in August, 2024 and six accused have been arrested so far.
8 test positive for cholera in Jajpur
Jajpur: With the diarrhoea situation remaining grim in Jajpur, Public Health Director Nilakantha Mishra Friday said that eight of the 41 stool samples collected from the district have tested positive for cholera. Briefing media after a review meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, on the rising cases of waterborne diseases, Mishra said, Out of []
Odisha explores AI use in water resources management
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha government has piloted multiple projects to measure the efficiency of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other advanced computer technologies for optimising use of water resources to help farmers and strengthen disaster preparedness. Addressing a workshop on Introduction of Best Practices in Data Management and Digitisation for Water Resources Monitoring using AI, jointly organised by the State Water Informatics Centre (SWIC) and IIT Bhubaneswar, development commissioner and additional chief secretary Water Resources Anu Garg said digitisation, data management and AI are now playing an important role in efficient water management. Garg said while the government has taken up various initiatives in collaboration with different agencies for judicious use of water, it has also given stress to good governance and IT initiatives in its vision document to make the system more robust. Director of ICAR-Indian Institute of Water Management (ICAR-IIWM), Bhubaneswar Arjamadutta Sarangi said the Institute is working with the Water Resources department to bring cutting-edge solutions to water management using AI and other advanced tools and technology. Different water management devices are being tested on a pilot basis in Phulnakhara, Mendhasala and Darpanpur in the Capital region to help farmers deal with the problem of water overuse. We are are trying to gather data from sensor-based devices and analyse it using AI and other fusion models. If the test is found to be successful and the farmers find the devices and technology to be useful, the project will be expanded to other areas of the state, Sarangi said. Associate professor of School of Earth, Ocean and Climate Sciences at IIT Bhubaneswar Sandeep Pattnaik said researchers of the institute have already found effective ways of predicting rainfall at district scale as well as monsoon depression in the Bay of Bengal with more accuracy using AI and other advanced models.
Odisha revamps PG admission rules: Career mark weightage scrapped
BHUBANESWAR: Admission to post-graduate (PG) courses in the new academic session of 2025 -26 will be entirely based on marks secured by a student in the common post-graduate entrance test (CPET), the department of Higher Education has notified. The department has done away with the previous practice of giving PG seats to students on the ground of 80 pc CPET marks and 20 pc career marks. In the PG phase-1 admission guidelines issued by the department, principals of colleges and PG council chairmen of public universities have been asked to ensure implementation of the 11.25 pc reservation for candidates belonging to the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) and verify valid SEBC certificates during the admission process. For students with disabilities of 40 pc or more taking admission to regular courses, all academic fees except mess charges will be waived off but this will not be applicable for such students taking admission to self-financing courses. The department informed that the phase-1 PG admission will take place with four rounds of selection and like previous years, students will be provided three options of freeze, slide and float. Officials of SAMS said the students who chose freeze option can download their intimation letter and proceed for admission to the institution but those who opt for slide and float, will have to pay the admission fees for the selected institution but are not required to visit it as they will not get the intimation letter. Students who will be selected for admission to their first choice of institution are bound to take admission and will not be allowed to participate in the subsequent rounds. Besides, a student who studied a subject elective paper (core course) carrying 24 credits at under-graduate (UG) level will only be eligible to apply for admission for that subject at PG level. lf the student during his application through SAMS enters incorrect information on studying on elective with 24 credits, his or her candidature will be cancelled during admission, the department had warned.
Odisha to expand e-bus network, launch Ama Bus service in five new cities
BHUBANESWAR: Going ahead with its plan of promoting green and sustainable public transport in urban areas, the state government will launch electric buses (e-buses) under Ama Bus service in five more cities and further expand the service in Berhampur city. It has initiated the procurement of 200 more e-buses for the purpose. Officials in Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), that manages the Ama Bus service, said the e-buses will be introduced in Keonjhar, Baripada, Angul, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur, while the existing fleet of e-buses under Ama Bus service in Berhampur will be increased. The e-bus service is available in the Capital region and Berhampur at present. Tender has been invited recently for the introduction of 200 more electric buses under Ama Bus service. The service will start in the identified cities once the procurement process is complete, said CRUT managing director N Thirumala Naik. CRUT has planned to purchase medium-sized electric buses for expansion of its e-bus service. The agency has decided to purchase 50 e-buses each for Berhampur and Sambalpur and 25 e-buses each for Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul and Jharsuguda. The fresh procurement will increase CRUTs existing Ama Bus fleet from 560 to 760. The e-bus fleet will also go up from 180 to 380. With Berhampur already having 20 e-buses, the fresh procurement will take the number of e-bus fleet in the city to 70. Officials said the bus operator to be finalised for procurement, operation and maintenance of these buses, will be engaged for at least a decade. Apart from the 200 e-buses, they will also be managing 400 e-buses soon under the PM-eBus Sewa scheme. Under the scheme, the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department plans to run at least 100 e-buses each in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Rourkela and 50 in Sambalpur. They added that implementation of the proposal has been delayed owing to legal hurdles and is expected to be implemented soon after the matter is resolved. The Centre will procure and handover the e-buses to CRUT under the scheme. Sustainable urban mobility 200 e-buses to be procured for six cities e-bus service to be introduced in Keonjhar, Baripada, Angul,Jharsuguda and Sambalpur; expanded to Berhampur 400 e-buses also to be brought under PM-eBus Sewa scheme
ED returns properties worth Rs 611 crore to agri gold victims
HYDERABAD: The Enforcement Directorate Hyderabad Zonal Unit has accomplished the process of restitution of attached properties worth `611 crore (value of the properties at the time of attachment) to the victims of Ponzi schemes launched by Agri Gold group of companies. The present market value of the properties is expected to be more than Rs 1,000 crore. In May 2025, the ED filed restitution application under Section 8(8) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 before the Special PMLA Court of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Hyderabad for release of movable and immovable properties attached by it to the Crime Investigation Department, Andhra Pradesh. The ED filed the petition so that attached properties could be restored to the victims of the Agri Gold Ponzi schemes under the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Protection of Depositors of Financial Establishments (APPDFE) Act, 1999. The Court vide, in its order dated 10.06.2025, allowed the restitution petition filed by ED. The attached assets for which restitution has been allowed by the court include 397 parcels of agricultural land, residential/commercial plots and apartments. Of the total 397 attached immovable properties, 380 are in the state of Andhra Pradesh, 13 in Telangana and 4 in Karnataka. The agency initiated investigation against M/s Agri Gold group of companies in 2018 on the basis of several FIRs registered in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Odisha and Andaman & Nicobar. Agri Gold group of companies had collected deposits from around 19 lakh customers and 32 lakh account holders in the name of real estate investment with a promise of high returns or a residential plot. The ED investigation revealed that Agri Gold group ran fraudulent Collective Investment Scheme in the guise of real estate business, for which more than 130 companies were floated. These companies used to collect deposits as advances for plots from depositors, without commensurate land being available with the company. By adhering to this business module, the accused lured lakhs of gullible persons and got deposits from them. These funds were thereafter diverted to various industries like power/energy, dairy, entertainment, health (ayurvedic), farm land ventures etc., without the knowledge of the depositors and the companies defaulted on returning the deposits either in cash or in kind as agreed upon. The agency stated that thousands of commission agents were engaged by the firm to lure people and they managed to collect around Rs 6,380 crore from more than 32 lakh investor accounts. During the course of PMLA investigation, movable and immovable properties spread across various states worth around Rs 4,141.2 crore were attached by ED. ED had also arrested Avva Venkata Rama Rao, Avva Venkata Seshu Narayana Rao and Avva Hema Sundara Vara Prasad in December 2020 and filed prosecution complaint before the Special PMLA Court, Nampally, Hyderabad against 14 accused persons and entities in February 2021. Cognizance of the offence of money laundering against all the accused was taken by the court on August 29, 2023. Subsequently, a supplementary prosecution complaint was filed on March 28, 2024 against 22 accused and cognizance of the same was taken by the court on November 4, 2024. In the instant case, ED had earlier restituted properties worth Rs 3,339 crore (present market value of more than Rs 6,000 crore) in February 2025. The total value of properties restituted in this case now stands at Rs 3,950 crore (present market value of more than 7,000 crore). This restitution exercise marks a significant step in EDs efforts to restore properties to their rightful claimants and to ensure that proceeds of crime are returned to those affected.
After Air India crash, Bhubaneswar airport to hold emergency mock drill on June 30
BHUBANESWAR: In the aftermath of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash at Ahmedabad claiming 260 lives, authorities of Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar have decided to conduct an aircraft emergency handling mock drill on June 30. The airports operational facilities and preparedness to handle any emergency situation was checked on Friday by the BPIAs safety review committee consisting of heads of various stakeholder departments. This mock drill has been planned to enhance our preparedness to handle any untoward incident. Medical staff, Odisha Fire and Emergency Service personnel, police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and others will participate, BPIA Director Prasanna Pradhan told The New Indian Express. He added that while aircraft emergency handling mock drills are mandatory and BPIA has been doing it regularly, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has instructed it to conduct the exercise again. Aircraft emergency handling involves a series of coordinated steps to ensure the safety of passengers and crew in various emergency situations from in-flight problems to forced landings and evacuations. It includes maintaining situational awareness, communicating with Air Traffic Control (ATC) and following established emergency procedures outlined in the aircrafts operating manual. Apart from the mock drill, BPIA will update the airport emergency plan (AEP) that outlines procedures to respond to emergencies. The document defines roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders and establishes communication protocols. While BPIA readies for the mock drill, its officials said birds, tall trees and unauthorised structures around the airport continue to be a cause of serious concern. With the airport situated in the city, bird activity persists as they are getting food to eat and places to nest. As per the guidelines, within a 10 km radius of an airport, certain activities are restricted to ensure aviation safety and minimise environmental impact. These restrictions include prohibitions against animal slaughter, disposal of animal remains, garbage dumping and others. However, various food stalls and fish market around the airport are attracting birds to the area. This apart, bird nesting is taking place at a coconut farm on the premises of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT). Sources said BPIA officials will flag multiple obstacles like unauthorised structures, water tanks and tall trees, which are threats to flight movement, to Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Odisha cholera scare deepens with 11 deaths, fresh outbreak in two more districts
BHUBANESWAR: Even as the death toll surged to 11, the Odisha government on Friday confirmed the presence of cholera-causing bacteria in samples collected from the affected areas of Jajpur district. Adding to the governments headache, two more districts also reported the outbreak on the day. Official sources said, of the 41 faecal samples sent to the laboratory for testing, eight tested positive for Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium responsible for cholera. So far, over 700 others have been taken ill across four blocks and one urban local body in the district. The official death toll, however, is five. We are verifying the details of other deaths, director of public health Dr Nilakantha Mishra said. Health officials have intensified surveillance, water quality monitoring, and awareness campaigns in the affected regions, including Dharmasala, Danagadi, Korei, and Rasulpur blocks and Vyasanagar municipality.
When a senior Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer gets caught in a graft case, eyebrows go up. But when insiders start whispering about deeper rot, its time to take notice. The ED, which handles the heavy-lifting on money laundering investigations under the PMLA, has had its share of limelight in recent years. But lately, that spotlight []
Whether youre chasing adventure or seeking inner peace, the stars have a unique plan for your day. From Aries charm working overtime to Pisces finding solace in spiritual practices, todayshoroscopeis a mixed bag of emotions, revelations, and quiet reflections. Heres your zodiac-based guide to navigating the day aheadwith a touch of cosmic insight. Aries: Of []
INTERVIEW | A New Odisha is taking shape: Mohan Charan Majhi
As the BJP govt completes one year in office, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi talks about his accomplishments and challenges along with the roadmap for Odishas growth and development in the coming years, in an interview with Siba Mohanty & SN Agragami . Your government has completed one year in office with a slogan, Barsa Ek, Uplapdhi Anek. What is the biggest upalabdhi (achievement) of your government in the last 12 months ? June 12 was a historic day in the political history of Odisha. People changed the government of 24 years and gave us a mandate to take Odisha in the path of development in all fields. Out of the 21 promises made by us, our government has fulfilled 11 promises, which is more than half. The results are for all to see. Let me give you one example. In Subhadra Yojana, we had promised to give a voucher of Rs 50,000 to women and have already provided Rs 10,000 to nearly 1 crore women in two half-yearly installments. This is not a cash dole to create vote-bank. Our aim is women empowerment. We have got ground reports, and you will be pleasantly surprised that 90 per cent of beneficiaries have utilised the money in a gainful manner. On the path of fulfilling the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have increased the number of Lakhpati Didis from just three lakh to 16.6 lakh in one year and achieved the first position in the country. The prime minister himself has praised the achievement of Odisha in the NITI Aayog meeting. Our second priority was the farmer. Within one hour of taking oath, in the first cabinet meeting we approved input assistance of Rs 800 per quintal over and above the MSP, which has already reached 17 lakh farmers. For the youth, we have provided 28,000 jobs. Nearly 30,000 youths have also got jobs in private sector. The previous government had organised three Make-in-Odisha conclaves. But in only one Utkarsh Odisha conclave organised by our government on January 28 and 29, we generated more proposals and signed more MoUs than all the previous three combined. We received proposals of Rs 17 lakh crore, signed MoUs of Rs 13 lakh crore with employment opportunities for 13 lakh youths of the state. The government has gained the confidence of people by doing all this work. We are committed to take Odisha to greater heights economically, socially and politically. We have fulfilled many promises during the year, which is why the slogan Barsha Ek, Upalabdhi Anek. A New Odisha is taking shape. You claim proposals worth Rs 17 lakh crore and MoUs worth Rs 13 lakh crore were signed at Utkarsh Odisha. Many MoUs were signed earlier too, but few materialised. How is your government ensuring actual project grounding, not just MoU signing? You can yourself see the difference. In just four months, we have already conducted groundbreaking of projects worth Rs 1,78,000 crore, opening possibilities of giving jobs to 1.1 lakh youths. We ensured establishment of a Rs 2,700 crore technical ammonium nitrate (TAN) plant at Gopalpur in just 10 months. This is the largest and first-of-its-kind project in India where all machinery were brought from Singapore. Besides, all big companies like Tata, JSW, JSPL and IOCL are either expanding or bringing new investment to Odisha. The downstream sector is also coming up in a big way. Each and every district is being covered. Many felt your lack of experience in administration would be a hurdle. Besides, your cabinet is mostly made up of first-time ministers. How challenging has it been to function as chief minister and lead the government? I was never an outsider. I was deputy chief whip when there was alliance government in the state. At times, I had to face the ire of the government specially when asking questions about mining areas of Keonjhar which is my home district. Then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had once called and pulled me up for raising such questions. But I had not stopped as I was in search of truth. I have been three-time MLA, Opposition chief whip and chairman of many committees. The success of the government in one year under my chief ministership has proved my capability. It is correct that many first-time MLAs became ministers. Further, as the entire administration had worked under another government for 24 years, to make it attuned to the new dispensation was very challenging. I had to hold many meetings with the ministers. They were given responsibilities as prabharis of districts and associated with different problems. By doing this, they gained experience and at the end of one year became capable of running their ministries. We have succeeded in a collective manner. With BJP coming to power, there were expectations that it will demolish the bureaucratic control. One year on, the general perception is, nothing has changed. Absolutely not. My cabinet doesnt sign pre-decided proposals. It doesnt end in minutes. We make extensive discussions on proposals, then take a decision. The bureaucrats were running the government earlier. To bring them out of that mindset, a shake-up was necessitated. Many left on central deputation. Bureaucrats who were ignored and sidelined in the previous dispensation and wanted to work were given responsibilities. We interacted with officers who were good performers but were loyal to previous government. Gradually, they also changed and realised that a bureaucrat has to work under any government. Besides, this was linked to their CCRs. They are now performing well and have a big role in achieving our target of giving good governance. Implementation of Subhadra scheme was not an easy job. We could do so because of cooperation from the officers. After becoming the chief minister, you seem to have made it a priority to keep close contact with the people. You have revived the CMs public grievance cell, are visiting districts almost every other day. Is it a brand building exercise? The big objective was to completely eradicate the distance between the Third Floor (CMO) and people. Under the previous government, the Third Floor was turned into a fortress with no one having access, forget the common man. Nobody could enter it. No minister, MP or MLA could meet the chief minister. I have become chief minister from the grassroots. I decided to eradicate this distance and meet common people. Let me tell you one experience. One day a beggar came with an application. Security people did not allow him inside. But he persisted. At last, he sat under a tree and did not leave. I received the information and immediately met him. I came to know that he is from Puri and has become a beggar because of some problems. He gave me his application. I talked to collector Puri about his problems which are now being resolved. These things increase peoples confidence on the administration/government. In this way, ordinary people have come to believe that it is a peoples government headed by a peoples chief minister. This is very important in a democracy. If I dont meet people, I will never want to solve their problems. The previous government focused on a surplus budget and strict FRBM compliance. Youre shifting towards higher spending for schemes like Subhadra. How will you manage this? FRBM Act is for every state and even the Centre. There is a system governed by the RBI and NITI Aayog. If we do not follow that system and incur more loans, the state will become bankrupt. These are alerts. Odisha has been a budget surplus state. To continue this will definitely be a challenge going forward. We want to focus on robust infrastructure. Odishas capital expenditure is 6.2 percent of the GSDP which is highest in the country. This is possible in Odisha only. Despite playing a key role in ensuring BJP government and PM Modis third term at the Centre, Odisha seems to have been neglected in the Union Budget while states like Bihar and Andhra Pradesh took the cake. Not true. Odisha has been given priority in the Budget. There is a very good coordination between Centre and the state government, else the prime minister would not have visited Odisha seven times in the past year. Odishas rail and road sectors have received Rs 1 lakh crore from the Centre. We are constantly in touch with the Centre for projects and funds are not a constraint. Our proposal to set up a branch of the National Forensic Science University in Odisha was approved within 15 days. This is a Rs 300 crore project. Similarly, many projects have been approved for Odisha basing on my letters. This cannot happen if Centre is ignoring Odisha. All the central ministers are giving focus to the state. Our government is taking up a massive initiative of reviving sugar industry in the state. We discussed this with the Union Home and Cooperation minister Amit Shah today and there are now proposals to reopen sugar mills in Badamba, Bolangir and other places. You talk of Viksit Odisha by 2036 to propel Vikist Bharat by 2047 under a double-engine government. The neighbouring states like Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh also have double-engine governments. But major disputes like Mahanadi river water, Polavaram project and Kotia border dispute remain unresolved. We are proceeding on various fronts to resolve the issues. The Mahanadi river water dispute with Chhattisgarh will be resolved through talks. We are going to formally begin talks with the Chhattisgarh chief minister in this regard. I am confident on this issue. Polavaram, though, is sub-judice. We are firmly putting forth our stance in the court. Not only Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Telangana are involved in this. This is a case of four states. But we are sticking to our stand. One year has been completed. There are many vacancies in your cabinet. Is an expansion or reshuffle on the cards? BJP is a national party and the biggest political party in the country. This will be done after discussion with our top leadership. This will be done at the right time. What are your biggest priorities for the next year? Is the government planning new initiatives and bold reforms? Priorities have been decided early. Along with all the empowerment programmes, our focus is on creating infrastructure, fast-pacing industry and job creation. That will lead us to Samruddha Odisha. We will undertake necessary reforms to support this.
Sumeet was a skilled pilot, polished human being, recalls BJDs Manmath
Rail colony school to be upgraded into upper primary, relief for VI & VII students
NHAI starts removing road kerb to curb waterlogging
Tests find cholera behind Jajpur deaths, says govt
Andhra Pradesh revs up on 81,900-cr river link plan
Andhra Pradesh is expediting the 81,900 crore Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project to supply water to arid regions, aiming to start construction by March 2026. The project, designed to divert surplus Godavari floodwaters, faces opposition from Telangana and potential concerns from Odisha regarding water rights and regional impacts. It intends to provide drinking water, industrial supply, and power generation.
3 held for teens abduction, gang rape in Puri
Govt announces property conversion fee guidelines
1cr health cards distributed in 2 months
Workshop on AI solutions to manage water resources
Monsoon to advance further in three days: IMD
2 killed as car & moped collide in Jharsuguda
Over 1.17L students clear entrance test for BEd, BHEd, MEd seats
Odia Film Ananta Hits Screens Across Odisha, Stirring Hearts With A Tale Of Sacrifice
The films evocative soundtrack, composed by Abhijit Majumdar, and visually rich cinematography by Huetsang Mahapatra, further elevate the storytelling, adding depth to its emotional landscape.
Boy drowns in water tank in Ganjam dist
6 arrested for illegal cough syrup sale, bike thefts
Iranian news outlet close to govt says 2 explosions heard near Fordo nuclear site
Dubai: An Iranian news outlet close to the government reported Friday that two explosions were heard near the Fordo nuclear enrichment site, which is buried deep underground. Nour News, which is close to Irans Supreme National Security Council, reported on its Telegram channel that two explosions were heard from the area near the Fordo site. []
