“Since the summer season is fast approaching, I would request you to take immediate steps to put in place all preparedness and precautionary measures at different levels in your district to meet the possible heat wave situation,” wrote SRC, Satyabrata Sahu.

SRC has directed the district Collectors to take all these salient measures as given below…

Public awareness is the key to check heat wave related illness and casualties. Hence, awareness campaigns may be taken up immediately to make the people aware about the risks associated with heat wave, identifying the risk, “Do’s and Don’ts” to protect the human being and livestock from the said risks and what to do if someone is affected. Civil Society Organizations may be widely involved in awareness campaign. On receipt of heat wave warning messages, besides other modes of communication, local media should be used to keep the public alert.

Water scarcity is often associated with heat wave situation which needs special attention. The District Administration is required to take advance steps to identify the water scarcity pockets (village/ hamlet/ ward wise) and prepare action plan for ensuring supply of water for drinking and other uses through tanker to those areas. Reports of water scarcity are to be responded to immediately.

Preventive maintenance of tube wells and piped water supply systems should start immediately, if not already taken up. Necessary arrangements may be put in place for attending to the complaints on functioning of tube wells and piped water supply systems.

Water Resources Department will take steps to release water through canals from reservoirs depending on requirement.

“Paniya Jala Seva Kendras” (Drinking Water Kiosks) are required to be opened by Urban Local Bodies/ Gram Panchayats at market places, bus stands and other congregation points. Water provided in such water kiosks must be of portable quality and proper sanitation maintained including use of long handle dispensers and change of water daily. Sincere and willing Civil Society Organisations may be associated for this task. Agencies doing such work only for self publicity and discontinuing the same after initial days should be avoided and dealt with strongly.

The Urban shelters, community buildings and other public buildings in rural and urban areas may be used as day time shelters for homeless/ needy people for their rest during day time. Separate arrangements for men and women may be made as far as possible. Safe drinking water and ORS sachets for the people may be arranged in the shelters. Panchayatiraj & DW Department and Housing & UD Department may issue detailed instructions in this regard.

Construction/ repair of shallow vats may also be ensured for roaming livestock. F & ARD Department may take up suitable IEC measures on care of animals during summer to prevent them from heat wave.

In Schools, Colleges and other Academic/ Technical institutions, extra care has to be taken to ensure availability of drinking water. Wherever required, tube wells inside the school campus may be repaired to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply. Sufficient ORS are also to be kept in Schools, Colleges and provided to students/ staff requiring the same. Outdoor activities have to be restricted so as the students not to be exposed to heat wave condition.

Most importantly, all the parents should be sensitized to ensure that their children carry a water bottle while going to school/ college. This should be sufficiently publicized to create awareness among the parents.

Schools may also be advised to allocate some time during school hours to give heat wave precautionary tips to the students.

S & ME/ HE/ Skill Dev. & Tech. Education Department may issue detailed instructions on the above points.

Anganwadi Centres may remain open in morning hours only. Availability of portable water in all AWCs must be checked and ensured. Sufficient ORS packets should also be available with ASHA and AWWs.

Sufficient lifesaving medicines, saline, ORS may be stored in dispensaries, PHCs, CHCs and Subdivision/ District Headquarters Hospitals to meet the requirement. Special arrangement may be made and separate wards/ beds be earmarked for treatment of heat stroke patients in different hospitals. The ESI Dispensaries may be directed to treat the general public.

All public transport vehicles must carry sufficient portable water and ORS packets to be provided to passengers/ staff requiring the same. During severe heat wave condition, timings of non-air-conditioned public transport services may have to be rescheduled avoiding their plying during peak hours of heat wave. However, while doing so, inconvenience likely to be caused to long route passengers must be kept in mind. C & T (Transport) Department may issue detailed instructions in this regard.

The timing for engagement of labourers / workmen at worksites may be rescheduled. No work should be executed in peak hours during heat wave period. The employers must make necessary arrangements for supply of drinking water, ORS packets and provision of rest shed at the worksite. Labour & ESI Department may issue detailed instructions in this regard.

The Energy Department will issue instructions to the Distribution Companies to maintain uninterrupted power supply during summer months. In case, load-shedding is absolutely necessary in some areas, the schedule must be announced for information of consumers sufficiently in advance.

Awareness raising measures may be taken up on the concept of cool roof technology i.e. white painting of roofs to reduce the indoor atmospheric temperature.

The control rooms at the State level and the District level shall function round the clock during the period of heat wave. The heat wave warnings issued by IMD should be tracked on regular basis and if necessary, Control Room of IMD/ State EOC may be contacted for such information.

Members of Panchayati Raj Institutions in the district may be sensitized and impressed upon to monitor the heat wave mitigation measures in their areas and observance of heat wave safety protocols by the people.

The Collector may depute Senior Officers to verify and ensure necessary arrangements in Medical Institutions, Schools, Colleges, Anganwadi Centres etc.

All efforts should be made to see that no human casualty occurs due to heat wave. However, if any information on casualty is received or news report published in media, it should be immediately enquired into and the veracity of such reports should be promptly reported to this office.

Where reports regarding death of a person due to sunstroke either at work place or any other area is received, the Collector should arrange to conduct immediate joint enquiry of the case by the local Revenue Officer like Tahsildar or Additional Tahsildar (in rural areas) or any other Revenue Officer in Urban areas (authorized by concerned Sub-Collector) and the local Medical Officer (to be nominated by the CDMO/ SDMO). The joint enquiry report with countersignature of Collector should reach this office within 48 hours of the reported death.

Where, upon enquiry, the death is confirmed to have occurred due to sunstroke, immediate steps shall be taken to process the case in DAMPS for sanction and payment of ex-gratia to the bereaved family.

Meeting of the District Level Committee on Natural Calamities/ District Disaster Management Authority may be convened to review the preparedness of the District Administration to manage the contingency of Heat Wave and necessary further measures be taken as per advice/ direction of the committee/ authority.

The MoU was signed at the TPSODL’s corporate office in the presence of its CEO Amit Kumar Garg and Principal of Gopabandhu Industrial Training Institute, Ambaguda, Jeypore Rajib Lochan Dash on Thursday. The MoU aims at creating a linkage between academic and industry learning for ITI students, enhancing their skills and making them industry-ready.

Under this collaboration, training will be provided with a focus on industry-specific skills, incorporating utmost safety measures. The students of the ITI will have access to hands-on training facilities that simulate real-life circumstances, as well as classroom and practical training options.

“Enhancing the skills of the future workforce is the primary motto of this initiative. Collaborations like this will help shape a high-quality professional workforce in future. Our culture of skill development and safety standards will empower them,” said Garg.

This is the 4th ITI in Odisha which has signed the MoU with TPSODL. Earlier, the company signed the agreement with ITIs at Berhampur, Hinjilicut and Rayagada.

The Revenue and Disaster Management department released the list of new appointees on Friday.

Check The List Here:

The policy was approved by the Cabinet at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar. It would create a flourishing ecosystem for biotechnology industry

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena said the police aims at harnessing the potential of biotechnology towards the sustainable socio-economic development and giving boost to the Biotechnology ecosystem in the state.

The Odisha Biotechnology Policy 2024 has been conceptualised with a number of key incentives, he said.

Recognising Biotechnology as a sunrise sector for the state, this policy seeks to attract and bring investors and stakeholders together and empower them to create a flourishing biotechnology ecosystem in the state, he added.

The key objectives of the Odisha Biotechnology Policy 2024 are:

• To promote higher education, research and infrastructure development in the most promising areas of Biotechnology.
• To develop and strengthen supportive and vibrant ecosystem for Innovation, Incubation, Investment, Income, and Impact to build enterprises and industries.
• To realign academic excellence, skilling and capacity building to meet industry requirements.
• To promote product/ process development, commercialization and IP monetization.
• To leverage breakthrough biotechnology innovations/ knowledge for socio-economic development of the state.
• 
  Biotechnology is a thrust sector in IPR-2022. Aligning with IPR-2022, Odisha Biotechnology Policy 2024 provides incentives taking into account the long gestation period and technology intensive activities of the sector.
• 
  Incentives provided under Odisha Biotechnology Policy 2024 include:

1. The policy provides support for development of Biotech parks promoted by state agencies or private sectors.
3. Biotechnology units shall be provided capital investment subsidy on actual investment in plant and machinery.
5. Soft loan assistance will be provided to large & mega Biotechnology units operating in the state for setting up of production units in the key areas of Biotechnology using high end technologies.
7. As Biotechnology sector demands sophisticated technologies which may need to be acquired and upgraded from time to time,, technology acquisition and upgradation subsidy will be provided to eligible biotechnology units.
9. Eligible Biotechnology units will be given the benefit of employment generation Incentive which will be applicable only to employees engaged in biotechnology based technical work.
11. Reimbursement for registration of Patent, GI, Trademark and Design will be applicable to the Biotechnology units operating in the state.
13. Biotechnology units will be given financial assistance for obtaining quality certifications from recognised institutions during the policy period.
15. Eligible Biotechnology Units/ Biotechnology Start Ups will be provided with financial assistance for showcasing their products or technologies in national or international events.

A dedicated Directorate of Biotechnology shall be created for effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation of various functions envisaged in the policy for the development of biotechnology in the state.

The government will constitute an Odisha Biotech Vision Group (OBVG) to act as a think tank and advisory body on diverse policy related issues. The OBVG will be comprised of professionals and experts from academia, research, industry, policy, administration, finance and marketing.

This policy will come into effect from the date as notified in the official Gazette of Government of Odisha. It will remain in force for a period of 5 years or until it is substituted by another policy, whichever is later.

The Cabinet meeting was held in the conference hall of Lok Seva Bhawan under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

After the meeting, Science and Technology Minister Ashok Chandra Panda and Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena told reporters that 14 agenda items related to 12 departments were approved in the Cabinet.

Out of 15 agenda items presented, 14 proposals were approved and one remained for further discussion, they said.

In a major decision that promises to significantly boost the industrial and economic landscape of the state, the Cabinet approved a special incentive package for the JSW group’s ambitious Electric Vehicle and component manufacturing projects at Naraj in Cuttack and Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district, they said.

These projects, with a combined investment of over Rs 40,000 crore and employment potential of over 11,000, are set to usher in a new era of industrial growth and job creation in the state.

The JSW Group has proposed to set up an EV and EV battery manufacturing project at Naraj with capacity of 50 GWH . It will be the world’s largest single location project in the sector. The company is also planning to set up an OEM Plant for EVs and components in teh same facility in two phases. In these two phases, JSW plans to invest Rs 25,000 crore in the state, generating employment for more than 4000 people.

This apart, JSW plans to set up EV components manufacturing complex comprising Copper smelter along with Lithium Smelter in Paradip in third phaseof its footprint in this new age sector. In this phase, the company plans to invest Rs 15,000 crore in the state, generating employment for more than 7000 people.

The outlay has been prepared basing on the funds available with State Authority and the proposals received from implementing divisions. Proposed area for compensatory afforestation in APO 2024-25 is 7174.203 hectare (ha). New plantation under Artificial Regeneration (AR) will be 17197 ha and under Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) 1675.5 ha.

Chairing the review meeting, Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena advised to use drone technology to study forest cover mapping before and after plantation after one year and subsequent years.

PCCF & HOFF Debidatta Biswal outlined the issues and expenditure of APO for 2023-24, fund position of CAMPA, formulation of APO-2024-25 and activities of APO in the meeting.

He said 14 APOs have been formulated and implemented so far. While 15th APO is under implementation, APO 2024-25 is the 16th in the series. The cumulative outlay from APO from 2021 to 2024 was Rs 3230.32 crore of which Rs 3041.17 crore was approved by National Authority (CAMPA). Of the approved outlay, Rs 2397.99 crore has been incurred.

It was also revealed that expenditure under APO 2023-24 as on December 31, 2023 has been Rs 644.53 crore. Major activities that were carried out include compensatory afforestation, integrated wildlife management programme, wildlife management, plantation under NPV, Bamboo regeneration, Forest protection and Forest Fire prevention, Ama Jangal Yojana, Infrastructure Development, Forest IT & Geometrics, Monitoring and evaluation, silvicultural research, production of QPM etc.

Development Commissioner Anu Garg; ACS, Revenue, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department Satyabrat Sahu; Principal Secretary, Finance Vishal Kumar Dev; Principal Secretary, PR & DW Sushil Kumar Lohani; Principal Secretary, RD, I & PR Sanjay Kumar Singh; Principal Secretary, SC & Tech Chithra Arumugam, PCCF (Wildlife) Sushant Nanda and other members of the Committee participated in the discussion.

Reviewing the project during a visit to Puri, Jena said after completion of all works, the project will be handed over the temple administration and the police department will take over the security of the area by January 14.

In order to facilitate the visitors, coming from different parts of the country and outside, to witness the inauguration of the Parikram project on January 17, arrangements will be made on the roof of the buildings on both sides of the Bada Danda (Grand Road).

“The district collector has already written to different mutts and owners of the buildings including Duduwala Dharmasala, Bagedia Dharmasala, State Bank of India, Radhaballav Mutt, Pratihar Nijo office and information centre at Singhadwar (Lions Gate),” he added.

The chief secretary further said the facilities for public convenience including drinking water supply and toilets will be completed in the project area before the inauguration. The entire town will be under security blanket to prevent any untoward incident.

For the vehicles that will come to the Pilgrim Town on the day, he said the new parking place at Samanga will be used.

Jena said Prachar Rath (promotional vehicles) will move in every panchayat in the district from Saturday. The process of collecting rice and betel nuts will also start for use during the rituals on the inauguration day.

Police ADG (Law and Order), Sanjay Kumar, who accompanied Jena, said adequate security measures will be taken for the visitors as well as the VIPs and hassle-free darshan for the devotees on the inauguration day.

Pandian had recently sought voluntary retirement from service and his request has been approved by the Central government. The voluntary retirement of Pandian, a 2000 batch IAS officer, has been approved by the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.

“I am directed to convey the approval of the competent authority for acceptance of voluntary retirement of V Karthikeyan Pandian, IAS (OD-2000) under Rule 16 (2A) of the All India Services Rules, 1958 with the waiver of the notice period as recommended by the State Government,” said a letter from the Under Secretary to Government of India, Bhupinder Pal Singh to the Additional Chief Secretary of Odisha’s General Administration & PG Department.

As Pandian’s move sparked speculations about his possible entry into politics, political observers were of the opinion that by opting for voluntary retirement the much talked-about bureaucrat has sent out a clear signal about his next course of action.

Pandian has been in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) since 2011.

“These OAS officers along with officers transferred vide Notifications/Office order No. (1) 32707 dated 12.09.2023 and (2) 36495 dated 13.10.2023 along with all previous orders of this Department who are yet to be relieved are hereby centrally relieved with effect from 21/10/2023 A.N so as to enable them to join in their new place of posting on or before 25.10.2023 positively keeping in view of the commencement of Special Summary Revision of Photo Electoral Roll with effect from 27.10.2023,” the Revenue and Disaster Management department said in a notification on October 21.

On September 12, the government shifted 295 OAS officer and effected a minor bureaucratic reshuffle and transferred Rural Development department Special Secretary Sudarsan Parida as Secretary of Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) in Bhubaneswar, a day later. Another 14 officers were given new postings on September 27. New postings were assigned to 4 More OAS Officers earlier this month.

This was revealed in the state-level conference on Rabi Campaign 2023-24 held in Bhubaneswar on Friday. The target area includes 14.34 lakh hectare (ha) under pulses, 3.73 lakh ha under oilseeds, 5.39 lakh ha under vegetables, 1.13 lakh ha under condiments and 0.3 lakh ha under sugarcane.

The government has also set the production target of 19.39 lakh ton for foodgrains, 7.53 lakh ton for pulses and 4.18 lakh ton for oilseeds during the season.

The focus areas of Rabi programme will be enhancing irrigation usage, promotion of pulses and oilseeds through rice fallow management and implementation of block specific Agriculture Action Plan in delta command areas.

Addressing the conference, Agriculture Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain said Odisha has become a surplus state in rice production due to innovative schemes of the government. “Crop diversification, integrated farming, rice fallow management, cultivation of cash crops such as pulses and oilseeds and vegetables are being encouraged to cope with climate change and increase farmers’ income,” he added.

Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena emphasised on the practice of climate smart agriculture in view of climate change by diversification of crops with emphasis on pulses, oilseeds and vegetables. Development Commissioner Anu Garg said the government is investing adequate fund in water conservation and irrigation system.

Arabinda Kumar Padhi, principal secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment department; Suresh Kumar Vashishth, principal secretary, Fisheries and ARD department; Premchandra Chaudhary, Director, Agriculture and Food Production and Rohit Kumar Lenka, Director, Horticulture also spoke.