The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, approved 10 proposals submitted by different departments.

In a bid to give a major boost to industrial development, the Cabinet approved construction of a utility corridor between Gopalpur Port and Tata Steel Industrial Park at Gopalpur in Ganjam district. The Rs 128.88-crore project to be executed through IDCO will cater to the demand of existing and upcoming industries in Gopalpur Industrial Park.

The Cabinet also approved a special incentive package for Welspun Group’s projects at Choudwar in Cuttack district and Nilgungri in Sambalpur. These projects with a combined investment of Rs 6,600 crore will create job opportunities for more than 20,000 people, revitalise textile industry, and foster sustainable industrial growth and skill development.

Welspun Group has proposed to set up an integrated textiles manufacturing unit at Choudwar, a plastics product manufacturing unit and DI pipe making unit at Nildungri.

Other Cabinet decisions include amendments to Odisha MSME Development Policy 2022. It will help the MSMEs, which have received financial incentive from the Central government, avail the higher incentives offered in the state policy.

The amendment adds provision of reimbursement of stamp duty and land conversion premium for entrepreneurs. With this, MSMEs will be able to pay the duty and land conversion premium upfront to expedite their project execution and seek reimbursement later. The Cabinet has also enhanced timeline for condonation of delay and facilitated large investment in packaged drinking water.

In transport sector, decision was taken on one-time waiver/concession in arrear of MV tax and penalty. The tax and penalty will be exempted fully for those owners who will want to scrap and de-register their vehicles.

Similarly, the penalty will be exempted along with some portion of the tax as per the age of the vehicle for those owners who would want to carry on their transport business by depositing the tax at a concessional rate.

The Cabinet also approved the proposal for amendment of the Odisha Government Land Settlement Rules, 1983 and take-over of the Secondary Board High School, Cuttack by the government with effect from January 1, 2024.