Amid raging controversy whether to release or to house the wild tiger that strayed into Nandankanan zoo on April 30, a technical committee is likely to seal the fate of the tiger on Wednesday after a detailed discussion.

The committee comprises chief wildlife warden, zoo officials, a member nominated by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), veterinarians, sarpanch of the area and the villagers living in the sanctuary adjoining area.

The city is all set to wear a greener look with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation indentifying at least six medians on major roads for a massive plantation drive.

The state government has decided to rope in Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) University, Ahmedabad, to prepare a fresh detailed project report (DPR) of Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) project in the capital aimed at improving the public transport system.

The CEPT will be the second agency to prepare DPR for the project. Earlier the DPR was prepared by RITES, a Central government enterprise under Railways. But the state government disengaged RITES after the French financial institution Agence Francaise de Development (AFD), which will fund the project, sought a revised DPR. The government announced the BRTS project in 2010, which is a dedicated bus corridor like railways.

BHUBANESWAR: At least 30 industries in Jharsuguda-Sambalpur belt have been directed to launch a massive plantation drive before the onset of monsoon this year.

The direction came after a review meeting on Friday in Sambalpur, attended by forest and environment secretary, representatives of industries, forest officials and officials of Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB). "The industries have been asked to undertake plantation work to make the industrial belt environment-friendly. It is part of their corporate social responsibility," said OSPCB member secretary L K Tewari.

BHUBANESWAR: Rivers of Odisha are far more polluted than what is projected by the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB), pointed out experts at a seminar here on Wednesday.

BHUBANESWAR: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday installed a solar streetlight on an experimental basis as part of Centre-sponsored solar city project.

The solar lights, which will be installed in the stretch between Delta and OUAT square, would cost about Rs 1.14 crore. The Union ministry of new and renewable energy ( MNRE) will bear 30% of the project cost, said sources.

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has served fresh notice to 23 industries, who failed to install a device for online monitoring of pollution. They have been asked to install the device by the end of February.

Earlier, the OSPCB had given November 30 deadline to install the device to 29 big industries, out of which only six industries complied. The board had introduced the online monitoring system in September to keep track of hazardous emission by high polluting industries in the state.

The increasing war for space and food between man and animal has come into focus in around 20 villages under Loisingha block. While summer and water scarcity are causing untold miseries on the villagers, the fear of elephants has added to their woes.