BHUBANESWAR: Energy Minister Surya Narayan Patro on Thursday announced in the Assembly that electrification of all villages and hamlets in the State will be completed by the Eleventh Five- Year Plan.

To a question from Arun Kumar Sahu of BJD, the Minister said 18,017 villages and 48,172 hamlets are without electricity. Out of this, 26 villages were given electricity under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutkaran Yojana (RGGVY).

Besides, 1,629 villages/ hamlets were electrified under the Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana.

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government blamed the Centre for not supplying required quantity of fertilisers even as Congress demanded an impartial inquiry by an Assembly Committee into the artificial scarcity created for blackmarketing it and the failure of the administration to check this.

The issue cropped up in the Assembly on Thursday through an adjournment motion of the Congress.

Alleging that adequate quantity of fertilisers was available with the State Government, deputy Congress leader Narasingh Mishra said the problem arose because of the absence of a supply channel.

RAIRAKHOL: For villagers of Kelakata, Kendukata, Purnagarh, Basakia, Bhaluchuan, Chatuni and Dimrikuda and Rampur gram panchayats, their inclusion into semi-urban Rairakhol NAC has cost them dear.

Earlier, a part of Rairakhol block, today they are at crossroads deprived of their legitimate rights.

As per reports, 1,191 persons of Rairakhol block were BPL card holders. After formation of Rairakhol NAC on March 1, 1999, a fresh survey of BPL families was undertaken by NAC authorities ignoring the existing 1,191 beneficiaries and sent the list to government for approval.

BHUBANESWAR: After industrial boom, Western Orissa is all set to experience another revolution. Aquaculture, which has earlier been the mainstay of the coastal and central districts, is going to transform livelihood options of the poor and marginal sections in the interior pockets.

BHUBANESWAR: There will be one

BHUBANESWAR: The State is seriously lagging behind in the implementation of the rural pipe water supply programme under the Central-sponsored Swajaldhara scheme despite availability of sufficient central assistance.

While the Centre sanctioned 1,475 projects during 2002-06 with a project outlay of Rs 51.73 crore including community contribution of Rs 4.98 crore, 1,203 projects have been completed by June-end.

Hydro power generation of the State has marginally improved with water level in majority reservoirs slowly increasing following low pressure induced torrential rains in the upper catchment areas during the last couple of days.

The live storage capacity of seven reservoirs having hydro power stations is marginally above the minimum draw down level (MDDL) since May. This forced the Orissa Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) to step down power generation.

Gridco has been procuring high cost thermal power from the eastern grid from the last week of May to meet the peak demand of the State.

BHUBANESWAR: The Centre is pursuing the State Government to adopt super critical technology developed by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) for generation of low cost thermal power with lesser impact on environment.

Tamil Nadu has already signed an agreement with BHEL for supply of the new generation technology for putting up a thermal power plant.

Union Heavy Industries Secretary Satyanarayan Das called on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here on monday to discuss the new technology.

BHUBANESWAR: IN yet another populist measure to woo the voters, the State Government on Thursday announced that landless Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste families residing in scheduled and Modified Area Development Approach (MADA) pockets will be given rights over the harvest in cashew plantations of two acres.

A low pressure off South Orissa and North Andhra Pradesh coast triggered heavy rains in the City and over many parts of the State on Sunday.

The system is likely to become more marked and cause widespread rain over South Orissa during the next two to three days. The Met department said heavy to very heavy rains are likely over some parts of Orissa in the next 48 hours.

Under the influence of the system, Balangir got 4 cm rain, highest for the day, while Bhubaneswar received as much. Puri recorded 3 cm rain.