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.

Delay in getting physical possession of land and environment and forest clearances has put Darlipalli Super Thermal Power Plant in Sundargarh and Gajmara Power Project in Dhenkanal district of the

BHUBANESWAR: It was left to voluntary organization Barefoot to emerge the lone saving grace for the state by winning an award at the National Tourism Awards ceremony in New Delhi on Monday in the category of best responsible tourism initiative for implementing Green Rider Rickshaw project in Puri.

While the state government drew a blank at the meet as two of its nominations did not impress the jury, Barefoot volunteers were ecstatic at winning the award. "It is an honour to receive the prestigious award from the President of India. Our community-based initiative and hard work won us the award," said Barefoot founder Yugabrat Kar.

BHUBANESWAR: The state government has asked the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) to finalize special regulations for installation of telecom towers in Bhubaneswar and other urban areas in the state within 15 days.

State housing and urban development (H&UD) secretary Injeti Srinivas, while reviewing the progress of the proposed regulation on February 28, has asked the BDA to expedite the finalization so that it can be sent to the H&UD for vetting and subsequent approval.

BHUBANESWAR: Mamata Das (name changed) of the nondescript Dhinkia village in Odisha has perhaps never met any of the members of Meera Paibi, the all-women group fighting state atrocities and human

Sambalpur: Farmers are up with arms against the proposed Sankha Bhanguni minor irrigation project to be constructed near Sodhamal in Sambalpur'sJamenkira block.

BHUBANESWAR: In what seems to be a desperate move to stall the ongoing land acquisition move by the government, anti-Posco group on Wednesday threatened to organize a nude protest, even as South Ko

KORAPUT: Traffic was hit for nearly five hours on the road leading to Nalco mining area at Damanjodi following a road blockade staged by villagers at Mathalput demanding supply of drinking water by the company on Wednesday. No Nalco employee was able to enter the mining area during the agitation.

The agitating villagers alleged that they used to get water from pipes laid by Nalco in Mathalput but all of a sudden Nalco authorities blocked the pipelines on Tuesday. "The Nalco authorities have deliberately blocked the pipeline. We demand immediate restoration of drinking water supply to Mathalput," said Suresh Saunta, president of Panchpatmali Peripheral Progressive Union (PMPPU).

The inordinate delay in the integrated sanitation improvement project work may prove costly for the city.

DHINKIA: A large number of anti-Posco villagers, including women and children, defied the prohibitory order of the administration on Tuesday and organized a protest meeting at Patana haat under Dhinkia gram panchayat after the cremation of three bomb blast victims.

The bodies of Narahari Sahoo, Tarun Mandal and Manas Jena killed in a bomb blast on Saturday, were cremated in Patana village in the presence of family members, anti-Posco villagers and leaders of several opposition parties.