BHUBANESWAR: Under the microscope for allegedly engaging in illegalities, several mine owners on Wednesday raised objections before the Justice M B Shah Commission to the manner in which boundaries of mines were determined using satellite images.

Various miners, represented by prominent lawyers, strongly pleaded before the inquiry commission for a fresh physical verification of the boundaries of different mines.

BHUBANESWAR: Countering the allegation of food supplies and consumer welfare minister Pratap Keshari Deb that a recent central government survey on hunger was 'politically motivated', Union statist

BHUBANESWAR: To meet the growing demand for energy in the state, the Odisha government is planning to set up 12 new medium and major hydro power projects, which can generate 2,000 MW of electricity. Besides, survey work for 600 MW pumped storage project at Upper Indravati has also started.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik announced this here on Thursday while inaugurating the global seminar on 'Hydro Power and Sustainable Development' being held under the joint aegis of Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC), Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP), New Delhi, and IIT, Roorkee. He said, "We are trying to have a positive mix of hydro and thermal power sources with more emphasis on the former."

Angul: Three summers have passed and another is round the corner since its foundation was laid, but the Rs 12-crore project at Derjang in Angul block to provide drinking water to the town has remai

BHUBANESWAR: A mild earthquake measuring 2.9 on the Richter scale was recorded in Odisha Wednesday, an official said. There was no damage to property or any loss of life.

The earthquake occurred at 10.45 a.m. with its epicentre at latitude 20.7 degree north and longitude 85.1 degree east in Angul district of the state, the meteorological centre here said in a statement.

KEONJHAR: The government and mining companies were feared to face a loss of over Rs 250 crore on the first day of the nationwide bandh in the district as mineral transportation by rail and road came to a halt on Wednesday.

"There was no mining activity here today and the loss is tremendous," said deputy director of mines Ballav Ch Nayak. While no trains plied in the district, supporters and leaders of various trade unions blocked National Highway-215 (Rajamunda-Panikoili) and NH-6 (Mumbai-Kolkata) at different places, affecting transportation of minerals.

ANGUL: The agitation by Jibana, Jibika Krushi Surakshya Committee (JJKSC) at Baradamalia village in Kishore Nagar block of the district, opposing setting up of a power plant, has entered its 11th month.

The state government had issued notification to the people for the acquisition of the land for the proposed 1980 MW power plant by J R Power Jain Company two years ago.

BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Monday announced 314 villages of four districts, Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj and Nuapada, as drought-hit for poor rainfall during rainy season in 2012 leading to 50% crop loss.

Revenue minister S N Patro told the assembly that the declaration was made based on the crop-cutting experiment report received from collectors of these districts. He said the affected farmers of the areas would be eligible to get compensation as per the relief code.

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.

KENDRAPADA: More than 250 international human rights organizations, comprising social workers, scientists, legal luminary activists, academics among others, have strongly criticized the Odisha government for using forces to acquire fertile lands and betel vines in the proposed Posco site in Jagatsinghpur district. They also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday, urging him to stop land acquisition works in these areas.

In the letter, they also condemned the use of force against protesters, including women and children. They stated in their letter that the most recent wave of police violence between February 3 and 6 in Gobindapur village saw the men in uniform use the same pattern of abuse, threats, and intimidation by the government to forcibly acquire land for Posco's steel processing plant.