The Orissa government on Saturday announced the launching of a pilot project under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to provide at least 150 days of work to poor peop

Investments worth Rs 2500 crore are expected to flow to Odisha in the renewable energy sector during the 12th Plan Period (2012-17). The state has targeted capacity augmentation of 350 MW from solar, wind and bio-mass sources during this period.

“By 2017, we expect to have new capacities in solar energy (150 MW), wind energy (100 MW) and bio-mass generation (100 MW). The state regulator has fixed Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) according to which state utilities have to buy or generate at least five per cent green power”, said D N Gupta, secretary (science & technology).

State yet to decide on Kalinganagar or Bolangir to locate the complex

The Union ministry of commerce and industry has urged the Odisha government to identify suitable land with appropriate power, road and transport linkages for establishment of a National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ). Though the state government has identified the Kalinga Nagar industrial cluster in Jajpur district and Bolangir in the economically backward KBK (Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput) region as probable locations for development of NIMZ, it is yet to zero in on any location for the zone.

The public hearing for environment clearance for the proposed 1,320 MW power plant of Sahara India Power Corporation Ltd, was conducted successfully by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) near Titlagarh in Bolangir district recently.

Over 300 locals from nearby villages attended the public hearing. The additional district magistrate, government officials, officials of SPCB, local leaders, company officials and representatives of all villages were present during the hearing.

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Monday stepped up air-dropping of food packets as flood situation continued to be grim with Mahanadi river flowing above the danger mark in delta region, affec

BHUBANESWAR: Exhibiting dry paddy saplings in the Assembly, Opposition Congress and BJP members on Thursday demanded declaration of drought in the State without waiting for eye estimation report on

Bolangir district in Orissa, facing drought conditions since 1965, sees an annual mass migration of farmers to other States in search of work.

SURESH GOHIR of Bhotapada village in the backward Bolangir district of Orissa consumed pesticide two years ago after his paddy crop failed. He survived the suicide attempt but found life doubly difficult as debt had mounted.

Dilip Bisoi
Bhubaneswar,

THE GOVT MAY THINK OF LINKING SASUBAHUMALI MINES WITH THE VEDANTA PROJECT.
SASUBAHUMALI IS ALSO EMBROILED IN LITIGATION
With the Niyamgiri mines out of reach, the Orissa government may think of allotting an alternative bauxite mines to Vedanta Resources in order to save at leastthe1-million-tonnerefinery at Lanjigarh.