In a major success, the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) management relocated 32 families from two settlements located in the core critical area of the tiger habitat.

Outbreak of epidemic is looming large following floods in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts. While two persons have died of diarrhoea in Morada, several others have been hospitalised.

To take up relief and restoration works in the affected areas of Odisha.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has sought an advance of Rs 1,000 crore from the government of India to take up relief and restoration works in the affected areas of Odisha.

The State Government has set a target to improve 2,158 km of State Highways to two-lane standards during the 12th Plan period.

Dengue has begun to spread its tentacles to more parts of the State with at least 77 positive cases reported from several districts.

Keonjhar: After Similipal sanctuary in Mayurbhanj district, poachers now seem to be making inroads into the Hadagarh sanctuary. The fact came to light after wildlife division forest officials seized the carcass of three elephants, allegedly killed by tusk smugglers from Hadagarh wildlife sanctuary near Chakratirtha biodiversity area.

The forest department seized the carcass after interrogating five persons for their alleged involvement in the smuggling of tuskers. The department has seized about 12 kg tusks worth about Rs nine lakh from a house in Purunia village under Hadagarh forest range area on April 22.

The authorities of the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) have started the process to undertake an annual sign survey of wild animals in the national park in Mayurbhanj district from Monday.

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.

Despite concern over the end use of both ground and river water for industrial purposes, the use of ground water for drinking, irrigation and industries in Odisha is 26.14 per cent.

Despite Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s pro-tribal image, over 200 tribal families displaced in 1998 to pave way for construction of Golden Quadrilateral National Highway are left in the lurch.