BERHAMPUR: Emu, the flightless bird from Australia, is gradually changing the trend of poultry farming in south Odisha. Considered to be the second largest bird in the world after ostrich, though these amazing birds weigh 50 kg and run at 40 miles per hour, emus are far from being intimidating. This is the prime reason why emus are proving to be a boon to farmers in the State.

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government had to lose Central assistance of ` 190.72 crore during 2005 to 2011 because of low spending of available scheme funds by the implementing agencies. According to the latest CAG report, scrutiny of records of seven district rural development agencies (DRDAs), Balasore, Cuttack, Ganjam, Gajapati, Nuapada, Sundargarh and Puri and information collected from panchayatiraj department revealed that the Centre curtailed assistance of ` 168 crore under the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) scheme.

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government is keen on including iodised salt in the public distribution system (PDS) in order to ensure access by the lowest rung of the society and tackle the high prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) in the population, said Health Secretary Anu Garg .
The proposed project would commit itself to universalisation of salt iodisation and is proposed to be carried forward through multi-sectoral engagement.

BHUBANESWAR: The BJP Krushak Morcha on Tuesday sought the intervention of Governor MC Bhandare for inclusion of nine more districts in the list of drought-hit.
A delegation led by State Krushak Morcha president Maheswar Sahu called on the Governor and submitted a 11-point charter of demands. The leaders told the Governor that the assessment of crop situation by the Government was faulty.

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has proposed linking the river Rushikulya with the Bansadhara through the Nandini Canal Project to overcome drinking water problem in the areas of the Ganjam district affected by drought frequently.

Official sources said the State Government is in touch with the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) for preparation of a pre-feasibility report on the project. This is now at a preliminary stage and details can be known only after the report is completed.

A 24-hour state-wide shutdown called by Maoists against "forcible land acquisition" for South Korean steel major Posco's project and other issues hit normal life in southern parts of Orissa Thursday, police said.

"Government buses are not plying in the Maoist-affected districts of Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabrangpur," a police official told IANS.

Farmers in Gajapati District, Orissa have discovered a new way to make money through Emu farming, or

Contaminated water sources and the virtual absence of health care claim dozens of lives in the State, now in the grip of cholera.
COME monsoon and the backward regions of Orissa are in the grip of water-borne diseases. This year too has been no different. According to official figures, 150 people had died of cholera and diarrhoea in the State as on September 15.

Akshaya Kumar Sahoo

The State Board for Wildlife, the high-power body chaired by the chief minister Naveen Patnaik, has not met even once in the last two years
MASSIVE URBANISATION and industrialisation in Orissa is now taking its toll on the wildlife resources.

BHUBANESWAR: The Centre has sanctioned five new road projects worth Rs 465 crore for five districts of the State, worst hit by Left wing extremists and an additional assistance of Rs 179 crore for improvement of 122 km length of roads in Malkangiri district, the hotbed of Maoists.