BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has requested the Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) to grant interim coal linkage to the Orissa Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) which is in the process of adding capacity to the existing thermal power station at Banharpalii in Jharsuguda district.
The State-run OPGC having two units of 210-MW capacity thermal power plant each is putting up two more units of 660-MW capacity (super critical) each at the same location to cater to the power requirement of the State.

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Saturday gave a proposal to Coal India Limited subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) for setting up a coal washery and a coal reject-based power plant. The proposal came against the backdrop of the Government facing problems in getting good quality thermal-grade coal for its power plant at Banharpali in Jharsuguda district.

Chief Minister meets Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in New Delhi The Odisha government on Wednesday urged the Centre to take effective measures to realise the unsaturated agricultural potential of the State and to make the second green revolution a success in the eastern region of the country.

The demands of the State with regard to agriculture were taken up before Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in New Delhi.

Bhubaneswar: In a move to ensure inclusive growth of minerals-bearing areas of Odisha including livelihood programmes, experts have suggested floating of a micro-enterprise fund with Rs 200 crore to the state government. This fund would be utilised to ensure the tribal population’s access to credit and grants for setting new businesses as part of their alternative livelihood options.

BHUBANESWAR: With the dust of panchayat polls slowly settling down, the Government on Thursday announced the much-awaited drought relief for the affected. According to Revenue and Disaster Management Minister SN Patro, 13,032 villages of 133 blocks and 156 wards of 34 urban local bodies in 19 districts are drought-hit. Seven districts __ Balangir, Ganjam, Jharsuguda, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nayagarh (only one in coastal belt) and Rayagada __ are fully affected.

SAMBALPUR: The trouble seems far from over. Drought, untimely rain, flood and now hailstorm, the vegetable growers of western Odisha cannot but blame their fate. For the last three days, the region has been experiencing rain with reports of hailstorm being received from Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh besides Sambalpur.

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday clarified that there is no question of waiver of water tax to any industrial establishments, which have drawn water illegally for their consumption from the water sources in the state. Briefing newsmen here, water resources secretary Suresh Mohaptra rejected the allegation that a process has been initiated to waive dues towards water cess from any company, particularly Vedanta Alumina in Jharsuguda.

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government declared 17 of the 30 districts as drought-affected on Thursday. The announcement comes a day after Opposition Congress and BJP slammed the BJD Government for the alleged delay in providing assistance to the affected farmers.

The decision was taken after receiving reports on possible crop loss of 50 per cent or more in 12,046 villages under 113 blocks and 100 wards under 25 urban local bodies in the 17 districts, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister SN Patro informed the Assembly.

JHARSUGUDA: The ash slurry pipe of Orissa Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) Limited at Banharpali in the district breached and ash spilled in the Hirakud dam reservoir on Wednesday night. OPGC transports its ash through pipes to the ash pond from its thermal power plant. The pipe is supported by an iron structure which passes through the reservoir.

Bhubaneswar: A fresh spell of floods in river Baitarani inundated 12 gram panchayats in Bhadrak and Keonjhar districts, as waters receded in the Mahanadi delta, with the death toll on Friday climbing to 32 besides 12 others missing, official sources said.

With situation improving in the Mahanadi delta and most villages are again accessible by road or waterways, the state government suspended air-dropping of food after five days.