Page 2 - Odisha

Odisha spent Rs 261.76 cr to build Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium: Sports Min

The Odisha government has spent Rs 261.76 crore for the construction of the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, Sports Minister T K Behera informed the assembly on Thursday. He was replying to a written question from BJP legislator Subash Panigrahi. Behera said that while Rs 124.94 crore was spent from the state budget, the remaining Rs 136.82 crore was from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund. There was no funding from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, he said, adding the stadium was built by state PSU Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation in 15 months. It has a seating capacity for 20,011 people, he said, adding that apart from the Men's Hockey World Cup in January, Hockey Pro League was also held in the stadium from March 10-15.

Another suspected spy pigeon caught in Odisha's Puri district, says police

A suspected spy pigeon was found in Odisha's Puri district, police said on Thursday. This is the second incident in the state in a week as another such pigeon was caught from a fishing boat off the Paradip coast in Jagatsinghpur district on March 8, they said. This new pigeon was caught on Wednesday at Nanpur village in Astarang block of Puri district. A local nabbed it when it came for mingling with the other pigeons, police said. It had tags attached to its legs with brass and plastic rings. One of the tags had 'REDDY VSP DN' engraved, while another bore the number 31 on it, they said. Villagers claimed the pigeon was in the area for a week. "We have pet pigeons at our house. This pigeon came to mingle with our doves, and we found something peculiar about it. It remained aloof and did not freely mix with the other pigeons. We also noticed some tags on its legs. So we decided to catch it, and used a fishing net for the purpose," said Bikram Pati, who caught the pigeon. Police sa

59 H3N2 Influenza cases detected in Odisha in 2 months: State Health dept

Director Dr Sanghamitra Pati, Regional Medical Research Center (RMRC) Bhubaneswar, said that "Symptoms are similar to the seasonal flu viruses including fever and cough etc"

Over 300,000 Olive Ridley turtles reach Gahirmatha beach for mass nesting

More than three lakhs Olive Ridley turtles have so far reached Gahirmatha beach, the world's largest rookery of the marine reptile species, in Odisha's Kendrapara district to lay eggs this time, an official said on Saturday. Mass nesting of the turtles started on Thursday night on Nasi-II beach of Gahirmatha, he said. "According to our counting, 2,14,058 turtles laid eggs on Thursday and 88,605 more arrived for mass nesting in the next day. Over 3 lakh turtles have turned up on Gahirmatha beach since March 9," the official said. Last year, more than five lakh Olive Ridley turtles had arrived at Gahirmatha to lay eggs. "This year's count is likely to cross that of the previous season," Gahirmatha forest range officer Bichitranda Behera said. The Rushikulya coast, another mass nesting site of the marine reptile, in Ganjam district, witnessed a record number of over 6.37 lakh Olive Ridley sea turtles arriving there for mass nesting in eight days from February 23 this year. "We are .

59 H3N2 influenza cases detected in Odisha in past 2 months: Officials

Of the 225 samples collected in January and February in Odisha, 59 were found positive for H3N2 influenza in the state, officials said on Saturday. H3N2 is a non-human influenza virus that normally circulates in pigs and has infected humans, according to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. "Out of the 225 samples collected in the month of January and February in Odisha, a total of 59 H3N2 influenza cases were found in the state," Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar Director Sanghamitra Pati told PTI. Symptoms are similar to those of seasonal flu viruses and can include fever and cough, she said. Currently, there is "no definitive treatment available" for the virus and hence, people should "strictly follow the Covid guidelines to keep H3N2 at bay," Odisha Public Health Director Niranjan Mishra told reporters here. There is need for increased monitoring and precautionary measures to ward off H3N2 but no cause for panic yet, say experts as India confirms its f

Odisha CM receives Guinness Book of Records for Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium

Patnaik received the certificate during the ongoing FIH Pro League tournament at the stadium in Rourkela

Puri shopping complex fire under control, over 140 people rescued

The devastating blaze that broke out at a market complex near the Shree Jagannath Temple here was brought under control in a 24-hour-long fire-fighting operation on Thursday, while about 140 people were rescued, official sources said. The fire gutted almost all the 43 shops, a bank and a hotel that the Laxmi Market Complex consisted of. However, there was no casualty. The fire is now under control though smoke was billowing from certain parts of the market complex, said DG, Fire Service, S K Upadhyaya, who visited the site earlier in the day. Three fire department personnel and three tourists were hospitalised due to exposure to flame and smoke, an officer said. It was a tough job for the firefighters as there was only one exit and entry point to the three-storied building. Garments, toys and leather products kept in shops functioned as fuel to the fire and that took a long time to douse the blaze, the officer said. Besides 12 fire tenders, 90 fire service personnel, local police

The case of spy pigeons as Odisha Police seizes one off Paradip coast

There were devices fitted on pigeon's leg and coded messages were scribbled on its wings, reports say

Suspected spy pigeon with devices fitted on leg caught in Odisha

A pigeon fitted with devices, which appear to be a camera and a microchip, was caught from a fishing boat off the Paradip coast of Odisha's Jagatsinghpur district, with the police suspecting that the bird was being used for spying. Some fishermen found the pigeon perched on their trawler a few days ago. The bird was captured and handed over to the marine police here on Wednesday. "Our veterinarians will examine the bird. We will seek help of the State Forensic Science Laboratory for examining the devices attached to its legs. It appears that the devices are a camera and a microchip," Jagatsinghpur Superintendent of Police Rahul PR told PTI. It also seems like something has been scribbled on the wings of the bird in a language unknown to the local police. "Experts' help will also be sought to find out what is written," the SP said. Pitambar Behera, an employee of the fishing trawler 'Sarathi', said he saw the pigeon perched on the boat. "Suddenly I noticed that some instruments we

Major fire breaks out at Puri shopping complex, over 100 people rescued

A major fire broke out at a shopping complex in Odisha's Puri on Wednesday night, police said. The blaze was first spotted at a garments shop on the first floor of Laxmi Market Complex in Marichikot Chhak on Grand Road around 9 pm, they said. Some of the 40 shops at the shopping complex were gutted in the inferno, they said, adding that five fire tenders were working to douse the blaze. Three people, who were stuck on the roof of the building, were rescued in an unconscious state by the firefighters and rushed to the district hospital, police said. The building, which is located close to the centuries-old Jagannath temple, also houses a hotel on one of its floors. Around 106 tourists from Nashik in Maharashtra were safely rescued from the hotel. Deputy fire officer Pradeep Kumar Rout said 90 per cent of the fire was brought under control by 10.30 pm. The building in the busy neighbourhood also houses a bank on one of its floors. "We are still unable to ascertain how the fire sta

Car rally with unique themes organized ahead of International Women's Day

'Seva Prayas Foundation' here on Sunday organized a 'Women's Car's Rally' in Odisha's capital city ahead of International Women's Day

Odisha CM inaugurates economic corridor on Biju Patnaik's birth anniversary

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday inaugurated the Biju Expressway and the Biju Economic Corridor during his visit to the western districts of the state, besides attending a slew of programmes in the region. Patnaik also held road shows in Kalahandi and Bargarh districts, the two BJP strongholds. The CM's show in the saffron corridor sparked strong reactions from BJP leaders who termed the the visit to as a "political gimmick" ahead of the 2024 elections to Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly. The saffron party leaders claimed that the the state government, despite building the expressway "with allocations made under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund", did not invite any central leaders for the event. Marking 107th birth anniversary of his father and legendary leader Biju Patnaik, the CM, during his visit to Nuapada district, inaugurated the 174.5-km-long four-lane Biju Expressway -- connecting Ghatipada with Ampani built at a cost of Rs 590.84-crore. At Bargarh, he

Odisha CM unveils Biju Patnaik's iconic Dakota aircraft for public display

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday unveiled former CM Biju Patnaik's iconic "Dakota" DC3 (AT-AUI) aircraft for public display at Biju Patnaik International Airport Bhubaneswar

Odisha approves 25 projects worth Rs 5,800 cr in various sectors

The Odisha government on Saturday approved 25 projects with a cumulative investment of Rs 5,827.27 crore which would generate employment for over 25,000 people, an official said. The Odisha government's nod to the projects under different sectors was accorded at the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) meeting chaired by Chief Secretary PK Jena. The meeting also recommended three large projects with an investment value of around Rs 28,000 crore and employment opportunities for around 19,000 people, to the High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA). Out of the multiple investment intents garnered during the Make In Odisha Conclave 2022, 16 projects were put up for approval in Saturday's meeting, the official said. The approved projects are set to be set up in districts like Khurdha, Cuttack, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Sundergarh and Bhadrak. The SLSWCA approved three projects in the plastic sector, which reflect a total investment of Rs 392.10 crore, at Malipad

Mild earthquake of 3.8 magnitude jolts Odisha's Koraput district: NCS

A mild earthquake of 3.8 magnitude on the Richter Scale occurred in Odisha's Koraput district on Friday morning, according to the National Centre for Seismology. The earthquake took place at 5.05 am at a depth of 5 km. The epicentre was 129 km east of Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh, it said. However, there was no report of any casualty or damage to properties. According to the Koraput district administration, tremors were felt in Narayanpatna, Laxmipur and Bandhugaon areas and people came out of their houses in panic.

Odisha records 65% rise in criminal cases in last five years: Data

Criminal cases in Odisha have risen by more than 65 per cent in a span of five years from 2018 to 2022, the state assembly was informed on Monday. While 1,07,408 criminal cases were registered in 2018, the figure was 1,78,190 in 2022, Minister of State for Home TK Behera said while replying to a question from BJP member Kusum Tete. The minister said that while the number of cases in 2019 was 1,21,525, it increased to 1,34,230 in 2020 and 1,55,420 in 2021. Of the total number of cases in 2022, he said, 1379 were related to murder, 626 dacoity, 2998 robbery, 5467 burglary, 14893 theft, 5352 swindling, 2248 rioting, 3184 rape, 11663 vehicle accident and 1,30,380 miscellaneous. Among these 5 years, the maximum of 1,470 murder cases were filed in 2020 while the maximum of 3,327 rape cases were recorded in 2021. Of the 1,07,408 cases registered in 2018, the numbers of murder, dacoity, robbery, burglary, theft, swindling, rioting, rape, and motor vehicle accident cases were 1378, 558, 21

7 people from West Bengal killed in road mishap in Odisha's Jajpur

At least seven people from West-Bengal were killed when the mini-truck in which they were travelling hit a stationary truck in Odisha's Jajpur district on Saturday, police said. Vinit Agrawal Superintendent of Police Jajpur told PTI that six persons died on the spot, while one succumbed enroute to SCB Medical College and hospital. "We have intimated the family members of the deceased, and they are on the way to Jajpur.," the SP said, adding that the exact cause behind the mishap is being verified. All the deceased persons were from West Bengal. The fire services personnel reached the spot and recovered the bodies, said Jajpur Collector Chakravarty Singh Rathore to PTI. A mini truck from Kolkata to Bhubaneswar to collect poultry items crashed into the stationary truck at Neulpur area on the NH-16 due to fog in the early hours of Saturday, said Dharmashala Police station Inspector-In-Charge Rakesh Tripathi. The bodies were sent to the Barchana Community Health Centre in Jajpur distr

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Odisha receiving numerous proposals, govt focused on job creation: Patnaik

Noting that "transparency in governance" has created the right ecosystem for investors in Odisha, with the state receiving numerous proposals for setting up of manufacturing and service industries, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday said his government was working sincerely to develop all segments. Patnaik, during a discussion in the Assembly, also said that Odisha has the potential to emerge as a leading state in many sectors. "Our prudent fiscal management has enabled Odisha to be a revenue surplus state. In the coming years, I am confident that Odisha will be making rapid and transformative progress which will result in socio-economic empowerment and development across all segments. "The transparent, sensitive and stable governance provided by us has created the right ecosystem for the investors, with the state receiving numerous proposals for setting up of manufacturing and service industries in Odisha," the CM underlined. He said the new Industrial Policy Resolution-202

Government working towards development in all sectors: CM Naveen Patnaik

To attract investors, he said, the state government has brought a new Industrial Policy Resolution-2022 for the next 5 years, which will transform Odisha into the industrial hub of eastern India