Bhubaneswar residents may soon have to pay ₹5 to use BMC-managed public toilets, as the civic body plans to introduce a user fee to improve cleanliness, maintenance and sanitation services. The proposal follows a directive from the Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department, asking urban local bodies to levy user charges for the operation and…
Bhubaneswar: Experts say your smartphone habits could be shaping your child’s behaviour more than you realise. Here’s what every parent should know. A growing body of psychological research suggests that children’s behaviour is influenced not only by the amount of time they spend on screens but also by how often their parents use smartphones in…
Bhubaneswar: The rapid expansion of cloud kitchens in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack has created new opportunities for food entrepreneurs while also raising concerns over safety, regulation and the commercial use of residential areas. Driven by the growing popularity of app-based food delivery platforms, an increasing number of home-based and commercial cloud kitchens are now operating from…
Bhubaneswar: A breach in an ash pond operated by NTPC Limited at Derang in Kaniha led to ash slurry flowing into nearby villages, agricultural fields, and a playground after heavy rainfall on Thursday night. According to reports, a portion of the ash pond embankment gave way under the impact of continuous rain, allowing ash-laden water…
Bhubaneswar: Ahead of Rath Yatra 2026, the Housing and Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha has prohibited the distribution of cooked food along Bada Danda, permitting only dry and packaged food items to be served to devotees during the festival. The decision has been taken to maintain strict sanitation, hygiene, and public health standards as…
Bhubaneswar: The traditional Kapadaganda textile and Linga wall motifs of the Dongria Kondh from the Niyamgiri Hills have gained widespread recognition for preserving one of Odisha’s oldest living tribal artistic traditions. The recognition of Kapadaganda with a Geographical Indication (GI) Tag has helped showcase this indigenous craft on national and international platforms while strengthening efforts…
Bhubaneswar: Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Odisha has initiated stringent disciplinary action against medical professionals participating in the ongoing statewide health services boycott. In an official directive issued on July 2, 2026, the department ordered authorities to withhold the salaries of striking government medical officers and warned that contractual doctors who continue to…
Bhubaneswar: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to eight food business operators for allegedly using misleading brand names, trade names and product claims that may violate provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and related regulations. The regulator announced the action through its official social media platforms,…
Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards sustainable urban waste management, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to establish a 50-tonne-per-day (TPD) charcoal production facility that will convert green waste into smokeless charcoal and other value-added products. The initiative addresses a growing challenge faced by the city. Every day, Bhubaneswar generates hundreds of tonnes of…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha has emerged as one of the most affordable states in India for hospital treatment, with patients incurring significantly lower out-of-pocket medical expenses compared to the national average, according to findings from the latest National Sample Survey (NSS). The survey, conducted under the 80th round of the National Sample Survey, covered 5,288 households across…