Bhubaneswar: In a move to address the growing issue of coconut waste in public spaces, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has introduced a toll-free helpline number (1929) for residents to report discarded coconut shells across the city. The initiative aims to ensure quick collection and scientific processing of coconut waste dumped in markets, temples and…
Bhubaneswar: The Government of Odisha has imposed a ban on the use of coal and coal briquettes in urban areas as part of its heatwave management strategy, aiming to reduce pollution levels and curb rising temperatures. The move, however, has triggered concern among roadside hotel owners and small food vendors, many of whom rely on…
Bhubaneswar: A powerful Nor’wester tornado caused widespread destruction in Mayurbhanj district on Sunday, leaving a trail of damage, injuries and disruption in several areas. According to initial reports, the worst-affected location was Kia village in Karanjia, where strong winds triggered panic among residents and blew off roofs of numerous mud and thatched houses. Heavy Damage…
Bhubaneswar: Kusunpur village in Kendrapada district of Odisha is set to be transformed into the state’s first smart village under an ambitious initiative led by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), functioning under the Ministry of Science and Technology. The project aims to convert the village—home to around 130 families and a population…
Bhubaneswar: The Government of Odisha has intensified preparations to tackle the upcoming summer heatwave, announcing a series of preventive measures across the state. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari has directed the state’s Energy Department to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply during peak summer, stressing that power cuts must be avoided as temperatures begin to…
Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has temporarily permitted food businesses in Bhubaneswar to use coal and firewood for cooking after a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders disrupted operations across the city. The decision follows complaints from several hotels, restaurants and roadside tea stalls that they were struggling to continue daily kitchen operations due to…
Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to replace temporary traffic sheds across the city with permanent structures this summer, citing safety concerns during storms and extreme weather. The decision was taken during a summer preparedness review meeting chaired by Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das. Officials noted that many of the existing temporary sheds used…
Bhubaneswar: As geopolitical tensions intensify in West Asia, anxieties about energy security are unsurprising. But the rapid spread of rumours about petrol and diesel shortages across social media illustrates a familiar problem in moments of global uncertainty: panic often travels faster than facts. India’s largest fuel retailer, Indian Oil Corporation, has categorically dismissed the circulating…
Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced stringent penalties for sanitation agencies to enforce timely waste clearance and improve urban cleanliness. Under the new directive, agencies will be fined ₹3,000 per instance per ward if waste is not cleared from streets by 9 am. Authorities have mandated that all garbage heaps must be lifted…
Bhubaneswar: In a sustainable step ahead of Holi, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has introduced organic gulal made from recycled temple flower waste, offering a chemical-free and fragrant alternative to conventional colours. Officials said the civic body has been collecting discarded flowers from nearly 700 temples across the city over the past six months. The…