Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has approved a major industrial proposal by Adani Enterprises Ltd to establish a ₹84,000 crore coal-to-chemicals complex in Sundargarh district, utilising land originally acquired for a scrapped Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP). The project will be set up on around 3,047 acres spanning six villages, comprising both private and government land…
Bhubaneswar: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has directed authorities across states to intensify enforcement against the use of illegal fruit ripening agents, reiterating a strict ban on harmful substances such as Calcium Carbide. The regulator has instructed all Food Safety Commissioners, Central Licensing Authorities, and Regional Directors to step up surveillance, conduct…
Bhubaneswar: In a boost to urban power infrastructure, TPCODL has commissioned a new primary substation at Nageswar Tangi in Bhubaneswar under Phase IV of the Odisha Distribution System Strengthening Project. Built at a cost of ₹19 crore, the substation has a capacity of 2×8 MVA (33/11 kV) and is connected to the Badagada substation through…
Bhubaneswar: The National Highways Authority of India has launched the ‘Arogya Van’ programme, an initiative aimed at planting medicinal trees along vacant stretches of national highways to enhance ecological sustainability and promote traditional healthcare awareness. In the first phase, more than 67,000 medicinal trees will be planted across 17 identified land parcels spanning approximately 62.8…
Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has signed an agreement with Nexband Renewables to establish a 150-tonne-per-day compressed biogas (CBG) plant aimed at producing automobile-grade bio-CNG from vegetable waste. The proposed facility will be located in the Khuntabandha area of Begunia and will also generate solid and liquid organic fertilizers, providing an additional boost to…
Bhubaneswar: State-run Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) has paid one of its largest-ever financial penalties—₹4,364 crore—for illegal and excess mineral production, raising serious concerns over regulatory compliance in Odisha’s mining sector. The penalties arise from violations of key environmental and forest laws, including the Environment Protection Act and the Forest Conservation Act, as well as breaches…
Bhubaneswar: A social media post by Manas Muduli on X has gone viral, bringing widespread attention to the eco-conscious initiatives at Nandankanan Zoological Park. The post, which has garnered over 110,000 views, showcases simple yet effective measures adopted by the zoo to curb plastic waste and promote environmental responsibility among visitors. Calling it “one of…
Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar and Cuttack are set for a major transition in household energy use, as authorities push for widespread adoption of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) under the City Gas Distribution network. Ambitious Household Coverage In Bhubaneswar, the target is to provide 1.25 lakh household connections, with around 19,000 homes already connected. Meanwhile, Cuttack has made…
Bhubaneswar: The Government of Odisha has issued comprehensive guidelines to safeguard outdoor workers from heat-related illnesses during the summer season, enforcing restrictions from April 1 to June 15, 2026. Ban on Work During Peak Heat Hours As part of the measures, outdoor work has been prohibited between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, the period identified…
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…