BHUBANESWAR: An expert appraisal panel of the Union Environment Ministry has recommended environmental clearance for Vedanta Limited’s proposed bauxite mining project in the Sijimali region of Odisha, subject to a series of conditions and regulatory approvals. The panel has stipulated that mining activities cannot be undertaken on 709.72 hectares of forest land until Stage-II forest…
BHUBANESWAR: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) will install six High Wind Speed Recorders (HWSR) along the coastline of Odisha to improve the measurement of extreme wind speeds during cyclones and severe storm events. Officials said the advanced instruments will be installed in six coastal districts — Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore. The initiative…
BHUBANESWAR: As the scorching summer gradually gives way to the monsoon, Odisha is preparing for two of its most cherished cultural celebrations—Raja Parba and Ratha Yatra—marking the beginning of what many consider the state’s most vibrant and festive period of the year. The season begins with the celebration of Raja Parba, a unique festival that…
Bhubaneswar: The South East Central Railway has installed water misting systems at several major railway stations to provide relief to passengers during the ongoing heatwave conditions across central India. The cooling systems spray a fine mist of water across station platforms, helping reduce surrounding temperatures and improve comfort levels for passengers waiting for trains, particularly…
Bhubaneswar: The Ministry of Ayush has announced that Kolkata will host the main national event for the International Day of Yoga 2026 (#IDY2026), with this year’s theme finalised as “Yoga for Healthy Aging.” The announcement was made during the 25-day countdown programme to International Day of Yoga held at Khajuraho Group of Monuments, where thousands…
Bhubaneswar: The second BRICS Technical Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction, hosted by India, will be held in Puri from June 3 to 5, 2026, bringing together disaster management experts and officials from BRICS nations and partner countries. The high-level meeting will focus on strengthening international cooperation in disaster preparedness, risk reduction, climate resilience, and emergency…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has made it mandatory for all state government departments to purchase only electric vehicles (EVs) from June 1, in a major push toward clean mobility, fuel conservation, and sustainable transportation. Under the new directive, all government offices and departments will be required to procure only electric two-wheelers and four-wheelers for official…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha has recorded its highest-ever electricity demand as the ongoing severe heatwave pushed power consumption across the state to an unprecedented 6,739 megawatts (MW), surpassing last year’s peak demand of 6,447 MW. The sharp rise in electricity usage has been primarily driven by increased cooling requirements during extreme summer temperatures affecting large parts of…
Bhubaneswar: Authorities at Nandankanan Zoological Park and Sambalpur Zoo have introduced extensive summer heat mitigation measures to protect animals and birds from rising temperatures and severe heat wave conditions across Odisha. Zoo officials said special arrangements have been made to ensure animal comfort and prevent heat-related stress during the peak summer season. As part of…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has intensified efforts to promote rural and experiential tourism through a large-scale curated homestay initiative aimed at generating local livelihoods and offering tourists authentic cultural immersion experiences across the state. Under the Odisha Homestay Establishment Scheme-2025, the Tourism Department has identified 61 gram panchayats across 19 districts for the development of…