Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, has approved four projects, marking a significant milestone in the State’s economic and infrastructural development.
Addressing a presser after the meeting, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja announced that out of the five proposals, four projects received the cabinet’s nod. With a combined investment of more than Rs 8000 crore, these initiatives will enhance irrigation, urban infrastructure, biotechnology research, and revenue generation, aligning with Odisha’s Viksit Odisha @ 2036 vision.
The Chheligada irrigation project, located in R. Udaygiri block of Gajapati district, will have a 266-meter concrete dam on Badajore river, a tributary of Vansadhara. It includes a central spillway with seven radial gates. The approved tender valued at Rs 151.78 crore sets an ambitious deadline of 18 months for completion. The project aims to irrigate 6,260 ha across Gajapati and Ganjam districts, improve drinking water supply for Berhampur town, boost fishery and livestock farming, and contribute to groundwater replenishment. Additionally, it will generate 36 MW of hydroelectric power, strengthening Odisha’s energy sector.
The Cabinet has also approved the Mukhyamantri Sahari Bikash Yojana (MSBY) aimed at revamping urban infrastructure and employment opportunities. The scheme will build revenue-generating infrastructure such as market complexes, vending zones, parks, mini cold storage, and EV charging stations.
Under the plan, environmental initiatives with 5000 afforestation projects and rainwater harvesting structures will be taken up. The Rs 6000 crore scheme will run from 2025 to 2030 with Rs 1,100 crore allocation for FY 2025-26.
Recognising the State’s potential in biotechnology, the Cabinet has approved the Development of Biotechnology Scheme aimed at fostering academic excellence, innovation, incubation, and commercialisation. The objectives the scheme include higher education and research funding in biotechnology, ecosystem development for startups and industries through innovation hubs, realigning workforce training to match industry needs, commercialisation of biotechnology products and monetisation of intellectual property. It will be implemented for five years from 2025 to 2030, reinforcing Odisha’s ambitions of becoming a knowledge-driven bio-economy.
The Cabinet has exempted Rs 2.60 crore on land premium for government revenue Plot No.-4 in Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar to facilitate the construction of a new Narcotics Control Bureau building.