The BJD led Odisha Government to plant 35 lakh trees on July 7 [OdishaDiary]

Odisha Government to plant 35 lakh trees on July 7. This was informed by the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during the 65th Bana Mahotsav which was observed in the premises of Unit-9 Girls High School.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that his Government has embarked upon an ambitious plan to plant 12 core trees in this year. He said around 6.5 crore would be planted through different state and central schemes and 5.5 crore would be distributed to farmers freely for plantation in their own land.

To create awareness among the people about the large scale plantation, the government has coined the slogan 'Each one plant one'.

Patnaik said the Government would involve the community to protect and manage the forest resources. The Forest Conservation Samitis have taken the responsibility of guarding and protecting forests. Chief Minister Patnaik described about the various plantation programme of the state government. 

Avenue plantation would scaled up during 2014-15 along the side of PMGSY roads, canal embankments and railway lines, the sources said adding it has been decided to take up massive plantation in village forest lands, bald hills and school premises.

As per the plans, plantation will be taken up in 11,300 hectares under the state plan, 5557 hectares under compensatory afforestation, 24100 hectares under MGNREGS, 2500 hectares under Odisha Bamboo Development Agency in forest area (National Bamboo Mission) in both forest and non-forest area and 8910 hectares under National Afforestation Programmes.

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Odisha to Plant 12 Crore Saplings This Monsoon [NDTV]

Setting a target of planting 12 crore seedlings this monsoon season in Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said as many as 35-lakh sapling will be planted on July 7.
     
Mr Patnaik said this while addressing the 65th Bana Mahotsav which was observed in the premises of Unit-9 Girls High School.

Around 6.5 crore saplings would be planted through different state and central schemes and 5.5 crore would be distributed to farmers free of cost for plantation in their own land, he said.

In its bid to make plantation drive popular, the state government has coined the slogan 'Each one plant one'.

The Government would involve different communities to protect and manage the forest resources. The Forest Conservation Samitis have taken the responsibility of guarding and protecting forests.
     
Stating that avenue plantation would be scaled up during 2014-15 along the PMGSY roads, canal embankments and railway lines, an official said it has been decided to take up massive plantation in village forest lands, bald hills and school premises.

The government has chalked out a plan to take up plantation in 11,300 hectares under the state plan, 5557 hectares under compensatory afforestation, 24100 hectares under MGNREGS, 2500 hectares under Odisha Bamboo Development Agency in forest area (National Bamboo Mission) in both forest and non-forest areas and 8910 hectares under National Afforestation Programmes.

Biju Janata Dal to organise orientation camp for first-time legislators [OdishaDiary]

Biju Janata Dal Legislature Party (BJDLP) has decided to organise an orientation camp here for its first-time members in the 15th State Assembly on July 6. 

According to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh, the orientation camp would be held for the BJD’s 42 new MLAs at the Pantha Nivas. The closed-door training programme would be inaugurated by the BJDLP leader and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The new MLAs would be given tips by both present and former senior party MLAs on how to behave in the Assembly and participate in the business, prepare questions and raise issues. 

The focus would be on their conduct in the House and to make them good Parliamentarians, Arukh said. The freshers would be asked not to raise issues which would embarrass the party in the floor of the House and outside, sources in the party said. 

They would also be told to prepare road map for their respective constituencies and become expert in particular subjects. Since the party has made number of promises to the people prior to the elections, they would be advised to toil hard for implementation of the programmes and to keep touch with the people how to address their basic problems locally, sources said. 

On the other hand, an official orientation camp for the first-time MLAs would be organised after the Parliament session. Experts from the Parliament and senior MPs would train the new comers.

BJD - supported sarpanch candidate wins elections in Dhinkia gram panchayat [OdishaDiary]

BJD- supported sarpanch candidate wins elections in Dhinkia gram panchayat. The panchayat elections in Dhinkia gram panchayat in the proposed Posco site passed off peacefully on Wednesday. 

Dhinkia, a sensitive village in view of the anti-Posco movement, went to polls after seven years. No untoward incident was reported during the polls as both pro and anti-Posco villagers have united after the return of 52 families to the village from Badagabapur transit camp. 

The panchayat recorded a whopping 90 per cent polling this time, sources said. Out of 4,125 votes polled, 2,263 went to the BJD-supported sarpanch candidate and 1,862 to the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS)-backed candidate. To maintain the law and order during the election, three platoons of police and mobile vans were deployed under guidance of ASP, Paradip.

CM Naveen Patnaik announced Rs 5 lakh ex gratia for Odia labourers killed in Chennai building collapse

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced Rs 5 lakh ex gratia for Odisha labourers killed in Chennai building collapse case.  CM Patnaik also announced Rs 50, 000 for each injured in the building collapse in Chennai.  

CM Patnaik has directed the Labour secretary to coordinate with Tamil Nadu government to provide treatment facilities to the injured persons. It should be noted that nearly four Odia labourers killed and three were injured in the incident. All these labourers are from Kashinagar block of Gajapati district. 

It should be noted that Toll rises to 28 in Chennai building collapse.  Eight more bodies were recovered on Tuesday. A total of 26 persons have been rescued so far as the non-stop rescue efforts.

CM Naveen Patnaik asks collectors to be ready for drought situation [Business Standard]

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today asked all the district collectors to review the crop situation in their respective districts on regular basis in view of scanty rainfall over most parts of the state.

"It has been decided to review the crop situation on weekly basis at the district level," said P K Mohapatra, special relief commissioner with state government after the review meeting, which was attended by several ministers and top bureaucrats.

As per data provided by local weather office, 27 of the 30 districts have received 56 percent less rainfall than normal in the monsoon season that started on June 1.

In the meeting, the CM directed the Panchayati Raj department to prepare plans in advance for undertaking labour intensive programmes especially in southern and western Odisha. It has been decided to provide additional 50 days work under MGNREGS in Bolangir and Nuapada districts.

While stressing on the availability of loans to farmers at the time of need, Patnaik said crop loans should be disbursed before July 31. The meeting also deliberated on provision of immediate fresh loans to farmers in the event of crop damage and converting short term loans to medium term loans.

The department of Water Resources has been directed to draw plans for maintaining abundant water in reservoirs for irrigation and drinking water purposes. The energy department has been asked to ensure power supply to all existing lift irrigation points.

Officials representing meteorological department informed that there would be some improvement in the situation in July as the state is likely to receive five percent more rainfall than normal.

Apart from preparedness for possible crop loss, Patnaik told the collectors to continue with provision of drinking water through tankers, wherever the situation demanded.

CM Naveen Patnaik holds video conference with all district collectors over low rainfall, Rs. 8000 crore loan to farmers before July 31 [OdishaDiary]

Chief Minister Naveen Patnbaik today holds video conference with all collectors over low rainfall. During the discussion CM Patnaik give importance about overall agriculture situation in the state, drinking water facility, labour welfare programs, lift irrigation facilities, agriculture loans and others. 

CM Patnaik said that the state government will provide  Rs. 8000 crore loan to farmer before July 31.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed the district collectors to prepare a comprehensive contingency plan to meet the possible drought situation in case of irregular and scanty rainfall. The chief minister directed the agriculture department to work in tandem with the water resources department to release water in canal, repairing of defunct lift irrigation points and undertaking the necessary works in the watershed areas.

It is estimated that about 6.40 lakh quintal seeds are required in wake of drought like situation, for which the agricultural department has been asked to keep stock of adequate paddy and non-paddy crop seeds and fertilizer and provide them to farmers. The animal resources development officials claimed to have stored sufficient fodder and making necessary arrangements for the animals’ water need and veterinary services.

CM Patnaik asked agriculture department to provide agriculture loans to farmer before July 31. He also asked the water resource department to regulate the water storage in all the dams properly. 

Among others, Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy , Cooperative Minister Damodar Rout, Revenue Minister Bijayshree Routray, Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra, Development Commissioner I. Shirnivasn  and senior officials of Agriculture and Cooperation Departments and local Met office were present at the meeting.