Tag: Odisha

IT raid on senior Congress leader in Bhadrak of Odisha

Bhadrak: The Income Tax department has conducted raids on Dhamra region’s senior Congress leader and industrialist Digambara Das’s properties.

According to reports, the raids were conducted by the Income Tax department on Thursday. The Income Tax Department has conducted raid on Congress leader in Odisha and searched four places simultaneously including his residence, Dhamra Ice Factory, office, and residence in Bhadrak since morning.

According to the information, the Income Tax department is conducting a raid on congress leader in Odisha including Digambara Das’ family house and office in Dhamara and checking the papers.

While this raid is underway on the allegation of income tax evasion, four teams are involved in the raid operation. However, earlier in the same way, the Income Tax department raided the house of a Congress leader in Dhamra area.

Earlier today, the Income Tax (IT) department had conducted raids on a former Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA)’s house on Thursday.

The IT raid has been conducted on the house of an ex-MLA of Champua in Keonjhar district of Odisha. He has been identified as Jitu Patnaik. His houses and offices have been raided by the IT department.

The Income Tax raids on the houses and offices are underway at the time of filing this report.

The Income Tax Department is raiding the residences near the Joda Sai Temple and the mining office at Baniyakala Street.

It has been reported that the Income Tax Department is investigating the allegations of tax evasion.

June 1, 2023
Over 84% students clear +2 exams in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: As many as 78,938 of the 92,950 students have cleared the annual higher secondary (Class-XII) science examination in Odisha, results of which were announced by school and mass education minister Sudam Marndi here on Wednesday.

Students can check their results on the official website of the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) at chseodisha.nic.in and orissaresults.nic.in

In science stream, out of 93,734 enrolled students, 92,950 students have appeared in the annual Plus-II science examination, of which 78,938 students have cleared the test conducted by the CHSE, he said.

Of the 90,679 regular students who have appeared in the science stream, 77,468 have passed out. Similarly, 1470 of the 2437 ex-regular students cleared the test.

The performance of girls is better than the boys in the annual examination. The pass percentage of boys and girls stood at 84.28 and 85.67 per cent, respectively.

While 358 students have secured more than 90 per cent marks, 291 schools have scored 100 per cent results and two schools have zero results. Nayagarh district has recorded the highest 96.41 per cent result while Gajapati district is at the bottom with a pass percentage of 61.55, the Minister said.

Moreover, 39,573 students have secured first division, 24,257 in second division and 14,852 got third division in the Class-XII science examination, he said.

The Odisha government has also declared the Class-XII commerce result. Marndi said that 24,331 students have enrolled in the commerce stream, of which 24,082 students have appeared in the examination and 19,536 students have passed out. The overall pass percentage in the commerce stream stood at 81.12.

In the commerce stream too the girls outshine then the boys. The pass percentage of boys and girls stood at 79.52 per cent & 83.87 per cent, respectively.

The Minister informed that 102 students have secured more than 90 per cent marks in commerce. While 7410 students have secured first division, 4543 got second division and 7492 got third division in the exam.

Nayagarh district has recorded the highest 93.9 per cent result while Boudh district is at the bottom with a pass percentage of 55.55, he said.

The students can get their marksheets in Digilocker from June 10 onwards. The result of Plus-II arts and vocation courses is likely to be declared on June 8, officials said.

May 31, 2023
Amit Garg Is New CEO Of TP Southern Odisha Distribution Ltd

Berhampur: Amit Garg has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TP Southern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPSODL), a joint venture between Tata Power and Odisha Government.

He will assume charge from June 1.

“We are delighted to welcome Amit Garg as the new CEO of TP Southern Odisha Distribution Limited. With his extensive experience and proven track record in the power industry, we are confident that he will lead TPSODL to new heights of success,” said president, Transmission & Distribution (T&D), Tata Power, Sanjay Banga,.

Prior to this appointment, Garg had been serving as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at TPSODL since August 2022. He also held the position of CEO at Tata Power Trading Company Limited (TPTCL). He has made significant contribution to the power sector, which includes a stint with Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd.

Garg holds a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering from Jabalpur Engineering College, Madhya Pradesh.

Arvind Singh, who had been serving as TPSODL CEO since its inception in January 2021, will serve in the same capacity at TP Central Odisha Distribution Limited (TPCODL) and will be based in Bhubaneswar, an official release said.

TPSODL serves a population of 94.38 lakh consumers with customer base of 23.69 lakh and a vast distribution area of 48,751 sq km.

May 31, 2023
Lokayukta Heat On Odisha MLA Accused Of Swindling Funds From Govt Scheme

Bhubaneswar: Trouble is mounting for BJD MLA from Remuna Sudhanshu Sekhar Parida with the Lokayukta Odisha seeking views of Speaker of the state Assembly over his alleged involvement in swindling crores of rupees meant to subsidise farm equipment purchase by Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes beneficiaries.

It has sent the preliminary Vigilance inquiry into the complaint filed by one Tanmaya Mohanty and asked for the Speaker’s views on or before June 9, the next date of hearing.

In May 2022, the anti-corruption watchdog had asked the state vigilance to conduct preliminary inquiry into allegation of corruption against the MLA to ascertain whether a prima facie case exists. The report was submitted last month.

Basing on the Vigilance findings, the Lokayukta has served notices to the MLA, his ex-partner Subal Kumar Parida, his active partner Prasanna Kumar Jena, and 15 other agents/associates of the firm. They have also been asked to submit their explanation by June 9.

In the complaint, it has been alleged that Rs 9 crore in subsidy funds were siphoned off between 2017 and 2020 by Nigamananda Associates, a firm owned by Parida. The firm swindled the subsidy amount of around Rs 6 lakh provided by the state government to each beneficiary to purchase paddy harvester, which costs around Rs 24 lakh.

The MLA has long been denying his involvement in the matter, stating that he was part of the company only till 2015.

May 31, 2023
Preferential Assistance: Odisha Govt Doubles Ex-Gratia Amount For Its Employees

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday increased ex-gratia amount for its employees in case of death while on duty from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

Similarly, an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh will be provided for permanent disability due to injury instead of Rs 2 lakh. The compensation amount for partial disability has been raised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has approved the proposal in this regard. The chances in the preferential assistance will come into effect from May 31, official sources said.

May 31, 2023
2 Workers Die As Excavator Falls Into Gorge At Odisha Mine

Jajpur: At least two workers, including a minor, died after an excavator with which they were engaged in mining plunged into a gorge at a stone quarry in Odisha’s Jajpur district.

The incident took place at Lunibar mine under the jurisdiction of Jenapur police station in the district district this morning.

Sources said the victims, identified as Shantanu Khilar (28) of Telkoi area in Keonjhar district and helper Appu Raut (16) of Gengutia village in Jajpur, were inside the heavy machine in the mine when it slipped from the site and fell into the gorge.

The two, who sustained critical injuries in the mishap, were rushed to a health centre nearby by other workers and locals.

However, the machine operator was declared dead by the doctors. The helper was later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack where he succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment.

On being informed, police personnel and and tehsil officials reached the spot and launched a probe into the incident.

May 31, 2023
Locals Support Puri Airport Project In Odisha During 1st Public Hearing

Bhubaneswar: The first public hearing for the proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport in Odisha’s Puri is reported to have evoked positive response from locals ahead of acquisition of land in the area for the ambitious project.

The mega project would come up on 1,164 acre, including 68 acre of forest land and 221.48 acre private land in Sipasarubali and Sandhapur areas under Brahmagiri tehsil and is scheduled to be completed by 2025. The airport will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 5,631 crore.

The first public hearing was held in Sipasarubali mouza on Tuesday to discuss the draft Social Impact Assessment (SIA) report ahead of acquisition of the private land. Several pople, including the private land owners and local panchayati raj institution members, were present during the public hearing, officials said.

Stating htat there was no opposition from the public to the airport project, Puri sub-collector Bhabataran Sahoo said the local people unanimously supported the airport project for overall development of the area.

On the second day of the public hearing, a meeting with residents of Sandhapur is being held on Wednesday. The draft SIA report for the proposed airport has been prepared by the National Institute of Rural Development and Environmental Science under Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies for the acquisition of private land.

According to officials, the acquisition of 221 acres of private land should not be a hurdle as no habitation exists in the area. All the private land was stated to be vacant.

It may be noted here that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik met Prime Miniter Narendra Modi in New Delhi earlier this month and held a detailed discussion on the proposed airport in Puri.

May 31, 2023
PM Modi To Visit Odisha For BJP’s ‘Jansampark Abhiyan’: State Party Chief Manmohan Samal

Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Odisha during the month-long massive country-wide public relations campaign launched by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to mark the completion of nine years of the party-led government at the Centre.

The ‘Maha Jansampark Abhiyan’, which kicked off on Wednesday, will continue across the country till June 30, Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal told reporters in Bhubaneswar.

The aim is to reach out to the public as well as media and share details about the achievements of the Modi government and the BJP during the last nine years, he said.

In Odisha, the party targets to reach out to at least 3 crore families and a total of 36,606 booths during the campaign in which around five lakh party workers are likely to participate, Samal said.

A battery of top leaders including PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also visit Odisha during the campaign, the state BJP chief said.

The Union ministers and senior BJP leaders will hold press conferences and brief about the achievements of PM Modi since 2014. They will also interact with the media and people of the state and give a presentation based on all the achievements of the BJP-led government at the Centre.

A number of programs will be organised to contact the public, while over five lakh party workers will visit households across the state and apprise people about the various developmental works undertaken BJP-led government. Several public functions will be held to tell people about development projects like highways, railway network and infrastructure.

The party leaders will spread awareness about different welfare schemes launched by the Centre which benefit many people in the state.

May 31, 2023
Key Accused In Similipal Forest Guard Killing Nabbed From Jharkhand; Total Arrests 7

Bhubaneswar: A joint team of police and Forest Department officials arrested two more persons, including the main accused in the alleged killing of a forest guard in Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR), from Musabani in East Singhbum district of Jharkhand, late last night.

They have been identified as Krushna Singh, key accused, and Gobardhan Singh. Three country guns were also seized from them.

Forest guard Bimal Kumar Jena was shot by a group of people carrying a live barking deer on May 22 evening. Two were arrested the following morning. Former sarpanch of Gendapokhri Buddhadeb Singh was also found involved in the murder and arrested along with two other persons – Jugulu Singh of Jargadihi and Suklal Marndi of Kuali – four days ago.

Balasore SP Sagarika Nath, who is also in charge of Mayurbhanj district, told the media that police had initially suspected involvement of 10 poachers. “After detailed investigation, 26 suspects were identified of which seven have been arrested. Krushna Singh was nabbed from Musabani jungle in the neighbouring state with help from Jharkhand police. Three teams are still in the sanctuary area and efforts are on to nab the remaining poachers,” she said.

Nine country guns, four partially operational guns, bow and arrows, tangia (axe), cycle ball bearings and nets have been seized during this manhunt, which was carried out along with the cleanse Similipal operation to dismantle the network of poachers, she further said.

The poachers had entered the bordering area of Pithabata (south) range and Nawna (north) range of the reserve and surrounded a team of five forest personnel, who were on routine patrol. As the forest guards tried to catch one of them, a bullet fired by one of the poachers from a country-made gun killed Jena. The 35-year-old forest guard is survived by wife Lipina Swain, a forest guard in Pithabata range, and a six-year-old daughter.

May 30, 2023
Tiger spotted roaming in Baliguda, Locals panic

Baliguda: Panic gripped residents of Ward number-1 of Badagaon village of Baliguda in Odisha’s Kandhamal district following reports of a tiger roaming around in the area a week ago.

According to sources, a Punp house worker spotted the tiger roaming around the river banks near the pump house of Badagaon. He said that he heard an unusual sound while going to turn on the pump. So, he turned on his phone flashlight to check and got scared after noticing the tiger. He later informed the Forest Department about the tiger.

On the instructions of Baliguda DFO, 2 teams led by Forester in-charge, Satya Narayan Mohanty, have arrived at the said place the tiger was spotted and are conducting patrolling in the area all night. The team has identified the footprints of the tiger. However, the forest department officials said that the preliminary investigation revealed that the footprints are not that of a tiger. The forest department has alerted the local people after the preliminary investigation revealed that it was a hyena’s footprints.

May 30, 2023