BHUBANESWAR: Governor S C Jamir on Wednesday took stock of the steps the state government has taken since the April 18 Supreme Court order on proposed mining in Niyamgiri hills, official sources sa

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha will implement the Union government-sponsored National Urban Health Mission in the state from September, government sources said.

BHUBANESWAR: Taking serious note of pollution generated by stone crusher units in the state, Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has directed all district collectors and SPs to keep a tab

Following the Supreme Court judgment over bauxite mining in Niyamgiri hills in Orissa last month, Union tribal affairs minister V Kishore Chandra Deo has written to Governor SC Jamir to invoke his

Padayatra will cover many villages in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts before culminating at Muniguda on May 22.

In its April 18 order, SC had directed the Odisha govt to conduct Gram Sabhas at Niyamgiri within three months to seek the mandate of the locals

The Odisha government today said it would seek six more weeks from the Supreme Court (SC) to conduct Gram Sabhas to decide the fate of bauxite mining at the ecologically sensitive Niyamgiri hills.

Amid raging controversy whether to release or to house the wild tiger that strayed into Nandankanan zoo on April 30, a technical committee is likely to seal the fate of the tiger on Wednesday after a detailed discussion.

The committee comprises chief wildlife warden, zoo officials, a member nominated by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), veterinarians, sarpanch of the area and the villagers living in the sanctuary adjoining area.

The Supreme Court had banned mining in Karnataka in July 2011

The crisis seems to be far from over for the mining industry in Karnataka, Goa and Odisha, the three major iron ore producing states in the country. Though some relief came for the industry in Karnataka last year and again in April this year with the Supreme Court allowing partial resumption of mining operations, normalcy in the sector may not return anytime soon.

The villages of the Dongriya Kondh tribals around Odisha’s Niyamgiri hills are likely to simmer again as the Centre and the state government along with civil society groups are planning to converge on the site for the proposed Vedanta bauxite mine.

The Supreme Court order has left it to the villagers to decide the fate of the Vedanta project, and the call revolves on whether the venture would affect their religious and other rights.

The State Government has issued fresh guidelines for survey of coal blocks to determine the areas allotted to different companies.