Odisha to set up hospitals on PPP mode

In a major boost to the healthcare sector, the government of Odisha has decided to set up 20 new hospitals in PPP mode across the state.

The decision was taken at a high level meeting headed by the state chief minister Naveen Pattnaik. These hospitals will be constructed in 11 high priority districts under Odisha Health Service Investment Policy-2016. The construction of 20 new hospitals will entail an investment of Rs1,000 crore under public private partnership (PPP) mode.

These projects will be executed in Hub and Spoke models under the Affordable Health care Project, while some will function as central hospitals or hubs and some branch hospitals. The new hospitals will be constructed in the districts of Puri, Jeypore, Angul, Barbil, Baripada, Bhadrak, Balangir, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Phulbani, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Nuapada, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Sonepur, Rayagada, Paralakhemundi, Rairangpur and Kendrapara. 

It is estimated that around 2700 new beds will be available in these 20 hospitals in various departments. At the spoke hospitals Medicine, Orthopaedic, Anaesthesia, Ophthalmology, Surgery, Gynaecology, Paediatric, Psychiatric, Diagnostic, X-ray, ENT, Dentistry, Dermatology and Trauma Care facilities will be available. At the hub hospitals Cardiology and Neurology departments will be available in addition with the above facilities.

Cabinet approves utilisation of land to Tata Steel to set up industrial park

The Odisha cabinet on 21 June 2018, cleared a proposal by Tata Steel for utilisation of 1,735 acres of land for developing a private industrial park at Gopalpur, in Ganjam district.

Of the 2,970 acres of land handed over to Industrial Industrial Infrastructure Development Corp (IDCO) for setting up a steel plant at Gopalpur by Tata Steel, 1,235 acres notified by the Central government as SEZ. The balance 1,735 acre may be utilized by the said company for setting up a private industrial park as domestic tariff area.

The Cabinet also approved the lease of government land measuring 181.77 acres near Sambalpur in favour of IIM-Sambalpur for construction of a permanent campus. It also cleared alienation of government land of 881 acres in four districts free of cost in favour of Union Ministry of Railways for construction of Daspalla-Balangir segment of the crucial Khurda-Balangir new broad gauge railway line.

Press Note

JSW forms subsidiary to fast-track Odisha project

In a bid to fast-track its 12 million tonne crude steel plant in Odisha JSW Steel has formed a wholly owned subsidiary viz. JSW Utkal Steel Ltd.

JSW Steel, led by Sajjan Jindal, has earmarked a capital expenditure of Rs 55,000 crore for numerous projects. These include an integrated steel mill, 900 MW captive power plant, a 32 million tonne pellet unit, a captive port and a slurry pipeline to transport iron ore concentrates from Joda to the proposed project near Paradip.

Meanwhile, JSW Steel has approached the state government to transfer all clearances and approvals to JSW Steel Ltd. The government is currently examining the submitted papers.

JSW Steel originally proposed a 10 million tonne shore-based steel plant and sought for 4,500 acres of land for the project. Later the company revised its plan, seeking a 12 million tonne steel project instead.

However, the state government is set to allocate the same land initially acquired by Posco for their Integrated Steel Plant.

Railways to complete Barpali-Jharsuguda coal link by 2016

The Ministry of Railways is planning to fast track three coal link projects, pending since 1999, following a push from the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-headed Cabinet Committee on Investment pushing for fast-tracking of projects.

The three rail corridors, which include Tori-Shivpuri-Kathotia in North Karanpura, Jharkhand; Bhupdeopur-Korichhaapar to Mand Raigadh mines in Chhattisgarh and Barpali-Jharsuguda in IB Valley, Odisha, are to be completed by December 2016.

The lines in Odisha and Jharkhand are fully funded by Coal India, while the one in Chhattisgarh would be set up through a joint venture. After completion of these coal corridors, these lines would facilitate around 250-300 million tonnes of coal movement every year.

Consultant appointed for Reverine Port Project in Odisha

The Odisha government’s proposed riverine project in the state has got a major facelift with the appointment of a WAPCOS, the consultant for preparation of feasibility report.

The Kolkata based consultant Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) and the state government have signed an agreement for the purpose. The consultant will conduct a feasibility study for the riverine port project.

The project entailing an investment of Rs 500 crore will be awarded through competitive bidding route. The project will be likely to coming up at the Mahanadi river mouth near Paradip, close to the plants of Essar Steel Odisha and Indian Farmers Fertilisers Cooperative and will be used as a common port for several industries.

Odisha sets up SSWCA to clear tourism projects

Odisha government has set up a Special Single Window Clearance Authority (SSWCA) to clear relevant tourism projects. The 13-member committee, headed by the Chief Secretary, can approve tourism projects with a maximum investment proposal of Rs 50 crore.

From now onwords, investors need not run from one office to another to get their projects cleared as the committee has members from different departments. It is also empowered to consult experts before giving approval.

According to State Tourism Policy-2013, projects have to go through three-tier system of committees for clearance

NSL to shift its plant to Odisha

Hyderabad-based NSL Nagapatanam Power and Infratech Private Limited has decided to relocate its 1,320 MW thermal power project from Tamil Nadu to Odisha following public protest there.

This will be the second power project of the company in the State after merger of Mahanadi Aban Power Company Limited with NSL Power as per the July 27, 2012 order of the Madras High Court.

The company is in the process of acquiring land for the second project in Angul district. It has applied for clearances from the State Government and the proposal is being scrutinised by the Industrial Investment Promotion Corporation of Odisha Limited (IPICOL).