‘Lahari’ Wins National Award for Best Odia Film; Director Hopes Award Inspires Meaningful Cinema

Bhubaneswar: Acclaimed Odia film Lahari has won the National Award for Best Odia Film at the 72nd National Film Awards for 2024, the winners of which were announced on Friday. The recognition marks a significant milestone for Odia cinema and for filmmaker Amartya Bhattacharyya, who has received his second National Award and his first for…

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CM Urges SDC Members to Lead Tribal Development at the Grassroots

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday urged the newly appointed Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of Special Development Councils to work with sincerity for tribal welfare, saying politics for his government is a means of serving the poor in the last row, based on the principle of Antayodaya. A discussion meeting with the new heads…

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Odisha among top 10 states in rooftop solar rollout, reviews DISCOM performance

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has emerged as one of the country’s top-performing states in rooftop solar adoption, with over 1.56 lakh installations completed under various schemes, Chief Secretary Anu Garg said while reviewing the performance of the State’s four power distribution companies (DISCOMs) on Saturday. She also directed the utilities to accelerate renewable energy initiatives and strengthen…

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Odisha signs MoU with ICRISAT to expand women-led agri livelihoods

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government partnered with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to scale up women-led agricultural enterprises by introducing climate-smart technologies, sustainable farming practices and value-addition initiatives for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across the state. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Mission Shakti Department and ICRISAT at Mission…

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Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary steps up monsoon vigil with enhanced anti-poaching measures

Bhubaneswar: The Hirakud Wildlife Division has intensified protection measures at Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary for the monsoon season by issuing a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to strengthen surveillance, prevent wildlife crime and improve emergency response from July to October. The SOP comes as the onset of monsoon increases conservation challenges in the 353 sq km…

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Odisha signs pact with IFC to strengthen PPP ecosystem

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Thursday signed a Programmatic Transaction Advisory Services Agreement (TASA) with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, to strengthen the state’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) ecosystem and attract private investment in key infrastructure sectors. The agreement was signed in the presence of Chief Secretary…

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Rain fails to dampen spirit as lakhs join Puri Rath Yatra

Puri: An estimated eight to nine lakh devotees from across the country and abroad gathered in Puri on Thursday to witness the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Chakraraj Sudarshana. Despite persistent rainfall, all major rituals, including the ceremonial pulling of the three chariots, were completed smoothly. The Odisha government…

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Hydrogen-powered train marks Indian Railways’ next leap in clean mobility

Bhubaneswar: Indian Railways is set to introduce the country’s first Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trainset, marking a significant milestone in its transition towards cleaner and more sustainable rail transport. The hydrogen-powered train, which generates electricity onboard using hydrogen and emits only water vapour, represents the next phase in India’s journey from steam and diesel traction to…

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