The workshop was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo. Addressing the gathering, he reaffirmed Odisha’s commitment to becoming a front-runner in India’s energy transition efforts. “With a GDP growth rate of around 7% and a disproportionate contribution to national emissions, Odisha cannot afford to take a backseat. The draft policy is our blueprint for climate leadership—rooted in urgency, accountability, and innovation,” he said.
The event saw active participation from key figures including Vishal Kumar Dev, Principal Secretary of the Energy Department; Dr. Satya Priya Rath, MD, GRIDCO; Sujata Gupta, South Asia Energy Director at the Asian Development Bank (ADB); Sreyamsa Bairiganjan, Chief of Programmes at Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation; and Padam Prakash, Partner at PwC India.
Vishal Kumar Dev emphasized the need for structured, cross-departmental implementation to ensure measurable progress. He noted that the policy’s success would depend on the collective efforts of various sectors including Agriculture, Urban Development, Fisheries, Industry, and Health.
A key highlight of the event was PwC’s comprehensive presentation, which mapped out an integrated, timeline-bound action plan for the policy’s rollout. It outlined how different departments could contribute to emission reductions while aligning with Odisha’s broader sustainability goals.
GRIDCO MD Dr. Rath reiterated the utility’s pivotal role in driving the energy shift, stating that GRIDCO is committed to sectoral emission reduction and national alignment. ADB’s Sujata Gupta praised Odisha’s forward-looking approach and assured the bank’s support in both technical and financial capacities.
Participants engaged in dynamic discussions on enabling mechanisms, infrastructure needs, and policy alignment, reinforcing the shared resolve to transition toward a greener economy.
The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Debi Dutta Tripathy, FA-cum-Additional Secretary to the Government of Odisha. The event marked a significant moment in the state’s journey toward building a resilient and inclusive energy ecosystem.