Odisha amends Housing Board Act; Slum dwellers to get 30 square meter land

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government on Tuesday approved a proposal for amendment to the Orissa Housing Board Act, 1968, to rehabilitate the slum dwellers in the State.

With amendment to the Act, the slum dwellers will be allotted a minimum size of 30 square meter land for rehabilitation.

Notably, Odisha State Housing Board (OSHB) and Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) have built 10 and 7 housing projects respectively on lease land allotted by the Government. With the amendment, as many as 2803 customers will be benefited in the State.

The State Cabinet has also approved Odisha University of Health Sciences Act, 2021 to establish a university of health sciences in the State.

The proposal by the Health & Family Welfare Department State to set up the University of Health Sciences envisages for ensuring affiliation, proper and systematic instruction, training and research in modern medicine, mental health education, dental education, homoeopathy & Ayurveda, nursing education, pharmacy education, paramedical education, physiotherapy, allied medical science and any other medical or paramedical courses.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to a proposal for a state level sports infrastructure development project. The project with an estimated outlay of Rs 356.38 crore was approved for development of infrastructure at the Kalinga Stadium and construction of a new hockey stadium in Rourkela for hosting 2023 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup.

The Government also approved to frame Odisha Drugs Control Service of Drugs Control Administration] (Methods of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2020. With the decision, the quality of drugs will be examined to safeguard the public health in the State.

Besides, the Cabinet approved for amendment of the Odisha Public Distribution System (Control) Order- 2016 for extending the timeline by six months, from five years to five and half years, for continuation of private dealers for smooth functioning of PDS in the State.

Notably, the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, has been implemented in the State from November, 2015. For smooth functioning of PDS, the Odisha Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016 was notified during March, 2016. All PDS related activities in the State are carried out as per the provisions of the OPDS (Control) Order, 2016.

The Cabinet also nodded the Regularisation of services of 100 contractual Tribal Language Teachers as a one time measure of the SC/ST Department and Amendment of OMPTS Rules, 2007.