Odisha artisans to get grade stone at ease as Cabinet decides to frame policy

Bhubaneswar: The State Cabinet meeting under chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today decided to formulate the Odisha Artisan Grade Stone Policy 2021. The policy will ease the difficulties of artisans of the State in getting grade stone.

Also, the policy will ensure demand-supply estimation, identification of stone sources, extraction and supply of stone to artisan users of different categories. Monitoring and supervision of stone supply to users and actual utilisation by them will occur without any hassles, said Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra after the Cabinet meeting.

Moreover, the Odisha Artisan Grade Stone Policy 2021 will prevent illegal artisan grade stone mining in the State and motivate the artisans to continue their tradition, he added.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal to add Clause 4 (4), into an Ordinance to manage the affairs of Shri Lingaraj Temple and its properties. The Clause 4 (4) has been added to ensure “as far as on the twelve centrally protected monuments are concerned the provisions may be in consonance with AMASR, Act.”

The Ordinance has been sent to the President of India for instruction.

The Cabinet approved ‘Parbati Giri Megalift Irrigation Project’ with an outlet of Rs 10,759.20 crore for creating additional irrigation potential of 2,63,801 Ha to provide supplemental kharif irrigation to uplands.

Farmers will get early benefit of irrigation due to its low gestation period and they will be encouraged to shift towards cash crops from high duty paddy crops due to its micro irrigation compatibility. Ground water will also be recharged, said the Chief Secretary.

In another major decision, the State Cabinet approved a proposal to amend the Industrial Policy Resolution 2015 by addition of a section to provide special incentives to the New Age Mega Industries.

The State Cabinet approved the lowest bid of M/s Larsen & Toubro Ltd amounting to Rs 235.08 crore for construction of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science & Research, Trauma care and Surgery complex with Casualty at Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar. The project will be completed within a period of 24 months.

The government also decided to provide post facto approval for ‘State Government Guarantee’ extended in favour of the Aska Cooperative Sugar Industries Ltd (ACSI) who availed cash credit loan of Rs15 crore from the Aska Cooperative Central Bank to meet the payment of cane dues to the sugarcane growers in time for the crushing season 2018-19.

A total of 24 proposals were approved by the State Cabinet in today’s meeting.