Odisha Cabinet decisions: OAS posts increased, land compensation waived for Ganjam project oustees

Priya Ranjan Swain Published On : Oct 21, 2022 at 9:17 PM

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today took six important decisions pertaining to the departments of Fisheries and Animal Resource Development, Law, Revenue and Disaster Management, Water resources, and Works.

The Cabinet has approved proposals for amendment of Odisha veterinary Services Recruitment Rules, enhancement of posts in OAS cadre at Group-A junior branch level and return of unutilised land of around 206 acres acquired by IDCO in village Kalipalli of Ganjam district to the original land owners, said Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra.

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The Cabinet also gave its nod to proposals for amendment of Pani Panchayat Act for inclusion of Mega Lift Irrigation Projects in it and inclusion of the spouses of landowners in the Pani Panchayats. Besides, proposals for revision of salaries of judicial officers and payment of decretal dues to Larsen and Turbo Ltd as per the decisions of Arbitration Tribunal got the Cabinet approval, added the Chief Secretary.

According to the Chief Secretary, the Cabinet has approved a proposal to do away with the viva voce tests for the recruitment of Veterinary Assistant Surgeons. The state government is considering to revise the salaries of judicial officers in Odisha as per the recommendation of Justice Venkatarama Reddy, said the Chief Secretary.

The Cabinet has approved amendment to Odisha Pani Panchayat Act, 2002. As per the amendment, spouses of water users will be included as members in Pani Panchayats, added the Chief Secretary.

The cabinet gave its nod to raise the cadre strength of Odisha Administrative Service, Group-A (Junior Branch) to 1,313 from the existing strength of 1,188, he said.

“The state Cabinet has decided to return around 200 acres of unutilized land to their original owners at Kalipalli in Ganjam. The plots had been acquired by the IDCO around 20 years ago. The compensation amount paid to the land owners has also been waived by the state government,” said the Chief Secretary.

The state government has taken a decision for payment of decretal dues amounting to Rs 100.064 crore to Larsen and Toubro Ltd, added the Chief Secretary.