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New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Contaminated water behind diarrhoea, cholera outbreaks in Odisha
BHUBANESWAR: The Central health team visiting Odisha has confirmed that contaminated water is the primary cause of recent diarrhoea and cholera outbreaks in the state. The team shared its findings during a review meeting with state officials here on Wednesday. With three more deaths including two in Jajpur and one in Balasore in last 24 hours, the outbreaks have claimed 24 lives and affected over 2,500 people across nine districts. The health authorities, however, put the official death toll at 11. Following a detailed assessment at the affected areas, the visiting 10-member health team and four-member food safety panel concluded that the cholera outbreak in Jajpur district stemmed mainly from consumption of contaminated water and food. Water samples collected from various areas tested positive for E. coli contamination, indicating widespread microbial pollution in the district. At least 10 water samples collected in the first phase were found to be E. Coli positive. Similarly, 16 out of 37 faecal samples tested positive for Vibrio cholerae. The district continues to see new cases, with 37 fresh admissions reported on the day. However, signs of improvement are emerging, as the infection rate has dropped and only 196 people are currently under treatment. The Central team held separate discussions with the officials of Health, PR&DW and H&UD departments and advised them to take immediate steps to ensure availability of safe drinking water in the affected districts. Chief secretary Manoj Ahuja reviewed the situation and asked officials to ensure purification of drinking water distribution points in several districts. Health secretary Aswathy S who reviewed the situation, said a doctor has been suspended for advising a senior citizen to purchase medicine from outside, despite its availability at hospital pharmacy free of cost. The Health department has formed special teams that will visit Cuttack, Jajpur, and Bhadrak districts on Thursday. The rapid action teams deployed in the affected districts have been instructed to take action as per the recommendations of the Central team.
New Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Climate
- New Indian Express
Be prepared to manage waterlogging: CM Mohan Majhi to officials
BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday raised concern over waterlogging in the state capital and asked officials to remain prepared to deal with such situations during monsoons. Addressing the revenue officers' workshop here, Majhi said, 'It rained so heavily in Old Town area of Bhubaneswar yesterday that the road got damaged and the water couldn't be drained out.' This has happened when Asadha month is yet to begin, the chief minister said, while underlining that there could be urban flooding and damage to infrastructure due to heavy rains during monsoon and SOP should be followed to deal with it effectively. Heavy rain on Tuesday evening caused substantial damage to the Badagada Canal road in Old Town area of the city disrupting connection to the main route. Locals raised strong concern over the matter and also complained about the same to mayor Sulochana Das during her visit to the site. As it is, the CM has already asked BMC authorities to complete the ongoing drainage and desiltation works by June 20. Majhi, who had chaired a high-level meeting with authorities of H&UD department last week, has sought adequate measures to address the problem of waterlogging near Iskcon Temple, Cuttack road, Ahalya Nagar, Ayurveda College and other vulnerable areas of the state capital.
Hans India
30-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
ANKUR launched to catalyse urban growth
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday launched ANKUR, a strategic initiative designed to catalyse urban growth across the State. On the occasion, the State's Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department signed MoUs with six leading organisations engaged in the urban development ecosystem in the presence of department minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra. Speaking at the launch, Mahapatra said, 'ANKUR – Atal Network for Knowledge, Urbanisation and Reforms — represents a collective promise to build cities that are efficient, smart and above all, citizen-centric. This is a movement toward a Viksit Odisha, co-authored by communities, institutions and the government alike.' Department's Principal Secretary Usha Padhee said the genesis of ANKUR was not a single moment, but rather a series of reflections, conversations and collaborations. 'It was born out of a growing realisation within our department that the pace and complexity of urbanisation in Odisha required new thinking, new partnerships and new platforms,' she added. Over the past year, through internal consultations and engagements with experts, practitioners and institutions across the country and beyond, a vision began to take shape, she said, adding that ANKUR emerged as an answer to those questions — a platform to co-create solutions, to institutionalise innovation and to sustain partnerships that can carry us through the next decade of urban growth. As Odisha's urban population is projected to triple by 2036, ANKUR has been envisioned as a transformative platform to co-create resilient, livable and future-ready cities. 'ANKUR aligns with the national aspiration of Viksit Bharat @2047, while responding to Odisha's unique socio-economic and urban context. It will strengthen four strategic pillars of urban development - capacity building, knowledge and research, implementation support and innovation,' Padhee said.
New Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Odisha govt to offer houses at Rs 15 lakh-Rs 50 lakh to people in Bhubaneswar: Minister Mahapatra
BHUBANESWAR : In what could come as a huge relief for aspiring home buyers amid skyrocketing real estate prices in the capital city, the state government is planning to construct and provide houses to people in an affordable range of Rs 15 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra on Saturday told mediapersons as part of the 'Greater Bhubaneswar and Better Bhubaneswar' initiative, the government is planning to take up housing projects in the city in which dwelling units will be provided to people at very affordable prices. 'Currently, a house in the state capital costs at least Rs 1 crore. We are planning to provide different categories of LIG (low income group) and MIG (middle income group) houses to people in the range of Rs 15 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. The H&UD department is working out a comprehensive plan in this regard,' Mahapatra said. He said the growing population of the city is leading to shortage of land in the capital city and imposing huge burden on the civic infrastructure. 'Steps are being taken to expand the capital region through implementation of town-planning schemes. The schemes implemented by the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) will expand the periphery of the city allowing people to buy houses at more affordable prices,' he said. The minster said plans are also being worked out for decongestion of traffic in the city. 'Proposals to construct overbridges at key junctions to decongest traffic is under consideration. We will also run more city buses to improve the capital's public transport system,' he added. Mahapatra stressed government focus on improving the smart city infrastructure. 'The smart city projects implemented earlier have not been fruitful. We are working on improving these infrastructure and make them effective,' he said. Action plan for Gangua nullah Bhubaneswar: The Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department will soon work out an action plan for desiltation and cleaning of Gangua nullah and Daya West Canal to increase their carrying capacity and address the problem of urban flooding in the capital city. A team led by H&UD secretary Usha Padhee carried out a field assessment on Saturday
New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Climate
- New Indian Express
Odisha Government readies monsoon action plan to tackle urban flooding
BHUBANESWAR : Anticipating an above-normal rainfall in the ensuing monsoon season, the state government has worked out a comprehensive 'Urban Flood and Waterlogging Management' action plan to tackle waterlogging in different cities and towns effectively. The Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department has asked all the urban local bodies (ULBs) follow it strictly for safeguarding public health, infrastructure and urban livelihoods through necessary preventive, preparatory and responsive measures in the event of heavy rainfall. 'The action plan will be implemented through proactive planning and community participation. The main objective is to ensure urban areas in the state remain resilient, safe and prepared for the challenges of an intense monsoon,' said Housing and Urban Development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra. As per the action plan, the ULBs will carry out inspection of all major and internal drains and ensure their desiltation and repair before monsoon. Focus will be more on repairing damaged covers and removing encroachments obstructing drainage channels. The ULBs will also install bar screens and wire meshes in tertiary drains to filter out solid waste and prevent blockages during peak rainfall. Personnel will be deployed for continuous monitoring and waste removal. Identification of waterlogging hotspots will be carried out across all urban areas for pre-deployment of pump sets and emergency equipment. Zone-level officers will be appointed for real-time emergency response in these areas. Machinery will be kept in readiness by the civic administrations to clear roads, blocked due to uprooted trees or damage to infrastructure in heavy rain or storm, in a swift manner. The drinking water services, however, will be restored immediately by WATCO and PHEO in a coordinated manner, the action plan stated. The government has also asked the urban local bodies to keep the multi-purpose cyclone shelters and public buildings in readiness to use them as emergency shelters, in the time of need. Structural safety, water, sanitation, food supply, and security, especially for women and vulnerable populations, will be ensured in these shelters.
