Electric Vehicle Policy Gets Odisha Cabinet Nod; Other Decisions Here

Bhubaneswar: In order to reduce the pollution caused by the vehicles running on fossil fuel, the state Cabinet on Friday approved Electric Vehicle Policy.

The policy aims at adoption of 20% battery electric vehicles in all vehicle registrations by 2025, manufacture of electric vehicles and its components in the state and research and development in the sector.

Under the proposed policy guidelines, it has been decided to extend financial incentives for manufacturing industries, purchase, scrapping, interest subvention in loans, waiving of road tax and registration fees. Besides, it has been decided to extend
incentives under the Start-up Policy of MSME Department.

Also Read: Odisha Govt Likely To Provide Subsidy On Electric Vehicles

Kanupur Irrigation Project

The Cabinet also approved the tender for the construction of 1000 mm thick plastic concrete cut-off wall at the heel of the earth dam upto fresh rock level throughout the
foundation of left embankment of Kanupur Irrigation Project in Keonjhar district at a cost of Rs 199.65 crore. The work will be completed in II months.

Retirement Benefit Rule

In order to simplify the process for sanction of provisional pension to the employees, the proposal for amendment of the Orissa Aided Educational Institutions’ Employees’ Retirement Benefit Rule, 1981 was approved by the Cabinet.

As per the proposed amendment, provisional pension of the retired employees other than the principals, the principals who have been specially declared as Drawing and Disbursing Officers, shall be the Provisional Pension Sanctioning, Drawing and Disbursement Authority.

Recruitment of non-judicial staff

The Cabinet also approved a set of separate rules for better and effective regulation of the method of recruitment and conditions of service of non-judicial staff engaged in the subordinate courts in the state.

Empowering PRIs

In order to facil!itate devolution of power to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for empowering the local self-governments, it was decided to transfer the assets of Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas having Classes VI to XII under S&ME Department to Panchayat Samitis for proper maintenance of assets.

Odisha Sand Policy

In order to ensure sustainable mining of sand in the state, the Cabinet approved to implement the ‘Odisha Sand Policy, 2021’.

Following are salient features of the policy:

• Demand-supply Estimation
• Identification of sources
• DGPS survey of sand sairat sources
• Auction of sand mining rights
  Mining Plan (MP)
• Environment Clearance (EC) and other statutory clearance
  Quarrying operation
• Inter-State transportation of sand
• Monitoring & Enforcement.

This policy is in accordance with the environmental regulations to ensure adequate supply of sand for developmental and welfare projects and private construction works. It also aims at preventing the illegal mining of sand.