Govt to introduce new law prohibiting illegal fishing in Chilika Lake

Bhubaneswar: The state cabinet chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday approved 19 proposals, including introduction of a new law to prohibit illegal fishing and prawn enclosures in Chilika Lake and provision of seven-year imprisonment for the guilty.
“VAT on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) will be reduced from 5 per cent to 1 per cent for four upcoming airports under Udan scheme. The meeting also gave its approval to formation of Odisha State Higher Education Council with special emphasis on providing quality education to the students,” chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi informed after the meeting.
Apart from these, the cabinet also decided to introduce new drinking water projects in four cities- Rourkela, Baripada, Sambalpur and Jharsuguda – with an investment of Rs 318 crore to benefit around 14 lakh people, he added.