Odisha Cabinet Okays Rs 260-Cr Transmission Project & Regularisation Of Jobs Of Sikshya Sahayaks; Know Other Decisions

Bhubaneswar: The state Cabinet on Friday approved 13 proposals including transmission project for low-voltage areas, regularisation of jobs of Sikshya Sahayaks and construction of a barrage in Kalahandi district.

Speaking to the media persons about the decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting that was chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik, chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra said in order to solve the low voltage problem in different areas of the state, the proposal for setting up grid sub-station at Athmallik, M Rampur, Chittola and Agalpur at a cost of Rs 260 crore was approved.

The Cabinet gave its nod for 99 11-KV power line and 64 33-KV line to be taken up with a budget of Rs 1796 crore. All the works are targeted to be completed in 3 years.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal for construction of a barrage over Sandul river  at Dutta village under M Rampur block of Kalahandi district. The project, which will provide irrigation to 5,000 hectare land in 29 villages, will be taken with a cost of Rs 126,46,82,498. For maintenance and repair of the project for next 5 years, Rs 1.87 crore was approved at the meeting.

It was also decided at the meeting to regularise the jobs of Shikshya Sahayaks. As per the decision, the jobs of 3,328 multi-lingual sahayaks would be regularised and they will be accorded assistant teacher status on completion of 6 years of service.

The Cabinet also approved the following major proposals:

• Restructuring of Odisha Electrical Engineering Services Cadre to attract more meritorious candidates to the State Electrical Engineering Service, address stagnation in promotion and bring pay parity of this cadre vis-a-vis other Engineering cadres.
• The tender for construction of underground pipeline irrigation system for 24,063 ha of CCA and command area development for 26,334 ha of Rengali Right Irrigation Project (Phase-I) in Dhenkanal and Cuttack districts at a cost of Rs 395.73 crore
• Construction of distribution system from Salandi left main canal of Anandapur barrage project in Balasore district at Rs 229.87 crore
• Exemption of electricity duty on power consumption in favour of Indian Oil
  Corporation Limited (IOCL), Paradip Refinery unit based on MoU signed between state government and IOCL
• Rs 888 crore for expansion project of SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack

Development Commissioner Predeep Kumar Jena along with the principal secretaries of the departments concerned were present at the press meet.