Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Thursday approved 3 key proposals, including rules for recruitment of ex-Aniveers in uniformed services.
The Cabinet gave the go-ahead to the transfer of equity shares to Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) from Shapoorji Pallonji Port Maintenance Pvt Ltd and Odisha Stevedores Ltd and signing of revised concession agreement between Directorate of Ports & IWT, C&T Department and Gopalpur Ports Ltd (GPL). It also amended the OCS(RA) Rules, 2020, for providing jobs to unmarried daughters and stepdaughters of government employees on compassionate ground.
Ex-Agniveers In Uniform Service
The Cabinet approved framing of Odisha Ex-Agniveers (Recruitment to Uniform Services) Rules, 2024 to reserve 10 per cent seats for ex-Agniveers in the uniform service like Police, Forest, Excise, Fire or any services as decided by the government from time to time by providing,
(a) 10% horizontal reservation for ex-Agniveers in all Group ‘C” and “D” posts in Direct Recruitment in the uniform services of the state . Such reservation shall be over and above the reservation applicable for ex-servicemen provided they fulfil the required minimum qualifications prescribed for the posts in the relevant recruitment rules as on the date of award of Agniveer certificate.
(b) Three years’ age relaxation in the prescribed upper age limit for ex-Agniveers in all Group ‘C” and “D” posts in Direct Recruitment in the uniformed services.
(c) Exemption from physical efficiency test.
Amendment of the OCS(RA) Rules, 2020
1. As per provision of the OCS(RA) Rules, 2020, unmarried daughters and unmarried step daughters of deceased government servants are being considered for compassionate appointment. Whereas the case of married daughters/married step
daughters are not considered.
2. It is therefore, proposed to amend the OCS(RA) Rules, 2020 for consideration of the case of daughters/step daughters irrespective of their status of marriage for compassionate appointment subject to conditions that their “dependency” on their
parents is proved.”
Transfer of equity shares to Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ)
Gopalpur Ports Ltd has go the nod for transfer of 95% of equity shares to Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) from Shapoorji Pallonji Port Maintenance Pvt Ltd (56%) and from Orissa Stevedores Ltd (39%). Permission has also been given to sign the revised concession agreement for development and expansion of GPL.
In March, Gautam Adani-run Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone announced that it would buy 95% stake in GPL for an equity value of Rs 1,349 crore and enterprise value of Rs 3,080 crore to boost its east coast presence.
Gopalpur Port, initially managed by the Commerce & Transport Department as a fair-weather lighterage port, operated only during favourable weather conditions. Recognising its potential for economic development and its impact on the socio-economic
life of Odisha’s people, the Odisha government decided in 2003 to transform it into an all- weather deep berthing seaport through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the Build Own Operate Share Transfer (BOOST) mode. Gopalpur Ports Limited (GPL) won the bid through a competitive process, an official release said.
The Odisha government in 2006 awarded a 30-year concession to GPL, with the provision of two extensions of 10 years each.
Key points
>> GPL, a consortium of Odisha Stevedores Limited, Noble Group Limited, and Sara International Limited, with 34%, 33% and 33% shares, respectively, developed the port. Shareholding changed in 2010 and 2017.
>> Currently handling 11.43 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) of cargo, GPL shares 7.5% of its gross revenue with the state government. The revenue share for FY 2023-24 is approximately Rs 38 crore.
>> The port employs approximately 4,000 people in direct and indirect employment, and expansion is expected to boost revenue and employment.
