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Bhubaneswar
In a bid to prove that he is not anti-Odisha, Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh on Saturday announced two projects of national importance to be set up in the State.
Addressing a Press conference here at the end of his two-day visit to the State, he said his Ministry has decided to establish a National Centre for Wetland and Coastal Ecosystem Studies at an investment of Rs 40 crore. The centre would be operational partly in Bhubaneswar and partly at Chilika.
He also said his Ministry would set up a Centre for Turtle and Biodiversity Studies at a cost of Rs 10 crore and its location would be decided by the State Government. The centre would undertake studies on the marine turtles as large species of turtles are seen in rivers and ponds in the State.
Since Odisha is the single most important locations for nesting of the rare Olive Ridley sea turtles, the institute would help study on the conservation of this marine creature. This year, the population of the Olive Ridley turtles has exceeded an estimated seven lakh. “By protecting these turtles, we are not just conserving a rare species but also protecting the ecology and a culture,” Ramesh said.
In another revelation, Ramesh also said his Ministry has decided to give authority to the Maoist-affected States, including Odisha, to have full flexibility to clear public infrastructure projects to be built inside forests in the areas up to five hectares.
The State Governments can divert the forestland with full freedom for the projects having social relevance like construction of roads, schools, health sub-centres, bridges, housing for police and other security personnel without referring to the Union Environment and Forests Ministry for its clearance.
He said this decision would be applicable to the identified 60 Maoist-affected districts of the country, of which 19 are in Odisha. “It will be of great benefit to the Maoist-affected States, particularly Odisha, to improve the essential infrastructures like connectivity,” he said. Besides, this would go a long way for creation of infrastructures in tri-junction areas of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarah to fight against the Maoists, he said.
To a question, he said he would take up the issue of construction of Gurupriya bridge across the river Gurupriya in Malkanngiri district with the Union Home Ministry and Planning Commission. He lamented that the important and critical infrastructure project could not materialise for years due to Maoists and other reasons. The lack of connectivity has denied a large population displaced due to the Balimela hedel project of communication.
Though road connectivity has been somehow built, riverine nfrastructure is lacking in the border areas of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. “Though the State Government must have taken initiative, I will take up the matter with the Union Home Ministry and Planning Commission,” Ramesh said.
In a bid to prove that he is not anti-Odisha, Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh on Saturday announced two projects of national importance to be set up in the State.
Addressing a Press conference here at the end of his two-day visit to the State, he said his Ministry has decided to establish a National Centre for Wetland and Coastal Ecosystem Studies at an investment of Rs 40 crore. The centre would be operational partly in Bhubaneswar and partly at Chilika.
He also said his Ministry would set up a Centre for Turtle and Biodiversity Studies at a cost of Rs 10 crore and its location would be decided by the State Government. The centre would undertake studies on the marine turtles as large species of turtles are seen in rivers and ponds in the State.
Since Odisha is the single most important locations for nesting of the rare Olive Ridley sea turtles, the institute would help study on the conservation of this marine creature. This year, the population of the Olive Ridley turtles has exceeded an estimated seven lakh. “By protecting these turtles, we are not just conserving a rare species but also protecting the ecology and a culture,” Ramesh said.
In another revelation, Ramesh also said his Ministry has decided to give authority to the Maoist-affected States, including Odisha, to have full flexibility to clear public infrastructure projects to be built inside forests in the areas up to five hectares.
The State Governments can divert the forestland with full freedom for the projects having social relevance like construction of roads, schools, health sub-centres, bridges, housing for police and other security personnel without referring to the Union Environment and Forests Ministry for its clearance.
He said this decision would be applicable to the identified 60 Maoist-affected districts of the country, of which 19 are in Odisha. “It will be of great benefit to the Maoist-affected States, particularly Odisha, to improve the essential infrastructures like connectivity,” he said. Besides, this would go a long way for creation of infrastructures in tri-junction areas of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarah to fight against the Maoists, he said.
To a question, he said he would take up the issue of construction of Gurupriya bridge across the river Gurupriya in Malkanngiri district with the Union Home Ministry and Planning Commission. He lamented that the important and critical infrastructure project could not materialise for years due to Maoists and other reasons. The lack of connectivity has denied a large population displaced due to the Balimela hedel project of communication.
Though road connectivity has been somehow built, riverine nfrastructure is lacking in the border areas of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. “Though the State Government must have taken initiative, I will take up the matter with the Union Home Ministry and Planning Commission,” Ramesh said.
