Polavaram dam: Orissa, Chhattisgarh join hands

               Photo Source: Orissa Diary

Strongly objecting to the construction of multi-purpose Polavaram dam in Andhra Pradesh, the State Government has drawn the attention of the Supreme Court-appointed expert committee to four different aspects of the project, including the design. According to official sources, the State Government along with neighbouring Chhattisgarh said in a joint memorandum to the expert committee, headed by Gopalkrishna, that the Polavaram project would adversely affect the two states if its design is not changed. While Polavaram project was initially made with a capacity for flow of 36 lakh cusecs, it was later increased to 50 lakh cusecs after changing its original design. The State Government, represented by engineer-in-chief Harish Behera during a spot verification by the committee at the project site, said the proposed embankment in Orissa, would lead to submergence of many tribal villages in Malkangiri district. Besides, the State Government pointed out that the mandatory palli sabha (village council) meeting was not held in areas likely to be affected due to the project. Earlier, the State Government had moved the Supreme Court seeking a halt to the Polavaram project as it was allegedly being constructed violating several laws and an agreement between Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.

Source: The New Indian Express

Naveen Patnaik inducts 5 new faces in Cabinet reshuffle

In its first reshuffle since coming to office for the consecutive third term, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inducted five new faces as Cabinet Ministers while elevating Minister of State Anjali Behera to Cabinet rank on May 10. The new look Council of Ministers saw several changes in the portfolios of several Ministers as the five New Cabinet Ministers and the one who was elevated to the Cabinet rank were allotted different Departments. After the change, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik would now hold the portfolios of Home, General Administration, Works, Water Resources and any other department specifically not assigned.

Cabinet Ministers

Prafulla Chandra Ghadai, Finance and Public Enterprises; Anang Udaya Singh Deo, Planning and Coordination; Surjya Narayan Patro, Revenue & Disaster Management and Information & Public Relations; Debi Prasad Mishra, Forest and Environment; Pradeep Maharathy, Agriculture; Prafulla Samal, Tourism & Culture and Cooperation; Maheswar Mohanty, Panchayati Raj; Usha Devi, Textiles & Handloom and Science & Technology; Anjali Behera, Women & Child Development; Niranjan Pujari, Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare; Lal Bihari Himirika, SC & ST Development and Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare; Raghunath Mohanty, Industries, Steel & Mines and Parliamentary Affairs; Prasanna Acharya, Health & Family Welfare and Public Grievances & Pension Administration; and Bikram Keshari Arukha, Rural Development and Law.

Mr. Maharathy, Mr. Mohanty, Ms. Devi, Mr. Pujari and Mr. Himirika were appointed as new Cabinet Ministers earlier in the day, while Ms. Behera was elevated from the rank of Minister of State to Cabinet rank.

Ministers of State (Independent Charge)

Badrinarayan Patra, Higher Education and Sports & Youth Services; Sarada Prasad Nayak, Housing & Urban Development; Ramesh Chandra Majhi, Information Technology and Fisheries & Animal Development; Sanjeeb Sahoo, Commerce and Transport; Pratap Jena, School and Mass Education; Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Energy; and Pushpendra Singh Deo, Labour & Employment.

Ministers of State

Pushpendra Singh Deo, Water Resources (Minor Irrigation) and Ramesh Chandra Majhi, SC & ST Development (ST Development).

Although five legislators were inducted as Ministers following the resignation of three Ministers, some Ministers who were facing allegations of irregularities in their Departments were retained in the Ministry. Following the reshuffle, the total number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, increased to 22, which is the upper limit for a 147-member State Assembly as per the existing rules.

Source: The Hindu