Bhubaneswar: The State Government will formulate a State Climate Strategy to address long-term climate change challenges. This plan includes increasing the installed capacity for renewable energy generation.
This was stated by Governor Raghubar Das while addressing the first session of 17th Odisha Assembly here today.
“My Government believes in Paryavaran Sangrakshyan and will take various initiatives to promote environmental sustainability, enhance wildlife conservation, and ensure climate resilience in Odisha,” the Governor said.
To mitigate flood risks, a comprehensive Flood Control and Management Policy will be formulated. This policy will expedite projects for constructing barrages and check dams to manage the major rivers and undertake holistic flood management in the flood-prone districts, like Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Balasore, Keonjhar, Khordha, and Jagatsinghpur, he said.
“My Government will undertake coastal afforestation to develop climate resilience along the 480 km coastline. Additionally, the natural protection wall of mangrove cover will be increased on the cyclone-vulnerable coast,” he further said.
Shri Das informed that the existing Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP) will be strengthened by increasing the number of multipurpose cyclone shelters (MCS) and augmenting the capacity of MCS management and maintenance.
The industries with zero carbon emission will be incentivised and ‘Green Industrial Policy’ will be implemented in line with the Government of India to promote green jobs and businesses, he announced.
Similarly, a Green Transport policy would be launched to encourage adoption of electric mobility solutions under which subsidies will be provided for the purchase of new 4-wheelers for both personal and public transport and 6-wheeler electric vehicles for public transport.
Raghubar Das said the BJP government will ensure the recruitment of 1.5 lakh vacant government posts in a fair and transparent manner, with 65,000 positions to be filled within the next two years.
To transform Odisha into a dynamic manufacturing hub, the state government will focus on the automobile, EV, semiconductor, and IT/ITES industries through the ―Make in Odisha—initiative. This initiative aims to create over 3.5 lakh jobs by 2029, spurring economic growth and employment in the State, he said.
The Governor informed the House that the State will enact a state-level education policy aligned with the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP-2020) ensuring swift progress toward holistic educational reforms, which includes providing legal, medical, and engineering courses in Odia.
The State will also establish counselling centres in schools and facilitate career counselling from class 9 and introduce AI platforms in government schools, he added.
The Governor said central scheme, Ayushman Bharat will be implemented in Odisha while 3000 new doctors will be appointed across the state and each community healthcare centre (CHC) will be paired with a mobile health unit to ensure last-mile healthcare delivery.
The State aims to eradicate the disease from Odisha by 2030 through the intensification of the National Vector Borne Diseases Program.
The State aims to build 10 lakh houses in rural areas and 5 lakh houses in urban regions under Pradhan Mantri AwasYojana (PMAY). For the low-income groups not covered under the scheme, the government will launch another scheme to ensure housing for them, he further said.
The Governor informed that Odia Samudaya Bhawans will be built in all major metros and other important cities across India.
Shri Das said his Government will adopt ‘senior citizen first’ policy across all state schemes ensuring that the elderly receive priority in benefits and services delivery.