Bhubaneswar: Chief Secretary Shrimati Anu Garg, chaired a high-level review meeting at the Lok Seva Bhawan to assess the impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict on the state’s economy.
The meeting included top officials such as Development Commissioner Shri Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh and ACS Home, Industry & I&PR, Shri Hemant Sharma.
Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary Works, Food Supply and Consumer Welfare, Shri Sachin R Jadhav, Secretary Agriculture and Farmer’s Empowerment and other senior officers were present.
The core concern identified was that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could significantly disrupt India’s trade, specifically impacting Odisha through rising crude oil prices, supply chain disruptions, increased shipping and insurance costs, and currency depreciation. These factors are expected to lead to inflation and a higher current account deficit.
Odisha’s exports are heavily linked to West Asian markets, putting sectors like marine products, agriculture, processed minerals, and chemicals at risk. The meeting noted that the fisheries sector is already showing signs of stress due to declining demand from West Asian countries. Furthermore, rising energy and fertilizer costs are expected to negatively impact the agriculture sector.
To mitigate these risks, several strategic directives were issued. The Chief Secretary emphasized the need for constant monitoring and the exploration of alternative markets and supply chains. Specific actions include accelerating the implementation of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) distribution, establishing more LNG terminals at ports, and increasing coal production to reduce dependence on petroleum products.
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment was directed to monitor the availability of urea and NPK fertilizers and to explore organic or bio-fertilizer alternatives if necessary.
To address consumer anxiety and ensure energy security, enforcement agencies were tasked with maintaining a steady supply of petrol, diesel, and LPG.
The DGP assured that law and order would be maintained at fuel stations and LPG dealerships. Additionally, the state decided to promote electric vehicles(EV) as an alternative transport medium by expanding charging infrastructure to build consumer confidence.