Bhubaneswar: In an aim to ensure adequate supply of Limestone to local industries, the State Cabinet on Thursday decided to bring Limestone into the purview of Long-Term Linkage (LTL) policy and sell Limestone to the industries through OMC.
Speaking to media persons about the decisions taken by the Cabinet here, Chief Secretary SC Mahapatra said the Government has formulated the Long-Term Linkage (LTL) policy ensuring the supply of minerals to State based end user Industries.
Meanwhile, IDCOL has been merged with OMC Ltd which has been notified vide Notification No.7872/SM dated 16.08.2022.
Considering the proposal of IDCOL, it is now decided to bring Limestone into the purview of LTL Policy and sell Limestone to the industries under the said policy through OMC Ltd, he said.
Mahapatra said this policy is formulated encompassing all the aspects concerning sell of Limestone from Ampavalli Limestone Mines of IDCOL/OMC Ltd and in future any Limestone Mine reserved/ allocated in favour of OMC Ltd for long term linkage for the State based industries for sustained supply of Limestone.
This decision of the Cabinet will ensure steady supply of Limestone through LTL to State based end-user industries that will assure uninterrupted production of these industries and enhance employment opportunities, he added.
This will also increase Limestone production and utilisation which would strengthen the State economy. OMC Ltd., being a State PSU will also add revenue to State exchequer.
The Cabinet has also approved the financial bids for construction of 40 Lift Irrigation Schemes with intake points on different rivers in the districts of Keonjhar, Kalahandi, Bolangir, Bargarh, Gajpati, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Angul and Cuttack.
These projects will be executed with an investment of Rs 1879.61 crore including maintenance and operational cost.
Similarly, the Cabinet also approved the financial bids for execution of pressurized underground pipe line (UGPL) irrigation network system for left command of lower Suktel irrigation project with distribution network. Tenders worth Rs 637.14 crore have been approved for this project, which will be completed in 30 months.
The Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has also approved tender of Rs 201 crore for construction of Integrated Barrage (In-stream Storage Structure) across river Kochila near village Kuturia of Bhadrak district and across river Baitarani near village Dhobabil of Jajpur district, said Mr.Mahapatra.
This storage structure will control the flood situation in Kochila river and will rejuvenate the Baitarani river. It will also fulfil drinking and domestic requirements of the people of Dhamnagar Block of Bhadrak district and Dasarathpur Block of Jajpur district with improvement of their socio economic condition, he added.
The Chief Secretary further said that other important decisions included sanction of lease of 5 acre Government land free of premium for establishment of Central Research Institute in Homeopathy (CRIH), 50 acres of land in favour of Rajendra University for their infra development, and 3.125 acres of land for establishment of National Centre for Disease Control ( NCDC).
Proposal for 15 per cent reservation of seats in Government Physical Education Colleges for the students staying in Government sports hostels along with revised funding for the State Level Sports Infrastructure Development scheme also received Cabinet nod.
