Bhubaneswar: In an aim to promote Shree Jagannath Culture at village level, the State Cabinet today decided to collect Betel nut and a handful of rice from all households of the State for the inauguration ceremony of Shree Mandir Parikrama Project, which will be held on January 17 in Puri.
Briefing media persons about the decisions taken by the State Cabinet, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Pradip Kumar Amat said the Cabinet has approved 13 proposals including the above one. Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena was present in the Media Briefing.
The program will be undertaken in all Panchayats of the State under the “Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha” scheme from January 5, 2024, he said.
The Shree Mandir Parikrama Project is an innovative initiative of the State Government to take forward this journey of transformation of rural Odisha and to globalize the rich Shree Jagannath culture of Odisha, Shri Amat said.
For promotion, preservation and protection of Shree Jagannath Culture and to embrace the people and future generation about the essence of Shree Jagannath Culture, he said, the dedication ceremony of Shree Mandir Parikrama Project will be held on 17 January 2024 in the pilgrim city of Puri.
It has been envisaged to mobilize people from Block headquarter to Puri for participation in the dedication ceremony and Rs 20-crores is required for the above purpose, the Minister said.
Additionally, in order to organize IEC activities at the GP/Block level, Rs 135.88 crore will be provided. Under IEC activities, LED screens will be installed at all Panchayats and Blocks of the State to telecast the inauguration of Shree Mandir Parikrama Project, Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena said.
Dedication ceremony of Shree Mandir Parikrama Project has been included as one of the initiatives under Ama Odisha Naveen Odisha and the approved budget Rs 4000 crore has now been enhanced to Rs 4214 crore, he informed.
The Cabinet has also approved the proposal for allotment of Government land for an extent of 5 Acres free of premium through IDCO, Bhubaneswar in favour of Public Health Foundation of India for establishment of a permanent campus of Indian Institute of Public Health at Bhubaneswar.
It aims to create skilled human resources in the public health system generating high quality research evidence. It will provide technical support to the Government of Odisha for a better healthcare system, Shri Jena said.
The State Government will provide the above land free of premium and the cost of land is to be reimbursed to IDCO by the Health & Family Welfare Department, he added.
In another decision, the Cabinet decided to procure 200 new e-buses to add to the fleet of MO BUS by Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) to strengthen urban mobility in Capital Region of Bhubaneswar a total project cost of Rs 933.26 crore for 10 years including procurement, operation & maintenance of AC fully built 200 Electric Buses (9m-10m) and allied electrical & civil infrastructure on Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model basis at a rate of Rs 64.81 per KM.
The Cabinet has also approved the tender for the work implementation of LED Public Street Lighting Project in 110 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Odisha with an estimated bidding Cost Rs. 312.18 crore.
