Bhubaneswar: State Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday approved a number of suggestions of the Justice Bimal Prasad Das Commission of Inquiry that was constituted to recommend reforms in the functioning of Jagannath temple in Puri.
Briefing media persons about the decisions taken, Development Commissioner Asit Tripathy said, “The Cabinet has approved certain recommendations made by BP Das Commission. As per the decision, up to 75 meters along the Meghanad Pacheri (boundary wall) of Puri temple will be made encroachment-free for free passage of devotees during any emergency and ensure safety of the temple.”
Puri Collector has been authorised to implement the decision. The collector will do survey, demarcation of the required land, make rehabilitation plan for the affected people and development plan for the space.
For crowd control, the government has accepted the panel’s suggestion for permanent deployment of two companies of forces and a Quick Action Team (QAT) to counter possible terrorist attacks in Puri.
The Cabinet has approved the proposal for establishment of Odisha Maritime Board for overall maritime development of the state. The statutory body will deal with administration, control and management of non-major ports and non-nationalised inland waterways of the state.
The board will provide policy guidelines and directions for the integrated development of ports and inland water transport keeping in view the country’s security and defence-related concerns, said Chief Secretary AP Padhi.
As many as 12 members, with the Chief Secretary as the chairperson, along with representatives of stakeholders departments as well as representatives of Government of India will constitute the board.
The Cabinet has also approved the proposal for financial restructuring of Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC). As per the decision, state government’s old claims worth Rs 72.03 crore against the OSRTC is converted into equity with raising the total equity capital to Rs 254.47 crore. It means, the corporation’s claim of Rs 77.44 crore against the government will be relinquished, Padhi said.
The panel has also decided to amend Odisha Police Service (Method of Recruitment and Condition of Service) Rule 2013 to eliminate the 18 years mandatory experience of OPS officers to get promotion to superior administrative grade.
The government has exempted stamp duty and registration fees on gift deed of land measuring 11.56 acres along with building standing on it at Athagarh. Athagarh royal family had gifted the land and building for running of Gopabandhu Science College in 1963. Since then, the building has not been transferred in the name of the colleges. As a result, the institute is being denied UGC grants, the chief secretary added.
