Bhubaneswar: The State Cabinet today approved several proposals at a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Loka Seva Bhawan, which include the revision of Kharif Marketing Season (KMS), 2019 policy and construction of a modern Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) at Baramunda in Bhubaneswar.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, chief secretary Asit Tripathy said the Cabinet has approved the Food and Procurement Policy for Kharif Marketing Season (KMS), 2019 to regulate all aspects of paddy and rice procurement during the ensuing KMS.
The government has fixed a tentative target of 41 lakh metric tonne (LMT) in terms of rice (60 LMT in terms of paddy). For Kharif, the tentative target for procurement of paddy would be 50 LMT and for Rabi 10 LMT.
The Cabinet has further stated that Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation (OSCSC) and other agencies shall engage PACS/ LAMPCS/Women SHGs/Pani panchayats in paddy procurement operations. This apart, it has been decided that disbursal of payment of farmers dues on account of paddy sold to government shall be transferred directly to their bank accounts through online mode within 24 to 48 hours of the sale of paddy to the government.
The Cabinet also approved a tender for construction of a modern Inter-State Bus Terminal at Baramunda, Bhubaneswar and bus depot at Khandagiri on Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) mode.
The government has decided to take up a project to establish a Modern Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT) at Baramunda, Bhubaneswar and a bus Depot at Khandagiri for shifting of the present Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) Bus Depot from Baramunda. It is a strategic project not only for improving the public transit system in the city but also connecting many capital cities and business centres in other states.
The ISBT will have an idle bus parking space for 190 buses, apart from a public parking space for more than 250 four-wheelers and about 175 two Wheelers.
The Cabinet further approved construction of a Teaching Hospital for new government medical college at Bolangir on basis of PI tender in order to improve the medical education and to cater to the needs of qualified doctors. The work has been targeted for completion within two and half years.