Odisha Hikes WODC Grant, Revises Land Acquisition Norms For Industries

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday directed to increase the grant to Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) by two times. Besides, 10 more districts and Athamallik under the council will have WODC offices.

Addressing a presser, the Chairman of WODC, Asit Tripathy said that the grant will be increased to Rs 200 Crore from Rs 100 crore this year.

"We are grateful for the concern that the CM has shown to the Western Odisha districts," said Tripathy thanking the CM.

The Chief Minister further directed to expedite the bigger projects in Western Odisha including the Biju Expressway.

In a related development, Odisha government today revised the land acquisition norms for industrial purposes.

A notification issued by the State Revenue and Disaster Management Department has allowed companies to buy 500 and 100 acres of land in rural and urban areas respectively.

"The State Government do hereby notify the limits of extent of land, beyond which provisions of rehabilitation and resettlement will be applied in case a private company purchases it through negotiation with the owner of the land. It will be enhanced from 200 acres to 500 acres of dry land or equivalent extent of irrigated or wet lands in rural areas," the notification read.

The limit in urban areas was hiked from 50 acres to 100 acres, subject to any further notification as may be issued by the Government, from time to time, it added.

(Edited By Pradeep Singh)