Odisha to revive Arbitration Tribunal

The decision to revive the tribunal was approved at the state cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during the day. "We propose to amend section 41(A) of the Arbitration and Consolidation Act, 1996 in order to reveive the tribunal," said Chief Secretary B K Patnaik.

The abolition of the tribunal, which was in vogue from 1940 to 1996, was posing problems for the government, Patnaik said adding with its revival it would take up cases of the state government, government undertakings and local self-government bodies.

The Cabinet also approved introduction of Odisha Special Survey and Settlement Bill-2012 in the ensuing session of the assembly for high-tech survey and settlement activities.

As per the provision of the Bill, the survey and settlement activities would be conducted by aerial survey or DGPS or both for accurate demarcation of land, he said adding that the new process was deemed to be faster and more accurate.

In another decision, the Cabinet approved a proposal to ensure easy delivery of disability certificates to the concerned persons. They can get them from primary health centres and community health centres located in gram panchayat and block levels.

The remmuneration of government advocates appearing for the state would be raised and junior lecturers of colleges would get UGC scale of pay, the cabinet decided.

"There are about 700 UGC posts vacant in different colleges of which 50 per cent will be filled from existing junior lecturers and rest through direct recrutment," he said.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal to amend State Reservoir (fish) Policy which will facilitate primary fishermen societies to get lease over major reservoirs for fishing, he said.