Odisha to set up GCC hubs across key cities, approves major policy reforms

Global Capability Centre (GCC) hubs will be set up in Odisha, and various cities have been selected for it, informed Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, following the completion of the Cabinet meeting on Friday.

"More than Rs 1000 crore investment will come to Odisha. As many as five big GCC hubs will be set up in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Paradip, Bargarh, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur. Subsidy is being given for those who want to relocate from Bengaluru and hire a co-working space here. It is expected that more jobs will be created in the Global Capability Centre as it is a growing field. We have formulated a policy so that we can compete with other states. We are providing a little bit more subsidy in comparison to the other states. They will be eligible for it if they relocate to our state and open centres here," said Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja.

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"There were two proposals from the Steel & Mines Department. The first one was- Minor Minerals Concession Rules 2016, for which there was an amendment proposal. Mines, sand, and stone quarry are currently being provided on an auction basis. It has been found that the mines are auctioned at a higher price and sands and stones are sold in the market in a higher rate. The government has brought a new policy in this regard and it has been approved in the Cabinet meeting. From now onwards, there will be lottery instead of an auction. Instead of the floor price, there will be an additional charge. The government will decide which mines will be sold at what price. There will be an e-lottery system, transparency. The government has been given the power to take up to 40 per cent from the mines and release it into the market in case of shortage. During the monsoon, mines remain closed. Hence, they will be allowed to have more production before the monsoon and keep it in the stockyard. Technology will be used in this case," he further said.

"It has been found that some persons were not running the mines after taking those in auction. In this case, they will be blacklisted and there will be some punishment. To end the monopoly, it has been decided that a person will be allowed to take only three mines in a district and five mines in the state," he added.