Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet on Friday approved the proposal for setting up of Odisha Maritime Board for overall maritime development of the State.
The State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also approved five other major proposals for implementation in the State for the benefit of the people.
The Odisha Maritime Board shall be constituted with 12 members. Chief Secretary will head the board, which will have representatives of stakeholder departments as well as representatives of Government of India.
The Board will look after the administration, control and management of non-major ports and non-nationalised inland waterways of the state.
The statutory body 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.
Besides, the Cabinet also approved the proposal for the implementation of the recommendations of Justice B.P. Das Commission regarding safety and security of Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
Structures within 75-metre radius of the temple will be cleared to facilitate free movement of pilgrims and visitors, and ensure safety of the temple, sources said.
The State Government has constituted a Commission of Inquiry in 2016 comprising retired judge of Orissa High Court Justice B.P. Das to enquire into and submit report for better administration and governance of Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri.
The Commission has submitted two interim reports in 2017.
The Cabinet also gave its approval to financial restructuring of OSRTC. The old dues of OSRTC and Government of Odisha will be settled for ever.
It has been decided that the accumulated losses of Rs 189.93 crore will be taken up against the share capital in a phased manner. Once the losses are adjusted, OSRTC will have the option to approach the financial institutions for taking up commercially viable projects for better passenger amenities.
The Cabinet also approved an amendment to the existing provision of Rule-6(4) of Odisha Police Service (Method of Recruitment and Condition of Service) Rule 2013 aimed to remove the constraints therein and facilitate to get eligible OPS officers for filling up the posts of Superior Administrative Grade in OPS cadre for efficient and smooth people administration.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal to remit stamp duty and registration fees on gift deed of land measuring 11.56 acres along with building standing on it in Birakishorepur Mouza of Cuttack district to be executed in favour of Gopabandhu Science College, Athagarh. The fully-aided college, which was established in 1963, has no building and land of its own. It had been running in the palace building of land belonging to erstwhile Athagarh royal family since 1978.