OD-MARITIME

Odisha to set up Maritime Board for ports' development
    Bhubaneswar, Aug 17 (PTI) Odisha government has
decided to set up a Maritime Board for development of ports
and inland water transport in the state, an official said.
    The cabinet has approved the proposal to establish the
statutory body in view of the future requirement of industries
in the state, Chief Secretary AP Padhi said.
    "The proposed Odisha Maritime Board will be
established for overall maritime development of the state," he
told reporters after the meeting on Friday.
    The board 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", he said.
    The requirement of the Odisha Maritime Board was felt
in the wake of development in mines, mineral, metal, oil,
refinery and other sectors in the state, he said adding that
the body is to deal with administration, control and
management of non-major ports and non-nationalised inland
waterways.
    The body will facilitate construction, maintenance and
operation of all non-major ports in the state either directly
or through public-private partnership mode.
    He said the Chief Secretary will be the chairperson of
the proposed 12-member board comprising stakeholders,
representatives from the related state departments and the
centre.
    Though a Bill in regard to formation of the Maritime
Board was passed in 2011, it was later withdrawn to
incorporate additional points in it, sources said.
    In another decision, the state cabinet has decided to
implement the recommendations of Justice BP Das Commission for
the safety and security of pilgrims at Puri's Jagannath
temple.
    All structures within 75-metre radius of the temple
will be cleared to facilitate free movement of visitors and to
ensure safety of the temple, Padhi said adding that the
district collector will undertake a survey in this regard.
    The cabinet also approved a proposal for financial
restructuring of the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation
(OSRTC), enabling it to approach financial institutions for
taking up commercially viable projects for better passenger
amenities.
    The cabinet also gave its nod to amend the existing
provision of Odisha Police Service (Method of Recruitment and
Condition of Service) Rule, 2013 in order to eliminate the
constraints therein.
    This is being done to make OPS officers eligible for
filling up the posts of Superior Administrative Grade in the
police service for an efficient and smooth administration. PTI
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from a PTI feed.)