By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, August 14, 2015 : The cabinet headed by chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday night gave its nod to a proposal to set up the Odisha Housing Mission to implement ‘housing for all,’ among some 34 proposals.

The decisions come just ahead of a stormy session of the Assembly beginning from August 18, 2015.

The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had promised hosing for all in the 2014 polls.

A new policy by the housing and urban development department got the cabinet approval, which emphasizes on the rehabilitation of slum dwellers free of cost. The lower income group and other sections in the lower strata of the society will get house on a concessional rate.

Briefing media persons on the cabinet decisions, chief secretary GC Pati said the state controlled housing agencies like Odisha State Housing Board, Bhubaneswar Development Authority etc would be encouraged to build houses on public private partnership [PPP] mode. However, they have to earmark 65% of houses for slum dwellers and the rest can be sold at market rate.

The cabinet also approved a Rs 1,500 crore State Capital Region Improvement of Power System which aims to provide a fool-proof and efficient power system in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

As electricity consumption has recorded a growth of 51 percent as against 17 percent growth of population in last eight years since 2006, the need has been felt for infrastructure development in power sector in the cities, energy Secretary Suresh Mohapatra said.

Rattled by the South Korean steel major Posco’s decision to put on hold its 12 million ton steel plant – the largest foreign direct investment [FDI] project near Paradip port, the state government has decided to set up an exclusive Industrial Infrastructure Development Fund (IIDF) with an initial corpus of Rs 100 crore to develop quality infrastructure, including roads, power, water and waste management.

The cabinet approved Odisha Industrial Policy 2015 aiming to attract more investment to the state.

The new industrial policy envisages strengthening of institutional framework for single window system to ensure of project-related clearances on time. Besides, it offers a special package of incentives to generate jobs for local youths in intensive large industrial units.

The package includes part reimbursement in power tariff, reimbursement of training subsidy, land at concessional rates for workers’ hostels, subsidy for plant and machinery to industrial units and a special fast track grievance redressal mechanism under the chairmanship of the chief minister.

Among other incentives, the policy provides land at concessional rate for projects, exemption of premium on conversion of agriculture land for industrial purpose, stamp duty exemption, entry tax and Value Added Tax [VAT] reimbursement, electricity duty exemption, interest subsidy and assistance for patent registration. Besides, it provides extra package of incentives has also been announced for industrial backward districts to attract investment.

The number of clearances under the combined application form has been reduced from 22 to 42 days. The timeline for clearances from different departments has been reduced from 7-120 days to 60 days.

Pati said that rules to the Odisha Industries (Facilitation) Act 2005 were amended to create conducive and investor-friendly environment.

The cabinet also approved Odisha Fisheries Policy, 2015 in order to enhance the productivity and production of fish from the inland, brackish water and marine resources, Pati said.

The fisheries policy announced that additional 15,000 hectare new tank/pond area will be developed for fresh water aquaculture in 30 districts by 2020 to create employment for 60,000 persons in fish farming directly and 1.2 lakh persons indirectly in ancillary activities.

The policy aims to step up the inland fish production in the State from 2.63 lakh ton to 5.3 lakh ton within a period of five years. Fish production in the State will be increased from 4.13 lakh ton to 7.15 lakh ton by 2019-20.

A proposal was approved to enact the Odisha Inland Fisheries Act considering the Model Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Act of the union agriculture ministry and other states.

The cabinet also gave its approval to a new scheme Biju Expressway to build a 4-lane economic corridor from Rourkela to Jagadalpur in Chhattisgarh.