By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, July 25, 2017: The Odisha Cabinet chaired by chief minister, Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday cleared 19 proposals including a proposal to begin work on 100-seat based government medical college in Keonjhar, a special legislation on fishing in Chilika, establishment of council of higher education, creating water supply infra in Baripada, Sambalpur Rourkela, Jharsuguda at Rs 318 crore among others.

“The tender for a 100-seated medical college and teaching hospital in Keonjhar was approved today. The funding will be done through the district mineral foundation. The cabinet has approved the lowest tender of Tata Projects for Rs 314 crores,” chief secretary Aditya Padhi told media persons.

The Cabinet also approved promulgation of an ordinance for establishment of a Council of Higher Education in Odisha. The council will be headed by Minister for Higher Education while the vice-chairperson, an administrator in the rank of a professor will be appointed by the Government.

Fifteen other members of the council will be vice-chancellors of different universities, two principals from autonomous colleges, scientists and educationists. Selection of member, secretary and vice-chairperson of the council will be done through a search committee to be constituted by the State Government.

The Cabinet also vetted a proposal for introduction of the Odisha Regulation of Fishing and Fisheries in Chilika Act, 2017 in next session of the Assembly for regulating the fishery activities in a responsible and sustainable manner and address the rights of the traditional fishermen living in and around the lake.

The activities to be prohibited include fishing in outer channel, use of zero net, mantle nets and net box having mesh size less than 10 mm, capture of some important species of fishes, prawns and crab below a particular size. Besides, mullet fishing during breeding seasons and aquaculture including pen, cage and gherri culture will also be prohibited, Padhi said.

In a major boost to Aviation, the Cabinet approved a reduction of VAT to 1% on Aviation Turbine Fuel at 4 upcoming airports in Odisha under the Udan Scheme for 10 years. VAT on aviation turbine fuel was five per cent under the regional connectivity scheme at airports for 10 years.

Besides, the Cabinet gave its nod for creating water supply infra in Baripada, Sambalpur Rourkela, Jharsuguda at Rs 318 crore to ensure safe drinking water for over 13.92 lakh people.

These apart, the Cabinet cleared the tender for construction of sewerage system for Bhubaneswar sewerage district 1 and Bhubaneswar sewerage district III.

The Chief Secretary said two contracts for laying sewer network for Bhubaneswar sewerage district I and II as a single package and Bhubaneswar district III as a separate package were awarded to East Coast Construction Industries Limited (ECCI Limited), Chennai in 2007 at Rs 136 crore and Rs 150 crore respectively.

The Cabinet also decided that entrepreneurs will not be eligible for any subsidy for setting up rice hullers, rice mills, flour mills and pulse mills as these have been included in the list of ineligible enterprises. Besides, the Cabinet gave post facto approval to notifications already issued specifying different rates of tax and services, exemptions and refund of tax under the Odisha Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017.