The State Cabinet on Friday approved a scheme to rejuvenate the Mahanadi, the Tel, the Ib and other rivers by creating green cover along both sides of these rivers in five years with an estimated cost of Rs 448 crore.
“A green cover belt will be created within one km width from river bank along both sides of the Mahanadi, the Tel and the Ib during 2018-19. The other rivers like Baitarani, Brahmani, Rushikulya and their tributaries and distribuaries will have such plantation covers during 2019-20. The scheme is proposed to be implemented in five years from 2018-19 to 2022-23 and will cover 41,300 hectares of land spreading 1041 running km,” informed an official release.
The Cabinet, which met under chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat, also approved a tender of Rs 220.74 crore for construction of a new 100 seated Government medical college at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district on turnkey basis. The Tata Projects Limited was awarded the work order and would complete the project within two years without any price escalation.
Besides, a tender of Rs 116.92 crore was approved for construction of multi utility complex and PG students’ hostel at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatric (SVPP) (Sishu Bhawan) in Cuttack on turnkey basis. The Bridge and Roof Co (India) Limited would be awarded the work and has been asked to complete the project in two years without any price escalation.