Odisha News Today

New Delhi, Aug 30: Authorities in Nepal reported a grim toll from the floods, with 675 bodies recovered and 2,498 people still missing across mudslide ‑ hit regions. The Tourism Department confirmed that 753 tourists, including 589 foreign nationals, remain untraced. Meanwhile, Kathmandu’s District Administrative Office issued an urgent appeal, urging associations, enterprises, and individuals to donate relief supplies for victims in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts. Also read: Fresh Flood Alert in Nepal After Lake Outburst in Tibet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, on the other hand, announced on Sunday that the fourth Indian relief flight had landed in Kathmandu, carrying critical supplies and technical teams to bolster ongoing rescue and relief operations. “The fourth Indian flight has touched down in Kathmandu. It brings essential supplies and technical capabilities to support Nepal’s ongoing rescue & relief operations,” Jaishankar posted on X. The Indian Air Force C ‑ 130 aircraft transported 11 tonnes of assistance, including a tunnel technical contingent, search and rescue equipment, and a team of forensic experts with DNA analysis tools. Relief materials such as blankets, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, plastic sheets, and hygiene kits were also part of the consignment. Jaishankar highlighted India’s support in restoring damaged infrastructure. He said 16 trucks carrying equipment for a 230 ‑ foot Single Lane Modular Steel Bridge had already reached Nepal, while gear for installing seven Bailey bridges would follow soon. Technical teams required for the installations are also expected to arrive shortly. So far, India has airlifted 68.5 tonnes of relief material to Kathmandu, including medicines, portable generator sets, food packets, water purification tablets, and specialised equipment. “Our support to the relief and rescue efforts of Nepal continues,” Jaishankar affirmed. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that India began emergency relief on Wednesday with a C ‑ 130J Hercules aircraft carrying 10 tonnes of temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, and medicines. On Thursday, a C ‑ 17 Globemaster delivered another 37.5 tonnes of tents, blankets, dewatering pumps, kitchen sets, generator sets, medicines, and food items. The latest consignment underscores India’s commitment to providing both immediate humanitarian aid and technical assistance for rebuilding essential infrastructure in Nepal, as the country battles one of its worst flood disasters in recent memory. (IANS)

Bhubaneswar, Aug 29: Sambalpur MP and former Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday strongly rebutted Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly Naveen Patnaik’s criticism of the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026, terming the apprehensions ‘misleading’ and urging support for what he described as a historic reform in India’s mining sector. MMDR ସଂଶୋଧନ ବିଲ୍, ୨୦୨୬ କୁ ନେଇ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ବିରୋଧୀ ଦଳ ନେତା @Naveen_Odisha ଲେଖିଥିବା ଚିଠିପଢ଼ିବା ପରେ ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଲାଗୁଛି, ସତ୍ୟକୁ ଲୁଚାଇ ମିଛରେ ଭୟ ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରି ଓଡ଼ିଶାବାସୀଙ୍କୁ ବିଭ୍ରାନ୍ତ କରିବା ଉଚିତ୍ କି ? ସତ୍ୟ କଥା ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଆପଣଙ୍କର ସଙ୍କୋଚ କାହିଁକି? MMDR ସଂଶୋଧନ ଆଇନ ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ… pic.twitter.com/zyZHjsvt4b — Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) August 29, 2026 Pradhan’s Counter to Opposition Responding to Patnaik’s letter to Odisha MPs, Pradhan said hiding facts and creating fear among citizens was unacceptable. He stressed that the new law ensures nearly 90 per cent of mining revenue flows directly into the state treasury, safeguarding Odisha’s fiscal interests while boosting infrastructure, industrial growth, and employment. Revenue Growth Under Reforms Pradhan highlighted that Odisha’s mining revenue, which stood at just Rs5,000 crore annually before 2014, has surged to Rs50,000 crore under the Modi government’s transparent e‑auction policy introduced in 2015. He noted that royalty rates were raised from 10 to 15 per cent, significantly enhancing state income. Safeguarding Industry and Jobs The Sambalpur MP pointed to Section 9D of the Act, which caps arbitrary levies, thereby preventing shutdowns in key industrial belts such as Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Angul, and Jajpur. By stabilising raw material costs, he argued, the law protects steel, cement, and power prices, offering relief to middle‑class families while securing lakhs of jobs. DMF Funds and Accountability Pradhan also cited figures showing Odisha has received over Rs37,000 crore through the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) since 2015 for mining‑affected areas. He criticised the previous BJD government for misallocating funds, citing CAG reports that revealed spending in unaffected villages while neglecting genuinely impacted communities. Also Read: Dharmendra Pradhan Thanks PM Modi, Vaishnaw for Rs9,450-Cr Rail Projects In Odisha Call for Bipartisan Support Pradhan urged opposition leaders to rise above partisan politics and back the legislation, which he said strengthens both national development and Odisha’s economic future. “Odisha’s MPs have supported the Bill in Parliament for the larger interests of the state, industry, and youth employment,” he asserted.