Bhubaneswar, Dec 4: The Odisha government has announced stricter measures to regulate ration card usage under the Food Security Act-2020. Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra stated that ration cards will be cancelled if beneficiaries fail to lift ration supplies continuously for six months.

Additionally, individuals found using Aadhaar cards to obtain ration benefits simultaneously from Odisha and other states will have their cards terminated. The government is also identifying deceased persons through Aadhaar surveys to eliminate ineligible beneficiaries. These steps are aimed at ensuring transparency, preventing duplication, and strengthening the state’s food security system.

The state government is expediting work on the ambitious Ekamra Project, which focuses on the conservation and beautification of heritage sites in Bhubaneswar. Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan informed that the project is targeted for partial completion by Maha Shivaratri and full completion by March next year.

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The project includes cleaning and rejuvenating the Bindusagar lake, restoring sacred sites such as Debipadahara and Papnashini, and improving the overall heritage landscape around the Lingaraj Temple. Weekly progress reports have been mandated to ensure accountability. The government has set June next year as the final deadline for the entire project.

The Ekamra Project will not only enhance the cultural and spiritual significance of Bhubaneswar but also boost tourism and local development.