Odisha sets up SSWCA to clear tourism projects

Odisha government has set up a Special Single Window Clearance Authority (SSWCA) to clear relevant tourism projects. The 13-member committee, headed by the Chief Secretary, can approve tourism projects with a maximum investment proposal of Rs 50 crore.

From now onwords, investors need not run from one office to another to get their projects cleared as the committee has members from different departments. It is also empowered to consult experts before giving approval.

According to State Tourism Policy-2013, projects have to go through three-tier system of committees for clearance

NTPC to set up medical college & hospital in Odisha

National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) signed an MoU with the Odisha government for setting up a medical college and hospital in Sundergarh district at an investment of Rs 350 crore.

The state government is likely to provide 20 acres of land at Sundergarh town free of cost for the purpose. The project is likely to be completed by 2016-17. The medical college will have 100 MBBS seats as per the norms prescribed by the Medical Council of India and the hospital will have 400-beddded one.

Three medical college-cum-hospitals are already in the process of being set up in the tribal-dominated districts of Keonjhar, Kalahandi, Talcher (Angul), and at Sundergarh.

NSL to shift its plant to Odisha

Hyderabad-based NSL Nagapatanam Power and Infratech Private Limited has decided to relocate its 1,320 MW thermal power project from Tamil Nadu to Odisha following public protest there.

This will be the second power project of the company in the State after merger of Mahanadi Aban Power Company Limited with NSL Power as per the July 27, 2012 order of the Madras High Court.

The company is in the process of acquiring land for the second project in Angul district. It has applied for clearances from the State Government and the proposal is being scrutinised by the Industrial Investment Promotion Corporation of Odisha Limited (IPICOL).