Odisha has decided to launch a new agricultural scheme called Nabakrushna Choudhury Seccha Unnayan Yojana
- The new scheme has the estimated cost of Rs 635 crore and it aims to provide irrigation facility to about 55,000 hectare of agricultural land across the state.
- The scheme has been named after former chief minister and freedom fighter Nabakrushna Choudhury.
- Under the scheme, 46,296 hectare command area of 14 major and medium irrigations and 284 minor irrigation projects will be revived
- The cabinet has decided to reduce the rate of VAT to 5 per cent on use of natural gas in industrial and domestic sectors while it will be 15 per cent when used as fuel in vehicles
- The cabinet of the state has also approved amendment to the Wildlife (protection) (Odisha) Rules, 1974.
- The amendment is made for enhancement of compensation payment for human killing and death of sheep, goat and lamb by wild animals.
- From now, family members of someone killed in wild animal would attack get Rs 4 lakh as compensation instead of Rs 3 lakh given earlier
- The cabinet also approved a proposal to take Rs 1071 crore loan from the World Bank for development of infrastructure in 140 colleges and 11 universities.
