Indian state cabinet gives approval for drinking water projects

Indian state Odisha’s cabinet has approved four mega drinking water projects worth Rs8002.7m ($106m) in Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Gajapati and Cuttack Districts.

Once completed, the projects will provide drinking water to 6.07 lakh additional population in 911 villages in the districts.

Additionally, the cabinet has approved 20 other proposals aiming for industrial and irrigation development.

Odisha State chief secretary AK Tripathy said: “The State Cabinet has approved the proposal to amend certain sections of the Factories Act 1948 to increase the threshold of workers in power generated industrial units from 10 to 20 whereas the limit has been increased to 40 from 20 workers in manual labour intensive industrial units.

“The State Cabinet has also approved the Amendment in Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR) 2007 and IPR 2015 to enable VAT reimbursement (fiscal incentives) substitute by net SGST incentives.”

Once incorporated, the amendment will help the MSMEs and large industries to set up new units and their expansion.

Furthermore, the cabinet approved the Gangadhar Meher Lift irrigation project which is worth Rs11386.3m ($152m).

This project will provide irrigation to 25,600ha of agricultural land in 124 villages in Baragarh district and Subarnapur district. It will also improve the farmers’ economic condition.

Last month, the World Bank agreed to provide a loan amount of $400m to the Government of India to enhance support for rejuvenating the Ganga River.

The total loan amount will enhance support for the government’s Namami Gange programme that seeks to ensure the river turns clean and perennial.