
Let us not choke oceans: Naveen
'Oceans are the lungs of our planet and sustain life on Earth. Oceans generate oxygen, regulate climate and are major sources of food and medicine. On #WorldOceansDay, let us take a pledge not to choke the oceans with plastic waste for a healthier planet,' Patnaik said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, environmental group Greenpeace India created a sand art at Chandrabhaga beach in Konark to highlight the critical role the ocean plays in sustaining biodiversity, regulating the climate and supporting coastal communities.
'The sinking of a cargo ship (on May 25) offshore in Kerala is not an isolated incident. From Odisha to Kerala, our oceans are facing multiple challenges, including climate change, pollution, overfishing and industrial activities,' Greenpeace India said in a statement.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
HC dismisses BJP MLA's plea for gag order against BJD leader
Cuttack: Orissa high court on Thursday dismissed a plea by BJP MLA and deputy chief minister Kanak Vardan Singh Deo seeking a gag order against BJD leader Saroj Kumar Meher from making media statements about an ongoing election petition related to the 2024 Patnagarh assembly polls. Justice Ananda Chandra Behera, delivering the order on July 31, observed that Meher, who lost to Singh Deo and later challenged the election result, cannot be restrained from giving accurate statements regarding court proceedings to the media. The judge said such reporting fosters transparency and public confidence in the judicial process. Meher had filed an election petition seeking to declare Singh Deo's election void, alleging improper acceptance of his nomination papers despite alleged procedural lapses. Singh Deo, in an interlocutory application, alleged that Meher made derogatory and misleading comments to the media. He claimed the remarks damaged his public image and sought a temporary injunction. In an unrelated case, the high court dismissed an election petition filed by BJP candidate Lalit Kumar Behera, who had challenged the 2024 re-election of BJD legislator Dhruba Charan Sahoo from Rajnagar. Justice Behera rejected the petition on July 28, when neither the election petitioner nor his counsel was present in the court during the hearing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Behera, who lost the election to Sahoo by a margin of 1,817 votes, had moved the court on July 19, 2024 alleging that Sahoo's nomination was improperly accepted by the returning officer in violation of statutory norms under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.


India Today
a day ago
- India Today
Is Bhubaneswar metro rail project changing course or going off-track?
The Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project has hit a major roadblock as the executing firm, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), terminated its construction contracts with Ceigall India Limited and Ranjit Buildcon Limited, citing prolonged delays and lack of progress on the ground for the past eight move, formalised on July 25, effectively cancels the design and construction work for elevated viaducts and six stations between Nandan Vihar and Trisulia Square, including the depot ramp, bringing renewed scrutiny to the ambitious project launched by the previous Naveen Patnaik to filings under SEBI's disclosure norms, Ceigall India was informed that the project has been scrapped in its current form. The company has stated it will explore contractual remedies for close to the project confirmed work had been stalled for several months due to a mix of logistical, financial and coordination challenges between the contractors and DMRC. Officials, however, clarified that the termination of contracts was intended to allow for a comprehensive reset, and did not mean abandonment of the metro rail plan altogether. Government sources insisted the Bhubaneswar Metro project was still alive, with a revised vision underway. A high-level sub-committee, led by deputy chief minister K.V. Singh Deo, met on July 16 to chart out the capital's urban mobility roadmap, placing metro connectivity at its the meeting, law minister Prithviraj Harichandan announced that a new Detailed Project Report (DPR) was being prepared. Once the revised DPR is finalised, the project will move forward with fresh in a statement in Parliament, Union minister of state for housing and urban affairs Tokhan Sahu revealed that the Centre had not received any formal proposal for a metro project in Bhubaneswar. The capital of Odisha was notably missing from a list of 17 cities under active consideration for metro rail. Sahu clarified that urban planning was a state subject and financial assistance from the Centre was contingent upon the feasibility and submission of proposals submitted by the the setback, the BJP government in Odisha has signalled its intention to proceed with the project. State urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said the previous Biju Janata Dal government's fully state-funded plan, costing Rs 5,000 crore, lacked feasibility and central collaboration, and that the BJP administration now aimed to implement a more viable metro rail project in partnership with the Centre, revising the DPR accordingly and preparing to approach the Union government for support. Mahapatra criticised the earlier plan to connect the Biju Patnaik International Airport with Trisulia Square via an elevated 26-km-long corridor as poorly initial phase of the metro project had awarded the 7.12-km-long Capital Hospital-Acharya Vihar Square and 7.27-km-long Acharya Vihar-KIIT Square stretches to Ranjit Buildcon Ltd for Rs 561 crore and Rs 625 crore, respectively. Ceigall India Ltd had been assigned the 10.97-km-long KIIT Square-Trisulia Square segment for Rs 899 Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Corporation Limited confirmed that the contracts were cancelled due to the project's changing scope and in order to avoid wasting manpower during the construction freeze. Officials reiterated that the partnership with DMRC was intact and that the project would resume with a revised chief minister Naveen Patnaik criticised the BJP government's decision, calling it a betrayal of people's aspirations and a setback that would push Bhubaneswar a decade behind. He said the metro project was a cornerstone in transforming Bhubaneswar into a global city with modern transport and seamless connectivity. Patnaik insisted his government had committed to completing Phase 1 of the project by 2027 and accused the 'double-engine government' of stalling a critical urban transformation effort. Adding to the chorus, senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik called the development deeply defended the government's course correction, explaining that the revised plan aimed to ensure better viability and integration within Bhubaneswar's expanding infrastructure. Further, the inter-ministerial committee, headed by Singh Deo, would examine metro rail models in other cities before finalising a long-term, comprehensive urban mobility strategy for to India Today Magazine- Ends


The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Chinese e-commerce platform AliExpress' doormat with Lord Jagannath image sparks outrage; Odisha demands apology
A major controversy erupted in Odisha as it came to light that Chinese e-commerce platform AliExpress was selling doormats featuring the image of Lord Jagannath. The State's Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida criticised as "offensive" the act of printing the image of Lord Jagannath on doormats and selling the products, and demanded an apology from the firm. Taking to X, Ms. Parida said, "Mahaprabhu Jagannath is deeply connected to the soul and emotions of every Odia. I strongly condemn Chinese e-commerce platform @AliExpress_EN for selling doormats featuring Mahaprabhu Jagannath's image. @AliExpress_EN must remove the listing immediately and apologise to devotees for this offensive act." AliExpress, in response to an X post by Odisha's Congress MLA Sofia Firdous, said the product has been removed. "We appreciate your report. The item has been reviewed and removed. Community input helps us improve our platform and strengthen our content checks. Thank you for helping us create a safe and friendly online shopping experience," it said. Ms. Firdous, in her post, stated, 'Strongly condemn the blasphemous act of selling doormats with the sacred image of Lord Jagannath on @AliExpress_EN. This is a grave insult to millions of devotees and a serious attack on cultural and religious sentiments. Immediate action must be taken to remove the listing and issue a public apology.' Eminent sand artist and Padma Shri awardee Sudarshan Pattnaik also condemned the act. "Jai Jagannath. We appeal to all devotees worldwide to raise their voice against this unacceptable act. The sacred image of Mahaprabhu Jagannath on a doormat sold by @AliExpress_EN is deeply offensive. Remove it, apologise, and ensure this never happens again," he said. Former MP and BJD leader Amar Patnaik also condemned the e-commerce platform. "I vehemently condemn the egregious act of selling doormats with the sacred image of Lord Jagannath on AliExpress! This shameless profanity is an affront to the deepest sentiments of millions of devotees, trampling upon the revered iconography with utter disregard. "It's a desecration of the highest order and those responsible must be held accountable. The fact that Lord Jagannath's image is being used as a mere commodity is a stark reminder of the blatant disrespect towards Hinduism. Immediate action is imperative to rectify this egregious wrongdoing and restore dignity to the revered deity," he said.