Latest news with #SulochanaDas
Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
LED display boards in city defunct
Bhubaneswar: LED display boards installed across the city by different agencies and departments, intended to provide crucial information on a wide range of topics, such as water supply status and pollution level, have become defunct, allegedly due to a lack of repair and maintenance by authorities concerned. The LED boards, installed by entities, including the housing and urban development department, Water Corporation of Odisha (WATCO), Odisha State Pollution Control Board, the Smart City authorities and the commissionerate police, are strategically placed in key parts of the city. They serve a vital role in disseminating real-time information to the public. At several city junctions, these digital boards are designed to offer general information about the city, while others, located in strategic areas, provide updates on air pollution levels. Boards installed by the commissionerate police offer insights into police services and those by WATCO detail the water supply status across the city's 115 urban local bodies. The Smart City authorities have also installed additional digital boards as part of the smart city mission to communicate details of govt schemes, promote road safety and raise awareness about seasonal diseases such as dengue and diarrhoea. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perfectly Timed Photos You Won't Believe Are Real Read More Undo However, the current state of disrepair has rendered many of these boards non-functional, sparking public frustration. "This is sheer negligence by the authorities. They spent lakhs of public money on the installation of these boards. They should take responsibility for maintaining them. This is not smart governance by a smart city of India. The authorities should initiate the restoration work of the smart properties soon," Jagannath Hota, a resident of Acharya Vihar, said. In response to these concerns, city mayor Sulochana Das assured that the Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited is taking steps to address the issue and is in the process of selecting an expert agency. "We have decided to maintain these digital properties with the help of an agency and have recently floated a tender to finalise the process," she added. Das further said that the agency will be appointed soon to undertake the regular repair and maintenance work of these properties. "We will discuss with the other agencies that installed the boards and highlight the matter with them. Things will be resolved soon," she added. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and s ilver prices in your area.
New Indian Express
11-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Two lakh saplings to be planted in, around Bhubaneswar this year
BHUBANESWAR: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will plant two lakh saplings in the state capital and its periphery this year. Housing and Urban Development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, who inaugurated the plantation programme on Thursday, said developing urban forests using Miyawaki method will be given priority. The minister planted saplings at Nagar Van project area in Kalinga Nagar. Mayor Sulochana Das said keeping in view the success of Miyawaki forests at six places last year, this year's programme will include development of 20 more mini urban forests using the same method. 'The technique will help us plant more trees within small spaces and create small urban forests while addressing the constraints of open space in the city,' she said. In 2024-25, the BMC had set a target of planting one lakh saplings. However, the civic body could plant only around 60,000 due to space constraints. Over 20,000 saplings had been planted in Miyawaki forest project.
India Gazette
04-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Odisha officer assault case: Protesting workers to resume work tomorrow; internal security to be tightened
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 4 (ANI): Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor Sulochana Das on Friday stated that workers on protest would resume work tomorrow, further stating that new CCTV cameras would be installed and internal security would be strengthened. The BMC staff has been on a protest against the assault of BMC Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo. 'The workers had gone on strike, but they will work normally from has assured us of proper security. We will also have our internal security in CCTVs are being security is being strengthened,' Das told ANI. She further thanked the Odisha Police for arresting the culprit. 'I would like to thank the people of Odisha for their support to Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC)...I am grateful to Odisha Police, especially the Commissionerate Police, that despite immense pressure they arrested the culprit. People are feeling unsafe today, but that should not happen. People should feel safe and their trust in the Constitution should remain are doing their work, and we believe they will arrest all those who are involved. They will set an example for everyone so that nobody would dare to enter a public office and assault someone,' she further added. Earlier, Odisha Congress-in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu criticised the assault and stated that Odisha was turning into 'Jungle Raj.' He blamed the BJP, which is also the ruling party in Odisha, for the protest by the IAS fraternity, which has brought everything to a standstill. He said, 'Officers are not safe in Odisha. A municipal officer was dragged, kicked, and hit with shoes. It is clear who is responsible for this. All the IAS officers are protesting, and everything is at a standstill. In the state, where a conflict exists between the party and the government, where public interest and sentiments are not respected, such a place has turned into Jungle Raj.' Earlier, BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan surrendered at the DCP office in Bhubaneswar and was subsequently arrested by the police. The Bharatiya Janata Party's Odisha unit has suspended five of its members over their alleged involvement in the violence at the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) office, where Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo was assaulted on Monday. Odisha BJP's media cell said that the party's state unit chief Manmohan Samal has suspended five leaders - Corporator Aparup Narayan Raut, Rashmi Ranjan Mohapatra, Debashish Pradhan, Sachikanth Swain and Sanjeev Mishra, from the primary membership of the BJP based on allegations related to the violence at the BMC office. Apart from this, BMC has strongly condemned the assault on its Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo by a group of individuals. (ANI)
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Time of India
City to mirror Puri Rath Yatra grandeur
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Temple City Bhubaneswar is all set to celebrate the annual nine-day Rath Yatra with great pomp and devotion starting Friday. Thousands of devotees are expected to take part in chariot pulling at different places. Altogether 54 large and small chariots will roll, including that of ISKCON in Nayapalli, KISS campus, RCM campus, VSS Nagar, Vani Vihar, Rental Colony, Jagamara, Kolathia, Siripur, Baramunda, Old Town, and other localities where Jagannath temples are located. "We are expecting about 3 to 4 lakh devotees to throng the Rath Yatra celebrations and participate in chariot pulling on Friday. The govt authorities, including police, BMC, fire personnel, health department, and other line departments, have assured to provide all support for the smooth conduct of the festival," said Radhakanta Das, spokesperson of ISKCON temple at Nayapalli, one of the major crowd pullers in the city. To ensure smooth conduct of the festival, the commissionerate police has made elaborate security and traffic arrangements across the city. "Over 17 platoons of police force will be deployed across key chariot procession points. We are coordinating with temple committees to ensure the rituals go smoothly, while also maintaining law and order," said a senior police officer. Barricades have been put up in areas expecting heavy footfall. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Comfortably: 60 m² Prefab Bungalow for Seniors in Baguio Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo Traffic diversions and no-parking zones have been notified near major chariot routes. Quick Response Teams (QRTs), anti-sabotage squads, and CCTV surveillance have also been put in place, police said. Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken up sanitation, drinking water supply, and temporary toilet arrangements. "We want the devotees to have a comfortable and safe darshan experience. Special focus is on cleanliness and hygiene, considering the monsoon," said mayor Sulochana Das. The chariots will be pulled amidst colourful processions accompanied by troupes of various folk dance, music, and sankirtan performers. For many residents, the local Rath Yatra is a cherished spiritual tradition. "I have been pulling the chariot in our locality for over 15 years. It's not just a festival, but an important community gathering," said Radhakanta Das, 65, a resident of VSS Nagar. At several temples, the chariot of goddess Subhadra will be pulled exclusively by women devotees. Volunteers have been engaged for crowd management and smooth conduct of the festival across the city. Cultural programmes, bhajan sessions, and community feasts and prasad distribution are also being organised by local committees to add to the festive spirit.
New Indian Express
20-06-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Jaundice scare in Badagada, BMC checks ground situation
BHUBANESWAR: Amid concern over water-borne diseases in an apartment project in the state capital, reports of multiple jaundice cases have surfaced in Badagada prompting Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to dispatch a health team to the area on Thursday to assess the situation. Sources said jaundice cases have been detected in multiple residential colonies of Badagada area. 'Close to a dozen jaundice cases have detected in the locality in the recent weeks. The ongoing drainage work right above the water supply pipes could have caused leakage and contamination,' said a resident. As per a BMC official, after reports of suspected jaundice cases surfaced, a joint team of Urban Metropolitan Surveillance Unit, Rapid Response Team and ADUPHO office conducted field investigation to identify possible sources. The team visited Uparasahi, Karuna Basti and Kalinga Basti within Badagada locality. A BMC team led by mayor Sulochana Das had also visited Trident Galaxy apartment recently following reports of outbreak of diarrhoea, jaundice and other gastrointestinal diseases in the residential complex due to groundwater contamination. They had warned action against the developer for failing to comply with the sanitation norms. Meanwhile, in another development, the enforcement squad of BMC collected around Rs 11,000 towards fine from some roadside eateries in KIMS hospital area, over alleged violation of food safety norms. So far, three hotels and a packaged water unit have been sealed in the city for unhygiene practice. The crackdown will continue, said food safety officer Satyajit Patel.
