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Tahtya reports that Chhatisgarh Futuristic Infrastructure Development Company (CFIDC) has floated a proposal to set up a Gems and Jewellery Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the state.

The company has come up with a proposal to set up a sector specific G&J SEZ at Bhubaneswar on a land of 150-200 hectare near the air port with an investment of Rs.250-Rs.300 crore.

Samaja also covers in its news.

Samaja reports that Paradeep oil refinery would function from October 2011.

However, there were many such announcements published earlier. Every time a new date is fixed. The project is already shifted 5 years from the actual schedule.

Mining and Metal: KBK plus region is rich in bauxite, gemstone, and other minerals. State government has made a special tax benefit for industrialists to establish industries in KBK. However, it is not enough to bring investment to a backward region like this where infrastructure is in bottleneck. Emphasis should be given by the state government in such a way that industrialists are convienced to invest in KBK plus region.

State government has already signed 43 MOUs only in the steel sector; if these are actually implemented then it is quite enough for a state like Orissa. Therefore, now the state government should modify a bit the exiting rule for steel industry putting a new clause that any new proposal to establish steel industry in the state will be considered only if it would be located in KBK plus region or Mayurbhanj district, otherwise mining rights would not be provided.

For growth of down stream industries in KBK Plus region NALCO, Vedanta Alumina Ltd, and Utkal Alumina Ltd should be encouraged to establish downstream industrial park at Koraput, Bhawanipatan and Rayagada respectively.

Irrigation and Hydroelectric Project: KBK plus region has the higher potential for generating electricity through hydroelectricity project that needs construction of new dams. If government can not support at a time, then private players should be encouraged to establish dam for hydroelectricity generation and irrigation purposes in this region.

Information Technology, BPO, and KPO: IT and BPO generate lots of employment in India recently. Bhubaneswar is already emerging as an IT and ITES destination in the country. In the next step the state government should expand these industries to other parts of the state. There are already plan for Rourkela and Berhampur. In future it may be expanded to Sambalpur and Balasore. Keeping geographical location in mind, the state government should establish at least three IT parks in Koraput, Bhawanipatna and Balangir for the whole region for IT, BPO and KPO.

Establishment of three real universities in the region would benefit these industries.

Biotechnology Park: As such KBK Plus region has a large forest area, therefore, it has great potential for biotechnology, especially for agricultural biotechnology, herbal biotechnology and medicinal biotechnology. Plantation of herbal plants and agricultural biotechnology in this region would be much beneficial.

KBK Plus region could be a very good source of ethanol from not only agriculture but also the forest. Mahul (a locally known forest flower that is used to make local wine) could be a good source for ethanol and methanol. Though wine is locally discouraged, nevertheless it can be used for industrial growth to export out side the country. The export market of Indian made wine and beer is flourishing recently. Orissa should encourage such activity by inviting major industrialists to invest in wine and food processing market to explore the possibility of local made products for export market so that it will benefit both the state government and local people that included tribal people who collect Mahul from the forest for local wine production.

The region would also be a source for bio-diesel and bio-fuel production.

Therefore, biotechnology parks in the three major towns such as Bhawanipatna, Koraput and Balangir to explore agricultural, herbal and medicinal biotechnology respectively in the region should be established.

Reference: KBK Plus region includes a single cluster of Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir, Subarnapur, Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Nawarangpur , Kandhamal, Boudh, Gajpati and Bargarh (Padampur sub-division only) districts of Orissa.

The New Indian Express reports that the state Government has decided to launch enterprise development rogramme in 200 villages in the catchment area of Upper Kolab HydroElectric Project to create alternative employment opportunities and nd dependence on forest.

This would include value addition to non-timber forest product, edicinal plants, agriculture and horticulture products, leaf plate aking, hill broom making, mushroom cultivation, spawn production, ruit preservation and opening of handicraft centre for bamboo articles.

Although its a novel initiative, it needs proper implimentation.

Moneycontrol India reportted the following.

Chinese steel company Baoshan Iron & Steel company or Baosteel is set to invest in a ferro chrome unit in Kalinganagar in Orissa, reports CNBC-TV18.

It futher says, it would be a joint venture with Visa Steel’s who has a 50,000 tpa ferro chrome unit in Kalinganagar to be commissioned in June.

The Telegraph reports that Mumbai-based Cabana Hotel Management plans to set up Best Western-branded hotels in Bhubaneswar.

“We are establishing hotels in Ooty (Udhagamandalam), Bangalore, Kanyakumari, Jaisalmer, Rameshwaram and Bhubaneswar, on which we will start construction soon,” Prabhu Goel, co-chairman of Cabana Group, said.

Orissa Road Projects to get Rs 1, 406 crore world bank aid

The Financial Express reported the following:

Of the total amount, Rs 415 crore would be invested during the current financial year to build the 68 km Bhawanipatna- Khariar road, 95 km stretch of Chandbali-Bhadrak-Anandapur road and 41 km Berhampur-Taptapani road. The Sambalpur- Rourkela, Joda-Bambri and Koira- Tensa-Rajamunda roads will be widened under the PPP mode.

The New Indian Express also reported that:

there is also a proposal to set up a Construction Academy akin to ne in Hyderabad to assist the capacity building activities of the state Government. The academy will train contractors and workers with modern construction techniques.

The New Indian Express goes on to say:

Earlier central government promised to:

(1) improve 1,000 km of National Highway of the State

(2) get Rs 2,200 crore under NHDP over a period of five years.

(3) have a mechanism to spend Rs 480 crore annually for development f National Highways against the present fund od Rs 80 crore from he National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

(4) construct Khordha-Balangir NH 224

These are few good inititives for developing road infrastructure of Orissa. In the first step such initiatives should be taken to directly link all district headquarters with the state capital in the shortest possible route through either national highway or Orissa Road project.