Odisha Current Affairs 2024 (Daily Updated)

• The three-day program from January 27 to January 29 is being attended by 52 selected bird lovers from across India.
• Bird tour is scheduled for Mangalajodi-Nalabana for the last two days.
• Mangalajodi, located in the northeastern part of Chilka, Asia’s largest brackish water lake, is known as the “Bird Paradise of Asia“.

• SAMALEI project redevelopment plan worth Rs 200 crore announced on February 17, 2021.
• Project includes heritage gates, parking, vending zones, toilets, and housing for temple servitors.
• 30-meter-wide road connecting the temple zone to the Mahanadi river front constructed for daily rituals.
• Project covers 39 acres with a 1km heritage corridor, improved temple access, and amenities.
• Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation (OBCC) oversees SAMALEI scheme implementation.
• The government had also planned to develop 108 acres of area around the temple.

• Target to Achieve 100 metric tons of coal gasification by 2028-29, aligning with India’s goals of self-reliance and energy independence.
• Coal India Limited (CIL) will set up the plants in collaboration with GAIL and BHEL, with total investments of ₹13,052 crores and ₹11,782 crores, respectively.
• Coal India Limited (CIL) has signed MOUs with BHEL for setting up of Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate Project at Lakhanpur Area of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) in Jharsuguda district of Odisha a joint venture of CIL & BHEL, at an estimated project cost of Rs.11,782.05 Crore.

• Odisha Government on January 24 announced to establish a melanistic tiger safari — a first of its kind in the world.
• The Similipal Tiger Reserve is the only home for melanistic tigers in the wild in the world, says Odisha State Forest and Environment Department.
• The safari will be established near Baripada, the district headquarters town of Mayurbhanj.
• According to Susanta Nanda, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), the site is about 15 km from the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) matching the same landscape.

What are melanistic tigers?

Melanistic tigers, or Black tigers, are a rare color variant of Bengal tigers with a black coat caused by increased melanin. They are not a separate species but exhibit a unique genetic variation. The black coloration is uncommon, making them a rare and intriguing phenomenon within tiger diversity.

Patnaik described Satyabadi as the shrine of Odia literary renaissance and said, “Satyabadi was the karmabhoomi (workplace) of Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das”.

• The drone, which completed the 120km journey from the institute to CHC (Community Health Centre) Tangi in 70 minutes, carried essential blood supplies weighing around 2kg.
• The use of drones aims to enhance healthcare services in rural and semi-urban areas.
• Drones can transport various health products, including vaccines and diagnostic samples.
• The drone trial by AIIMS Bhubaneswar is part of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Surakshya Yojana (PMSSY) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

• Shri Setu along with Srimandir Parikrama Project was inaugurated in Puri.
• The 1.5-kilometer Shree Setu bridge connects Bhubaneswar and Brahmagiri to a multi-level parking spot at Jagannath Ballav.
• Pilgrims can now reach Sri Jagannath temple without entering the city, reducing travel time by up to an hour.
• Shree Setu is a 60-meter-wide bow-shaped bridge with four lanes, costing Rs 161 crore.
• One bridge is over the Mangalahat-Birharekrishnapur bypass, and the other is over the Mangalahat-Devighat road, facilitating entry and exit from the town.
• The redeveloped Jagannath Ballav parking space can accommodate 1600 vehicles, providing easy access to Srimandir.
• A beautiful gate welcomes devotees to Puri, and a viewing tower offers a bird’s eye view of the holy city.
• Trumpet bridges are used where one highway terminates at another, resembling trumpets in their design.

Project unveils a 75-metre heritage corridor around Puri’s Jagannath Temple featuring:

• Green buffer zone for a serene environment
• Reception area for 6,000 devotees to facilitate smooth entry
• Jagannath Ballav Pilgrimage Centre offers additional services
• Multi-level car parking to address congestion concerns
• Dedicated parikrama path for a comfortable circumambulation experience
• Public utility areas ensure convenience for visitors

Originally introduced in December 2019, the project faced delays due to:

• The COVID-19 pandemic disrupting construction timelines
• Draft by-laws issued by the National Monuments Authority in January 2021, imposing restrictions within the temple’s vicinity. These by-laws were later withdrawn at the request of the Chief Minister.

Overall, the successful inauguration marks a significant milestone in enhancing the pilgrim experience around the revered Jagannath Temple.

• On 11th January 2024 the logo of the inaugural ” Biswa Odia Bhasha Sammilani ” (World Odia Language Conference) with the tagline ” Bhasha Hin Bhabisyata ” (Language is the Future).
• The three-day conference starting on February 3 aims to discuss the future of the Odia language, as well as its promotion and propagation.
• Odia became the 6th Indian language, after Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Sanskrit, and Tamil, to receive the classical tag from the Centre in February 2014.

• Malkangiri Airport, built on 233 acres at a cost of ₹70 crore.

• The runway is 1602 meters long and 30 meters wide.

• A successful trial run of a nine-seater VT-100 double-engine flight occurred on January 7.

• Malkangiri Airport situated at Katelguda under Goudaguda panchayat on the outskirts of Malkangiri town.

• This is the first airport to be developed and operated by Odisha Govt.

• Improved connectivity for the Malkangiri district with air services.

• The ₹52 crore facility will be situated at the Odisha Biological Products Institute (OBPI) in Berhampur.

• Once operational, it aims to produce 2 crore doses of ENTV vaccine and 50 lakh doses of ASV vaccine annually.

• This production capacity will make Odisha self-sufficient in anthrax and enterotoxaemia vaccines.

• The facility will have the capability to supply vaccines to other states as well.

7 Products from Odisha Awarded Geographical Indication (GI) Tags.

Odia film “Dear Purusha” directed by Jiit Chakraborty and produced by Jhilik Motion Pictures makes history as the first Odia film to grace the Times Square billboard in New York City, showcasing the global recognition of regional Indian cinema’s artistic excellence.