29th March 2025: theOdisha State Wildlife Board approved 14 major infrastructure development proposals related to forest and non-forest land use. These projects, which aim to enhance connectivity, water supply, and infrastructure in remote regions, will now be sent to the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) for final approval.
The decisions were made during the 10th meeting of the Standing Committee of the State Wildlife Board, held at Kharavela Bhawan, with Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia presiding. The Minister emphasized that the department supports development projects that promote public welfare, as long as they do not compromise the environment.
The meeting also reviewed previous projects approved in December 2023, including the installation of mobile towers in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts, the development of a Ro-Pax Jetty in Kendrapara, and the laying of optical fiber cables through Karlapat Sanctuary in Kalahandi. New proposals discussed include the construction of infrastructure in wildlife sanctuaries and tiger reserves such as Satkosia, Hadgarh, Sunabeda, and Chandaka Dampara.
Minister Singkhuntia reaffirmed the Odisha government’s commitment to a balanced approach, ensuring that development and environmental conservation progress together.