Illegal sand mining and smuggling in 10 districts of Western Odisha are causing significant revenue losses to the state government. While these districts generate an annual revenue of approximately 20 crore rupees, intellectuals believe it could be much higher if illegal activities were curbed. Currently, 629 out of 1077 sand quarries are functional. Sambalpur district leads in revenue collection with 7.5 crore rupees annually, followed by Sundargarh and Kalahandi. https://sambad.in/state/annual-revenue-from-balighat-is-rs-20-crores-12182867

Jharsuguda district in Odisha is facing a severe environmental crisis as its forest cover has depleted to 14.87%, far below the required 33%. Rapid industrialization and coal mining over the last three decades are the primary causes. Reports indicate that 42% of forest land has been diverted for industrial use in the last 20 years. The upcoming three new coal blocks in Lakhanpur block threaten to further destroy the remaining greenery, including areas near the famous Koilighughar shrine, sparking deep concern among environmentalists. https://sambad.in/state/time-honored-industrial-journey-to-jharsuguda-12182874

During the month of Shravana, millions of Kanwariyas wear saffron-colored clothes while performing their pilgrimage to offer water to Lord Shiva. In Sanatan tradition, saffron represents sacrifice, penance, service, and devotion. It signifies the devotee's temporary detachment from worldly desires and complete surrender to God. Wearing this color is believed to enhance self-confidence and spiritual consciousness while fostering a sense of unity and discipline among the pilgrims. Devotees also follow strict rules like abstaining from alcohol, non-vegetarian food, and maintaining celibacy to make their journey successful and spiritually fruitful. https://argusnews.in/national/why-kanwariyas-wear-saffron-significance-in-sanatan-dharma

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has leveled serious allegations against the Delhi Police following a scuffle during a Parliament march. CJP claims that the police attacked a truck carrying party founder Abhijit Dipke, actor Prakash Raj, and Shabana Azmi. They alleged that protesters were beaten and police used excessive force. Conversely, the Delhi Police has dismissed these allegations as baseless and urged the public not to believe in social media rumors, maintaining that no such violence occurred. https://www.dharitri.com/cjp-accuses-delhi-police-of-assault-after-parliament-march-as-police-deny-violence-claims/

Paradip Excise Department arrested a professional drug peddler named Manoj Nandi alias Babar from Lockpada slum area. The team posed as customers to catch the accused during a deal. Brown sugar worth approximately 5 lakh rupees and 32,000 rupees in cash were seized from his possession. The accused has been sent to 14-day judicial custody after his bail was rejected by the Kujang court. https://sambad.in/crime/paradip-excise-arrests-alleged-drug-peddler-brown-sugar-worth-5-lakh-cash-seized-12182419

Protests were held in Puri, Odisha, demanding the resignations of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and State Education Minister Nityanand Gond. The protestors, including members from CITU, Congress, and CPI, demanded the abolition of NTA, cancellation of NEP 2020, and expressed outrage over the arrest of Sonam Wangchuk. They also highlighted issues like NEET paper leaks and errors in state textbooks containing unscientific and unhistorical information. A massive rally was conducted from PKDA Square to the District Collector's office. https://odishatazanews.com/?p=208091

Three BDA parks in Ward No. 15 of Bhubaneswar are facing severe maintenance issues. Parks in VIP Colony, Rental Colony, and Akshay Mohanty Park lack basic amenities like children's play equipment and yoga platforms. Residents complain about piled-up garbage, rusted gym equipment, and lack of drinking water. The BDA engineer stated that tenders have been called for improvements and sanitation work will be conducted soon. https://sambad.in/metro/bda-park-in-trouble-12182905

A new 160.18 km coastal highway connecting Rameshwar to Paradip is set to be constructed in Odisha at a cost of ₹8,300.79 crore. Spanning across Khordha, Puri, Kendrapara, and Jagatsinghpur districts, the project includes a 4-lane access-controlled section from Rameshwar to Konark and a 2-lane section from Konark to Paradip. Designed for speeds up to 100 km/h, it aims to reduce travel time by 2.5 hours, boosting spiritual tourism to Jagannath and Konark temples, while promoting local economy and logistics through the PM Gati Shakti initiative. https://sambad.in/state/odisha-rameswaram-paradip-coastal-highway-rs-8300-crore-project-12182649

A massive protest was held by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Delhi's Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister. Led by Abhijit Dipke following environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk's hospitalization, protesters marched towards Parliament. Police used lathi charge and tear gas to control the crowd, leading to injuries. A viral video shows a young woman crying and pleading with female police officers, stating that violence is not a solution. Security has been tightened in the area. https://www.dharitri.com/cjp-jantar-mantar-protest-march-to-parliament-abhijeet-dipke-girl-emotional-video-viral/

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah led a protest in Delhi demanding the restoration of full statehood for J&K. After being stopped by the police on their way to Jantar Mantar, Omar Abdullah traveled in an auto-rickshaw with his sons to continue the protest. The National Conference (NC) party has been demanding statehood since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which turned the state into two Union Territories. Omar emphasized that this protest is just the beginning of their fight for constitutional rights. https://sambad.in/india-and-beyond/demand-for-statehood-for-jammu-and-kashmir-12182400