Odisha Government Sets Milestones to Complete FMD Centre.

As the International Centre for Foot and Mouth Disease (ICFMD) being set up by Department of Agriculture Research and Education (DARE) at Argul near Jatni is getting delayed, the State Government recently set milestones for project completion.

Chief Secretary GC Pati, who reviewed the project at a high level meeting here, advised Project Director Bramhadev to set quarterly milestones for construction of the project and apprise the Government about the progress at the end of each quarter.

The Chief Secretary asked the Project Director to complete the construction works by end of December, 2016. The Works and Energy departments have been directed to expedite the road and power connectivity to the project.

Pati further directed Bramhadev to construct rain water harvesting structures inside the campus for ground water recharge. He also advised Water Resources Department to explore technical possibilities of channelising rain and storm water outside the campus and recharge it to the ground near the campus.

Secretary, Fisheries & Animal Resource Development Bishnupada Sethi said this is a dream project for the State and it will be a leading institute in Asian continent. He assured all possible assistance from the Government for the project.

project’s Progress

2 Chief Secy asks the Project Director to complete the construction works by end of December, 2016

2 Works and Energy Depts have been directed to expedite the road and power connectivity to the project

2 The Centre will produce vaccine-virus for treatment of foot and mouth diseases of large and small animals

2 The Centre will be set up at an estimated cost of Rs. 450 crore

Replying to a media query after the meeting, Bramhadev said the Centre is being established by Indian Council of Agricultural Research in partnership with the State Government.

The cost of the project is about Rs. 450 crore. The state-of-the-art laboratory of the Centre will be a Bio Safety level (3+) and its design will be unique in entire Asian continent. The Centre will produce vaccine-virus for treatment of foot and mouth diseases of large and small animals.

Works Secretary Nalinikanta Pradhan, EIC-cum-Special Secretary, Water Resources Department Santosh Kumar Pattanaik and senior officers from ICFMD and departments concerned participated in the discussion.


THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS