Odisha seeks early construction of NINEI

Bhubaneswar, Jan 12 (IANS) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to issue instructions to commence construction of the National Institute of New Energy and Innovation (NINEI) in the state’s capital city at the earliest.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Patnaik also requested that he direct the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to re-open the regional office at Bhubaneswar.

"The construction of the institute near IIT, Bhubaneswar has not yet been taken up despite grant of advance possession of the required land. In the meantime, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has issued an order dated November 10, 2017, to close down the Regional Office at Bhubaneswar with immediate effect," said Patnaik.

He said the closure of the regional office may hamper the progress of establishment of National Institute of New Energy and Innovation at Bhubaneswar.

While commending the initiative of Central government to establish this institute of national repute in the state for promoting cutting edge R&D activities in the field of renewable energy, the state government had committed to provide the necessary infrastructure support for this prestigious project in the state.

"The state government has already allocated 73.68 acres of land near IIT, Bhubaneswar for the institute," said the Chief Minister.