Odisha Cabinet approves regulatory reforms and water supply schemes

The Odisha Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, has approved 18 proposals aimed at regulatory reform, water infrastructure, and land management.

A central component of these decisions is the Odisha Jan Vishwas Bill, 2026. This legislation seeks to streamline governance by amending 62 provisions across 16 State Acts. The reforms aim to decriminalize minor technical and procedural offenses, replacing imprisonment or heavy fines with monetary penalties. Additionally, the Bill intends to simplify business operations by reducing duplicate approvals, extending license validity, and introducing intimation-based registration.

In terms of infrastructure, the Cabinet approved a revised Buxi Jagabandhu Assured Water Supply to Habitations (BASUDHA) scheme with a state-funded outlay of Rs 5,045 crore for the period between 2026-27 and 2028-29. The scheme focuses on strengthening rural drinking water, addressing infrastructure gaps, and managing climate-related risks. The Cabinet also sanctioned the Rs 650 crore ‘Building Odisha’s Irrigation (Project) Tourism Amenities’ (BOITA) scheme to renovate historic irrigation structures.

Furthermore, the Shree Jagannath Temple Land Management Rules, 2026, were approved. This new system will replace previous policies with a fully online process for applications, verification, and settlement of temple lands, overseen by district-level committees and the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee.