Odisha implements industrial waste recovery and tech-driven environmental monitoring

The Odisha government is implementing a multi-pronged strategy to enhance industrial safety, environmental monitoring, and resource recovery. During recent high-level reviews, Chief Secretary Anu Garg and officials from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) outlined plans to modernize governance through technology and circular economy models.

To manage industrial residues, the state will mandate the use of heavy industrial by-products—including fly ash, metallurgical slag, red mud, and phosphogypsum—in highway and infrastructure construction projects. This “waste-to-wealth” initiative aims to convert mounting industrial liabilities into valuable resources for the regional supply chain.

Environmental protection efforts will be bolstered by upgrading the Centre for Management of Coastal Ecosystem into a Nodal Centre of Excellence and establishing a Command-and-Control Centre in Bhubaneswar. The state plans to deploy drones and robotic technology for water quality assessment and field surveillance.

Additionally, the State Crisis Group has ordered stricter safety enforcement and the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping to track hazards. These measures are intended to improve coordination between administrative departments and industrial operators to prevent chemical disasters and ensure rapid emergency response.