Odisha seeks early establishment of National Institute of New Energy and Innovation

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and issue instructions to commence construction of the National Institute of New Energy and Innovation (NINEI) at the earliest.

Patnaik also requested to direct the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to re-open the regional office at Bhubaneswar.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister said the construction of the institute near IIT, Bhubaneswar has not yet been taken up despite a grant of advance possession of the required land.

In the meantime, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has issued an order dated 10th November 2017 to close down the Regional Office at Bhubaneswar with immediate effect, he added.

“Closure of the regional office may hamper the progress of the establishment of National Institute of New Energy and Innovation at Bhubaneswar,” said Patnaik.

He informed that the state government has already allocated 73.68 acres of land near IIT, Bhubaneswar for the institute.

Further, 1.00 acre of land has been identified in Bhubaneswar for the city office of the institute, said the Chief Minister.