The Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha, facilitated the signing of a landmark tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Centre of Excellence on Low‑Carbon Construction Materials and Sustainable Development.
The MoU was signed between the Odisha Urban Academy (OUA), IIT Bhubaneswar, and Development Alternatives by Shri Suvendu Sahu, Professor Dinakar Pasla, and Shri Shashtant Patara, in the presence of Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra and Additional Chief Secretary Smt. Usha Padhee.
Minister Dr Mahapatra said that under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Odisha is advancing toward Viksit Odisha 2036, contributing to the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He described the Centre as a transformative initiative that will serve as a knowledge and innovation hub for sustainable urban growth.
As its first major project, the Centre will prepare a comprehensive roadmap for Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste Management for the Bhubaneswar–Cuttack–Khordha–Jatni–Pipili cluster, including scientific waste assessment, integrated management strategy, technology promotion, and institutional capacity building.
The partnership leverages the strengths of all three institutions: IIT Bhubaneswar will lead research and innovation; Development Alternatives will promote sustainable technologies; and OUA will drive policy support and capacity building among Urban Local Bodies.
Additional Chief Secretary Smt. Usha Padhee emphasised that integrating sustainable construction, scientific waste management, and evidence‑based planning will be crucial to building resilient, resource‑efficient, and environmentally sustainable cities in Odisha.
The Centre’s scope will later expand to urban air quality, solid waste management, water quality, and other sustainability interventions—positioning Odisha as a national leader in climate‑resilient urban development.
