Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet today approved a proposal to raise health insurance cover limit for former MLAs from the existing Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh and in addition to that they can avail medical allowance up to Rs 2000, sources said.

Similarly, another proposal to amend Forest Department Service Rules making +3 Science as the minimum qualification for jobs in the Department was approved by the Cabinet today at its meeting held at the State Secretariat here, sources added.

Sources said the Cabinet gave its approval to ‘The Odisha Groundwater (Regulation, Development and Management) Bill, 2011’.

Besides, the Cabinet approved a proposal to accord university status to GIET, Gunupur in Rayagada district, the sources added.

Further, a proposal to amend ‘The Odisha Cooperative Societies Rules’, for exclusion of nominal members from paying membership fees was approved by the Cabinet, sources said.

Moreover, a proposal with regard to water supply project of Belpahar Municipality in Jharsuguda district was approved by the Cabinet. Belpahar Municipality will draw water from Hirakud reservoir, the sources added.

However, there was no official briefing on the decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting since the State Assembly is in session.