India, Oct. 4 -- Extensive industrialisation is the main reason behind the sharp rise in Odisha's carbon footprint, former Chief Secretary Bijay Patnaik said today during a session on climate governance at the Earth Again Conference 2026 organised by Sambad at Utkal University in Bhubaneswar.

Speaking during the session titled 'Sensible Governance', Patnaik stressed the need for greater use of non-conventional and renewable sources of energy to address the state's growing environmental challenges.

He said Odisha could not stop industrialisation, but stronger implementation of existing environmental rules and regulations was necessary to reduce its adverse impact.

"Industrialisation cannot be stopped. We have many rules, but they have n...