The Statesman, July 28, 2007
Statesman News service
BHAWANIPATNA, July 27: The periphery area development work undertaken by Vedanta Alumina in Kalahandi was reviewed and programmes for the year chalked out in the rehabilitation advisory committee meeting held here yesterday evening presided over by Mrs CTM Suguna, the revenue divisional commissioner (Southern Division).
It was revealed in the meeting that the company has so far invested Rs 15.97 crore towards periphery area development works in the district. It was decided for investing Rs 5 crore during the current year in various development activities. Out if it, Rs 1.5 crore will be invested to create infrastructure to set up a polytechnic college in Bhawanipatna, the company will contribute Rs 3 crore towards the polytechnic college and rest will be arranged by the government and other sources.
At the meeting, it was suggested to the company to provide shareholder facility to the persons whose lands have been acquired and those who have been displaced.
Among others, Lok Sabha member Mr Bikram Keshari Deo, MLAs Mr Balabhadra Majhi, Mr Himanshu Meher, Mr Puspendra Singh Deo, collector of Kalahandi, other members of the advisory committee and district-level line department officials participated in the advisory committee meeting.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Govt withdraws proposal for two elephant reserves
The New Indian Express, July 30, 2007
BHUBANESWAR: After sitting on Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF)'s approval for close to a year, the Orissa Government has withdrawn its proposals for creation of two new elephant reserves (ERs).
Besides going back on the new reserves, the Government has at the same time requested that proposal for expansion of the territories of two existing ERs be dropped by the Centre.
Strange as it may sound but insiders say the plan to withdraw proposals is a calculated move to eschew environmental clearance problems as the ERs will be located in crucial mining areas.
The Department of Forest and Environment of the Orissa Government on July 26 wrote a letter to IG (Forests-Wildlife) informing its decision to withdraw the proposals.
Currently, Orissa has three ERs - Mayurbhanj, Mahanadi and Sambalpur - that account for about 1000 of the jumbos. The State is home to 1640 elephants.
Earlier last year, Department of Forest and Environment submitted proposals for two new reserves - Baitarani and South Orissa - while seeking expansion of Sambalpur and Mahanadi ERs. The Directorate, Project Elephant cleared the proposals and only a formal notification by State Government declaring these two as elephant reserves was awaited.
However, the State Government sat on the notifications for a year before it arrived at the decision to withdraw the same.
While the proposed-and-cleared Baitarani ER comprised regions of Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Angul and Dhenkanal districts, South Orissa included pockets of Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Kalahandi districts which explains why the State Government appears reluctant to declare them reserve areas, a senior officer of the Forest and Environment Department said.
“Mines of some of the proposed mega steel and aluminium plants are located in the districts such as Keonjhar, Sundargarh and Kalahandi. Once these are part of ERs, environmental clearances will face hurdles,” sources said.
The 4216 sq km South Orissa ER comprised a crucial wildlife sancturay such as Karlapat while Baitarani, with a proposed area of 10,560 sq km, will have Keonjhar, Angul and importantly Bonai forest divisions as its components.
The State Government's decision will also cost it Central assistance which it received elephant management. Beginning 2001-02 till 2005-06, Orissa got over Rs 5.7 crore from Project Elephant for its three ERs
BHUBANESWAR: After sitting on Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF)'s approval for close to a year, the Orissa Government has withdrawn its proposals for creation of two new elephant reserves (ERs).
Besides going back on the new reserves, the Government has at the same time requested that proposal for expansion of the territories of two existing ERs be dropped by the Centre.
Strange as it may sound but insiders say the plan to withdraw proposals is a calculated move to eschew environmental clearance problems as the ERs will be located in crucial mining areas.
The Department of Forest and Environment of the Orissa Government on July 26 wrote a letter to IG (Forests-Wildlife) informing its decision to withdraw the proposals.
Currently, Orissa has three ERs - Mayurbhanj, Mahanadi and Sambalpur - that account for about 1000 of the jumbos. The State is home to 1640 elephants.
Earlier last year, Department of Forest and Environment submitted proposals for two new reserves - Baitarani and South Orissa - while seeking expansion of Sambalpur and Mahanadi ERs. The Directorate, Project Elephant cleared the proposals and only a formal notification by State Government declaring these two as elephant reserves was awaited.
However, the State Government sat on the notifications for a year before it arrived at the decision to withdraw the same.
While the proposed-and-cleared Baitarani ER comprised regions of Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Angul and Dhenkanal districts, South Orissa included pockets of Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Kalahandi districts which explains why the State Government appears reluctant to declare them reserve areas, a senior officer of the Forest and Environment Department said.
“Mines of some of the proposed mega steel and aluminium plants are located in the districts such as Keonjhar, Sundargarh and Kalahandi. Once these are part of ERs, environmental clearances will face hurdles,” sources said.
The 4216 sq km South Orissa ER comprised a crucial wildlife sancturay such as Karlapat while Baitarani, with a proposed area of 10,560 sq km, will have Keonjhar, Angul and importantly Bonai forest divisions as its components.
The State Government's decision will also cost it Central assistance which it received elephant management. Beginning 2001-02 till 2005-06, Orissa got over Rs 5.7 crore from Project Elephant for its three ERs
Monday, July 23, 2007
Truck loaded with medicines seized
The New Indian Express, July 23, 2007
BHAWANIPATNA: Police on Saturday night raided a godown of a medicine store and seized a mini-truck loaded with medicines. The consignment was about to leave the godown when police reached the spot.
SP Sarat Chandra Chau Pattnaik said five medicine godowns in different places of the district have been sealed. However, as the Drug Inspector is not available, proper verification of the medicines has not been done, he added.
The Drug Controller of the State has been apprised of the situation, he said. On Saturday, a citizen committee led by former Bhawanipatna municipal chairman Devi Mishra had met the SP and sought stern action against the spurious medicine dealers in the district.
RAYAGADA: The medicine shops here that always remained open till midnight, downed their shutters on Sunday afternoon after the district administration began raids to detect fake medicines. On Sunday afternoon, Bijaya medical store at Kolonara was raided and fake medicines worth over one lakh seized.
Owner of the store claimed that the medicines were purchased from a wholesaler in Rayagada following which the investigating officers were also sent to the wholesale units and retail units that dealt with the medicines. Receiving information, all other medicine shops in the area were closed.
BHAWANIPATNA: Police on Saturday night raided a godown of a medicine store and seized a mini-truck loaded with medicines. The consignment was about to leave the godown when police reached the spot.
SP Sarat Chandra Chau Pattnaik said five medicine godowns in different places of the district have been sealed. However, as the Drug Inspector is not available, proper verification of the medicines has not been done, he added.
The Drug Controller of the State has been apprised of the situation, he said. On Saturday, a citizen committee led by former Bhawanipatna municipal chairman Devi Mishra had met the SP and sought stern action against the spurious medicine dealers in the district.
RAYAGADA: The medicine shops here that always remained open till midnight, downed their shutters on Sunday afternoon after the district administration began raids to detect fake medicines. On Sunday afternoon, Bijaya medical store at Kolonara was raided and fake medicines worth over one lakh seized.
Owner of the store claimed that the medicines were purchased from a wholesaler in Rayagada following which the investigating officers were also sent to the wholesale units and retail units that dealt with the medicines. Receiving information, all other medicine shops in the area were closed.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Squads to check PDS system
The Statesman, July 19, 2007
Bhawanipatna, July 18: Despite several rules on public distribution in effect, proper distribution of essential commodities is continuing to be a problem in Kalahandi in the recent time with the allegations of black-marketing and pilferage on the rise. The scenario is more acute in interior areas and a matter of concern at all levels, including district administration.
The district administration off late has risen to the occasion and a high level meeting chaired by collector held here decided to form a squad consisting of revenue and supply department officials and police. It is programmed that the squads will periodically conduct surprise raids on storage agents, control dealers, petrol pumps, rice mills and other business houses. In the event of detection of black-marketing or pilferage of essential commodities, the erring persons will be prosecuted. Anyone committing the wrongdoing will not be spared, collector Mr PC Patnaik said. n SNS
Bhawanipatna, July 18: Despite several rules on public distribution in effect, proper distribution of essential commodities is continuing to be a problem in Kalahandi in the recent time with the allegations of black-marketing and pilferage on the rise. The scenario is more acute in interior areas and a matter of concern at all levels, including district administration.
The district administration off late has risen to the occasion and a high level meeting chaired by collector held here decided to form a squad consisting of revenue and supply department officials and police. It is programmed that the squads will periodically conduct surprise raids on storage agents, control dealers, petrol pumps, rice mills and other business houses. In the event of detection of black-marketing or pilferage of essential commodities, the erring persons will be prosecuted. Anyone committing the wrongdoing will not be spared, collector Mr PC Patnaik said. n SNS
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Demonstaration for Vedanta Alumina project
Business Standard, July 15, 2007
BS Reporter / Bhubaneswar July 15, 2007
The row over Vedanta Alumina project at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district took a new turn with the supporters of the project staging a demonstration in front of the state assembly demanding government intervention for its smooth implementation.
This follows a rally in Bhubaneswar by the opponents of the project under the banner of Green Kalahandi three days back. The rally was organized to highlight the adverse impact of the project on the local environment and was led by Congress leader and former Union minister Bhakta Charan Das.
The pro-project demonstrators led by three ruling combine MLAs from Kalahandi, Balabhadra Majhi, Beer Sipka and Puspendra Singhdeo later met chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, leader of opposition J B Patnaik, Speaker Maheswar Mohanty and gave memorandum in support of the project. They also submitted a memorandum to the governor through his secretary.
In the memorandum, the project supporters suggested the state government extend all help to the refinery project which is ready for commercial production. The development of a backward district like Kalahandi can be expedited through this alumina refinery, they
argued.
The memorandum further pointed out that the company has started taking initiatives for social and educational development of the area. The forest and environment will not deteriorate as is being propagated by Green Kalahandi, it asserted.
In this backdrop the project supporters drew the attention of the government to hand over the bauxite mining lease at Niyamgiri to the company and allow it to use water of Tel river. They criticized the attempt of Bhakta Charan Das to derail the industrialization process of the district.
Earlier, addressing the media, Balabhadra Majhi the BJD MLA from Nalra in Kalahandi said, Vedana has provided direct and indirect employment to about 400 people. While 150 persons have been provided direct employment, 250 persons were indirectly employed.
The project, when completed, will provide direct employment to about 1,100 people besides creating self employment opportunities for many more, he added.
He said, it is strange that Das is opposing the project now, while he himself had written to the then Prime minister to set up this plant in Kalahandi. The movement in support of the project, he warned, will be
intensified in coming days with a convention of 50,000 people and a prayer to the Supreme Court of India.
He demanded that the state government should provide all the facilities required by Vedanta at Langigarh.
BS Reporter / Bhubaneswar July 15, 2007
The row over Vedanta Alumina project at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district took a new turn with the supporters of the project staging a demonstration in front of the state assembly demanding government intervention for its smooth implementation.
This follows a rally in Bhubaneswar by the opponents of the project under the banner of Green Kalahandi three days back. The rally was organized to highlight the adverse impact of the project on the local environment and was led by Congress leader and former Union minister Bhakta Charan Das.
The pro-project demonstrators led by three ruling combine MLAs from Kalahandi, Balabhadra Majhi, Beer Sipka and Puspendra Singhdeo later met chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, leader of opposition J B Patnaik, Speaker Maheswar Mohanty and gave memorandum in support of the project. They also submitted a memorandum to the governor through his secretary.
In the memorandum, the project supporters suggested the state government extend all help to the refinery project which is ready for commercial production. The development of a backward district like Kalahandi can be expedited through this alumina refinery, they
argued.
The memorandum further pointed out that the company has started taking initiatives for social and educational development of the area. The forest and environment will not deteriorate as is being propagated by Green Kalahandi, it asserted.
In this backdrop the project supporters drew the attention of the government to hand over the bauxite mining lease at Niyamgiri to the company and allow it to use water of Tel river. They criticized the attempt of Bhakta Charan Das to derail the industrialization process of the district.
Earlier, addressing the media, Balabhadra Majhi the BJD MLA from Nalra in Kalahandi said, Vedana has provided direct and indirect employment to about 400 people. While 150 persons have been provided direct employment, 250 persons were indirectly employed.
The project, when completed, will provide direct employment to about 1,100 people besides creating self employment opportunities for many more, he added.
He said, it is strange that Das is opposing the project now, while he himself had written to the then Prime minister to set up this plant in Kalahandi. The movement in support of the project, he warned, will be
intensified in coming days with a convention of 50,000 people and a prayer to the Supreme Court of India.
He demanded that the state government should provide all the facilities required by Vedanta at Langigarh.
Demonstaration for Vedanta Alumina project
Business Standard, July 15, 2007
The row over Vedanta Alumina project at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district took a new turn with the supporters of the project staging a demonstration in front of the state assembly demanding government intervention for its smooth implementation.
This follows a rally in Bhubaneswar by the opponents of the project under the banner of Green Kalahandi three days back. The rally was organized to highlight the adverse impact of the project on the local environment and was led by Congress leader and former Union minister Bhakta Charan Das.
The pro-project demonstrators led by three ruling combine MLAs from Kalahandi, Balabhadra Majhi, Beer Sipka and Puspendra Singhdeo later met chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, leader of opposition J B Patnaik, Speaker Maheswar Mohanty and gave memorandum in support of the project. They also submitted a memorandum to the governor through his secretary.
In the memorandum, the project supporters suggested the state government extend all help to the refinery project which is ready for commercial production. The development of a backward district like Kalahandi can be expedited through this alumina refinery, they
argued.
The memorandum further pointed out that the company has started taking initiatives for social and educational development of the area. The forest and environment will not deteriorate as is being propagated by Green Kalahandi, it asserted.
In this backdrop the project supporters drew the attention of the government to hand over the bauxite mining lease at Niyamgiri to the company and allow it to use water of Tel river. They criticized the attempt of Bhakta Charan Das to derail the industrialization process of the district.
Earlier, addressing the media, Balabhadra Majhi the BJD MLA from Nalra in Kalahandi said, Vedana has provided direct and indirect employment to about 400 people. While 150 persons have been provided direct employment, 250 persons were indirectly employed.
The project, when completed, will provide direct employment to about 1,100 people besides creating self employment opportunities for many more, he added.
He said, it is strange that Das is opposing the project now, while he himself had written to the then Prime minister to set up this plant in Kalahandi. The movement in support of the project, he warned, will be
intensified in coming days with a convention of 50,000 people and a prayer to the Supreme Court of India.
He demanded that the state government should provide all the facilities required by Vedanta at Langigarh.
The row over Vedanta Alumina project at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district took a new turn with the supporters of the project staging a demonstration in front of the state assembly demanding government intervention for its smooth implementation.
This follows a rally in Bhubaneswar by the opponents of the project under the banner of Green Kalahandi three days back. The rally was organized to highlight the adverse impact of the project on the local environment and was led by Congress leader and former Union minister Bhakta Charan Das.
The pro-project demonstrators led by three ruling combine MLAs from Kalahandi, Balabhadra Majhi, Beer Sipka and Puspendra Singhdeo later met chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, leader of opposition J B Patnaik, Speaker Maheswar Mohanty and gave memorandum in support of the project. They also submitted a memorandum to the governor through his secretary.
In the memorandum, the project supporters suggested the state government extend all help to the refinery project which is ready for commercial production. The development of a backward district like Kalahandi can be expedited through this alumina refinery, they
argued.
The memorandum further pointed out that the company has started taking initiatives for social and educational development of the area. The forest and environment will not deteriorate as is being propagated by Green Kalahandi, it asserted.
In this backdrop the project supporters drew the attention of the government to hand over the bauxite mining lease at Niyamgiri to the company and allow it to use water of Tel river. They criticized the attempt of Bhakta Charan Das to derail the industrialization process of the district.
Earlier, addressing the media, Balabhadra Majhi the BJD MLA from Nalra in Kalahandi said, Vedana has provided direct and indirect employment to about 400 people. While 150 persons have been provided direct employment, 250 persons were indirectly employed.
The project, when completed, will provide direct employment to about 1,100 people besides creating self employment opportunities for many more, he added.
He said, it is strange that Das is opposing the project now, while he himself had written to the then Prime minister to set up this plant in Kalahandi. The movement in support of the project, he warned, will be
intensified in coming days with a convention of 50,000 people and a prayer to the Supreme Court of India.
He demanded that the state government should provide all the facilities required by Vedanta at Langigarh.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Wait for light ends
The Statesman, July 12, 2007
Statesman News Service
BHAWANIPATNA, July 11: After long wait of three years, 70 remote villages of Thuamul Rampur and Madanpur Rampur blocks of Kalahandi will at last get electrification benefit through non-conventional energy sources by coming December. The matter was reviewed here in the district level advisory committee of renewably energy, presided by the district collector Mr Pramod Kumar Patnaik.
It will be implemented by OREDA (Orissa Renewable Energy Development Agency) under the Remote Village Electrification Programme of the ministry of new and renewable energy, govt. of India. The ministry has provided central assistance of about Rs.4.38 crore for this purpose.
The beneficiary families will only have to pay Rs.5 towards membership and Rs. 100 for connection charges. Under this programme 40 villages of Thuamul Rampur block and 30 villages of Madanpur Rampur block will be benefited. Out of the 70 villages, 58 villages will be provided power by connection of individual solar energy system, five villages will be electrified by bio-mass power plant and 7 villages through Solar Power Plants.
Besides this project, proposals for non-conventional Electrification of 380 more remote villages pending for long was mooted. This proposal is pending because it has not yet received clearance from Wesco. The Advisory Committee requested Wesco for early release of clearance so that the proposals can be implemented early.
It was decided in the Advisory Committee to set up an Energy Park in the Agriculture Farm of the horticulture department located in Raisinghpur on the outskirts of Bhawanipatna town.
Various equipment generating non-conventional energy will be installed and operated in this farm which will work as a demonstration field for the people to educate them about operation and the benefits of non-conventional energy sources.
Among others Lok Sabha member Mr Bikram Keshari Deo, Mrs. Aradhana Nanda, Mrs. Saraswati Hota, Bharat Bhusan Deo, Bhawani Kar and different line department officials participated in the meeting.
Statesman News Service
BHAWANIPATNA, July 11: After long wait of three years, 70 remote villages of Thuamul Rampur and Madanpur Rampur blocks of Kalahandi will at last get electrification benefit through non-conventional energy sources by coming December. The matter was reviewed here in the district level advisory committee of renewably energy, presided by the district collector Mr Pramod Kumar Patnaik.
It will be implemented by OREDA (Orissa Renewable Energy Development Agency) under the Remote Village Electrification Programme of the ministry of new and renewable energy, govt. of India. The ministry has provided central assistance of about Rs.4.38 crore for this purpose.
The beneficiary families will only have to pay Rs.5 towards membership and Rs. 100 for connection charges. Under this programme 40 villages of Thuamul Rampur block and 30 villages of Madanpur Rampur block will be benefited. Out of the 70 villages, 58 villages will be provided power by connection of individual solar energy system, five villages will be electrified by bio-mass power plant and 7 villages through Solar Power Plants.
Besides this project, proposals for non-conventional Electrification of 380 more remote villages pending for long was mooted. This proposal is pending because it has not yet received clearance from Wesco. The Advisory Committee requested Wesco for early release of clearance so that the proposals can be implemented early.
It was decided in the Advisory Committee to set up an Energy Park in the Agriculture Farm of the horticulture department located in Raisinghpur on the outskirts of Bhawanipatna town.
Various equipment generating non-conventional energy will be installed and operated in this farm which will work as a demonstration field for the people to educate them about operation and the benefits of non-conventional energy sources.
Among others Lok Sabha member Mr Bikram Keshari Deo, Mrs. Aradhana Nanda, Mrs. Saraswati Hota, Bharat Bhusan Deo, Bhawani Kar and different line department officials participated in the meeting.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Banks plan social support schemes
Business Standard, July 4, 2007
In an effort to improve the economic status of the poor people through dedicated corporate programmes, at least two nationalised banks have chalked out social welfare plans in Orissa for the current financial year.
Syndicate bank said it would take up extension activities in all its rural branches for educating and training villagers in different aspects of agriculture, animal husbandry, plantation and fish rearing.
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) said it would organise at least three training camps for women in southern Orissa during 2007-08.
"We have decided to organise at least three training camps on tailoring, handicraft and beauty therapy for rural women in southern Orissa towns at Rayagada, Jeypore and Bhawanipatna" said Naresh Choudhary, the senior regional manager of the bank here.
At Jeypore in Koraput district, the bank has decided to impart training to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe women.
In Rayagada, training to be given to the weaker section people.
Similarly in Bhawanipatna, the district headquarters of Kalahandi district, women in general categories will get training.
In each camp, scheduled to start in July or August, at least 20 women would be participated.
The respective branch managers would select the women to get training, he said.
The bank will spend at least Rs 1.50 lakh for the purpose.
All the expenditure incurred on training the women will be borne by the bank, said Choudhary.
The training was expected to lead to skill development of women in rural areas.
After getting training for a fortnight, they would receive financial assistance from the bank for establishment of units in various fields.
"Our corporate office has agreed for three training camps initially and if more number of women come forward for skill and entrepreneurship development, more number of camps will be organised" a senior regional manager of IOB said.
Syndicate Bank would conduct 58 extension activities during 2007-08.
The bank's Berhampur branch has recently held a farmers' meeting on jatropha plantation at Narendrapur in Ganjam district in collaboration with the Orissa Nature Care & Council (ONCC), an organisation imparting training on jatropha cultivation for bio-diesel.
ONCC provided technical know-how and inputs for jatropha planting while the bank was financing farmers, said R N Patnaik, chairman of ONCC.
Syndicate Bank offered Rs 10,000 to each of the 55 farmers in the village for taking up of jatropha plantation, said M M Muduli, branch manager of bank.
Jatropha cultivation was done in about 105 acres in the village.
Syndicate bank would donate Rs 10,000 each for renovation and cleaning of ponds in 10 villages during the current year.
"It is a part of the social welfare measure of the bank with the help of local people" said AC Das, the regional manager of Syndicate Bank at Bhubaneswar region.
Syndicate Bank would in parallel cover at least 1500 drivers of commercial vehicles under its Synd-Drive Insurance scheme during the year, said Das.
In an effort to improve the economic status of the poor people through dedicated corporate programmes, at least two nationalised banks have chalked out social welfare plans in Orissa for the current financial year.
Syndicate bank said it would take up extension activities in all its rural branches for educating and training villagers in different aspects of agriculture, animal husbandry, plantation and fish rearing.
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) said it would organise at least three training camps for women in southern Orissa during 2007-08.
"We have decided to organise at least three training camps on tailoring, handicraft and beauty therapy for rural women in southern Orissa towns at Rayagada, Jeypore and Bhawanipatna" said Naresh Choudhary, the senior regional manager of the bank here.
At Jeypore in Koraput district, the bank has decided to impart training to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe women.
In Rayagada, training to be given to the weaker section people.
Similarly in Bhawanipatna, the district headquarters of Kalahandi district, women in general categories will get training.
In each camp, scheduled to start in July or August, at least 20 women would be participated.
The respective branch managers would select the women to get training, he said.
The bank will spend at least Rs 1.50 lakh for the purpose.
All the expenditure incurred on training the women will be borne by the bank, said Choudhary.
The training was expected to lead to skill development of women in rural areas.
After getting training for a fortnight, they would receive financial assistance from the bank for establishment of units in various fields.
"Our corporate office has agreed for three training camps initially and if more number of women come forward for skill and entrepreneurship development, more number of camps will be organised" a senior regional manager of IOB said.
Syndicate Bank would conduct 58 extension activities during 2007-08.
The bank's Berhampur branch has recently held a farmers' meeting on jatropha plantation at Narendrapur in Ganjam district in collaboration with the Orissa Nature Care & Council (ONCC), an organisation imparting training on jatropha cultivation for bio-diesel.
ONCC provided technical know-how and inputs for jatropha planting while the bank was financing farmers, said R N Patnaik, chairman of ONCC.
Syndicate Bank offered Rs 10,000 to each of the 55 farmers in the village for taking up of jatropha plantation, said M M Muduli, branch manager of bank.
Jatropha cultivation was done in about 105 acres in the village.
Syndicate bank would donate Rs 10,000 each for renovation and cleaning of ponds in 10 villages during the current year.
"It is a part of the social welfare measure of the bank with the help of local people" said AC Das, the regional manager of Syndicate Bank at Bhubaneswar region.
Syndicate Bank would in parallel cover at least 1500 drivers of commercial vehicles under its Synd-Drive Insurance scheme during the year, said Das.
People rise against Vedanta
The Statesman, July 11, 2007
BHUBANESWAR, July 10: The activists of Green Kalahandi held their recent satyagraha at Lanjigarh with a march to the state capital protesting against the undue favour shown by the state government to the Vedanta Group of Industries and the handing over of the Niyamgiri mines to the MNC, without paying heed to the lives of the local residents.
Addressing the activists, who had come from Kalahandi district, the former Union minister Mr Bhakta Charan Das, who in many ways is seeking political rehabilitation, said that acts of omission and commission by the state government vis-à-vis the Vedanta plant stood exposed.
If the government does not pay any heed to their righteous demand of stopping Vedanta, thousands of affected people will paralyse the government and the Assembly, Mr Das warned.
He dared the chief minister, Mr Naveen Patnaik, to order a CBI probe and come clean on the corruption involved in the major deals, including Vedanta.
Alleging that MNCs such as Vedanta and Posco are now interfering in the internal matters of the state government, Mr Das announced that they would fight against such injustices by following Gandhian principles.
Mr Das said that Kalahandi, known for its poverty, starvation deaths, infant sale and drought is now marching forward on the path of development after the multi-purpose Indravati project and many families are benefiting. But the proposed aluminum plant on the very base of Niyamagiri at Lanjigarh will ruin the district once again.
The state government’s alleged permission to extract bauxite from Niyamagiri will rob the district of all its hopes, because the hill would play an instrumental role in the long-term development process.
The perennial streams would dry up, the elephant corridor would be destroyed and the ecology of the area would be devastated if Niyamagiri is mined, Mr Das added.
The Orissa Pradesh Congress president Mr Jayadev Jena said that the state government, in the name of industrialisation and development, is playing with the livelihood of inhabitants of Kalahandi.
The Naveen Patnaik government is playing into the hands of MNCs and is busy raising funds for elections at the expense of land and the livelihood of the people, Mr Das charged. Pledging support for Green Kalahandi, the Congress party chief exhorted the activists to carry forward the agitation.
The social activist Mr Prafulla Samantara, who is one of the petitioners in the Supreme Court case regarding the Vedanta project and the mining of Niyamagiri hills said that people would suffer for this indiscriminate act of the state government.
The Central Empowered Committee did raise its objections initially, and several environmentalists have opposed the project, but the government is adamant, Mr Samantara noted. No proper study has been undertaken by the state government, and this will result in an acute shortage of drinking water in the area, according to him.
The CPI-M leader Mr Janardan Pati lashed out at the state government for its anti-farmer attitude. Several MLAs of the Congress party addressed the gathering in front of the Assembly.
BHUBANESWAR, July 10: The activists of Green Kalahandi held their recent satyagraha at Lanjigarh with a march to the state capital protesting against the undue favour shown by the state government to the Vedanta Group of Industries and the handing over of the Niyamgiri mines to the MNC, without paying heed to the lives of the local residents.
Addressing the activists, who had come from Kalahandi district, the former Union minister Mr Bhakta Charan Das, who in many ways is seeking political rehabilitation, said that acts of omission and commission by the state government vis-à-vis the Vedanta plant stood exposed.
If the government does not pay any heed to their righteous demand of stopping Vedanta, thousands of affected people will paralyse the government and the Assembly, Mr Das warned.
He dared the chief minister, Mr Naveen Patnaik, to order a CBI probe and come clean on the corruption involved in the major deals, including Vedanta.
Alleging that MNCs such as Vedanta and Posco are now interfering in the internal matters of the state government, Mr Das announced that they would fight against such injustices by following Gandhian principles.
Mr Das said that Kalahandi, known for its poverty, starvation deaths, infant sale and drought is now marching forward on the path of development after the multi-purpose Indravati project and many families are benefiting. But the proposed aluminum plant on the very base of Niyamagiri at Lanjigarh will ruin the district once again.
The state government’s alleged permission to extract bauxite from Niyamagiri will rob the district of all its hopes, because the hill would play an instrumental role in the long-term development process.
The perennial streams would dry up, the elephant corridor would be destroyed and the ecology of the area would be devastated if Niyamagiri is mined, Mr Das added.
The Orissa Pradesh Congress president Mr Jayadev Jena said that the state government, in the name of industrialisation and development, is playing with the livelihood of inhabitants of Kalahandi.
The Naveen Patnaik government is playing into the hands of MNCs and is busy raising funds for elections at the expense of land and the livelihood of the people, Mr Das charged. Pledging support for Green Kalahandi, the Congress party chief exhorted the activists to carry forward the agitation.
The social activist Mr Prafulla Samantara, who is one of the petitioners in the Supreme Court case regarding the Vedanta project and the mining of Niyamagiri hills said that people would suffer for this indiscriminate act of the state government.
The Central Empowered Committee did raise its objections initially, and several environmentalists have opposed the project, but the government is adamant, Mr Samantara noted. No proper study has been undertaken by the state government, and this will result in an acute shortage of drinking water in the area, according to him.
The CPI-M leader Mr Janardan Pati lashed out at the state government for its anti-farmer attitude. Several MLAs of the Congress party addressed the gathering in front of the Assembly.
No decision 2 Indian doctors held on Niyamgiri mining: Govt
The New Indian Express, July 4, 2007
BHUBANESWAR: The contentious issue of bauxite mining on the Niyamgiri hills by Vedanta Alumina Limited’s (VAL) refinery at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district sparked off furore in the Assembly on Tuesday.
The State Government has become a party to the destruction of environment and ecology by planning to allow mining on the Niyamgiri hills, the Opposition charged. Natural springs emerging from the hills would dry up and wildlife would be extinct because of this.
Mining would have devastating effect and Kalahandi would turn into a desert within years.
The Government was accused of going ahead with the project despite adverse reports from the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and the Ministry of Forest and Environment. But BJD and BJP members from Kalahandi defended the project. Minister for Steel and Mines Padmanabha Behera asserted that the State Government has not allowed Vedanta to mine bauxite on the Niyamgiri hills.
The Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) has applied to the State Government to use forest land for non-forest purposes. OMC’s application has been forwarded to the Ministry for clearance.
Responding to Opposition charges that mining would affect the flora and fauna of Niyamgiri, the Minister referred to the report submitted by the Ranchi-based Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDL) which has cleared the project. WII has also revised its report after objections from the State Government, he said.
The Minister, however, maintained that since the issue is sub judice, the State Government is waiting for the judgment of the Supreme Court before going ahead. Earlier, Narasingh Mishra (Cong) said inspite of the intervention of the State Government, the WII maintained in its revised report that wildlife would be extinct from the hills because of mining.
Besides, the CEC has observed in its report that alternative mines in non-forest area should be identified for the project.
BHUBANESWAR: The contentious issue of bauxite mining on the Niyamgiri hills by Vedanta Alumina Limited’s (VAL) refinery at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district sparked off furore in the Assembly on Tuesday.
The State Government has become a party to the destruction of environment and ecology by planning to allow mining on the Niyamgiri hills, the Opposition charged. Natural springs emerging from the hills would dry up and wildlife would be extinct because of this.
Mining would have devastating effect and Kalahandi would turn into a desert within years.
The Government was accused of going ahead with the project despite adverse reports from the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and the Ministry of Forest and Environment. But BJD and BJP members from Kalahandi defended the project. Minister for Steel and Mines Padmanabha Behera asserted that the State Government has not allowed Vedanta to mine bauxite on the Niyamgiri hills.
The Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) has applied to the State Government to use forest land for non-forest purposes. OMC’s application has been forwarded to the Ministry for clearance.
Responding to Opposition charges that mining would affect the flora and fauna of Niyamgiri, the Minister referred to the report submitted by the Ranchi-based Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDL) which has cleared the project. WII has also revised its report after objections from the State Government, he said.
The Minister, however, maintained that since the issue is sub judice, the State Government is waiting for the judgment of the Supreme Court before going ahead. Earlier, Narasingh Mishra (Cong) said inspite of the intervention of the State Government, the WII maintained in its revised report that wildlife would be extinct from the hills because of mining.
Besides, the CEC has observed in its report that alternative mines in non-forest area should be identified for the project.
Vedanta to invest Rs 100cr in forest conservation
The Financial Express, July 3, 2007
BHUBANESWAR, JUL 3 : The Orissa government has demanded Rs 100 crore from Vedanta Resources for conservation of ecology in the Niyamgir hills. Out of this amount, Rs 42 crore will be spent on the wildlife in the area, where the Vedanta group's Sterlite Aluminium Ltd will mine for bauxite.
State steel and mines minister Padmanabha Behera told FE the latest in scientific technology would be used for mining of bauxite in the Niyamgir hills. Only 20 hectares will be allowed for mining at a time. Steps will be taken to plant 16 lakh trees under a compensatory afforestation programme. Around 50,000 trees could be affected due to mining activities.
Under a peripheral developmental project, Rs 12 crore will be spent for the betterment of the lives of 7000 tribals living in the surrounding 21 villages.
Sterlite Aluminium's alumina project received sharp criticism from the Opposition in the Orissa House on Tuesday. Congress's Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra, Narsingha Mishra and Satya Bhusan Sahu alleged the project would destroy the environment of the Kalahandi district. Interestingly, the ruling BJD-BJP's members representing Kalahandi district, Balabhadra Majhi, Bira Sipka, Dhaneswar
Majhi and Himansu Sekher Meher strongly defended the project, saying it will bring prosperity to the poverty-stricken district.
The steel and mines minister said Vedanta's alumina plant is not located on forestland. The mining in the Niyamgir forest area is yet to start as the state government has not received clearance from the Union minister for forest and environment. Behera, however, told the House that the Supreme Court is seized of the matter. The apex court has already received the reports of the Indian Wildlife Institute, Dehradun, and the CMPDI, Ranchi. The order of the Supreme Court is awaited, he said.
BHUBANESWAR, JUL 3 : The Orissa government has demanded Rs 100 crore from Vedanta Resources for conservation of ecology in the Niyamgir hills. Out of this amount, Rs 42 crore will be spent on the wildlife in the area, where the Vedanta group's Sterlite Aluminium Ltd will mine for bauxite.
State steel and mines minister Padmanabha Behera told FE the latest in scientific technology would be used for mining of bauxite in the Niyamgir hills. Only 20 hectares will be allowed for mining at a time. Steps will be taken to plant 16 lakh trees under a compensatory afforestation programme. Around 50,000 trees could be affected due to mining activities.
Under a peripheral developmental project, Rs 12 crore will be spent for the betterment of the lives of 7000 tribals living in the surrounding 21 villages.
Sterlite Aluminium's alumina project received sharp criticism from the Opposition in the Orissa House on Tuesday. Congress's Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra, Narsingha Mishra and Satya Bhusan Sahu alleged the project would destroy the environment of the Kalahandi district. Interestingly, the ruling BJD-BJP's members representing Kalahandi district, Balabhadra Majhi, Bira Sipka, Dhaneswar
Majhi and Himansu Sekher Meher strongly defended the project, saying it will bring prosperity to the poverty-stricken district.
The steel and mines minister said Vedanta's alumina plant is not located on forestland. The mining in the Niyamgir forest area is yet to start as the state government has not received clearance from the Union minister for forest and environment. Behera, however, told the House that the Supreme Court is seized of the matter. The apex court has already received the reports of the Indian Wildlife Institute, Dehradun, and the CMPDI, Ranchi. The order of the Supreme Court is awaited, he said.
Depression swells rivers, two trawlers sink, some crew missing
The New Indian Express, June 30, 2007
BHUBANESWAR/PARADIP: The deep depression, which crossed Orissa coast early on Friday, triggered heavy rains across south as well as interior districts sending several rivers swelling.
Torrential downpour in the catchment areas during the last 24 hours fuelled apprehension of floods while Kalahandi started to face the fury with Hati river in spate.
The Met office said the deep depression crossed the coast near Puri between 5.30 am and 6.30 am and moved over to the land. On its way, it caused very heavy rain mostly over southern, interior and coastal districts.
Meanwhile, six to eight crew members went missing after two foreign trawlers sunk in the Bay of Bengal near Paradip Port during a gale.
A search operation was launched to locate the missing crew members while 28 fishermen on board the vessels had managed to reach the shore in life boats after the trawlers went down after being tossed around in the strong wind.
The fishermen, who were Thai and Myanmarese nationals, later informed that several of their compatriots were missing, after which the Coast Guard started a search operation.
While torrential rain affected normal life in Kalahandi district, the first flash flood was reported in Hati river which was flowing five feet above the bridge at Junagarh and disrupted road traffic along NH 201.
With rains still lashing, the river was swelling and flood in Tel river cannot be ruled out.
In Rayagada and Ganjam, the rivers have started to swell. Bansadhara was flowing close to the warning level. At Kashinagar, the river was flowing above the danger mark of 53.6 metres but showed a receding trend. At Gunupur, it was steady at 81.33 metres against the warning level of 83 metres.
Some of the reservoirs in South Orissa like Machhkund, Upper Kolab, Balimela and Indravati were rising because of heavy rains in the catchment areas.
BHUBANESWAR/PARADIP: The deep depression, which crossed Orissa coast early on Friday, triggered heavy rains across south as well as interior districts sending several rivers swelling.
Torrential downpour in the catchment areas during the last 24 hours fuelled apprehension of floods while Kalahandi started to face the fury with Hati river in spate.
The Met office said the deep depression crossed the coast near Puri between 5.30 am and 6.30 am and moved over to the land. On its way, it caused very heavy rain mostly over southern, interior and coastal districts.
Meanwhile, six to eight crew members went missing after two foreign trawlers sunk in the Bay of Bengal near Paradip Port during a gale.
A search operation was launched to locate the missing crew members while 28 fishermen on board the vessels had managed to reach the shore in life boats after the trawlers went down after being tossed around in the strong wind.
The fishermen, who were Thai and Myanmarese nationals, later informed that several of their compatriots were missing, after which the Coast Guard started a search operation.
While torrential rain affected normal life in Kalahandi district, the first flash flood was reported in Hati river which was flowing five feet above the bridge at Junagarh and disrupted road traffic along NH 201.
With rains still lashing, the river was swelling and flood in Tel river cannot be ruled out.
In Rayagada and Ganjam, the rivers have started to swell. Bansadhara was flowing close to the warning level. At Kashinagar, the river was flowing above the danger mark of 53.6 metres but showed a receding trend. At Gunupur, it was steady at 81.33 metres against the warning level of 83 metres.
Some of the reservoirs in South Orissa like Machhkund, Upper Kolab, Balimela and Indravati were rising because of heavy rains in the catchment areas.
Road blockade against alumina refinery begins
The Hindu, June 16, 2007
BHUBANESWAR: Thousands of activists of Green Kalahandi on Saturday started a five-day road blockade agitation against the one-million-tonne-capacity alumina refinery project of Vedanta Alumina Limited. The Kalahandi police arrested 45 agitators.
The agitators, who were joined by workers of Opposition parties such as the Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India and the Orissa Gana Parishad, squatted on roads leading to the alumina refinery site at Lanjigarh.
The activists blocked the roads at as many as 10 different places hampering vehicular movement to the refinery that is continuing trial production for several months now.
Although the company vehicles and bauxite-laden trucks were stopped by the agitators at various places, the administration officials said the agitation did not affect trial production.
They, however, admitted that transportation of bauxite ore from places such as Kesinga and Visakhapatnam to the refinery complex was affected.
Kalahandi District Superintendent of Police Sarat Chandra Chaupatnaik said the agitation was peaceful and preventive arrests had been made. More people were likely to be arrested on Sunday, he said.
The protesters, who comprised a large number of tribal men and women, were led by the former Union Minister and Congress leader, Bhakta Charan Das. He is the chairman of Green Kalahandi, a forum that is spearheading the agitation against the alumina project.
Mr. Das, who condemned the arrest of the activists, said that the agitation would continue in a peaceful manner till June 20.
The company sources refused to make any comments on the agitation.
Green Kalahandi has been opposing the company's plans to extract bauxite from the Niyamgiri hills close to the refinery.
The organisation is of the view that since Niyamgiri was the origin of 36 streams and two major rivers that fed water to people in eight blocks of Kalahandi and Rayagada districts, bauxite mining will destroy the ecosystem of the area and badly affect agriculture.
BHUBANESWAR: Thousands of activists of Green Kalahandi on Saturday started a five-day road blockade agitation against the one-million-tonne-capacity alumina refinery project of Vedanta Alumina Limited. The Kalahandi police arrested 45 agitators.
The agitators, who were joined by workers of Opposition parties such as the Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India and the Orissa Gana Parishad, squatted on roads leading to the alumina refinery site at Lanjigarh.
The activists blocked the roads at as many as 10 different places hampering vehicular movement to the refinery that is continuing trial production for several months now.
Although the company vehicles and bauxite-laden trucks were stopped by the agitators at various places, the administration officials said the agitation did not affect trial production.
They, however, admitted that transportation of bauxite ore from places such as Kesinga and Visakhapatnam to the refinery complex was affected.
Kalahandi District Superintendent of Police Sarat Chandra Chaupatnaik said the agitation was peaceful and preventive arrests had been made. More people were likely to be arrested on Sunday, he said.
The protesters, who comprised a large number of tribal men and women, were led by the former Union Minister and Congress leader, Bhakta Charan Das. He is the chairman of Green Kalahandi, a forum that is spearheading the agitation against the alumina project.
Mr. Das, who condemned the arrest of the activists, said that the agitation would continue in a peaceful manner till June 20.
The company sources refused to make any comments on the agitation.
Green Kalahandi has been opposing the company's plans to extract bauxite from the Niyamgiri hills close to the refinery.
The organisation is of the view that since Niyamgiri was the origin of 36 streams and two major rivers that fed water to people in eight blocks of Kalahandi and Rayagada districts, bauxite mining will destroy the ecosystem of the area and badly affect agriculture.
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