13 more hydro power projects in the offing

Business Standard, Feb 29, 2012

he state energy department has plans to operationalize 13 hydro electric power projects over and above the 13 running projects.

According to Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, minister for energy, of the 13 new hydro power projects, four projects will be executed by state owned Orissa Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) with the remaining nine to be developed by private players. These hydro power projects are to be taken up in Keonjhar, Kalahandi, Malkangiri, Koraput, Bargarh, Khurda, Rayagada, Gajapati and Cuttack districts and are expected to be commissioned in the 12th Plan period (2012-17).

The cost of hydro power projects to be implemented by OHPC can be assessed after preparation of detailed project report (DPR), the minister said.

OHPC is currently operating seven hydro-electric projects- Hirakud-I (Burla)- 275.5 MW, Hirakud-II (Chipilima)- 72 MW, Balimela- 510 MW, Rengali-250 MW, Upper Kolab- 320 MW, Upper Indravati- 600 MW and Machkund- 14.75 MW.

The 13 hydro power projects currently running in the state have collectively generated 5,165.48 million units of electricity in this fiscal till February 17.

The state government had signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with 32 developers for hydel power projects envisaging generation capacity of 409 MW and involving investment of Rs 2,250 crore.

Vedanta told to get public nod in Orissa for expansion

Livemint, Feb 29, 2012
Ruchira Singh, 

Vedanta Aluminium Ltd has been asked by the government to seek public consent afresh in Kalahandi district of Orissa as a precursor to getting environmental clearance for expanding its alumina refinery and power plant, a move the company wants to avoid as it seeks to get a plan that’s been stalled for two years moving again.

The company needs to comply with 70 points, including the public hearing on the expansion plan, shows a copy of the terms of reference (ToR) issued by the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) that Mint is in possession of.

Company officials are in talks with MoEF and the state pollution control board, seeking a waiver on public hearings on grounds that they were conducted twice before—in 2003 and 2009, said a Vedanta official who didn’t want to be named.

“The company has every document to show they are complying with all the points in the ToR (except for one),” the official said. “...they (Vedanta Aluminium) are telling them that the public hearing has already taken place, so another one is not needed. Besides, it will take a long time to convene another public hearing.”

The person said Vedanta is in dialogue with MoEF and the state pollution control board and may hear from them on the request soon.

Vedanta Aluminium, a subsidiary of the newly announced Sesa Sterlite, was asked to stop expanding its refinery in Lanjigarh from 1 million tonnes (mt) to 6 mt in October 2010 because of environmental concerns. The following year, the Orissa high court quashed an appeal filed by the company and upheld MoEF’s decision.

Vedanta appealed to MoEF last month, asking it to reconsider giving it approval in the light of clearances given to Jindal Power Ltd and Lavasa Corp. Ltd, a unit of Hindustan Construction Co. Ltd, both of which had been stalled over environmental objections.

As a part of the appeal in January, MoEF issued the new ToR on 2 February.

MoEF scientist P.L. Ahujarai, who signed the ToR, did not answer his phone and there was no response to an email asking whether Vedanta’s bid for a waiver will be considered.

“The company has received a ToR relating to technical and environmental details, and we are moving ahead with it,” said S.K. Roongta, managing director at Vedanta Aluminium. “The company is working on it.”

Roongta did not give further details.

The ToR states that 5% of costs must be earmarked for social work that the public will allocate as per its wishes.

“Five per cent of the total cost of the project should be earmarked for Enterprise Social Commitment based on public hearing. Item-wise details along with a time-bound action plan should be included,” according to the ToR.

It also calls on the company to file “issues raised at the public hearing with replies”, to the ministry.

“Probably the company is afraid they might not be lucky with a public hearing as there are powerful NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in eastern India who can sway opinions,” said an analyst in Mumbai, who didn’t want to be named in line with company policy.

Growth is critical for Vedanta Aluminium, burdened with a $4 billion (Rs.19,640 crore) debt, as Sesa Sterlite tries to build itself into a resources giant.

Apart from environmental clearance, Vedanta Aluminium also needs to win a Supreme Court case that will allow it to mine bauxite in the Niyamgiri Hills in Orissa, said an analyst.

“Clearance from the environment ministry is definitely important, but more important is securing the bauxite mines,” said Sanjay Jain, senior vice-president (research) at Motilal Oswal Securities Ltd. “The environment clearance will have little relevance for their earnings as their cost of making alumina is very high as they have to bring bauxite from Balco (Bharat Aluminium Co. Ltd) and Gujarat. So, expanding alumina production while not having bauxite mines will have little utility.”

According to Jain, Vedanta’s cost of production for alumina is about $323 a tonne—nearly equal to the market price—and its already low margins will risk being further crimped at that price. That shows the urgency of getting the bauxite mines for captive use.

Odisha: Seminar on Industry and Environment Organised at Kalahandi

Orissadiary, Feb 27, 2012
Report by OrissaDiary.com bureau; Bhawanipata: Industrialisation is as important as a clean environment; without industry development will be hard to come: This message was the outcome at a University Grants Commission sponsored National Level Seminar organized by Government Autonomous College, Bhawanipata and supported Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh. 

The seminar on “Industry and Environment” and “Industry and Society” – held at Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi – was attended and participated by noted academicians of educational institutions across Odisha and outside the state on February 25 and 26, 2012.
Prof. Gopabandhu Behera and Dr. A K Nanda – well-known academicians of Kalahandi attended the seminar as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour respectively while Dr. Mukesh Kumar – President & COO Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh was the chief speaker on the occasion. 

Dr. Mukesh Kumar insisted that in a place like Kalahandi, which is popularly known as a backward district in the country, it is important to establish an industry for the development of the area. “Few years back, Kalahandi was known for malnutrition, draught, poverty and many such taglines which describe an area as underdeveloped. But we should not take pride in it; rather we should work out a plan to make the district a developed area. An industry, with cooperation with the society and institution, can make a difference in such a situation. Industry definitely can bring change in the region like Lanjigarh of Kalahandi.”

Prof. Behera said, “Before pointing any finger to industry, we should try our best at our level to make a clean environment. Industries make pollutions, but we should create a road map which will make space for industries which are the main reason for development.” Dr. Nanda also reiterated the same and batted for industrialisation keeping in mind the environment and society.

The two-day seminar, coordinated by Dr. Ajay Mishra of Govt. Autonomous College, was concluded on February 26. Academicians from various educational institutions like BJB College, Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur University attended.

NIYAMGIRI PAHAD POOJA-2012

Contributed By Sri Debendra Bisi
This festival is an annual ritual of the Dongrias on the Niyamgiri mountains as well as other tribal groups residing at the foothill. On the top of the mountain where Vedanta hopes to dig for bauxite, the adivasis worship their prime deities: Niyam Raja and Dharani Penu, among other deities. These annual rituals are also a political statement by the Dongrias to defy Vedanta's infamous argument that the mountain top is of no use to the tribe. The Dongrias also know that if bauxite is taken out, the entire mountain range would turn into desert. That is why, they consider these rituals also as an act of assertion for their rights to livelihoods, religious freedom, and dignity. Will the State also ever consider to uphold people's democratic rights??? 


KBKSamachar

due to some error in privious link.please avoid it watch the NIYAMGIRI PAHAD POOJA-2012 in the link given below

Paddy procurement centres for each GP

Note: Ealrier we had written to CM on this issue, hope this initiative by state Govt. will help farmers.
The Pioneer, Feb 26, 2012

Food and Consumer Welfare Minister Niranjan Pujari on Saturday told the State Assembly that it was decided to open paddy procurement centres in each gram panchayat to ensure hassle-free collection of paddy from the farmers.

During question hour, the Minister informed the House that while the procurement of paddy was in the last phase and nearing the target, the process was tardy in coastal and northern districts.

He said so far over 3,000 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies have been opened for procurement of paddy. While it is decided to open procurement centres in all GPs in irrigated areas, sub-centres would be opened in non-irrigated areas for collection.

Pujari said as many as 1,115 miller-agents, 498 Women Self Help Groups, 78 Pani Panchayats have been involved in the paddy procurement process.

Odisha: NRO urges Centre to establish Central Agriculture University at Kalahandi

Orissadiary, Feb 24, 2012

Report by OrissaD Iary.com bureau; Bhubaneswar: Non-resident Odia Digambara Patra urges Union Minister of Agriculture Sharad Pawar to set up Central Agriculture University at Kalahandi in Odisha. In a letter to Pawar, Patra said that, "the steps you have taken for the growth of agriculture in the nation are highly appreciated. Recent declaration of central Government to give special importance to agricultural growth of eastern part of the nation including Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand etc is also adorable."

"Agriculture contributes substantial portion to our economy and human resources. It is the prime source to the rural economy and is backbone of the nation. As the agriculture land area is decreasing due to urbanization and industries, to meet the food demand at the national and international level the stress on agricultural out put per hectare of agricultural land will increase with population."

Full Text of letter:  To
Sri Sharad Chandra Govindrao Pawar
Honorable Union Minister of Agriculture

CC
Dr Manmohan Singh, Honorable Prime Minister
Sri Naveen Patnaik, Honorable Chief Minster of Odisha
Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture
MPs from Odisha
Media
Dear Honorable Sri Pawar,

The steps you have taken for the growth of agriculture in the nation are highly appreciated. Recent declaration of central Government to give special importance to agricultural growth of eastern part of the nation including Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand etc is also adorable.

Agriculture contributes substantial portion to our economy and human resources. It is the prime source to the rural economy and is backbone of the nation. As the agriculture land area is decreasing due to urbanization and industries, to meet the food demand at the national and international level the stress on agricultural out put per hectare of agricultural land will increase with population. This will require very advanced technology, modern tools, innovation and creativity in the world class level that institution like central University could only fulfill.

In this connection establishment of high quality central university for education and research relating to agriculture bear importance. Ministry of Agriculture had already established Central Agriculture University at Imphal for North Eastern states. Recently the Union agriculture ministry had also given the go-ahead to develop a Central Agriculture University in Jhansi for Bundelkhand.

Odisha has a great potential in agriculture in the national level. Despite known for backwardness, Kalahandi is one of the top rice, cotton and pulse producing region in Odisha. This region is very rich in terms of agriculture and agriculture products. An institution of higher learning for the development of agriculture science and technology is a must in this backward cluster for the benefit of eastern states in India. Therefore, in the line of North Eastern states and Bundelkhand, it will be wise to establish a Central Agriculture University at Kalahandi which will boost economy in the most underdeveloped part of the country.

We urge you to kindly consider establishing a Central Agriculture University at Kalahandi in Odisha for eastern part of the country.

Thanking you and best regards

Digambara Patra

Lets push for Central Agriculture University in Odisha

Recently there is an on going campaign to establish Central Agriculture University in Odisha, many intelligentsia are suggesting in Kalahandi. I think some of you should cover this in local media to bring the attention of local politicians and people. Some of the earlier report and initiatives are below, please use it and publish in various news paper.

On Sat, Sep 24, 2011 at 1:47 PM, Digambara Patra wrote:
Dear Honourable Chief Minister Mr Patnaik and Chief Secretary Mr Patnaik,
Recently Chief Minister of West Bengal Ms Mamata Benerjee has written to the central Govt. for establishing a Central Agriculture University in the backward region of West Bengal as the Central Government is giving special importance for agricultural growth in the eastern part of the nation including Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand etc.

The performance of agriculture in Odisha is adorable during your leadership and Odisha must not lose the opportunity for a Central Agriculture University.

Agriculture is contributing substantially to the economy and human resources in Odisha. It is the prime source to the rural economy and is backbone of the nation, especially for backward areas like KBK.

Social development of backward parts of the country largely depends on the development of agriculture sector and many of these backward pockets in the nation have a great agriculture potential.

Kalahandi was known as the rice bowl of Odisha at one time. Today also this region shares a high percentage in rice, pulses and cotton production in the state. Realizing its potential in agriculture, state Govt. has established an Agriculture College at Bhawanipatna in 2009. Establishing a Central Agriculture University here will further catapult growth of agriculture and agro-based economy in KBK region.

Central Agriculture University in Kalahandi will not only trigger the development of advanced technology and research skill in agriculture sector as par with other national institutions in the world class level but also benefit the local economy by improving the living standard for marginalized people in backward cluster of KBK, Gajpati and Kandhamal, as Bhawanipatna is located centrally to this tribal and backward cluster.

Ministry of Agriculture has already established Central Agriculture University at Imphal, one of the backward locations, for serving North Eastern states. Recently the Union agriculture ministry had also given the go-ahead to develop a Central Agriculture University in Jhansi in Bundelkhand, another backward location, which can serve the interest of North part of the nation. Banaras Hindu University, a central university, has also agricultural discipline serving the interest in the north part of the nation.

In eastern part of the nation, although we had appealed for the same, West Bengal Govt. has already taken initiative in advanced in our line and sent a proposal for establishing a Central Agriculture University in the backward Medinapore of West Bengal.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-06/kolkata/29858295_1_central-university-agriculture-second-green-revolution

http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=378933&catid=42

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110713/images/13zzpackbig.jpg


We sincerely request Odisha Govt. also send a formal proposal immediately to the central Govt. for establishing Central Agriculture University at Kalahandi in the 12th plan period for Odisha.

Thanking you and best regards

Digambara Patra

Pioneer article http://dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/43224-backward-odisha-needs-central-agri-varsity-a-now.html

‘Backward Odisha needs central agri varsity & now’

Thursday, 16 February 2012 23:25
PNS | Bhubaneswar
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Odisha is likely to miss a Central Agriculture University during the Twelfth Plan period, thanks to the callous approach of the State Government, educationists said.

While the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal is taking aggressive steps to grab a CAU, Odisha, which has a highly deserving case for such a university, seems to overlook the matter.

“As all of us know that agriculture is the mainstay of the State, locating a CAU in a backward region of the State is a much-needed requirement,” feels Prof. Chitta Baral of the Arizona State University of the US. Prof. Baral, a leading non-resident Odia, who has all along been batting for the State’s issues, has pointed out that as the 12th Plan is being given final shape, Odisha needs to root for a CAU in a backward region.

He said a big focus of the 11th Plan was on human resource development, especially in higher education. With the 11th Plan coming to an end in 2011-12 and some of the proposals such as 14 Innovation Universities and 20 new IIITs yet to be implemented, thrust needs to be given on new initiatives like a number of CAUs all over the country, he said.

The Odisha Government has to project its case in a suitable manner so that policymakers would include it in the plan proposal, said a former Agriculture Production Commissioner of the State. This would not only improve GRE but would not stress the Union HRD budget as funds would be made available from the Union Ministry of Agriculture, he added.

In his Budget speeches during the last two years, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has all along stressed that, for the sake of inclusive growth in the agriculture sector, an allotment of `400 crore to seven States, including Odisha to improve the rice-based cropping system is too little.

However, upon the intervention of Rahul Gandhi, MP and general secretary of Congress, a provision of `30 crore for a CAU in Bundelkhand has been made in the Budget of 2011-12.

Tathya.in article http://www.tathya.in/new/story.aspx?sno=6197

Odisha to miss CAU bus 
Bhubaneswar : 15/February/2012 
Odisha is likely to miss the Central Agriculture University (CAU) in Twelfth Plan period, thanks to the callous approach of the State Government, feel educationists.

While Mamata Banerjee led West Bengal taking aggressive steps to grab CAU for the state, Odisha, which has the deserving case for the same seems to overlook the matter, allege they.
As all of us know that the Agriculture is the main stay of the state, locating a CAU in the backward region of Odisha is a much needed requirement, feels Chitta Baral, Professor Arizona State University of USA.
Prof.Baral, a leading NRO, who has been all along on the forefront in batting for state issues, has said that as the Twelfth Plan is being given final shape, Odisha needs to harp for a CAU in its’ backward region.
He said a big focus of the Eleventh Plan was on Human Resource Development (HRD), especially on Higher Education.
With the Eleventh Plan coming to an end in 2011-12, and some of the proposals are yet to be implemented (such as 14 Innovation Universities, and 20 new IIITs), now thrust needs to be given on new initiatives.
Such an initiative is setting a number of CAU in all over the country and especially in Odisha, said he.
The State Government has to project the case in a concrete method, so that policy makers will include in the plan proposal, said a former Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC).
This will not only improve GRE, but will not stress MHRD budget as funds will be roped in from Ministry of Agriculture, he added.
During last two years in his budget speeches, Union Minister Finance, Pranab Mukherjee has all along stressed that for inclusive growth in agriculture sector, where as allotment of Rs.400 crore to seven states including Odisha to improve rice based cropping system is miniscule for the purpose.
However on political consideration and intervention of Rahul Gandhi, MP and General Secretary of Congress, provision of Rs.30 crore for a CAU at Bundelkhand has been made in the budget of 2011-12.
So it is high time that both political leadership and bureaucracy need to take up the issue of setting a CAU in Odisha, feel educationists.

PTI article in IBN Live http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/12th-plan-must-give-special-emphasis-on-agriculture/965557.html

'12th Plan must give special emphasis on agriculture'

PTI | 04:02 PM,Feb 19,2012
Bhubaneswar, Feb 19 (PTI) Advocating a separate budget for agriculture in Odisha during the 12th five-year plan, a noted agricultural economist has said it would enable the state to achieve more than four per cent growth in the farm sector by giving special thrust and removing hurdles. "Since Odisha s economic growth is over 9 per cent, higher than national average, there should be a separate budget for agriculture during 12th Plan period (2012-2017) to transfer the benefits of high growth to rural poor," said Dibakar Naik, Professor in Agriculture Economics in Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) here. "It will give a special thrust for higher agricultural growth in the state. Finally the growth can be inclusive and can remove the barriers on the way to achieve more than 4 per cent growth in agriculture," he said in a special study. Seeking special emphasis on agriculture, Naik said 12th Plan should focus on areas like development of stress tolerant rice varieties for rain-fed areas, development of pulse varieties suitable to Odisha, particularly for sowing in rain-fed areas after paddy crop is harvested. Importance should also be accorded to technology for fertiliser use in pulses sown in rain-fed situation, Naik said, also Dean, College of Agriculture, OUAT. Favouring use of Foreign Direct Investment for developing dependable rural market for farm produce on pilot basis with suitable regulation and price policy at producers level, he said credit should be available to rain-fed farmers. Steps should also be taken for increasing seed replacement and strengthening quality seed supply, including its storage facilities at panchayat level and development of farm implements suitable to small and marginal farmers which can reduce cost of production, the farm economist said. Voicing concern over fall in India's growth rate, he said due to high inflation including food inflation for last two and half years, high interest rate, low agricultural growth, decline in industrial growth and impact of euro-zone crisis, the economic growth may be within 7 per cent in the current financial year.

Law and Order thrown to disorder condition of general public in Kalampur block jurisdiction contemplating disruption of public peace-widespread Gambling, anti social activities caused in action of police. Public legally claim vigorous action to maintain peace.

By Sri Swarnendu Sai Pattnaik
Kalampur block widely affected by gambling, anti social activities, chalan of Ganja, wine caused inaction of police comprised with one ASI, one constable in a defunct out post. People of all classes including students, employees are engaged in wild financial speculation. playing at games of hazard for money leaded to people in beggar like condition. gang of rough criminals are creating furious disturbances. Sinful practice of wine , ganja chalan derived from the vision adversely affect in-public minds vexatious feeling of annoyance matter greatly debated to set right police force to bring the atmosphere in normal condition.The paucity of police force, vehicle, manpower indicates reason of law and order disruption thereby people demand to Govt. Dist.Magistrate SP to take vigorous step for upgrade outpost to police station and police petroling system to enforce to bring law and order for peaceful and secured life of people. Sources say functionless structure of outpost is essential to up gradation as police station where the role of D.M, S.P, SDM is very vital to stop violence and bring peace.

Gloomy emblem seems while 1581 village- rural ADIBASI people (comprising 2117 kms) are suffering due to want of road connection.

Shared by Swarnendu Sai Pattnaik
The Pioneer, 
Dharamgarh - PNS

Govt. is announcing development works are in full swing for progress of KBK dist. Kalahandi but gloomy emblem seems there is no road connection to 1581 rural villages in remote belts where ADIBASI people under poverty line to the extent of 200 to 250 living in each small villages are deprived to their right Plan and programme. Statistics say that during the year 2000- 2001 under different rural roads construction schemes the works for construction of 2872 rural village roads were taken up, out of which till 2007-2008 only 372 village roads were completed. Viewing to 1356 new village road works and 82 nos of improved road works connected to the Block Hdqrs. and big villages (consisting population around 3000) are about to complete.to include into new plans and programmes the proposed roads in PM's rural road construction scheme tender works are already completed. souses say deprived rural people of 1581 villages (who are told belonging to thick sown tribal in remote belts) they allegorically demand to assemble with their living existence into the ratio of mainstream of urban living beings by constructing new roads from their villages to the block hdqrs/ tehsil hdqrs/ big villages by Govt. which is prevailing demand well known to public representatives well as dist. Administration.

Blamegame begins, MP slams PCC chief

The Pioneer, Feb 22, 2012
Bikash Khemka, Bhawanipatna

The results of the panchayat elections in Kalahandi district have come as a rude shock to the Congress. Though Congress MP Bhakta Charan Das had expected at least 22 Zilla Parishad seats for the party, it got only three seats.

Das is now reviewing the things that went wrong with his party.

Sources close to Das alleged that PCC president Niranjan Patnaik distributed the party tickets for the ZP candidates directly to the party MLAs in the district without any consultation with him. The MLAs chose the candidates according to their personal preferences, resulting in the dismal performance of the party.

Das’ supporters said the MLAs never sought advice from the MP for choosing the candidates. Das had expected that the “blank tickets” that the PCC chief handed over to the Congress legislators should have been given to him so that winnable candidates would have been fielded to fight the polls under his leadership.

Das also alleged that the BJD always followed him wherever he went for campaigning. Just after his visit to an area, BJD workers would move there and pay huge amounts of money to woo the voters. This was another reason for the Congress’ defeat, Das said, adding that the ruling party also used the district administration in its favour to win the elections. In the first phase of the polls in the district, the Congress could not open its account as out of the seven ZP seats the BJD bagged six and the BJP one. Had the Congress got at least two seats in the first phase, it would have significantly improved the party’s performances in the next phases, he observed.

Even in the Narla constituency represented by Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Bhupinder Singh, the Congress failed to win the polls.

However, BJD district president Balabhadra Majhi said at a meeting that the voters rejected the Congress in this election as the Congress, after wining the ZP poll last time, did nothing for the rural people. In fact, Congress workers themselves used money power in this election, he alleged.

According to observers, the BJD Government’s schemes to provide bicycles to girl students and uniforms to all students, and the Mamata Yojana ensured electoral success to the party.

With 28 seats, BJD set to form K’handi ZP

The Pioneer, Feb 21, 2012

The local BJD leaders on Monday held parleys with the party’s 28 zilla parishad candidates in Kalahandi district who were leading in the counting of votes after the panchayat elections.

Labour & Employment Minister Pushpendra Singh Deo told media that unofficially the party has reports that the 28 candidates have won the polls against the BJP and the Congress.

The candidates vowed before the party leaders to show good performance during their tenure.

Singh Deo said that people of the district rejected Congress this time as they did nothing for the people after forming the last zilla parishad.

District BJD president and TDCC Chairman Balabhadra Majhi said that all the success goes to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra as they campaigned for days in the district.

Unofficially, out of the district’s 36 ZP seats, the BJD has got 28 seats, the BJP has got five seats and the Congress has got three seats.

The other BJD leaders present at the meeting included former MP Subash Nayak, district vice-president Sunil Nayak, Bhawani Mishra, Bhawani Nial, Manoj Naik, Chandrasekhar Naik and Kali Raiguru.

‘Backward Odisha needs central agri varsity & now’

NOTE: Every one should send this letter to establish Central Agriculture University, many intellectuals are favoring establishing such a University in Kalahandi, so people of Kalahandi must take it forward together. Earlier together with Prof. Baral we had written letters in this matter. Hope our leaders take this issue apolitically.

The Pioneer, Feb 17, 2012

Odisha is likely to miss a Central Agriculture University during the Twelfth Plan period, thanks to the callous approach of the State Government, educationists said.

While the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal is taking aggressive steps to grab a CAU, Odisha, which has a highly deserving case for such a university, seems to overlook the matter.

“As all of us know that agriculture is the mainstay of the State, locating a CAU in a backward region of the State is a much-needed requirement,” feels Prof. Chitta Baral of the Arizona State University of the US. Prof. Baral, a leading non-resident Odia, who has all along been batting for the State’s issues, has pointed out that as the 12th Plan is being given final shape, Odisha needs to root for a CAU in a backward region.

He said a big focus of the 11th Plan was on human resource development, especially in higher education. With the 11th Plan coming to an end in 2011-12 and some of the proposals such as 14 Innovation Universities and 20 new IIITs yet to be implemented, thrust needs to be given on new initiatives like a number of CAUs all over the country, he said.

The Odisha Government has to project its case in a suitable manner so that policymakers would include it in the plan proposal, said a former Agriculture Production Commissioner of the State. This would not only improve GRE but would not stress the Union HRD budget as funds would be made available from the Union Ministry of Agriculture, he added.

In his Budget speeches during the last two years, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has all along stressed that, for the sake of inclusive growth in the agriculture sector, an allotment of `400 crore to seven States, including Odisha to improve the rice-based cropping system is too little.

However, upon the intervention of Rahul Gandhi, MP and general secretary of Congress, a provision of `30 crore for a CAU in  Bundelkhand has been made in the Budget of 2011-12.

BJD got absolute majority in Panchayat Election 2012 in Kalahandi

Initial report states that BJD got absolute majority in the Panchayat Election 2012 in Kalahandi and Nuapada districts.

Villagers protest VALs pond extension works

IBNlive, Feb 15, 2012

BHAWANIPATNA: The imbroglio surrounding extension of red mud pond of Vedanta Aluminium Ltd. (VAL) in Lanjigarh seems to be getting murkier with each passing day.

Even as 47 villagers of Rengopali who were arrested for protesting the work have been released, people of the village continue to protest.

In the last monsoon, the red mud pond of VAL had breached due to excess water flowing into it following which, the company decided on expansion of the pond.

�Although the work was started on January 21, Rengopali villagers protested it stating that the road used by them will be damaged if the pond is extended. They further alleged that VAL had earlier acquired a lot of land in various parts of the village, but did not rehabilitate any of the affected villagers as per the norms.

When the people obstructed the work, the administration had imposed prohibitory orders in the area. The police had to arrest 47 of them.

On the other hand, villagers alleged that police resorted to lathi-charge in which 46 villagers were injured. Those arrested were remanded in judicial custody for some days.

�However, work on the pond had to be stopped as villagers continue to protest demanding complete land acquisition and subsequent rehabilitation.

CBI submits probe report on MNREGA before Supreme Court

NDTV, Feb 12, 2012
New Delhi:  The CBI has placed before the Supreme Court its report on the investigation into alleged corruption in utilisation of Central funds by six districts of Odisha for the rural job guarantee scheme under MNREGA.

The report in a sealed cover was placed on Friday before a bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia in compliance with its May 12, 2011 order by which CBI was directed to conduct the investigation on the basis of survey reports provided by the petitioner, CAG report and the National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD).

The alleged irregularities have been detected in the districts of Kalahandi, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada, Bhawanipatna, Koraput and Malakangiri.

The CBI was asked to spell out the offences likely to be made against the officials.
The NGO, which is a petitioner in the matter, had submitted that as per the reports, there was misappropriation of funds between 53 per cent and 88 per cent in the six districts.

The apex court had on December 16, 2010, while hearing the PIL, rapped both the Union and the state governments for their failure in properly executing the rural job guarantee scheme.

The bench, also comprising justices A K Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar, directed Orissa, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur to file affidavits making it clear whether they were following the guidelines laid down by the Centre in 2008 for the implementation of funds for MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005).

The hearing on the case will be held now after four weeks.

Fact Finding Report of CSD, Odisha on Village Durmusi, Thuamula Rampur Block of Kalahandi District

Orissadiary, Feb 2, 2012

Kalahnadi: A fact finding team from CSD , Odisha consisting of 6 members  visited the village Durmusi, G.P-Gopinathpur, Block Thuamul Rampur of Kalaandi district on 29th Nov 2011. The fact finding visit was based on the news report of the Pioneer “Company goons raze 56 tribal houses in K’ handi’ written by Bikas Khemka/Bhawanipatna on dated 13th October 2011 and the discussion in the Group mail “KBK O’ Table”.  It was reported in the news that 56 houses of the tribal in the Baphlimali Hill of Thuamul Rampur block were destroyed by the Utkal Alumina goons.

It was that in the same village people have also got titles under Vasundhara land distribution scheme as per Orissa Government Land Settlement (OGLS) Act. Thus the objective of the fact finding visit was to know the fact behind the whole incident. In the first visit, we could go to the village Durmusi and interacted/discussed with the villagers of Durmusi, Suryagrah and other neighboring villages. We also collected information on the titles issued under FRA and homestead land titles issued under Vasundhara scheme, copies of the notice served by the Tahasildar, Thuamul-Rampur to the 56 people for cancelling the titles issued under Vasundhara scheme. Besides, we also took photograph of the village, hills and people of the village. In the second visit we could interact with the Sub-Collector, Bhawanipatna and Tahsildar, Thuamul Rampur. We interacted with them on the case and also collected more information on it.

The Case/Story in Brief
After the interaction with the people of village Durmusi (both the title holders under Vasundhara and FRA and others), people of village Suryagarh, Kendumundi and others, Rama Nayak(the Ex-Sarpanch of Gopinathpur), Present Tahasildar Netrananda Pradhan, Thuamul Rampur, Sub-Collector Satyanarayan Dash on the case and after going through the documents shared by them and other available secondary information i.e RoR relating to the case and village, the case can be narrated in the following ways. That, the people of the area have been living and depending upon the Hill of Baphalimalli since many generations. That the Baphalimali hill is coming under both Kalahandi District (Thuamul Rampur Tahasil/Block) and Rayagarda District (Kansipur Thasil/Block). Many small water falls are originated from the Baphlimali Hill due to bauxite deposits in the area. These small water falls are the main reasons behinds habitations/villages around and are vital for the live and livelihood of the thousands of people living in and around of the hills terrains. Besides, the people living around the Baphalimali hill has been used the Baphlimali during crops season by constructing small houses/huts and graze their animals on the plain area on the top of the hills.

Baphalimali is one of the bauxite reach areas on which the local people hardly have any information. Of course they are better aware of the origin of a number of small water falls. Accordingly, the Utkal Alumina Company applied before the Govt. Odhisa to mine the Hill in 2004.  The company also has constructed its Plant in the Kashipur area of Rayagarda district. The MoEF had also approved the Baphlimali for mining in Feb 2009 and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) “Public Hearing” was conducted by the Orissa Pollution Control Board on 17th October 2006. Finally the company got around 1388.74 Hects. of area from Kalahandi and Rayagarda Districts. However, the company has not started mining in the Baphlimali area till date.
The lands leased out to the Utkal Alumina from different villages during 2004 was not corrected in the RoR by the then Thuamul-Rampur Tahasildar Hurdanandasingh Majhi who was there during 2004-2009 as Tahasildar. The Plot Nos. and Khata nos. were not revised/changed. In between, the district/revenue administration of the Kalahandi district wanted to distribute homestead land in the Thaumul-Rampur area under Vasundhara scheme keeping the Chief Minister’s visit to the area. Accordingly, in many villages homestead land were distributed in AJA (leasable land) available in the villages. Wherever sufficient leasable lands were not available, non-leasable land were converted into leasable lands in many villages including the village Durmusi. Accordingly, 10 acres of land were brought from Plot No-258 having 50 acres in total of the Khata No-47(AAA) to Khata No-46(AJA) by the then Tahasildar (Hurdanandasingh Majhi) in 2006 after the approval of the Sub Collector, Bhawanipatan. The present Tahasildar Netrananda Pradhan joined the Tahasil office on 16/3/2009 who distributed 0.10 acres homestead titles to 56 people under Vasundhara scheme in the name of inhabitants of village Durmusi. However, later on it was found that only 22 people in fact belongs to the village Durmusi itself and rest are from other neighboring villages like Brahamanichanchada, Kendumundi, Gopinathpur and Kamalguda of Gopinathpur G.P. Bandabagh and Muskuta villages of Maligaon G.P and  Bendajhola of Thuamul-Rampur G.P etc. In the mean time, it was also found that the same plots were already leased out to the Utkal Alumina for mining in the year 2004, 2007….. When the title holders started occupying over those distributed under Vasundhara scheme by constructing huts on the top of the hill, the Company people along with the other villagers(other neighboring villagers including people from Suryagarh who did not/could not got titles, got irritated and destroyed the huts on dated 30th Sept 2011 against which the people of Durmusi filed FIR in two different Police Stations(One in Thuamul Rampur and another in Mahulpatna Police Station) on 10th October 2011. When the Tahasildar came to know about the status of land leased to the Utkal Alumina, he issued notices to all the titles holders to return back them.     
Present Status of the Case
The titles holders named Damu Majhi son of Bati Majhi and others of village Durmusi have filed case in the High Court vide WP/case No 30903/2011 on dated 25 Nov 2011 against the cancellation of the titles (56 titles) distributed under Vasundhara scheme. Accordingly the Court has stayed the cancellation of the titles for the time being and has ordered the concerned revenue authorities (Govt. of Odisha) to submit the compliance on the case filed.
Important Issues Identified.
1. Most of the lands in the scheduled 5th areas have been recorded in the name of Govt. during survey and settlement despite of the fact that these lands have been under the continuous occupation, possession, cultivation and dependency of the local people. This is evident from the Govt. records in general and from RoR status analysis of the village Durmusi in particular where 94.31% of total village land has been recorded as government land.
2. Even in the scheduled 5th areas, most of the government land has been recorded in the non-leasable categories i.e un-cultivable waste land (Abada Ajogya Anabadi) where land cannot easily be settled against the occupiers. This is evident from the fact that out of the total Government land in the village, the percentage of land put in the AAA in the village Durmusi is 99.61%, In the village Suryagarh it is 98.11% and in the village Kanarpas it is 95.27% etc.
3. Most of the people residing in the area(Thuamul Rampur) are landless as per their landholding pattern/OLR Act, 1960. However, it has been seen  that the Govt. of Orissa is not serious on distributing “Agricultural land” in the scheduled 5th areas and just involved in distributing “Homestead land” (Up to 4 to 10 decimal) only leaving large area for the private companies.
4. In case of distribution of homestead land under Vasudhara scheme in the village, starting from distribution of 56 land titles to serving notices for its cancellation, whatever mistake was done, it was done by the revenue administration(Tahasildar) of the area. From the report it is clearly evident that how the district/revenue administration works in the area. ……When they had to please the CM, within night they got a number of titles ready to be distributed by the CM without bothering on where the plot is, what is the status of those plots etc. And the same administration so easily issued notices to the people for cancelation of those titles hiding the facts and using its autonomous power.
5. In case of distribution of titles under FRA in the area including the village Durmusi, No procedures of FRA has been properly followed. FRA titles have been just issued to the tribals without proper verification of the plots in the ground. This ground reality duly admitted by the administration reveals the fact that field verification has not been done in most of the cases in the area which will led to “nothing good” but to serious conflicts within the community in feature.
6. The very process of leasing of village/community land to the private companies by the State/district administration without the prior informed consent/knowledge of the fellow villagers have been a negative practice in the State. The “Public Hearing” process for community land alienation has been a “farce” in the State which is quiet evident from the “Public Hearing” conducted for mining in Baphalimali area held on 17.10 2006 at Kashipur Block where signatures of one MLA, one ex-MLA, three PRI members, four government officials including of Collector, one representative each from the State Pollution Control Board, MoEF, Steel & Mines Dept. and 14 signatures of the those who participated and deliberated in the Public hearing were taken. In the process, the procedures laid down in the Central PESA Act, 1996 empowering the local community people over their resources in the Scheduled 5th areas have been totally violated.   
7. The reaction of the neighboring villagers over the distribution homestead land under Vasundhara Scheme to the outsiders (other than inhabitants of Durmusi) is quite justified. The community lands of the village Durmusi belongs to its villagers. All the villages in the area are having plenty of government waste land which could have been distributed amongst the landless families in their respective villages.
14.Recommendations
1. The concentration of most of the land in the scheduled 5th areas needs to be changed.  The Govt. of Odiasha should be serious enough to do proper re-Survey, and Settlement of available community land against the landless households of the villages/areas as per the possession and after the due consultation and recommendations of the villages. (Through the Gram Sabha).

2. Possession over Land distributed under Vasundhara Scheme to the 22 inhabitants/people of village Durmusi should be restored immediately and land distributed to people of other 7 neighboring villages from the area of village Durmusi by the Tahasildar, Thuamul Rampur without the knowledge and recommendation of concerned villagers should be cancelled. Since enough community lands are available in all most all the villages of the area, they should be distributed land in their respective villages.

3. Proper ground verification should be immediately done by the Sub-Divisional Level Committee (SDLC) over the land distributed under “Forest Rights Act” in the area including the village Durmusi.

4. Since the area is coming under scheduled 5th area, the local community people/villagers are recognized as the owner and custodian of the land available in the villages and they are capable and better manager of their natural resources. Accordingly, the community land/village lands leased out to the Utkal Alumina without the prior informed consent of the concerned villagers should be cancelled.

5. As the case is pending before the Honorable High Court of Odisha, the Govt. should plead before the Court to lift “Stay Order” and distribute land amongst the fellow villagers.

6. The Revenue Administration involved in Mal-administration should be punished as per the laws.