Sambad, May 31, 2012
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Negligience of Postal Service Puts Future of Ten Students of +2 Science in Dark
Shared by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, May 31, 2012
Sambad, May 31, 2012
Bhakta accuses BJD of misleading public
The Pioneer, May 31, 2012
The politics over establishment of a railway wagon factory took a new turn as Congress MP of Kalahandi Bhakta Charan Das on Tuesday hit back at the BJD leaders of the district saying they have misguided the media and the public on the issue.
Das told reporters here that the BJD leaders have released a fabricated document claimed to be signed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to the Press where it was mentioned that Patnaik personally wanted establishment of the wagon factory at Narla in Kalahandi. It is a serious crime and they would have to pay a heavy price for this, he said.
Showing the documents of Chief Minister, Das said the district BJD leaders have themselves added two paragraphs in a page which is not true.
The BJD had earlier accused Das of politicising the rail wagon factory issue as his party was defeated in the last panchayat elections. They claimed that the Chief Minister had already identified the land at Narla and written a letter to the Central Government to consider establishment of wagon factories at Narla as well as at Sitalapalli in Ganjam district.
Das showed the video clips of discussions in Parliament regarding railway coach factory where Railways Minister Mukul Roy had pointed out that on March 22 that according to the Odisha Government’s view, the factory should be established in Ganjam instead of Kalahandi. But Roy at the same time said that if land is provided by the State Government in Kalahandi, then the factory would be established there as it was committed by the then Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Das showed reporters the proceedings of the Parliament discussion where he had protested against the Chief Minister’s apathy towards Kalahandi. “If the BJD is accusing me of politicising the issue, then the letter released by the BJD leaders to the Press should be investigated by the Crime Branch so that the truth would come out before the public,” he said.
Das also showed a video clip of BJD MP Mohan Jena where Jena clearly said in the Parliament that there is no land in Kalahandi, so the factory should be established at Kantabaji in Balangir district or in Ganjam district.
Das warned that if the Chief Minister does not allot land for the factory at Narla, a mass agitation would be launched in Kalahandi.
The politics over establishment of a railway wagon factory took a new turn as Congress MP of Kalahandi Bhakta Charan Das on Tuesday hit back at the BJD leaders of the district saying they have misguided the media and the public on the issue.
Das told reporters here that the BJD leaders have released a fabricated document claimed to be signed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to the Press where it was mentioned that Patnaik personally wanted establishment of the wagon factory at Narla in Kalahandi. It is a serious crime and they would have to pay a heavy price for this, he said.
Showing the documents of Chief Minister, Das said the district BJD leaders have themselves added two paragraphs in a page which is not true.
The BJD had earlier accused Das of politicising the rail wagon factory issue as his party was defeated in the last panchayat elections. They claimed that the Chief Minister had already identified the land at Narla and written a letter to the Central Government to consider establishment of wagon factories at Narla as well as at Sitalapalli in Ganjam district.
Das showed the video clips of discussions in Parliament regarding railway coach factory where Railways Minister Mukul Roy had pointed out that on March 22 that according to the Odisha Government’s view, the factory should be established in Ganjam instead of Kalahandi. But Roy at the same time said that if land is provided by the State Government in Kalahandi, then the factory would be established there as it was committed by the then Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Das showed reporters the proceedings of the Parliament discussion where he had protested against the Chief Minister’s apathy towards Kalahandi. “If the BJD is accusing me of politicising the issue, then the letter released by the BJD leaders to the Press should be investigated by the Crime Branch so that the truth would come out before the public,” he said.
Das also showed a video clip of BJD MP Mohan Jena where Jena clearly said in the Parliament that there is no land in Kalahandi, so the factory should be established at Kantabaji in Balangir district or in Ganjam district.
Das warned that if the Chief Minister does not allot land for the factory at Narla, a mass agitation would be launched in Kalahandi.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
When there is scarcity in the local level, water is being released from Indravati to Mahanadi via Hati river
Shared by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, May 29, 2012
We have been rasing this issue since past two years. No Govt. action has been taken yet.
Sambad, May 29, 2012
We have been rasing this issue since past two years. No Govt. action has been taken yet.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
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Saturday, May 26, 2012
Three Ultra Mega Power projects in pipeline in State
The Pioneer, May 26, 2012
The State Government has initiated a process for installation of three Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPPs) in collaboration with the Union Government. A high-level meeting in this regard was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary BK Patnaik here on Friday.
The site for one UMPP has been finalised at Bedabahal in Sundargarh district. Earlier, it was decided to have a UMPP at inland site and another in the coastal belt. It was proposed that the inland site should preferably be proximate to railway line and Ghogarpalli coal block.
In pursuance of the earlier in-principle decisions regarding the location of the other two UMPPs, a team of officers and technical experts consisting of representatives from the Central Power Authority, Power Finance Corporation of India, Idco and Ipicol led by PFCL Project-in-Charge PP Srivastav visited different sites in Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Balangir and Kalahandi districts. More particularly, places in the Dhamra, Motto, Mahakalada, Marhsaghai, Titilagarh, Narla and Kesinga areas were visited by the team.
Earlier, a similar team had also visited different places in Baleswar, Jagatsingpur, Ganjam and Puri districts. The team presented the preliminary topographical data collected from the field. The Chief Secretary has advised the team to identify locations which will require least displacement of people. The Government has decided to create reservoirs and barrages to raise the water level in rivers.
Sources said each project will have a 4,000-MW-capacity plant and all the three projects will involve an investment of around Rs 60,000 crore at the rate of Rs 5 crore per MW. The State will have 50 per cent power from both these additional units and 1m300 MW from the unit at Bedabahal. Around 2,500 acres of land will be required for each project.
The State will get power at lesser tariff from these projects. The plants will use the latest technology to minimise pollution and make minimum use of water. The projects will be implemented through Special Purpose Vehicles. The water for the plants located along the coastal line could be drawn from sea through a pipeline corridor. The water after treatment and cooling will also be taken back to sea through the same corridor.
The State Government has initiated a process for installation of three Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPPs) in collaboration with the Union Government. A high-level meeting in this regard was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary BK Patnaik here on Friday.
The site for one UMPP has been finalised at Bedabahal in Sundargarh district. Earlier, it was decided to have a UMPP at inland site and another in the coastal belt. It was proposed that the inland site should preferably be proximate to railway line and Ghogarpalli coal block.
In pursuance of the earlier in-principle decisions regarding the location of the other two UMPPs, a team of officers and technical experts consisting of representatives from the Central Power Authority, Power Finance Corporation of India, Idco and Ipicol led by PFCL Project-in-Charge PP Srivastav visited different sites in Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Balangir and Kalahandi districts. More particularly, places in the Dhamra, Motto, Mahakalada, Marhsaghai, Titilagarh, Narla and Kesinga areas were visited by the team.
Earlier, a similar team had also visited different places in Baleswar, Jagatsingpur, Ganjam and Puri districts. The team presented the preliminary topographical data collected from the field. The Chief Secretary has advised the team to identify locations which will require least displacement of people. The Government has decided to create reservoirs and barrages to raise the water level in rivers.
Sources said each project will have a 4,000-MW-capacity plant and all the three projects will involve an investment of around Rs 60,000 crore at the rate of Rs 5 crore per MW. The State will have 50 per cent power from both these additional units and 1m300 MW from the unit at Bedabahal. Around 2,500 acres of land will be required for each project.
The State will get power at lesser tariff from these projects. The plants will use the latest technology to minimise pollution and make minimum use of water. The projects will be implemented through Special Purpose Vehicles. The water for the plants located along the coastal line could be drawn from sea through a pipeline corridor. The water after treatment and cooling will also be taken back to sea through the same corridor.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Irregularities in schemes come to fore
Shared by Sri Dillip Kumar Das
The Pioneer, May 22, 2012
Large scale irregularities in various schemes, including food security, mid-day meal and Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in Thuamul Rampur block of Kalahandi district have come to the fore.
The funds of the Central and the State Governments have been misappropriated with gross violation of norms by the employees in various departments in the district which has been found by the members of MDM Monitoring Committee and Right to Food Campaign, Odisha.
Three members of the MDM Monitoring Committee visited different schools and Anganwadi centres of Thuamul Rampur block on Thursday and Friday and collected information from the villagers during which they have got to know about the bungling of funds under various schemes by the Government staff. They were scheduled to meet the Chief Secretary at Bhubaneswar to apprise him on the matter.
Pradipta Nayak, a member of the MDM Monitoring Committee and Pradip Pradhan and Tapan Padhi, members of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha, have alleged that lakhs of rupees have been misappropriated in the primary school of Bhejiguda, Podapadar, Dalguma, Bhataguda and Purunaguma under Karlapat Gram Panchayat of Th.Rampur block and Lelingpadar of Sagada GP under Bhawanipatna block.
The villagers’ complaints that the construction of a primary school building at Lelingpadar has been going on for last three years and not completed yet and that for last 10 years, teachers were not attending the school were viewed seriously by the committee members. Besides, the villagers alleged that the MDM is not being provided by the School Management Committee (SMC). The students go to the Karlapat Primary School which is situated two km from Lelingpadar to get MDM.
After inquiry, Pradipta Nayak told the media that in both the schools the student names have been enrolled as having served MDM. So, the MDM fund is being siphoned off by the Cluster Resource Centre Co-ordinator (CRCC) and Headmaster of the school, he said.
Similarly, in other villages, the committee found that the schools remained closed for months in Th.Rampur block, MDM not provided for months and cooks were also not paid for years by the School Management Committee. The committee found that the Government staff members have violated the Right to Education -2009 by not constructing the boundary wall, toilet and kitchen rooms in many schools of Th Rampur.
The committee members also visited different Anganwadi Centres and found that three kg Chhatua is being provided in many centres instead of four kg. Besides, they also alleged that the pregnant women are being provided four kg of Chhatua instead of five kg under Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).
The Pioneer, May 22, 2012
Large scale irregularities in various schemes, including food security, mid-day meal and Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in Thuamul Rampur block of Kalahandi district have come to the fore.
The funds of the Central and the State Governments have been misappropriated with gross violation of norms by the employees in various departments in the district which has been found by the members of MDM Monitoring Committee and Right to Food Campaign, Odisha.
Three members of the MDM Monitoring Committee visited different schools and Anganwadi centres of Thuamul Rampur block on Thursday and Friday and collected information from the villagers during which they have got to know about the bungling of funds under various schemes by the Government staff. They were scheduled to meet the Chief Secretary at Bhubaneswar to apprise him on the matter.
Pradipta Nayak, a member of the MDM Monitoring Committee and Pradip Pradhan and Tapan Padhi, members of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha, have alleged that lakhs of rupees have been misappropriated in the primary school of Bhejiguda, Podapadar, Dalguma, Bhataguda and Purunaguma under Karlapat Gram Panchayat of Th.Rampur block and Lelingpadar of Sagada GP under Bhawanipatna block.
The villagers’ complaints that the construction of a primary school building at Lelingpadar has been going on for last three years and not completed yet and that for last 10 years, teachers were not attending the school were viewed seriously by the committee members. Besides, the villagers alleged that the MDM is not being provided by the School Management Committee (SMC). The students go to the Karlapat Primary School which is situated two km from Lelingpadar to get MDM.
After inquiry, Pradipta Nayak told the media that in both the schools the student names have been enrolled as having served MDM. So, the MDM fund is being siphoned off by the Cluster Resource Centre Co-ordinator (CRCC) and Headmaster of the school, he said.
Similarly, in other villages, the committee found that the schools remained closed for months in Th.Rampur block, MDM not provided for months and cooks were also not paid for years by the School Management Committee. The committee found that the Government staff members have violated the Right to Education -2009 by not constructing the boundary wall, toilet and kitchen rooms in many schools of Th Rampur.
The committee members also visited different Anganwadi Centres and found that three kg Chhatua is being provided in many centres instead of four kg. Besides, they also alleged that the pregnant women are being provided four kg of Chhatua instead of five kg under Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
The politics of bauxite mining: Environmental hurdles cut short India's aluminium story
Economic Times, May 23, 2012
BHUBANESWAR: The East Coast region, home to 74% of the total bauxite reserves, continues to be one of the most-neglected regions in the country, as not a single bauxite mine has been opened in the past three decades.
The East Coast region, part of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, where a staggering 2,600 million tonne of in-situ reserves of bauxite was discovered way back in 1970, that virtually promised to become a game changer in the world of aluminium, with India becoming the fifth-highest bauxite reserves nation in the world with deposits of about 3.5 billion tonne, or 5%, of global deposits.
"It is unfortunate that India could not leverage its strength by emerging as the epicentre of an aluminium revolution and that too at the lowest cost quartile. It is ridiculous not to utilise huge bauxite deposits in the name of environment and indigenous tribals. Bauxite mining is more ecofriendly than any other minerals," says PK Jena, former director general, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and chairman of city-based Institute of Advance Technology and Environmental Studies (IATES).
Odisha's poorest Kalahandi and Koraput districts have 10 bauxite deposits, accounting for a whopping 1,846 million tonne while Andhra Pradesh has nine deposits having 800 million tonne proven reserves. PSU Nalco operates only Panchapatmali bauxite mine in Koraput district - one of the biggest deposits in the world against nearly 200 operating mines in the country.
Consequently, the Indian aluminium industry today produces only a nominal 1.318 million tonnes of metal with a very low per capita consumption of 1.3 kg against the world production of 40 million tonnes and per capita consumption of 30-35 kg in the developed countries like Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada, the US etc, experts said.
Jena further asserts that bauxite deposits are always available at the top of the plateaus, which have sparse vegetation as the mineral is porous in nature and does not hold water which trickles down the mountain slopes.
"The dense foliage is invariably below the bauxite belt deposit and after mining operations, the reclamation process is very smooth and dense vegetation sprouts up easily the mined area can be suitably utilised for rain-water harvesting as well," he told ET on Tuesday.
Bauxite has one more fundamental advantage over other minerals. The value addition is invariably done close to the mining source.
The refinery and smelter generally come up within the state itself opening up huge opportunities for employment and development, Jena added. Bauxite production in the country has come down drastically from 22.6 million tonne in 2007-08 to approximately 14 million tonne in 2009-10, with Panchpatmalli bauxite mine of Nalco accounting for about 35%, according the latest data from Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM).
The production of bauxite from Andhra Pradesh in the past three years has been negligible while there is an increase of bauxite production from 0.5 mt to 1 mt in Madhya Pradesh. However, there has been a sharp fall in bauxite production in other states, mainly Gujarat and Maharashtra, due to some restriction imposed on exports.
Curiously enough, till the time bauxite was being exported, neither environmental activist/nongovernment organisation, nor any other politician had ever opposed bauxite mining.
The latest controversy on bauxite mining has been sparked off by the Union tribal welfare minister V Kishore Chandra Deo, who in a letter to AP governor ESL Narsimhan sought his intervention for a total ban on bauxite mining in the tribal area in AP.
Deo has linked the bauxite mining with increased Maoist attacks in AP and Odisha. Jindal Aluminium of JSW Group has closed down its proposed refinery project in AP recently. Anarac Aluminium is putting up 1.4-mt EOU refinery unit in AP and has entered into an agreement APMDC for sourcing of bauxite.
However, this project faces uncertainties, post Dev's move for banning bauxite mining.
BHUBANESWAR: The East Coast region, home to 74% of the total bauxite reserves, continues to be one of the most-neglected regions in the country, as not a single bauxite mine has been opened in the past three decades.
The East Coast region, part of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, where a staggering 2,600 million tonne of in-situ reserves of bauxite was discovered way back in 1970, that virtually promised to become a game changer in the world of aluminium, with India becoming the fifth-highest bauxite reserves nation in the world with deposits of about 3.5 billion tonne, or 5%, of global deposits.
"It is unfortunate that India could not leverage its strength by emerging as the epicentre of an aluminium revolution and that too at the lowest cost quartile. It is ridiculous not to utilise huge bauxite deposits in the name of environment and indigenous tribals. Bauxite mining is more ecofriendly than any other minerals," says PK Jena, former director general, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and chairman of city-based Institute of Advance Technology and Environmental Studies (IATES).
Odisha's poorest Kalahandi and Koraput districts have 10 bauxite deposits, accounting for a whopping 1,846 million tonne while Andhra Pradesh has nine deposits having 800 million tonne proven reserves. PSU Nalco operates only Panchapatmali bauxite mine in Koraput district - one of the biggest deposits in the world against nearly 200 operating mines in the country.
Consequently, the Indian aluminium industry today produces only a nominal 1.318 million tonnes of metal with a very low per capita consumption of 1.3 kg against the world production of 40 million tonnes and per capita consumption of 30-35 kg in the developed countries like Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada, the US etc, experts said.
Jena further asserts that bauxite deposits are always available at the top of the plateaus, which have sparse vegetation as the mineral is porous in nature and does not hold water which trickles down the mountain slopes.
"The dense foliage is invariably below the bauxite belt deposit and after mining operations, the reclamation process is very smooth and dense vegetation sprouts up easily the mined area can be suitably utilised for rain-water harvesting as well," he told ET on Tuesday.
Bauxite has one more fundamental advantage over other minerals. The value addition is invariably done close to the mining source.
The refinery and smelter generally come up within the state itself opening up huge opportunities for employment and development, Jena added. Bauxite production in the country has come down drastically from 22.6 million tonne in 2007-08 to approximately 14 million tonne in 2009-10, with Panchpatmalli bauxite mine of Nalco accounting for about 35%, according the latest data from Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM).
The production of bauxite from Andhra Pradesh in the past three years has been negligible while there is an increase of bauxite production from 0.5 mt to 1 mt in Madhya Pradesh. However, there has been a sharp fall in bauxite production in other states, mainly Gujarat and Maharashtra, due to some restriction imposed on exports.
Curiously enough, till the time bauxite was being exported, neither environmental activist/nongovernment organisation, nor any other politician had ever opposed bauxite mining.
The latest controversy on bauxite mining has been sparked off by the Union tribal welfare minister V Kishore Chandra Deo, who in a letter to AP governor ESL Narsimhan sought his intervention for a total ban on bauxite mining in the tribal area in AP.
Deo has linked the bauxite mining with increased Maoist attacks in AP and Odisha. Jindal Aluminium of JSW Group has closed down its proposed refinery project in AP recently. Anarac Aluminium is putting up 1.4-mt EOU refinery unit in AP and has entered into an agreement APMDC for sourcing of bauxite.
However, this project faces uncertainties, post Dev's move for banning bauxite mining.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
OUAT to spend Rs 37cr on infrastructure
Times of India, May 21, 2012
BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology ( OUAT) will spend Rs 37 crore on infrastructure development soon, vice-chancellor Debi Prasad Ray said here on Monday. This will include new hostels and additional college buildings at Chipilima and Bhawanipatna colleges of the university. It is also planning a multipurpose central auditorium and a new girls' hostel for fisheries students on its main campus here, Ray told TOI.
The varsity has College of Agriculture and College of Horticulture in Chipilima besides College ofHorticulture Agriculture at Bhawanipatna. Ray said the colleges don't have sufficient hostel rooms. Ray said several existing buildings will be renovated. Many of these buildings are very old and need an overhaul. The varsity was allocated Rs 50 crore in the Union Budget-2012. The rest Rs 13 crore will be spent on research, he said.
Focus is on researches in veterinary, fisheries, agriculture and home sciences. "We have submitted the research proposals to Indian Council of Agriculture Research. These are mainly projects, whose findings would be relevant to this region," the VC said. Basic research, which have great relevance but not getting enough funding will be covered, he added.
BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology ( OUAT) will spend Rs 37 crore on infrastructure development soon, vice-chancellor Debi Prasad Ray said here on Monday. This will include new hostels and additional college buildings at Chipilima and Bhawanipatna colleges of the university. It is also planning a multipurpose central auditorium and a new girls' hostel for fisheries students on its main campus here, Ray told TOI.
The varsity has College of Agriculture and College of Horticulture in Chipilima besides College of
Focus is on researches in veterinary, fisheries, agriculture and home sciences. "We have submitted the research proposals to Indian Council of Agriculture Research. These are mainly projects, whose findings would be relevant to this region," the VC said. Basic research, which have great relevance but not getting enough funding will be covered, he added.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
Political tug-of-war puts brakes on wagon factory
Times of India, May 18, 2012
BALANGIR: A wagon factory promised by former Railway minister Mamata Banerjee in the 2010 Railway Budget is yet to come up in the state with politicians engaging in a tug of war to set it up in their own area. While chief minister Naveen Patnaik wants it in Ganjam, Congress MP from Kalahandi Bhakta Das has been lobbying for the factory to be set up in Narla in Kalahandi. Recently, BJD MP from Balangir Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo joined the bandwagon by writing to Railway minister Mukul Roy on Tuesday asking for the factory to be set up in Kantabanji in Balangir.
Kalikesh, in his letter to Roy, has argued that Railways has 125 acre vacant land in Kantabanji and there is no point in going for land acquisition in other area, which is a lengthy and hassle-some process. He also said this would be a logical and easy way to resolve disputes arising out of demands for the factory in the area.
In Kalahandi, on the other hand, the Narla Rail Wagon Nirman Sangram Samiti has been demanding the factory to be located at Narla. "There is enough land, more than 500 acres each, in Narla, Kesinga, Lanjigarh Road, Jaring, which can be easily used for establishing the factory. More than 180 acres of unused non-forest land owned by the government is also available near Sardar Medical College in Jaring adjacent to railway track," said Niranjan Pradhan, a member of the outfit.
Recently, people in Kalahandi, led by MP Bhakta Das, protested against the government's unwillingness to set up the factory at Narla, by wearing black badges. While the MP has held chief minister Naveen Patnaik responsible for the project being a non-starter, local BJD leaders have been blaming Das for misguiding people. At a recent press conference in Kalahandi, district BJD president Balabhadra Majhi and labour and employment minister Pushpendra Singh Deo informed that the chief minister has been pressing for the factory to be set up at Sitalapalli in Ganjam's Brahmapur tehsil, adjacent to the Kolkata-Chennai highway.
BALANGIR: A wagon factory promised by former Railway minister Mamata Banerjee in the 2010 Railway Budget is yet to come up in the state with politicians engaging in a tug of war to set it up in their own area. While chief minister Naveen Patnaik wants it in Ganjam, Congress MP from Kalahandi Bhakta Das has been lobbying for the factory to be set up in Narla in Kalahandi. Recently, BJD MP from Balangir Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo joined the bandwagon by writing to Railway minister Mukul Roy on Tuesday asking for the factory to be set up in Kantabanji in Balangir.
Kalikesh, in his letter to Roy, has argued that Railways has 125 acre vacant land in Kantabanji and there is no point in going for land acquisition in other area, which is a lengthy and hassle-some process. He also said this would be a logical and easy way to resolve disputes arising out of demands for the factory in the area.
In Kalahandi, on the other hand, the Narla Rail Wagon Nirman Sangram Samiti has been demanding the factory to be located at Narla. "There is enough land, more than 500 acres each, in Narla, Kesinga, Lanjigarh Road, Jaring, which can be easily used for establishing the factory. More than 180 acres of unused non-forest land owned by the government is also available near Sardar Medical College in Jaring adjacent to railway track," said Niranjan Pradhan, a member of the outfit.
Recently, people in Kalahandi, led by MP Bhakta Das, protested against the government's unwillingness to set up the factory at Narla, by wearing black badges. While the MP has held chief minister Naveen Patnaik responsible for the project being a non-starter, local BJD leaders have been blaming Das for misguiding people. At a recent press conference in Kalahandi, district BJD president Balabhadra Majhi and labour and employment minister Pushpendra Singh Deo informed that the chief minister has been pressing for the factory to be set up at Sitalapalli in Ganjam's Brahmapur tehsil, adjacent to the Kolkata-Chennai highway.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Rajiv Gandhi Service Center Inaguarted in Tambachhada, Dharamgarh
Reported by Sri Anshuman Patra
Dharitri, May 11, 2012
Dharitri, May 11, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Wagon factory: BJD denies Bhaktas charges
Expressbuzz, May 10, 2012
BHAWANIPATNA: Allegations by Congress Lok Sabha member Bhakta Das against the State Government and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over the proposed railway wagon factory at Narla, were refuted by Minister Puspendra Singhdeo and district BJD president Balabhadra Majhi.
Das had earlier this week alleged that the State Government’s apathy towards the district was delaying the wagon factory project.
Speaking to mediapersons on Monday, the BJD leaders accused Das of creating a flutter over the issue to come to� limelight in the wake of the Congress debacle in the panchayat polls.
They said the State Government had categorically given the proposal for the wagon factory at Narla to the Railway Ministry before presentation of the 2012-13 Railway budget in Parliament.
Besides, the Commerce and Transport Department of the State Government had already intimated the General Manager of ECoR about the two plots of land identified at Chapatkhanda and Regdimal/Bhatang for the proposed factory.
The BJD leaders said the first proposal was sent on September 29, 2011 about the 90-acre Government land available for the factory at Chapatkhanda, only 6 km from Narla, and another on April 11 with proposal of 44.70 acres of Government land and 32.79-acre private land of a farmer available at Regidimal and Bhatang villages, hardly 1.5 km from Narla, for the factory.
“This goes to prove that there was no negligence on the part of the State Government. The ball is already in the court of the Central Government, but they did not take the issue seriously,” said Singhdeo.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Commerce and Transport Dept writes to ECOR for land in Narla for Wagon Factory
Shared by Sri Santosh Kumar Kar our sincere thanks to him
BJD breaks silence on Kalahandi wagon mill
Shared by Sri Santosh Kumar Kar
The Pioneer, May 8, 2012
The Pioneer, May 8, 2012
BJD leaders of Kalahandi district on Monday broke their silence over the issue of setting up of a rail wagon factory in the district, after local Congress MP Bhakta Charan Das’ call to people to put on black badges for six days to protest the State Government’s apathy towards establishment of the factory at Narla in the district.
While Das has been accusing Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of his apathy towards identifying of land at Narla for the factory, the BJD leaders have now begun blaming Das for allegedly misguiding the people on the issue by holding public meetings in all blocks of the district. They said Das has no other issue to take up after the Congress was defeated in the recent panchayat elections in the district by the BJD.
Das has been demanding a railway wagon factory at Narla in the wake of the commitment by Railway Minister Mukul Roy in Parliament that wagon factories can be established both at Sitalapalli in Ganjam district and Narla in Kalahandi.
District BJD president Balabhadra Majhi and Minister of Labour & Employment Pushpendra Singh Deo at a Press conference here on Monday said that the CM never thought of discrimination against Kalahandi.
They said the CM had demanded that provision be made in the Railway Budget 2012-13 for establishment of a wagon factory on the identified patch of Government land at Sitalapalli under Brahmapur tehsil of Ganjam, which is located adjacent to Kolkata-Chennai NH-5.
And at the same time, the BJD leaders said, the Ministry of Railways was requested by the State Government to consider establishment of another wagon factory on the available Government land at Narla in Kalahandi. On April 11, 2012, the State Government wrote a letter to the general manager of the East Coast Railway to examine the matter for setting up of a factory at Narla. Kalahandi Collector Dukhishyam Satpathy also submitted a letter of availability of Government land for the factory at Narla, the BJD leaders said.
Balabhadra Majhi and Singh Deo refuted Das’ allegation that the CM had personally written a letter to the Railway Minister that instead of Kalahandi, the proposed wagon factory should be set up at Sitalapalli. Let Das show a copy of such a letter written by the CM, they said.
Majhi said that when an all-party meeting was called by Das at Bhawanipatna to discuss the issue, BJD leaders were not invited to it. The BJD is fully cooperating in the efforts for setting up of a factory at Narla and it is for Bhakta Das to clinch the issue in New Delhi as his party is ruling at the Centre, they observed.
Sources said the district BJD leaders had met the CM on the issue and the latter had directed them to hold a Press conference immediately at Bhawanipatna to counter Das’ offensive.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Our sincere thanks to Sri Pyarimohan Mohapatra for taking the issue of model college in Kalahandi
Dear Sri Patra
On receiptof your email dated 14th April, 2012 alleging that ‘the proposedCollege in Kalahandi District was going to be shifted to somewhere else citingnon-availability of land in Kalahandi’, I had taken up the issue with the Collector,Kalahandi. He has informed me that the following three sites have been identified by the Tahsildars of Koksara and Kalahandi for the purpose; and the Principal, Government Autonomous College,Bhawanipatna has been informed to visit the spot for finalisation of sites vide his letter No. 413 dated 15.3.2012 i.e. almost a month before you sent the email to me:
1. Plot No. 50, Khata No. 30(AJA), Mouza Jugasaipatna(Kalahandi Tahsil) - Ac.7.00
2. Plot Nos. 1120, 1175, 1176, Khata No. 238 (Rakhit), Mouza Bangomunda Koksara Tahsil - Ac. 10.00
3. Plot No. 866, Khata No. 09, Mouza Ampani, Koksara Tahsil -Ac.10.00
Pyarimohan Mohapatra
On receiptof your email dated 14th April, 2012 alleging that ‘the proposedCollege in Kalahandi District was going to be shifted to somewhere else citingnon-availability of land in Kalahandi’, I had taken up the issue with the Collector,Kalahandi. He has informed me that the following three sites have been identified by the Tahsildars of Koksara and Kalahandi for the purpose; and the Principal, Government Autonomous College,Bhawanipatna has been informed to visit the spot for finalisation of sites vide his letter No. 413 dated 15.3.2012 i.e. almost a month before you sent the email to me:
1. Plot No. 50, Khata No. 30(AJA), Mouza Jugasaipatna(Kalahandi Tahsil) - Ac.7.00
2. Plot Nos. 1120, 1175, 1176, Khata No. 238 (Rakhit), Mouza Bangomunda Koksara Tahsil - Ac. 10.00
3. Plot No. 866, Khata No. 09, Mouza Ampani, Koksara Tahsil -Ac.10.00
Pyarimohan Mohapatra
Naveen reiterates eight-year perspective plan for KBK
Naveen reiterates SCS demand
IBNlive, May 5, 2012
BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has reiterated the demand for declaring Odisha as a Special Category State (SCS). He raised the issue with Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission M S Ahluwalia in New Delhi on Friday during finalisation of the Plan outlay for the State. Naveen said the State satisfies all criteria, except having an international boundary.
IBNlive, May 5, 2012
BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has reiterated the demand for declaring Odisha as a Special Category State (SCS). He raised the issue with Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission M S Ahluwalia in New Delhi on Friday during finalisation of the Plan outlay for the State. Naveen said the State satisfies all criteria, except having an international boundary.
The State Government had handed over a memorandum to the Centre in January highlighting Odisha’s demand for special category status. The SCS is a long standing demand of the State, raised since 1977. The demand was also in the manifesto of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) for the 2000 elections. However, it was rejected by the Planning Commission.
The Chief Minister said several important proposals of the Government having significant bearing on the socio-economic development and resource mobilisation efforts have been pending with the Centre.
Naveen said the uniform policies pursued by the Centre for the country as a whole have in many cases resulted in distorted growth. He suggested that the Centre should engage constructively with the States to liberally support region-specific interventions.
The Chief Minister said the eight-year perspective plan for KBK (undivided Kalahandi, Balangir and Koraput) districts, with a projected outlay of `4,550 cr, should be approved at the earliest. Besides, he demanded that the Revised Long-Term Action Plan (RLTAP) for KBK districts should be extended for 10 years.
Naveen said guidelines should be modified to include Odisha under the restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme-II (APDRP). Odisha is losing crores of rupees in the power sector as the guidelines of the APDRP are yet to be changed.
Stating that Odisha has lost hundreds of crores of rupees because of delay in revision of royalty on minerals, the Chief Minister demanded substantial upward revision of royalties on ad valorem basis for major minerals, including coal, iron ore, chromite, manganese and bauxite.
Besides, he also demanded imposition of mineral resources rent tax on iron ore to be charged at 50 per cent of the surplus rent from the iron ore mining companies.
Anupam tops Odisha IAS list with 35th rank
IBNlive, May 5, 2012
BHUBANESWAR: Anupam Saha (26) from backward Kalahandi’s Kesinga town has cracked Civil Service Examination (IAS) with 35th rank. Results of the exam were declared on Friday.
�An electrical engineer by qualification, Anupam cleared the exam in his third attempt. Given his top rank among successful Odia candidates and his first preference, he is likely to secure Odisha cadre.
�Anupam, who is in Delhi, was thrilled. “I am very happy. Thank you very much,” he said.
�The Saha family in the sleepy town of Kesinga was ecstatic as congratulatory messages poured in. Anupam’s father Dr Hemasagar Saha said his family was overjoyed after it received the good news. “He has always been a good student and been nursing the ambition to be a civil servant,” he revealed.
�Anupam, who completed his schooling from Kesinga Vidyapeetha, studied in National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, from where he took a B.Tech degree in electrical engineering in 2007.
“He worked with the TCS for two years but one day quit it saying he did not like a corporate job. He had his heart somewhere else,” Dr Saha said.� Anupam moved to Delhi for coaching. He had difficulties in the first couple of years as he took Geography and Public Administration as his subjects. Even, he could not clear the prelims in the first attempt.
� Interestingly, the Saha family is one of doctors. Apart from the father, Anupam’s elder brother is a paediatrician while his younger sister is in the last year of MBBS at VSS Medical College and Hospital, Burla.
�Apart from Anupam, Debapriya Bardhan and Laxmi Narayan Mishra too are among the Odias who cleared the exam with 47 and 56 ranks respectively.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Anupam Saha, a Kalahandia tops at 35th position in UPSC Civil Services 2012
It is a proud moment that ANUPAM SAHA from Kesinga in Kalahandi is among the UPSC civil service toppers for this year in the nation. He secured 35th ranking. Our heatiest congratulation to him.
Unfinished bridge over Tel river at Sandhikuler
Reported by Sri Anshuman Patra
Dharitri, May 4, 2012
Dharitri, May 4, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Bhakta launches stir against Govt delay in allotting land
The Pioneer, May 3, 2012
Despite the assurance of setting up of a rail wagon factory in Kalahandi by former Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee three years ago, the State Government did not identify land in the district for the purpose even though sufficient land is available at Narla.
Protesting the State Government’s negligence towards Kalahandi, local Congress MP and former Minister of State for Railways Bhakta Charan Das has raised his voice in favour of setting up of the proposed factory in the district as it would generate jobs for thousands of local youth.
Das appealed the locals to protest against the State Government’s attitude by wearing black badges and observing Black Days for six days from May 1. In response to his call, district Congress workers and many local people on Tuesday put on black badges and assembled at every Chowk at the district headquarters town of Bhawanipatna and in different blocks and observed Black Day.
After the six-day Black Day, the Congress has decided for a signature campaign in each block. A memorandum containing the signatures would be sent to the Chief Minister in support of the demand of rail wagon factory, Das said.
At a public meeting held here and Junagarh on Tuesday, Das threatened that Chief Minister would not be allowed to land on the land of Kalahandi by his helicopter if the demand is not fulfilled.
Despite the assurance of setting up of a rail wagon factory in Kalahandi by former Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee three years ago, the State Government did not identify land in the district for the purpose even though sufficient land is available at Narla.
Protesting the State Government’s negligence towards Kalahandi, local Congress MP and former Minister of State for Railways Bhakta Charan Das has raised his voice in favour of setting up of the proposed factory in the district as it would generate jobs for thousands of local youth.
Das appealed the locals to protest against the State Government’s attitude by wearing black badges and observing Black Days for six days from May 1. In response to his call, district Congress workers and many local people on Tuesday put on black badges and assembled at every Chowk at the district headquarters town of Bhawanipatna and in different blocks and observed Black Day.
After the six-day Black Day, the Congress has decided for a signature campaign in each block. A memorandum containing the signatures would be sent to the Chief Minister in support of the demand of rail wagon factory, Das said.
At a public meeting held here and Junagarh on Tuesday, Das threatened that Chief Minister would not be allowed to land on the land of Kalahandi by his helicopter if the demand is not fulfilled.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Updates on proposal for opening Kendriya Vidyalaya at Dharamgarh
Shared by Sri Hrushikesh Mishra, our sincere thanks to him and Mr. Jal who collected this document.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
NRI urges PM, CM for HC Bench in B’patna
The Pioneer, May 1, 2012
Non-resident Odia professor Digambara Patra of the American University of Beirut has demanded establishment of a High Court Bench or Circuit Bench in Bhawanipatna.
In a letter to the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Odisha, Patra has cited that a High Court Bench or Circuit Bench exists along with their parent HC in many States in India due to work load or given the distance and backwardness of specific locations.
However, in Odisha, though there are many regions which fulfill all the criteria for establishment of HC Bench or Circuit Bench, it is not done. The Jaswant Singh Commission has pointed out that a distance of 400-km from the parent HC should be a factor to have a HC Bench in a backward location, he said in the letter.
He said political demands for HC Benches in Sambalpur and Behrampur are illogical as both areas are well-connected with Cuttack and people can return in the same day finishing work in the court at Cuttack by train. HC Benches in any State in India are located at least 320 km away from parent HC seat, except in Lucknow, which is a State capital and Allahabad with a court since British era. Both Sambalpur and Berhampur are located less than 300 km from Cuttack.
He pointed out that communication to KBK region in Odisha is poor and the region is considered to be given special category State status in line with the north east States due to their hilly, tribal and backward characters.
Therefore, based on their long distance and backwardness, a HC Bench for KBK region comprising the backward districts in western and southern parts of Odisha should be ideal.
“Kalahandi Bar Association has demanded earlier for a HC Bench in Bhawanipatna. So, there is demand for the same in Jeypore and Balangir by the local bar associations. However, Bhawanipatna is a central location in KBK and south western Odisha comprising Kandhamal, Boudh, Gajapati and Bargarh, etc. Bhawanipatna is also far away from Cuttack, above 400 km but is well-connected by SH and NH with all the south western districts. Hence, Bhawanipatna has a solid ground to host a HC Bench or Circuit Bench,” he said.
Also published in orissadiary
Additional Comprehensive Update:
Even within Westen Odisha and Southern Odisha, decentralisation of power and investment is required in the local level. When it comes to HC Bench its more political than logical by favouring Sambalpur and Berhampur, respectively, in the name of Western and South Orissa which keep other hinterland in dark, this is equally unjustified. This is how we historically build region like KBK comprising half of hinterland districts of South and other half dist from Western Orissa.
High court bench orcircuit bench are existing in India in the same state based on work load or in far off backward remote locations such as Madurai and Chennai; Mumbai, Nagpur and Aurangabad, Bangaluru, Hubli and Gulberga, Jaipur and Jodhpur; Gowalior, Jabalpur andIndore, Lucknow and Allhabad or in other states or UT such as Panaji, PortBlair, Kohima, Aizwal, Imphal, Agartala, Shillong, etc.
Existing HC benches are located in states which are larger than Odisha in population and having more work load in their parent HC, some of them like West Bengal, AP, Gujarat, Bihar etc are larger and have more work load than Odisha parent HC at Cuttack, but does not have any HC bench or circuit bench.
In this respect political demand of two HC benches in Odisha may be a difficult task or illogical, both Sambalpur and Behrampur are also well connected with Cuttack and people can return in the same day finishing work in HC Cuttack by train. HC benches in any state in India are located at least 320 km away from parent HC seat except Lucknow (which is a state capital and Allahabad being the court since British time) and other benches are in UT/states. Both Sambalpur and Berhampur are located less than 300 km from Cuttack (Google Map can be helpful).
As per the cases coming to High Court of Cuttack, the region which has better chance to have a HC bench is South Odisha, Western Odisha has less number of cases coming to HC Cuttack compared to South Odisha, but this number is also not sufficient compared to other states in India.
KBK region in Odisha is considered in the line of special categories states (due to hilly, tribal and backward region), such as Noth Eastern states, Himachal by planning commission and special grant is given in the line of NE and Himchal Pradesh states for irrigation and other schemes by the central Govt. and planning commission.
Earlier HC benches and educational institutes were established in NE states citing this special category status and not based on work load to the corresponding HC bench.
Therefore, based on special status Odisha should rather demand a HC Bench for KBK region comprising the backward districts in Western and Southern Part of Odisha, since work load in Cuttack may not neccessiated additional bench in the state, such demand for KBK may put Orissa in solid background in front of Bihar, West Bengal, AP, Gujarat etc.
Kalahandi Bar Association has demanded earlier for HC bench in Bhawanipatna, so there is demand for the same in Jeypore and Balangir by local Bar Association. Bhawanipatna is a central location in KBK and also for South Western Odisha comprising KBK-Kandhamal-Boudh-Gajapati-B
Bhawanipatna is also far away from Cuttack, above 400 km and well connected by SH and NH to all these districts. In this way locally Bhawanipatna has a solid ground to demand for HC bench or circuit bench. Kalahandi is also comes under both South Odisha (RDC) as well as Western Odisha (WODC) and KBK. It can be a judicial point to please politically both regions of South as well as Western Odisa which can also increase the chance for getting in HC bench in Odisha.
In case of two HC benches in Odisha, second one may come in Keonjhar-Sundergarh region, a location which is above 400 km from Cuttack, probably Sundergarh town would be right choice.
Non-resident Odia professor Digambara Patra of the American University of Beirut has demanded establishment of a High Court Bench or Circuit Bench in Bhawanipatna.
In a letter to the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Odisha, Patra has cited that a High Court Bench or Circuit Bench exists along with their parent HC in many States in India due to work load or given the distance and backwardness of specific locations.
However, in Odisha, though there are many regions which fulfill all the criteria for establishment of HC Bench or Circuit Bench, it is not done. The Jaswant Singh Commission has pointed out that a distance of 400-km from the parent HC should be a factor to have a HC Bench in a backward location, he said in the letter.
He said political demands for HC Benches in Sambalpur and Behrampur are illogical as both areas are well-connected with Cuttack and people can return in the same day finishing work in the court at Cuttack by train. HC Benches in any State in India are located at least 320 km away from parent HC seat, except in Lucknow, which is a State capital and Allahabad with a court since British era. Both Sambalpur and Berhampur are located less than 300 km from Cuttack.
He pointed out that communication to KBK region in Odisha is poor and the region is considered to be given special category State status in line with the north east States due to their hilly, tribal and backward characters.
Therefore, based on their long distance and backwardness, a HC Bench for KBK region comprising the backward districts in western and southern parts of Odisha should be ideal.
“Kalahandi Bar Association has demanded earlier for a HC Bench in Bhawanipatna. So, there is demand for the same in Jeypore and Balangir by the local bar associations. However, Bhawanipatna is a central location in KBK and south western Odisha comprising Kandhamal, Boudh, Gajapati and Bargarh, etc. Bhawanipatna is also far away from Cuttack, above 400 km but is well-connected by SH and NH with all the south western districts. Hence, Bhawanipatna has a solid ground to host a HC Bench or Circuit Bench,” he said.
Also published in orissadiary
Additional Comprehensive Update:
Even within Westen Odisha and Southern Odisha, decentralisation of power and investment is required in the local level. When it comes to HC Bench its more political than logical by favouring Sambalpur and Berhampur, respectively, in the name of Western and South Orissa which keep other hinterland in dark, this is equally unjustified. This is how we historically build region like KBK comprising half of hinterland districts of South and other half dist from Western Orissa.
High court bench orcircuit bench are existing in India in the same state based on work load or in far off backward remote locations such as Madurai and Chennai; Mumbai, Nagpur and Aurangabad, Bangaluru, Hubli and Gulberga, Jaipur and Jodhpur; Gowalior, Jabalpur andIndore, Lucknow and Allhabad or in other states or UT such as Panaji, PortBlair, Kohima, Aizwal, Imphal, Agartala, Shillong, etc.
Existing HC benches are located in states which are larger than Odisha in population and having more work load in their parent HC, some of them like West Bengal, AP, Gujarat, Bihar etc are larger and have more work load than Odisha parent HC at Cuttack, but does not have any HC bench or circuit bench.
In this respect political demand of two HC benches in Odisha may be a difficult task or illogical, both Sambalpur and Behrampur are also well connected with Cuttack and people can return in the same day finishing work in HC Cuttack by train. HC benches in any state in India are located at least 320 km away from parent HC seat except Lucknow (which is a state capital and Allahabad being the court since British time) and other benches are in UT/states. Both Sambalpur and Berhampur are located less than 300 km from Cuttack (Google Map can be helpful).
As per the cases coming to High Court of Cuttack, the region which has better chance to have a HC bench is South Odisha, Western Odisha has less number of cases coming to HC Cuttack compared to South Odisha, but this number is also not sufficient compared to other states in India.
KBK region in Odisha is considered in the line of special categories states (due to hilly, tribal and backward region), such as Noth Eastern states, Himachal by planning commission and special grant is given in the line of NE and Himchal Pradesh states for irrigation and other schemes by the central Govt. and planning commission.
Earlier HC benches and educational institutes were established in NE states citing this special category status and not based on work load to the corresponding HC bench.
Therefore, based on special status Odisha should rather demand a HC Bench for KBK region comprising the backward districts in Western and Southern Part of Odisha, since work load in Cuttack may not neccessiated additional bench in the state, such demand for KBK may put Orissa in solid background in front of Bihar, West Bengal, AP, Gujarat etc.
Kalahandi Bar Association has demanded earlier for HC bench in Bhawanipatna, so there is demand for the same in Jeypore and Balangir by local Bar Association. Bhawanipatna is a central location in KBK and also for South Western Odisha comprising KBK-Kandhamal-Boudh-Gajapati-B
Bhawanipatna is also far away from Cuttack, above 400 km and well connected by SH and NH to all these districts. In this way locally Bhawanipatna has a solid ground to demand for HC bench or circuit bench. Kalahandi is also comes under both South Odisha (RDC) as well as Western Odisha (WODC) and KBK. It can be a judicial point to please politically both regions of South as well as Western Odisa which can also increase the chance for getting in HC bench in Odisha.
In case of two HC benches in Odisha, second one may come in Keonjhar-Sundergarh region, a location which is above 400 km from Cuttack, probably Sundergarh town would be right choice.
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