A success story of Suniti Purohit: From a romote village in Kalahandi to research fellowship in Germany

Repo r t e d b y S r i I n g i t P a n d a
S a m a j a, A u g 2 1, 2 0 1 2

Seminar in Dharamgarh: Quality education and agriculture key to development of Kalahandi

Reported by Sri Anshuman Patra
Dharitri, Aug 20, 2012

Four people lose eyesight by consuming contamined liquor in Junagarh

Reported by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, Aug 15, 2012

Public protest in Junagarh for early completion of Bhawanipatna-Junagarh railway line

Reported by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, Aug 12, 2012

K’handi tribal varsity delay: NRO rues official apathy

The Pioneer, Aug 14, 2012

It is very unfortunate to realise that when the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and university authorities are willing to establish a regional campus of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU) at Amarkantak, negligence and irresponsible attitude of the officials of the Higher Education Department of Odisha has been a stumbling block.

Without necessary infrastructure, the establishment of a branch campus of the IGNTU at a tribal dominated area is getting delayed.

Expressing concern over the matter, NRO (non-resident Odia) Prof Digambara Patra has written a letter to the Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik and urged his cooperation for the setting up of the IGNTU branch.

“This is well proven from the very recent information obtained from the authority of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU) at Amarkantak through RTI Act that the IGNTU at Amarkantak has already received a proposal from the MHRD to open a regional campus at Kalahandi. The State Government was informed to provide infrastructure facilities, including a minimum of 300 acres of land, an approach road and electricity, but no response was received from the Odisha Government. As such the proposal is biting dust,” he said.

Patra pointed out that the Kalahandi ADM had already informed to the FA-cum-Additional Secretary of the Department of Higher Education of Odisha citing availability of the suitable land in Thuamul Rampur. However, it seems after receiving the letter from the ADM, the Higher Education Department stopped taking necessary follow-ups without forwarding the same to the MHRD and the university authorities at Amarkantak for future action, he lamented.

It is catastrophic that instead of catalysing educational development of the State, specifically in a tribal dominated backward region like Thuamul-Rampur, the carelessness of the Higher Education Department officials has been delaying the university, Patra said.

Celebration: First train from Bhawanipatna to Bhubaneswar

Image shared by Sri Bikash Pradhan

Video shared by Sri Satyajit Nayak

Bhawanipatna-Bhubaneswar Link Express flagged off

The Pioneer, Aug 12, 2012

Thousands of people thronged the local railway station as the long-awaited Bhawanipatna-Rayagada-Bhubaneswar Link Express was flagged off by Kalahandi MP Bhakta Charan Das here on Saturday evening.

Addressing the gathering, Das said it took 21 years to link the rail line from Lanjigarh road with Bhawanpatna since he made efforts way back in 1989 when he was elected MP for the first time.

Commenting on its own party members Bhakta said, “Our own people are becoming hurdles in the way of improving the Kalahandi district. He did not name the leader but hinted at the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly meeting Railway Minister Mukul Roy and telling him that the documents of the rail wagon factory had not yet been ready; so there was no need to attend the flagging off ceremony of the new train line at Bhawanipatna. “With a heavy heart I am bound to say in this platform,” he said Das said, “The Opposition party leaders (BJD and BJP) are commenting on me saying that an MP is going to inaugurate the train line. What wrong did I do today as after a Railway Minister, only a local MP can take up the job.”

The other train line will be connected very soon and Kalahandi will get better business opportunities, Das said. At around 7 pm, Das flagged off the train where thousands of people greeted him. The function was attended by Additional District Railway Manager Omkar Singh, Collector Dukhishyam Satpathy, MLA Dushmanta Nayak and DRM Ashok Kumar Gupta who also spoke on the occasion and greeted the public.

Centre grants free rice for KBK BPL

The Pioneer, Aug 12, 2012

The Union Planning Commission has approved the State Government’s proposal for implementation of free distribution of rice to BPL families under emergency food programme in eight KBK districts. The programme would be operational for nine months up to March, 2013 with retrospective effect from July last.

According to official sources, an estimated 2 lakh BPL beneficiaries coverning Koraput, Rayagada, Nawarangpur, Malkangiri, Balangir, Sonepur, Nuapada and Kalahandi districts would be benefited under the free rice programme.

The BPL families will get additional 7.5 Kg rice each free of cost per month for nine months. The Central Government will provide the required 1,500 mt of rice to the eight districts.

Meanwhile, the Women and Child Development Department has asked all concerned district Collectors to lift FAQ standard rice from FCI godowns taking into account the number of BPL families.

Bhakta’s dream project comes true after 21 yrs

The Pioneer, Aug 11, 2012
BIKASH KHEMKA
After completion of the much-awaited rail line up to Bhawanipatna four-five months back, the 21-year wait of the the citizens here has finally come to an end with ex-Railway Minister and Kalahandi MP Bhakta Charan Das going to flag off the Bhawanipatna-Rayagada-Bhubaneswar Link Express on Saturday evening.
Another train (DMU) will run will also run between Bhawanipatna-Raipur from Saturday night. Initially the two trains have been finalised to run and subsequently the other routes would be expanded, sources informed.
The event has been a historical victory for Das as he had put up the rail link proposal during the regime of VP Singh in 1991 while participating in the Railway Budget discussion as MP of Kalahandi. After 14 months, the VP regime came to an end and the proposal got stuck where it was.
After Das assumed office as Railway Minister in Prime Minister Chandra Sekhar’s Government, approximately Rs132 crore was sanctioned for the project by the Planning Commission. Mohan Dharia was the chairman then.
Chandra Sekhar personally intervened in the matter and the Budget was passed in the Parliament. But unfortunately, the Government collapsed after four months.
The project practically took off during Narasimha Rao’s Prime Ministership when Kanhu Charan Lenka was at the helms in the Railway Ministry.
In 1993 Prime Minister Narasimha Rao laid the foundation stone of Lanjigarh Road railway station during his visit in Kalahandi. Biju Pattnak then was the Chief Minister of Odisha. The then Railway Minister Suresh Kalmadi laid the foundation stone of Bhawanipatna railway station in 1995.
Das told The Pioneer that in 1996 Deve Gowda was the PM and Ramvilas Paswan was the Railway Minister. At that time the rail project was completely stuck. Since then till 2009 when he became MP again, no progress was made as there was no cooperation by the railway Ministers or the local MP. The following three years bore fruit after putting in hard labour, he said and thanked the ex-Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee and the present incumbent Mukul Roy who extended their whole support.
The 32-km rail link has been connected from Lanjigarh road to Bhawanipatna and it is going to be completed soon up to Junagarh, Das said.

Station inaugurated, express train flagged off

IBNlive, Aug 11, 2012

PTI | 10:08 PM,Aug 11,2012
Bhawanipatna (Odisha), Aug 11 (PTI) The railway station at Bhawanipatna in Sambalpur division of East Coast Railways was inaugurated and 18438 Bhawanipatna-Rayagada-Bhubaneswar Link Express train was flagged off from here today. The daily express train, flagged off by Lok Sabha member and former minister of state for Railways Bhakta Charan Das, will link Raygada, Vijayanagaram and Berhampur to reach Bhubaneswar. He requested railway officials to take steps for early completion of Lanjigarh-Junagarh rail line from Bhawanipatna to Junagarh. Implementation of rail wagon factory project would also give Kalahandi a special place in rail map, Das said. PTI COR SKN AMD

Odisha: Lanjigarh Witnesses Demand for Higher Education

Orissadiary, Aug 10, 2012
Report by OD bureau; Lanjigarh: Lanjigarh which is situated in a remote corner in Kalahandi district of Odisha seems to be witnessing a sea change. The tribal people in Lanjigarh region, which is considered to be one of the backward regions in the country, now demands to come to the main stream.
The recent reports of a strike at Lanjigarh for enrolling of more local students in the ‘SC & ST +2 Science and Commerce College’ run by Govt. of Odisha speaks in at length how the tribal people in this region ready to go to the extent of road blockage, strike etc only to enroll their sons and daughters in the educational institute. The people in the region have realized the true value of education.
August 9, 2012 saw a standstill Lanjigarh only because few tribal students of the region couldn’t get enrolled in the college. People came out from their houses to make sure a one-day strike at Lanjigarh successful. They clearly wanted to send the message that they have the right to study at the college situated at Lanjigarh.

Speaking about the strike at Lanjigarh, Keshab Majhi said, “We are blessed that our next generation can have access to better education and at an institute like DAV Vedanta International School. The revolt for education is inevitable because of industrialization in the region. Now everybody wants to come to the mainstream and to access better life.”
The demand for better education can also be seen at the DAV Vedanta International School at Lanjigarh, the only English medium school in the locality. The school now has enrolled nearly 500 students of the locality who are mostly tribal. The school, when started with three students now has enrolled nearly 500 students at a tribal dominated place. This in itself shows how the local people are aware about education and development.

Carelessness of Higher Education Department Delaying IGNTU regional campus in Kalahandi

Note: Lets push this issue with the Department of Higher Education, Odisha Govt.

[Special thanks to Sri Sanjeeb Kumar Satapathy for rendering his continuous support and RTI work for various issues including Wagon Factory and IGNTU campus in Kalahandi since past 2 years]

Dear Honorable Chief Minister Mr. Patnaik,
It is very unfortunate to realize that when Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) of the central Govt. and University authorities are willing to establish regional campus of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University at Amarkantak, negligence and irresponsible behavior of Higher Education Department of Odisha state Government is obstructing higher educational development particular meant for tribal population of the state. 

This is well proven from the very recent information obtained from the authority of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU) at Amarkantak through RTI acts which clearly points out that 

“IGNTU at Amarkantak has already received a proposal from MHRD to open a regional campus at Kalahandi vide letter no. 41-1/2012-Desk (U) dated 27-04-2012. As per the policy of the University State Government was informed vide letter Ref. No. IGNTU/Reg/491/2010 dated 24.8.2010 to provide infrastructure facilities like a minimum of 300 acres of land, approach road and electricity supply and accordingly the state Govt. was asked to facilitate with the infrastructure facilities, no response was received from the state Government. As such the proposal is still pending with the state Government of Odisha.”

Copy of the letter is attached for your kind perusal.

Pointe to be noted that Addl. District Magistrate Kalahandi had already informed to the F.A.-cum-Addl. Secretary to Government, Department of Higher Education of Odisha Government citing availability of the suitable Govt. land in in Th. Rampur for the same purpose on 12.10.2010. The copy of the said letter is also attached for your examination.

However, it seems after receiving the letter from the Addl. District Magistrate Kalahandi, Higher Education Department has kept this letter in cold storage without forwarding the same to the MHRD and the Universities authorities at Amarkantak for future action.

It is catastrophic that instead of catalyzing educational development of the state, specifically in a tribal dominated backward region like Thuamul Rampur and for tribal population of the state, the carelessness of state Govt., especially Higher Education Department is delaying such possibilities in the state.

Your kind pro-active action is immediately urged to recommend the identified land in Thuamul Rampur to the IGNTU at Amarkantak and MHRD to establish the regional campus of IGNTU at Kalahandi as per MHRD directive as soon as possible.

Thank you and best regards

Digambara Patra

No Govt action to control Hati river flood

Reported by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, Aug 10, 2012

After 50 years, dream of Hati river bridge near Junagarh remains the same

Reporsted by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, Aug 8, 2012

Bridge over Hati near Karchala gets confined with tender

Reporsted by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, Aug 7, 2012

Fate of Bridge over Hati near Karmel in question !

Reporsted by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, Aug 6, 2012

1500 hectares of agriculture land in risk because of Hati river!!

Reported by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, Aug 9, 2012

Finally on 11 Aug 2012 train may start from Bhawanipatna

Shared by Ansuman Panigrahi

Drought, Dignity And Development: Field Findings

By Dr. Gadadhara Mohapatra

05 August, 2012
Countercurrents.org

Context

In many parts of the world, hunger is pervasive and chronic; persisting even when weather is good and global agricultural production is adequate. Those who are undernourished in normal times are overwhelmingly the poor in the developing market economies of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Near East. For these people hunger is fundamentally a reflection of poverty embedded in unequal distributions of wealth, income and also occurred due to drought, famine in the particular area. The attainment of food security therefore involves eliminating current hunger and reducing the risks of future hunger. Hunger has chronic and seasonal dimensions. Chronic hunger is a consequence of diets persistently inadequate in terms of quantity and/or quality. Poor people suffer from chronic hunger because of their very low income and in turn inability to buy food even for survival. Seasonal hunger is related to cycles of food growing and harvesting. This is prevalent in rural areas because of the seasonal nature of agricultural activities and in urban areas because of the casual labour, e.g., there is less work for casual construction work during the rainy season. This type of hunger exists when a person is unable to get work for the entire year.

Study Area and People

This study was undertaken in the month of January-February 2012, interviewed the Kondhs (Dangaria and Kutia) tribal groups and other forest dwellers in Niyamgiri hills of Lanjigarh block in Kalahandi district. Seven tribal villages were selected from Lanjigarh block of Kalahandi district with different agro-climatic and socio-economic conditions. Thus, the villages selected were Kenduguda, Rengopali, Bandhuguda, Trilochanpur, Khemundipaddar, Phuldumer and Palberi. Out of 182 households, 105 households were surveyed through formal and informal interviews. Social composition of these seven villages shows that there are 100 per cent tribal households in Palberi, Phuldumer, Khemundipaddar which is situated at the high altitude of the Niyamgiri hills. Whereas, villages under Trilochanpur has mixed kind of households from Dangaria Kond (PTGs), Domb (SCs), Goud or Sundhi from other backward classes (OBCs). However, the Dangaria Kondhs are claimed to be the original inhabitants of these region, whereas the people belonging to Dombs, Goud and Sundhi have mostly migrated from the plain areas and settled in this area over a period of time.

Development Challenges

Landlessness, marginal and small land holdings and lack of irrigation facility in the sample villages are the major cause of food insecurity. A major portion of the sample households were in food stress for 3 to 5 months in a year. Dongaria Kondh face acute shortage of food in the post-sowing monsoon period (July-September) and again around March when the kharif harvest has been exhausted. In such situations, consumption ofmango kernels is the usual practice to compensate the staple food shortage. It is being used after a series of cleaning procedures to get rid of toxicity, which is added to the mandia preparation in place of rice. They were also taking local alternative non-food varieties like wild tubers, leaves, mushrooms, tamarind seed powder that contribute as rainy foods since generations as coping measures. Moreover, the powder from the pith of sago palm is being used commonly. In the past, they were able to cover most of the shortfall with foods gathered from the forests. Due to depletion of forest resources and aggressive mining activities, the livelihood base is shrinking and compels them to depend upon purchased foods to meet the food deficit. The government schemes such as the targeted PDS, special schemes under food safety net and rural development schemes like SGRY, MGNREGS, and OTELP have limited impact on poverty and food security in this region.

Coping Strategies

Consumption of the people varies significantly between normal year and the crisis period. The sources of food in these villages are own production, purchase, nature (forest), help from individuals and organizations. For example, in Phuldumer, Palberi and Khemundipaddar village during crisis period they depend on wild tubers, wild leafy vagetables and poor quality of rice. Similarly, villagers collect mahua flowers and tubers for their own consumption. Maternal buffering is common across all the regions. This is the practice of a mother deliberately limiting her own intake in order to ensure children get sufficient food. Agriculture and shifting cultivation provides the primary source of food in the period August–January, as harvesting of the first period. Starting in the month of November, a large portion of the income generated from the sale of agricultural produce is also used to repay food grain and cash loans taken up earlier in the year. From mid-January and until May-June, the forests provide a secondary source of food. Sal seeds and tendu and palas leaves are also collected from forests since they fetch good prices in the open market. Another common coping strategy is distress sale or mortgage of assets – draught animals, cows, goats, poultry, cheap ornaments, kitchen utensils, etc. – during severe drought years. In hopeless situation, the only possible option or the strategies during both drought and non-drought years is migration which is more seasonal in nature.

Despite rapid economic growth in the past two decades, this area is unlikely to meet the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of cutting the proportion of hungry people by half. The study explored the tribal households face acute shortage of food in the post-sowing monsoon period (July-September) and again around March when the kharif harvest has been exhausted. Malnutrition is fairly common, especially debilitating young children and women in their physical condition and lowering resistance to disease. Therefore, a multi-pronged approach for sustainable livelihood coupled with improvement in the literacy levels would certainly lead to social development and dignity.

Dr. Gadadhara Mohapatra is an Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Tripura Central University, Agartala. Email: mohapatrajnu@gmail.com

Floods abate; B’patna-N’rangpur communication resumes

The Pioneer, Aug 8, 2012

As the floodwater began receding since Sunday, people from Bhawanipatna, Dharmagarh, Junagarh, Jaipatna, Jaipur and Nabrangpur used the Hati river bridge near Junagarh NH-24.

The incessant rainfall in the last few days had compelled the Indravati reservoir officials to release water into the Hati river. As a result, the river had flown 3-4 feet high of its danger marks and had cut off the Bhawanipatna-Nabarangpur road.

The flood-hit victims of Kalampur block had been evacuated by the district administration to safer places. They had been distributed with tarpaulins and free food. About 500 villagers had been kept in the Ichhapur Upper Primary School after flood waters gushed into their villages. On Monday, District Collector Dukhishyam Satapathy and Sub-Collector of Dharmagarh Gouri Parashar personally took stock of the situation.

However, the receding of flood waters had been no comfort to the district administration as diarrhoea erupted in some places of the district. Gourahari Das (80) of Menju village under Koksara block had been missing since Sunday morning. It was feared he had been swept away by flood waters. In the community health centre (CHC) of Kalampur block, two diarrhoea patients were admitted and another four patients were being reportedly treated in other CHCs.

According to sources, an old man and his wife died of diarrhoea in Chhura gaon village under Kalampur block but the district administration was not ready to buy the story. It rather said the duo died of consuming unhygienic food. BDO Jatin Kumar Kara told the media that the duo had consumed unhygienic food according to the doctor’s reports.

Kara said eight cases of diarrhoea have been reported where six patients had already been cured and another two patients were being treated in Kalampur CHC.

District Collector Satpathy said Koten village of Junagarh block and Bankapalas of Kalampur block had been affected in a big way by flood where all the marooned villagers were shifted to a relief camp. The officials were engaged to tackle the situation. Regarding outbreak of diarrhoea, he admitted that some places had been affected by the disease and it was likely to spread to other villages too.

Book: Banasthali released in Kalahandi

Reported by Sri Anshuman Patra
Aug 5, 2012

Odisha residents return home after flood water recedes

TwoCircles.Net

By IANS, Aug 6, 2012

Bhubaneswar : About 2,000 people who were taken to safer places a day ago due to overflowing of Hati river in Odisha's Kalahandi district returned home Monday as the flood water receded, an official said.

The people evacuated have returned to their home as the water has receded, Special Relief Commissioner P.K. Mohapatra told reporters.

The residents of about five villages located in the low-lying area were housed in a nearby school building, after the river flowed about four feet above a bridge at Junagarh town, about 450 km from here. Vehicular traffic was also disrupted on National Highway-26 (NH-26) from Bhawanipatna to Junagarh.

Vehicular traffic on NH-26 has been restored, said Mohapatra.

Due to low pressure area formed over northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of north Odisha and West Bengal, heavy rainfall has occurred in some parts of the state during the last three days.

More rain has been forecast in the state during the next two days.

Kalahandi farmers now facing pest attack

IBNlive, Aug 7, 2012
Bhawanipatna (Odisha), Aug 7 (PTI) Having averted the deficit rainfall prospect due to last week's low pressure-induced heavy downpour, farmers in Odisha's Kalahandi district now facing caterpillar attack to paddy cultivation. Incidence of swarming caterpillar pest was reported in the paddy fields of 10 blocks of Kalahandi district, according to an assessment of Agriculture department. A total of 2095 hectors of paddy lands in the district are now infested by Swarming caterpillar, the reports said. However citing a much higher non-official figure, Bhawanipatna, Madanpur-Rampur, Junagarh, Kesinga, Narla, Dharamgarh and Karlamunda blocks bear the brunt of pest infection. "Mostly due to cloudy weather for a long period and flash flood, pest infection occured in paddy cultivation here in Kalahandi," a senior officer of the agriculture department said. To combat the infection in two phases 1,000 litres of liquid pesticide (Nurocombi) and 9,500 KG of pest control dust (Chloropyriphos) had been supplied to the affected blocks by agriculture department. "The small and marginal farmers could avail the pesticide at half rate", Deputy Director Agriculture Amereswar Mishra said. The department has also made arrangement for further stocking of pesticides in the affected blocks, he said adding that field functionaries have been directed to assist farmers and in case of exigency taking up mass spraying in the infested areas.
Also in Business Standard

Odisha: RTI proved dangerous to crusader

Orissadiary, Aug 6, 2012

Report by Pradeep Baisakh, Bhubaneswar: The transparency law may have empowered the citizen to seek accountability from the government, but it may also prove to be fatal to the ones who use it. Dhoba Sahu person from Dabriguda village of Gunpur Panchayat in Kalahandi district of Odisha was beaten last month by the Gram Rojgar Sevak (GRS-a Panchayat level official) Brahma Duria and was threatened to be eliminated. The poor Dhoba has filed a FIR near the Thuamul Rampur Police station before a month, but the aggressors are still at bay.  What was the fault of Dhoba?
Before about a year, some villagers told Dhoba that the GRS, while distributing their pensions (old age, widow pension and pension for disabled etc), kept a cut of a thousand rupees from all of them. A complaint was made near the Collector though the local Member of Parliament Shri Bhakta Charan Das. Dhoba filed a RTI near the Gram Panchayat office seeking the list of the beneficiaries of various pension schemes like old age, widow pension, pension for disabled etc. Following an order of the Collector, the then sub Collector Jagannath Mohanty found the allegations to be correct in an inquiry. The sub collector’s report, which was submitted to the Collector on 27 August 2011, reads “The beneficiaries have paid Rs 1000/- each out of the sanctioned Rs 2800/- to Sri Brahma Duria, GRS. He had collected the amount for preparing necessary document for pension. The Sub Collector also recommended for recovery of the money for distribution among the victims and for further inquiry of all pension disbursement of all the 106 beneficiaries in the Panchayat.
Copy of this report was collected by Dhoba by use of Right to Information. The villagers then met the District Collector and demanded money recovery and the dismissal of the GRS. This did not go well the GRS who came with the Naib Sarpanch Bisikesan Duria and another person Suresh Durai and beaten Dhoba near his tea stall. “They thrashed me and threatened to kill me if I go to the police station and inform the media. They also used abusive language against my wife”  said Dhoba in a complaint made near Thuamul Rampur police station on 20 June 2012. The then Superintendent of Police was also intimated but none have been arrested yet.  S Ahmad, the new SP of the district, expressed ignorance on the matter but assured to arrest the aggressors if the case is genuine. “I assure that justice will be done to the victim and the aggressor will be arrested if found guilty.”
When contacted, an agitated Collector Dukhishyam Satpathy said “I have ordered for the dismissal of the GRS. But as I am not the appointing authority for GRS, I cannot dismiss him. The Panchayat can dismiss him. In so far as recovering the money taken as bribe is concerned, I will look into the matter.”
The local Television journalist, Mahammad Aslam, who has been following matter, says “This is a remote tribal area. Money coming for the development of the Tribals and Dalits are siphoned away by the officials and the middlemen. But many go scot free due to lack of evidence. But, this is a case in point where the embezzlement is found to be done on record but still no action is taken on the corrupt. This shows how sensitive is the administration to the welfare of Tribals and Dalits.”

Roads cut off due to heavy rains in Kalahandi

The Pioneer, Aug 6, 2012
BIKASH KHEMKA N BHAWANIPATNA

Low pressure triggered heavy rain across Kalahandi district during the past 72 hours have lead to floods in rivers.

As the water level crossed the danger mark over the Indravati river reservoir, five sluice gates were opened on Sunday releasing heavy amount of water into the Hati river, for which water flowed above three feet over the Hati bridge on National Highway-26 in Junagarh.

The overflow of water on the main road over the bridge disconnected the communication from Bhawanipatna to Nabarangpur with hundreds of truckers being stranded.

The residents of adjoining villages of the Hati river — Balichhada, Karmeli, Jampada, Temra and Biripur — were evacuated to safer places.

Due to incessant rain, huge losses of properties were reported from Madanpur-Rampur, Thuamul-Rampur and Kalampur blocks of the district.

The adjacent villages of Rahul and Utei rivers under Madanpur-Rampur block were badly affected with all kinds of transportation coming to a grinding halt in the entire area.

The rainwater also washed away the roads of Gopinathpur, Adri, Maligaon and Umarjodi villagers under Thuamul-Rampur block, for which the link between Kasipur and Thuamul-Rampur was reportedly disconnected. Similarly, due to stone slide on the main road the Thuamul-Ramur and Kalampur roads was cut off.

The district administration was taking steps to handle the situations in the affected areas.

Kalahandia cry foul over berth loss

Tathya.in, Aug 5, 2012
Bhawanipatna : 5/August/2012 

Kalahandias are worried about the approach of the BJD Government towards the most backward region of the state and the latest apathetic attitude of the party boss  in giving a berth to a Lawmaker from this zone.

Whether it is child selling, starvation death, drought, Central University, Wagon Factory, Government medical college, corruption in MHNREGS scheme, flood, bridge over Hati river, the State Government has received more criticism than positive approval of the Kalahandi people and intellectuals since past decade, alleged Digambara Patra, a leading NRO.

 

To add to it, in the current ministerial reshuffling Bargarh and Kalahandi are the only Lok Sabha constituencies missing in the list of ministerial berth, pointed out he.

 

Prasanna Achraya, the powerful Minister, Finance is elected from Rairakhol in Sambalpur Lok Sabha, but was elected earlier from Bargarh region as MP and is a native of Bargarh.

 

He has strong influence in Bargarh and undivided-Sambalpur district, so he may take care interest of Bargarh region, feel political observers.

 

Though BJD Government has given 19 per cent ministerial representation to KBK region consisting of 30 per cent geographical area and 20 per cent population of the state, none of the leaders or ministers from Koraput, Nabarangpur or Sonepur has any influence in Kalahandi or Nuapada region, pointed out Dr.Patra.

 

Though Koraput Lok Sabha has two Ministers and Balangir (Sonepur MLA) and Nabarangpur Lok Sabha has each one minister, rarely any minister from Balangir or Koraput, have  ever thought of Kalahandi region and had little influence on electorate.

 

Ministers in Balangir or Koraput region are alien to the electorate of Kalahandi.

 

Though Pushpendra Singh Deo is the only BJD MLA elected from Kalahandi district and was dropped recently from ministerial berth, Rajendra Dholkia, BJD MLA from Nuapada was expected to get a ministerial berth at least to represent undivided Kalahandi district.

 

While most of the districts in KBK got a ministerial berth at least once in the Naveen Patnaik Government since 2009 whereas Nuapada is among the one or two districts in KBK without getting any ministerial position since 2009.

 

In this scenario BJD has put forward a risk for its future prospect in Kalahandi and Nuapada region.

 

The undivided district and Lok Sabha constituency of Kalahandi that had favoured cent percent  BJD-BJP combine in 2000 and 2004 elections and historically known for non-congress sentiment but rejected the Governing regional outfit in favour of Congress in 2009 election.

Water levels rise in Odisha’s rivers

The Hindu, Aug 5, 2012

Water levels continued to rise in major rivers including Mahanadi following heavy rains in their catchment areas and release of surplus water from various reservoirs in Odisha on Sunday.

Collectors of all districts have been asked to remain alert as rainfall was likely to continue in different parts of the state for the next two days due to low pressure which might lead to a flood like situation, official sources said.

As water level continued to increase steadily in the Mahanadi, as many as 19 sluice gates were opened so far in Hirakud dam on the river located in Sambalpur district, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P.K. Mohapatra said.

The level touched 609.69 feet as against its capacity of 630 ft at Hirakud reservoir where inflow of water was recorded at 4,37,955 cusecs while outflow stood at 3,08,666 cusecs, a senior official said.

Despite rising water levels, there was no immediate threat of flood in major rivers like Brahmani and Baitarani which were flowing much below the danger marks, the SRC said.

Similarly, water levels were much below the danger marks in Subarnarekha and Budhabalang rivers.

However, due to heavy downpour in the catchment area and release of surplus water from Indravati project, Hati river was in spate in Kalahandi. Two feet high flood water was flowing over the bridge on the river near Junagarh, disrupting road communication, the sources said.

As more water was being released through 5 gates of Mangalpur barrage into Hati River, it was apprehended that the flood situation of Hati and Tel may be aggravated.

Heavy downpour in Thuamul Rampur, Jaipatna and Koksara has paralysed normal life as road communication to interior areas of the block has been disrupted, they said.

Eighteen Unsafe Water Transport Boat Stations in Hati River of Kalahandi

Reported by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, Aug 5, 2012

Tender fixing in Junagarh NAC: what went wrong !

Reported by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, Aug 4, 2012

Flood in Hati river: Is Indarvati barrage to blame, if so why there was no preparedness?

Reported by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, Aug 4, 2012

Wrong design of Hati river bridge may submerge 50 villages in Kalahandi

Reported by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, Aug 3, 2012

Longevity of bridge over Hati near Junagarh raises question

Reported by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, Aug 2, 2012

Banasthali: Images containing tourism prospect in Kalahandi released

Shared by Sri Bidyadhar Sahu

Note: Our congratulation and appreciation are also to Sri Raj Singh Deo, Sri Rajesh Kumar Dash and others who made it possible with your brilliant photography.

"BANASTHALI"A PICTORIAL BOOK BASED ON TOURISM PROSPECT IN KALAHANDI HAS BEEN INAUGURATED BY R.D.C. SOUTHERN SUBDIVISION, BARHAMPUR ON 2nd AUGEST 2012 AT DHARAMGARH.SH.DUKHISHYAM SATHPATHY,IAS ,KALAHANDI IS EDITOR IN CHIEF & GAURI PARASHER,IAS,SUB-COLECTOR DHARAMGARH IS EDITOR OF THE BOOK.OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE SH.PRATAP KISHORE MUND, CO-EDITOR,SH.SATYA PATTANAIK,CO-EDITOR,SH.HRUSHIKESH MISHRA,MANAGING EDITOR,SH.BIDYADHAR SAHU,PHOTO EDITOR,CO-ORDINATER SUSHEE HIRA BAG LAYOUT DISIGN BY BABISHREE MUDULI.THE BOOK DIVIDED BY FOUR SECTION NAMELY VAIBHAV,SAGHAN,ULLASH &CHARAIBATI,WHICH SPEAKS UP THE RICH CULTURE HERITAGE & ANCIENT HISTORICAL PLACES,FLORA & FUNNA,LIFE STYLE OF PEOPLE OF KALAHANDI.THIS BOOK WILL GO A LONG WAY IN PROMOTING ECO-TOURISM IN KALAHANDI.

Book distribution in Kulihari, Jungarh

Contributed by Sri Debendra Bisi

RDC probe into cataract botch-up

Reported by Sri Anshuman Patra
Orissa Post, Aug 2, 2012

RDC started investigating cataract surgery issue in Dharamgarh

Reported by Sri Anshuman Patra
Dharitri, Aug 2, 2012

Poor canal works create flood in Dharmagarh

The Pioneer, Aug 1, 2012

Locals have alleged massive fund bungling in digging works by the Irrigation Department here of the left, right and main canal and their branches under the Upper Indravati project.

The standard of works was very low. Four days back, a portion of the left canal embankment fell off creating flood in the paddy lands in Gurjiguda, Chilguda, Mandraguda and Chilakpur villages. Lands were also sand-cast due to flooding.

Due to low rainfall, the farmers depend on irrigated water from the Indravati canals but the villagers in the areas often bear the brunt of floods. The gross negligence on the part of the engineers has led to the disaster, the locals alleged.