HC assign two district judges as Niyamgiri Gramsabha observers

The Hindu, May 31, 2013

Orissa High Court has nominated the district and sessions judges of Kalahandi and Rayagada to act as observers in the much-awaited Gram Sabha (village level meetings) to decide fate of the proposed bauxite mining for Vedanta atop Niyamgiri Hills.

“The High Court Registrar General has informed the state government about the decision to nominate the district judges of Kalahandi and Rayagada for the proposed Gram Sabhas,” Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste Development secretary Santosh Sarangi told reporters in Bhubaneswar.

Stating that the state government had earlier requested the High Court to nominate a district judge level judicial officer for the purpose of holding the gram sabha as per the Supreme Court order, Mr. Sarangi said the ST and SC department has already intimated the development to the district collectors of Kalahandi and Rayagada.

The Collectors of Kalahandi and Rayagada districts will intimate the schedule of Gram Sabha to their respective district judges in advance, Mr. Sarangi said.

According to the state government’s proposal, the gram sabhas would be conducted in 12 hill slope villages, Mr. Sarangi said adding while seven villages were located in Rayagada district, five are in Kalahandi. Niyamgiri Hills are spread over these two districts.

As per the Supreme Court’s April 18 judgement, meetings of the Gram Sabhas would be held under direct supervision of a judicial official equal to the rank of district judge to ensure that the process (Gram Sabhas) be held without the influence either of the Centre, State or the company authority.

The Apex Court, in its landmark judgement, gave power to the Gram Sabha to decide whether bauxite mining should be allowed in eco-fragile mountain. The Supreme Court delivered this order while deliberating upon a case of Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) vs Ministry of Environment and Forest.

The state owned OMC which planned to supply bauxite ore to Vedanta’s refinery at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district was aggrieved after MoEF rejected environmental clearance to its Rs 5,000 crore mining project.

Subsidy bonanza in food processing policy

The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), May 31, 2013

he State Government on Thursday announced a policy for the food processing sector that promises 25 per cent subsidy excluding land cost for mega food park developers with a subsidy cap of ` 15 crore.

For small food park developers, the policy allows 25 per cent capital investment subsidy with a cap of ` two crore. The policy also envisages 33 per cent subsidy for food parks in the economically backward KBK (Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput) region and projects promoted by women entrepreneurs and people from scheduled categories.

“The aim of policy is to reduce waste of farm produce thereby increasing income of farmers and maximising employment opportunities in food processing sector,” Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Damodar Rout told mediapersons here.

The policy in conjunction with the Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR),2007 and MSME development policy, 2009 emphasises on development of infrastructure and supply chain from farm to market in rural areas with various fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to promoters.

Agriculture being the principal vocation of majority of population and the State having a long coast, there is ample opportunities for developing food park for farm produce and sea food, the Minister said.

Agriculture education research institute including skilled development agencies will be encouraged to design specific programmes for food processing sector with focus on plucking, grading and storing.

Claiming that the State has received a string of investment proposals, the Minister said the food processing sector will enjoy five per cent interest subsidy for five years and VAT (valued added tax) waiver for 10 years.

Official sources said proposals have come from ITC, Parle Agro, Indo Nissin Foods Limited, Future Foods and Nestle.

Agro processing and food processing units shall be encouraged to adopt latest quality certification standards like Hazard Analysis and Critical Control points (HACCP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), ISO 9000, Agmark, FPO, Good Laboratory practices (GLP), Total Quality Management (TQM). The Government will reimburse upto 50 per cent of the cost of such certification subject to ceiling of ` 2 lakh.

Meanwhile, two mega food parks have come up in Rayagda district and Huma in Ganjam district.

3 years after, IGNTU regional centre remains a non-starter

The New Indian Express (Bhuabneswar), May 29, 2013

By Express News Service - BHAWANIPATNA

29th May 2013 11:55 AM

Three years after the Union Government gave its approval for establishing a regional centre of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU), Amarkantak (MP), in Odisha, it is yet to see light of the day.

The State Government had asked the Centre to set up a regional campus of IGNTU at Kalahandi in 2010. The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) in 2010 favoured Kalahandi for the regional centre, considering availability of resources including 300 acres of land.

The same year, the then Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Kalahandi had identified the required 300 acres in Benda Jhola and Kumudabahal village under Thuamul-Rampur of the district and informed the same to the Department of Higher Education (DHE).

However, after receiving the letter from the ADM, the DHE allegedly did not initiate the follow-up action.

While uncertainty continues to loom over the project owing to the government apathy, other States like Andhra Pradesh and Manipur having a significant tribal population have already set up IGNTU regional campuses.

Educationists have, meanwhile, urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to look into the issue to promote education among the tribal communities in the State.

An NRI from Kalahandi and Assistant Professor in American University of Beirut Digambar Patra has written to the Chief Minister recently to take an initiative in this regard at the earliest. “There has been no action taken by the Department of Higher Education as far as the IGNTU regional centre is concerned,” he wrote to Naveen.

IGNTU, set up under an Act in 2007 with jurisdiction over the entire country, provides avenues of education, particularly higher education and research facilities primarily for the tribal population of the country.

Kosali language issue runs into another controversy

Note: I am glad that some people in Kalahandi are trying to understand, instead of emotionally getting imposed. Our tribes are assets, their contribution to Kalahandia and Odia culture/language is immensely adorable. 

The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), May 29, 2013

By Express News Service - BHAWANIPATNA

29th May 2013 11:57 AM

Senate members of Sambalpur University, cultural activists and citizens of Sambalpur on Sunday visited Bhawanipatna to interact with cross section of people of Kalahandi district to know their opinion regarding language issue of western Odisha.

The delegation from Sambalpur was led by former Vice-Chancellor of Sambalpur University Dhruva Charan Nayak, Abhaya Padhi, Dilip Padhi and Sapan Mishra. The team discussed with people about the resolution passed by Sambalpur University senate members to include Sambalpuri- Kosali language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution. However, the resolution had received strong opposition from experts and intellectuals of Kalahandi and other western Odisha districts.

The representatives of Kalahandi condemned the resolution stating that there is no justification to term the language and dialect used in western Odisha as Sambalpuri-Kosali. They said Sambalpur University does not belong to a particular district.

During different periods of history, Kalahandi has been identified as Indrabana, Mahakantara, Trikalinga and Karunda. But it has never been included in Kosala, they claimed.

Moreover Kalahandi dialect has its own uniqueness and is mostly influenced by Kandhan language of Desia Kondhs, Parji of Parja tribe, Bhatri of Bhatra tribe and other indigenous communities of the district. Instead of the disputed controversial name, some neutral name which will not hurt the emotion and sentiments of Kalahandi and other districts of western Odisha may be used, they suggested at the meeting.

Western Odisha language needs proper naming

Sambad, May 28, 2013

Odisha SC, ST department alerts district collectors on Niyamgiri gram sabhas

Business Standard, May 27, 2013
The task is carried out to understand the religious sentiment of the tribes as per Supreme Court order
The Odisha SC and ST development department has issued notices to the district collectors of Rayagada and Kalahandi asking them to conduct hearings ahead of gram sabhas at Niyamgiri hill range, which will decide the fate of bauxite mining project there.

As per the notification, the collectors have been advised to hear submission of local tribal communities who have religious and cultural concerns over bauxite mining project that is meant to feed one million tonne alumina refinery of Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL).

The collectors will complete the hearing process within six weeks, during which people from 12 tribal villages residing at Niyamgiri hill slope will submit petitions regarding their concerns.

The task is carried out to understand the religious sentiment of the tribes as per Supreme Court order.

In its April 18 order, the SC had directed to complete gram sabhas within three months to get the mandate of the local people regarding the mining project. The judgment had also called for maintaining the community, individual, cultural and religious rights of the local inhabitants. The state government sought six weeks more time from the apex court to identify the sensitive issues attached with the mining project before going ahead with gram sabha sittings at 12 villages. Earlier this month, the Union tribal affairs ministry had asked the state ST & SC development department to issue advertisements in local newspapers informing all tribals and traditional forest dwellers in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts to file claims of religious and cultural rights, along with the individual and community rights under the Forest Right Act (FRA).

The ministry had asked the state to ensure that transparency is maintained during the public hearing at gram sabhas. As per the apex court order, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) will take decision regarding mining application of the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) within two months of receiving the gram sabha decision.Meanwhile, the state government has written to the registrar of the Odisha High Court for appointment of a district judge to oversee the proceedings of the gram sabhas.

Delay in Tribal University Campus since three years

Reported by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, May 27, 2013

‘CM HAS NO HEART FOR TRIBALS; IGNTU DELAYS PROVE IT’

The Pioneer, May 27, 2013

Monday, 27 May 2013 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

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Non-resident Odia (NRO) Professor Digambara Patra has resented the delays made by the State Higher Education Department (DHE) in taking steps for providing necessary infrastructure for establishment of a branch of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU), Amarkatak in Kalahandi.

He said the IGNTU branch will cater to a large concentration of tribal population in Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Malkangiri,

Nuapada, Raygada, Gajapati, Balangir and Sonepur, when much hue and cry is raised over the development of the tribals. However, the delays by the DHE have made the project uncertain.

Patra said that while the State Government is demanding Special Category Status with so much fuss, it is ignoring the project, which speaks volume about the lack of real concern for tribal development.

“It is very discomforting to know that the State Government is making lots of noise for special category status and special assistance of Rs1,400 crore for Navakalebar festival, but at the same time, it is completely sidelining the IGNTU project, which is meant for the educational benefit for tribal population of the State. If the State Government is unable to implement such an in-hand project in time, what is the use of special category status for the benefit of common man of Odisha except for your party’s political millage over Central leadership?” Patra said in his letter.

The NRO Professor, who is now working in the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, said all the Government was required to do for the establishment of the project was proving infrastructure facilities like a minimum of 300 acres of land, approach road and electricity supply. However, he said while a previous Additional District Magistrate (ADM) had identified the required 300 acres of land in Benda Jhola and Kumudabahal village in Thuamul-Rampur and had informed the same to the DHE, later the DHE allegedly did not initiate the follow-up action.

“Many leaders, including some of the BJD leaders, students and intellectuals from Kalahandi have already given you many petitions and their concerns to take an immediate action in this matter, but your lackluster response to all of our appeals have put us in doubts on your credibility and seriousness towards tribal population and backward region in the State except milking for political millage,” said Patra.

5 ministers, 8 MLAs involved, says Pyari

Times of India, May 26, 2013
BHUBANESWAR: The umbrella sop is an attempt by CM NaveenPatnaik to divert people's attention from the chit fund scam, in which at least five ministers and eight BJDMLAs are involved, saidOdisha Jan Morcha presidentPyarimohanMohapatra at a public meeting atBhawanipatna in Kalahandi district on Saturday.

Sixteen villages in Thuamul Rampur depends on a temporary wooden bridge for their development

Reported by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, May 23, 2013

Corruption in MR Project: No progress in investigation

Reported by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, May 26, 2013

Paddy procurement from today

The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), May 24, 2013

Procurement of rabi paddy will start in the district from Friday. During the rabi season, paddy was grown in 61,380 hectares (ha) of land including 55,532 ha in Dharamgarh sub-division alone.

With a production of 45.2 quintals of paddy per ha on an average, around 2,76,313 tonnes of paddy has been produced in the season in Kalahandi.

At a meeting to draw the procurement strategy held this week, Collector Govind Chandra Sethi said 51 mandis will be opened for procurement this year as against 24 last year. However, only those rice millers who were roped in for procurement during the kharif season and delivered 60 per cent of rice to FCI and Civil Supply Corporation will only be eligible to lift paddy this season.

Sources said of 87 rice millers engaged in kharif season, only 18 have qualified to participate in rabi procurement till date. Administration of Balangir, Nuapada and neighbouring districts have also been urged to participate.

On the other hand, millers alleged that even as they are capable of supplying rice, there is not enough space in the FCI godowns.

Owner of Maa Bhagabti rice mill of Dharamgarh Anil Jain said FCI is not accepting rice now on the plea of lack of space.

“For the last four months, rice stock is lying in our mill and if this situation continues for a few more months, the stock will be damaged,” he alleged.

Owner of Balaji Rice Mill of Junagarh Pawan Goel made similar allegations.

They said unless FCI creates space in its godown by clearing existing stock, procurement will be severely affected.

FCI has a godown of 12,000-tonne capacity in the district. Civil Supply Corporation has 8,000-tonne capacity godown and both godowns are full to their capacity as of now.

Paddy procurement from today

The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), May 24, 2013

Procurement of rabi paddy will start in the district from Friday. During the rabi season, paddy was grown in 61,380 hectares (ha) of land including 55,532 ha in Dharamgarh sub-division alone.

With a production of 45.2 quintals of paddy per ha on an average, around 2,76,313 tonnes of paddy has been produced in the season in Kalahandi.

At a meeting to draw the procurement strategy held this week, Collector Govind Chandra Sethi said 51 mandis will be opened for procurement this year as against 24 last year. However, only those rice millers who were roped in for procurement during the kharif season and delivered 60 per cent of rice to FCI and Civil Supply Corporation will only be eligible to lift paddy this season.

Sources said of 87 rice millers engaged in kharif season, only 18 have qualified to participate in rabi procurement till date. Administration of Balangir, Nuapada and neighbouring districts have also been urged to participate.

On the other hand, millers alleged that even as they are capable of supplying rice, there is not enough space in the FCI godowns.

Owner of Maa Bhagabti rice mill of Dharamgarh Anil Jain said FCI is not accepting rice now on the plea of lack of space.

“For the last four months, rice stock is lying in our mill and if this situation continues for a few more months, the stock will be damaged,” he alleged.

Owner of Balaji Rice Mill of Junagarh Pawan Goel made similar allegations.

They said unless FCI creates space in its godown by clearing existing stock, procurement will be severely affected.

FCI has a godown of 12,000-tonne capacity in the district. Civil Supply Corporation has 8,000-tonne capacity godown and both godowns are full to their capacity as of now.

Paddy procurement from today

The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), May 24, 2013

Procurement of rabi paddy will start in the district from Friday. During the rabi season, paddy was grown in 61,380 hectares (ha) of land including 55,532 ha in Dharamgarh sub-division alone.

With a production of 45.2 quintals of paddy per ha on an average, around 2,76,313 tonnes of paddy has been produced in the season in Kalahandi.

At a meeting to draw the procurement strategy held this week, Collector Govind Chandra Sethi said 51 mandis will be opened for procurement this year as against 24 last year. However, only those rice millers who were roped in for procurement during the kharif season and delivered 60 per cent of rice to FCI and Civil Supply Corporation will only be eligible to lift paddy this season.

Sources said of 87 rice millers engaged in kharif season, only 18 have qualified to participate in rabi procurement till date. Administration of Balangir, Nuapada and neighbouring districts have also been urged to participate.

On the other hand, millers alleged that even as they are capable of supplying rice, there is not enough space in the FCI godowns.

Owner of Maa Bhagabti rice mill of Dharamgarh Anil Jain said FCI is not accepting rice now on the plea of lack of space.

“For the last four months, rice stock is lying in our mill and if this situation continues for a few more months, the stock will be damaged,” he alleged.

Owner of Balaji Rice Mill of Junagarh Pawan Goel made similar allegations.

They said unless FCI creates space in its godown by clearing existing stock, procurement will be severely affected.

FCI has a godown of 12,000-tonne capacity in the district. Civil Supply Corporation has 8,000-tonne capacity godown and both godowns are full to their capacity as of now.

Paddy procurement from today

The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), May 24, 2013

Procurement of rabi paddy will start in the district from Friday. During the rabi season, paddy was grown in 61,380 hectares (ha) of land including 55,532 ha in Dharamgarh sub-division alone.

With a production of 45.2 quintals of paddy per ha on an average, around 2,76,313 tonnes of paddy has been produced in the season in Kalahandi.

At a meeting to draw the procurement strategy held this week, Collector Govind Chandra Sethi said 51 mandis will be opened for procurement this year as against 24 last year. However, only those rice millers who were roped in for procurement during the kharif season and delivered 60 per cent of rice to FCI and Civil Supply Corporation will only be eligible to lift paddy this season.

Sources said of 87 rice millers engaged in kharif season, only 18 have qualified to participate in rabi procurement till date. Administration of Balangir, Nuapada and neighbouring districts have also been urged to participate.

On the other hand, millers alleged that even as they are capable of supplying rice, there is not enough space in the FCI godowns.

Owner of Maa Bhagabti rice mill of Dharamgarh Anil Jain said FCI is not accepting rice now on the plea of lack of space.

“For the last four months, rice stock is lying in our mill and if this situation continues for a few more months, the stock will be damaged,” he alleged.

Owner of Balaji Rice Mill of Junagarh Pawan Goel made similar allegations.

They said unless FCI creates space in its godown by clearing existing stock, procurement will be severely affected.

FCI has a godown of 12,000-tonne capacity in the district. Civil Supply Corporation has 8,000-tonne capacity godown and both godowns are full to their capacity as of now.

Paddy procurement from today

The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), May 24, 2013

Procurement of rabi paddy will start in the district from Friday. During the rabi season, paddy was grown in 61,380 hectares (ha) of land including 55,532 ha in Dharamgarh sub-division alone.

With a production of 45.2 quintals of paddy per ha on an average, around 2,76,313 tonnes of paddy has been produced in the season in Kalahandi.

At a meeting to draw the procurement strategy held this week, Collector Govind Chandra Sethi said 51 mandis will be opened for procurement this year as against 24 last year. However, only those rice millers who were roped in for procurement during the kharif season and delivered 60 per cent of rice to FCI and Civil Supply Corporation will only be eligible to lift paddy this season.

Sources said of 87 rice millers engaged in kharif season, only 18 have qualified to participate in rabi procurement till date. Administration of Balangir, Nuapada and neighbouring districts have also been urged to participate.

On the other hand, millers alleged that even as they are capable of supplying rice, there is not enough space in the FCI godowns.

Owner of Maa Bhagabti rice mill of Dharamgarh Anil Jain said FCI is not accepting rice now on the plea of lack of space.

“For the last four months, rice stock is lying in our mill and if this situation continues for a few more months, the stock will be damaged,” he alleged.

Owner of Balaji Rice Mill of Junagarh Pawan Goel made similar allegations.

They said unless FCI creates space in its godown by clearing existing stock, procurement will be severely affected.

FCI has a godown of 12,000-tonne capacity in the district. Civil Supply Corporation has 8,000-tonne capacity godown and both godowns are full to their capacity as of now.

Odisha gears up for gram sabhas at Niyamgiri amid local protests

Business Standard, May 22, 2013
Despite SC verdict on April 18, state govt yet to start process for holding village assembly meetings, citing lack of clarity in the order
The Odisha SC & ST department will instruct the district administration of Kalahandi and Rayagada soon to initiate work at the field level for conduct of gram sabhas for deciding the fate of bauxite mining at Niyamgiri hills.

Despite the Supreme Court (SC) verdict dated April 18, the state government is yet to start the process for holding village assembly meetings, citing lack of clarity in the order. Now, after receipt of views from the law department, the SC & ST department is gearing up to hold gram sabhas in 12 villages on Niyamgiri hill slopes.

“We are going to issue letters in 2-3 days to the collectors of Rayagada and Kalahandi districts to initiate action on gram sabhas after settling claims of the tribals. For the benefit of the tribals, the SC order will be translated into Odia and the local tribal dialect. The state government has already written to the registrar of the Odisha High Court for appointment of a district judge to oversee the proceedings of the gram sabhas,” said a senior government official. Today, top state officials including steel & mines secretary Rajesh Verma, SC & ST secretary, Santosh Sarangi and chairman and managing director of Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) Santosh Sarangi apprised Governor S C Jamir on steps being taken to start gram sabha proceedings.

Meanwhile, the Dongaria Kondhs, the inhabitants of Niyamgiri hills, have vowed not to allow bauxite mining by Vedanta. “We are determined not to allow the company to mine bauxite. We have also apprised the people in all the affected villages about the verdict of the SC during our pada yatra,” the leaders of the Niyamagiri Surakshya Samiti (NSS) said at a public meeting held at Muniguda in Rayagada district. Anti-Vedanta activists who addressed the meeting demanded holding of gram sabhas in all 104 villages which they claimed were to be affected by mining activity.

Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL) was pinning its hopes on opening Niyamgiri mines to feed its one million tonne per annum refinery. The refinery has been under shutdown since December 5 for want of bauxite.

Odisha's tourism policy promises subsidy sops

Business Standard, May 21, 2013
The new policy has divided the state into three zones for the purpose of administration of incentive schemes
he new Tourism policy of the Odisha government has divided the state into three zones for the purpose of administration of incentive schemes.

Zone A comprises of the municipal corporation area of Bhubaneswar, while Zone B includes rest of the state except KBK (Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput), Kandhamal and Gajapati districts and Zone A. The Zone C comprises KBK, Kandhamal and Gajapati dictricts.

Setting up of any tourism projects in Zone A will get capital investment subsidy of 20 per cent, maximum upto Rs 20 lakh, for investments ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 crore. For investment of Rs 20 crore and above the subsidy is 25 per cent (maximum upto Rs 30 lakh).

In Zone B, the policy offers 25 per subsidy with a ceiling of Rs 25 lakh on the projects worth between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 20 crore and for investment above Rs 20 crore, the subsidy is 30 per cent with a ceiling of Rs 35 lakh. In Zone C, 30 per cent subsidy on capital investment is offered with a ceiling of Rs 30 lakh for project within the range of Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 crore while the subsidy for investments above Rs 20 crore is fixed at 35 per cent with a cap of Rs 40 lakh.

Lovely site of Indravati Project

Shared by Sri Ashok Pattnaik

Taratarini Temple: Another tourist attraction in Bhawanipatna

Sambad (Sambalpur Edition), May 21, 2013

Kasturi of Kalahandi: Mother of 72 orphan children

Sambad, (Sambalpur Edition), May 21, 2013

Anti-Vedanta cry gets shriller

Times of India, May 18, 2013
Satyanarayan Patnaik & Riyan Ramanath V, TNN May 19, 2013, 01.43AM IST

Koraput/BHUBANESWAR: The Niyamgiri Surakshya Samiti (NSS), an organization fighting against bauxite mining at Lanjigarh by Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), is out to woo tribals to rally for its cause. During its campaign, the samiti organized meetings at villages in Kalyansinghpur and Muniguda blocks of Rayagada district and Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district.

Vedanta's one mtpa alumina refinery closed down on December 5 following acute shortage of bauxite. "Tribals are being made aware of the ill-effects of mining at Niyamgiri hills. The villagers are being urged to participate in the meetings to oppose mining at Niyamgiri," said advisor to the samiti Bhala Chandra Sarangi.

He said 104 villages in and around the Niyamgiri hills will be covered during the five-day campaign. "On the first day, our teams covered 23 villages. We hope to cover all villages before May 22 when a massive rally of the Dongria Kondhs will be held at Muniguda," Sarangi said.

Samiti members said at least 36 streams and Nagabali and Bansadhara rivers originate from Niyamgiri hills and mining will dry these up.

The Supreme Court on its April 18 order had left it to the villagers to decide the fate of the Vedanta's mining project at the gram sabha. The gram sabha will examine the mining proposals, community, individual as well as cultural and religious claims by the Dongria tribes and other forest dwellers. It will also examine the tribal's rights of worship over the Niyamgiri hills. A spokesperson of VAL, however, said according to para-62 of the SC direction, there should be no prior activities to mould the villagers before the gram sabha.

Govt for better roads, irrigation in KBK

Times of India, May 21, 2013
BHUBANESWAR: The state government will give priority to develop connectivity and irrigation facilities in Kalahandi- Balangir-Koraput (KBK) region and other interior districts like Gajapati and Kandhamal. It was decided in a high-level review meeting, chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik, here on Monday.

If roads can be provided in KBK, Kandhamal andGajapati districts, people can easily avail services like healthcare, public distribution system, and benefits of other government schemes, Naveen said. So, emphasis will be on successful execution of ongoing schemes like Biju KBK, Biju Kandhamal and integrated action plan in the districts, an official release said. Besides, focus will be on developing small irrigation projects and check dams instead of big irrigation projects, an official source said.

CM also asked officers to utilize grants, allocated by the state government, for these schemes in time.

Arka Keshari Deo joins BJD

Times of India, May 20, 2013
BHUBANESWAR: Arka Keshari Deo, the royalscion of Kalahandi and son of former Kalahandi MP Bikram Keshari Deo, joined the BJD here on Sunday in the presence of party president Naveen Patnaik.

BJD is believed to have roped in Arka to take onCongress' Bhakta Charan Das for the Kalahandi Lok Sabha seat. Bikram Keshari, who died in 2009, was Kalahandi MP thrice (in 1998, 2000, 2004) defeating Das. In 2009, following the split in the BJD-BJP alliance, Das won the election beating him, with BJD's Subhas Nayak finishing third.

Sources said BJD is aiming to improve its strength as Arka could gain from royal loyalists. "Since the royal family in the district has a fixed vote bank, it will add to the party's fortunes in the next election. A triangular fight in Kalahandi could be a boon for BJD," said a BJD leader. Kalahandi Lok Sabha segment compromises five assembly constituencies in Kalahandi district and two inNuapada district.

Migration of Labour vs. 15 crore rupees MGNREGS fund unspent in Kalahandi

Reported by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, May 20, 2013

Kalahandi: from hunger deaths to a rice revolution

Hindistan Times, May 19, 2013
Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times  New Delhi, May 19, 2013

Odisha’s Kalahandi district — once the cause of global embarrassment for India due to its high number of starvation deaths — today stands tall with a five-fold increase in its rice production since 1999, figures reveal.

The agriculture ministry’s recent crop data ranks Kalahandi among the top 25 rice producing districts of India. The three-year average of its rice production ending 2010-11 was 468,000 tonnes, compared with a three-year average of just 82,000 tonnes for 1998-99.

Collector Gobind Chandra Sethi attributed the rise to “around-the-clock” irrigation and better farm input. The year 2010-11 was in fact historic as the production that year was 635,000 tonnes, an increase of 200,000 tonnes over the previous year and the reason for the top-25 billing.

The picture, however, was different in 1985, the year then PM Rajiv Gandhi visited Kalahandi and famously said: “Of every rupee spent by the government, only 17 paise reach the intended beneficiary.”

Planning Commission deputy chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who was then serving in the prime minister’s office, recalled: “Gandhi returned from Kalahandi and asked us to start a central fund to deal with starvation deaths there.” Gandhi’s personal interest resulted in the Centre’s first direct intervention in Kalahandi.

A long-term programme was worked out to improve the livelihood of people in not just Kalahandi but the adjoining districts of Bolangir and Kolatpur as well.

Further, a new district of Nuapada was carved out of Kalahandi, and the other two were also split for better administration, with the result that a total of eight districts were eventually covered. Since 1998, the Centre has pumped around Rs4,500 crore into the eight districts, with the result that Kalahandi’s rice production has consistently increased since 2003-04.

The picture, however, is not all rosy. The percentage of poor people in the district stands at 50% today, down from 88% during Gandhi’s visit to the undivided Kalahandi but still higher than Odisha’s poverty line of 37%. Not only are many parts of Kalahandi still backward but several impoverished regions of the undivided district are now part of Nuapada, which hasn’t seen as much progress as Kalahandi.

Such indicators have pushed the Centre to have a re-look at the definition of backwardness. Ahluwalia said there is a need to consider whether an entire district or certain blocks within it should be considered backward. “The dynamics of measuring backwardness have to change with time,” he said.

The finance ministry has already constituted a committee under chief economic advisor Raghuram Rajan to redefine poverty and come out with a composite development index for states based on new parameters.

Regional neglect heat on Naveen

The Telegraph, May 19, 2013

SUBRAT DAS

Bhubaneswar, May 18: Opposition parties have accused chief minister Naveen Patnaik of neglecting the backward western part of the state. “While the chief minister is shouting at the top of the voice for giving more central assistance on the ground of backwardness, he is equally neglecting the backward western Odisha,” said Congress leader and former chairman of the Western Odisha Development Council Narasingh Mishra. Mishra said the state government was providing a paltry grant of 100 crore per year to the council as against the state’s annual budget of around Rs 50,000 crore. He also recalled that the council had sought a special central assistance of Rs 300 crore when Naveen was a Union minister under the NDA government at the Centre. But the Centre had rejected the plea when it gave special central assistance to the Gorkha Hill Council. The state government came under criticism from the Opposition parties as the chief minister chose to review the progress of the council today. “Naveen had never thought it proper to review the council’s functioning in the past 13 years. Now, he wakes up at the end of his third term,” said BJP state president K.V. Singh Deo, who also represents western Odisha in the Assembly. “Perhaps western Odisha came to the mind of Naveen after the BJD lost polls to three Notified Area Councils — Atabira, Nuapada and Hindol,” said Kalahandi MP and All India Congress Committee spokesperson Bhakta Charan Das. “The council has not been effective at all in removing the regional imbalance of the backward region for which it was created,” he said, adding that not a single big project had come up there. The review revealed that the council had been able to spend only 74 per cent of funds to the tune of Rs 883.05 crore sanctioned so far since its inception in 1998. Of the sanctioned funds, 1.32 per cent has been spent on agriculture, 4.57 per cent on electrification, 19.92 per cent in social sector and 29.16 per cent in minor and lift irrigation. The main objectives of constitution of the council were reducing regional imbalances and meeting development needs of local people. “Instead of utilising the funds to achieve the purpose for which the council was created, the funds are being spent to achieve narrow political gains of the BJD,” said Mishra. Singh Deo alleged that the council’s funds were being spent on the recommendation of expert members, who were not elected representatives and nominated by the BJD. However, state’s planning and co-ordination minister Maheswar Mohanty refuted the allegations and said funds were being utilised judiciously for the socio-economic development of the region. The council, which was set up for the development of western Odisha, is located in Bhubaneswar, not in any of the eleven districts coming under the region. Mishra accused Naveen of violating the Western Odisha Development Council Act. “Naveen has not only violated the laws mandatory to set up the headquarters in the council area, but also breached the privilege of the Assembly, where he had announced twice and betrayed the people of western Odisha,” said Mishra. It was decided yesterday that the council’s meetings would be held in the headquarters of the 11 districts coming under the council area on rotation basis for its effective functioning.

Vedanta hopeful of restarting Lanjigarh refinery by July

Economic Times, May 19, 2013
NEW DELHI: Diversified conglomerateVedanta Resources expects to restart its alumina refinery in Odisha'sLanjigarh by July and is hopeful of securing approvals for doing mining at Niyamgiri hills in the state by September. 

"Management expects that the mining approvals for mining and the statutory approvals for the expansion project would be received as per the timelines mentioned below -- restart of the existing (refinery) plant (by) July, 2013," the company said in its annual financial statements for 2012-13. 

"Mining operations at Niyamgiri -- Mining approval (is expected) by September 2013 with production expected to commence in September 2015," it added. 

The London based India-focused company is also expecting to get approval for expanding the refinery -- currently closed due to paucity of bauxite -- by January next year, with expansion project to commence from October, 2014, it said. 

However, it also cautioned that "the above timelines are not in control of the company." 

The company said it is not considering any impairment of the refinery at this stage due to certain assumptions including Odisha having abundant bauxite reserves and "under the terms of the MoU with Odisha Government, management is confident that bauxite will be made available in the short to medium term". 

Last week, Vedanta CEO M S Mehta had said his firm is hopeful of getting support from the state government in securing bauxite for the refinery. He had also indicated that Vedanta is working on securing bauxite from alternative sources within the state. 

The one-million tonne Lanjigarh refinery is closed since December last year due to paucity of bauxite -- the key raw material used to make alumina (the intermediate product for making aluminium). 

The plant is run by Vedanta's associate firm Vedanta Aluminium. The company has invested Rs 50,000 crore in the refinery alongwith an aluminium smelter of 1.5 MTPA at Jharsuguda and a captive power plant in the state. It also has plans to expand the refinery capacity to 5 MTPA per year. 

The now-closed refinery was to get bauxite from nearby Niyamgiri hills through a joint venture of Sterlite IndustriesBSE -1.32 % and Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC). However, the Environment Ministry denied final forest clearance for the mining project in 2010, leading to OMC challenging the decision in the Supreme Court. 

The apex court, in its order dated April 18, 2013, had directed the gram sabhas of Rayagada and Kalahandi districts to decide the issues in three months arising out of the mining project, including that of the tribals residing in the area. 

Besides, the MoEF was directed by the court to take a final decision on stage-II final clearance in two months of after a report from the gram sabhas is received. 

The Odisha government is yet to decide the dates of meetings of the gram sabhas.