Times of India, Feb 28, 2015 BHUBANESWAR: In a massive expansion of post-graduate studies in technical institutions, the state government has decided to introduce MTech and MSc programmes in 30 new subjects at various institutions from the academic year 2015-16.
According to a government notification, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology will offer integrated dual degree, BTech and MTech programme, in 10 subjects. Besides, it will launch five-year integrated MSc courses in mathematics, life sciences and organic chemistry, MTech in robotics-CAD-CAM and instrumentation and control. All these PG courses will have 18 seats each.
The Parala Maharaja Engineering College would offer MTech in four new courses while Government College of Engineering Kalahandi, Bhawanipatna, will start MTech in two subjects from the coming academic year.
The Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology, Sarang, will introduce MTech in nine subjects with an intake capacity of 18 each.
With the new courses, the total number of MTech seats in the state will go up by 540 from the current 1,690 to 2,230.
Technical education secretary Chandra Sekhar Kumar said the move was aimed at increasing the available pool of manpower for teaching jobs in technical institutions. "It is a precarious situation. Technical colleges don't get enough eligible applicants for various levels of faculty members as most students are taking up jobs right after BTech while masters degree is needed for teaching jobs," he said.
Kumar said the government planned to introduce new MTech courses of around 1,000 capacity at Biju Patnaik University of Technology after upgrading its infrastructure. The state government has granted around Rs 150 crore to the varsity.
Apart from the masters programme, the sought-after College of Engineering and Technology (CET) would open a four-year degree course, Bachelor in Planning, to churn out urban planners. It would have an intake capacity of 40. The colleges would also significantly increase the intake capacity at the BTech level.
The Government College of Engineering, Keonjhar, will double its intake at the undergraduate level in mining engineering (from 30 to 60), mineral engineering (20 to 40) and metallurgical engineering and material science (20 to 40).
The technical education secretary said the decision to increase capacity and open new courses was taken after considering the 'Infrastructure Development of Technological Universities and Engineering Colleges' scheme during the 12th Plan period.
Nagaland, Odisha to get research institutes: Jaitley
Business Standard, Feb 28, 2015
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Saturday said that institutions of science and educational research would be set up in Nagaland and Odisha.
"I propose setting up of institutions of science and educational research in Nagaland and Odisha," Jaitley said, presenting the union budget in parliament.
The finance minister also proposed to set up three national institutions of pharmaceutical education and research in Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.
This apart, Jaitley said a post-graduate institute of horticulture research would be established in Amritsar, Punjab.
"In Kerala, I propose to upgrade the National Institute of Speech and Hearing into a university of disability studies and rehabilitation," he said.
Business Standard, Feb 26, 2015 The allocation for the state in the current Rail Budget is 77.04% higher than Rs 1,420 cr received in 2014-15 Odisha has received an allocation of Rs 2,514.07 crore in the 2015-16 Railway Budget against its demand of Rs 3,200 crore.
The allocation for the state in the current Rail Budget is 77.04 per cent higher than Rs 1,420 crore received in 2014-15.
The Rail Budget has earmarked Rs 6,08.3 crore for construction of new railway lines in the state, including sizeable allocation for key railway links. This is against the state's demand for Rs 1,470 crore towards new rail link projects.
The Budgetary allocations for construction of new rail lines are Khurda Road-Bolangir (Rs 195 crore), Angul-Duburi-Sukinda Road (Rs 75 crore), Haridaspur-Paradip (Rs 36.8 crore), Talcher-Bimalagarh (Rs 280 crore). Other new railway link projects like Kendujhar-Badamapahar, Jeypore-Nabrangpur, Puri-Konark and Lanjigarh-Junagarh have been deprived of allocations.
For doubling and third line project, the Railways ministry have alloted Rs 1,527.8 crore, higher than the state's demand of Rs 945 crore. Funds have been allocated for projects like Banspan-Daitari-Jakhapura (Rs 513 crore), Samblapur-Titlagarh (Rs 470 crore), Sambalpur-Talcher (Rs 194 crore), Bhadrak-Nirgundi third line (Rs 125 crore) and Delang-Puri (Rs 100 crore).
Electrification projects have been allocated Rs 293.38 crore, greater than the state's demand of Rs 210 crore. The Budget has set aside Rs 137.88 crore for Vizianagram-Rayagada-Titlagarh-Raipur project, Rs 100 crore for Jharsuguda-Sambalpur-Titlagarh and Rs 55 crore for Sambalpur-Angul electrification projects.
For traffic facilities and goods sheds in Odisha, the state had demanded an allocation of Rs 200 crore in the Budget. This included Rs 150 crore towards development of goods sheds at Rourkela, Bhadrak, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bolangir, Titlagarh, Khariar, Kesinga, Rayagada, Jeypore, Korapur, Rairakhol, Angul, Dhenkanal, Nirgundi, Mancheswar, Khurda and Jaganathpur and the rest Rs 50 crore for development of multi modal logistics parks at Kalinga Nagar (Jajpur), Angul, Jharsuguda, Rourkela and Choudwar. However, there is no allocation under this head
To upgrade passenger amenities at all stations in the state, the Budget has allocated Rs 20.32 crore.
Economic Times, Feb 26, 2015 BHAWANIPATNA: The Odisha government is contemplating to introduce agriculture as compulsory subject from primary school to university in the state soon in order to encourage students for cultivation.
This was stated by Odisha's agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy here yesterday. Thrust will also be given for extensive use of Bio fertilizer and on soil testing, he said.
Maharathy said this while gracing the commemoration day of Government Agriculture College, Bhawanipatna as chief guest. The minister said the work of potato mission has been launched in the state setting a target to produce 10 Lakh MT of Potato from present production of 2 Lakh 20 thousand MT. The minister also informed that for the interest of farmers and farming community, a Krushak Bhawan will be set up at Bhubaneswar with an estimated cost of Rs 44 crore 85 Lakhs.
Stating that there is excellent infrastructure and scopes in this tribal dominated district for agriculture Maharathy said Kalahandi is a land of large varieties of crops like paddy, Cotton, Onion, Oil seeds, pulses, Maize, minor millets and minor agriculture crops and irrigation is available in large areas.
The Vice chancellor of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) Manoranjan Kar said there is nothing like hard working. He asked students to convert challenges in to opportunity. "So far results and other activities of students are concerned, this College is best among the Colleges under OUAT," he said.
Business Standard, Feb 24, 2015 The companies have been asked to reply why JVs with them would not be scrapped as they have not achieved progress as per the agreement Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) has started the process to scrap bauxite mining joint venture (JV) projects withHindalco and Sesa Sterlite after the state government said the state-run miner can take a decision to do so. “We have sent show cause notices to Hindalco and Sesa Sterlite after the government said we can take a call on this. They have been asked to send their replies within two weeks,” said Girish S N, managing director of OMC, saying the notices were sent earlier this month.
The companies have been asked to reply why JVs with them would not be scrapped as they have not achieved progress as per the agreement, he added.
OMC had formed South West Bauxite Mining Company (Pvt) Ltd with 26:74 equity shareholding in association with Sterlite Industries India Limited (SIIL) in 2009 for supply of bauxite deposited in Kalahandi and Raygada districts for the aluminium refinery of Vedanta Aluminium Ltd, now known as Sesa Sterlite.
However, the project received heavy resistance from the locals of Niyamgiri hills (with 78 million tonne bauxite deposit) ahead of starting mining activities in the area and subsequently, the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment had cancelled the final forest clearance for the project. Though Sesa Sterlite requested allocation of another area for bauxite mining, OMC did not take any step.
Similarly, East Coast Bauxite Mining Company (Pvt) Ltd was formed in 2005 with 26:74 equity holding between OMC and Hindalco Industries Ltd. It was executed for development of Kodingamali bauxite mines (having estimated reserve 85 million tonne) in Koraput district and supplying the raw material to the alumina refinery of the Hindalco. This project also met with similar fate that of Sesa Sterlite’s due to land acquisition problem as villagers opposed mining in their area.
Both the companies have set up their aluminium refinery and smelter units in the state and are struggling to source key raw material bauxite. While Sesa Sterlite has invested over Rs 50,000 crore on its projects, Hindlaco’s investments in the state are pegged at around Rs 21,000 crore.
CHENNAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a case against former additional secretary, Medical Council of India (MCI), Dr Pukhraj Prasannaraj, and five others.
The case concerns alleged irregularities in admission into the first year MBBS course at Sardar Rajas Medical college and Hospital, Odisha.
A CBI spokesperson said it was alleged that Prasannaraj, the then additional secretary, MCI, had entered into a criminal conspiracy with the accused and some unknown persons in 2013 by flouting MCI norms. The accused MCI official allowed the medical college to admit students to the first year MBBS courses during 2013-14. Besides Prasannaraj, cases have been registered against Johnsel Raja, chairman, Selvam Educational and Charitable Trust, Tamil Nadu, which set up the college at Jaring in Kalahandi district, Odisha; Ashok Kumar, assistant, MCI; Dr Janet Khalko, former principal, Sardar Rajas Medical College Hospital, Jaring, Kumbharpada, Sambalpur; and Anish Gopalan, Dwarka, New Delhi, a private person whose identity had not been revealed among others.
The sleuths from the agency also searched three different places in Tamil Nadu including the official and residential premises of the accused in Vadadangulam and Nagercoil. Raids were also conducted at two places in Odisha (Bhawanipatna and Sambalpur) and four places in Delhi (Dwarka and Nazafgarh). During the search, the CBI found about Rs 5.50 lakh, two kg of gold and 25 kg of silver along with documents of three properties in the name of Prasannaraj’s family and relatives.
The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), Feb 24, 2015
BHAWANIPATNA: An eight-member CBI team on Monday raided Sardar Raja Medical College at Jaring, about 15 kms from here, and reportedly seized several admission and infrastructure related documents.
The CBI raid comes in the wake of allegation of irregularities in admissions for 2013-14 academic year. The college, despite having inadequate infrastructure and shortage of staff, managed to get a conditional permission from Medical council of India (MCI) to go for admissions for 2013-14 academic year. But, permission to admit students for 2014-15 academic year was scrapped as the college failed to improve its infrastructure and fill up the vacancies.
It was alleged that the college authorities manipulated records and adopted unfair means to get the MCI nod for admissions in 2013-14.
Selvam Charitable Trust had signed an MoU with Western Odisha Development Council in 2004 to set up Sardar Raja Medical College at Jaring. Lagging in infrastructure and ailing with staff shortage, the college had made several futile attempts to get permission from MCI to admit students before being allowed in 2013-14.
Following the scrapping of permission to admit students, 26 colleges including the one at Jaring filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging the MCI order and got permission to start classes for 2015-16 academic year with the condition to improve infrastructure within the stipulated time.
Odisha government today accorded tourist destination status to three more sites, including Eram in Bhadrak district.
The places which got tourist destination status by the government comprise of Eram in Bhadrak district, Tugugudia in Balasore district and Mangala Peeth at Kanas in Puri district.
The total number of tourist destinations in the state has now gone up to 344, officials said.
Eram also known as the place of sacrifice in Odisha, is located about 16 km away from Basudebpur of Bhadrak district.
During the time of Quit India Movement this field of Eram was frequently used by the freedom fighters for public meetings and agitation against foreign rulers.
On September 28, 1942 British police had opened fire on a large gathering there, killing 30 people.
Tugugudia in Balsore district and Mangala Peeth in Puri district are places of religious interest.
Of the 344 tourists destinations in the state, 13 are in Angul, 8 in Bolangir, 22 in Balasore, 10 in Bargarh, 9 in Bhadrak, 3 in Boudh, 25 in Cuttack, 2 in Deogarh, 10 in Dhenkanal, 5 in Gajapati, 22 in Ganjam, 6 in Jagatsinghpur, 19 in Jajpur, 5 in Jharsuguda.
There are 17 tourist destinations in Kalahandi, 6 in Kandhamal, 11 in Kendrapara, 16 in Keonjhar, 20 in Khordha, 13 in Koraput, 6 in Malkangiri, 16 in Mayurbhanj, 7 in Nuapada, 5 in Nabarangpur, 14 in Nayagarh, 21 in Puri, 7 in Rayagada, 7 in Sambalpur, 6 in Subarnapur (Sonepur) and 13 in Sundargarh district, they said.
Report by Rajeev Lochan Rathan, Bhawanipatna: The International Mother Tongue Day as per UNESCO declaration, Kosli Matrubhasa Divas was observed here at a simple ceremony in hotel Bhagirathi Inn where linguists and litterateurs from Bargarh, Nuapada and Kalahandi district participated.
The inaugural session was presided over by Dr.Gopabandhu Behera Ex professor of Sambalpur University who appreciated the efforts of kosal Horizon English weekly for observing this Day in Bhawanipatna. Dr.Behera hailed the life long struggle of Pandit Prayag Dutta Joshi to recognized ‘Kosli’ as a separate language.
Sambalpur University, has conferred ‘kosal Ratna’ title on pandit Joshi, but that is not enough. Legends of western Odisha like Dr.Bhubaneswar Behera and Prayag Dutta Joshi should have been honoured in more meaningful ways by the university. He lamented that talents were not being recognized and worshipped in the way it should be, he said.
Welcoming the guests Baidyanath Mishra, Editor, Kosal Horizon said that this day is being dedicated to late Prayag Dutta Joshi who incurred the wrath of many in course of his struggle to prove the separate entity of Kosal Language. Efforts should be made to teach Kosli to students in the primary level. This view was corroborated by Aradhana Nanda, President FARR when she said students in the nursery level must be taught in their mother tongue, he added.
Research scholar Natraj Mohapatra, Kosli poet Manoranjan Sahu, Prof.Jatindra kumar Mund, Suresh Negi, Pratap Chandra Mund among others participated in the discussion. Lecturer Umesh Satpatty reviewed Surama Mishra’s book ‘Titi Tian’ written to teach the Primary Level students while teaching mother Tongue based education.
BHUBANESWAR: Posts of more than 1,000 teaching and non-teaching staff are vacant in technical universities and other educational institutions under the control of State Government.
Minister of State for Employment and Technical Education Sanjay Dasburma informed this to members in the Assembly in a written reply to a question from Dilip Ray (BJP).
As many as 23 posts of professor, reader and lecturer out of a sanctioned strength of 25 are vacant in Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT). Surprisingly, all 20 posts of professor and reader in the university are vacant. Only two regular posts of lecturer have been filled up.
Similarly, out of sanctioned 57 Class III and IV posts, 42 are vacant. A total of 67 posts in different cadres is lying vacant in the university.
A large number of posts in technical colleges affiliated to BPUT is also vacant.
Besides, 191 teacher and 89 non-teacher posts are yet to be filled up in College of Engineering and Technology (CET), Bhubaneswar; Parala Maharaja Engineering College (PMEC), Berhampur; The Institute of Management and Information Technology (IMIT) and Government engineering colleges in Kalahandi and Keonjhar.
Situation is more precarious in Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT). The Minister said 137 posts of teacher are vacant in the university which include 24 posts of professor, 57 associate professor and 56 assistant professor.
A total of 170 posts is yet to be filled up giving rise to allegations of step-motherly attitude of the State Government towards Western Odisha.
The Minister said 45 posts including 27 teachers are vacant in Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology (IGIT) at Sarang.
In Technical Education and Training Directorate, 55 posts are yet to be filled up while 24 of 32 principal posts are vacant in engineering schools and polytechnics run by the department.
Besides, 420 posts including teaching staff are vacant in engineering schools while the State Government is yet to fill up 10 principal posts in ITIs of the State. In the employment exchanges, 289 of 572 sanctioned posts are vacant.
As many as 916 sanctioned posts of Lecturers, including 546 at 19 Government Autonomous Colleges and 370 at 17 non-Government aided Autonomous Colleges are lying vacant in the State, informed Higher Education Pradeep Panigrahy to the State Assembly on Thursday.
Replying to a query of BJP MLA Dilip Ray, the Minister stated that of the total 370 vacant posts at the 17 non-Government aided Autonomous Colleges, Kendrapada Autonomous College tops the list with 45 vacant posts followed by 43 at Nayagarh Autonomous College, 33 at Banki Autonomous College, 31 at SVM Autonomous College in Jagatsinghpur, six at Kharial Autonomous College, 20 at Salepur Autonomous College, 22 at DAV Autonomous College at Tilagarh, 25 at Karanjia Autonomous College, 22 at Byasanagar Autonomous College, 18 at Nirakarpur DAV Autonomous College, 10 at PN College, Khordha, 13 at Nimapada, 15 at Hinjilikatu and 19 at Rayagada Autonomous College.
Of the total 546 vacant posts at 19 Government Autonomous Colleges Rourkela (Govt) Autonomous Colleges faces shortage of 34 lecturers followed by 51 each at Gangadhar Meher Autonomous and Bhadrak Autonomous College, 31 at Angul, 25 at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College at Baleswar, 31 at Dhenkanal, 33 at MKCH Autonomous College at Parlakhemundi, 40 at Khallikote, 13 at SBR Women’s Autonomous College, 34 at Bhawanipatna, 21 Jajpur MC Autonomous College, 22 at Phulbani Autonomous College, 20 at Keonjhar DD College, 19 at Jeypore Bikramdev College, 31 at MPC College, Baripada, 18 at Samanta Chandrasekhar Autonomous College at Puri and eight each at BJB and Ramadevi Autonomous Colleges.
Note: Thanks a lot to Sri Pushpendra Singh Deo, whom we had sent a personal message saying nothing wrong in trying and appealed him to at least include Bhawanipatna in the list of smart cities proposal by the state. Hope central Govt. will take it positively.
Orissadiary, Feb 19, 2015 Report by Rajeev Lochan Rathan; Bhubaneswar: Housing & Urban Development Minister Pushpendra Singh Deo said on the golden jubilee of Mahaveer Sankrutika Anusthan Bhawanipatna in Rabindra Madapa here that the Odisha Government has proposed Centre to include also Bhawanipatna beside other six town of the state in the Smart City scheme. “We are proposing Bhawanipatna including with other six cities with corporations- Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Berhampur, Rourkela and Sambalpur for inclusion in the Smart City scheme,” said the Minister. Notably, the central government had announced a plan to develop 100 smart cities to endow with better facilities in urban areas. The smart cities will include all the state capitals and union territories. The high-power expert committee on investment approximates the annual fund requirement for smart cities will be Rs.35000 crore as the estimate coats water supply, sanitation and transport-related infrastructure. The scheme ensures 24×7 service on water supply and power supply, 100 per cent household with direct water supply connections and access to toilets and 100 per cent schools, Colleges with separate toilets facilities for girls. Every household shall have a telephone connection including mobile, Wi-Fi connectivity - See more at: http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=57397#sthash.5mqrvTRU.dpuf
Kalahandi-Balangir- Koraput (KBK) region in Odisha is a
multi-facet backward region due to hilly backwardness, tribal populated
backwardness and backward due to natural calamities. Similar backward
regions in India like North Eastern States have received special treatment by
railway board where as KBK region has been neglected since decades. Even hilly
region like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand have received
special package in railway by Govt. of India. Many of the railway projects in
North Easter states have been declared as national project. Coincidentally, for
irrigation projects KBK region is considered long with North Eastern states by
the central Government. Nevertheless, railway projects in KBK region have not
received any special treatment as national projects. Naxal activities are
predominantly high in KBK region due to poor communication and poor
infrastructure. It is also important to note thatrailway infrastructure in Odisha and
Chhatisgarh is substantially low compared to national average despite both the
states are in the profit making zones, where as railway infrastructure in Bihar
and West Bengal are remarkably high though they are in the loss making zones. East Coast Railway Zone is one
of the larger profit-making zones, and a large portion of this profit comes
from Kothavalasa-Kirandul (KK) line passing
through KBK region. In this KK line, railway lines
between Koraput-Kothavalasa is e-special
category railway route where many tunnels and high-level bridges are
present, which limits the speed to less than 50 kmph. At the same time number
of wagon can’t exceed 30 during mineral transportations in these this routes.
Similarly, other possible railway route, Koraput-Rayagada is also e-special
category railway route having many tunnels and high-level bridges.
Thus, a new route that will increase the speed limit and number of wagon during
mineral transportation from Jagdalpur (Chhatisgarh) to Visakhapatnam is needed.
In fact, in 1962-63 it was pointed out in the parliament that Mr. Parkers had
done a railway line survey from Kesinga to Nabarangpur to join
Kothavalasa-Kirandul (KK) line. Subsequently, in 1990-91 Amabguda-Lanjigarh road
railways line was proposed to make mineral transportation from Kirandul to
Visakhapatnam faster and easier. In 1991, Lanjigarh road-Junagarh line
was approved and this 56 km line took 25 years to get completed due to
negligence by railway ministry. At the same time survey of Junagarh-Ambaguda
portion of this route has been completed, but this portion of this route has not
yet been approved. There are other industrial proposals in this region, which
will be benefited from the proposed railway route. Therefore, Junagarh-Amaguda
line should be immediately approved and completed.
Lanjigarh road-Talcher route or Kharagpur-Bhadrachalam road route
Proposed Lanjigarh road - Phulbani – Talcher railway route is another important
rail network in KBK-Kandhamal region, which is under survey. This line will
connect Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Titilagarh (Balangir dist), Nabarangpur
and Rayagada districts with Bhubaneswar (Odisha’s state capital) by joining
with Khurda-Balangir line near Boudh. This will not only bring first
time railway network to Kandhamal district but also make
accessible to large part of inaccessible KBK and Kandhamal region
from the state capital directly. Beside that this line will facilitate
alumina/coal transportation for NALCO from its refinery in
Damajodi to its Smelter in Angul by reducing distance about 100 km.
Other industries like Utkal alumina, Vedanta alumina (now Sesa Sterlite) etc in
this region will also be benefited. Most importantly, Howrah-Chennai route has been congested and a route via
Kharagpur, Baripada, Talcher, Lanjigarh road, Junagarh, Nabarangpur, Jeypore,
Malkangiri, Bhadrachalam road and Vijaywada will not only decongest
the route but also bring development to many tribal dominated districts of the
nation. The proposed route also makes another possible route to connect
Hyderabad directly with Ranchi and Patna (via Titlagarh-Junagarh) or Kolkata
(via Baripada-Lanjigarh road-Bhadrachalam road). Thus, Lanjigarh road
- Phulbani – Talcher line
should be immediately approved for construction.
Raipur-Lanjigarh road-Gopalpur port route
This Lanjigarh road – Berhampur-Gopalpur line along with
Raipur-Rajim-Junagarh will make direct connection
between Nagpur/Bhilai and Gopalpur via Raipur. This route
will make access South East Asian countries from Raipur, Bhilai, Nagpur and
central India via Gopalpur port. This will further reduce distance between
Gopalpur port and Nagpur and make Gopalpur port as competitive as Mumbai port
from Nagpur or central India region. At the same time it will bring railway
infrastructure to the Maoist and tribal dominated region and connect Behrampur,
Kalahandi and Debhog (Raipur) region with Raipur and Nagpur. Survey work of Raipur - Rajim
- Debhog - Junagarh is almost complete and this route should be approved
immediately. This will also establish a direct connection between Raipur and
Talcher along with Talcher-Lanjigarh road route. Similarly, new survey should
be done for Lanjigarh road-Gopalpur railway line
to directly connect Bhilai steel plant with Gopalpur port. Beside social
development in KBK-Kandhamal-Ganjam region, this line may be exploited
commercially by many steel, iron and coal plants in Bhilai and Raipur regions to connect
with Gopalpur port as well as coal rich Talcher/Angul region.
KBK
line covering 5 KBK districts
Similarly, Kantabanji-Jeypore railway route will connect
Balangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur and Koraput. It will also help in
directly connecting Koraput with Raipur region. The route has been surveyed and
should be immediately approved.
Recently Government of India is giving priority for development of Agriculture sector in the eastern part of the country. Earlier former Agriculture Minister Mr. Sharad Power had announced a Central Agriculture University in Bundelhkhand. Recently central Govt. has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Bihar Government to convert the existing Rajendra Agriculture University in Bihar into a Central Agriculture University.
Last year you had appealed to the Prime Minister urging to establish an Agriculture University in KBK region, subsequently, former union agriculture minister Mr. Sharad Pawar had written to Odisha state Government mentioning that despite being a backward area, Kalahandi has emerged as one of the top producers of rice, cotton and pulses in the state and required advanced technology to meet the growing demand in the coming years. Thus, an agriculture university is wanted. Based on that state Government had earlier asked Orissa University of Agriculture Technology (OUAT) to submit a feasibility report to upgrade the current agriculture college at Bhawanipatna to a university.
Fortunately, your Government has taken proactive step and had announced in its election manifesto for second Agriculture University in KBK region. Few months ago Agriculture Minister of Odisha had also announced that an Agriculture University would come in Bhawanipatna. We sincerely thank for your and your Government's initiative in the matter.
There are various reasons why Bhawanipatna is the most suitable place.
(1)Kalahandi is the top most agriculture producer, mainly paddy, pulses, cotton etc. district among the KBK districts.
(2)It is among the 25th largest rice producer districts in India. It is not limited to rice alone, agriculture products in Kalahandi is very diverse unlike many other districts in the region.
(3)The agriculture growth of the district is not yet saturated and it is predicted that it can be one of the forefront district in the nation in agriculture growth.
(4)Bhawanipatna is located centrally among all KBK districts and suits the interest for all the KBK districts. Semiliguda is more than 300 km from Balangir, 340 km from Nuapada and 360 km from Sonepur, whereas the farthest KBK district headquarter from Bhawanipatna is Malkangiri within 250 km. Rest of the KBK district headquarters are in 150 km from Bhawanipatna (4 of them are in 100 km range).
(5)The proximity of Bhawanipatna to all the existing Regional Research and Transfer Technology Stations and Regional Research and Transfer Technology Sub-Stations of OUAT in KBK and Western Odisha region even demands location of the proposed Agriculture University at Bhawanipatna.
(6)By now, Agriculture College at Bhawanipatna is relatively developed. OUAT has already faculty, staff and students to run an institution at Bhawanipatna, which will help in establishing the new Agriculture University and develop subsequent infrastructure.
(7)Water, electricity and road infrastructure is already available in the existing building. No need to build additional road or electricity and water connection to reach out the new University except that current facilities need to be expanded within in the campus.
(8)Agriculture College at Bhawanipatna is located in the township area and neighboring to Bhawanipatna railway station and on Khariar-Bhawanipatna SH 16, which is being expanded to a 4 lanes through World Bank assistance. Schooling, marketing and other urban facilities are available from this site. A Central School (KV), three Govt. high schools, two Government colleges and many private schools and colleges are available for the children of faculty and staff within the township.
(9)The land available under OUAT campus in Bhawanipatna is in the same range of land area where OUAT main campus is located in Bhubaneswar. District collector of Kalahandi has also identified 500 acres of land for this purpose.
Importantly, once an Agriculture University is established in Bhawanipatna, there could be a good reason to ask union Government onf India to convert it into a Central Agriculture University based on the letter of former union Agriculture Minister and looking east policy of central Government for agriculture growth.
Therefore, I request you to kindly establish the Agriculture University in Bhawanipatna as soon as possible, which could possibly open the door to convert it to a Central Agriculture University in near future, based on state Government request by taking advantage of central Government's look east policy in agriculture.
Dear Honorable Prime Minister Mr. Modi and Honorable Chief Minister Mr. Patnaik,
There is no existing provision to provide annual cess fees for land transferred to central Govt. from state Govt. which is bringing hurdles to establish new KV or central school, example, opening of Central School in Dharamgarh (Kalahandi, Odisha) under Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan Regional office Raipur. Similar problem is being faced in Jajpur road and already opened central school in Nuapada and Khariar.
Reform is urgently wanted in the public interest. The annual cess fees is a small amount, less than Rs 7000, which ministry of Human Resource Development could easily pay annually to the state Government, at the same time state Govt. could also waive such fees for public interest. Instead of working on it and figure out the solution both the central and state Govt. bureaucrats along with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan Regional office Raipur are delaying such highly public interest educational project. We request honorable prime minister as well as chief minister for personal intervene to resolve such issue with the state Government of Odisha for immediate effect.
I also appeal to make a permanent solution between state and central Government relating to land transfer and annual cess fees related to any public interest hospital and/or educational institutions.
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