The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), June 4, 2016
BHAWANIPATNA: A DAY after BJP’s Vikas Utsav rally addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Balasore highlighted the achievements of the NDA Government, the Congress on Friday announced to observe June 10 as ‘Dhikkar Divas’ in the State to highlight the failure of both the Centre and the State governments. They announced that they would stage demonstrations in all district and block headquarters as part of the ‘divas.’
Addressing a massive rally in front of Treasury Office, the Congress bigwigs accused the BJP and the BJD governments of showing step-motherly attitude towards Western Odisha, including KBK districts, and warned of intensified agitation for ‘Swabhimaan, and rights of Maa, Mati’.
The Congress leaders, including general secretary in-charge B K Hariprasad, former Union Minister Bhakta Charan Das and OPCC president Prasad Harichandan attended the event.
They submitted a memorandum, addressed to the Governor, through the District Collector.
The leaders accused the Naveen Patnaik Government of hijacking Central schemes and misleading people of the State.
He has mastered the art of blaming the Centre for all his failures and both the State and the Centre are trying to suppress voices of protest taking advantage of their numbers in the Houses.
Similarly, Modi is renaming the schemes launched by the UPA government and marketing it as BJP programme, they added.
The leaders said Modi is on self-glorification trips to Odisha and is selling dreams and cautioned people not to be fooled.
There is governance paralysis and poverty continues to grow despite abundant natural resources, the Congress leaders said, adding that farmers are gradually distancing themselves from agriculture and migrating to earn livelihood. More than 300 farmers have committed suicide due to debt burden, the leaders added.
They also took on the State
Government for its fresh move to mine bauxite from Niyamgiri when the Supreme Court had negated it once during the rule of UPA government.
Pointing out that Kalahandi has been a victim of neglect by both the BJP and the BJD, the leaders alleged that Sardar Rajas Medical College at Jaring has been closed, the proposed Agriculture University in Kalahandi is still in papers, university status to Autonomous Government College, Bhawanipatna has not materialised and the proposed railway wagon maintenance and repair factory at Narla in Kalahandi was shifted due to negligence. Congress leader Pradeep Majhi and former minister Jagannath Patnaik also addressed the gathering.
Party power
Congress accuses two Govts of showing step-motherly attitude towards Western Odisha
Warns of intensifying agitation for ‘Swabhimaan, and rights of Maa, Mati’
More than 300 farmers have committed suicide due to debt burden
Kalahandi sidelined in several issues
Sardar Rajas Medical College closed, proposed Agriculture University still in papers, university status to Autonomous Government College, Bhawanipatna yet to materialise, proposed railway wagon maintenance and repair factory at Narla shifted
Bhubaneswar, May 30: Archaeologists have unearthed artefacts from excavation sites across the state throwing light on the earliest possible farming culture in Odisha pushing the date back by 3,500 years.
The findings from the excavations at Radhangar in Jajpur, Suabarei near Pipili, Banga in Puri, Deltihuda in Cuttack and Budhigarh in Kalahandi over the past two years have led to the discovery of objects highlighting agricultural practices during the Chalcolithic age.
The Odisha Institute of Maritime and South East Asian Studies, Archaeological Survey of India, Pune's Deccan College, and a few state universities are taking part in the excavation.
Prior to the latest findings, prevalence of agricultural practices in the state was thought to have existed in the 3rd century BC when the ancient city of Sisupalgarh flourished.
The recent excavations at five places in Jajpur, Pipili, Puri, Cuttack and Kalahandi have led to the discovery of ceramic assemblage of black and red ware, ochre coloured painted wares, tools such as celts and beads, pottery samples, stone axe, polishers, bone points, bone needle, copper objects, and bone arrow heads.
"These findings throw light on the early start of agriculture in settlements in Odisha, the exploitation of natural resources, the housing pattern of the people and their livelihood options," said Sunil Patnaik, secretary of the Odisha Institute of Maritime and South East Asian Studies.
"A number of perforated pottery such as storage jars and crucibles are indicative of the Chalcolithic age. Pottery designs with back, red and ochre finish were found at the sites," said Patnaik.
Cord impressions and wavy and horizontal lines found on the earthenware are also evidence of the age.
"A large number of animal bones found show that they kept them both for domestication and hunting purposes. Dog seems to have been the favourite pet animal as is evident from a burial with animal bones and arranged miniature pots," Patnaik said.
The availability of copper fishing hook, fish bones and tortoise shells also indicate their fishing network, experts said.
"Their fishing network was not confined to rivers and ponds but also the sea. This is evident from the recovery of shark fish teeth of which one has a perforation for reuse as pendant," said expert from the ASI Jeevan Patnaik, who carried out excavation at the Suabarei site.
The early historical site of Budhigarh highlights urban growth, the beginning of city life and the trans-oceanic contact during ancient times.
"The antiquities found at these sites include beads of terracotta and semi-precious stones such banded agate, carnelian and crystal quartz. From the antiquities it is clear that they flourished as inland urban centres. The findings establish the link of the transition between rural economy and urbanisation or fortified settlement," Patnaik added.
Also, the excavated site of Radhanagar has brought to the fore square-shaped fortification. "This kind of arrangement is known as the ideal type as mentioned in the Arthashastra. This is the first time that this kind of fortification has been discovered. We are now working on discovering whether they originated from Odisha or from the Magadha kingdom," Patnaik said.
Experts also revealed that the findings at Suabarei provided a tentative picture of stratigraphy (study of rock layers) of Odisha from the prehistoric period to the early historic period in continuity.
"Earlier excavations painted a hazy picture where the Neolithic and Charcolithic culture were intrusive in nature thereby creating confusion. But, excavations here show a gap of around 500 years between the two phases thus eliminating the uncertainties," said Professor R.K. Mohanty, who teaches at Deccan College in Pune.
Other important findings include three human skeletons from the Banga site and skeletal remains of an adult and the pot burials of a child from Deltihuda.
"Excavation of human skeleton from near the houses proves that there could be a practice of burying the dead near the habitation," said K.K. Basa, professor of anthropology, Utkal University.
Researchers shared the findings during a two-day seminar conducted by the state culture department that began here today.
"The findings of the excavations will be published in a book for the public. The excavated sites will be turned into tourist spots as well," said culture minister Ashok Panda.
Even as people in the entire Nuapada district and some parts of Kalahandi district are forced to continue to use fluoride water and suffer from various health hazards, the delay in execution of the proposed Rs 752.44-crore Mega PWS (Piped Water Supply) Projects, the tender process for which had been completed around six months ago, has only added to their woes.
The people had got heaved a sigh of relief after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik asked the RD Department in April 2015 to initiate tender process for the RIDF project to be funded by the Nabard. The Government had decided to undertake this project after intervention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
According to sources, following the Chief Minister’s approval a due procedure was adopted to select a final bidder and the same was completed in November 2015. The Technical Expert Committee selected Shapooji and Company Pvt Ltd, Mumbi as the final bidder finalizing the contract money at Rs 724.96 crore against the project estimate of Rs 752.44 crore.
The process had also witnessed intervention of the High Court as one of the three bidders, after failing to come in the qualified list, approached it. As per the direction of the HC, the Technical Committee too reexamined the representation of the petitioner firm, the IL and FS Transportation Network Ltd, Mumbai, and found the marks awarded to it was just and proper. And hence, the Shapooji and Company Pvt Ltd remained as the qualified final bidder to undertake the work.
As per the procedure, the Technical Committee sent the file mentioning name of the Shappji firm to Finance Department for obtaining approval of the Government in February. But the file now remains unmoved much to the worry of 9.56 lakh people of 1733 habitations in Nuapada district and 18 habitations in Kalahandi district.
Meanwhile, a revelation made by another source has stunned the social activists who have been fighting for long to get portable water for the fluoride affected people.
According to it, an Apex Committee led by Chief Secretary was formed to reexamine the tender process and take a final call on implementation of the much-awaited project.
When the tender process has been finalised and the same has been sent to Government for final approval, what was the need of forming the Apex Committee to examine. Whether it has been formed to expedite the process or halt it, many wanted to know.
Times of India, May 9, 2016 BHUBANESWAR: A meeting of an apex committee took place at the state secretariat here on Monday to study the feasibility of a proposal for setting up of an alternative industry for Narla in Kalahandi district against the proposed railway wagon repair workshop which was allegedly shifted from the district to Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
The apex committee comprised of chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi and East Coast Railway (ECoR) general manager Rajiv Vishnoi discussed thoroughly on the proposal. "After detailed study and consultation with different departments of the state government and district administration of Kalahandi, the committee will submit its report to Ministry of Railways on the proposal," official sources said.
Shifting of the proposed wagon repair workshop from Narla to Andhra Pradesh had created hue and cry in the state. Ruling party BJD and opposition congress had strongly opposed the move of the Railway Board by raising the issue in the assembly. Congress had staged Kalahandi bandh last month demanding set up of the project in the district. Later railway minister Suresh Prabhu had met chief minister Naveen Patnaik here on April 16 and discussed with him about the controversy. He had told Naveen that the proposed factory was not in the pink book, an official register of railways with information on allocation of funds to different projects.
During the conversation, he had assured the chief minister that his ministry is planning a new project for Kalahandi. Then a high-level committee had been constituted to study the feasibility of the new industry in the district.
According to Prabhu's proposal, the committee was formed last month. The apex committee has already conducted two meetings to work on the issue.
Padhi said he and Vishnoi has discussed at length about the proposal. "We will send our report to the central government about the setting up of the alternative industry for Kalahandi," he added.
Times of India, May 9, 2016 Ashok Pradhan | TNN | May 9, 2016, 08.52 PM IST BHUBANESWAR: The Supreme Court on Monday threatened to issue non-bailable warrants (NBW) against management of the Sardar Rajas Medical College and Hospital at Jaring in Kalahandi district unless its deposits Rs two crore with the court by June 25.
A bench of justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh asked the Tamil Nadu-based Selvam Educational and Charitable Trust, which owns the college, to deposit bank guarantee of the amount within the deadline or face NBW, said Pratap Venugopal, counsel for some of the affected students who appeared in the court.
The apex court on April 19 had asked the trust to deposit the amount before the SC registry within two weeks. The court had observed prima facie there were reasons to feel the trust should compensate its students for pushing them to the realm of uncertainty from the sphere of certainty. However, the trust did not deposit it. Its counsel had filed an application for modification of the court order seeking to exempt the trust from making the deposit. The apex court did not modify its April 19 order. Citing poor infrastructure of the college and lack of enough faculty members, the SC and the Orissa high court had last year ordered relocation of all students of the college to other institutions. The 124 students of two batches (2013-14 and 2014-15) were shifted to three Bhubaneswar-based private medical colleges: Hi-Tech Medical College, Institute of Medical Sciences and Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences. The students have raised apprehension that they may lose an academic year in the transferred colleges. They have also alleged discrimination in the new institutions.
The college was established in a public private partnership mode as part of government move to remove regional disparity. The state government had given Rs 10 crore and 25 acre land to the TN trust after it signed an MoU with the Western Odisha Development Council for establishment of the college in 2004. It admitted students only for two years (2013-14 and 2014-15).
Note: Thanks to initiative and support by Priya Abraham and support of Sandeep Sethi
The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), April 28, 2016
BHAWANIPATNA: Kalahandi is yet to find a place in the higher education map of Odisha as it does not have a single university despite assurances of the State Government.
In the absence of adequate number of colleges and a university, the gross enrolment ratio of the district continues to be low at 8.7 per cent. According to a report on the level of education achieved by Indians as of 2011, released by the office of the Census Commissioner and Registrar-General of India last year, in Kalahandi, only 4,789 youths have completed their BA/BSc/BCom degrees while their population is around 1.2 lakh.
In the Education Policy-2016 which is being framed by the Higher Education Department, Kalahandi finds no mention. Instead, the department has proposed to upgrade five autonomous colleges in Jeypore, Balangir, Rourkela, Angul and Puri to universities.
Although the Task Force on Higher Education in 2009 had recommended for upgradation of Government Autonomous College of Bhawanipatna to an affiliated university for Kalahandi and Nuapada region, it has been ignored by the department.
On the other hand, the State Government had last year recommended for upgrading the college into a university under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan of the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD). “Unfortunately, due to lack of adequate number of lecturers and infrastructure facilities, the proposal was turned down by the MHRD. The State Government is largely responsible for this as no attention has been paid towards faculty recruitment in the college,” said Akshay Kumar Nanda, a retired principal of the college.
Apparently, the Government Autonomous College of Bhawanipatna is the first college in KBK region to get ‘Potential for Centre of Excellence’ recognition by the UGC.
“KBK region comprises 20 per cent of Odisha’s population but has only one Central University at Koraput. There is no State Government-run university for the affiliated colleges of the region,” said Gopabandhu Behera, a retired professor of Sambalpur University who is also the president of Sikhya Vikas Parishad of Kalahandi.
In 2008, Sambalpur University had proposed to set up a branch campus in Bhawanipatna and a UGC team had studied the proposal. However, no decision has been taken yet.
Meanwhile, students of the college and members of its alumni association have sent a memorandum to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to look into its upgradation as university. On Tuesday, they staged a demonstration outside the collectorate. Housing and Urban Development Minister Pushpendra Singh Deo and Digambar Patra, an associate professor of American University of Beirut who is also an alumni of the college, have written to the Chief Minister on the demand.
Thanks and appreciation to Priya Abraham, Prof. Chitta Baral and Sandeep Sethi for their support.
Telegraph, April 19, 2016
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160419/jsp/odisha/story_80834.jsp#.VxW55uZ97UZ
The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), April 18, 2016
BHAWANIPATNA: Students of Bhawanipatna Government Autonomous College on Saturday blocked National Highway (NH) 26 at College Chowk here for five hours demanding university status to the college.
They said that recently the State Government had declared to upgrade Rajendra College in Balangir and Vikram Dev College in Jeypore to the status of universities. But Bhawanipatna Government Autonomous College has been overlooked, they added.
Later, they submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the district administration. The students threatened that their agitation will be intensified if the Government fails to fulfil their demand. However, the road blockade was withdrawn after the intervention of the Sub-Collector.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been urged to upgrade Government Autonomous College, Bhawaniptana, to an affiliated university for Kalahandi and Nuapada region.
Arguing that when the State Gvernment has decided to create affiliated universities for Puri-Nayagarh, Dhenkanal-Angul and Sundergarh-Deogarh (even for undivided Balesware alone), educationist and NRO Prof Digambara Patra said there is no reason why the same facility shoud not be extended to the Kalahandi-Nuapada region.
He suggested that socially, politically, economically, regionally and infrastructure wise it will be good to make three affiliated universities in KBK region one each at Jeypore, Bhawanipatna and Balangir, especially, when this region is well known for backwardness, low GER, poor regional distribution of higher educational institution and high concentration of tribal population.
Earlier Higher Education Task Force formed by the State Government had recommended to upgrade the Government Autonomous College, Bhawaniptana to an affiliated university for Kalahandi and Nuapada region. Indeed, the Government had also recommended in 2014-15 for upgrading of the Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna to a university under RUSHA scheme of the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Unfortunately, due to lack of sufficient number of lecturers and other infrastructure facilities this could not be materialized, for which State Government is largely responsible, Patra said.
In 2008 the Sambalpur University had also proposed a branch campus in Bhawanipatna and a UGC team had inspected for the proposal, the fate of which is hanging. Incidentally, the Government Autonomous College, Bhawanipatna was among the first three colleges in Odisha to receive Potential Center of Excellence by UGC; other two colleges (GM College and Khallikote College) have already been made Unitary Universities whereas Government Autonomous College, Bhawaniptana is being continuously neglected. Demand for conversion of Government autonomous college Bhawanipana into a regular university has been long standing for a decade, Patra maintained.
The Samajwadi Party State Committee on Saturdaysubmitted a memorandum to Railways Minister Suresh Pravakar Prabhu seeing establishment of proposed wagon factories at Naral in Kalahandi and Sitalpalli in Ganjam district.
Besides, the party demanded introduction of an express train from Puri to New Delhi vial Sambalpur in the name of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.
‘The East Coast Railway contributes highest revenue to the Railways Ministry and it has also topped in freight revenue. But the allocation for Odisha is not up to the mark. Meanwhile, the Ministry has shifted the proposed Narla wagon factory to Vishakhpatnam on flimsy ground. This has shocked the people of Odisha. Besides, no step has been taken to expedite wagon factory at Sitalapalli. We demand the wagon factory established at Narla and Sitalapalli project expidaterd,’ the memorandum read.
The party reiterated its demands for introduction of a superfast express in hounour of Biju Patnaik and ‘Hamsafar Train’ from Bhubaneswar to Mumbai and another from Bhubaneswar to Bangalore.
Besides, it placed a demand for construction of a metro railway line, Khordha- Bhubaneswar - Cuttack - Choudwar - Chandikhol - Paradeep - Puri - Bhubaneswar.
Union Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha on Sunday said the proposed wagon repair factory at Narla had never received any due approval.
“Many debates are being held about the proposed Narla wagon repair workshop. But the fact is that the project did not get any approval. Somebody came here (Odisha) and announced that the workshop would be set up at Narla. As per norms, any proposal approved by the Railway Board is mentioned in the Pink Book, a book that records yearly growth plans with financial details. But there is no mention about the proposed Narla project in the Pink Book,” Sinha said while speaking at the launching of free Wi-Fi at the city railway station here.
Stating that he furnished this information in conformity, Sinha, in an apparent reference to earlier UPA Government, said, “The Narendra Modi Government doesn’t believe in mere announcements. It believes in implementing promises.”
Note: Thanks to these workers for their support for Kalahandi.
Orissadiary, April 17, 2016 Report by Odisha Diary bureau, Bhubaneswar: Congress workers attempt to show black flag to Railway minister Suresh Prabhu at Bhubaneswar railway station in Protest against shifting of wagon factory. Odisha police detains 10 congress workers. Congress stages demo in front of ticket counter at Bhubaneswar railway station protesting minister Suresh Prabhu's visit.
Times of India, April 17, 2016 Sujit Bijoy | TNN | Apr 17, 2016, 06.52 AM IST Bhubaneswar: Railway minister Suresh Prabhu here on Saturday said the railways is planning a new project in Kalahandi.
The minister, however, was silent on whether the railways is planning to reconsider its decision to shift the proposed wagon factory from Kalahandi to Visakhapatnam, an issue that earlier led to a series of protests in the state.
"I dont want to make announcements only. We will definitely set up a factory at the proposed site in Kalahandi. It was decided to constitute a working group comprising officers from the state government and railway to examine what kind of factories can be set up in Kalahandi," Prabhu told reporters after a meeting with chief minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence here.
Prabhu said a clearer picture will emerge on the Kalahandi project in the next one to two months.
Taking a potshot at the Congress-led UPA government, the Union minister said there were only promises by the previous government but no progress was made at the ground level. The Centre announced the wagon maintenance workshop will come up in Kalahandi in 2013-14. So far, the state government has offered two patches of land measuring 70.02 acres and 44.70 acre near Narla road station in Kalahandi district. It also granted complete exemption of water tax for the project, as requested by the East Coast Railway (ECoR).
A RTI reply from the railway authorities recently revealed that the proposed project in Kalahandi has been shifted to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The BJD and Congress targeted the Centre for "neglecting the state" on the issue. Congress observed a one-day bandh in Kalahandi in protest.
Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu on Saturday said a Centre-State working group would be formed soon to decide on setting up the proposed wagon repair factory or any other railway project at Narla in Kalahandi district soon.
“There are plans to set up two projects in Odisha one of which is at Narla in Kalahandi district. A working group would be formed to see the project established at Narla, which will economically viable and commercially profitable. If the proposed wagon factory is not possible, another project will be considered for Narla,” Prabhu told reporters after the meeting.
He said the panel would take a final decision on Narla project within one and a half months time.
The Union Minister too said that a joint venture company (JVC) would be formed to maintain coordination between the Centre and the State for speeding up various ongoing railway projects in the State.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said talks with the Railway Minister were satisfactory. “Narla wagon repair factory, railway connectivity to Malkangiri and Nabarangpur and other ongoing projects were discussed,” Patnaik told reporters.
The Chief Minister said progress of various projects would be reviewed through video-conferencing every month.
Among others, Chief Secretary AP Padhi, Additional Chief Secretary to CM UN Behar and senior Railway officials were present.
Times of India, April 16, 2016 Hemanta Pradhan | TNN | Apr 16, 2016, 09.08 AM IST Bubaneswar: Political parties are planning to take up the issue of shifting of proposed wagon repair workshop from Narla in Kalahandi district to Andhra Pradesh with the minister for railways Suresh Prabhu, when he arrives in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
The issue had created a hue and cry in the state assembly recently. Both BJD and Congress had opposed the move of the railways.
Prabhu is scheduled to meet chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday. Official sources said the chief minister is likely to take up the issue with the railways minister and ask him to reconsider the decision. He will also urge him to expedite the wagon factory project at Sitalapalli in Ganjam district, added the sources.
BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb said the party has expressed its view after the news regarding shifting of the project came out. "Patnaik had written to the railway minister a few days ago on the issue," said Deb.
Recently, Patnaik had told media that he will meet railway minister to discuss about the issue.
Leader of opposition Narasingha Mishra said the BJP-led central government has neglected the state and its decision to shift the project is an example.
He said the UPA government in 2010 had got recommendation from Sambalpur railway zone for establishment of a wagon factory at Kantabanji in Balangir district. Later in 2013, the same government had proposed a wagon repair workshop at Narla and a wagon factory at Ganjam. After coming to power the BJP-led government shifted the Narla project out of the state.
"Congress condemns the decision of railways to shift the project. We demand reconsider of the decision," Mishra added.
All India Congress Committee secretary Bhakta Das said he will meet the minister and take up the issue with him.
BJP state president Basanta Panda said the party has discussed the issue with Prabhu, and will take up the matter with him during his visit.
Dear Honorable President Sri Mukherjee and Honorable Prime Minister Sri Modi,
People of Kalahandi had been demanding for a railway Wagon factory to bring public sector manufacturing unit to catalyze their development activities in this backward pocket. Keeping such public demand in mind, ministry of railway was kind enough to announce a Wagon Factory in Kalahandi/Bhubaneswar in 2010-11 railway budget.
However, due to state politics this Wagon factory was shifted to Ganjam district of Odisha, which is under construction. However, a subsequent strong public and intellectual protest in Kalahandi region resulted various political and social outrages in the nation. At one point of time former railway minister, Ms. Mamata Banerjee even had to intervene in the parliament and had promised in the parliament for another railway wagon factory in Odisha, especially for Kalahandi, if land is supplied by the state Govt. In one of the parliament sessions in 2012, honorable president Sri Mukherjee, then finance minister also took the issue to railway minister to establish a Wagon factory in Kalahandi.
With honorable president Sri Mukherjee’s commitment to people of Kalahandi, railway minister in 2013-14 rail budget thankfully announced a Wagon Maintenance Workshop in Kalahandi. However, recently railway ministry has clarified about shifting of Wagon maintenance workshop from Kalahandi to Visakhapatnam citing feasibility study.
Sir, as head of the nation and as prime minister of this country, both of you may be well aware that any Govt. establishment should not be announced in the parliament in a given location without any feasibility study. Then, how could ministry of railway announce Wagon Maintenance Workshop in Kalahandi in 2013-14 railway budget, especially in the parliament, without conducting proper feasibility study? Since such an announcement was especially made after keeping strong public reaction in mind, railway should have taken utmost care about the feasibility and other technical study before announcing any new project in Kalahandi, so that incident like shifting of earlier Wagon Factory in 2010-11 railway budget is not repeated. Now Kalahandi should not be penalized for the mistake made by railway ministry.
Secondly, honorable sirs, you are well aware that such a proposal was made keeping strong public and regional sentiment of one of the backward pocket in India, thus, shifting of such establishment to a neighboring state without even considering alternative location in the same district is completely immoral and unethical.
Interest of backward region like Kalahandi has greater aspiration to be as par with other parts of the region. Kalahandi has been recently performing exceptionally well in agriculture. Nevertheless, backward tag associated with Kalahandi is obstructing its developmental aspiration due to infamous perception; currently the region is fighting a perception battle. Therefore, along with agriculture, industrial and manufacturing sector development in the region is crucial for overall growth of this part of the nation.
I request you to kindly do not do injustice by repeatedly shifting proposed industrial development in the region due to political reasons. The injustice must be corrected, especially, when such injustice is being made by public and Government sector. Otherwise, the nation would fail to give equal right to each and every region and its people.
Clarification regarding shifting of Wagon POH workshop from Kalahandi, Odisha to Vishakapatnam (Vadlapudi), Andhra Pradesh.
Ministry of Railways will like to clarify as under Regarding shifting of Wagon POH workshop from Kalahandi, Odisha to Vishakapatnam (Vadlapudi), Andhra Pradesh, Ministry of Railways will like to clarify as under:
Budget announcement was made in the year 2013-14 for setting up a Wagon Periodical Overhauling (POH) Workshop in Kalahandi, Odisha.
Proposal was sent to Railway board in June 2013 by East Coast Railway (ECoR). During scrutiny of the proposal certain problems were observed -
a) The location was on busy Vizianagaram-Titlagarh section, a very important line for freight movement. It is not a natural point for empty wagon arising and would lead to avoidable empty movement of wagons.
b) There was problem of water availability at the proposed location at Kalahandi.
c) Land would have to be acquired from State Govt. for setting up this workshop.
Accordingly, ECoR was advised to submit a detailed feasibility report in this regard. In the Feasibility report it was concluded that due to operational ease, availability of Railway land, availability of water and cost benefits, Vishakhapatnam area is better suited for setting up of wagon POH workshop.
Setting up of this Workshop in Vishakapatnam (Vadlapudi) has been sanctioned in the last years Railway Budget i.e. 2015-16.
Odisha Gets Highest Allocation of Rs 4682 Crore in Rail Budget
The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), Feb 25, 2016
BHUBANESWAR: Centre today made the highest ever allocation of Rs 4682 crore for Odisha in the railway budget for 2016-17 and accepted some of the major demands of the State by sanctioning Jeypore-Malkangiri and Jeypore-Nabarangpur railway line projects.
The allocation for Odisha in 2016-17 is 30 percent more than Rs 3712 crore alloted for the state in 2015-16. Appreciating the enhancement of allocation for Odisha, chief minister Naveen Patnaik requested railway minister Suresh Prabhu not to revise this downwards like last year. Actual allotment was 35 percent less than the budget allotment for Odisha in 2015-16, he said.
The Junagarh-Ambaguda railway line via Nabarangpur, Berhampur-Sambalpur and Banspani-Barbil railway line projects with partnership of the state government were also sanctioned in the budget. Besides, the railway minister also conceded one of the major demands of the state government by extending the eastern dedicated freight corridor from Kharagpur to Vijayawada through the coast of Odisha.
Other new railway line projects sanctioned for Odisha include the Barsuan-Banspani, Bandamunda-Rourkela and Narayangarh-Bhadrak third line.
The Khurda Road-Bolangir railway line project has received the highest allocation of Rs 240 crore compared to Rs 195 crore last year while the Haridaspur-Paradip railway line project has got allocation of `200 crore against Rs 36.8 crore in 2015-16.
Allocations for other projects include Daitari-Banspani (Haridaspur-Jakhapura third line)-Rs 12.87 crore, Talcher-Bimlagarh-Rs 150 crore, Bhadrak-Nirgundi (3rd line)- Rs 135 crore, Jarapada-Budhapank (3rd &4th line)-Rs 200 crore, Budhapank-Salegaon-Rs 170 crore and Angul-Duburi-Sukinda Road-Rs 150 crore and Jaleswar-Digha-Rs 2 crore.
Besides, provisions for different doubling projects have also increased substantially. While Rs 220 crore has been alloted for doubling of 174.11 kilometer Sambalpur-Talcher railway line, Rs 419 crore has been provided for 182.11 kilometer Sambalpur-Titlagarh railway line doubling project. Provision for other doubling projects include Delang-Puri-Rs 8 crore, Banspani-Daitari-Tomka-Jakhapura-Rs 241 crore, Rajathagarh-Baranga-Rs 1 crore, Viazianagaram-Sambalpur-225 crore and Koraput-Singapur Road-Rs 39 crore. However, a token allotment of Rs 1 lakh has been made for 12 kilometer Cuttack-Barang doubling project.
An allocation of Rs 12.5 crore has been made for Brundamal-Jharsuguda fly over for joining downline while Rs 10 crore has been allocated for Khurda Road-Vizianagaram bypass.
The East-West rail corridor will connect Odisha through Bondamunda-Rourkela-Jharsuguda and Brajraj Nagar stations while the East Coast Rail Corridor will connect Odisha through Jaleswar-Balasore-Bhadrak-Cuttack-Bhubaneswar-Khurda Road-Berhampur stations.
Pardip will get special connectivity under all India scheme to connect important ports of the country. Besides, Puri will also developed as a national centre for religious rail tourism and connected with other pilgrim centres of the country.
