Thaiindian.com, Jan 31, 2009
January 31st, 2009 - 4:05 pm ICT by IANS - Send to a friend:
Bhubaneswar, Jan 31 (IANS) An Oriya NRI based in Lebanon has urged the government to develop railway infrastructure in Orissa’s most backward districts to ensure the economic prosperity of the region.The Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput (KBK) region, known for its economic backwardness, has been neglected by the central government for years, Digambara Patra, an Oriya academic based in Beirut, told IANS in an email.
Patra said he had Friday written letters to President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stressing the need for developing a railway network in the region.
“Railway infrastructure development is one of the keys to success and can bring economic prosperity to such a backward region,” Patra, who works as an assistant professor at the department of chemistry in the American University in Beirut, wrote in the email.
“Unfortunately, in railway development, the Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput region is being neglected…In the last couple of years, Indian Railways has committed Rs.50,000 crore (Rs.500 billion) investment only in Bihar for various ongoing and new projects, but it has neglected Orissa, especially the KBK areas,” Patra said.
He pointed out that the central government had in the past has established a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) project in Sunabeda, Koraput and an ordinance factory in Balangir and both had increased the employment potential in the regions. But the neighbouring Kalahandi region has not been considered for any major industrial project, Patra said.
He added that “setting up a new East Coast railway division in the region would help speed up railway projects in the impoverished western and southern Orissa, which are poorly connected by railways”.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
NRO reminder on KBK rail
Tathya.in, Jan 31, 2009
Bhawanipatna:31/January/2009
Critical infrastructure like national highway, railway line and telecommunication is poorest in Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput (KBK) region in Orissa.
And Naxalism takes advantage of the backward region due to hilly and forest terrain.
However, infrastructure owes in general and rail connectivity in particular in KBK is being neglected severely and has not yet been considered by the Centre.
It is clearly evident from struggling ongoing projects since decades in KBK region such as Lanjigarh road – Junagarh and Balangir – Khordha road lines.
In last couple of years Indian Railway has committed Rs.50,000 crore investment only in Bihar for various ongoing and new projects where as Orissa, especially KBK, is being continuously neglected since decades by Indian railway.
Politicians have often used backwardness of KBK in general and Kalahandi in particular to show case their eagerness towards the poor people in the society though they fail to scrutinize high rate of unemployment rate among semi-skilled and skilled laborer in the region.
While Indian Railway has proposed to establish new factory in UP, Bihar and Kerala, it has coolly forgotten Orissa, alleged Digamabara Patra in a memorandum to Dr. Man Mohan Singh.
Lanjigarh road is located in the border of Kandhamal, Rayagada and Kalahandi.
A factory based at Lanjigarh road/Bhawanipatna will enormously benefit Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Gajpati, Sonepur and Malkangiri equally as it is centrally located to all the districts, feel Dr. Patra.
A leading Non Resident Oriya (NRO) argues for a new East Coast railway division in Lanjigarh road/Bhawanipatna.
This will help to speed up the railway projects in Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Gajpati, Sonepur and Malkangiri districts many of which are poorly connected by Indian railway.
Completion of Lanjigarh road – Jungarh line completely in 2009-10 , conneting Khordha road – Balangir line in Eleventh Plan has been urged.
Immediate approval of the projects like Lanjigarh road – Phulbani – Angul line Junagarh – Nabarangpur – Jeypur – Malkangiri – Balachandar road line and Kantabanji – Khariar – Dharamgarh – Ampani – Nabarangpur – Jeypur line has been urged by Dr.Patra, who teaches in American University of Beirut.
Bhawanipatna:31/January/2009
Critical infrastructure like national highway, railway line and telecommunication is poorest in Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput (KBK) region in Orissa.
And Naxalism takes advantage of the backward region due to hilly and forest terrain.
However, infrastructure owes in general and rail connectivity in particular in KBK is being neglected severely and has not yet been considered by the Centre.
It is clearly evident from struggling ongoing projects since decades in KBK region such as Lanjigarh road – Junagarh and Balangir – Khordha road lines.
In last couple of years Indian Railway has committed Rs.50,000 crore investment only in Bihar for various ongoing and new projects where as Orissa, especially KBK, is being continuously neglected since decades by Indian railway.
Politicians have often used backwardness of KBK in general and Kalahandi in particular to show case their eagerness towards the poor people in the society though they fail to scrutinize high rate of unemployment rate among semi-skilled and skilled laborer in the region.
While Indian Railway has proposed to establish new factory in UP, Bihar and Kerala, it has coolly forgotten Orissa, alleged Digamabara Patra in a memorandum to Dr. Man Mohan Singh.
Lanjigarh road is located in the border of Kandhamal, Rayagada and Kalahandi.
A factory based at Lanjigarh road/Bhawanipatna will enormously benefit Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Gajpati, Sonepur and Malkangiri equally as it is centrally located to all the districts, feel Dr. Patra.
A leading Non Resident Oriya (NRO) argues for a new East Coast railway division in Lanjigarh road/Bhawanipatna.
This will help to speed up the railway projects in Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Gajpati, Sonepur and Malkangiri districts many of which are poorly connected by Indian railway.
Completion of Lanjigarh road – Jungarh line completely in 2009-10 , conneting Khordha road – Balangir line in Eleventh Plan has been urged.
Immediate approval of the projects like Lanjigarh road – Phulbani – Angul line Junagarh – Nabarangpur – Jeypur – Malkangiri – Balachandar road line and Kantabanji – Khariar – Dharamgarh – Ampani – Nabarangpur – Jeypur line has been urged by Dr.Patra, who teaches in American University of Beirut.
Friday, January 30, 2009
BSI certifies Vedanta
The Statesman, Jan 31, 2009
Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, Jan. 29: The Vedanta Alumina Refinery at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district has been awarded the ISO 9001:2008 (QMS), ISO 14001:2004 (EMS) and OHSAS 18001:2007 certificates by the British Standard Institute Management Systems, a company statement claimed.
The British Standards Institution, which is a multinational business services provider whose principal activity is the production of standards and the supply of standards-related services, it added.
The ISO 14001 is an internationally accepted standard for an effective Environmental Management System (EMS) to reduce environmental impact on water, air and land. The ISO 9001 is one of the world's best quality frameworks that set the standard for quality management systems, the release mentioned.
Similarly, the OHSAS 18001 promotes a safe and healthy working environment by identifying and controlling health and safety risks. The certificates were awarded after a five-day audit in December by BSI, covering quality, environment and safety standards.
“The audit team appreciated the zero discharge, zero accident and zero fatality in the refinery,” the statement read adding that the report also found the quality of the product at par with global standard.
“This is indeed a great moment for us as such certification shows our continuous pursuit on organisational excellence by maximising plant effectiveness, accomplishing stakeholder satisfaction and adopting world best practices in safety, environment and quality,” said Dr Mukesh Kumar, chief operating officer of Vedanta Alumina Refinery at Lanjigarh.
It can be noted that Vedanta Aluminium Limited has set up a one MTPA Greenfield alumina refinery with captive power plant at Lanjigarh.
Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, Jan. 29: The Vedanta Alumina Refinery at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district has been awarded the ISO 9001:2008 (QMS), ISO 14001:2004 (EMS) and OHSAS 18001:2007 certificates by the British Standard Institute Management Systems, a company statement claimed.
The British Standards Institution, which is a multinational business services provider whose principal activity is the production of standards and the supply of standards-related services, it added.
The ISO 14001 is an internationally accepted standard for an effective Environmental Management System (EMS) to reduce environmental impact on water, air and land. The ISO 9001 is one of the world's best quality frameworks that set the standard for quality management systems, the release mentioned.
Similarly, the OHSAS 18001 promotes a safe and healthy working environment by identifying and controlling health and safety risks. The certificates were awarded after a five-day audit in December by BSI, covering quality, environment and safety standards.
“The audit team appreciated the zero discharge, zero accident and zero fatality in the refinery,” the statement read adding that the report also found the quality of the product at par with global standard.
“This is indeed a great moment for us as such certification shows our continuous pursuit on organisational excellence by maximising plant effectiveness, accomplishing stakeholder satisfaction and adopting world best practices in safety, environment and quality,” said Dr Mukesh Kumar, chief operating officer of Vedanta Alumina Refinery at Lanjigarh.
It can be noted that Vedanta Aluminium Limited has set up a one MTPA Greenfield alumina refinery with captive power plant at Lanjigarh.
Progress: Western Orissa fate unchanged
Expressbuzz, Jan 30, 2009
BHUBANESWAR: A council formed to root out the regional imbalances, particularly in western Orissa, remains bogged down over the shifting of its headquarters. Everyone wants the office to be located in areas of their choice and the issue drags on pending a semblance of collective decision. Yet again today, the contentious issue of the Western Orissa Development Council (WODC) headquarters remained unresolved in the absence of unanimity among legislators and members of Parliament from the constituent districts.
A meeting of the WODC held here today under the presidentship of chairman Niranjan Panda failed to resolve the issue. It seems neither the council nor the State Government is prepared to take a decision in an election year. With hardly a month before election date is out, announcement of a location of the headquarters does not seem possible. A sub-committee headed by Panda had been formed to take a decision. Sources maintained the sub-committee has not met even once since its formation.
Former Planning and Coordination Minister Padmanabha Behera had announced the sub-committee in the Assembly on November 20, 2007. Putting the ball in the government’s court, sources today maintained that the State Government can take a decision on the headquarters in consultation with the council.
The sub-committee was mandated to suggest a place after taking into account parameters like administrative convenience and location advantages. The Government had further promised in the House that a decision will be taken by September 30. More than a year has elapsed but things have not moved.
As expected, legislators from Kalahandi, Bargarh, Balangir and Sambalpur districts wanted the headquarters in their areas. WODC comprises Angul, Bargarh, Balangir, Boudh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Sundargarh districts and Athamallik sub-division.
BHUBANESWAR: A council formed to root out the regional imbalances, particularly in western Orissa, remains bogged down over the shifting of its headquarters. Everyone wants the office to be located in areas of their choice and the issue drags on pending a semblance of collective decision. Yet again today, the contentious issue of the Western Orissa Development Council (WODC) headquarters remained unresolved in the absence of unanimity among legislators and members of Parliament from the constituent districts.
A meeting of the WODC held here today under the presidentship of chairman Niranjan Panda failed to resolve the issue. It seems neither the council nor the State Government is prepared to take a decision in an election year. With hardly a month before election date is out, announcement of a location of the headquarters does not seem possible. A sub-committee headed by Panda had been formed to take a decision. Sources maintained the sub-committee has not met even once since its formation.
Former Planning and Coordination Minister Padmanabha Behera had announced the sub-committee in the Assembly on November 20, 2007. Putting the ball in the government’s court, sources today maintained that the State Government can take a decision on the headquarters in consultation with the council.
The sub-committee was mandated to suggest a place after taking into account parameters like administrative convenience and location advantages. The Government had further promised in the House that a decision will be taken by September 30. More than a year has elapsed but things have not moved.
As expected, legislators from Kalahandi, Bargarh, Balangir and Sambalpur districts wanted the headquarters in their areas. WODC comprises Angul, Bargarh, Balangir, Boudh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Sundargarh districts and Athamallik sub-division.
Tribals create human wall to save Niyamagiri
The Pioneer, Jan 30, 2009
PNS | Bhawanipatna
Over 20,000 tribal men and women including their children from the Niyamgiri area marched through the dense forest to create a 17-km-long human wall across their god-mountain Niyamagiri, believed to be the incarnation of Niyan Raja, which faces destruction due to mining activities.
The people from over 200 villages converged at the place covering a 17-km stretch along the Niyamgiri foothills on Tuesday. The chain traversed from Ijirupa across Jaganathpur, Lanjigarh and Kansari up to Balabhadrapur.
"How could I not come, it is our life," says a 45-year-old Dongaria Kondh. She walked 70-km from Khambehi village in Rayagarha to take part in the protest.
PNS | Bhawanipatna
Over 20,000 tribal men and women including their children from the Niyamgiri area marched through the dense forest to create a 17-km-long human wall across their god-mountain Niyamagiri, believed to be the incarnation of Niyan Raja, which faces destruction due to mining activities.
The people from over 200 villages converged at the place covering a 17-km stretch along the Niyamgiri foothills on Tuesday. The chain traversed from Ijirupa across Jaganathpur, Lanjigarh and Kansari up to Balabhadrapur.
"How could I not come, it is our life," says a 45-year-old Dongaria Kondh. She walked 70-km from Khambehi village in Rayagarha to take part in the protest.
Vedanta Alumina gets ISO certification
The Pioneer, Jan 30, 2009
PNS | Bhawanipatna
The Vedanta Alumina Refinery at Lanjigarh has been awarded ISO 9001:2008 (QMS), ISO 14001:2004 (EMS) and OHSAS 18001-2007 certificates from British Standard Institute (BSI) Management Systems, a leading global provider of management systems assessment and certification solutions.
The certificates were awarded after a five-day audit in December by BSI, covering quality, environment and safety standards. The audit team appreciated zero discharge, zero accident and zero fatality in the refinery unit. The audit report also found the quality of the product at par with global standard.
“This is indeed a great moment for us as such certification shows our continuous pursuit on organisational excellence by maximising plant effectiveness,” said Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer.
PNS | Bhawanipatna
The Vedanta Alumina Refinery at Lanjigarh has been awarded ISO 9001:2008 (QMS), ISO 14001:2004 (EMS) and OHSAS 18001-2007 certificates from British Standard Institute (BSI) Management Systems, a leading global provider of management systems assessment and certification solutions.
The certificates were awarded after a five-day audit in December by BSI, covering quality, environment and safety standards. The audit team appreciated zero discharge, zero accident and zero fatality in the refinery unit. The audit report also found the quality of the product at par with global standard.
“This is indeed a great moment for us as such certification shows our continuous pursuit on organisational excellence by maximising plant effectiveness,” said Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer.
Rs 324 crore to be spent in 19 districts
The Pioneer, Jan 30, 2009
PNS | Bhubaneswar
The State Government on Thursday earmarked Rs 324 crore under the Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) which can be spent in 19 districts of the State. A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the chief secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy.
The Centre will provide the necessary funds under the BRGF. A sum of Rs 19 crore would be spent to strengthen the district planning committee and effectively implementing the different projects. On behalf of the Central Government, additional secretary Rajbant Sandu attended the meeting. During the review, Sandu reportedly expressed his happiness over the State Government's effort to spend the money in a meaningful way. Panchayati Raj Secretary RN Das said Bolangir, Sonepur, Koraput, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Sambalpur, Sundergarh, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Mayurbhanj, Kandhamal and Anugul have been included in the programme. Money would be spent on community development, improvement of the economic condition and enhancing sustainability livelihood of the poor and backward people.
PNS | Bhubaneswar
The State Government on Thursday earmarked Rs 324 crore under the Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) which can be spent in 19 districts of the State. A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the chief secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy.
The Centre will provide the necessary funds under the BRGF. A sum of Rs 19 crore would be spent to strengthen the district planning committee and effectively implementing the different projects. On behalf of the Central Government, additional secretary Rajbant Sandu attended the meeting. During the review, Sandu reportedly expressed his happiness over the State Government's effort to spend the money in a meaningful way. Panchayati Raj Secretary RN Das said Bolangir, Sonepur, Koraput, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Sambalpur, Sundergarh, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Mayurbhanj, Kandhamal and Anugul have been included in the programme. Money would be spent on community development, improvement of the economic condition and enhancing sustainability livelihood of the poor and backward people.
No decision yet on WODC’s headquarters
The Pioneer, Jan 30, 2009
PNS | Bhubaneswar
The MPs and MLAs of Western Orissa on Thursday again failed to reach a consensus on the establishment of the headquarters of the Western Orissa Development Council (WODC).
While people's representatives from Sambalpur demanded that the headquarters should be set up in Sambalpur, members from Balangir wanted that it should be set up in their district. Representatives from Kalahandi argued for their district. Sundargarh leaders demanded that the HQs of WODC should be set up at Rourkela. The meeting was held two years after.
In order to usher development in Western Orissa, the State Government set up the Western Orissa Development Council in 2000. As no decision has yet been taken regarding site selection for the establishment of the headquarters, the main office of the Western Orissa Development Council is functioning from the State capital itself.
In order to reach a consensus on the selection of the site, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of the State Planning and Co-ordination Minister Duryodhan Majhi.
In order to remain free from public accusation, the MLAs and MPs from western Orissa said they would abide by the Government's decision on the establishment of the WODC’s Headquarters.
PNS | Bhubaneswar
The MPs and MLAs of Western Orissa on Thursday again failed to reach a consensus on the establishment of the headquarters of the Western Orissa Development Council (WODC).
While people's representatives from Sambalpur demanded that the headquarters should be set up in Sambalpur, members from Balangir wanted that it should be set up in their district. Representatives from Kalahandi argued for their district. Sundargarh leaders demanded that the HQs of WODC should be set up at Rourkela. The meeting was held two years after.
In order to usher development in Western Orissa, the State Government set up the Western Orissa Development Council in 2000. As no decision has yet been taken regarding site selection for the establishment of the headquarters, the main office of the Western Orissa Development Council is functioning from the State capital itself.
In order to reach a consensus on the selection of the site, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of the State Planning and Co-ordination Minister Duryodhan Majhi.
In order to remain free from public accusation, the MLAs and MPs from western Orissa said they would abide by the Government's decision on the establishment of the WODC’s Headquarters.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Vedanta Alumina at Lanjigarh gets ISO certification
commodityonline.com, Jan 29, 2009
Commodity Online
KALAHANDI (ORISSA): Vedanta Alumina Refinery belonging to Vedanta Group has received ISO certification for its refinery at Lanjigarh.
It has been awarded the ISO 9001:2008 (QMS), ISO 14001:2004 (EMS) and OHSAS 18001 - 2007 certificates from British Standard Institute (BSI) Management Systems, BSI is a leading global provider of management systems assessment and certification solutions, with more than 60,000 certified clients and over 100 locations in worldwide.
ISO 14001 is an internationally accepted standard for an effective Environmental Management System (EMS) to reduce environmental impact on water, air, land etc. The ISO 9001 is one of the world’s best quality frameworks that set the standard for quality management systems. Similarly, the OHSAS 18001 promotes a safe and healthy working environment by identifying and controlling health and safety risks. The Certificates were awarded after a five-day audit in December by BSI, covering Quality, Environment and Safety Standards. The audit team appreciated the zero Discharge, zero accident and zero fatality in the refinery. The audit report also found the quality of the product at par with global standard, according to a press release.
“This is indeed a great moment for us as such certification shows our continuous pursuit on organizational excellence by maximizing plant effectiveness, accomplishing stakeholder satisfaction and adopting world best practices in safety, environment and quality,” said Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer. The adoption of the ISO management framework by VAL will further reduce the environmental impact, improve the quality of the product and create a better working condition for employees.
Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) has set up a 1 MTPA Greenfield Alumina Refinery with Captive Power Plant at Lanjigarh. It has employed benchmarked technology with best operational practices and superior environment management practices in order to develop the Alumina Refinery as one of the world’s premier Alumina refining complex, the press release added. (Courtesy:IndiaPRWire)
Commodity Online
KALAHANDI (ORISSA): Vedanta Alumina Refinery belonging to Vedanta Group has received ISO certification for its refinery at Lanjigarh.
It has been awarded the ISO 9001:2008 (QMS), ISO 14001:2004 (EMS) and OHSAS 18001 - 2007 certificates from British Standard Institute (BSI) Management Systems, BSI is a leading global provider of management systems assessment and certification solutions, with more than 60,000 certified clients and over 100 locations in worldwide.
ISO 14001 is an internationally accepted standard for an effective Environmental Management System (EMS) to reduce environmental impact on water, air, land etc. The ISO 9001 is one of the world’s best quality frameworks that set the standard for quality management systems. Similarly, the OHSAS 18001 promotes a safe and healthy working environment by identifying and controlling health and safety risks. The Certificates were awarded after a five-day audit in December by BSI, covering Quality, Environment and Safety Standards. The audit team appreciated the zero Discharge, zero accident and zero fatality in the refinery. The audit report also found the quality of the product at par with global standard, according to a press release.
“This is indeed a great moment for us as such certification shows our continuous pursuit on organizational excellence by maximizing plant effectiveness, accomplishing stakeholder satisfaction and adopting world best practices in safety, environment and quality,” said Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer. The adoption of the ISO management framework by VAL will further reduce the environmental impact, improve the quality of the product and create a better working condition for employees.
Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) has set up a 1 MTPA Greenfield Alumina Refinery with Captive Power Plant at Lanjigarh. It has employed benchmarked technology with best operational practices and superior environment management practices in order to develop the Alumina Refinery as one of the world’s premier Alumina refining complex, the press release added. (Courtesy:IndiaPRWire)
Politicising Niyamgiri issue
The Statesman, Jan 29, 2009
BHAWANIPATNA, Jan. 28: The human chain formed to protest against the proposed mining of Niyamgiri hills yesterday turned out to be political show with Congress leader Mr Bhakta Charan Das addressing the gathering on political lines.
Till date the anti-mining activists had taken pride in being a non-political outfit. The Sachetan Nagarik Manch, Nyamgiri Surakshya Parishad and Green Kalahandi were all considered to be above petty politics.
Mr Das had been a late entrant to the movement and even on a political front it was others like Mr Lalatendu Bidhyadhar Mohapatra and Mr Debasis Mohanty (Congress MLAs) who had initiated the activism.
Sensing an opportunity, Mr Das who has lost the Kalahandi LS elections on three successive occasions, jumped into the band wagon to ostensibly to revive his sagging political fortunes.
He managed to rope in Mr Srikant Jena another Congress leader whose political future was as bleak as that of Mr Das.
Mr Das managed to carry the Dogria tribe of Niyamgiri and present them before Mr Rahul Gandhi and other AICC leaders.
Yesterday, Mr Das was at the centre stage of the protest meeting. He hurled accusations at the state government and VAL and alleged that the duo were out to destroy Niyamgiri hills.
Most of the people were taken by surprise when Mr Das reportedly exhorted the gathering to favour the Congress.
BHAWANIPATNA, Jan. 28: The human chain formed to protest against the proposed mining of Niyamgiri hills yesterday turned out to be political show with Congress leader Mr Bhakta Charan Das addressing the gathering on political lines.
Till date the anti-mining activists had taken pride in being a non-political outfit. The Sachetan Nagarik Manch, Nyamgiri Surakshya Parishad and Green Kalahandi were all considered to be above petty politics.
Mr Das had been a late entrant to the movement and even on a political front it was others like Mr Lalatendu Bidhyadhar Mohapatra and Mr Debasis Mohanty (Congress MLAs) who had initiated the activism.
Sensing an opportunity, Mr Das who has lost the Kalahandi LS elections on three successive occasions, jumped into the band wagon to ostensibly to revive his sagging political fortunes.
He managed to rope in Mr Srikant Jena another Congress leader whose political future was as bleak as that of Mr Das.
Mr Das managed to carry the Dogria tribe of Niyamgiri and present them before Mr Rahul Gandhi and other AICC leaders.
Yesterday, Mr Das was at the centre stage of the protest meeting. He hurled accusations at the state government and VAL and alleged that the duo were out to destroy Niyamgiri hills.
Most of the people were taken by surprise when Mr Das reportedly exhorted the gathering to favour the Congress.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Villagers form human chain against mining in Orissa
Thaiindian.com, Jan 27, 2009
Bhubaneswar, Jan 27 (IANS) Thousands of people, including tribal men and women, formed a human chain Tuesday to protect a sacred hill from mining in Orissa’s Kalahandi district.The protestors, who were armed with bows and arrows, formed a 17-km-long human chain around the Niyamgiri hills and shouted slogans against British firm Vedanta which plans to mine bauxite. They said they were determined to protect the hills at any cost.
“We formed the human chain from Asurpada village to Ijurupa covering Vedanta plant site as well as seven villages,” a leader of the protest Bhakta Charan Das told IANS on telephone.
Das, also a senior congress leader, said a meeting was held after the protest.
“The protest was peaceful. It did not affect the plant,” a Vedanta official from the plant site told IANS.
Vedanta Alumina, part of the Vedanta Resources (Sterlite) Group, has built a $800 million alumina refinery project at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi, about 600 km from here. The refinery is on a trial run and the company wants to mine the Niyamgiri hill to feed its plant.
The hill in Lanjigarh block is inhabited by Dongaria Kondhs, a tribal group. The group claims that mining would pollute the rivers, destroy jungles, dry up streams and displace them from their land and culture.
“Hills are our God. We cannot live without them. We are not going to allow the company to mine the hills,” said Jitu Jakaka, a tribal leader.
The Supreme Court allowed Vedanta Resources to mine bauxite in Niyamgiri Hill in August last year despite opposition from tribal and anti-displacement groups.
“Vedanta is committed to the sustainable development of the locality. We are committed to make the life better in the areas,” head of Vedanta’s Lanjigarh refinery and mining project Mukesh Kumar said.
“It is a rumour spread around that the mining project will dry up streams. It is also a rumour that the mining project will displace people. The mining will help recharge ground water and will not displace anybody,” Kumar told IANS.
Bhubaneswar, Jan 27 (IANS) Thousands of people, including tribal men and women, formed a human chain Tuesday to protect a sacred hill from mining in Orissa’s Kalahandi district.The protestors, who were armed with bows and arrows, formed a 17-km-long human chain around the Niyamgiri hills and shouted slogans against British firm Vedanta which plans to mine bauxite. They said they were determined to protect the hills at any cost.
“We formed the human chain from Asurpada village to Ijurupa covering Vedanta plant site as well as seven villages,” a leader of the protest Bhakta Charan Das told IANS on telephone.
Das, also a senior congress leader, said a meeting was held after the protest.
“The protest was peaceful. It did not affect the plant,” a Vedanta official from the plant site told IANS.
Vedanta Alumina, part of the Vedanta Resources (Sterlite) Group, has built a $800 million alumina refinery project at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi, about 600 km from here. The refinery is on a trial run and the company wants to mine the Niyamgiri hill to feed its plant.
The hill in Lanjigarh block is inhabited by Dongaria Kondhs, a tribal group. The group claims that mining would pollute the rivers, destroy jungles, dry up streams and displace them from their land and culture.
“Hills are our God. We cannot live without them. We are not going to allow the company to mine the hills,” said Jitu Jakaka, a tribal leader.
The Supreme Court allowed Vedanta Resources to mine bauxite in Niyamgiri Hill in August last year despite opposition from tribal and anti-displacement groups.
“Vedanta is committed to the sustainable development of the locality. We are committed to make the life better in the areas,” head of Vedanta’s Lanjigarh refinery and mining project Mukesh Kumar said.
“It is a rumour spread around that the mining project will dry up streams. It is also a rumour that the mining project will displace people. The mining will help recharge ground water and will not displace anybody,” Kumar told IANS.
K P Singhdeo new president of Cong Orissa unit
Times of India, Jan 27, 2009
NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, K P Singhdeo was on Tuesday appointed president of the Orissa unit of Congress.
Singhdeo replaces Jaideb Jena, who had tendered his resignation three days ago, party sources said.
In a complete overhauling of the state of unit of the party before the parliamentary polls, three working presidents have been appointed to assist Singhdeo. They are Chandrasekhar Sahu, L B Mahapatra and Bhakta Charan Das.
Senior leader Srikant Jena would be the chairman of the campaign committee.
NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, K P Singhdeo was on Tuesday appointed president of the Orissa unit of Congress.
Singhdeo replaces Jaideb Jena, who had tendered his resignation three days ago, party sources said.
In a complete overhauling of the state of unit of the party before the parliamentary polls, three working presidents have been appointed to assist Singhdeo. They are Chandrasekhar Sahu, L B Mahapatra and Bhakta Charan Das.
Senior leader Srikant Jena would be the chairman of the campaign committee.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Bhutan and Dhaka teams attraction in Kalinga Cup
Indopia.com, Jan 26, 2009
Kolkata , Jan 25 Bhutan XI and Dhaka XI of Bangladesh would be the two foreign teams to watch out for in the All-India Kalinga Cup football tournament to be held in Orissa from Feburary 2-11.
The knock-out event would see participation of 16 teams, including the two foreign teams.
The participating teams include Peerles SC and Calcutta Customs from Kolkata ; Western Railway from Mumbai; Army United from Haryana and Army XI from Delhi among others.
Host, Orissa, will have participation from six teams - East Coast Railway, Bhubaneswar, Rising Star, Cuttack, Samaleswari Club, Sambalpur, Sunrise Club, Cuttack, Sports Hostel, Cuttack and Kishore Club, Bhubaneswar.
The teams have been divided into two zones - Jharsuguda and Bhawanipatna in the tournament to be organised by Orissa&aposs Department of Sports and Youth Services and Orissa Football Association.
Matches would be held simultaneously in both the zones, while the final would be a day-night match at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, a release said.
Kolkata , Jan 25 Bhutan XI and Dhaka XI of Bangladesh would be the two foreign teams to watch out for in the All-India Kalinga Cup football tournament to be held in Orissa from Feburary 2-11.
The knock-out event would see participation of 16 teams, including the two foreign teams.
The participating teams include Peerles SC and Calcutta Customs from Kolkata ; Western Railway from Mumbai; Army United from Haryana and Army XI from Delhi among others.
Host, Orissa, will have participation from six teams - East Coast Railway, Bhubaneswar, Rising Star, Cuttack, Samaleswari Club, Sambalpur, Sunrise Club, Cuttack, Sports Hostel, Cuttack and Kishore Club, Bhubaneswar.
The teams have been divided into two zones - Jharsuguda and Bhawanipatna in the tournament to be organised by Orissa&aposs Department of Sports and Youth Services and Orissa Football Association.
Matches would be held simultaneously in both the zones, while the final would be a day-night match at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, a release said.
Green Kalahandi protest rally on January 27
The Pioneer, Jan 27, 2009
Bhawanipatna: As a symbolic protest against mining at Niyamgiri hill and to safeguard its natural beauty at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district, the Green Kalahandi, led by Bhakta Charan Das, has decided to form a chain among the locals from Ijurpa village to Daikhal village under Trilochanpur gram panchayat, covering 240 square kilometer of the forest on January 27. Das told reporters here that 1,340 families have lost their lands and houses for establishment of Vedanta Aluminum Ltd on the promise of rehabilitation, but they are yet to be rehabilitated properly. He, however, cleared that he is not against the plant, but he wants that the rights of the tribals should be protected and their demands should be met by the company.
Bhawanipatna: As a symbolic protest against mining at Niyamgiri hill and to safeguard its natural beauty at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district, the Green Kalahandi, led by Bhakta Charan Das, has decided to form a chain among the locals from Ijurpa village to Daikhal village under Trilochanpur gram panchayat, covering 240 square kilometer of the forest on January 27. Das told reporters here that 1,340 families have lost their lands and houses for establishment of Vedanta Aluminum Ltd on the promise of rehabilitation, but they are yet to be rehabilitated properly. He, however, cleared that he is not against the plant, but he wants that the rights of the tribals should be protected and their demands should be met by the company.
4 B’patna DD programmes nominated for national award
The Pioneer, Jan 26, 2009
PNS | Bhawanipatna
Four tele programmes of Doordarsan Kendra at Bhawanipatna have been nominated for national award in 2008. Addressing a Press conference here, Kendra director Rabindra Nath Mishra told mediapersons that despite shortage of staffs, poor supply of electricity and lack of sophisticated equipment, the Kendra has gained popularity in the national level. Earlier, the Kendra was awarded for two programmes in 2005, he said, that it has also received one award in 2006 and 3 in 2007.
Drama based on folk culture of western Orissa ‘Banaguda’ has been nominated in the category of serial and soap opera. It has been produced by Bijan Das, directed by late Jatindra Nath Behera and script by Pradeep Dhanga Majhi.
In sports category, ‘Lupta Krida Badigadni’ has been nominated first position. Written and directed by Bijan Das. Drama ‘Kuili Kuili Kie Raja’ has been nominated for art direction and set design costume. Directed by Akshya Kumar Pattnaik. ‘Krusi Darsan’ bagged first position and it has been produced by Bijan Das, Mishra informed.
PNS | Bhawanipatna
Four tele programmes of Doordarsan Kendra at Bhawanipatna have been nominated for national award in 2008. Addressing a Press conference here, Kendra director Rabindra Nath Mishra told mediapersons that despite shortage of staffs, poor supply of electricity and lack of sophisticated equipment, the Kendra has gained popularity in the national level. Earlier, the Kendra was awarded for two programmes in 2005, he said, that it has also received one award in 2006 and 3 in 2007.
Drama based on folk culture of western Orissa ‘Banaguda’ has been nominated in the category of serial and soap opera. It has been produced by Bijan Das, directed by late Jatindra Nath Behera and script by Pradeep Dhanga Majhi.
In sports category, ‘Lupta Krida Badigadni’ has been nominated first position. Written and directed by Bijan Das. Drama ‘Kuili Kuili Kie Raja’ has been nominated for art direction and set design costume. Directed by Akshya Kumar Pattnaik. ‘Krusi Darsan’ bagged first position and it has been produced by Bijan Das, Mishra informed.
Odisha Government must revisit R&R policy to avert further unrest in Orissa
Orissadiary.com, Jan 15, 2009
By K. Anuradha Mohanty & Bidyut Mohanty
After the introduction of the new economic policy in 1991, the trend of acquiring land, as an integral part of the liberalisation policy, is evident in Odisha. The overall effort of the state government was to acquire more land for the different private ventures including Posco and Vedanta.
Once again, Odisha is much in news but for the different reasons. In the 1980's, Odisha got the attention of the world when media exposed the incidences of large-scale starvation deaths and selling of children in Kalahandi and other districts. Although such incidents are also still taking place but the attention has now shifted from these human stories to the financial matters. In Odisha, "foreign investments", "export promotion" and "privatization" are the new buzz word.
In 1990s, the state announced new power, infrastructure and mining policies to woo foreign and domestic private investments. During 1995-96, Orissa received the largest amount of private investments in India, both foreign and domestic. In the post-liberalisation period, Odisha ranks sixth in foreign investment in the country. Between 1992 to 1997, Odisha has attracted Rs. 97,300 crore of investments. Majority of investments are in heavy industries consisting of steel, alumina and power projects.
All the new projects are solely attracted due to the natural resources of Odisha. The big business houses are eying at the mineral resources as Odisha has 90 percent of India's chrome ore and nickle reserves, 70 percent of bauxite and 24 percent of coal reserves. Besides, the state government is offering exceptionally huge subsidies to investors and there is abundance of cheap labour further makes it investor-friendly state.
Role of International Finance
The new investments are backed by a number of loans and aided projects by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and G-7 countries to facilitate the entry of international capital in Odisha. According to IPS study, the World Bank is providing loan guarantees and low-interest loans to a number of projects in Odisha. The World Bank's financed projects include coal sector rehabilitation project, power sector restructuring, Ib valley coal-fired plants, and Talcher coal-fired power project. The World Bank is expected to finance super-highway between Talcher and Gopalpur and four-lane road from Rourkela to Sambalpur. The Balasore-Kharagpur highway is also financed by the World Bank. The ADB is supporting Paradeep port expansion, Orissa power sector restructuring and AES/Ib valley power project. These investments are between 1992 to 1997 in the state. After that many more international finance institutions and MNCs came forward with new investment plan in the state. All the investments and the proposals are solely attracted by the mineral resource wealth of Odisha and offering of huge subsidies to investors by the state Govt.
Odisha government has promptly and proactively taken several steps for the investment, industries and land acquisition but very slow and inactive towards problem of displacement and R & R.
Odisha R and R of projects – affected person policy 1994
In 1994, the department of water resources, GOO, in consultation with NGOs and the world bank, came up with the Odisha R and R of projects- affected persons policy vide the dept resolution no 25296 dated august 27 1994.
Certain guidelines were prepared by the revenue and excise dept, GOO. ( GOO. 1989). Nalco is the first ever-industrial projects in the state to formulate a policy for rehabilitating both locally displaced persons and substantially affected persons. Between 1994 to till to the year 2005 the govt just ignored the issues of displacement and R & R of the people.
During the draft period of 2005, many suggestions from different Civil Society Organizations were brought into the notice of UNDP. Among them CSOs Displace People's Forum of Koraput suggested many important points in the draft policy. They had also demonstration and rally before the state assembly in March 2005 and submitted a memorandum with suggestions to the Honourable Governor, Chief Minister and other higher officials for action.
However, some of the suggestions were included in the final draft of 2005 which was submitted by the UNDP to Odisha government on June 4, 2005.But due to the pressure from the industrial houses and companies the government sat over the policy and did not place before the assembly.
The Kalinga Nagar massacre happened in the January 2, 2006. The police gunned down 12 of them who opposed the construction of a boundary wall for the proposed steel plant of Tata Steel. After the tragic incidence and subsequent blockade of road by the tribals, the government woke up from the deep slumber and announced that a committee headed by revenue minister Biswabhushan Harichandan will study the R & R draft policy that was pending with it since August last. The committee was formed with a group of ministers. Instead of consulting the displaced people and the civil society members the government send some of the ministers to other states like, AP and Karnataka to study their R & R Policy.
The committee drafted a policy ignoring the previous positive points from the R & R draft of UNDP. In a hurry, the R & R policy was finalised and got the cabinet approval and gazetted on May 14, 2006, by passing the Assembly. The policy was also not placed for comments in the public domain. The said R & R policy is made in favour of industries and before finalization the industrial houses were consulted and they dictated it. Delivering the valedictory address at a two-days seminar on " corporate sector responsibility in 21st century" at the Business Administration Department of Sambalpur University, Odisha's former Minister for Revenue, food and Civil Supplies, Mr. Manmohan Samal said that " The ministers were deliberating on the possible changes in R & R policy of Odisha and industries would soon be invited for their views before the policy was given a final shape" But the consultation with the Industrial houses was done in closed door and it was never done public.
R & R policy of the 2006 : Contradictions and pseudo-ism
As mentioned earlier that the government is very fast and enlightened to help and support the foreign investment and the big companies. In this light, it is also facing many tragic incidents like Kalinganagar, Maikanch, lower Suktel and several unrests and protests in the recent past. So, it has created a myth, that there is a strong desire of the government to develop the displace people as a result of which policy has taken birth. And it is claiming its policy to be the best in the country.
The principles on which R & R Policy should be based
In search of a good R & R policy many researchers, affected & displaced people and the civil society members have raised many fundamental questions and suggested alternatives from time to time. The first task in this search is to identify the principle. The basic thinking in this approach was that every citizen of the country has a right to a life with dignity. Some cannot be deprived of their livelihood without their consent, to the benefit of another class, even in the name of national development. The following principles are
1. The consent of the people affected on the nature of public interest.
The land acquisition act 1894 allows people to be displaced without their consent, in the name of public purpose which is yet undefined. Thus it abrogates the democratic rights of the people. The first principle of a law or principle has to be recognition of this right. A developmental process should be based on the rational choice of the people.
2. The need to minimize displacement.
Its first step is to search for non-displacing alternatives while planning the project. The second is while selecting the site, and the third is on various components of the project. Minimization of displacement requires rethinking on many aspects on the LAAct. In attempting the land alienation easy the LAAct does not show much respect to the affected people. The only alternative is to ensure that displacement is avoided and when it is exceptional cases, to ensure that the smallest possible number is deprived of its livelihood.
3. Replacement value for compensation
Even a small number of people deprived of their livelihood have a fundamental right to begin life a new. In more than one case the Supreme court has interpreted article 21 of the constitution as right to life with dignity. None can be deprived of it in the name of common good if it involves sacrificing their livelihood for the good or profit of another class.
4. Rehabilitation as a right.
The principle based on justice that none be displaced without rehabilitation which has to be viewed as a right of those who are paying the price of development. As such it is the integral to the life with dignity under article 21, not a concession from the state or project authorities.
5. Transition to a new life
The project authorities need to ensure that the DPs\PAPs are prepared to face the new life they are pushed into often without their consent. They have to be helped with cultural, economic, psychological and social preparation to adapt themselves to the new life.
6. A caste /tribe and gender perspective.
The tribals, dalits and other service castes are its worst sufferers. Even among them women feel the most negative impact. So special attention has to be paid to the needs of these groups. In other words the policy should have caste\ tribe\gender biasness in looking into special and specific attention.
Recently, the Odisha government is attempting to lift the regulation on tribal land alienation provision to facilitate the easy process for business house to acquire land. Liberalization and globalization demands more land than in past, so greater displacement is likely to result as its impact. When the government is guided by the big business houses, forgetting its constitutional obligations the situation will be worse in next decade.
Conclusion
The very approach of the state government in the whole issue of displacement and R & R is questionable. When it is very active towards declaring many policies for the establishment of industries but have apathetic attitude towards the R & R issues. The earlier development oppressed the poor, tribals, dalits the present one excludes them. It can be inferred from the present R & R policy that the state of Odisha has given a little thought to the rehabilitation of the people. Whenever there is some echo of the tragic incidents, it is coming with a policy starting from the Rengali till to the Kalinga nagar incident. Majority of the displaced and project affected people have rejected the present policy in the state, still government is trying to offer more sops in term cash which is evident in the Kalinga nagar and POSCO area. Unless until the R & R policy is not based on the set of discussed principles people will reject it. At present the trend shows that the Big business houses are pulling the string and the state government is just a puppet.
In the age of globalisation, the national and multinational capitalist companies are eyeing for the land and other resources in the hands of the people. This, in collaboration with the state and bureaucracy, is sought to be achieved through the changes in relevant laws and policies. The Union government has recently introduced changes in Land Acquisition Act, has prepared number of Draft Policies for Resettlement and Rehabilitation.The Union Water Resources Ministry and National Thermal Power Corporation have also proposed different drafts of rehabilitation. Suddenly, these agencies have felt the need to talk about the resettlement that to in their term. The large-scale displacement, therefore, is in offing which needs to be debated at length.
[K. Anuradha Mohanty is a research scholar in Utkal University and Bidyut Mohanty works with the land related issues in Odisha.]
By K. Anuradha Mohanty & Bidyut Mohanty
After the introduction of the new economic policy in 1991, the trend of acquiring land, as an integral part of the liberalisation policy, is evident in Odisha. The overall effort of the state government was to acquire more land for the different private ventures including Posco and Vedanta.
Once again, Odisha is much in news but for the different reasons. In the 1980's, Odisha got the attention of the world when media exposed the incidences of large-scale starvation deaths and selling of children in Kalahandi and other districts. Although such incidents are also still taking place but the attention has now shifted from these human stories to the financial matters. In Odisha, "foreign investments", "export promotion" and "privatization" are the new buzz word.
In 1990s, the state announced new power, infrastructure and mining policies to woo foreign and domestic private investments. During 1995-96, Orissa received the largest amount of private investments in India, both foreign and domestic. In the post-liberalisation period, Odisha ranks sixth in foreign investment in the country. Between 1992 to 1997, Odisha has attracted Rs. 97,300 crore of investments. Majority of investments are in heavy industries consisting of steel, alumina and power projects.
All the new projects are solely attracted due to the natural resources of Odisha. The big business houses are eying at the mineral resources as Odisha has 90 percent of India's chrome ore and nickle reserves, 70 percent of bauxite and 24 percent of coal reserves. Besides, the state government is offering exceptionally huge subsidies to investors and there is abundance of cheap labour further makes it investor-friendly state.
Role of International Finance
The new investments are backed by a number of loans and aided projects by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and G-7 countries to facilitate the entry of international capital in Odisha. According to IPS study, the World Bank is providing loan guarantees and low-interest loans to a number of projects in Odisha. The World Bank's financed projects include coal sector rehabilitation project, power sector restructuring, Ib valley coal-fired plants, and Talcher coal-fired power project. The World Bank is expected to finance super-highway between Talcher and Gopalpur and four-lane road from Rourkela to Sambalpur. The Balasore-Kharagpur highway is also financed by the World Bank. The ADB is supporting Paradeep port expansion, Orissa power sector restructuring and AES/Ib valley power project. These investments are between 1992 to 1997 in the state. After that many more international finance institutions and MNCs came forward with new investment plan in the state. All the investments and the proposals are solely attracted by the mineral resource wealth of Odisha and offering of huge subsidies to investors by the state Govt.
Odisha government has promptly and proactively taken several steps for the investment, industries and land acquisition but very slow and inactive towards problem of displacement and R & R.
Odisha R and R of projects – affected person policy 1994
In 1994, the department of water resources, GOO, in consultation with NGOs and the world bank, came up with the Odisha R and R of projects- affected persons policy vide the dept resolution no 25296 dated august 27 1994.
Certain guidelines were prepared by the revenue and excise dept, GOO. ( GOO. 1989). Nalco is the first ever-industrial projects in the state to formulate a policy for rehabilitating both locally displaced persons and substantially affected persons. Between 1994 to till to the year 2005 the govt just ignored the issues of displacement and R & R of the people.
During the draft period of 2005, many suggestions from different Civil Society Organizations were brought into the notice of UNDP. Among them CSOs Displace People's Forum of Koraput suggested many important points in the draft policy. They had also demonstration and rally before the state assembly in March 2005 and submitted a memorandum with suggestions to the Honourable Governor, Chief Minister and other higher officials for action.
However, some of the suggestions were included in the final draft of 2005 which was submitted by the UNDP to Odisha government on June 4, 2005.But due to the pressure from the industrial houses and companies the government sat over the policy and did not place before the assembly.
The Kalinga Nagar massacre happened in the January 2, 2006. The police gunned down 12 of them who opposed the construction of a boundary wall for the proposed steel plant of Tata Steel. After the tragic incidence and subsequent blockade of road by the tribals, the government woke up from the deep slumber and announced that a committee headed by revenue minister Biswabhushan Harichandan will study the R & R draft policy that was pending with it since August last. The committee was formed with a group of ministers. Instead of consulting the displaced people and the civil society members the government send some of the ministers to other states like, AP and Karnataka to study their R & R Policy.
The committee drafted a policy ignoring the previous positive points from the R & R draft of UNDP. In a hurry, the R & R policy was finalised and got the cabinet approval and gazetted on May 14, 2006, by passing the Assembly. The policy was also not placed for comments in the public domain. The said R & R policy is made in favour of industries and before finalization the industrial houses were consulted and they dictated it. Delivering the valedictory address at a two-days seminar on " corporate sector responsibility in 21st century" at the Business Administration Department of Sambalpur University, Odisha's former Minister for Revenue, food and Civil Supplies, Mr. Manmohan Samal said that " The ministers were deliberating on the possible changes in R & R policy of Odisha and industries would soon be invited for their views before the policy was given a final shape" But the consultation with the Industrial houses was done in closed door and it was never done public.
R & R policy of the 2006 : Contradictions and pseudo-ism
As mentioned earlier that the government is very fast and enlightened to help and support the foreign investment and the big companies. In this light, it is also facing many tragic incidents like Kalinganagar, Maikanch, lower Suktel and several unrests and protests in the recent past. So, it has created a myth, that there is a strong desire of the government to develop the displace people as a result of which policy has taken birth. And it is claiming its policy to be the best in the country.
The principles on which R & R Policy should be based
In search of a good R & R policy many researchers, affected & displaced people and the civil society members have raised many fundamental questions and suggested alternatives from time to time. The first task in this search is to identify the principle. The basic thinking in this approach was that every citizen of the country has a right to a life with dignity. Some cannot be deprived of their livelihood without their consent, to the benefit of another class, even in the name of national development. The following principles are
1. The consent of the people affected on the nature of public interest.
The land acquisition act 1894 allows people to be displaced without their consent, in the name of public purpose which is yet undefined. Thus it abrogates the democratic rights of the people. The first principle of a law or principle has to be recognition of this right. A developmental process should be based on the rational choice of the people.
2. The need to minimize displacement.
Its first step is to search for non-displacing alternatives while planning the project. The second is while selecting the site, and the third is on various components of the project. Minimization of displacement requires rethinking on many aspects on the LAAct. In attempting the land alienation easy the LAAct does not show much respect to the affected people. The only alternative is to ensure that displacement is avoided and when it is exceptional cases, to ensure that the smallest possible number is deprived of its livelihood.
3. Replacement value for compensation
Even a small number of people deprived of their livelihood have a fundamental right to begin life a new. In more than one case the Supreme court has interpreted article 21 of the constitution as right to life with dignity. None can be deprived of it in the name of common good if it involves sacrificing their livelihood for the good or profit of another class.
4. Rehabilitation as a right.
The principle based on justice that none be displaced without rehabilitation which has to be viewed as a right of those who are paying the price of development. As such it is the integral to the life with dignity under article 21, not a concession from the state or project authorities.
5. Transition to a new life
The project authorities need to ensure that the DPs\PAPs are prepared to face the new life they are pushed into often without their consent. They have to be helped with cultural, economic, psychological and social preparation to adapt themselves to the new life.
6. A caste /tribe and gender perspective.
The tribals, dalits and other service castes are its worst sufferers. Even among them women feel the most negative impact. So special attention has to be paid to the needs of these groups. In other words the policy should have caste\ tribe\gender biasness in looking into special and specific attention.
Recently, the Odisha government is attempting to lift the regulation on tribal land alienation provision to facilitate the easy process for business house to acquire land. Liberalization and globalization demands more land than in past, so greater displacement is likely to result as its impact. When the government is guided by the big business houses, forgetting its constitutional obligations the situation will be worse in next decade.
Conclusion
The very approach of the state government in the whole issue of displacement and R & R is questionable. When it is very active towards declaring many policies for the establishment of industries but have apathetic attitude towards the R & R issues. The earlier development oppressed the poor, tribals, dalits the present one excludes them. It can be inferred from the present R & R policy that the state of Odisha has given a little thought to the rehabilitation of the people. Whenever there is some echo of the tragic incidents, it is coming with a policy starting from the Rengali till to the Kalinga nagar incident. Majority of the displaced and project affected people have rejected the present policy in the state, still government is trying to offer more sops in term cash which is evident in the Kalinga nagar and POSCO area. Unless until the R & R policy is not based on the set of discussed principles people will reject it. At present the trend shows that the Big business houses are pulling the string and the state government is just a puppet.
In the age of globalisation, the national and multinational capitalist companies are eyeing for the land and other resources in the hands of the people. This, in collaboration with the state and bureaucracy, is sought to be achieved through the changes in relevant laws and policies. The Union government has recently introduced changes in Land Acquisition Act, has prepared number of Draft Policies for Resettlement and Rehabilitation.The Union Water Resources Ministry and National Thermal Power Corporation have also proposed different drafts of rehabilitation. Suddenly, these agencies have felt the need to talk about the resettlement that to in their term. The large-scale displacement, therefore, is in offing which needs to be debated at length.
[K. Anuradha Mohanty is a research scholar in Utkal University and Bidyut Mohanty works with the land related issues in Odisha.]
BALCO to cut 1/4 th of capacity: Sterlite Industries
Moneycontrol, Jan 24, 2009
Sterlite Industries has announced its third quarter results. The company's Q3 consolidated net profit was at Rs 514 crore versus Rs 855.3 crore.
Consolidated net sales went down at Rs 4,445 crore versus Rs 5,233 crore and EBITDA was at Rs 1,151 crore as against Rs 1,172 crore.
Key takeaways from Sterlite Industries concall:
It has started a temporary ramp down of production in BALCO plant I.
Decrease in revenue from BALCO was primarily on account of lower LME prices.
The 325,000 tpa smelter project at BALCO is progressing well and will be commissioning as per schedule.
Work on the 500,000 tpa aluminium smelter and associated captive power plant at Jharsuguda, Orissa is progressing well.
The first stream of the alumina refinery at Lanjigarh is fully operational.
Consolidated cash and cash equivalents on 31 December 2008 was closer to Rs.19,000 crores.
Boxite project is been approved by the court.
Captive plants will be commissioning as per schedule.
Rs 300 crore benefit because of rise in volume.
Rs 300 crore benefit because of rupee depreciation.
Highest ever quarterly zinc production.
BALCO to cut 1/4 th capacity.
Expansion project on track to make HZL the world’s largest integrated zinc - lead producer.
The other income is from surplus power sell, sale of scrap, Mark to Market gain.
Interest cost has increased due to increase in borrowing and borrowing cost.
Company has entered in an agreement with Sarco, a US based company for copper production which has mining life of 40 years.
Sterlite Industries has announced its third quarter results. The company's Q3 consolidated net profit was at Rs 514 crore versus Rs 855.3 crore.
Consolidated net sales went down at Rs 4,445 crore versus Rs 5,233 crore and EBITDA was at Rs 1,151 crore as against Rs 1,172 crore.
Key takeaways from Sterlite Industries concall:
It has started a temporary ramp down of production in BALCO plant I.
Decrease in revenue from BALCO was primarily on account of lower LME prices.
The 325,000 tpa smelter project at BALCO is progressing well and will be commissioning as per schedule.
Work on the 500,000 tpa aluminium smelter and associated captive power plant at Jharsuguda, Orissa is progressing well.
The first stream of the alumina refinery at Lanjigarh is fully operational.
Consolidated cash and cash equivalents on 31 December 2008 was closer to Rs.19,000 crores.
Boxite project is been approved by the court.
Captive plants will be commissioning as per schedule.
Rs 300 crore benefit because of rise in volume.
Rs 300 crore benefit because of rupee depreciation.
Highest ever quarterly zinc production.
BALCO to cut 1/4 th capacity.
Expansion project on track to make HZL the world’s largest integrated zinc - lead producer.
The other income is from surplus power sell, sale of scrap, Mark to Market gain.
Interest cost has increased due to increase in borrowing and borrowing cost.
Company has entered in an agreement with Sarco, a US based company for copper production which has mining life of 40 years.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Orissa: New general state university needed
Merinews, Jan 22, 2009
UNESCO's report on higher education, economic growth using poverty and human development indicators shows that higher education enhances individual's earning and economic development as well. It also helps to broaden an individual's outlook..
A CURRENT in-depth cross national investigation that has also been lauded by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) report on higher education, economic growth and development using poverty and human development indicators shows that:
higher education enhances the earnings of individuals and contributes to economic development;
higher education makes a significant contribution to reduction in absolute as well as relative poverty;
higher education is related to human development indicators which reflect other dimensions of human poverty, as it significantly reduces infant mortality and increases life expectancy.
On the other hand, our first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru always wanted the establishment of institutes of higher education in rural areas so that, the rural children need not to go to cities for higher or technical education. Taking note of this, Uttar Pradesh government has earlier proposed Nehru Gram Bharati Vishwavidyalaya at Dubawal, which has been inaugurated recently.
Recently, many states such as Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh etc in India have been establishing new universities to boost higher education in coming years at the regional level. Since the establishment of North Orissa and Fakir Mohan Universities, in northern part of the state, no new general state university has been established.
Orissa is a state of which a large part comes under rural area. Especially, KBK which consists of one-third of the state’s total area, comes under the rural belt. Demand of a state university in KBK region, since the establishment of North Orissa University, has not been met as yet.
Number of affiliated colleges in various general state universities as data collected are:
Utkal University (UU): 330
Sambalpur University (SU): 177
Berhampur University (BU): 91
North Orissa University (NOU): 69 (plus 12 technical colleges)
Fakir Mohan University (FMU): 63
Some of the technical colleges, listed under state universities as affiliated colleges, might already have been redistributed to Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) by now or made unitary universities. Most of these technical colleges are from Utkal University and set up in the capital region of the state.
Districts affiliated with these state universities are as follows:
UU: Khordha, Puri, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jagatsingpur, Kendrapada, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Anugul.
SU: Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir, Sonepur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, and Boudh.
BU: Ganjam, Gajpati, Kandhamal, Rayagada. Malkangir, Koraput and Nabarangpur.
NOU: Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar.
FMU: Balasore and Bhadark.
On regional basis, two separate state universities (North Orissa and Fakir Mohan) have already been established, separating from Utkal University in the past, but no separate university has been yet established from Sambalpur and Berhampur.
Considering inaccessibility, location wise, some universities are inconvenient to serve local districts, such as Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur under BU, Kalahandi, Nuapada and Boudh under SU, due to long distance and poor road connectivity, whereas it is marginally acceptable for most of the districts under UU, FMU and NOU.
Based on administration of number of affiliated colleges, there should be at least another two universities other than Utkal and Sambalpur Universities. For Orissa, on an average, 100 affiliated colleges in one university looks acceptable at this point of time similar to BU, NOU and FMU.
Model 1: Eight new state universities
One possibility is to establish one university each in Rourkela (Sundergarh), Keonjhargarh (Keonjhar), Anugul (Dhenkanal-Angul), Jajpur road/Kalinga Nagar (for undivided Cuttack dist), Bhawanipatna (Kalahandi-Nuapada), Balangir (Balangir-Sonepur), Phulbani (Boudh-Kandhamal) and Koraput (undivided Koraput dist) in future.
Model 2: Four new state universities
Second possibility is to establish four state universities based on number of affiliated colleges, inaccessibility and regional requirements, one in Kalahandi region (redistributing four districts from SU), second one in Koraput region (redistributing four districts from BU), third in Jajpur, Jagatsingpur, Kendrapada and Dhenkanal region and fourth one in Sundergarh (Rourkela) - Anugul-Deogarh region.
Model 3: One new state university
The last possibility, which looks economical and practical at this point, is to establish a state university in KBK taking colleges from each four affiliated districts from BU and SU based on region, inaccessibility and redistributing number of affiliated colleges as below.
SU will have colleges in Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Bargarh, Sonepur, and Anugul (all colleges redistributed from UU).
BU will have colleges in Ganjam, Gajpati, Kandhamal, Nayagarh (redistributed from UU) and Khordha district except capital region, Jatni and Khordha town (redistributed from UU).
UU will have colleges in capital region, Khordha town, Jatni, Puri, Cuttack, Kedrapada, Jagatsingpur and Dhenkanal.
FMU will have colleges in Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur (redistributed from UU).
NOU will have colleges in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar.
Proposed new state university in KBK will have colleges in Malkangiri, Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir and Boudh.
Location wise, Kalahandi is centrally located from all KBK districts and is well connected by state and national highway in KBK. Therefore, there should be an immediate consideration to establish a new general state university in KBK region, either in Kalahandi or Korput to boost education in rural part of the state as well as KBK region specially.
UNESCO's report on higher education, economic growth using poverty and human development indicators shows that higher education enhances individual's earning and economic development as well. It also helps to broaden an individual's outlook..
A CURRENT in-depth cross national investigation that has also been lauded by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) report on higher education, economic growth and development using poverty and human development indicators shows that:
higher education enhances the earnings of individuals and contributes to economic development;
higher education makes a significant contribution to reduction in absolute as well as relative poverty;
higher education is related to human development indicators which reflect other dimensions of human poverty, as it significantly reduces infant mortality and increases life expectancy.
On the other hand, our first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru always wanted the establishment of institutes of higher education in rural areas so that, the rural children need not to go to cities for higher or technical education. Taking note of this, Uttar Pradesh government has earlier proposed Nehru Gram Bharati Vishwavidyalaya at Dubawal, which has been inaugurated recently.
Recently, many states such as Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh etc in India have been establishing new universities to boost higher education in coming years at the regional level. Since the establishment of North Orissa and Fakir Mohan Universities, in northern part of the state, no new general state university has been established.
Orissa is a state of which a large part comes under rural area. Especially, KBK which consists of one-third of the state’s total area, comes under the rural belt. Demand of a state university in KBK region, since the establishment of North Orissa University, has not been met as yet.
Number of affiliated colleges in various general state universities as data collected are:
Utkal University (UU): 330
Sambalpur University (SU): 177
Berhampur University (BU): 91
North Orissa University (NOU): 69 (plus 12 technical colleges)
Fakir Mohan University (FMU): 63
Some of the technical colleges, listed under state universities as affiliated colleges, might already have been redistributed to Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) by now or made unitary universities. Most of these technical colleges are from Utkal University and set up in the capital region of the state.
Districts affiliated with these state universities are as follows:
UU: Khordha, Puri, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jagatsingpur, Kendrapada, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Anugul.
SU: Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir, Sonepur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, and Boudh.
BU: Ganjam, Gajpati, Kandhamal, Rayagada. Malkangir, Koraput and Nabarangpur.
NOU: Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar.
FMU: Balasore and Bhadark.
On regional basis, two separate state universities (North Orissa and Fakir Mohan) have already been established, separating from Utkal University in the past, but no separate university has been yet established from Sambalpur and Berhampur.
Considering inaccessibility, location wise, some universities are inconvenient to serve local districts, such as Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur under BU, Kalahandi, Nuapada and Boudh under SU, due to long distance and poor road connectivity, whereas it is marginally acceptable for most of the districts under UU, FMU and NOU.
Based on administration of number of affiliated colleges, there should be at least another two universities other than Utkal and Sambalpur Universities. For Orissa, on an average, 100 affiliated colleges in one university looks acceptable at this point of time similar to BU, NOU and FMU.
Model 1: Eight new state universities
One possibility is to establish one university each in Rourkela (Sundergarh), Keonjhargarh (Keonjhar), Anugul (Dhenkanal-Angul), Jajpur road/Kalinga Nagar (for undivided Cuttack dist), Bhawanipatna (Kalahandi-Nuapada), Balangir (Balangir-Sonepur), Phulbani (Boudh-Kandhamal) and Koraput (undivided Koraput dist) in future.
Model 2: Four new state universities
Second possibility is to establish four state universities based on number of affiliated colleges, inaccessibility and regional requirements, one in Kalahandi region (redistributing four districts from SU), second one in Koraput region (redistributing four districts from BU), third in Jajpur, Jagatsingpur, Kendrapada and Dhenkanal region and fourth one in Sundergarh (Rourkela) - Anugul-Deogarh region.
Model 3: One new state university
The last possibility, which looks economical and practical at this point, is to establish a state university in KBK taking colleges from each four affiliated districts from BU and SU based on region, inaccessibility and redistributing number of affiliated colleges as below.
SU will have colleges in Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Bargarh, Sonepur, and Anugul (all colleges redistributed from UU).
BU will have colleges in Ganjam, Gajpati, Kandhamal, Nayagarh (redistributed from UU) and Khordha district except capital region, Jatni and Khordha town (redistributed from UU).
UU will have colleges in capital region, Khordha town, Jatni, Puri, Cuttack, Kedrapada, Jagatsingpur and Dhenkanal.
FMU will have colleges in Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur (redistributed from UU).
NOU will have colleges in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar.
Proposed new state university in KBK will have colleges in Malkangiri, Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir and Boudh.
Location wise, Kalahandi is centrally located from all KBK districts and is well connected by state and national highway in KBK. Therefore, there should be an immediate consideration to establish a new general state university in KBK region, either in Kalahandi or Korput to boost education in rural part of the state as well as KBK region specially.
Kosal Dal to launch Kranti Yatra from January 23
The Pioneer, Jan 22, 2009
PNS | Balangir
Encouraged by the response of the Kosal Mukti Jatha undertaken earlier, the Kosal Kranti Dal (KKD) is going to launch its month-long Kosal Kranti Yatra from the birthday of freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai on Friday in six Parliamentary constituencies, Balangir, Bargarh, Phulbani, Sundargarh, Kalahandi and Sambalpur to sensitise people about the neglect of this region by successive State Governments and the need to form a separate Kosal State.
Announcing this at a news conference here on Tuesday, KKD president Pramod Mishra said the Kosal Kranti Yatra is scheduled to be flagged off from Harishanakr on Friday and it would cover at least 1,000 villages in the six Parliamentary constituencies in course of a month.
Mishra alleged that the main reasons for the backwardness of this region are total neglect by successive administrations in Bhubneshwar and a strange “follower attitude” of the political representatives of the region, who after being elected, sub-serve the interests of their political parties and bosses more than the interests of the region.
The KKD, which is the only party fighting for the cause of the area, believes that only creation of a separate Kosal State is the answer to the problems of the region as it would help preserve the dignity, language and culture of the area, Mishra said. District-level committees have been formed to make the Yarta successful and Baidyanath Mishra has been given the charge of Balangir district, he said. Baidyanath Mishra said he would endeavour to discharge the responsibilities given by the party to him.
It may be noted that the Kosal Kranti Dal has proposed to contest in the six aforesaid Lok Sabha constituencies and 47 Assembly seats in the forthcoming elections.
PNS | Balangir
Encouraged by the response of the Kosal Mukti Jatha undertaken earlier, the Kosal Kranti Dal (KKD) is going to launch its month-long Kosal Kranti Yatra from the birthday of freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai on Friday in six Parliamentary constituencies, Balangir, Bargarh, Phulbani, Sundargarh, Kalahandi and Sambalpur to sensitise people about the neglect of this region by successive State Governments and the need to form a separate Kosal State.
Announcing this at a news conference here on Tuesday, KKD president Pramod Mishra said the Kosal Kranti Yatra is scheduled to be flagged off from Harishanakr on Friday and it would cover at least 1,000 villages in the six Parliamentary constituencies in course of a month.
Mishra alleged that the main reasons for the backwardness of this region are total neglect by successive administrations in Bhubneshwar and a strange “follower attitude” of the political representatives of the region, who after being elected, sub-serve the interests of their political parties and bosses more than the interests of the region.
The KKD, which is the only party fighting for the cause of the area, believes that only creation of a separate Kosal State is the answer to the problems of the region as it would help preserve the dignity, language and culture of the area, Mishra said. District-level committees have been formed to make the Yarta successful and Baidyanath Mishra has been given the charge of Balangir district, he said. Baidyanath Mishra said he would endeavour to discharge the responsibilities given by the party to him.
It may be noted that the Kosal Kranti Dal has proposed to contest in the six aforesaid Lok Sabha constituencies and 47 Assembly seats in the forthcoming elections.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Vedanta terminates Maytas contract in Orissa
Economic Times, 20th January, 2009
BHUBANESWAR: Maytas Infra, the infrastructure company linked to scam-tainted Satyam Computer Services, has lost a contract from Vedanta Alumina to
develop an integrated township in Orissa, Vedanta said here Monday. "We have terminated the contract. A final settlement with the company will be done in a day or two," Vedanta spokesperson Shashanka Pattnaik said. Maytas Infra, promoted by a son of Satyam's disgraced founder B. Ramalinga Raju, was awarded the contract in 2007 to develop the township in Jharsuguda district in western Orissa on an investment of about Rs.233 crore (Rs.2.33 billion). The integrated township is proposed to be spread over about 70 acres and accommodate about 700 families. After the Satyam scam broke out, banks froze all accounts of Maytas, which is now unable to pay its contractors and suppliers. Vedanta has taken note of the financial mess Maytas finds itself in. "We found it (Maytas) is not in a position to pump in money," Pattnaik said, adding that the project was also behind schedule. There is more trouble brewing for Maytas Infra, with the Orissa government announcing it would review all government projects awarded to the beleaguered company in the state. Maytas had bagged several irrigation and port projects, which include construction of an earthen dam, a concrete dam and the headrace tunnel for the Upper Indravati Hydro Electric Project in Kalahandi district.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)