Sunday, April 17, 2016

Sambad, April 17, 2016

Odisha Congress workers attempt to show black flag to Railway minister Suresh Prabhu at Bhubaneswar

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. 

Prabhu: We are planning new project for Kalahandi

Times of India, April 17, 2016
 | TNN | 




CENTRE-STATE PANEL TO DECIDE ON NARLA PROJECT

The Pioneer, April 17, 2016
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. 

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Prabhu may face heat over shifting of wagon workshop

Times of India, April 16, 2016
 | TNN | 





Protest by students of Govt. Autonomous College Bhawanipatna to convert it to a University

April 26, 2016
Thanks to student leader Asish Mahapatra and team. NH26 was blocked by the students.
Images shared by Sri Abinash Thakur







Thursday, April 14, 2016

NAVEEN URGED TO UPGRADE KBK COLLEGES TO VARSITIES

The Pioneer, April 14, 2016
Again the impoverished education condition of the KBK region has been brought to the attention of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Prof Digambara Patra, a local of Kalahandi district and a faculty in the American University of Beirut (AUB), Lebanon, in a letter to Patnaik, has sought conversion of the Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna, the Rajendra College, Balangir and the Bikram Dev College, Jeypore to affiliated universities.
Citing the need for boosting the education sector in the KBK region and how it has been discriminated against other parts of the State, Patra said though the region accounts for 30 per cent of the geography of the State and 20 per cent of the State’s population, yet there is only one university, the Central University of Orissa (CUO) at Koraput.
Cuttack-Bhubaneswar-Khordha region has already multiple numbers of national and State institutions including IIT, NISER, IIIT, AIIMS, five State Government universities, three private universities etc. whereas Brahmapur has a host of State Government institutions and two State Government universities along with newly established IISER. National Institute of Technology (NIT) at Rourkela and IIM in
Sambalpur will boost Sambalpur-Rourkela region. This region has three State Government universities in Sambalpur and one State university in Rourkela. North Odisha has also two State universities one each in Baleswar and Baripada. However, KBK is still deficient of the number of universities and institutes it deserves, he lamented.
He reminded of the fact that four years ago the higher education task force had recommended for upgrading Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna, Rajendra College Balangir and Bikram Dev College Jeypore to affiliated universities. He attributed the raw deal to political apathy to KBK region and urged the Chief Minister for appropriate steps in this regard.

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Devagumpha cave in Kalahandi cries for attention

Orissapost, April 8, 2016
Kesinga: Devagumpha, an ancient cave located 18 km from here atop the Biripuda hill in Kalahandi district, besides being an amazing picturesque spot is also famous for its spiritual ambience that draws a sizeable number of tourists through the year.
However, the site is not getting the attention from the government which it rightfully deserves. Such a visual treat is also said to be missing from the tourism map of the state, according to reports.
Legend has it the cave with an entrance 20 ft wide and 30 ft high used to be a desired location for monks to practice meditation. With a length of about 80 ft, the cave has several rooms in a three-storeyed structure. A huge ‘Linga’ of Lord Dhabaleswar is located in the first room of the cave while Lords Paradeswar and Pataleswar are located towards its southern and eastern sides respectively. The size of the ‘Linga’ is growing each year, locals claimed. However, few people dare to enter the cave as it is pitch dark inside and has countless beehives inside it. Deba Majhi and Natha Majhi, two priests of nearby Gurjimunda village, visit the cave every morning and evening to perform the daily rituals, they said.
There is a narrow pass laid by the rural development (RD) department from Boria on NH-26 via Malpada to connect this tourist spot. However, the devotees and tourists had to tread along a three-km path to reach the cave. The famous shrine of Yogamaya is just 500 m from the cave while Dakhinakali and Dakhina Hanuman are being worshipped near this shrine.
Even as the site receives most visitors during the celebration of the Mahashivaratri festival, children of various schools throng the place for picnics and tourists from outside the state also visit the cave throughout the year. Besides, Biripuda hill itself is home to many invaluable medicinal plants and further research can add to the significance of the site. Though locals have been demanding tourist destination status for the site for years, it has not yielded any result so far. Such a status to Devagumpha would not only boost tourism, but can work wonders for the protection of the environment, locals said.
Bhawanipatna MLA Anak Naik had demanded tourist spot status for Devagumpha and its surrounding areas during the last Assembly session. Though the government had asked the district tourism department and administration to file a report, no initiative has been taken so far, according to locals.
When contacted, Motilal Bagarti, the manager of both Devagumpha and Yogamaya shrines, said a five-member committee under the guidance of the collector is likely to visit the site for an inspection

Thursday, April 7, 2016

INJUSTICE TO SHIFT WAGON MILL FROM K’HANDI’

The Pioneer, April 5, 2016
uesday, 05 April 2016 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar
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Non-resident Odia (NRO) Prof Digambara Patra of the American University of Beirut, who is a native of Kalahandi, has lamented the shifting of the much-touted railway wagon maintenance workshop from the district, urging the Government of India to reconsider its decision.
In a letter to the President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, Patra said since the wagon unit is a much desired project for Kalahandi, known for its endemic poverty and backwardness, the Government should not go for shifting it.
He said the project was okayed in 2010-11 Railway Budget in the form of a wagon factory.
However, due to State politics the wagon factory was shifted to Ganjam district, which is under construction. A subsequent strong public and intellectual protest in Kalahandi region resulted in further announcement of a railway wagon maintenance workshop in 2013. Then Railway Minister was Mamata Banerjee and Mukherjee was Finance Minister. However, recently the Railway Ministry has clarified about shifting of the workshop to Visakhapatnam citing feasibility study.
Parta questioned how the project was announced in the Parliament without a feasibility study then? 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. Now Kalahandi should not be penalized for the mistake made by the Railway Ministry, Patra argued.
The educationist also maintained that keeping strong public and regional sentiment of one of the backward pockets in India in view, shifting of such establishment to a neighbouring State without even considering alternative location in the same district is completely immoral and unethical.

CONG’S K’HANDI BANDH EVOKES PUBLIC SUPPORT

The Pioneer, April 7, 2016
Thursday, 07 April 2016 | PNS | BHAWANIPATNA | in Bhubaneswar
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Normal life was disrupted across Kalahandi district on Wednesday as the Congress observed a 12-hour bandh in protest against the shifting of the proposed wagon repair factory from Narla in Kalahandi to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.  
Party activists blocked roads across the district and staged ‘Rail Roko’ at different places like Bhawanipatna and Narla. Hundreds of workers, including AICC secretary Bhakta Das, were arrested while marching towards the district Collector’s office.
While vehicular movement came to a standstill, shops, business establishments, schools, colleges and other Government offices remained closed. Passengers were stranded at bus stops.
Security measures were tightened on behalf of the district administration to avoid any untoward incident.
Party district vice-president Pasant Nayak said the Central Government has shifted the proposed project in a conspiracy. “The project was sanctioned for Narla when Bhakta Das was the Railway Minister. It was supposed to create jobs here and boost the local economy. The Modi Government has shifted the project in a conspiracy. The State Government is equally responsible. We want the project brought back to Narla.”

Kalahandi Bandh Hits Life

The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), April 7, 2016
BHAWANIPATNA: Normal life was affected in Kalahandi on Wednesday due to the 12-hour shutdown call given by the Opposition Congress protesting the Centre’s alleged bid to shift the proposed rail wagon repair factory from Narla to Visakhapatanam in Andhra Pradesh.
Merchant association, truck and private bus owner associations, different trade unions supported the bandh demanding that the Ministry of Railways must reconsider its decision and allow the project at Narla. The agitators called upon the State Government to mount pressure on the Centre.
Vehicles remained off the road and all shops and business establishments were closed during the bandh. Banking and postal services were also paralysed and works in courts were affected. Due to picketing in front of offices, Government work was affected.
Addressing mediapersons on Monday, the AICC secretary, Bhakta Charan Das alleged lack of sincerity on the part of the State Government, the ruling BJD MPs and the BJP-led NDA Government’s lack of political will for the development of a backward region like Kalahandi.

Bandh over shifting of rail project disrupts life in Kalahandi

The Hindu, April 7, 2016

Vehicles off the roads, business establishments closed and trains stopped at many places

Normal life was thrown out of gear in Kalahandi district of Odisha on Wednesday as the Opposition Congress observed a day-long bandh in protest against the decision of Indian Railways to shift the proposed rail wagon repair factory to Andhra Pradesh. The proposed factory was to come up at Narla in Kalahandi district of the State.
The bandh received a positive response across Kalahandi as vehicles remained off the roads and business establishments remained closed throughout the day. Congress leaders, workers and their supporters also stopped trains at several locations to enforce the bandh in the morning. Later they staged demonstrations at the district headquarters town of Bhawanipatna and other urban areas to highlight their demand that the proposed factory should come up at Narla as was announced by the Railways in the past.
Senior Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das and other leaders were detained by the police while enforcing the bandh. They were later released.
Talking to The Hindu over phone, Mr. Das said that the party has demanded that the State government pressurise the Centre to change the decision and start the project at Narla. The party also threatens to organise a massive demonstration in front of the East Coast Railway headquarter in Bhubaneswar if the State government fails to convince the Centre.
A large number of people from Kalahandi will participate in the protest demonstration in Bhubaneswar later this month, Mr. Das informed.
PTI adds:
Merchants’ association, truck and private bus owner associations and different trade unions supported the bandh.
Police sources added said the bandh affected banking and postal services. Work in courts was also affected.
Due to picketing in front of offices, government work was also affected, the sources said.
Rail traffic was stranded in Narla, Kesinga and Langigarh stations of Kaahandi in Vizyanagaram-Raipur and Sambalpur route.
At many places along the National Highway passing through the Bhawanipatna town, the agitators burnt tyres.
While the Congress blamed both the BJD and BJP over the alleged shifting of the wagon repair factory from Narla, BJP spokesperson Sajan Sharma held the State government responsible for non-implementation of the project since 2013.

Monday, April 4, 2016

Congress calls Kalahandi bandh over rail project


Bhawanipatna (Odisha), Apr 4 (PTI) The opposition Congress today decided to intensify its agitation over the Railway decision to shift the proposed rail wagon repair factory at Narla in Kalahandi district of the state to Andhra Pradesh.
Indiatoday, April 4, 2016
Announcing a 12-hour Kalahandi bandh on Wednesday next,AICC Secretary Bhakta Charan Das told reporters that all types of survey was conducted by the Railways in 2014 and decided to lay the foundation stone of the Railway wagon repair/maintenance factory at Chapatkhanda of Narla.
"However it could not be done due to imposition of ban order by the Election commissioner for the general elections," Das said adding the establishment of the factory would have created employment for the local youths.
However both the state and central Governments did not pay adequate attention towards the project, Das alleged adding that he saw conspiracy behind the decision of shifting the proposed project to Visakhapatnam of Andhar Pradesh on the pretext of lack of land and water.
Das said the Sandol River was located at a distance of only one km from the proposed site and water was not a problem. The local villagers had also given undertaking with affidavit to the Railways to offer their land for the purpose and hence there was no problem for the land matter either, he said.
Das alleged lack of sincerity on the part of the state government, the ruling BJD MPs and the BJP led NDA governments lack of political will for the development of a backward region like Kalahandi.
He appealed to observe the bandh peacefully and sought cooperation of all organizations and unions. PTI COR AAM PR ANP SNP

Shifting of Wagon Maintenance Workshop is Injustice

To
Honorable President of India, Sri Mukherjee
Honorable Prime Minister of India, Sri Modi, 


CC
Honorable Chief Minister of Odisha, Sri Patnaik
Honorable Railway Minister

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.    

Thank you
With best regards

Monday, March 28, 2016

Kalahandi Bandh over Wagon Factory on April 6

The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), March 26, 2016
BHUBANESWAR:   Politics over shifting of the proposed wagon repair factory from Narla in Kalahandi district to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh intensified with the Congress calling Kalahandi bandh on April 6 against the decision.
Criticising the Centre and the State Government for shifting the factory outside Odisha, president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Prasad Harichandan alleged that both the Governments are not serious on development of railway infrastructure in Odisha.
Harichandan also criticised the State Government for not raising its voice over the issue.
BJD spokesperson Dibyashankar Mishra said his party is planning a protest in Kalahandi district against the Centre for shifting of the proposed factory. BJD held a preparatory meeting in this regard on Thursday. The mode of protest and date for it will be finalised soon, he added.
Stating that Kalahandi does not have any major industry, Mishra said the wagon repair factory at Narla would have created employment opportunities for people of the district besides bringing in all round development.
The BJP, however, blamed the State Government for the decision to shift the proposed factory to Andhra Pradesh. When the decision was announced, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wanted the factory to be shifted to his constituency, a senior BJP leader said.
Members cutting across partylines decided in the Assembly on Tuesday to submit a memorandum to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu in this regard.
The decision was arrived at after a two-hour discussion in the Assembly on the issue.
The House witnessed noisy scenes over the issue for two days during which no business could be transacted.

Tourism development of Kalahandi in cold storage

Reported by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, March 27, 2016

Payment without service

Reported by Sri Debendra Bisi
Sambad, March 22, 2016

Friday, March 25, 2016

Oram accuses Naveen of ignoring railway plan in Kalahandi

Note: There is some truth in union minister Mr. Oram's claim.

The Statesman, March 25, 2015
Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Jual Oram, on Thursday blamed the state BJD government for the shifting of the railway wagon repair from Kalahandi district to Vishakapatnam alleging that chief minister Naveen Patnaik delayed the project as he wanted it to be established in his home district Ganjam.
The railways has shifted the proposed wagon repair factory, announced by the previous UPA government, from Kalahandi district to Vishakapatnam on grounds of feasibility and operational problems. 
The railway sources stated that water availability was a problem at the proposed site in Kalahandi district and the empty wagons would have to travel a long distance to the site causing traffic related issues. 
The ruling BJD had cried foul and charged that it was yet another instance of ‘central neglect’ while the Congress had accused both the Centre and the state for the failure to establish the project in Kalahandi. 
The BJD government delayed in providing land and it did not take interest in the project, charged the Congress. 
Leader of Opposition, Narasingha Mishra said all the 20 MPs in the Lok Sabha had remained silent when the railway budget was discussed. 
They did not raise this issue at all, he charged. The Congress stalled proceedings of the Assembly for two days , before the government moved a motion which was adopted stating that a memorandum will be submitted to the railway minister in this regard. 
The state Congress has also decided to organize a Kalahandi bandh on 6 April while the BJD plans to hold protest meetings, though it has not finalized the date. 
Congress leaders charged that the BJD cannot raise any issue against the BJP because of the sword of the CBI hanging on several ruling party leaders in the chit fund scam. 
The two parties have entered into an understanding of protecting each other, alleged the Congress. 
On Thursday Oram reacted to the accusations saying by raising the wagon factory demand for Ganjam district, the CM had neglected the wagon repair project in Kalahandi district. 
The CM and the state government did not take interest to expedite land and water related requirements for the Kalahandi project and this led to shifting of the proposed factory to Vizag, he said.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Wagon Factory Shift: House Panel to Meet Railway Minister

The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), March 23, 2016
BHUBANESWAR: The two-day deadlock in the Assembly over shifting of the wagon repair factory from Narla in Kalahandi district ended on Tuesday with members resolving to lodge a protest with the Railway Ministry and demand reconsideration of the decision.
The decision was announced by Speaker Niranjan Pujari after a special debate over the issue.
Members cutting across party lines agreed that the House Committee on Railways will meet Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and submit a memorandum requesting him not to shift the factory to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
Noisy scenes were witnessed in the House during the last two days over the issue with Opposition members demanding a discussion on it.
No business could be transacted in the House since Monday till the special discussion was held this afternoon.
Senior BJP leader KV Singhdeo wondered how the ruling BJD could not know about the Railway Ministry’s decision of shifting the project to Andhra Pradesh when one of its MPs is a member of the Railway Standing Committee.Participating in the debate, Leader of the Opposition Narasingh Mishra criticised the State Government for not being able to know the decision to shift the proposed project. “I smell politics for ignoring the project which was to be set up in Kalahandi,” Mishra said and added that he would suggest a visit of the Assembly Committee to meet the Railway Minister in Delhi.
This apart, there was no allocation in the Pink Book for the project which was announced in 2013-14, he said. His party colleague Rabi Naik, however, alleged that the project was shifted due to non-cooperation of the State Government.
Replying to the debate, Minister of State for Commerce and Transport Ramesh Majhi said the Railway Ministry had announced a new new rail wagon repair factory in Visakhapatnam in 2015-16 budget without consulting Odisha Government.
The Minister said the State Government had provided all logistic support including land and water for the proposed project. However, the ministry did not make any allocation for the project,” he said.
The Speaker said steps would be taken to prepare a memorandum to be submitted to the Railway Minister keeping in view the opinion of House members.
Earlier in the morning, the House witnessed uproarious scenes over the issue which led the Speaker to adjourn proceedings thrice before allowing a special debate during the post-lunch session.

Sambad, March 23, 2016