IREL Chhatrapur to have Captive Power Plant

BERHAMPUR: The Orissa Sands Complex, a unit of the Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), under the Department of Atomic Energy, located near Chatrapur is set to have a Captive Power Plant (CPP). The CPP is being planned keeping in view the current power crisis in Orissa and the additional power requirement to meet OSCOM’s expansion plans in the future. We will require more power in the future and a CPP is being planned for this purpose. It is yet to be decided whether the CPP would be set up by OSCOM or by any private investor”, said MS Ray, chief of OSCOM. OSCOM’s power requirement is set to go up significantly as the IREL unit was aiming to double its ilmenite production capacity and set up a 10,0000 tonne per annum monazite processing plant at a combined investment of Rs 250 crore. The IREL unit produces about 18,000 tonnes of ilmenite per month.

Source: Business Standard

Rs 300 crore Food Park coming up near Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: In a bid to give a big impetus to food processing industries in Orissa, the Centre envisions Rs 2300 crore business in processed food this year and set up two food parks at a cost of Rs 350 crore in the state. “Our endeavour is to give a big boost to food processing sector in Orissa and achieve business worth Rs 2300 crore this year itself,” Sudhansu Dutta, vice-chairman of the newly set up task force of Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries for Orissa, told reporters.

Stating that Orissa offers immense potential for the growth of food processing sector, he said two food parks would be set up at Digapahandi near Berhampur and at Malipada in Khurda to attract entrepreneurs to set up units by providing infrastructural facilities. While the food park at Digapahandi near Berhampur would be set up with an investment of Rs 300 crore, the one at Malipada would be established with an initial investment of Rs 50 crore over an area of 100 acres.
Source: PTI and Orissa TV

Low cost pucca houses for slum dwellers in Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: The Central Government has sanctioned Rs 31 crore project for slum development in Berhampur city under the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP). As per the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities, Rs. 10 crores will be sanctioned in the first phase for the projects taken up under the IHSDP. Berhampur has 109 slums which are recognised in the BMC records. As per a recent assessment, the number of persons living in slums in the city may have touched more than one lakh. The IHSDP projects are going to bring in some hope for the slum dwellers and the poor of the city.
Around 1 lakh slum dwellers in this southern Orissa town will be provided with low cost pucca houses, including infrastructure facilities in their areas. As per Berhampur Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) commissioner, Bhim Manseth, “The Centre had sanctioned Rs 31 crore under the integrated housing scheme for urban poor to BMC for construction of the houses”. The BMC was collecting detailed data of beneficiaries and tender had been floated for biometric survey of benefieries and infrastructure facility available in the areas. The aim of the project is to abolish the slums in urban local bodies in the next five years and assist the slum dwellers for their economic development.

Sources: Source: PTI & The Hindu

Go Gopalpur: Oberoi to reopen its heritage hotel

"The wheel had turned a full circle. I began to think of building my own hotels, and the first attempt was a small hotel in Gopalpur-on-Sea, in Orissa": India's greatest hotelier M S Oberoi

BERHAMPUR: The Oberoi group is planning to reopen its ‘Hotel Palm Beach’ resort at Gopalpur-on-sea after a major revamp.It was one of the initial heritage hotels established by the Oberoi group in Orissa in the British era, but due to various reasons it was closed down in December 2002.

Gopalpur is a historically important town, sewn with the rule of British East India Company. Gopalpur was also a major port in ancient Orissa from where Oriya sailors set forth in their indigenously built large ships to far off south East Asian countries. And when the British occupied the state, this port also assumed its importance as a strategic point of military significance. Present Gopalpur is a calm and beautiful beach town with tourists flocking to its lap to enjoy the natural beauty of the soft sandy beach.
Sources: The Hindu, Kalingatimes and Orissa Tourism

UGC grants Star status to Khallikote College

Berhampur: Khallikote Autonomous College (http://khallikotecollege.org/) here has been accorded ‘Star status’ by the University Grants Commission. It is the first and only college in the State to be honoured with the status, college sources said.
More than a century old, the college started biotechnology undergraduate course considering the interest among students for job-oriented courses. The traditional courses, offered by the college, continue to be equally in good demand. According to the college Principal, Ghanasyam Lenka, UGC has approved 16 new post-graduate courses and eight seats for M.Phil in zoology. The college which is struggling with classrooms shortage has prepared a project for construction of five-storie building on the vacant land in the premises.
The proposed project, which has been approved by the State Government, will consist of classrooms and examination halls to facilitate a proper education environment, Lenka added. The potential grant of Rs 50 lakh sanctioned to the college by the UGC would be spent by the end of March 2010, said Lenka. For zoology, physics, botany, chemistry and anthropology department besides others, an additional grant of Rs 30 lakh was sanctioned with a direction to utilise it by the end of September. For the four science streams, another Rs 36 lakh has been sanctioned besides another Rs 70 lakh under the 11th five year plan of UGC.
Source: New Indianexpress

Destination Development Scheme for TaraTarini

BERHAMPUR: In recognition of the ever growing tourist influx to Taratarini the Orissa Government has announced that the Hill Shrine will be covered under the Destination Development Scheme. This comes after the official disclosure that the Taratarini Hill Shrine has emerged as one of the most visited religious destinations in Orissa. According to sources, Orissa Government plans to develop 36 tourist destinations in the State under various schemes. While 31 destinations are proposed to be renovated under Destination Development Scheme (DDS) and Circuit Development Scheme (CDS), the remaining five locations will be developed under Mega Circuit Scheme.The destinations like Tara Tarini, Rambha, Bhanjanagar, Sambalpur, Hirakud, Dhamra, Pradhanpata, Khandadhar,Vedavyas, Pitamahal, Khinda, Deogarh, Debrigarh, Barabati, Paramhansa, Nemala, Churchika, Dhabaleswar are proposed to be developed under the Destination Development Scheme (DDS) and Circuit Development Scheme (CDS). Similarly, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Koraput and Raygada will be developed under Mega Circuit Scheme (MSC). The State Government has requested the Centre for development of these destinations, said Tourism Minister Debi Prasad Mishra.

Source: Govt of Orissa

Inter-state cruise through Gopalpur mooted

BERHAMPUR: The country's first inter-state cruise between Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh to Kolkata via Orissa is being planned for tourists. ''Talks are at an advanced stage as both Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal have shown interest for this mutually beneficial tourism. We are trying to introduce the service before the end of this year,'' Orissa's tourism department director R N Nanda said. Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation at present operates a sea cruise of a shorter duration.
The idea was proposed by Orissa Tourism Minister Debi Prasad Mishra and it was discussed with his Andhra Pradesh counterpart earlier this month in Hyderabad. He has also spoken to the West Bengal tourism minister on the matter. Under the project, tourists will travel by sea-route from Visakhapatnam to Kolkata with short stays at the famous tourist spots in Orissa like Gopalpur. All facilities, including food would be provided. The project, according to Nanda, will be implemented in the public-private partnership (ppp) mode where a private party would operate the cruise. ''The proposal will take a concrete shape after signing of the MoU.'' Nanda said at least two steamers - one from West Bengal and another from Andhra Pradesh will be used and the expression of interest would be sought from the interested parties.
Orissa, which has several tourist spots along the long coast line, would be benefitted by the project, the tourism officials said adding the potential survey has already been made. The proposed cruise line will have stops at the famous beach resorts Gopalpur-on-sea, Puri, Dhamara in Orissa and tourists can visit the nearby areas of tourist interest. ''While we have the infastructure to anchor the vessel at Gopalpur-on-sea and Dhamara, we have to develop such facilities at Puri or nearby towns,'' said an officer of the tourism department.

Source: Business Standard, The Hindu, The Pioneer, Orissa Diary

Gopalpur to be modelled on Visakhapatnam

The Orissa government will examine the proposal to develop sea-beach tourism at Goplapur in line with the one at Visakhapattanam in Andhra Pradesh. The government will examine various components of sea-beach development plan implemented at Visakhapattanam before taking a decision in this regard. “The government will consider the proposal keeping in view the ecology and culture of Gopalpur”, state tourism minister, Debi Prasad Misra said. He said, Goplapur is among the six locations being developed by the state government as sea-beach tourist destinations. Since the state has a long coastline of 480 kms, efforts are being made to improve the infrastructure in locations suitable for beach tourism.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has prepared a Coastal Zone Development Plan (ICZDP) for integrated development of Talasari, Chandipur, Chandrabhaga, Puri and Gopalpur. Financial assistance is provided by the state government for organising ‘Sea-beach Mahotsav’ to attract the tourists, he added.
The government has taken a host of measures for developing tourist destinations. This includes opening up of Panthaniwas, construction of convention centres, food court, additional accommodation, parking facilities, lighting facilities, children’s park, toilet complex, interpretation centre, public convenience centre and Kiosks among others. A gallery to accommodate 2000 tourists has been constructed at Goplapur sea-beach and the work is in progress to provide sanitary facilities there, Misra added. The state government and the Centre have provided assistance for the development of 5 destinations like Pragalpitha, Barpali (rural tourism), Ujjleswar and Ghodahada, Kechela and Berhampur.

Source: Business Standard & Govt. of Orissa

Gopalpur port Phase-II to be completed by 2010

The second phase work of the Gopalpur Port, being developed by Gopalpur Ports Limited (GPL), is expected to be completed by October 2010. The company has submitted the detailed project report (DPR) for the second phase work which is under the consideration of the Orissa government, minister of state for transport and commerce Sanjeev Kumar Sahoo said.

The company commissioned the first phase (anchorage port) in January 2007 and has handled a cargo of 5,43,195 metric tonne through 29 ships since then. The minister said, during the bidding process, the consortium led by the Orissa Stevedores Ltd. (OSL) projected a capital expenditure of Rs 720 crore for the port. This includes Rs 20 crore for upgradation and rehabilitation of existing lightrage port in the first phase.

The second phase work is divided into two stages with the first phase comprising of civil and marine works worth Rs 483 crore and second stage envisaging another Rs 217 crore investment. However, GPL has indicated the total investment to be Rs 2000 crore in the second phase DPR which has been submitted to the state government. The revised investment proposals include Rs 150 crore in the first phase, Rs 1100 in the second phase and Rs 750 crore for further expansion.

Regarding the progress of the project, Sahoo said, the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has given its consent for the project and it has obtained the no-objection certificate from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) for withdrawal of ground water on 12 March 2009. The company has been asked to obtain the environmental clearance from the Union ministry of environment and forests and coastal zone management authority (CZMA). The company has so far invested Rs 110 crore.
Source: Business Standard and http://www.gopalpurports.com/

Berhampur News

BPUT advertises for various faculty positions in Parala Maharaja Engineering College, Berhampur. (Link: http://www.bput.org/bput_notice/503ADVT.pdf)

AICTE approval for two more Private Engineering Colleges in Berhampur. (New engineering college list for Orissa: http://www.jeeorissa.com/newsfiles/news_16.htm)

E-Seva centre to be opened by Berhampur Municipal Corporation. These centres will provide services like payment of holding tax, water tariff, electricity bill under one roof on the lines of e-seva centres of Hyderabad. (Link: http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=eSevacentresin3cities)

Bar Association reiterates demand for HC Bench in Berhampur (Link: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/16/stories/2009071651000300.htm)

Teleconferencing facility between district judge court and Berhampur circle jail opened (Link: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/16/stories/2009071650990300.htm)

Sources: Topix, http://www.aahwaan.com/bamsite/index.html

Unitary University status for historic Khallikote College

RP Tripathy
In the educationally backward region of South Orissa, Khallikote College has been a great hope with its exceptional track record of over a century and half. The institution began as a high school in 1856 before becoming a full-fledged college in the year 1878. The Institution with its glorious past of more than 150 years has been one of the leading centers of learning and intellectual pursuits in Orissa. The Institution has the reputation of producing a former President of India and a host of Governors, Ministers, scientists, educationists and freedom fighters among a long list of illustrious persons since its establishment in pre-independent India.

Over the last few years owing to paucity of teaching and administrative staff, inadequate state support and overall deterioration of higher education infrastructure the Institution has failed to live up to its reputation. In the mean time the State Government has granted Unitary University Status to its contemporary Ravenshaw College at Cuttack and University College of Engineering at Burla bowing before popular demands. But, it has remained silent on granting Unitary University Status to Khallikote College after assuring for the same last year.

The Knowledge Commission in its various reports has suggested that historic institutions with exceptional track records should be granted University status to expand the scope of higher education. This is high time that the State Government took the suggestions of Knowledge Commission and popular demands of the region seriously by granting University status to Khallikote College to restore the lost glory and academic standards of the historic Institution. In the interest of the State and for ensuring balanced regional development the State Government must exhibit the same level of seriousness and urgency as was done in the case of Ravenshaw College and University College of Engineering, Burla, by making Khallikote College a Unitary University with a new campus at the earliest.

Explore Berhampur: Taptapani

If anywhere nature reveals its enigmatic charisma; it is here in Taptapani, an exotic world of wonder. Enjoy the nature close to your heart and carry the memory for years to come.

Located at a distance of 45 Kilometers from Berhampur, Taptapani, as the name suggests, is a hot water sulfur spring. The bubbling hot spring of Taptapani lies deep in the forests and high on a hill on the Berhampur-Koraput Highway.

It is famous for a perennial hot spring of Medicinal Sulfuric Water. Being surrounded by a cluster of hills and thick forests, the serenity of nature at Taptapani is added by wonderful sights of sun rise, sun set moon lit night, tribal dance and music, chirps of birds and sight of wild animals.

The place as such attracts large numbers of tourists of all category. Set amidst the greenery of a lush forest, the sulfur spring of Taptapani is situated on the top of a hill. The hot waters erupts in bubbles in two specific places and the temperature of this hot water varies between 90 degree to 100 degree Fahrenheit.
The Orissa Tourism Development Corporation has built a panthanivas or guest house near the spring in order to provide accommodation to the people visiting Taptapani. The bungalow is beautiful and offer great view of the surroundings but the greatest asset of guest house at Taptapani is that it provides direct water from the sulfur spring.
Source: Orissa Tourism

Is the Berhampur stadium jinxed?

BERHAMPUR: The Barracks stadium at Berhampur is cursed, it seems. Even after more than two decades, the stadium is yet to be completed. It is embroiled in a tussle between the Central Defence Ministry and the State Government. In the past efforts have been made for the transfer of this piece of land to the Sports Department of the State. But no positive results have come out except some high-level discussion. The Defence Ministry still owns a large chunk of land that had been marked out by the planners for the stadium. A stadium-cum-sport complex was to be constructed on 17.68 acres of land. But the Defence Ministry still owns 9.183 acres of it. The stadium awaits completion even after the Defence Ministry had promised to transfer its land to the stadium, to facilitate its completion, at a high-level meeting in New Delhi last year. Instead, the Ministry has constructed of a polyclinic for ex-servicemen on a patch of land adjacent to the Berhampur stadium. The impasse continues although new governments were formed at the Centre and in the State. Last year the Union Minister of State for Defence, M.M. Pallam Raju had inspected the area and promised all possible help for the transfer of land for the completion of the stadium. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had also taken up the matter with the Defence Ministry. The State Government had agreed to provide same amount of land to the Defence Ministry on the outskirts of the city. In return, the Ministry was to be compensated with land near Ambapua or Army Air Defence College at Golabandha. It was also decided that the land transfer work should be completed in a month. Nearly 20 months have lapsed but nothing has happened on this front and with the work on ECH polyclinic underway people are only apprehensive over the completion of the stadium. The polyclinic building encroaches on the half-constructed tennis court complex taken up by BDA. The remaining four pavilions, a swimming pool complex, tennis court complex and a gymnasium are yet to be constructed.
Sources: Newindpress, The Hindu

Berhampur Higher Education Roadmap

Update on IIIT Berhampur
Following is an excerpt from a report in the New Indian Express:
“While the IIIT Bhubaneswar is being promoted by the State Government as a flagship institute to promote quality technical education, work has started on establishing a second IIIT at Berhampur. The Government has allotted 100 acres for the proposed institute at Rangeilunda”.

Berhampur Higher & Technical Education Roadmap- 2010
RP Tripathy

If the above report is to be believed, the IIIT will definitely help strengthen the Higher and Technical education infrastructure of Berhampur. Through concerted and determined efforts the city can well become a destination for higher and technical education by 2010 with 10 Private Engineering Colleges, 1 Government Engineering College, 1 Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), 1 Government Medical College, 1 Private Medical College (NRI), 1 General University, 1 Unitary University (Khallikote College), 1 Army Air Defence College (could be converted into a full fledged Defence University). Besides this, demands could be made for a full fledged Orissa Health University (Rourkela and Sambalpur have Engineering University and Cuttack has Law University), branch of the National Maritime University and for a second campus of OUAT by upgrading the Fisheries College in Berhampur. The existing JN Tata Technical education center could become a proper Engineering College if the State Govt pushes for this. But, even with all this Berhampur or South Orissa don’t have a good Management Institution. Time to aim for an IIM.

Sources: Newindpress, Orissalinks

NIST students develop prototype of eco-friendly vehicle

BERHAMPUR: With an aim to keep their campus pollution free, the students of National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) have developed a prototype of an electric vehicle. The students have used discarded scrap of motor vehicles to put together the prototype of this environment-friendly vehicle that can run on solar power or power supplied from batteries. A team of students of the electrical department of the institute designed this prototype under the guidance of the head of the institute Sangram Mudali. The prototype has been named ‘Sunshine’. Its test runs on the streets of the city astonished the localites as they have not come cross such a new generation vehicle. The vehicle has been designed for transportation in and around the NIST campus.

At present it has been built on the chasis of a discarded autorickshaw. It is being run by eight 12 volts rechargeable batteries. The batteries can be charged from regular power connection or the solar panel fixed on the roof of the vehicle. The controlling devices of the vehicle were totally indigenously designed. But the vehicle has shown much promise as it has the capacity to carry a load of 300 kgs. After charging of around five hours the vehicle would be ready to travel up to a distance of over 40 km. According to the students this vehicle can attain a maximum speed of 45 km per hour.
Source: The Hindu

Gopalpur all set to lure back tourists

BERHAMPUR:The decline in tourists has spurred the Gopalpur-on-Sea administration to launch a cleanliness and beautification drive in the resort town. The public-private venture will include overhaul of the sanitation facilities and construction of a ring road. "Our prime aim is to lure back both domestic and foreign tourists. This is why we have chalked out several development measures including sanitation. We will launch the drive soon," district collector V K Pandian said. "The other planned projects are repair of the roads leading to the beach, a swinging bridge, water sports facilities in the town's backwater area and an aquarium," Pandian added. Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) will be entrusted with building the ring road at an estimated cost of Rs 10.5 crore and repairing the other roads. The administration will submit a proposal for building a swinging bridge modelled along the lines of the famous Laxman Jhula in Hrishikesh. "The proposed bridge will not only attract tourists, but also benefit residents of the cut-off area in the town," local MLA Pradeep Panigrahi said. The decision to launch the development drive was taken at a Gopalpur Development Committee meeting held on Monday evening. While hoteliers will contribute about 50 per cent of the cost, the Notified Area Council (Gopalpur) will provide 30 per cent and the Beach Development Committee headed by the collector will give 20 per cent of the funds. "While the district administration will provide infrastructure, hoteliers will also play a bigger role in this regard," he added. The committee has also decided to evict the illegal slums along the beach illegally. Officials said there were plans to rehabilitate the slum dwellers in another area. The development committee has taken this decision following decrease of tourist flow to the beach resort last year. The number of tourists to the town was registered at 2,82,709 in 2008 as against 2,83,040 the previous year. While the number visit of foreigners to the sea-shore town increased from 890 to 987 during the period, the visit of the domestic tourists was reduced from 2,82,150 to 2,81,722 during the period, officials said. In another development, three hospitality majors have shown interest to build hotels in the town. District tourist officer S K Patnaik said the Oberoi group, which had shut its hotel in Gopalpur, is set to resume operations soon. "Hoteliers have shown interest to establish their units because Gopalpur has immense tourism potential," Patnaik added.
Source: Times of India

Toys fair keeps tradition of Silk City alive

BERHAMPUR: Centuries-old effort to promote and market traditional toys still survives in the silk city in the form of Kandhei Jatra, a festival of traditional toys. The celebration of this festival started on Tuesday evening at the Khaspa street area of the city. It would continue throughout the night. But it was a festival where the traditional toys were the centre of attraction. Toys made up of clay, cow dung, paper mache, coir and wood tried to show up their market value along with the plastic toys and electronic gizmos for children.
The traditional fair of toys is held every year on the night of Sravana Purnima. As per localites it is more than three centuries old tradition. In Berhampur this unique fair of traditional toys is also held just a few days after Rath yatra. The idol of lord Jagannath at the oldest Jagannath temple in the city at Khaspa street also gets decorated with toys of mythical characters to convey their importance. The fair continues throughout the night. Recently the local people formed an organisation called Kandhei Jatra Committee to keep alive this unique tradition. Now cultural programmes have become adages to keep alive the celebrations throughout the night. They do not want to shift the location of this fair although the Khaspa street is quite congested as the fair is related to the old Jagannath temple in the street. Traditional toy makers from the city, rural areas of Ganjam district as well as from adjoining Andhra Pradesh reach this fair to sell off their creations. Like a village fair, they open up makeshift shops on both sides of the Khaspa street road.Recently a local cultural organisation, Ama Sanskruti Ama Parampara, is trying to enliven this unique tradition.
Source: The Hindu

Berhampur varsity set for two new PG courses

BERHAMPUR: Berhampur University will introduce post-graduate courses in Geo-Physics and Marine Microbiology from this year. The Centrally-approved job oriented courses will be introduced in the state. Each of these self financed courses will cost Rs 20,000 a year. "Ten students will be admitted to each of these courses," vice-chancellor B K Sahu said.
The two courses will be launched by Ocean Atmospheric Science and Technology Cell (OASTC) under the Union ministry of earth science. The OASTC has been set up at BU to undertake research on different marine aspects and the Chilika lake. The Centre has provided Rs 1.30 crore to built infrastructure for running these courses, the VC said. "The university is currently purchasing equipment for the laboratory," he added. BU has sent a proposal to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for sanctioning the course. "Once UGC accepts our proposal, the courses will not be self financed any more. Then UGC will provide funds for establishing a separate building and other infrastructure for these courses," Sahu said.
Prospects of Geophysics and marine microbiology are very bright because petroleum, natural gas and pharma industries are flourishing in the country, Sahu said. BU will tie up with companies for getting their students recruited. BU will hold discussions with Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum, Reliance and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation regarding field work of geophysics students. Likewise, discussions will be held with reputed pharma houses for marine microbiology students, said a senior university official.
Source: Times of India

Berhampur Municipal Corporation on pollution control mission

BERHAMPUR: The employees and corporators of the Berhampur municipal corporation are trying to bring back the habit of cycle riding among the citizens to check pollution and to save fuel. On Monday all employees of the municipal corporation rode cycles to reach the municipal office. Some of them also came by foot. Even the corporators who came to the municipal office came on cycles. They resorted to this exemplary act as per a resolution passed by the Berhampur Municipal Corporation on June 30.

The corporators had decided that on every Monday they as well as their employees would not use vehicles to come to office. But it was also decided that this resolution is not meant to hamper the sanitary and other works of the municipality where vehicles had to be used. Senior officials of the municipality like its health officer, doctor S. B. Panda, also preferred to keep his vehicle at home. According to him people were fast forgetting the benefits of walking and cycling. Vehicles were being used to travel distances which could be easily traversed by a walk or by cycling, which could make them healthy. Some municipal employees led by Surendra Choudhury were also seen trying to convince general public coming to the municipal office to use cycles instead of vehicles in case there was no pressing need. “We are requesting all who have some work to come to the municipality office on cycles at least on Mondays”, Mr. Choudhury said.
The employees of the municipality are enthusiastic to make this environment friendly movement successful in the city. It would surely bring back the habit of cycling in the city to decrease pollution and pressure on traffic on city roads. It may be noted that as per police personnel on traffic duty, sudden rise of vehicular traffic due to fall in cycle use has added to traffic congestions.

Source: The Hindu

Berhampur Municipal Corporation only on the signboard

RP Tripathy
After several years of demands from the city residents the State Government granted Municipal Corporation status to Berhampur. But, except change in its nomenclature there is no other change visible in the structure of the new local body. Infact, the former Executive Officer of Berhampur Municipal Council is still working as the Commissioner in-charge of Berhampur Municipal Corporation. In the Gazette Notification declaring Berhampur as a Municipal Corporation the State Government revised the boundary limits of Berhampur city by including several Panchayats, which have since been subsumed in the Corporation, but no election has taken place to give representation to these areas in the City Corporation and ensure development of these peri-urban areas. Not only that, the State Government has kept Berhampur city fund starved over the years and now the city has become a big garbage with the Municipal Corporation looking helpless to deal with the problems of waste management and drainage in the absence of man power and honest and sincere officers. The Chief Minister himself witnessed the deluge that Berhampur was in 2003 and boats were deployed inside the city to provide relief to the people. Man-made problems like this are cropping up as the State Govt is not showing any interest on the sewerage project for the city. This is really pitiable if one contrasts this with the full support of the State Government for Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation. (for more on this visit:http://www.dharitri.com/040709/story1.asp)

In view of this ever mounting problems of the city there is a need to appoint an honest and sincere IAS officer as Commissioner of Berhampur Municipal Corporation who can make Berhampur a livable place and who can put an end to the chaos that the City is in, as far as its traffic, civic amenities, water shortage and pollution are concerned. Besides this, other officials who are supposed to be appointed to various offices on account of the City having been upgraded as a Municipal Corporation must be expedited. Further, special budgetary provision for the city must be made by the state Government to have a ring-road on its outskirts and to implement the sewerage project for the City. Inclusion of the city under JNNURM will greatly help in infrastructure development and hence its inclusion under this central scheme must be explored. Sincere action on all these above issues is a must for making Berhampur as the growth engine of South Orissa.

Railway Budget leaves Berhampur disappointed

RP Tripathy

The Railway Budget 2009-10 has thoroughly disappointed the people of South Orissa in general and Berhampur in particular. Except the assurance to process the new rail connectivity proposal between Berhampur-Sambalpur, there is no other proposal worth mentioning for the region. As far as introduction of new trains, raising frequencies of existing trains and extension of services are concerned; the region has been completely ignored. There is only one new train between Koraput-Rourkela proposed for the region in the Railway Budget. Funds have been sanctioned for three Railway over bridges in Berhampur at Haldiapadar, Gopalpur Junction and Jagannathpur railway crossings. Further, the new super-fast train introduced between Howarh-Bangalore may pass through Berhampur railway station. While the Bhubaneswar and Puri railway stations have been proposed to be converted to world-class stations and Cuttack in to a modern station, Berhampur railway station finds no mention in the Budget document. Rs 14 crore has been allocated for gauge conversion work in the Naupada-Gunupur line with Rs 6 crore still needed to complete the project. There is an outlay of Rs 35 lakh for Jagannathpur station on the outskirts of Berhampur, Rs 3 crore for water supply project of Berhampur railway station, Rs 32 lakh for replacement of platform cover in Berhampur railway station and Rs 1 crore for Koraput-Rayagada railway line. Of the total outlay of 912 crores for Orissa, Berhampur and South Orissa put together have been allocated a paltry sum of close to 40 crores.

Photo Source: svcberhampur.blogspot

Berhampur People: Dr. Kota Harinarayana

"The LCA Project is not about building an aircraft. It is about creating wealth for the country. If everything is brought from abroad how will you create jobs? We may have taken our time, but we have perfected it..." :Dr. Kota Harinarayana

Honoured with Padma Shree by the Government of India in 2002, Dr. Kota Harinarayana was born in Berhampur, Orissa, in 1943. He studied at City High School and Khallikote College in Berhampur before moving to BHU. He did his Ph.D. at IIT Bombay.
He was deputed to DRDO in 1985 and assumed charge as Director, ADE, Bangalore. He was appointed as LCA Programme Director in December 1985. During 1995 he was elevated as Distinguished Scientist by DRDO. As Programme Director and Chief Designer of Light Combat Aircraft, he successfully directed the project leading to flight testing and clearance for limited series production. Thanks to his efforts, India succeeded in developing a state-of-art, high technology fighter aircraft of world class.

He was awarded National Aeronautics Prize and FIE Foundation Award in 1996.He received the Dr. Y. Nayudamma Memorial Award for 2001. He received the DRDO Technology Leadership Award for 2001. He was honoured with Padma Shri by Government of India in 2002. He received Gujar Mal Modi Science foundation award for the year 2006. He was honoured with DRDO Life Time Achievement Award for the year 2007. He was conferred honorary degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc) by the Berhampur University. At present he is the Raja Ramanna Fellow at National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore. He was formerly Vice-Chancellor of Central University of Hyderabad.

Construction boom in Greater Berhampur region

BERHAMPUR: The greater Berhampur region is witnessing a construction boom these days, mainly in the housing segment due to changing perceptions and purchasing power among the people and also due to huge influx of people from adjoining southern districts of Orissa and KBK region to the city. In the last couple of years there is considerable change in the business climate of the city. The on-going projects like Gopalpur Port and SEZ, Titanium Dioxide plant and SEZ, Software Technology Park of India (STPI) have all played a role in the construction boom. The declaration of Berhampur as the third Municipal Corporation of Orissa by changing its boundary limits and arrival of several engineering and medical colleges have also triggered real estate activities on the city outskirts. Several reputed retail chains like Vishal Mega Mart, Bazar Kolkata, The World, Reliance Retail, Cottons by Century, Big Bazaar, Syndicate etc. have either started their retail business in the city or plan to open their operations in the next one year. BDA has also signed an MOU with the Forum Mart of Kolkata for a huge shopping mall ‘Gajapati Plaza’ with an investment of Rs 97 crore. The apartment culture is also catching up fast in the silk city with more than a dozen projects in the pipe-line. On the flip side, some property agents have started minting money by selling land and plots violating BDA rules and regulations.

After a lull due to lack of interest show by the Tata group for taking up work on its mega steel plant project near Gopalpur, there is steep increase in the prices. In fact, the prices have already started increasing since 2007 and apartments in Berhampur are being sold at Rs.1500-2000 per sq.ft. Several layouts approved by Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) are being developed towards Ambapua, Dura Junction, Pathara and Kalinga Bihar, close to the national highway and Gopalpur/Berhampur. Some property agents are also making a fast buck by selling plots in unauthorized layouts. BDA sold some sites and houses at Ambapua in 2001 by developing a layout. This led to a boom in real estate business in and around Ambapua and Khodasingi area. In the mean time the BDA has completed Vivek Vihar- I and has ambitious plans for its second phase Vivek Vihar-II. With land in the city unaffordable for many, plots are being sold in BDA approved layouts on the city outskirts in and around Ambapua and Jagannathpur at Rs. 200 to Rs. 400 per sft depending on their location. Taking advantage of the boom-time many realtors are developing independent duplex houses with basic amenities like drainage, street lights and water supply in these regions. The skyrocketing real-estate prices in Berhampur has made the city an alternate real-estate investment destination of the State, besides the state capital.
Source: realestatetimes

Berhampur shines as Sanket Dash tops Orissa Matric results

BERHAMPUR: Sanket Dash of Ramahari Nagar Saraswati Sishu Vidyamandir of Berhampur made his school and City proud by becoming topper in the secondary school board examinations conducted by the Orissa Board of Secondary Examinations (BSE). Swetaswini Nayak of the same school was placed in the 14th position in the list of top 20 students in the examination. The BSE declared its results on Tuesday. It may be noted that the students of the school also had 100 per cent result in the BSE examination. All of the 134 students who had appeared for the secondary school board examination passed. One hundred and twelve of them passed in first division. Last year three students of this school were in the toppers list. “I want to be a scientist and peruse research work in this field,” a proud Sanket said. Similarly, not to be left behind, City Girl Anmol Maharana secured 8th Rank in the State. Last year five students of Berhampur were in the toppers list and Bimal Prasad Panda of the city had topped the examination.
Source: The Hindu, Odishatoday