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Monday, September 28, 2009

TTDB wishes you on the Auspicious Occasion of Dusshera

The TaraTarini Development Board takes great pleasure in wishing you good health, prosperity, success and happiness on the divine occasion of Dusshera, the festival that symbolizes the Triumph of Good over Evil.
May the divine blessings and benedictions of Maa TaraTarini (the Breast Shrine of Adi Shakti), be with you always!

Let the Joy of Festivity Embrace You!
Happy Dusshera!

For more information on TaraTarini Hill Shrine please visit: www.taratarini.nic.in, taratarini.blogspot.com

Warm Wishes,
R.P.Tripathy
Media and Publicity In-charge
Tara Tarini Development Board
New Delhi

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Plea to develop Pakidi into eco-tourism destination




Forest Department, conservators of peacocks make suggestion to State govt.
BERHAMPUR: Forest Department and local conservators of peacocks have suggested to the State government to develop Pakidi area in Ganjam district into an eco-tourism destination. The area near the Karanjei hill of Aska, about 35km from the commercial nerve centre of Orissa, Berhampur have the scope for development into a sanctuary and eco-tourism destination for the national bird.
According to Divisional Forest Officer A.K. Jena, who is in charge of the south-Ghumusar forest division, they have already sent a proposal to the government on it. The Ganjam Mayur Surakhya Samity (GMSS), an organisation formed by villagers of the area involved in peacock protection has also joined hands with the Forest Department in making the suggestion. Mr. Jena said Rajya Sabha member Smt. Renubala Pradhan promised had Rs. 20 lakhs from her local area development fund to initiate work for the purpose.
The GMSS with the help of the Forest Department has till date played exemplary role in the protection of the peacock habitat in the area. The efforts of these villagers’ organisation have been honoured through the Biju Patnaik Memorial Award for Wild Life Protection in 2006. The villagers of Sobhachandpur, Kerikerijhole, Ambuabadi, Bharatapalli, Chatradhepa, Karnandi, Chermaria and Shelliguda are involved in the organisation and have vowed to protect and save the national bird from the hands of poachers.
According to the villagers the number of peacocks in the area may cross the 1,000 mark which is quite a number to attract tourists. As per the suggestions made by the peacock protection organisation members and the Forest Department, this place should have some watch towers. It needs better road communication. The habitat of the peacocks has to be improved with better water facility for them and more afforestation work in the area. It will be easy to attract tourists to the spot as it is close to the commercial nerve centre of Orissa, Berhampur and near NH 217.
Courtesy: The Hindu

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Berhampur University signs MoU with BARC

To jointly study positive impact of radiation on plants
The Berhampur University (Bhanja Bihar) and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Mumbai have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to study positive impacts of radiation on plants.
This project would experiment on bringing in positive mutational changes in different plant breeds that are beneficial to humans. This project hopes to bring in genetic mutant changes in major crop breeds to make them more productive, pest resistant and environment-friendly.
Courtesy: The Hindu

Berhampur University paid rich tributes to Dr.Norman Borlaug

BERHAMPUR: A seminar was organised in the Berhampur University campus (Bhanja Bihar) in memory of the great agricultural scientist & Nobel Laureate Dr.Norman Borlaug. It was organised by the Botany Department of the University to pay homage to the Nobel Laureate who played a catalytic role in the green revolution in India.
Students, research scholars and faculty members of the department of Botany paid rich tributes to Dr. Borlaug who passed away in Texas of America three days ago. The speakers described the life and research of this great agricultural scientist.
According to the professor and coordinator of Botany Department, B. B. Panda, he is considered the father of green revolution for his path-breaking research on mutation and breeding in wheat crop. His research was able to produce new disease resistant dwarf varieties of wheat plant.
These improved varieties of wheat helped in improving food security in India, Mexico, Pakistan and countries of Africa. He was awarded Nobel Prize for peace in 1970 for his contribution to increase food supply in the world. The speakers reminded his link with India by informing that he had been honoured with Padma Bibhusan. In 1986, Dr. Borlaug had established the World Food Prize and its first recipient in 1987 was his former Indian colleague Prof. M. S. Swaminathan.
The faculty of the department hoped that researches that are to be taken up in the University in near future would be homage to Dr. Borlaug’s efforts.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Monday, September 14, 2009

Silk City Berhampur readying for Durga Puja

BERHAMPUR: With Durga Puja drawing near, the Silk City is gearing up for the annual festival. The puja ambience has already set in as preparations are in full swing. While the pandals have already come up, construction of welcome gates have begun at various places in the city. Markets like Urban Bank Road are gearing up to decorate the entire area. As such there is no dearth of local artists, but for past some years there is huge demand for artists from Kolkata and Cuttack. The artists are busy giving finishing touches to the idols.Since the occasion provides an opportunity for family get-together, the floating population in the city is bound to increase during the Puja. To meet the situation, the administration has chalked out elaborate plans.For smooth conduct of the festival and to check crimes, a meeting was convened on September 11 which was chaired by Berhampur sub-collector Ajit Misra. Though the city will have around 50 puja pandals this time, but organisers of 34 puja committees along with tahasildar Satrughna Kar and SDPO Dhananjaya Jena attended. The meeting decided to streamline traffic near the puja pandals and deploy plainclothes policemen to check the criminal activities. It also decided to restrict use of mike and staging of cultural programmes after 10 pm near the pandals

Grand felicitation for Prince Dance Group at Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: In a grand ceremony at the Barracks stadium in Berhampur, the winners of India's got talent show on Colors TV, The Prince Dance Group of Berhampur, were felicitated in presence of the who's who of Legislative Assembly as well as Lok Sabha and state bureaucrasy. The programme which included not only felicitation of the Prince Dance Group but also the presentation of many other performing dance groups of the district like Jodi Sankha and Ranapa Nrutya by Rajendra Patro and Group, Bagha Nacha, Dance performance by Kelu Chandra Kala Tirtha, Kala Niketana, Dance Attack, Anwesha Kala Kendra, Swastik Creatives, etc was held with much pump and grandeur with thousands of enthusistica people witnessing the event.

(Prince Dance Group's felicitation from Dharitri: http://www.dharitri.com/140909/story3.asp)

During this ceremony the Group also performed before a huge crowd at Berhampur stadium. Earlier, the members of the group were taken in a procession from Ambapua village to the Berhampur stadium in an open vehicle. During the procession various organization of the silk city also gave rousing welcome to their hero’s of Prince Dance Group.
Source: Orissabarta, Orissadiary, Dharitri

Nalco & NPCIL to set up atomic power plant in Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) is in talks with aluminium major Nalco for setting up a joint venture company for building atomic power plants in the country. According to Nalco CMD C R Pradhan, the plant is likely come up at Berhampur in Ganjam district and the land has already been identified for this purpose. The proposed plant was likely to produce 1,000 MW to 1,500 MW.

(Dharitri on nuclear power plant at Berhampur : http://www.dharitri.com/130909/story17.asp)


Nalco is the third PSU after power producer NTPC and Indian Oil Corporation which had evinced interest to join hands with NPCIL for setting up nuclear power plants. The joint venture with Nalco was likely to come up at 50:50 per cent investment ratio. Sources said Nalco was planning to invest around Rs 6,000 crore in the project.
Source: Orissadiary, Dharitri

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Explore Berhampur: Tampara Bay-Orissa's Goa

(Tathya.in has a nice report on the tourism potentials of Tampara bay near Berhampur)
BERHAMPUR: Orissa of late is in the news for mega investments- mining , alumina, steel, power and other allied sectors. But can the state create a tourism paradise of international standards, ask experts. YES! It can!! Orissa today has a goldmine, which can be converted into a Tourism SEZ. About 200 meter away from National Highway No.5 near Chhatrapur of Ganjam district lies Tampara Bay-a lake 7 kilometers length and 2 kilometer wide running parallel to the Coast of North of Gopalpur Port. In between lies 4000 acres of wastelands which was surveyed by the Design Consulting Wing of PGA (The Old Church, Neath Road Bristol B 55 9 AB- United Kingdom) This exercise was carried out in December, 2006. This large chunk of land surrounded by Tampara Bay, Rushikulya River and Bay of Bengal was recognized as one of the best sites in the world for promoting a world class tourist destination. With hotels, SPAs, golf courses ( 3 to 4 courses), first homes, holiday homes, apartments, condominiums and associated developments, Tampara can be an enormous tourism project with phenomenal rewards, revealed the PGA survey. Above all there will be no displacements. An ideal eco and employment friendly project will go a long way to attract huge investments, said an expert. The airstrip at Rangeilunda (930 meter) can be developed further on PPP basis. With excellent rail and road connections, Tampara can turn out to be one of the best destinations of the Coromondel Coast. Facility for hover craft at Tampara will be an added attraction for the tourists. Thrill of arrival!!! It is high time for Orissa to make an attempt to attract investments which will be win-win situation – every which way you look at it.
Source: Tathya.in, Odisha.in

Gopalpur to be all-weather direct berthing port

BERHAMPUR: Gopalpur Ports Limited is ready to commence work on conversion of the minor port at Gopalpur to an all- weather deep water direct berthing port as soon as it is awarded with the necessary clearances. Environmental clearance is expected by the end of this month and the phase -II development of the port would start immediately. All statutory studies, investigations and engineering duly vetted by IIT Madras have been completed. The master plan is ready and the port company had already submitted the detailed project report to the Government. With the clearances forthcoming, the all- weather port would be put in place in 24 months, Managing Director of the GPL said. The all-weather deep water direct bething port would have two berths, one oil jetty and one Coast Guard jetty and is scheduled to be ready by 2012. It would have a capacity of handling 20 million tonne per annum. The port is further planned to be upgraded to be able to handle 120,000 DWT vessels by 2016 and the ultimate handling capacity is envisaged to be 45 million tonne by 2026. The conversion of the all-weather port is slated to start with an investment of Rs 1,250 crore. The port company, a consortium led by Orissa Stevedores Limited and Sara International Limited, today handed over a cheque of Rs 36 lakh towards the first revenue share payment to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik as per the terms of Concession Agreement with the State Government. The Consortium, which signed the agreement in September 2006, commenced operations on the seasonal port within a record three months against a targetted 12 months. In the first year the port handled 50,000 tonne of cargo. In 2007-08 shopping season between November and May, the port handled 2,46,738 tonne while in 2008-09 2,52,351 tonne of cargo was handled. The port has also made a record by discharging 10,100 MT of muriate of potash (MOP) in February this year within just 24 hours from the US vessel mv Tenshou Maru carrying 49,560 MT of MOP. This is an all time highest discharge rate in any anchorage port in India. Director Charchit Mishra said, the successful handling of more than half a million tonne till date has prompted shipping companies to evince keen interest in sending vessels here. The all-weather port once operational would ease the congestion off Paradip port and fill the gap between Paradip and Visakhapatnam ports.
Source: New Indian Express, GPL

Friday, September 4, 2009

SOSA demands establishment of NID at Berhampur

The South Orissa Students’ Association (SOSA) has urged the Orissa Chief Minister to locate the proposed National Institute of Design (NID) at Berhampur in South Orissa. The Organization has requested the state government to uphold the principle of distributive justice in knowledge infrastructure and to consider locations outside the state capital for the upcoming centrally funded Institutes like NID and NIFT as all the centrally funded Institutes announced in the last few years except the Central University, like NISER, AIIMS, IIT, IIIT, WCU have been established in the capital region. In a letter written to the state Chief Minister and the Union Commerce Minister, the Organization has made a strong appeal for locating the proposed NID at Berhampur, the principal city of South Orissa.

Last Month the Chief Minister of Orissa has met the Union Commerce and Textile Ministers and had impressed upon them to establish NIFT and NID in the state during the Eleventh Plan Period. Both the Union Ministers also showed their willingness for locating the NID and NIFT in Orissa. But, as some circles in the government are trying to have both the institutes in the capital, it has generated a lot of resentment in the Tier II cities like Berhampur and Rourkela. SOSA has appreciated the concern of the State Chief Minister for the development of backward and tribal dominated regions of the state and has urged that the establishment of the NID at Berhampur which is closer to the KBK region and the tribal hinterland of south orissa will be in line with the stated policy of the government for the development of backward regions of the state.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Marine Biotech Park project near Berhampur delayed

BERHAMPUR: In March 2009 the Director of Biotechnology, Government of Orissa said that there is a plan for having a Marine Biotechnology Park at Berhampur as the Berhampur University is the only Institution in the State to have the Department of Marine Sciences and the Department of Ocean Development. Also few months ago the District administration of Ganjam was asked by the state Government to find a suitable location for the Biotech Park near Berhampur. But, post-elections the project is delayed for unknown reasons while the demand for the Biotech Park in Berhampur is gaining ground.

The following story in Business Standard of November 2008 shows the casual approach of the state government in walking the talk.

First marine biotech park in Ganjam soon
The Orissa government has decided to set up the first marine biotechnology park in Ganjam district on the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode. The Ganjam district administration has identified about 23 acres of government land for this purpose. "The land for the proposed marine biotechnology park will be available in a fortnight”, VK Pandian, the Ganjam district collector told Business Standard.
The concept and modalities of the park would be decided by a committee set up by the state government. “The government has decided to set up the marine biotechnology park in Ganjam, but the modalities of the park are yet to be finalised. A committee would be set up by the state government to finalise the modalities for the park”, said S Raghavan, director, biotechnology, Orissa govenrment. A biotechnology incubation centre spread over an area of 10 acres will be set up by the state government within the park for use by researchers, entrepreneurs and students.

Sources: Business standard, Odishatoday, Flickr

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Cheligada Dam project near Berhampur on fast-track

BERHAMPUR: After being put on the backburner for decades, the Cheligada irrigation project in Ganjam district has finally been put on fast-track by the Government. The project will irrigate lands in Ganjam and Gajapati districts, supply drinking water to Berhampur city and generate power. As part of the project, the State Government had decided to dam river Badajhar near Cheligada with financial assistance from Japan. The Ministry of Environment gave environmental clearance to the project recently while the Central Water Commission gave green signal about two years ago.
According to sources, the project is targeted to provide about 50 lakh gallons of drinking water per day besides irrigating more than 7,500 hectares of agriculture land. The project also envisages setting up of a hydroelectric project.
Though the project was planned decades ago, but no headway could be made due to protest by the families to be affected. Meanwhile, the State Government formulated a new rehabilitation policy. As per the policy, before construction of the project, the families to be affected would be rehabilitated properly with measures to make them self-employed. Accordingly construction of the rehabilitation colony has been taken up on priority basis. As per enumeration done in 2001, as many 371 families were identified to be affected by the project. However, the recent enumeration put the figure at 420 families. As per the new rehabilitation policy, each displaced families would be given 10 decimal of homestead land besides two acre of fully irrigated land.
According to Gajapati district administration sources, in the first phase as many as 220 families out of 420 would be rehabilitated at Gadasamantarapur in Digapahandi block on 275 acres acquired already. Besides, facilities an all-weather road from Digapahandi through Ghodahada dam is being constructed.
Necessary power sub-station, school, playground, weekly market are coming up and to supply safe drinking water to the rehabilitation colony, tube-wells are being sunk. Sources said to provide health service to the rehabilitated families a government dispensary would come up soon. Also steps have been taken to rehabilitate another 44 families at Chandragiri and search is on for suitable land to rehabilitate the rest families at other places, the sources added. Meanwhile, the State Government has released Rs 80 crores towards payment of compensation and construction of rehabilitation colony. It has also directed officials concerned to complete the rehabilitation process by March, 2010.

Source: NewIndpress

Bigger Library Complex needed for Berhampur

Dharitri Article on the need for a bigger Library complex for BerhampurSource: Dharitri and Orissalinks