Greater Berhampur Region: HINJILICUT

By Ajay Sahu

HINJILICUT is the 2nd most populous town in Ganjam District and Greater Berhampur Region as per the census “2001”. Further, it happens to be the constituency of the present Chief Minister of Orissa Shri Naveen Patnaik. But, the development of the town leaves a lot to be desired. Following are some specific issues which need to be addressed for the development of HINJILICUT town.

Name of this Town:

People call this town as Hinjili / Hinjilicut / Katu / Hinjilikatu. Even Government offices named this town in different ways …such as Hinjili Thana, Hinjili Assembly Constituency, Hinjili Sub-Register and Hinjilicut Block Office etc. Going by public sentiments the name of this Town must be changed as Biju Nagar as we will be Proud to see our town as like Bhanjanagar or Kabisurya Nagar.

Education: (Also the few points are available in http://www.orissa2020.org/hinjlicut-area)

A. Science College, Hinjilicut (Established 1963) is the 2nd best College in Ganjam district after Khallikote College, Berhampur. Science College, Hinjilicut enjoy (B+) NAAC accreditation rating and it is only second college in Ganjam district to enjoy such a distinction. There is also demand for opening PG Courses along with MBA and MCA and for converting its Status to an Autonomous College as a best regard to this Institution.

B. Women’s College: Women’s college existed in Hinjilicut for more than two decades but unfortunately this has been closed down few years back. So, there is strong demand to open a Govt. Women’s college in memory to Late Gyan Patnaik in the town.

C. Kendriya Vidyalaya: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved setting up of 6,000 Model Schools at the Block level in the country. Initially, in the First Phase of the implementation of this Centrally Sponsored Scheme, 2,500 Model Schools will be set up in the Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs). These schools will be set up through State Governments. A model school will have infrastructure and facilities, at least of the standard as in a Kendriya Vidyalaya and with stipulations on pupil-teacher ratio, ICT usage, holistic educational environment, appropriate curriculum and emphasis on output and outcome. Since Hinjilicut is listed in this, initiatives must be made to start this on a priority basis.  Further, the recently announced Central School in Aska should be established at Hinjilicut for the benefit of maximum people as Hinjilicut is situated between Aska and Berhampur –Just 15 km away on either side.

D. Pharmacy College: The 1st Pharmacy college of Odisha started at Science College, Hinjilicut in the year 1979 and subsequently shifted to Mohuda (Near Berhampur) by Late Brundaban Nayak (ex-MLA of Hinjilicut). So, efforts must be made to open a similar kind of Diploma in Pharmacy or Nursing College at Hinjilicut.

E. Laxmi Nusingha Kala Mandir: Recently this Kalamandir was inaugurated at Hinjilicut by the State Chief Minister but there is no scope for its development / growth. So, there is a need to open a Branch of Government College of Art and Crafts, Khallikote, Ganjam which will be right fit to this region.

F. Agriculture College: Hinjilicut is considered the vegetable feeder for the entire Ganjam district and Betel leaf (Paan) of the place is famous in the entire state and even outside. People of this locality are having their source of income mainly on the crops. So, an Agriculture College at Hinjilicut which serve the purpose of the surrounding area such as Berhampur, Aska, Sheragada, Purushotamapur, Patapur, Kukudakhandi etc, and the best site for this is near to Ghodahada River at Hinjilicut, as a vast patch of land is available.

G. Diploma / Degree Stream School / College: Presently Hinjilicut town is having Five High Schools but unfortunately not to see a Diploma / Degree stream technical institute. As Odisha is heading for rapid industrialization, mobilizing technical staff will be a difficult task for the government to eradicate unemployment. So, a Diploma Stream School (Engg.) at Brundvan Vidyapitha High School must be started as a start up to mark the respect for the 100 yrs old High School.
H. Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT) or National Institute of Design (NID): The silk city Berhampur deserves institute like IIHT -Indian Institute of Handloom Technology or National Institute of Design (NID) as very recently Berhampur Pattu Saree has got Government of India’s Geographical Indications (GI) registry. Since most of the weaver’s society and Surat /Mumbai migrants are in Hinjilicut region, which justifies opening of an institute in NH-217 corridor (Hinjilicut–Berhampur). This will help in the merger of Hinjilicut town with the Greater Berhampur Region.

Health Service:

A. As per a recent Survey, Hinjilicut is the epicenter of HIV in the State and hence facilities for additional ward /doctor for preliminary checkup (HIV) must be made at Govt Hospital, Hinjilicut.

B. A Blood Bank & 24 HOURS medicine Store must be started in the government hospital premises to cater the need of the Public.

C. There is need for an additional Hospital or Dispensary to cater to the Child and Mother’s Health like Children’s Hospital in Bhanjanagar.

D. Additional Ambulance facility is needed at Hinjilicut as most people are dependant on the MKCG Medical College at Berhampur for any Critical /Emergency services.

Road Connectivity

A. NH-217 (Gopalpur-Raipur) is passing through this town with an approximate 4 km stretch. Heavy traffic is always seen in this route due to the prime connectivity between major cities / towns of this district. There is an urgent need for bye-pass road at Hinjilicut and Berhampur to resolve this traffic congestion.

B. There is a need to initiate the work of Taratarini Road (Hinjilicut- Purushotampur-Khallikote) into a National High Way. This is very much required as a part of famous Pilgrimage center with heavy traffic at Taratarini junction and this route would act as a by-pass route to NH-217 while meeting NH-5 at Khallikote. This will reduce the distance to state Capital by at least 30 km.

Industry

A. Spinning Mill: People of this town are mostly dependant on Weaving / Handloom business and making clothes as required to local market. Earlier on two occasions, spinning mill proposal has been shifted from Hinjilicut (after planned) to other places due to political intervention during 1980. It will be proper for this district to have a Handloom Institute (Ministry of Textiles) at Hinjilicut town located in the Greater BERHAMPUR Region.

B. Jems and Jewellery SEZ: About 2 yrs back Gitanjali Group, one of the leading names in gems and jewellery, has proposed to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the State. The group’s infrastructure arm, Gitanjali Infratech Limited (GIL), had approached the Chief Minister to set up its eighth SEZ for gems and jewellery in the past.

As there are more than 3 lakh workers from this region engaged in the diamond cutting and polishing industry in Surat, this will help them find jobs in their hometown. So, the company must be pursued to start a SEZ in the Berhampur –Hinjilicut stretch of NH-217.

Urban Development: Declaration of Hinjilicut as a Municipality and its inclusion under Greater Berhampur region

Recently Berhampur city has been declared as a Municipal Corporation. There is a need for declaring Hinjilicut town as a Municipality, based on its population. Further, steps must be taken to bring it under Greater Berhampur region. (BCGH- Berhampur, Chatrapur, Gopalpur & Hinjilicut). There is a strong justification for the above as Chatrapur and Hinjilicut both are at same distance (15 km) from Berhampur.

Hinjilicut Population (Including U.A)

The Hinjilicut Municipality (proposed) would be consists of the area such as Hinjilicut NAC, Burupada, Sikiri, Kharida, Khandra, Chanduli Sompur, Saru & Pochilima. Presently this area comprises having population more than 50,000 and there is a long standing demand to include Hinjilicut under Greater Berhampur region as it is just 15 km away.