Oil, gas services hub to come up in Ganjam

Three foreign companies have evinced keen interest to set up jointly a large Oil and Gas services hub at Sunapua near Bahuda near Berhampur city of Ganjam district with an investment of Rs 10,000 crore. The representatives of the concerned companies called on Chief Secretary TK Mishra at the Secretariat on Saturday and submitted their proposal to this effect.

They reportedly told the State Government that about six thousand acres of lands are required for setting up this large scale project. The companies which have evinced keen interest to set up their units are Alfa Tech IMC of America, F Camber holdings of Dubai and Greenco PLC of England. The Government has to prepare the feasibility report and two officers of IPICOL and IDCO have been entrusted to asses the report.

Source: The Pioneer

RRB to introduce Core Banking facilities for customers

Emulating other nationalised commercial banks, Rushikulya Gramya Bank (RGB) in Berhampur, Orissa will introduce on-line transaction facilities and issue smart and biometric ATM cards to its customers. The technology development will be done in association with its sponsoring Andhra Bank after implementation of the Core Banking Solution (CBS) in all its 81 branches located in Southern Orissa's Ganjam and Gajapati districts. The bank aims to have CBS in all its branches by March 2011 as against the cut off date of September 2011 by the central government.

The Centre has asked all the RRBs (regional rural banks) across the country to have CBS facilities with support of their respective sponsor banks by the end of September next year. "We have already prepared the roadmaps for the CBS in support of our sponsoring bank Andhra Bank," Chairman of the bank P V S T R Seshagiri Rao said. ..................... Read full story ............
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/banking/finance/banking/RRB-to-introduce-online-facilities-for-customers/articleshow/5867480.cms,

Courtesy: The Economic Times

Vanishing wetlands add to city's woes

Excerpts from Times of India/ Hrusikesh Mohanty  

BERHAMPUR: Unplanned growth is telling upon the wetlands of this south Orissan town. With waterbodies shrinking, drinking water is becoming a precious commodity. These wetlands also used to control the ever escalating summer temperature.

"The Hatibandh pond was big enough to bath elephants. But it doesn't exist today. Instead, there are rows of concrete houses," a senior citizen Chitta Ranjan Das said.

Similar is the fate of other waterbodies in the city. The Berhampur Development Agency (BDA) had filled up Tameya Bandha, one of the major ponds in the town recently to construct a park.

A retired engineer, Ananta Bhola said, canals of river Rushikulya flowing through the town used to fill up the ponds and maintain the groundwater level during summer. "But it is no more so. The system was perhaps designed by the then administrators because Berhampur was not on the banks of any river," he said.

The canal system was constructed in such a way that there was no water-logging in any part of the town during the monsoons. The water used to drain into the ponds. But today, waterlogging is common even after a slight drizzle due to encroachment of wetlands.

According to government records, there are over 70 waterbodies in the town and are in the possession of municipality, revenue and private parties. But many exist only on record.

The existing ponds are not suitable for use. Water in some ponds is contaminated while several others are filled with garbage. The authorities, however, said they have made elaborate plans to reconstruct and renovate the waterbodies under the Central government's Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (IDSSMT).

"The Central government has provided about Rs 8 crore under the scheme," commissioner of Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) Bhim Manseth said. The total project cost is Rs 16 crore, he added. While 25 ponds have been renovated under the scheme, another 17 will be given facelifts soon, he said.

Ganjam Bar Association to intensify stir for HC Bench in Berhampur

It will boycott courts in the city

The Ganjam Bar Association on April 24 formed an action council to strengthen its demand for establishment of a permanent Bench of the High Court for south Orissa in Berhampur city.

This action council was constituted through an emergency meeting called up by the Ganjam Bar Association. The secretary of the bar association, Rabindra Kumar Deo said this newly formed action council would decide upon the future course of action for the fulfilment of the long standing demand for the High Court Bench.

Three elected members of the present bar association including its President, Bhagaban Sahu, its secretary Mr. Deo and its second secretary T.K.Patra are to head this action council. It also includes two elected representatives to the State association from the local bar. Nine former presidents of the bar association and nine former secretaries are also part of it. All the members of the action council were present in Saturday's meeting. ....... Read full story........... http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/25/stories/2010042552160300.htm,

Courtesy: The Hindu

Berhampur city reels under water crisis

Rising temperature and drinking water crisis have left several towns in the State virtually dry and the Silk City is no exception to this seasonal trauma. It is a perennial drinking water problem here which only aggravates in summer and long queues of women waiting for tankers become common in several areas of the city.

Though a two-decade-old problem, no serious measures have been taken to counter the crisis for which the city has started feeling the pinch from mid-March. Unlike the previous years when the water crisis was felt in mid- April this year it was a month early posing more problems for the residents.

The shortage is felt even as the city gets its water supply from two major sources -- the Dakhinapur drinking water project and Rushikulya project at Badamadhapur besides bore wells, tube wells and open wells.According to sources, Berhampur needs over 54 million gallons of water per day. Even the two fully active water projects are unable to meet the demand. Both the projects provide less than 35 million gallons of water per day, said the Public Health Executive Engineer............Read full story............Link........ http://expressbuzz.com/states/orissa/berhampur-reels-under-water-crisis/167654.html,

Source: New Indian Express

Anti-encroachment drive in Berhampur city

Survey for new bypass is completed, says BDA secretary

Administration initiated anti-encroachment drive on April 18 to alleviate traffic congestion on the stretch of NH 217 that passes through Berhampur city.

Encroachments on both sides of highway were removed amidst police cover near Kamapalli square. Encroachments would also be removed from government land for the construction of bypass road aimed at reducing the traffic congestion on the NH 217 near Gate Bazar square. Encroachment of a major road by a vegetable market near Kamapalli square is to be removed soon, officials said. This vegetable market is choking the road leading to a major overbridge in the Kamapalli area.  Read full story............... Link.............

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041951250300.htm,

Source: The Hindu

PNB farmers' training centre to boost farm sector in Ganjam

Excerpts from Business Standard/ Hrusikesh Mohanty

BERHAMPUR: The farming sector in south Orissa's Ganjam district is likely to get a boost with the establishment of a Farmers' Training Centre near Berhampur by the state owned Punjab National Bank (PNB). The Farmers' Training Centre (FTC), the first of its kind in the state, will offer free training to the farmers on latest technologies so as to help raise agricultural productivity. Meanwhile, PNB has started imparting free training to the farmers from Tuesday at the Regional Institute of Technology and Extension (RITE), a building of the agriculture department at Rangeilunda, about 15 km from here. The farmers’ training institute has started functioning here on the occasion of the 116th anniversary of the nationalized bank, said B P Ray, head of PNB's Orissa circle. “We have entered into an agreement with the state government to offer training to the farmers at RITE till our FTC is operational”, he added.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone for the Rs 60-crore project at Karapalli, near Gopalpur last year. The state government has provided about seven acres of land at the site free of cost for the project. The FTC is being set up by the Punjab National Bank Farmer’s Welfare Trust, an organization sponsored by the bank to give training to the farmers in different agricultural activities. Apart from the borrowers of PNB, the borrowers of other banks, including the cooperative banks will participate in the training programme of PNB, Ray said.

Apart from providing training on agricultural activities, the FTC would also offer free training on computer courses, tailoring and embroidery. For computer courses, the Trust has entered into a tie-up arrangement with the Rajiv Gandhi Computer Saksharata Mission. In addition to PNB's own staff, the FTC would have experts from the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) as the resource persons of the institute, he added. “PNB has already set up eight FTCs in several states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The bank has received a very good response from the farmers in these states”, he added. All these centres were set up with the active cooperation of the respective state governments The FTCs have so far imparted training to over two lakh farmers and youths including over 40,000 women.

Oil Spill stops at Gopalpur Port, near Berhampur in Orissa, Olive Ridleys safe

Berhampur:  In a huge relief to the authorities and environmentalists, the spillage of oil from the Indonesian ship at the Gopalpur Port near Berhampur city in Orissa, finally came to a halt.

It has been confirmed that the nesting site of Olive Ridleys near the port in Rushikulya rookery is safe and there is no danger to the rare Olive Ridleys.

On Monday evening, a barge lost control due to rough weather and hit the Indonesian ship MV Malavika anchored near the Gopalpur port. That resulted in oil spillage.An oil coat was found spread over a seven km area off the beach – just 200 metres from the site of the eggs,

The Engineers made all efforts to transfer the oil from the damaged unit. About 7,000 litres of oil poured into the sea before they could stop the spillage. The water and sand were blackened by the oil spillage.

Gopalpur port director said the situation is under control with both port and Coast Guard personnel working to stop any oil spill. The entire fuel oil from the ship was transferred to a tanker within an hour.Efforts are on from the authorities, the local people and nature lovers to purify the water and remove the oil from the sea.

Source: Breaking News

Tata Steel to resume work after notification of Gopalpur SEZ

Excerpts from Business Standard / Hrusikesh Mohanty

BERHAMPUR: Tata Steel will kick off the development works on its proposed multi-purpose Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project near Gopalpur in south Orissa’s Ganjam district, once the SEZ is notified. Though Tata Steel's SEZ project was cleared by the Board of Approvals (BoA) under the Union commerce ministry, it is yet to be notified due to problems in possession of land. “The land possession problems in Chamakahandi and Basanaputi villages will be sorted out very soon. Company authorities have agreed to undertake a fresh survey on the lands being left out in these villages, for the payment of compensation and taking physical possession”, said an official of Tata Steel.

Meanwhile, the company expects to take physical possession of land for the Gopalpur SEZ very soon. “We have already deposited the amount for the land acquisition and hope to get physical possession very soon for construction of the boundary walls”, said S S Routray, senior manager (administration), Gopalpur SEZ project of Tata Steel. A tripartite meeting was held between the villagers, company officials and the district administration for physical acquisition of around 51.502 acres of land in Chamakhandi village and around 25 acres in Basanaputi village. This meeting had a very positive response, said Routray. In a parallel development the Gana Sangram Samiti, the organization spearheading the movement against land acquisition by Tata Steel at the site in the mid-nineties, will hold its meeting on April 16. The objective of the meeting is to decide whether to concede land for the SEZ or not. Tata Steel, on the other hand intends to withdraw from the 206.685 acres of land at Kalipalli village and 691 acres of land at Paikapada. According to official sources, though the land at Paikapada was acquired, it was not handed over to the company. Once the implementation of the SEZ project starts, Tata Steel will have 2792.659 acres in nine villages including Chamakhandi and Basanaputi villages in its possession, sources said. A high-level review meeting was held recently at Chhatrapur on the land availability for the company's SEZ project. The meeting was presided over by Priyabrata Patnaik, chairman and managing director, Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO).

Plans afoot to promote marketing of flowers in Ganjam

BERHAMPUR: The State government is planning to implement a project to promote marketing of flowers produced in Ganjam district and other parts of south Orissa.

The Ganjam District Flower Growers' Association (GDFGA) and the Regional marketing Committee of Berhampur had come up with a project for the development of marketing infrastructure . The State government has now taken interest in the project and its first steps would be implemented in Ganjam district. The secretary of the GDFGA, Sridhar Verma said they had a meeting with the Commissioner-cum secretary of the State agriculture and cooperation department regarding the implementation of special project for the development of floriculture.

Mr. Verma said the district administration has also extended support for the project. A suitable site for the project has been demarcated for the development infrastructure needed by the flower growers for the preservation and packing of their produce. If developed this project is to benefit flower growers of whole south Orissa, said Mr. Verma. Read  full story................. Link.................. http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/12/stories/2010041254810300.htm
Source: The Hindu

Orissa gets Rs 595.14 crore for water body upgrade

• 
  
  Most of these projects under the RRR scheme are being taken up in Ganjam district
• 
  
  Funding for these projects would be shared between the Govt. of India & Orissa govt. in the ratio of 90:10 for  KBK districts

BS Reporter / Kolkata/ Berhampur April 06, 2010 : As many as 1817 water bodies, mostly the minor irrigation projects (MIPs) in 20 districts of Orissa, would be revitalized under the Centrally sponsored scheme of Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies. These water bodies would be revitalized within a period of three years at an estimated cost of Rs 595.14 crore.............

Most of these projects under the RRR scheme are being taken up in south Orissa's Ganjam district. About 800 projects under the scheme are to be taken up in the district at a cost of Rs 250.87 crore.

While the design ayacut of these 800 projects, mostly the MIPs was 49,743 hectares in the district, the irrigation potential of 32,042 hectares would be revived after completion of the scheme, said Jamini Kanta Das, member convener, District Level Implementation and Monitoring Committee, Ganjam and the executive Engineer (Minor Irrigation).

Source: Business Standard  

Silk city to get a new bypass road

BERHAMPUR: The State Government has accorded approval for construction of a bypass road from Gokarneswar temple to Radio station in the city.

It is noteworthy that due to high vehicular traffic on this 3 km road, accidents have become regular.

According to Berhampur Development Authority sources, to minimise the traffic problems from new bus stand to Gate bazaar chowk in the city, BDA administration in 2008 submitted a proposal to the State government for laying the bypass road. 

Almost two years have passed since then, but the bypass project is yet to take shape. Now as per BDA sources the work would begin in a week.

Source: The New Indian Expres

River valley development authority sought for southern Odisha

A river valley development authority was demanded at the conclave of technical experts and intellectuals held in Berhampur under the auspices of the Dakshin Odisha Vikash Parishad (DOVS) that has initiated a novel proposal for resolution of water issues in the southern part of the State. The conclave was inaugurated by Nakshyatramala Panigrahi and was attended by several experts, including engineers, legal experts and intellectuals from across the region.

The Dakshin Odisha Vikash Parishad programme coordinator Sankarsan Panigrahi placed a paper on water resources development plan in the southern part of the State stressing the need of its immediate implementation. Dakshin Odisha Vikash Parishad leader Dayanidhi Sahu delivered a keynote address on river valley development in southern Odisha and the serious emergency of water issues confronted by the people living in ten districts of the region. DOVP leader Dayanidhi Sahu also advocated for establishment of a special development board under Article 371 of the Indian Constitution as well as for a river basin development authority on the lines of the Tennesse River Development Authority of the United states of America (USA). Sahu, while pleading for establishment of such a board, also referred to the quotations of some eminent people like AN Khosla, a former Governor of Odisha, Viswasraya, KL Rao and Thirumal Ayanger.

The conclave demanded immediate construction of dams under Ghatakeswar and Cheligarh projects to address the drinking water problems of Berhampur city and the adjoining areas. It was also demanded that all the river valley projects, including dams on the rivers of Rushikulya, Badanadi and Loharkhandi in the southern region as well as the Manibhadra project on river Mahanadi be implemented on war footing.

Besides, KC Jena also stressed the need of hydropower generation from the water resources available in the southern part.

Moreover, a river network for inter-basin transfer of water on the demand-supply basis was also sought at the conclave which was presided over by Dakshin Odisha Vikash Parishad leader Dayanidhi Sahu.

Source:The Pioneer

Delegation of street vendors of India reaches Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: The delegation of the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), which is now on a nation-wide campaign for the protection of rights of street vendors reached Berhampur city on April 03.

This campaign had started from New Delhi on November 25 last year with an aim to unite all street vendors of the country for the protection of their livelihood and lives. The NASVI happens to be a national federation of street vendors across India, held a women vendors' meet to create a common platform to raise their voice against harassment by the police and demand basic rights that protect their livelihoods and their lives. Read full story......... http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/04/stories/2010040451650300.htm, Source : The Hindu

Record 20 lakh devotees visit Taratarini shrine during Chaitra fest

Record 20 lakh devotees visit Taratarini shrine during Chaitra fest

Pioneer News Service Bhubaneswar:

The Maa Tatarini Hill shrine in Ganjam district recorded a turnout of over 20 lakh devotees during the auspicious Chaitra celebrations. The largest gathering was witnessed on the last and fifth Tuesday, which was marked by devotional celebrations, bringing the month-long annual festival at the ancient temple to a close.

The ritualistic worship by the devotees and invocation of divine benediction charged the atmosphere with an exhilarating blend of spirituality and an all-pervading solemnity. Interestingly, all the Tuesdays of the month of Chaitra are the days of celebration at the hill shrine with devotees pouring in from across the country to offer prayers to Adi Shakti Maa Taratarini (Sthana Peetha of Mata Sati at one of the four major ancient Shakti centers in India) and have their desires fulfilled, as is believed. Read more....... Link...................

http://www.dailypioneer.com/246278/Record-20-lakh-devotees-visit-Taratarini-shrine-during-Chaitra-fest.html,

20 lakh devotees visits Taratarini hill shrine in Orissa's Ganjam during Chaitra festival

Berhampur: With a mammoth gathering and marked by devotional celebration on the fifth and last Tuesday of the auspicious month of Chaitra, the month long famous and biggest annual Chaitra festival at the ancient Taratarini Hill shrine came to an end. The ritualistic worship of the devotees and invocation of divine benediction charged the atmosphere with an exhilarating blend of spirituality and an all pervading solidarity.

It is notable, that all the Tuesdays of the month of Chaitra are days of celebration at this hill shrine and devotees gather in lakhs from the cross section of the country to take a glimpse of Adi Shakti Maa Taratarini (Sthana Peetha of Mata Sati and one amongst the 4 major ancient Shakti centers in India) to eradicate evil from the world and to fulfill all their worldly desires. Read more....... Link...................

http://www.orissadiary.com/Ganjam/ShowDistrictNews.asp?id=17619,

Devotees make beeline on the concluding day of Chaitra festival in Taratarini hill shrine

Orissabarta: With a mammoth gathering and marked by devotional celebration on the fifth and last Tuesday of the auspicious month of Chaitra, the month long famous and biggest annual Chaitra festival at the ancient Taratarini Hill shrine came to an end. The ritualistic worship of the devotees and invocation of divine benediction charged the atmosphere with an exhilarating blend of spirituality and an all pervading solidarity.

It is notable, that all the Tuesdays of the month of Chaitra are days of celebration at this hill shrine and devotees gather in lakhs from the cross section of the country to take a glimpse of Adi Shakti Maa Taratarini (Sthana Peetha of Mata Sati and one amongst the 4 major ancient Shakti centers in India) to eradicate evil from the world and to fulfill all their worldly desires. Read more....... Link...................

http://www.orissabarta.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=438:press-release-from-tara-tarini-development-board-dt31032010&catid=44:tourism&Itemid=87,

Devotees make beeline on the concluding day of Chaitra festival in Taratarini hill shrine

TARATARINI HILL SHRINE. BLOGSPOT

SOUTH ORISSA.BLOGSPOT :The Essence of Orissa

Tara Tarini Temple.BLOGSPOT

Odisha Observer.BLOGSPOT

Charshaktidham.BLOGSPOT

With a mammoth gathering and marked by devotional celebration on the fifth and last Tuesday of the auspicious month of Chaitra, the month long famous and biggest annual Chaitra festival at the ancient Taratarini Hill shrine came to an end. The ritualistic worship of the devotees and invocation of divine benediction charged the atmosphere with an exhilarating blend of spirituality and an all pervading solidarity. Read More.......... Link.........

Taratarini records 20 lakh devotees

Berhampur: Maa Tatarini Hill shrine recorded 20 lakh plus devotees during the auspicious Chaitra Celebrations.  The largest gathering has been on last and Fifth Tuesday which was marked by devotional celebrations.  The month long famous and biggest annual Chaitra festival at the ancient Maa Taratarini Hill Shrine came to an end.  The ritualistic worship of the devotees and invocation of divine benediction charged the atmosphere with an exhilarating blend of spirituality and an all pervading solidarity.