Orissa to get second flying training institute in Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: Plans are afoot to develop Orissa's second flying training institute at Rangeilunda airstrip (in Berhampur University campus) near Berhampur city.

The ministry of Civil Aviation wants to use Rangeilunda airstrip as a flying training institute. Binodini Devi, a senior captain from the ministry, visited the airstrip recently and discussed the project with engineers of the works department in Berhampur, Ganjam district collector V K Pandian said. It is noteworthy, Orissa's first flying training institute is in Bhubaneswar.

A senior pilot of the ministry also visited the Rangeilunda airstrip site last week and asked the works engineer to develop it as a Visual Flight Rule (VFR) airstrip and to provide at least two rooms to conduct the pilot training institute. "We have agreed to provide all necessary infrastructure facilities to the ministry to use Rangeilunda airstrip as a flying training institute," K Pandian said.
The airstrip has a 720 meter run-way facility, besides a large area for parking. The works department recently constructed the boundary wall, which is one of the components for the pilot training institute, executive engineer, Berhampur(Division-II) P K Das said.
Rangeiulinda will be the second pilot training institute in the state after Bhubaneswar. At Bhubaneswar, 80 students are currently taking pilot training.

The civil aviation ministry has mooted the second flying institute in the state because of traffic congestion at the Biju Patnaik airport in Bhubaneswar. At least 50 percent of students from the Bhubaneswar centre will be diverted to the new pilot training institute at Rangeilunda. There are now 22 airstrips in the state including Rangeilunda.
Sources: PTI & Bussiness Standard

Berhampur University introduced on-line admission

The portal for the purpose was inaugurated by the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the university, Bijay Kumar Sahu on May 28. This new portal of the Berhampur University has been developed by the Biju Patnaik Computer Centre (BPCC) on the campus with assistance from the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The newly developed website of the university is www.bamu.nic.in.

The function organised for the purpose was presided by the new Post Graduate Council chairman of the university, L.N.Raut. The director of the BPCC Trinath Sahu and its former director Rabindra Mishra elaborated how the portal had been made extreme user-friendly for the applicants for admission. The V-C said this project was part of the continuing University Grants Commission (UGC) sponsored e-governance project in the university. According to him every University now had to be technically advanced to match with the changing times.

Source: The Hindu

Berhampur-Bangladesh power transmission line mooted

Bangladesh preparing to import Indian power

DHAKA: Bangladesh will allocate Taka 17 billion (USD 245 million) in its annual budget next month for constructing the infrastructure necessary to import 500 MW of electricity from India, an official said. Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith has consented to the allocation.

A senior official of the power ministry said that the allocation would be used for building a transmission line from Berhampur in India's Orissa state to Bheramara in Bangladesh and to set up a substation. The official, however, said that the project may need more than the sum allocated, New Age newspaper said Monday. Energy-starved Bangladesh signed an energy deal with India in January when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited New Delhi. Opposition leader Khaleda Zia has criticised the government for creating "an artificial power crisis" that would require power import without going through tenders and other trade procedures.

Economists and businessmen at a seminar organised Sunday called for "transparency" in power deals and asked the government to take a long-term view of the country's power requirements.

Source: Economic Times

NIST ranked best professional College in Orissa along with CET by BPUT students

All Odisha BPUT Students Association (AOBSA), the students body of Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Odisha has launched the 1st edition of “Odisha Professional College Ranking -2010” a 50 days programme which has started from 10th May 2010. The college ranking has covered nearly 180 professional colleges providing bachelor and master degree in Engineering, Pharmacy, Architecture, Hotel Management etc. This ranking was open to all constituents and affiliated colleges of the state run technical university i.e BPUT. Nearly 90000 students from 180 colleges have rated their college online on the Students Portal i.e. www.bputstudents.com

At the end of the ranking period the result was announced, in which with 98% score NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (NIST), Berhampur and COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Bhubaneswar jointly stood at the top of Odisha Professional College Ranking -2010

It’s the first of its kind in India where students of various institutes have voted for their college on parameters like Industry Exposure, Learning and faculty, Infrastructure, Placement & Extra-Curricular.

Since the formation of a technical university in Odisha no such initiative was taken by the university authority to rank the colleges .Even after various demands from the students along with the colleges it take nearly 8 years to start the ranking of colleges on the basis of students feedback.

Undoubtedly, Odisha Professional College Ranking will surely unveil a new dimension to nearly 73,587 students those who have appeared the Orissa Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) 2010.Parents of the OJEE aspirants will also get an opportunity to judge the best college for his ward by following this ranking procedure.

Top 20 professional institutes in Odisha

1. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, BHUBANESWAR (98)

2. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, BERHAMPUR (98)

3. IIIT, BHUBANESWAR (96)

4. INSTITUTE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION & RESEARCH, BHUBANESWAR (95.4)

5. SILICON INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, BHUBANESWAR (92.87)

6. CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF PLASTICS ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (92)

7. ORISSA SCHOOL OF MINING ENGINEERING, KEONJHAR (86)

8. C. V. RAMAN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, BHUBANESWAR (84)

9. INDIRA GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, SARANG (79.8)

10. GANDHI INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, GUNUPUR (79)

11. TRIDENT ACADEMY OF TECHNOLOGY, BHUBANESWAR (78)

12. EASTERN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, PHULNAKHRA (77)

13. TEMPLECITY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING, BHUBANESWAR (75.8)

14. ORISSA ENGINEERING COLLEGE, BHUBANESWAR (75)

15. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, BHUBANESWAR (74)

16. KOUSTUV INSTITUTE OF SELF DOMAIN, BHUBANESWAR (73.5)

17. GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT, BHUBANESWAR (72)

18. PARALA MAHARAJA ENGINEERING COLLEGE, (Govt.) BERHAMPUR (72)

19. KRUPAJALA ENGINEERING COLLEGE, BHUBANESWAR (71.2)

20. DHANESWAR RATH INSTITUTE OF ENGG. AND MGMT. STUDIES, CUTTACK

Source:www.bputstudents.com

Berhampur Municipal Corporation takes up beautification of the city

• 
  
  Paintings on tribal life of Koraput depicted on city walls

The Silk city walls have started to come alive with paintings depicting tribal life of undivided Koraput district. It is part of the effort of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation to beautify the city. Most of the walls of public buildings by the side of major roads in the city have got decorated by paintings. These walls earlier bore mutilated look due to posters and graffiti.

But the city dwellers are wondering how come tribal paintings and pictures depicting tribal life got predominance in these paintings. It may be noted that Silk city Berhampur, the largest trading centre of south Orissa and an emerging business destination in eastern India also known as the gateway to South Orissa and the undivided Koraput district. So, no one has complained about it.

But the reason behind this predominant depiction of tribal life on city walls is that some of the painters are from Koraput. Five painters from Koraput have been utilised by the local municipal corporation are involved in this painting work. These painters are also quite happy as it has provided them necessary income source. Senior painter in the team, Manoj Kumar Patnaik said such beautification efforts by urban bodies can provide income source to painters. He added that in recent years, advent of modern printing and large printed flex boards had snatched away earnings of painters. He said they are being paid Rs. 22 per square feet of painting. Till now they have painted 22,000 square feet of wall around the city.

Apart from tribal life and traditional tribal paintings, these young painters have also depicted issues related to common man like global warming, depletion of forest cover, wastage of water resources etc. But most of the time the characters depicted in these paintings tend to be tribals. These painters have also drawn up some paintings related to problems of the city like drinkig water crisis and rise in fire accidents during summer months. Source: The Hindu

Over 150 unauthorized structures demolished in Berhampur city

With growth of population, the Silk City expanded beyond limits. The roads remained narrow and rampant encroachments in residential area ate into the cultivable lands by converting them into homestead lands and no attention was paid to old structures, those that encroached on a good portion of the government lands. With an aim to beautify the city by clearing encroachments, the district administration took up a demolition drive on May 16. More than 150 structures were demolished in the major anti-eviction drive in Berhampur city to clear up stretch of National Highway 217 that passes through it.

The demolition of unauthorized encroachments on both sides of the NH-217 from Gate Bazar area started from early morning. It continued till evening. Five platoons of police force were deployed to check any untoward incidents during this anti-encroachment drive. Berhampur sub-collector, Ajit Mishra, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Sarat Mohapatra, city tehsildar Satrughna Kar monitored it. No untoward incidents were reported during the process although there were verbal protests from some traders whose business establishments fell prey to the bulldozers.

According to the sub-collector no partisan attitude was shown during this anti-encroachment demolition drive. Ten permanent shops erected and rented out by the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) were not spared. A dilapidated building of the BMC near Gate Bazar square, which served as library decades back was demolished. The large gate of the Kuthari temple which had been constructed on encroached land was pulled down.

Most city dwellers welcomed this anti-encroachment drive as Gate Bazar area had become a major constraint for traffic on the high way. Efforts are also on to streamline traffic at Gate Bazar square. A bypass road from new bus stand road to Lochapada road is being constructed. The administrative officials said survey work was on to assess the encroachment on the constricted portion of the Lochapada road that connects to NH-217 at Gate Bazar square.

Source: The Hindu & The New Indian Express

Software Technology Park of India (STPI) will be operational soon in Berhampur

Orissa's Minister for Information Technology (IT) Ramesh Majhi hoped that the centre of the Software Technology Park of India (STPI) in Berhampur would be functional soon.

The third Software Technology Park of India (STPI) being set up at Ambapua on the outskirts of the city. The construction work of the project is almost complete, according to the authorities. But, during his visit to the city, Mr. Majhi said proposals were on to open up another STP centre in Balasore in north Orissa.

He requested the local entrepreneurs to come out and utilize the STPI in Berhampur to make this city another IT hub of Orissa. Speaking to newsmen, he said there was ample scope for development in the field of IT in the State which was evident from the success of infocity project in Bhubaneswar. He hoped that this success would be replicated in other parts of the State.

According to sources, the STPI authorities had approached some major IT companies for taking up projects with the help of Berhampur STPI, but no company has committed for it. The impact of slump in the international economy, especially in the IT sphere, was a major reason behind it. With the recession phase over, the authorities hoped that STPI Berhampur would become operational. Berhampur happens to be the third centre of the STPI in the State after Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. It was to act as a resource centre for the software-exporting units by offering plug and play office space and high speed data communication with uninterrupted data connectivity.

The Berhampur STPI centre has built-up area of about 10,000 sq ft. The MoU (memorandum of understanding) for the centre was signed between STPI and the Orissa government in July 2005. 

Source: The Hindu

Astha International to establish integrated township project near Berhampur

Astha International Limited, one of India's leading direct selling companies based out of Surat (Gujarat), would invest Rs 5000 crore on a slew of business ventures in Orissa by the end of 2012. The investment which is to be raised through a mix of debt and internal accruals as well as from its 4.5 lakh odd distributors across the country, will be made on developing an integrated township project called 'Astha City' near Berhampur city, a star hotel in Puri and a textile mill in Bhubaneswar. Besides, Astha International would set up a dairy production unit, a multiplex and a hyper mall in the city. The company has opened an office in the city and this would serve as the zonal office for the states of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.

Together, all these projects will generate direct employment for over 10,000 people in the state. All these projects are expected to be commissioned by the end of 2012.

Addressing media persons here, Chandra Singh Chauhan, chairman and managing director, Astha International Limited said, “We have lined up an investment of Rs 5000 crore for Orissa by the end of 2012. The company would first begin with the integrated township project for which it has already identified around 200 acres of land near Berhampur.”

The company is betting big on the Orissa market which currently accounts for about 50 per cent of its overall revenues. Astha International which has operations in 12 states of the country, clocked a revenue of Rs 300 crore in the last fiscal. Out of 4.5 lakh distributors of the company, 1.5 lakh are based out of Orissa. Astha International, which has more than 10,000 products in 26 different segments, also plans to float a bank called Astha Bank by 2011-12. “We have already got the license of the Reserve Bank of India for starting banking operations and our bank will commence operations from 2011-12”, Chauhan claimed.

Source: The Business Standard

Tampara & Pati Sonepur near silk city Berhampur to get facelift

The Orissa Tourism Department has decided to promote Tampara and Pati Sonepur near Berhampur city in Ganjam district into eco-tourism centres.

The department has already approached the Revenue Department for use of 636 acres at Tampara and 64 acres at Pati Sonepur for the purpose. According to sources, State Tourism Director T. Apang Ao has come up with a proposal to hold ‘Tampara festival' to attract tourists interested in eco-tourism to the spot. The in charge tourist officer of Ganjam district, Sukanta Patnaik, has said plans have been mooted to build up an eco-tourism camp and an eco-friendly temporary toilet complex at Pati Sonepur. Similarly a cycling track and bullock cart riding facility have been proposed at Tampara site. Beach trekking and beach volleyball will also be promoted at both these places.

Pati Sonepur is located near the Bahuda river mouth. The river flows parallel to the sea near the spot and divides a portion of main land along the sea cost. It is situated at a distance of around 20 km from Berhampur. The tourist officials felt the serene virgin beauty of this beach will attract tourists.

Tampara is located adjacent to NH 5 near Chatrapur. It is a large brackish water body. At present, there is water sport complex at the spot with facility of water scooter, paddle boats etc. There are proposals to add speed boats and a hover craft at Tampara to attract tourists.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Silk city to host sixth national Telugu conference in November

The sixth national conference of the Telugu Mahasabha is scheduled to be held in the city this year. The dates for this three day conference are yet to be fixed. The organisers hinted that it may be held in November. The last national conference of Telugu Mahasabha was held in Chennai in 2007. A preparatory meeting for the conference was held in the conference hall of the Andhra Bhashabhivriddhi Samajam in the city on May 11 under the chairmanship of president of the Samajam, P.Satyanarayana.
Delegates from the Putti Sriramulu Telugu University (PSTU) and Mandali Venkateswar Rao International Telugu Centre (MVRIT) of Hyderabad attended this meeting. Director of the MVRIT Muniratnam Naidu was the chief guest. Delegates of Telugu associations from different parts of Orissa participated in the meeting.

Most of the delegates were of the opinion that the climate in November would be conducive for the conference. The final dates for the conference are to be decided later. The venue of the conference would be the City High School ground. More than 700 delegates from outside Orissa are expected to attend the conference.

Equal number of delegates from different parts of Orissa would also participate. The three day conference would have seminars related to traditional culture and language of Andhra Pradesh and efforts to boost Telugu culture among the Telugu speaking new generation, who live outside Andhra Pradesh.

Cultural events especially the traditional art forms of Andhra Pradesh would be highlight of this conference. As per the organisers the details of the preparations would be chalked out in the next meeting which will in the city in June. It may be noted that a sizeable number of Telugu-speaking families are permanent residents of south Orissa.

Source: The Hindu

GPL announces financial closure - Stage set for all-weather Gopalpur port

Gopalpur Ports Ltd (GPL) announced financial closure for the first phase of its all weather direct berthing deepwater port at Gopalpur. The company would be constructing breakwaters with at least three or four berths to handle large vessels with associated material handling equipment, stockyards, warehouses and railway infrastructure in Phase-I.

Managing Director Mahimananda Mishra said that the closure was achieved with a consortium of 11 banks coming forward to support with a total loan amount of Rs 848.78 crore. The loan agreement was signed with the consortium led by Punjab National Bank, Bank of India, State Bank of India, SB of Travancore, Dena Bank, OBC, UBI, Union Bank, Indian Bank and UCO Bank. For the first time, the largest infrastructure financer India Infrastructure Finance Corporation Ltd has participated in a project in Orissa. The project is estimated to be to the tune of Rs 1,400 crore with the rest of the funding relying on investment by promoters and internal accruals.

Following the financial achievement, the stage is set for conversion of the minor port to an all-weather one. Environmental clearance for the project is under process of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and is likely to be handed over soon. “We expect to land the necessary clearances in the next month and a half, and target completing the first phase work in 18 months. GPL has already started the process of awarding contracts,” Mishra said. The port after full development is envisaged to handle 25 million tonne of cargo.

Jointly promoted by a consortium between Orissa Stevedores Limited (OSL) and Sara International Limited (SIL) and operational under a concession agreement from the State Government, the port currently has an anchorage facility and open from September to May.

Director Charchit Mishra said that the port handled five million tonne of cargo during the last shipping season 2009-10 marking an overwhelming 90 per cent increase over 2008-09. The port directly employs 4,500 persons and has revitalised the local economy of the area, he said.

Source: The New Indian Express

Jatin’s brush paints Rushikulya beach nesting for Olive Ridley conservation

Renowned artist Jatin Das has recently extended his support to the conservation of the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles by painting the Rushikulya beach nesting, one of the favourite rookeries of the sea turtles in Odisha. Das allowed his paintings to go under hammer to raise funds at the International Sea Turtle Symposium (ISTS), recently concluded in Goa. 

NGO Dakhin Foundation, the ISTS organisers, approached Jatin Das to accomplish an artwork on the sea turtles and subsequently urged him to visit Rushikulya beach during the mass nesting. Rushing from New Delhi on March 6 to witness the wonderful sight of the mass nesting, Das had made sketch on the spot. Having the experience of a lifetime, he started working on a serigraph edition for the benefit of the ISTS, held from April 25 to 29 in Goa, said Aarthi Sridhar of Dakhin Foundation. Das also made special numbered and signed serigraph edition of 500, especially released as a donation on the occasion of the 30th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation. 

Although numbered and signed serigraph editions by the noted artist are usually sold for Rs 1,00,000, the price has been reduced to Rs 10,000 considering the marine conservation, added Sridhar. Jatin Das, a present resident of New Delhi........... Full story.............................................. Link ............. http://www.dailypioneer.com/254663/Jatin’s-brush-paints-for-Olive-Ridley-conservation.html, Source: The Pioneer

First Consumer Advice Centre in Orissa with German Collaboration inaugurated at Berhampur

A Consumer Advice Centre, which is part of a Indo-German Collaborative pilot project in the country was inaugurated in Berhampur city on May 09.

It is first centre to be established under this pilot project in Orissa. The next centre is to be established in Bhubaneswar soon. It was inaugurated by the State Minister for Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, Sarada Prasanna Nayak in the presence of the secretary of the department, Ashok K. Meena and Ganjam district Collector, V.K.Pandian.

The minister declared that Satish Kumar Panigrahi and Ashok Senapati were selected as the advisers of this centre.

This Consumer Advice Centre has come on the campus of the District Consumer Forum in the city. This pilot project to create awareness among the consumers regarding their rights and to save them from exploitation has materialised out of collaboration of Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) of the Union government and the German Technical Corporation (GTZ).

This project is already on in four other states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Adviser of the centre Mr. Panigrahi said this Consumer Advice Centre would open up a toll free helpline to help out consumers wherever they are. Any consumer would be able to call up the centre from the spot to complain against any exploitive practice by traders. Any consumer would also be free to come over and take advice from the centre.

This centre would hold regular campaigns in rural areas to educate peer groups especially women regarding consumer rights and their implementation. In the initial target area campaign this centre plans to aim at the Women Self Help Groups (WSHG) in the district. In case of need the centre would also take the help of law and enforcement agencies to provide justice to consumers who need help.

The project manager of this project, Nihar Ranjan Samantray said in Orissa the consumers were still ignorant about their rights and the traders were misusing this gullibility of consumers.

As an initial measure consumer protection and rights have been included in the course of Class IX students. Yet this centre has also decided to come out with printed material to build up awareness regarding consumer awareness.

Source: The Hindu

Thousands welcome Red Ribbon express in Berhampur city

Thousands of rural women from different parts of Ganjam district thronged Berhampur railway station to welcome Red Ribbon Express which started its two day sojourn in Berhampur city on may 7.

Ganjam happens to be the most HIV prone area and as per prevalence of HIV infection it stands in the 14th position in the country. The HIV infection rate of women, pregnant mothers and transfer of HIV infection to children from mothers is quite high in this area. So, the district administration, health officials, Orissa State AIDS Control Society (OSACS) and the NGOs involved in AIDS awareness work had decided to use the arrival of Red Ribbon Express to target the rural women, who are mostly related to migrant labourers of remote areas.

Five representatives, mostly women from 2,800 ‘Gaon Kalyan Samities (GKS)' in Ganjam district have been mobilised to come over to get educated by the Red Ribbon Express and spread the message through meetings at their respective villages after returning back. The representatives included the local Anganwadi workers, Asha volunteer and elected ward member. Around Rs.28 lakh meant for the GKS bodies was used for the purpose.

The inauguration ceremony of the sojourn of Red Ribbon Express in the city was attended by the RDC southern division, Chandrasekhar Kumar, Ganjam Collector, V.K.Pandian, MLAs of Gopalpur, Aska and Berhampur. Full story............. http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/08/stories/2010050858780200.htm,

Source: The Hindu

Mass hatching of Olive Ridley eggs begins near Berhampur city in Ganjam

• Nearly 24,00,000 hatchlings had entered the sea and lakhs will follow in the coming days

RUSHIKULYA ROOKERY (GANJAM, ORISSA): Mass hatching of Olive Ridley turtle eggs has begun at this major nesting site under the shroud of environmental degradation caused by oil spill from a ship recently.

The mass hatching, which started on May 01 night, is expected to continue for next two to three days.

Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer Ajay Kumar Jena, who is monitoring the protection of the hatchlings till May 02 morning, said eggs in around 30,000 nests on the coast had hatched.

Around 1,55,000 Olive Ridleys nested along the coastline near the Rushikulya Rookery in March and the eggs have started hatching after 45 days. More than 100 eggs were laid into every nest. On an average, however, around 80 hatchlings came out of each nest, Mr. Jena said.

Nearly 24,00,000 hatchlings had entered the sea and lakhs will follow in the coming days.

The mortality of the hatchlings is usually quite high. Experts say only one in a 1,000 survives to become an adult. Environmental activists like Soumya Tripathy of Greenpeace activist feel the oil spill that occurred on April 13 may increase the mortality of the hatchlings this year. Mr. Jena said though the surface of the sea near the nesting site was monitored, no residue of the oil spill was found.

However, marine scientist and Vice-Chancellor of Berhampur University Prof. Bijay Kumar Sahu said the oil spill would have had be a serious impact on the marine flora and fauna near the rookery, especially on plankton and small organisms that were the food of the turtle hatchlings. Mr. Sahu and Mr. Tripathy said there was immediate need for a detailed multi-discipline faculty study on the long-term impact of the oil spill on the marine environment.

As part of measures to protect the hatchlings, the bright lights of the industrial units and townships near the area have been ordered to be shut down during the hatching period. The hatchlings get attracted to light sources. Nylon nets were in place over a distance of three km at the nesting beach to stop hatchlings from straying towards the land.

Volunteers of the Rushikulya Sea Turtle Protection Committe an organisation comprising people from villages near the rookery involved in turtle protection collected stray hatchlings and released them into the sea.

Source: The Hindu

High-level meeting reviews the development of Tara Tarini Hill Shrine

• Hill Shrine to be developed as a national level destination
• Comprehensive development of the Hill Shrine stressed
• Land belonging to the Shrine to be recovered
• Work of the Main Temple Complex to be completed by January 2011
• To check erosion and land-slide, retaining walls to come up with state support

After the formation of the Tara Tarini Development Board the famous Taratarini Hill Shrine got the much needed attention and owing to that in the last 7 years the number of pilgrims visiting to the shrine has gone up significantly. Last year more than 17 lakh people visited the hill shrine during the month of Chaitra. This year the number swelled further. During five Tuesdays of the month around 20 lakh devotees and tourists visited the shrine. However, the figures available from the local media reveals that this year’s gathering has surpassed the records of earlier years and even surpassed the 20 lakh figure anticipated by the Board. Taking this growing number into consideration the Tara Tarini Development Board is expecting the number of visitors to swell further in the coming years.

However, despite the development initiatives undertaken with active participation of the people in the last 7 years, the existing infrastructure is proving inadequate and the significant growth of tourists and visitors has come as a big challenge for the Board. On the other hand, unlike Puri Jagannath Shrine the Tara Tarini hill shrine has inadequate infrastructure to support 20 Lakh visitors within a month.

A high-level meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble minister of Law GoO Shri Vikram Arukh in Bhubaneswar on April 28, 2010 to review the on going developmental works being undertaken by the Tara Tarini Development Board at Taratarini hill shrine. Issues like creating national standard infrastructure for the benefit of visitors and ways to counter the challenge posed by the consistently growing number of visitors in the coming years were discussed in the meeting.

Minister of Tourism Government of Orissa Shri Devi Prasad Mishra, Principal Secretary Urban Development, Government of Orissa Shri Arun Panda, Transport & Commerce Secretary Government of Orissa Shri Satyabrata Sahu, Secretary Law Government of Orissa and Commissioner Endowment Government of Orissa, Ganjam District Collector and Vice-President of TTDB Shri VK Pandian, all senior officials of the Department of Tourism and many other senior government officials of the state and district administration, apart from Secretary TTDB Shri Pramod Panda, Senior audit officer Shri Arun Kumar Sabat, the office bearers of TTDB, Technical Committee members of TTDB and Temple Management were present on the occasion.

Reviewing the works of TTDB, Shri Arukh said the famous Taratarini Hill Shrine the Breast Shrine of Mata Sati, is one amongst the 4 major ancient Shakti centers in India and an important prehistoric religious center. It is gradually emerging as the popular destination of visitors in Orissa. He said seeing the number of visitors in one month any body can say that it’s also emerging as a major religious-tourism destination of Orissa after Puri Jagannath.

He appreciated the work of TTDB and advised to focus on the time bound completion of the ongoing projects of the shrine and to take up developmental projects for the benefit of the growing number of visitors. Shri Arukh also gave importance to the immediate construction of outer protection walls and River-side retaining wall to check land sliding and soil erosion at the hilltop and said the Rural Development department Government of Orissa will undertake the work of both the Northern and Southern side outer protection walls to ensure the safety of the hill top. He assured all help from government side to the Development Board.

Minister of Tourism Government of Orissa Shri Devi Prasad Mishra said Taratarini is an important and ancient Shakti centre of Orissa. Goddesses Tara-Tarini not only have been regarded as the presiding deity (Ista-Devi) in almost every household in South Orissa but also is one among the principal centers of worship in the state. Taratarani attracts thousands of devotees, picnickers and visitors throughout the year. He said so far as tourism is concerned this place has enough potentials and as expected its also emerging as a major tourist destination in eastern India. He assured all support to TTDB and regular attention from his ministry to strengthen the infrastructure of the holy shrine and sanctioned Rs. 70 lakh in the first phase for the overall development of the shrine.

On this occasion the Principal Secretary Urban Development, Government of Orissa Shri Arun Panda presented the keynote address. He gave a proposal to reserve the land in front of the hill shrine for future development of the shrine and it was immediately accepted by the high level committee. Shri Panda also suggested the Board to take the help of reputed NGOs for maintenance of sanitation in and around the shrine and construction of more numbers of Lavatory complexes for tourists.

Transport & Commerce Secretary Government of Orissa Shri Satyabrata Sahu presented the plan for the overall development of the ancient shrine and put emphasis on the early completion of the main temple, side temples, boundary wall, Bhog Mandap and other necessary constructions of the main temple complex on the hill top with in a time bound period. He gave a number of proposals for the development of the shrine area through PPP mode. Ganjam District collector and Vice-President of TTDB Shri VK Pandian delivered the welcome address.

Lastly, in the meeting it was unanimously decided that some of the prioritized list of works proposed by the TTDB and sanctioned by the technical committee of TTDB will be commenced soon for the convenience of devotees and tourists. That are:

1. The work of the hill top temple complex with four side temples and boundary wall will be completed by January 2011.

2. Dedicated bus service to the hill shrine for smooth transportation and the construction of a bus Stand on the foot hill will be started soon.

3. Permanent accommodation facility for the visitors on the foot hill to be arranged.

4. Completion of administrative office and ultra modern lavatory complex on the hilltop of the shrine within December 2010.

5. Further widening of the existing Ghat road from Keshpur to the Hilltop at a cost of around 5 crore to be completed by the end of this year.

6. Construction of North and South side outer protection walls and River side retaining walls to check land sliding and soil erosion at the hilltop at a cost of 1 crore will be started soon by the Rural development dept. GoO.

7. The tourism department in the first phase will sanction 71 lakhs for the overall development of the shrine area. A high-level team will visit the shrine area soon for this purpose.

8. It was also decided that Ministry of Law govt. of Orissa will take immediate steps to recover all the donated cultivated and uncultivated land (Around 300 acres in Gajnam district and around the same size in other parts of the state) scattered in various parts of the state on the line of Jagannath Temple, Puri.