Real-estate construction boom in Greater Berhampur city

Berhampur city is witnessing a massive real estate boom like never before. While mega residential projects are being announced almost on a regular basis, even real-estate investors from various others cities like Bhubaneswar, Vizag, Surat and Mumbai are flocking in large numbers to make the most of this huge demand for residential apartments in Berhampur city. 

Estimates say that more than hundred mega residential apartments are under construction in and around the city.
One real estate watcher observed that investment of this magnitude is unprecedented in this southern city, and for that matter in a state like Orissa, and can only be compared with the State capital, which witnessed a similar trend in the recent past.

The massive real estate boom in Berhampur can be attributed to the huge migration of people from the interior pockets of Ganjam, South Orissa, Coastal Orissa and neighboring districts of Andhra Pradesh in search of better livelihood opportunities and for its education, trade and transport base.

Infact, one real estate agency of Berhampur city pointed that the skyrocketing housing prices in the state capital which has become almost unaffordable for the middle class has led to this housing boom in Berhampur as the going property prices here are considerably lesser than Bhubaneswar. The city is also well connected with other parts of the country and much cheaper cost of living than the state capital. 

The construction boom in the city is likely to change the landscape of Greater Berhampur Region in the years to come with many projects lined up in the city outskirts and especially in areas like Ambapua, Khodasingi, Gosaninuagaon, Narendrapur, Mandiapalli, Rangeilunda, Haldiapadar, Konisi, Gopalpur and Chatrapur.

Non-resident Oriyas have become the biggest investors and drivers of this real estate boom, said a veteran of the city who has seen it growing over the past decades.

       

• http://www.adishakticonstruction.org/upproject.aspx
• http://www.greeninfra.co.in/home.php
• http://www.homeatspectrum.in/compproject.aspx
• http://www.jayshakti.com/index.html
• http://srikrishnabuilders.page.tl/
• http://atgroup.in/news.asp
• http://suncityipl.com/real_estate.aspx
• http://www.nandighoshestates.com/
• http://www.satyamsivamgroup.com/
• http://shivamdevelopers.net/
• http://www.uniquepariwar.net/
• http://www.vlb.svect.com/index.aspx

Modern flower market to come up at Berhampur

Flower growers in the state have reason to rejoice. The floriculture industry is likely to get a boost with the government's decision to set up a modern flower market at Ambapua, on the outskirts of Berhampur, to provide organized marketing facilities to flower growers. The foundation stone for the proposed market was laid by Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi. The flower market, which will come up on an area of about one acre, is pegged to cost around Rs 2.35 crore and will have all required modern facilities for e-auction of flowers and a cool chamber for preservation of the products for several hours.  Of the total outlay for the project, Rs 1.62-crore would be provided under the centrally sponsored Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) while the remaining amount would be given by the Regulating Market Cooperative Society (RMCS), Digapahandi, official sources said. "The market will benefit not only the flower growers in Ganjam district, but also those in southern Orissa districts like Kandhamal and Koraput, where flowers are cultivated in most areas throughout the years," Panigrahi said, after laying the foundation stone. The proposed market is expected to be functional in the next six to nine months, informed Ajit Mishra, the sub-collector of Berhampur and also the chairman of the Digapahandi RMCS.

The flower growers will bring their products to the market where they can preserve them in the cool chamber till the e-auction. Facilities like yards for packing, distribution and receiving will also be available at the proposed market. "Flower growers selling their produce here will get remunerative prices through a central e-auction," said A S Varma, the general secretary of the Ganjam DistrictFlower Growers Association. Until now, flower growers have been selling their produce directly to vendors without any auction. "Since there is no organized market facility where growers can get remunerative prices, the farmers of Ganjam have not shown much interest in flower cultivation," Panigrahi said. Around 5,000 farmers grow different varieties of flowers on around 300 hectare in the district. 

Source: Times of India

Single window cell mooted for Bhanjanagar

Berhampur: Ganjam District administration has decided to open a single window cell at the sub-collector office at Bhanjanagar to deliver the public services at the doorstep of residents. "A single window cell named 'Varasha' will be opened at the sub collector's office at Bhanjanagar for quick delivery of some of the public services," said district collector Krishan Kumar. In the first phase, the administration plans to introduce the delivery of disable certificate, receive applications of driving license, payment of district Red Cross assistance amount up to Rs 2,000 and receive applications seeking assistance from the chief minister's relief fund and make payments. "People of Bhanajnagar sub division have to travel all the way to Berhampur and Chhatrapur, the district headquarter town, some 80 to 100 km away, to get necessary documents and services from the administration, which is a huge drain on people's resources. We think opening a single window cell at the sub collector's office to deliver the service will bring people a lot of relief," the collector said. The district disable board, which meets at Berhampur to provide the disable certificates twice a month, will meet once a month at Bhanajanagar on a particular date henceforth, said chief district officer Niranjan Behera. The administration also plans to provide about Rs 1 lakh revolving fund from Red Cross in the name of Bhanjanagar sub collector, so he can provide immediate assistance to the needy from the district Red Cross. A person from RTO will go to Bhanjanagar and collect all applications applied for driving license from the cell. 
Source: Times of India

Berhampur schools bag top honours in HSC

Four students of the city in the top 10 list this year

Several high schools in Berhampur city have been achieving cent per cent results in the High School Certificate Examinations since their inception. While Saraswati Sisuvidya Mandir, Nilakantha Nagar has been achieving 100% result continuously for the past 19 years, Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir at Ramahari Nagar and Goshaninuagaon achieved cent per cent results for eight and seven consecutive years respectively. The three high schools of the town have also been diligently churning out toppers each year. In keeping with the tradition, this year too the town has produced four ranks in the top 10 list. While Tarun Kanti Behera of Ramahari Nagar School ranked third in the state in the board exams, Aswini Kumar Panda of Goshaninuagon and Chidanand Samal and Jagnnath Panda of Nilakantha Nagar school grabbed the fifth and ninth ranks respectively. "We expected at least one rank holder from our school this year and we achieved it," said head master of Ramahari Nagar School, Shakti Prasad Bisoi. As many as 158 students in the school appeared in the HSC examination. Out of them 132 and 22 secured first and second divisions respectively. Only 4 students were placed in the third division. "No student of our school failed in the matric examination since 2004," the head master said. S Mohan Rao, head master of Nilakantha Nagar School, said their school has achieved 100 % result this year too as it has been for the past 19 years. This year 206 students appeared in the examination, 187 of them getting first division marks, while the rest were placed in second class. Two students from the school got top 10 ranks. In Goshaninuagaon School, there was no third division student this year. Some 100 students from the school took the HSC examination, out of which 82 and 18 students got first and second division marks respectively, besides producing five ranks. "No student from our school has failed the HSC exams since the past seven years," said head master of the school, Narayan Panda. Taking extra care of students and dedication of the teaching staff are some of the reasons for the success and flawless reputation of these schools, the head masters said. Rank holding students also attributed their success to the sincerity of their teachers. "Besides my hard work, my teachers extended all cooperation, contributing to my success," said Behera, who ranked third in the state. 

Source: Times of India

14 students of Berhampur city among top 100 in HSC Exams 2011

Click here for the Top 100 Merit List
14 students of Berhampur city have found place in the list of Top 100 in the annual HSC Exams 2011 conducted by the Board of Secondary Education, Orissa. As has been seen in the previous years, this year too the Saraswati Sishu Mandirs located in various parts of Berhampur City have maintained their outstanding performance with the students of Ramahari Nagar, Gosaninuagaon, Neelakantha Nagar and Basudev Nagar Sishu Mandir finding place in the Top 100 merit list. 

1.      TARUNKANTI BEHERA, SARASWATI SHISHU BIDYA MANDIR, RAMAHARINAGAR, BERHAMPUR

2.      ASHWINI KUMAR PANDA, SARASWATI VIDYA MANDIR,GOSANINUAGAON, BERHAMPUR

3.      CHIDANANDA SAMAL, SARASWATI SISHU VIDYA MANDIR,NEELAKANTHA NAGAR, BERHAMPUR

4.      JAGANNATH PANDA, SARASWATI SISHU VIDYA MANDIR,NEELAKANTHA NAGAR, BERHAMPUR

5.      DEBESH PATRA, BALLIPADAR HIGH SCHOOL,BALLIPADAR, GANJAM

6.      AMLAN PARIDA, SARASWATI SISHU VIDYA MANDIR,NEELAKANTHA NAGAR, BERHAMPUR

7.      TANMAYA KUMAR RATH, SARASWATI SISHU VIDYA MANDIR,NEELAKANTHA NAGAR, BERHAMPUR

8.      SIBASISH MOHANTY, S.S.V.M., NIMAKHANDI, BERHAMPUR

9.      MONALI RAUT, SARASWATI SISHU VIDYA MANDIR,NEELAKANTHA NAGAR, BERHAMPUR

10.   NRUSINGHA PRASAD PANDA, SARASWATI SISHU VIDYA MANDIR,NEELAKANTHA NAGAR, BERHAMPUR

11.   PALLABI PANDA, SARASWATI SHISHU BIDYA MANDIR,RAMAHARINAGAR, BERHAMPUR

12.   SWETANJALI DEVI, MAA SARASWATI SISHU VIDYAMANDIR, BASUDEVNAGAR,BERHAMPUR

13.   TWINKLE SAHU, GOVT SEC AND TRG SCHOOL FOR WOMEN, GIRI ROAD, BERHAMPUR

14.   SABYASACHI MISHRA, SARASWATI SISHU VIDYA MANDIR, NEELAKANTHA NAGAR, BERHAMPUR

A nice photo Blog on Berhampur City

 Berhampur Photo: Capturing the Silk City

MKCG, Berhampur, gets 8 more PG seats

BERHAMPUR: The Medical Council of India (MCI) has agreed to add at least eight more seats in five PG departments of MKCG Medical College here in the current academic year. While there was an addition of one seat each in the PG departments of anatomy, pharmacology, community medicine and physiology, four more seats are on offer for pathology department, said principal S Bag. The MCI, however, rejected the proposal of the medical college to increase the seats in PG department of gynaecology from 8 to 15. A proposal to increase the seats from 4 to 10 in anaesthesia branch is pending for inspection, Bag said. The MCI wants the college to address some of its deficiencies of staff and infrastructure before it can give permission for increasing the student strength from 107 to 150 this year in its UG course. A four-member team, led by the state joint director of health Sitaram Mohapatra, visited the medical college and hospital recently to review the MCI remarks and to recommend steps to correct the deficiency to ensure permission for 150 students this year. The final nod of the MCI was expected in the first week of July after they get report from the state government. The college principal, however, said this was a routine exercise before the admission in under graduate medical courses.

Source: Times of India

Berhampur Municipal Corporation faces State neglect

At a time when the state government is supposed to take steps for the formation of Greater Berhampur by bringing Chatrapur, Gopalpur and Hinjilicut under the BMC limits, it is doing the exact opposite. Let alone formation of Greater Berhampur, the State Govt has not even included the revenue villages which are genuinely part of the larger city of Berhampur. 

BERHAMPUR: Even after two-and-half years of formation, the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) is yet to have the complete proposed area under it. Berhampur was declared as the third municipal corporation of Orissa on January 1, 2009, after a long standing demand for this. Area of the BMC was also proposed to be increased. As per the proposal, 23 villages of 14 panchayats on suburb of the city are to be included in the BMC. 

It has been decided that merger of these villages with the BMC will lead to a planned growth of the major urban centre of south Orissa. It is an irony that till date no steps have been initiated to merge these villages with the BMC. Recently, notification has been issued regarding reservation of seats for coming panchayat polls in 2012. These 14 panchayats which are proposed to be part of the BMC are also in the list, which indicates that till now no steps have been initiated for their merger with the BMC. They still are part of different revenue blocks around the city.

When contacted, sarpanches of these panchayats, which are proposed to be merged with the BMC, say during the past two-and-half years they have not received any communiqué regarding the process. Sarpanch of Lathi, Rankanidhi Panda, say till now they have not received any official information from State government to discuss the proposal of merger with the BMC in their panchayat body meetings. Similar is the reply of sarpanch of Anantei, Pradeep Bisoi, and sarpanch of Nimakhandi-Lochapada, Sukanti Sahu.

It may be noted that elections for the BMC are due in 2013. By that time, the 23 villages which are proposed to be merged with the BMC, may not have become part of it as they are supposed to elect their own panchayat bodies in 2012.
Source: The Hindu

Ganjam outfit demands IIIT at Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: Ganjam Zilla Vikash Manch, in a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has requested him to take steps for setting up an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) at Berhampur, as declared earlier. Recently, the Central Government has approved the suggestion of Odisha Government to establish an IIIT in the State. Odisha has IIITs at Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur, and keeping in view the growing demand for technical education in south Odisha, there is a need to establish an IIIT at Berhampur, the outfit argued. The Manch said that there are 11 Universities apart from a few proposed ones in north Odisha, whereas only three universities are in South Odisha. Khallikote College in the city is yet to get a university status. For the betterment of the students and to keep regional balance, the IIIT should be set up in Berhampur, the Manch demanded.

Source: The Pioneer

Berhampur University in admission mode

By Sunil Patnaik (The Telegraph)

The process for admission into various post-graduate courses at Berhampur University is now in its final stages. “The students have been asked to submit their original documents, including mark sheets and certificates, by July 1, so that we can finalise the process by July 2,” Ganapati Chowdhury, administrative officer of Berhampur University, said. Classes for the post-graduation departments are scheduled to commence from July 4. The forms were made available on the official website of Berhampur University (http://www.bamu.nic.in/). The last date for receiving of application form was June 8 and the response had been good, Chowdhury said. “We would also take out a second list in case seats fall vacant. We would send intimation letters on the basis of merit to the students, who have had applied earlier on July 4, and ask them to furnish their documents in original by July 14. The list can then be prepared by July 15,” he said.

Berhampur University offers various post-graduate courses in Botany, Chemistry, Physics, Zoology, Electronic Science, Marine Sciences such as, Oceanography, Marine Biology (all MSc degrees), Home Science (only for women candidates), Mathematics (both MA/MSc), Economics, English, History, Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, Linguistics, Mass Communication, Oriya, Political Science (all MA degrees). The other subjects are Masters of Business Administration, M.Com, Law and Computer Application. It also offers diploma courses in Tourism and Indian monuments and Russian language.

BJD MP seeks 4 more Central schools in Ganjam

BERHAMPUR: Rajya Sabha member Renubala Pradhan has urged the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) to set up four more Central schools in Ganjam district. The BJD MP has proposed the establishment of these schools at Berhampur, Chhatrapur, Bhismagiri and Hinjili. At present, there are five such schools at Berhampur, Bhanjanagar, Aska, Digapahandi and Gopalpur (on the Army Air Defence College premises) in the district. Out of these, three schools (Aska, Bhanjanagar and Digapahandi) were set up last year. "The rush to take admission in these schools is very high. So there is a need to set up at least four more Kendriya Vidyalayas in the district," she said. She added that she had already written a letter to the KVS authorities in this regard. The district administration has already conducted a survey for setting up KVs at Hinjili and Chhatrapur. Renubala urged the administration to survey the other two places, Berhampur and Bhismagiri. 

Source: Times of India

Engineering, Diploma & Pharmacy Colleges in Berhampur

Engineering Colleges in Berhampur 

1. National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST), Berhampur

2. Parala Maharaja Government Engineering College (PMEC), Berhampur

3. Rahul Institute of Engineering and Technology (RIET), Berhampur

4. Roland Institute of Technology (RIT), Berhampur
5. Sanjaya Memorial Institute of Technology (SMIT), Berhampur
6. Vignan Institute of Technology and Management (VITAM), Berhampur
7. Gandhi Academy of Technology and Engineering (GATE),Berhampur
8. Gandhi Institute of Industrial Technology (GIIT), Berhampur
9. Kalam Institute of Technology (KIT), Berhampur
10. Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Berhampur (Proposed)

Diploma Engineering Colleges in Berhampur

1. Uma Charan Pattnaik (UCP) Engineering School, Berhampur
2. JN Tata Technical Education Centre, Gopalpur, Berhampur
3. Govt. Women’s Polytechnic, Berhampur
4. Sanjay Memorial Institute of Technology (SMIT), Berhampur
5. Berhampur School of Engineering & Technology (BSET), Berhampur
6. Bharat Institute of Engineering and Technology, Berhampur
7. Kalam Institute of Technology, Berhampur
8. Gandhi School of Engineering, Berhampur
9. Gandhi Polytechnic, Berhampur
10. Aum Sai Institute of Technical Education, Berhampur
11. Holy Institute of Technology, Berhampur
12. Orissa School of Engineering Polytechnic, Berhampur  

Pharmacy Colleges in Berhampur

1. Roland Institute of Pharm. Sciences, Ambapua, Berhampur
2. College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mohuda, Berhampur
3. Om Sai College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Berhampur
4. Royal College of Pharmacy and Helath Sciences, Berhampur
5. Sivananda College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Berhampur

Demand for Mahurikalua Zoological Park gathering steam

Environmental protection and conservation of rare species of animals and birds have gained currency across the country while attempts in this regard leave a lot to be desired in Orissa. Ganjam District and the southern region of Orissa are home to some unique species of animals and birds which are getting extinct over time. Be it the Black Bucks of Bhetanai, peacocks in Pakidi, Olive Ridley turtles found in Rushikulya River mouth, Dolphins of Chilika Lake, wild animals like bears, elephants and leopards of Koraput and Kandhamal etc., all face the danger of extinction, if better protection measures are not put in place. Wild and rare animals have importance from the tourism point of view as well. Ganjam district in particular is known for some popular tourist destinations like Gopalpur, Chilika lake, Taptapani, TaraTarini, Tampara, Sonepur, Rushikulya mouth etc. The tourism potential of this region can be harnessed better if an attractive zoological park is established near Berhampur city at Mahurikalua, on the lines of Nandankanan, feel many people in Ganjam District. 

MahuriKalua is an attractive destination in the Eastern-Ghat range with huge tracts of reserved forest and is home to some wild animals and even some tribal habitations as well. Located on the outskirts of Berhampur city, the place is well connected being on the Berhampur – Koraput State Highway and can well turn out to be a tourist attraction if converted into a zoo, feel these people. The local communities in Ganjam are known for protection of rare animals and this has been appreciated by organizations like the United Nations in the past. Therefore the zoo at Mahurikalua will be like a recognition of the efforts of these communities who have taken up such a noble cause for past may years, felt these people.  The establishment of a zoo at Mahurikalua near Berhampur city will be an added attraction for the tourists visiting the region and many organizations have demanded its immediate establishment.

Ganjam road project hits land-acquisition bump

BERHAMPUR: Only 10 per cent work has been done for the proposed 41-km-long Berhampur-Taptapani road which was due to be completed in November 2010. Sources said delay in land acquisition had resulted in this hold-up in the World Bank funded project that began three years ago. Irked over the inordinate delay, revenue minister S N Patro on Wednesday directed officials to expedite land acquisition process and complete the work as soon as possible. He also directed all concerned departments like public health, telephone departments and Southco, the power distribution company to shift their pipelines, electric and telephone poles to ensure quick completion of the project. If that happens, the project would be completed in October 2012, the project engineers said. Land acquisition was now complete in 28 out of 31 villages for the project, road engineers said at the high-level meeting attended by revenue divisional commissioner (southern division) L N Nayak, chief engineer of the project N K Pradhan and other officials. Taptapani is famous for a hot-spring that attracts large number of tourists every year. Padmanavpur, a weavers' village which is being developed as a rural tourist destination is also located on the Berhampur-Taptapani road. 

Source: Times of India

Road projects going nowhere in Berhampur; people demand immediate action

People of Berhampur city are a disappointed lot for the tardy pace of work on various road projects and have demanded the immediate intervention of the state Chief Minister. While the GQ Project in the entire country has been completed, the stretch from Berhmapur to Bhubaneswar is far from complete, lamented they. Not only the four-laning work of NH-5, even the NH-217 which connects Gopalpur Port and Raipur in Chhattisgarh and passes through Districts like Ganjam, Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Nuapada, is being deliberately neglected, alleged they. While demanding the inclusion of NH-217 under NHDP and four-laning the road considering its importance for the under-developed region of South Orissa the concerned citizens have alleged inordinate delay in the NH-217 Bypass project that will decongest the Berhampur city. Faster completion of the Vijaywada-Ranchi National Highway project, Ring road project for Berhampur city, four-laning of Berhampur-Gopalpur road and immediate declaration of Berhampur-Koraput National Highway are other issues on which they plan to petition the state and central Government.

Barracks stadium in Berhampur set for action in middle

By Sunil Patnaik (The Telegraph)

BERHAMPUR: Cricket enthusiasts in Berhampur may get a chance to root for their local Orissa Premier League (OPL) team, Berhampur Bhanja Veers, from the next season of the tournament. The Ganjam District Cricket Association (GDCA) has started constructing a much-awaited turf pitch at the Barracks stadium in Berhampur. This year, because of the absence of the turf pitch, the Berhampur Bhanja Veers have been playing their OPL matches in Bhubaneswar as its home ground. As a result, many cricket fans in the Silk City have been disappointed. Construction work for the turf pitch has already started about two weeks ago. The GDCA is organising a summer camp for budding cricket players from June 17 to July 2. The turf pitch is expected to be ready before that. It would be of national standards prepared by growing grass on the black cotton soil. “We are putting in a lot of effort to encourage local talents from Ganjam district,” said GDCA president Ramesh Patra. Field experts such as Krushna Chandra Maharana, Kailash Chandra Sahani and P. Mohan and other GDCA officers are supervising the construction of the turf pitch. “After the turf pitch is ready, three well-known cricket coaches of the country, chief coach of Jharkhand Ranji team Satish Kumar, Arif Hussain and M. Anand (both from Tata Steel), would visit Berhampur stadium to coach budding talents of Ganjam district during the 15-day summer coaching camp,” said Patra. The camp would be conducted for under-16, under-19 and the girls team of the district. “We have had no regular cricket coach after Sports Authority of India (SAI) appointed coach Pallab Dasgupta was transferred to Calcutta. So, young talents are looking forward to the guidance of the three eminent coaches,” Patra said. Ganjam team had emerged group champions in the under-16 and under-19 categories during the inter-district championship held last year. “GDCA is initiating steps to organise Duleep Trophy, Deodhar Trophy and Ranji Trophy matches at the Berhampur stadium soon,” said Ramani Ranjan Mohanty, GDCA secretary. After construction of the turf pitch is over, the stadium would be renovated with the latest infrastructure.

Prof Chitta Baral advocates upgradation of MKCG into an AIIMS level institute

• Odisha should push hard to get both MKCG and VSS Medical Colleges upgraded to the AIIMS level argues Prof Baral
• 5 Medical Colleges in Uttar Pradesh, 2 Medical Colleges each in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and 1 Medical College each in Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal,Jharkhand, M.P, Punjab, Rajasthan, Benagl are to be upgraded to AIIMS level
• Odisha is yet to put forth its demand for upgradation of any medical college to AIIMS level under the PMSSY.

Odisha is too complacent despite being one of the most backward States of the country. It is behind other States in terms of health parameters as well as medical colleges but the authorities are not pushing the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Delhi to have one or two of its medical colleges upgraded to AIIMS level, alleged leading non-resident Odia (NRO) Prof Chitta Baral of the Arizona State University. In a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Chief Secretary Bijay Patnaik and the Health Secretary, Baral has suggested that Odisha must learn from Bihar and other States and push that its two medical colleges in the backward areas in Berhampur (MKCG Medical College) and Sambalpur (VSS Medical College) be upgraded to the AIIMS level. Showing his displeasure at the lack of initiative at the political and bureaucratic levels, Baral said that like Odisha, Bihar is having a new AIIMS-like institute. In the third phase of PMSSY, they will be getting two more of their medical colleges in Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur upgraded to AIIMS level. UP is even further ahead. They have approval for one new AIIMS like institute and five other institutions for upgradation.

Source: The Pioneer, Orissa Links

MKCG to get two new departments, more staff and beds

BERHAMPUR: The State Government on Tuesday announced creation of 669 new doctor and para-medical staff posts along with an addition of 869 beds in its three medical college and hospitals. Four new departments have been notified for the SCB Medical, Cuttack, and two each for MKCG, Berhampur, and VSS, Burla. The move marks the beginning of efforts by the Government to increase the MBBS seat strength in the three medical colleges from the present 150 to 250. The process of assessing infrastructure, faculty and other capacities along with identifying the areas that need attention in the medicals so as to get the approval of the Medical Council of India (MCI) has started. A detailed proposal would be sent to the MCI soon, sources said.

Health Minister Prasanna Acharya on Tuesday said 478 beds would be added to 1,200-bed SCB along with 40 doctors and 126 para-medics, including nurses. Four new departments in Transfusion Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Rheumatology and Hepatology have been announced. Three professor, 11 associate professor and 34 senior resident posts have been created. The MKCG would have 181 more beds with two new departments in Transfusion Medicine and Emergency Medicine. The new posts include two professors, four associate professors, 12 assistant professors, 39 senior residents, 105 staff nurses, 10 nursing sisters, one assistant matron and 15 attendants. The VSS has been infused with 210 new beds and two departments on Transfusion Medicine and Emergency Medicine. New posts include two professors, five associate professors, 22 assistant professors and 37 senior residents. All this would give a fillip to the health services, Acharya said.

Source: IBNLive

Massive support for Yoga icon Baba Ramdev at Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: A massive dharna was organised here by the Bharat Swabhiman and the Patanjali Yoga Trust (PYT) of Ganjam on Saturday urging the Union Government to accept the demand of Baba Ramdev. Hundreds of men and women from different walks of life participated in the dharna and demanded that the Union Government accept the demand of Ramdev to recover black money from the foreign banks and take other measures to check corruption and improve the living condition of the Indian farmers. Apart from the members of the Bharat Swabhiman and the PYT, those of the Berhampur Nagarik Manch, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and the Viswa Hindu Parishad participated in the dharna, which will continue till the Government accepts the demand, said veteran leader and former Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly Ramachandra Panda.

Meanwhile, Baba Ramdev began his hunger strike at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on Saturday describing his fast as "a satyagraha against corruption." The yoga guru had earlier said he will start a ‘satyagraha’ against corruption and black money and go on an indefinite fast from June 4, demanding that the government bring back black money stashed in tax havens abroad. “My hunger strike will go ahead. There is no question of calling off the protest plan till my demands are met and till talks reach a satisfactory conclusion,” Baba Ramdev said. In his focus on corruption as India's Enemy No 1, the Baba has provoked the interest of the millions of people across India who usually attend his mass-yoga classes.

Source: The Pioneer, NDTV

SOSA appeals for the establishment of I.I.I.T at Berhampur

(Full text of the letter, submitted to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha) 

Hon’ble Chief Minister Sir,

As you are aware, the Central government has announced the establishment of 20 Greenfield IIITs (Indian Institute of Information Technology) across the country during the 11^th and 12^th Five Year Plan periods. Since the Government of Odisha has made its intentions known for locating the proposed IIIT at Berhampur city, it becomes an imperative that prompt efforts are made to ensure the establishment of proposed IIIT sanctioned for Odisha at Berhampur city. Since the state Government was awaiting the nod of the central government to go ahead with locating the proposed IIIT in Berhampur, the recent announcement regarding the establishment of 20 new IIITs should end the uncertainty surrounding this much awaited institution.  

Notwithstanding the fact that the state government had promised for the establishment of the IIIT at Berhampur and assured the people to that effect in the past, the demand is also backed by sound reasoning. First, Berhampur city, for that matter Ganjam District, is yet to have a centrally funded Institute and the absence of which is proving detrimental to an underdeveloped region like south Orissa. Second, Orissa has so far established two IIITs at Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur and therefore the establishment of the centrally funded IIIT at Berhampur will lead to better distribution of IT education base in the state. Third, the Planning Commission data suggests that Ganjam and other southern districts are among the districts with a poor gross enrolment ratio in higher education. IIIT in Berhampur will help in building a knowledge cluster in the heart of the most underdeveloped pocket of India. Fourth, a Software Technology park has already come up in Berhampur city and the IIIT’s establishment there will ensure synergy and investment in the IT and ITES sectors. Finally, Berhampur is the second biggest urban cluster in the state of Orissa with sound communication infrastructure and the establishment of the IIIT will be a great advantage for the city and its future development.

Berhampur is the only major city in Odisha which doesn’t have a centrally funded higher/technical education institution so far. While prestigious professional education institutions like IIT, AIIMS, IIPH, IIFT, NISER, NIT, VSSUT, IIMC, National Steel Institute, CIPET, IIHT, Law University apart from a host of Private Universities have come up across the state in recent years the entire region of South Odisha and its principal city, Berhampur, have been completely left out and remain far behind as far as higher and technical education infrastructure is concerned.

Sir, Berhampur city is considered as the gateway to the vast region of South Odisha and KBK. Owing to its strategic location, prospects of industrial investment, human resource potential, moderate weather conditions and its connectivity with all the major cities of the state and India, Berhampur can attract IT companies and create large number of employment opportunities in this underdeveloped region with the establishment of a IIIT in the city. In view of the potential of Berhampur city in bringing prosperity and in improving the life quality of the people of this backward region, it is crucial for the State government to expand the IT education base in Odisha by adhering to the principle of distributive justice. Prompt and timely action on the part of the state government will be extremely important for realization of this prestigious institution. The IIIT will not only place Berhampur city as the second knowledge hub of the state but will also work as an impetus for industrialization and development of southern Odisha and improve the overall prosperity of the State.

With Regards,

RP Tripathy

It's time the State Govt kept its promise on IIIT-Berhampur

SOSA demands early establishment of proposed IIIT at Berhampur

The Pioneer

The South Odisha Students’ Association (SOSA) has demanded prompt efforts from the State Government for establishment of an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) at Berhampur. In a letter to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, SOSA president RP Tripathy has said that since the Central Government has announced the establishment of 20 Greenfield IIITs across the country during the 11th and 12th Five Year Plan periods, the Odisha Government needs to take sincere and timely steps so that the IIIT is established at Berhampur. Maintaining that Berhampur is a deserving city for the establishment of the IIIT, Tripathy said the centrally funded institute would boost the growth of south Odisha and make Berhampur a knowledge hub.

“Odisha has so far established two IIITs at Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur (SUIIT) and therefore the establishment of the IIIT at Berhampur will lead to better distribution of IT education base in the State. The Planning Commission data suggests that Ganjam and other southern districts are among the districts with a poor gross enrolment ratio in higher education. IIIT in Berhampur will help in building a knowledge cluster in the heart of the most underdeveloped pocket of India. A software technology park has already come up in Berhampur city and the IIIT’s establishment will ensure synergy and investment in the IT and ITES sectors,” Tripathy argued in the letter. 

Orissa scouts for industry partner for second IIIT

Economic Times

Advt. by Govt of Orissa

Orissa government on Wednesday began scouting for Industry Partners for setting up of Indian Institute of Information Technology [IIIT], through Public Private Partnership (PPP). This will be the second IIIT in the state for which the state government had floated advertisements. The capital cost of each IIIT would be contributed in the ratio of 50:35:15 by the Central Government, the State Government and Partner respectively. The State Government will provide free of cost land to establish the IIIT while the Central Government will meet the recurring expenditure up to Rs. 10 Crore during the first four years. The proposed IIITs will be world-class institutes and will be set up as autonomous institutions, officials claimed.

Each Institute is meant to specialize in application of IT skills in one or more domain areas. One of the important criteria for setting up an IIIT in a State will be availability of 50-100 acres of contiguous land or a minimum of 50 acres of land, with additional land available at another site in the State, which shall be made available, free of cost, for the establishment of the Institute. The IIITs would have UG, PG and Ph.D. programmes in IT and different domain areas like Media Arts and Sciences, Financial Systems, Transportation, Systems, Life Sciences, Tourism and Travel etc.