Berhampur woman weightlifter Tikina Gopal wins three golds in National Weightlifting Championship

It was joyous moment for Odisha and Berhampur as city bred woman weightlifter Tikina Gopal won three gold medals on the second day of the 64th men and 27th women Senior Weightlifting Championship in Silk city Berhampur.

Tikina won the gold medals in the 56 kg women's category. With a total lift of 172 kg she bagged the gold medal in overall lifting. Silver medal was bagged by M.Santoshi of Andhra Pradesh with total lift of 169 kg, while Swati Singh of Railways got the bronze medal. Gold medals in snatch and clean and jerk were also in the bag of Tikina who lifted 77 kg and 95 kg respectively. In snatch silver medal was won by Swati and Santoshi got the bronze. In clean and jerk the Andhra girl Santoshi got the silver medal while Swati was in third position.

In 58 kilogram category for women Minati Sethi of Railways won the gold medal in snatch with 81 kg lift, another gold medal in clean and jerk with 107 kg lift and gold for over all lift of 188 kg. Meena Kumar of Chandigarh won silver medal in all the three categories. M. Sunibala Devi of Manipur won bronze medals in snatch and overall lift, while her compatriot from Manipur N. Sumanbala won bronze medal in clean and jerk.

In the 48 kg women event over all gold medal was won by Ng. Soniya Chan of Uttara Pradesh with a total lift of 169 kg. She won gold medal in clean and jerk with 97 kg lift and another gold in snatch with 72 kg. Kh. Sanjita Chanu of Manipur won silver medal in all the three events of this weight category. Deepa Mahara of Uttarakhand received bronze medals because of her overall lift and in clean and jerk. N. T. Devi of Meghalaya won the bronze medal in snatch.

In men's 62 kg event Rustam Sarang of Chhattisgarh won gold medal with a total lift 263 kg. He won silver medals in clean and jerk and snatch. K. Ramesh Kumar of services won gold medal in clean and jerk and silver medal for overall total lift. D. Senthamizh Selvan of Railways got bronze medals as per his total lift and in clean and jerk.

Preparation underway for National weightlifting championship in Berhampur

The 64th men’s and 27th women’s Senior National Weightlifting Championship, 2011, will be held at Berhampur Stadium (Barracks) from December 24 to 28. Preparations for the five-day event are on in full swing in the city. A mascot rally to create awareness among the public about the championship was taken out on Tuesday. A huge cut-out of a black buck, the mascot for the event, was displayed during the rally. Revenue divisional commissioner (southern division), Laxmi Narayan Nayak, the chairman of the organising committee, said: “All necessary work to organise the event here is almost complete. The main concrete dais of 96sqmt is ready. Construction of the wooden platform to be placed on the dais is in the final stage. We have arranged accommodation, transport and food for the participants.” The sub-committees of the organising committee have also taken steps to make the event a grand success, Nayak said. State revenue minister Surya Narayan Patro will inaugurate the event. The weightlifting coach of Sports Authority of India, Sita Prasad Patnaik, is also supervising the ongoing work. “Both the main dais and the wooden platform are being constructed according to international norms. The platform is being made with dhau wood. It will be fitted with leather at the bottom and plywood on top. But the space where the participants would lift weights would be fitted with a special rubber mat,” said Patnaik. Narayan Sahu, organising secretary of Odisha Weightlifting Association, Purna Chandra Patnaik and others are in the technical sub-committee of the organising committee. Participants from 29 states and different sporting boards, including FCI, Services Sports Control Board and Railway Sports Control Board, would participate in 15 categories. There are eight categories for men — 56kg, 62kg, 69kg, 77kg, 85kg, 94kg, 105kg and plus 105kg. Similarly, there would be seven categories for women — 48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, 69kg, 75kg and plus 75kg,” Sahu said. “Arjuna award winner from Berhampur, Ravi Kumar, who had sprained his shoulder during the qualifying round for the next Olympic Games a few days ago in Paris, will not participate in the championship. However, he will be present in the city to watch the event.

Source: The Telegraph

Demand for Greater Berhampur Municipal Corporation grows louder

The Ganjam Zilla Bikash Manch (GZBM) has asked the State government to merge the villages on the periphery of Berhampur with the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) before the panchayat elections scheduled to be held next year. Activists of the philanthropic organisation have threatened to launch a peaceful agitation in front of the office of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division in the city, from January 20, if the State government failed to take up any decision by the time. The GZBM has sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister regarding their demand. March president Siba Prasad Mishra has said it is quite regrettable that even after almost three years after upgradation of city municipality into a corporation, the BMC is yet to have the complete proposed area under it. On January 1, 2009, the State government declared Berhampur the third municipal corporation of Orissa. It was termed a new year's gift for the inhabitants of the city. The government gazette notification for the purpose had proposed that the area of the BMC was to be increased. As per the proposal, 26 villages of 14 panchayats on suburbs of the city were to be included under the BMC. Inclusion of these villages in the BMC was thought to become a major catalyst in the planned development of this major urban centre of south Orissa.  

But till now no concrete steps have been initiated for inclusion of these village in the BMC. Meanwhile, groundwork for the panchayat polls in these villages is under way as they are still part of different revenue blocks around the city. The local elected bodies of these panchayats have not received any communiqué regarding their proposed inclusion in the BMC. It may be noted that in 1971, Gosaninuagaon village was included in the city limits. In 1984 Ambapua village became its part. But, for past 27 years the municipal limits of Berhampur has not been raised while its population has risen four-fold during this period. 

Sources: The Hindu, The Sambad

Following is the notification of the State Government on merger of 26 villages with Berhampur Municipal Corporation, which remains to be implemented 

Source: Government of Odisha Gazette

Lankan wildlife officials praise Chilika conservation efforts

Berhampur (Odisha): Sri Lankan wildlife officials have praised India's conservation efforts for flora and fauna of Chilika Lake in the state of Odisha, with the active participation of locals. "We are really impressed by the efforts of India to conserve the wildlife with community participation and also protect their livelihood," said H D Ratnayake, Director General, Wildlife Conservation Department of Sri Lanka government. Led by Ratnayake, 25 Wildlife department officials are on a two-week India visit from November 29, to gain knowledge of the wildlife conservation as well as how to tackle the men-animal conflict. Officials of Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is coordinating their tour. The team is slated to wind up the tour tomorrow. In Chilika, the biggest wetland of the country, the team has visited Satapada, Managalajodi and the Nalabana bird sanctuary. "We are really excited to see the dolphin and number of bird species who visited the wetland from far off places in every winter," he said. Divisional Forest Officer, Chilika B P Acharya told them about the importance of wetland and the conservation effort taken by his government to protect the millions of birds in the lake. "The lake is known as the paradise for the migratory birds. The winged guests come to the wetland every year as we provide them suitable habitat including the food and nesting ground," DFO told the team. Source: IBN Live 

Old Bus-Stand at Barracks to be shifted to City Bus Stand in Berhampur

Source: The Sambad

Urban pockets of Ganjam District ignored in the formation of new NACs

Source: Dharitri

Berhampur Airport project delayed owing to State Govt's inaction

Source: The Sambad

Government turns a blind eye to Berhampur-Paralakhemundi road conectivity

Source: The Sambad

Khallikote college faces acute staff shortage problem

Large-scale vacancies of both teaching and non-teaching posts are a major obstacle in the development of more than 125-year-old Khallikote Autonomous College in the city. At present more than 50 per cent of the sanctioned posts of teachers are vacant in the major educational institution of the State which is also considered a heritage institution. There is also a proposal to convert it into a unitary university. At present it has classes from +2 level to post-graduate and M. Phil level. College principal Surendranath Behera says the large-scale vacancies are putting extreme pressure on the existing staff. Around 40 per cent of the posts of non-teaching staff are also vacant. The institution has several students who take up Telugu as their compulsory language paper in undergraduate classes but it is not having any Telugu teacher. Member of the governing body of the institution have blamed the apathy of the State government for this dismal state of affairs. According to them, if the real student strength of the institute is to be taken into consideration, then it should have teaching staff strength of around 200. They have alleged that during nineties, the teaching staff strength of the institute was deliberately reduced while there was no reduction in teaching staff strength of government colleges in Bhubanswar and Cuttack.  Apart from lack of teaching staff, paucity of infrastructure is also a major stumbling block. “From February, examinations of various self- financing courses and +2 courses start in the college which affects the studies of other classes drastically due to lack of staff strength and dearth of ample number of rooms,” says Mr. Ali Patnaik, a member of the governing body. He recently advised construction of a multi-storied building at the spot of a dilapidated old building adjacent to the stadium of the institute to house all self-financing courses. It is felt that two acres of land of the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation that has been handed over to the college recently will help in enhancing its infrastructure leading to its upgradation into a full fledged Unitary University, the matter which is now under the active consideration of the state government.

Source: The Hindu

State Drama festival ends in Berhampur

A colourful procession to promote traditional folk theatre among the young generation marked the concluding evening of the State-level drama festival being held in the historic Town hall of Berhampur city. The non-competitive drama festival was organised by the Odisha Natak Samaroh Samity. The colourful precession showcasing folk theatre forms of south Odisha started from the venue of the drama festival and passed through different areas of the city. Children and youth artistes of various folk theatre and folk dance forms such as Chadheya Nacha, Dhuduki Nacha, and Jodi Sankha took part in the procession. Several veteran theatre artistes added glamour to the procession. Many senior artistes despite their advanced age marched along with children to promote amateur theatre in the city. The play on the concluding evening of the drama festival was aimed at providing hints to the audience how qualitative amateur theatre has survived in the State since past many decades. The play ‘Ravan Chhaya' was enacted by ‘Kalinga Kala Parishad' of Rourkela. The play was written by Sankar Tripathy around three decades ago. Even after such a long time, the play still seems contemporary in its story and presentation, said veteran theatre artiste Raju Padhi.

Source: The Hindu

OSRTC land transferred to Khallikote Autonomous College

Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patra handing over
the Record of Rights of the land to the principal of
Khallikote Autonomous College for its expansion in Berhampur

Around two acres of land of the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) was officially handed over to more than 125-year-old Khallikote Autonomous College in the city at a function held on the college campus on Friday. It was almost a five-decade-old demand fulfilled. Revenue officials handed over the patta of these two acres of OSRTC land to the principal of the Khallikote Autonomous College, Surendranath Behera. State Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patra, Sub-Collector Ajit Mishra, Mayor Siba Shankar Das, Berhampur teshildar Satrughna Kar, Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy, and Berhampur MLA R.C.C. Patnaik, State secretariat member of the CPI (M) and member of governing body of the autonomous college Ali Kishore Patnaik, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) secretary Bikram Panda were present.

Students and dignitaries of the city present at the function cheered when the formal land transfer was announced. Speakers at the function thanked the Chief Minister for the transfer.

It may be noted that since past several decades demand for transfer of land of the OSRTC adjacent to the college was taken up by students and citizens of the city, irrespective of their party affiliation.

But they were not satisfied with transfer of the land. During the function there was a demand for transfer of total 4.029 acres of the OSRTC to the college. At present a portion of the land has been handed over to the college. Mr. Patnaik, whose memorandum to the Chief Minister in 2008 regarding the matter had played major catalyst in the process of transfer of the land, said now the State government should take steps so that the rest 2.029 acres of land of the OSRTC gets transferred to the college as soon as possible. He also demanded immediate release of funds for construction of buildings on the land that was handed over the college. Mr. Panda termed the transfer of land as a victory of longstanding united effort for which people of the city got together forgetting their differences. The State Revenue Minister reiterated that the State government was making efforts to transform the autonomous college into a deemed university.

Source: The Hindu 

Turtle Research centre to come up at Rushikulya in Ganjam

The Odisha Government has decided to set up Olive Ridley Research and Conservation Centre (ORRCC) in the state with a cost of Rs.52 crore. This will be located at Rusikulya in Ganjam with two satellite Centers at Gahirmatha and Devi River Estuary. Olive Ridley Sea Turtle population in Odisha represents about fifty per cent of the world population of Ridley and about ninety percent of total Indian population of Sea Turtles. Odisha has the singular distinction of being the only maritime state of the Indian Peninsula, which holds three mass nesting beaches of Olive Ridley located at Dhamra, Devi and Rusikulay river Mouths. The near shore and offshore coastal waters of Odisha in front of above three river mouths provide ideal mating and breeding ground where the migratory Sea Turtles almost spend more than half a year during breeding migration. The need for a full-fledged and centralized National Sea Turtle Research and Conservation Centers in the State was being felt for a long time and therefore the announcement for establishment of ORRCC at Rushikulya has received appreciation from environmentalists and researchers.

Sources: Tathya.in, The Hindu,The Samaja 

Barracks stadium at Berhampur to get a facelift

Source: The Sambad

Black buck is the mascot for the national weight lifting championship at Berhampur

Source: The Sambad

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Black buck was chosen as the mascot for the 64th Men and 27th Women Senior National Weight Lifting Championship scheduled to be held in Berhampur city from December 24 to 28. Mascot for the National Weight Lifting Championships was released at a function held on Tuesday. The function held at Berhampur stadium was attended by working president of the organising committee of the championships Bikram Panda, Berhampur MLA R.C.C. Patnaik, secretary of Odisha Weight Lifting Association Narayan Sahu, Berhampur Sub-Collector Ajit Mishra, Arjun award winning veteran weight lifter Bijay Kumar Satpathy, sports lovers and weight lifting enthusiasts of the city.Senior coach and member of the organising committee Ramesh Padhi said black buck was chosen as the mascot as this animal happens to be the identity of rich natural heritage of Ganjam district. Black bucks are protected with religious fervour in Ganjam district as they are considered harbingers of rain. K. Dharma Rao, an artist of Chatrapur, has designed the mascot.Venue of these two major weight lifting championships would be the Berhampur stadium.Odisha Weight Lifting Association under authorisation of Indian Weight Lifting Federation is organising them. Around 400 Weight Lifters both men and women from all States and Union Territories as well as Services, Sports Control Board, and Railways would participate in the two National Weight Lifting events. Around 100 officials will also take part.

Source: The Hindu

Berhampur city showed off at BRICs conclave in China; to have international tie-ups

After the recent 'sister city' tie-up between Bhubaneswar and Cupertino City of California, there are chances of more cities of Odisha joining hands with their counterparts in Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa. Mayors of the three municipal corporations (Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhampur) of Odisha participated in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Friendship Cities and Local Governments Cooperation Forum conclave in China on December 2. A number of foreign diplomats, politicians and entrepreneurs discussed issues like food safety, eco-friendly urban development, financial crisis and energy strategies, besides steps to foster communication and exchange programmes between the five countries at the BRICS Forum.

An independent international organization, BRICS Forum encourages commercial, political and cultural cooperation between the BRICS nations.  

The mayors, who returned from the event on Monday, said they described the art, culture, festivals and business potentials of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhampur and appealed to the foreign delegates to start "exchange" programmes in different areas to boost local-level cooperation.

Berhampur mayor Siba Sankar Dash said he earned a pat from the foreign delegates for taking a pro-poor step for cycle, rickshaw and bullock-cart drivers in the town. "Recently we stopped collecting tax from the drivers. The delegates praised the corporation as the step helps save fuel," Dash said. The tourism potential of Berhampur, which is close to the seaside tourist spot of Gopalpur, TaraTarini, Taptapani and Chilka lake was also highlighted in the meet, Dash said. "The forum offered a good platform to share our experiences and skills in tackling problems that our cities were facing. We learnt from each other to prepare ourselves better to face the challenges," he said.
Sources: Times of India, The Sambad, Dsoftsolution.org

Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) for Greater Berhampur getting delayed

Source: Dharitri

Odisha's Ganjam best Indian district in empowering disabled

Odisha's Ganjam has been adjudged as the best district in the country for empowering disabled by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The Ganjam District Administration was awarded at a function in New Delhi, on the occasion of World Disabled Day yesterday. District collector Krishan Kumar and other senior officials attended the function. "The credit goes to the people of the district, especially persons with disabilities along with officials working for them," the collector said. The disabled in the district have been covered under different welfare schemes after being identified through single window camps. During the year as many as 27,443 persons were provided medical certificates while 24,718 persons benefited through the state-sponsored Madhu Babu Pension Yojana and Central government's Indira Gandhi National Disable Pension Yojana (IGNDPY). Similarly, 19,015 persons had been provided with aids and appliances while 430 and 69 persons benefited under the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) and state government's 'Mo Kudia' scheme with houses respectively, said district social welfare officer (DSWO) Sabita Beura.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated the Ganjam district administration, particularly the personnel of Ganjam District Disability Rehabilitation Centre for their national-level achievement.

According to the Chief Minister, the rehabilitation projects could not have been successful in Ganjam district without ample cooperation of physically challenged persons of the area. He thanked the physically challenged persons of Ganjam district for participating in all rehabilitation programmes being taken up in the district.

 Experimental ground 

Ganjam was experimental ground for implementation of a pilot project of the State government for rehabilitation of physically challenged persons. Success in Ganjam district prompted the State government to replicate the success model of rehabilitation of physically challenged persons in Ganjam district through launching of a new initiative named ‘Bhima Bhoi Bhinnakhyama Samarthya Abhiyan'. The project has been named after great saint and poet of Odisha Bhima Bhoi, who was blind.

Under the new project the process of identification, certification and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities has been decentralized through single window system. The system which has been successful in Ganjam, the home district of the Chief Minister, is now aimed at empowerment of over two-and-half lakh physically challenged persons of the State.

Source: PTI & The Hindu 

Research scheme launched on climate change impact on Chilika

The Chilika Development Authority (CDA) and the Wetlands International-South Asia (WISA) have launched a three-year research initiative on climate change at Chilika. This was declared at a three-day inception workshop being held from Thursday at the Wetland Research and Training Centre, Barkul (Chilika) around 65 km from silk city Berhampur. The three-year initiative titled 'Strengthening livelihood resilience to changing climate in Chilika lagoon, India' aims to enhance climate preparedness of wetland management through developing response options and strategies for reducing climate-related risks as well as increasing community preparedness for changes in the wetland ecosystem services.

The project is supported under the Climate Change and Water Programme of the International Development and Research Centre (IDRC). Its implementation will be led by the WISA and the CDA with expert support from the Institute of Land, Water and Society, Charles Stuart University, Australia. The implementation will build on climate scenarios modelling, participatory risk assessments with the Chilika communities, stakeholder consultations, capacity-building and communication and outreach. The initiative is first of its kind to be implemented for a wetland system and expected to be of immense use to wetland managers in the country.

The research would focus on the following elements: Developing scenarios of change in ecosystem components, processes and services of the Chilika lake due to climate change; assessing current coping and adaptation mechanisms within wetland communities in the context of climate change; demonstrating options for enhancing livelihood resilience in changing climate through pilot interventions; formulating a "climate smart" plan for wetland management identifying adaptation options, intervention strategies, priority actions and investment required; and building capacity of wetland managers to develop a response strategy to climate change, particularly addressing livelihood resilience.

The outcomes of the research would be used to guide investment planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation for Odisha in general and Chilika in particular. The project would provide a platform for knowledge-sharing amongst wetland managers placed in similar development and ecological contexts as well as advancing research on building livelihood resilience in socio-environmental systems within the context of changing climate. The research outcomes would be available as technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, datasets and policy briefs.

Stephen McGurk of the Regional Director (South Asia and China) of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) joined as the chief guest at the workshop. He is a noted development economist with experience in leading a wide range of projects in the region ranging from helping Afghanistan rebuild its health and agriculture sectors to supporting India's rollout of mobile communication technology to 600,000 villages. WISA president Ashok Kundra WISA delivered the inaugural address.

CDA Chief Executive Ajit Patnaik outlined the importance of the initiative to management of Chilika. WISA Conservation Programme Manager Ritesh Kumar presented the project outline. Source: The Hindu

Preparations apace for fourth State-level drama fest in Berhampur City

As an attempt to showcase major talents in the field of amateur theatre in Odisha, the non-competitive drama festival is being organised every year in the silk city Berhampur by the ‘Odisha Natak Samaroh Samity'. “At a time when young generation is getting detached from live performing art due to influx of electronic media of entertainment and drama lovers are not getting chance to witness the best quality productions on stage, we are getting together active amateur theatre groups of the State for the audience of Berhampur,” says president of the organisation, Anil Kumar Patra. The eight-day drama festival will conclude on December 11. This year, the venue of the drama festival will be the Historic Diamond Jubilee Town Hall.

During the drama festival, the audience will also get a chance to interact with prominent stage and cine personalities of the State. On December 02 a special decorated vehicle ‘Sanskriti Rath' was flagged off by the organisers of the drama festival. The vehicle will move around the city and its periphery to create awareness about new generation theatre movement in the State as well as the drama festival.

Major amateur theatre groups from different parts of the State are taking part in the drama festival. The participants include ‘Dharmatma Cultural Association' of Sambalpur, ‘Shatabdira Kalakar' of Bhubaneswar, ‘Yuva Natya Sansad' of Paralakhemundi, ‘Pancham Veda' of Bhubaneswar, ‘Rupantar' of Baripada and ‘Kalinga Kala Parishad' of Rourkela. The play on the inaugural evening will be enacted by the host ‘Odisha Natak Samaroh Samity', says secretary of the organisation Mihir Tripathy.

According to him, all of them will enact plays in which they have brought in some new experiments which will surely provide the audience a plethora of theatrics during the festival. On the last day of the festival a colourful rally will be taken out. Source: The Hindu 

Olive Ridley carcasses found on Rushikulya Coast near Silk City

Rushikulya rookery, around 30 km from Berhampur city in south Odisha, the most preferred nesting ground of the Olive Ridley sea turtles, was on December 02 littered with the carcasses of around 100 turtles. The carcasses were found scattered over an area of around four km from Nolianuagaon to Agastinuagaon.

Forest officials, who rushed to the spot, suspect that the turtles may have died after being injured by the propellers of mechanised boats during their journey to the rookery. The carcasses are later washed ashore by the waves, said Berhampur DFO, AK Jena. While in the sea the carcasses are protected by the salt water and once on the shore they start stinking, he added.

Usually the turtles arrive for mating from the beginning of December. A few pairs have nested in a seven km stretch in the deep sea. Mating of Olive Ridleys picks up in the last week of December and early January. Measures have been initiated to protect Olive Ridleys in the sea.

While fishing has been banned in the area where these turtles are congregating, illegal entry of fishing trawlers to this region is being checked through regular sea patrolling, said Jena. Source :The New Indian Express

Paralakhemundi to have tool room, training centre

In another step to enhance employability and gainful livelihood options in tribals-dominated districts, the State Government has decided to set up a Mini Tool Room & Training Centre (MTRTC) at Paralakhemundi. The MTRTC would be established in the public-private partnership (PPP) mode among the Central and State Governments and a private partner through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). The initial capital of the SPV has been estimated at Rs21 crore.  Chief Secretary Bijoy Kumar Patnaik, who held a high-level meeting here on Tuesday for establishment of the Mini Tool Room & Training Centre in the backward Gajapati district, advised the Industry Department to expedite the process of formulation of detailed guidelines for financial and administrative management of the SPV. The MTRTC would be set up in accordance with the broad guidelines prescribed by the Union Ministry of Micro Small & Medium Enterprises.                                                                               Source: The Pioneer, Panoramio (by devadattarath)