London Olympics 2012: Berhampur rallies to boost weightlifter Ravikumar's morale

BERHAMPUR: Sports lovers and well wishers in Berhampur are agog over local lad weightlifter K Ravi Kumar's participation in the London Olympics, which kicked off on Friday. A Berhampur-based artist P Vinod Kumar has created a wax sculpture of the weightlifter, who is a medal hopeful in the mega sporting event. The wax model of Ravi Kumar in a weightlifting pose is kept in glass case. "I want to present the sculpture to Ravi Kumar after his return from London" he said. "Winning or losing is immaterial for us. His participation in the Olympics has made us proud," Vinod Kumar said.

Meanwhile, several sports lovers and former weightlifters took out a rally in Berhampur wishing success to Ravi Kumar. The rally on Friday was organized by the Veer Hanuman Circus Physical Institute. Ravi Kumar started his career as a weightlifter from the Veer Hanuman Circus Physical Institute before he was selected to join in the SAI hostel in 2005. "Since he is a member of our club, it is a proud moment for us and we organized a rally wishing his success in the Olympics," said club president BK Panda. "The rally in his home town will definitely boost Ravi's morale. Moreover, it will install sportsman spirit among children," he added.

Source: Times of India

Source: The Sambad

Progress review of major road projects in Berhampur

Source: The Sambad

Odisha demands regional passport centre at Berhampur

With growing demand for passports among youngsters, the Odisha government on Friday urged the Centre to open two more Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) in the state. “I would request you to take immediate action for setting up two Regional PSKs at Sambalpur and Berhampur,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote to Union External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna. Stating that the only PSK at the state capital fails to meet the demands, Mr. Patnaik said the citizens of interior districts located in western and southern regions of the state were facing difficulty in obtaining passports. The average distance of the 10 districts located in the western part of the state is 312 km from Bhubaneswar and as many as 9,011 applications for passport are received in the year 2011 from these areas, Mr. Patnaik pointed out. Similarly, the average distance of the eight districts located in the southern region of Odisha is 367 km from the state capital and a total of 7,578 citizens from these districts applied for passport in 2011, he added. “Keeping in view the geographical distance of these districts from Bhubaneswar as well as the number of citizens applying for passport, I would request you to take immediate action,” Mr. Patnaik said in the letter. In case, Mr. Patnaik added two PSKs are established, the average distance of the districts located in the western and southern regions will come down from 312 km to 116 km and 367 km to 178 km respectively, he said.

Source: The Hindu

Science Express-Biodiversity Special arrive in Berhampur

Source: The Sambad

Berhampur (Odisha): School children and science lovers thronged at the railway station here to witness Science Express-Biodiversity Special (SEBS) today. The exhibition train on a customized 16-coach AC train will stay here for the next three days. The exhibition aboard the SEBS aims at creating awareness on biodiversity, climate change and similar issues among various audiences, including students and teachers, said an official. SEBS, a collaborative initiative of Department of Science and Technology and Ministry of Environment and Forests and assisted by the Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre, is the fourth edition of the exhibition on wheel. It was launched in New Delhi on June 5 on World Environment Day and will complete its journey on December 22 after completing 52 stations. The train reached here after covering 15 stations in five states and will leave towards Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh on July 29, the sources said. The exhibition was inaugurated here by Berhampur MLA R C Chyaupatnaik, while Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi, director of Centre of Environment Studies Sailabala Padhy, divisional forest officer, Berhampur, S S Mishra attended the programme. Of the 16 coaches in the train, eight are solely dedicated to showcasing biodiversity spread across different regions, while one coach has an exhibition on climate change and another displays exhibition on energy conservation. The joy of science is put up in one coach. The students can also perform various experiments and activities to understand the concepts in biodiversity and climate change, the sources said.

Source: PTI

EoI by BDA for City Bus Service in Greater-Berhampur

TTDB and Tata Steel initiate massive plantation drive at Tara Tarini Hill Shrine

• The project is unique of its kind in the country where a Shrine Board has taken up issues of environment on a massive scale
• Tata Steel has come forward to support the plantation drive in and around the hill shrine
• More than half-million fruit bearing tress are to be planted over a period of five years under the project
• TTDB has already taken a number of such initiatives in the past to improve the green cover and to protect the environment of the area
• Recently it announced to introduce Solar lighting system in the Hill Shrine with assistance from the Central Government.

In continuation of its social initiatives, The Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) started a massive afforestation drive in collaboration with the Tata Steel, in and around the holy Tara Tarini Hill Shrine near Berhampur city in Odisha. The Tata Steel has come forward to support the afforestation programme in the hill shrine and has offered to plant around half-million fruit bearing tress over a period of five years around the hill shrine area besides taking care of the trees. This initiative has been welcomed by the people for being a first of its kind initiative taken by a Shrine Board in collaboration with a private sector company.

The Chairman TTDB and Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) Southern Division Odisha Shri LN Nayak and Tata Steel Odisha Chief Resident Executive Shri Sushanta Kumar Mishra jointly started this programme on 17 July by planting trees in the foothill area of the Shrine. Tata Steel Gopalpur plant heads Shri AK Mohapatra and Shri SK Singh, Senior Manager Tata Steel Shri SS Routray, Secretary TTDB Shri Pramod Kumar Panda, office bearers of Tara Tarini Development Board and senior officials of Government of Odisha and district administration were also present on this occasion.

Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) has taken a number of such initiatives in recent times to improve the green cover and protect the environment of the holy shrine. Recently introduction of Solar lighting system in the entire Hill Shrine area has been taken up by TTDB with assistance from the Central Government.

Following the afforestation programme, a meeting of the office bearers of the Development Board was held under the Chairmanship of Shri LN Nayak, Chairman TTDB. On this occasion, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Smt. Renubala Pradhan announced to contribute required fund from her MPLAD to construct a rest-shed to accommodate large number of visitors and a market complex on the Hilltop. To protect the Hill top area, it was also decided to construct embankments on both the north and south side of the Hilltop. The Rural Development Department, Government of Odisha, agreed to prepare the master plan for it. To protect the natural beauty of the Hilltop, architect Prabir Dash gave a number of proposals on this occasion. Similarly, Shri Durga Prasad tabled a master plan to execute the various developmental projects proposed by the TTDB, and it was sent to the Technical Committee of TTDB to further examine the master plan.

Gopalpur port operations set to begin from March 2013

Gopalpur port being developed near Berhampur city in Ganjam district of south Odisha, will start its operation from March 2013. This is despite the fact that the state government is yet to approve the new board of Gopalpur Port Ltd (GPL), the special purpose vehicle developing the seasonal port at Gopalpur into an all-weather port. “We are aiming to start operations from March next year as we expect to complete construction of at least one out of three ongoing berths. The berth will have cargo handling capacity of around 3.5 million tonnes,” said MM Moharana, director (operations) of GPL. “The new board of GPL is yet to be approved by the state government due to some technical problems. We hope to get the approval in the next two months,” he added. “If the weather conditions permit, the dredging of the port will start from September,” Moharana said.

GPL had won the award from the Odisha government in 2008 for developing the Gopalpur port on build, own, operate, share and transfer (BOOST) basis at a cost of Rs 1,700 crore. Initially, GPL was promoted by three partners- Odisha Stevedores Limited (OSL), Sara International Limited (SIL) and Hong Kong based Noble Group. However, the port project was pushed into uncertainty after Noble Group exited the consortium. Later, SIL which held 50 per cent stake also pulled out and consequently its stake was sold to Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL).

For running the port’s commercial operations, three berths would be constructed- one each for coal and iron ore with the other being a multipurpose berth. The port also expects to receive 125,000 dwt (dead weight tonnage) super vessel by 2016. Meanwhile, the Plan Panel has accorded “in principle” approval to the construction of a new railway line, connecting the port town of Gopalpur to Rayagada, an industrial hub, in south Odisha. The cost of this 258-km rail line is estimated at Rs 1,392.32 crore. The commissioning of the new railway line is likely to provide easy port access to the mineral hinterland of South-Western Odisha.  

Source: Business Standard

Berhampur to get three new railway flyovers

Source: The Sambad

Odisha advises the Railway Ministry to expedite construction of railway wagon factory in Ganjam

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has advised the Railway Ministry to expedite the construction of the railway wagon factory at Sitapali in Ganjam district. The Railway Minsitry sanctioned this much awaited project in Ganjam district of Odisha in the current year’s Railway Budget. Meanwhile, the State Government has also initiated the process of land acquisition for a second railway wagon factory in Kalahandi district. Indian Railways, which had already sanctioned Rs. 1 crore for establishment of the first wagon factory at Sitalapalli in Ganjam district during 2012-13 fiscal, has indicated that it would not hesitate to construct another such project if the State government provides land. According to official sources, the district administration has already identified the required land for the ambitious railway project in the backward district of Kalahandi, part of the KBK region. Since the project would help develop the socio-economic status of the local people, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik assured the Railway Ministry to provide all possible cooperation to ensure the setting up of the project. He also asked the Revenue Department and the IDCO to undertake acquisition of land as soon as possible.

Source: New Indian Express, The Pioneer, The Hindu, Economic Times

London Olympics dreams ride on Ravi Kumar

BERHAMPUR: Commonwealth gold medallist and weightlifter K. Ravi Kumar left for London2012 on Monday amidst prayers from his family and well-wishers. "I went to the temple and prayed for his success just after his London-bound plane left from New Delhi. He spoke to me and I gave him my blessings," said K Suryakanta, Ravi Kumar's mother.

Many of his well-wishers also SMSed him conveying their good wishes. "I will try my best in the Olympics but I am not under any pressure," Ravi told TOI before leaving for London. Besides Ravi, who will participate in the Olympics in the 69 kg category, Soniya Chanu, the CWG silver medallist in the 48 kg category women will also be there. "We have high hopes from them. They could spring a surprise in the Olympic games," said vice-president of Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Narayan Sahu, who is also general secretary of Odisha Weightlifting Association (OWA).

They were selected for the Olympics during the Asian Championship in South Korea in May. Both the weightlifters have practiced hard for 5 to 7 hours daily at the national camp in Patiala. "Ravi, who had a shoulder injury is also fit now. So we can bank on our weightlifters," Sahu said.

"He was doing well in his practice sessions. He had won gold in CWC by lifting 321 kg. We are expecting he will improve upon his previous show," said Sita Prasad Patnaik, a coach with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Ravi's former coach.

Arjuna award winner Ravi had started as a weightlifter from the Veer Hanuman Circus Physical Institute here before he was selected to join in the SAI hostel in 2005. "Since he is a member of our club, we will organize a rally wishing him success in the London Olympics on July 27," a club member said.

Source: Times of India

Thousands throng Red Ribbon Express in Berhampur city

Ganjam district was awarded by the Central government on  1 December 2010, for best management of the Red Ribbon Express

Over 28,500 people, mostly women, have visited Red Ribbon Express (RRE) exhibition train, now stationed at Berhampur city railway station in Ganjam district, Odisha to create awareness on HIV/AIDS. "We have made arrangements for people from villages, mostly youth and women, to visit the train during its stay at Berhampur," said Ganjam district collector Krishan Kumar. Four vehicles are visiting different villages with anti-AIDS message and to request the people to visit the train, which arrived here on July 07 for a three-day halt.

The Red Ribbon Express undertaking an anti-AIDS campaign had also visited Berhampur in 2008 and 2009. The district was awarded by the Central government on the December 1, 2010 on AIDS Day, for best management of the exhibition train, as around 38,000 people had visited at that time, sources said. "We expect around 60,000 people to visit the train this time," the collector said.

The administration has opened some exhibition stalls on promotion of condom use, test of tuberculosis and staging of different folk dances outside the railway station on AIDS awareness campaign during the period.

Visit of the RRE to Berhampur city is significant as Ganjam district has the highest number of HIV positive persons, around 38 per cent of the state's AIDS population. As many as 9723 persons from the district have been tested HIV positive in the last 12 years up to May.

Source: PTI

Chennai based Shankar Netralaya to set up hospital in Berhampur city

The Shankar Netralaya will set up a super speciality hospital in Berhampur city of Odisha. The Chennai based renowned eye hospital has proposed to set up a 200-bed Eye Hospital at Berhampur and the state government has approved the proposal. “The government has also agreed in principle to a proposal from Shankar Netralaya of Chennai to start a 200-bed eye hospital in Berhampur”, health minister Prasanna Acharya said. Similarly, the Public sector undertaking Nalco promised the state government to open a 100-seat medical college and 300-bed hospital in tribal-dominated Koraput district. This raises the number of medical colleges in the pipeline in the state to 12, including three by PSUs. While National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is in the process of starting a medical college in Sundargarh, Mahandi Coalfields Limited is planning one in Talcher. New Delhi-based OSL Group's Centre for Joint Disorders will establish a 150-seat medical college, 750-bed super-speciality hospital, a dental college and a nursing college in Bhubaneswar. The group has promised to start work within two months, the minister said. The upcoming Sardar Rajas medical college and hospital at Jaring in Kalahandi district, being established by Selvam Education and Charitable Trust of Tamil Nadu, will start admitting students from the next academic year, the minister said. The DFID of UK has been preparing a report to facilitate a medical college in Balangir. Similarly, land transfer work for the proposed medical college by Sahyog Foundation in Keonjhar will be fast-tracked, the minister said. Acharya said the government would soon examine the proposals of Basantidevi Charitable Trust and Bidyabharti Charitable Trust as well to open a medical college in Rayagada. The government has asked Bangalore-based Narayana Hrudayalaya, which has taken land from the state government to establish a super-speciality hospital in Bhubaneswar, or start work or return the land. The group has assured to start work by September, informed the Minister.

Source: Times of India