Saturday, June 29, 2013
Prime Minister approves airport at Brahmapur including 50 other cities in India
The Union government on
June 28 decided to set up 51 new low-cost airports across India including 3 in
Odisha at Brahmapur, Raurkela and Kendujhar. This is aimed at giving a boost to
the civil aviation sector and increase air connectivity to Tier-II and Tier-III
cities. Apart from the low-cost airports, the government has also decided to
grant new international airport status to Bhubaneswar in Odisha.
The state-owned airport
operator, Airports Authority of India (AAI), would set up these low-cost
airports. The decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister
held in New Delhi to finalize infrastructure projects for 2013-14 which was attended
by Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek
Singh Ahluwalia and Ministers of Power, Coal, Railways, Roads, Shipping and
Civil Aviation.
Source: PIB
Friday, June 28, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
18th convocation of Berhampur University will be held on June 28
The 18th
convocation of the Berhampur University will be held on June 28. While
governor-cum-chancellor of universities SC Jamir will preside over the
convocation, former chief minister of Odisha and present governor of Assam JB
Patnaik will deliver the convocation address.
According to vice chancellor of Berhampur University Prof
JK Mohapatra, as many as about 40,000 passed-out students of the years 2011 and
2012 will be awarded degrees at the convocation.
Besides, 400 MPhil passed-out students will get their
certificates while the chancellor will award doctoral degrees to 217 successful
researchers of different disciplines who completed their research works between
January 2012 and May 2013.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Funds woes plague Berhampur Municipal Corporation
The Berhampur
Municipal Corporation, which is facing financial crisis, is desperate to mop up
revenue. “The corporation has plunged into a deep financial crisis and the
situation is precarious,” said civic body commissioner Ajit Kumar Mishra. “Collection
of holding tax, parking fee and trade licence, which are the major source of
income for the civic body, is not encouraging. We have fixed a target and asked
the field staff to collect Rs 2 crore revenue within one month. We have also
decided to take stringent action against the revenue field staff who are not
serious about fulfilling the target,” said Mishra.
The civic
body has also launched raids on several shops to ascertain whether they have
trade licences. More than 100 businessmen, including silk sari shop and cloth
merchant in Bada Bazar, were running their establishments without trade
licence. The corporation has collected Rs 1.25 lakh as fine from them. “There
are around 7,500 registered trade licence holders in Berhampur and the target
of revenue collection is Rs 3.24-crore per annum. But the number of trade
licences must be more than 25,000 in the city. Those running their business
without a licence should come forward,” said Mishra. The corporation collected
Rs 16 lakh only out of a target of Rs 3.24-crore per annum. Similarly, there
are 60,000 holdings in the corporation limits. “The target of collection of
holding tax is Rs 3.66 crore per annum, but the collection is Rs 1.25-crore now
and there is a short fall of Rs 2.40 crore. Though many news houses have come
up, the civic body is totally in dark about the development. Most people are
approaching the Berhampur Development Authority for the approval of their
houses and they come to us only when they face difficulties of civic amenities,”
said Mishra.
As such,
holding tax has been assessed in 35 per cent cases. A huge due from the
government sector is also alarming. “The amount of arrears from the government
sector is Rs 1.4 crore. We have collected Rs 16,374 only from the government
establishments. We have a target to collect Rs 1.29 crore from the kiosks and
cabins, but have collected only Rs 4.27 lakh,” he said. He added that revenue
collection from kalyan mandaps (marriage venues), guesthouses, town hall and
slaughterhouses was meager. Revenue from hoardings, which is a major source of
revenue, is lagging behind. “We have a target of collection of Rs 60 lakh. But
the collection is only Rs 83,320,” said the commissioner. “We need another Rs
1.60 crore per month to run the corporation. Otherwise it will be difficult for
us to manage the establishment,” said Mishra.
Source: The Telegraph
Friday, June 21, 2013
Several pilgrims from south Odisha districts stranded in Uttarakhand
Several pilgrims from districts of south Odisha are reported
to be stranded in floodwater in some areas of Uttarakhand. According to
sources, around 40 of them are from Paralakhemundi area in Gajapati district
and around twenty are from Berhampur and Ganjam district. As per unconfirmed
reports twenty other pilgrims from Koraput and Malkangiri districts are also
stranded in the flood-hit mountainous area. The pilgrims from Gajapati district
had reached Uttarakhand for ‘chardham yatra’ that includes visit to Kedarnath
and Gangotri area, which were worst affected by the recent floods. They had
gone there in two batches of thirty members each. According to the information
provided by one of these stranded pilgrims, M. Dharmaraju of R. Sitapur village
near Paralakhemundi, twenty pilgrims from Gajapati district had safely returned
to Haridwar, while the others were stranded at Uttarakashi, Gangotri and
Kedarnath. After receiving information, Gajapati district administration has
started collecting information regarding all persons of the district stranded
in Uttarakhand. Similar measures have also been initiated by the Ganjam
district administration. Meanwhile, the State Home Secretary Upendra Nath
Behera declared that Odisha government was making all possible efforts for safe
return of Odia pilgrims stranded in Uttarakhand. According to him the resident
commissioner of Odisha posted in New Delhi was in touch with Uttarakhand
government regarding state of Odia pilgrims stranded there.
Source: The Hindu
South Odisha gets technical education boost
ITI, Berhampur |
The Odisha Government is planning to start two new
polytechnics in Gajapati and Kandhamal districts and increase the number of
seats in the ITIs at Berhampur and Chhatrapur in Ganjam from this year. The
objective is to boost technical education in southern Odisha. The new
polytechnics would function at Paralakhemundi and Phulbani in Gajapati and
Kandhamal districts respectively. Sixty students each would take admission in
the civil, mechanical, electrical and electronics and telecommunication streams
in each polytechnic course, official sources said. The buildings of the new
polytechnics are nearing completion and are likely to be handed over next
month. The Government, however, is yet to appoint teachers for the new
institutes. “We expect the Government to appoint teachers before the
commencement of classes on August 1,” said the in-charge of the polytechnic and
ITI Phulbani Principal, D. P. Patnaik.
Meanwhile, the Government has increased the number of seats
in the Government-run ITIs in Berhampur and Chhatrapur in Ganjam by 340 and 378
seats respectively. The seat strength was doubled in the fitter, electrical,
welder and electronics streams in ITI Berhampur, while three new trades —
instrumental, mechanics and welder — have been introduced at ITI Chhatrapur,
besides doubling the seats in the existing disciplines — mechanics, electrical
and electronics. The total strength has now been increased to 1,300 and 567 in
ITI Berhampur and Chhatrapur respectively, said ITI Berhampur Principal Rajat
Panigrahi. He said infrastructure was being provided to accommodate the
increased number of students. The Government has already provided instruments
worth around Rs 80 lakh to the institutes. Two new buildings were set up on
their premises at an expenditure of Rs 65 lakh.
Source: The Hindu
Source: The Sambad |
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Titanium plant in Chhatrapur, Ganjam likely to start soon
Construction of titanium dioxide plant near Chhatrapur in
Ganjam district is likely to start soon as the promoter of the proposed plant
has agreed to fulfil almost all demands of land-losers. The company officials
submitted the agreement with the land-losers to the district administration on
Monday.
"We have agreed to pay an extra Rs 40,000 per acre of acquired land, at least a job to each of the project- affected families and undertake periphery development work in the area," said senior general manager of promoter Saraf Agency Private Limited (SAPL) S L Modi. The extra amount would be paid to the land-losers after commencement of work, he said. Most of the affected people have agreed with the proposal and if all things go well, the construct work would start from June 21, he said.
"We have agreed with the company's proposal," said S Reddy, one of the land-losers of Tikiria Berhampur. "We want the company to expedite the work," said adviser to Titanium plant land-losers' association Bipra Acharya.
The Kolkata-based company had acquired around 230 acre, including 199 acre private land, for the project five years ago. Around 300 people of four villages - Tikiria Berhampur, Kanamana, Chandrapada and Mayipatna - lost their lands for the project. Courtesy: ToI
"We have agreed to pay an extra Rs 40,000 per acre of acquired land, at least a job to each of the project- affected families and undertake periphery development work in the area," said senior general manager of promoter Saraf Agency Private Limited (SAPL) S L Modi. The extra amount would be paid to the land-losers after commencement of work, he said. Most of the affected people have agreed with the proposal and if all things go well, the construct work would start from June 21, he said.
"We have agreed with the company's proposal," said S Reddy, one of the land-losers of Tikiria Berhampur. "We want the company to expedite the work," said adviser to Titanium plant land-losers' association Bipra Acharya.
The Kolkata-based company had acquired around 230 acre, including 199 acre private land, for the project five years ago. Around 300 people of four villages - Tikiria Berhampur, Kanamana, Chandrapada and Mayipatna - lost their lands for the project. Courtesy: ToI
Monday, June 17, 2013
Odisha to lease out IREL land to Gopalpur port
The
Odisha government has initiated the process to resume 269 acres of mined out
land of Indian Rare Earths Ltd (IREL). This patch of land will be leased out to
Gopalpur Ports Ltd (GPL) for expansion.
Necessary
action may kindly be taken for early resumption of 269 acres of mined out land
of IREL which will be leased out to GPL for development of Gopalpur port, D N
Padhi, joint secretary (commerce & transport) wrote to Ganjam collector. Officials
of GPL could not be reached for comments.
The
port started its commercial operations last month when 7,500 tonnes of
ilmenite, the sand mineral product of Odisha Sands Complex (OSCOM), a unit of
the Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), was shipped through a small vessel to
South Korea.
The
clearance for the operation of the port from the State Pollution Control Board
(SPCB) and customs department was accorded on May 14.
The
port operation was stopped since 2010 for its upgradation to an all weather
port. Before 2010, the port, located at Arjeepalli, about 30 km from here, was
functioning as a seasonal port.
Initially,
GPL was floated as a consortium of three partners- Odisha Stevedores Ltd (OSL),
Delhi-based Sara International Ltd (SIL) and Hong Kong-based Noble Group.
But
Noble Group exiting the consortium in May 2010 had raised questions on the
future of the port. Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) has recently evinced
interest in acquiring 49 per cent stake in the consortium.
The
existing promoters of GPL were yet to take a call on allowing JSPL to pick up
stake in the special purpose vehicle (SPV).The
ports total capacity was envisaged at 54 million tonne per annum (mtpa) and it was to be developed at a cost of Rs 3,500 crore. Source: Business-Standard
Friday, June 14, 2013
Tara Tarini hill shrine to get new ropeway
Tara Tarini hill shrine near Berhampur in Ganjam district is
all set to get a new ropeway to the hill top shrine. According to authorities
of the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB), a test run of this new modernized
ropeway had started from May 14. After completion of one month of test run,
there would be a proper security check and date of its inauguration would be
fixed.
It may be noted that a Kolkata-based company had started a
ropeway to the hill top in 2007. In August 2012 this company withdrew from the
project. After its departure now Usha Breco Pvt. Ltd, Ghaziabad has established
this ropeway at the Tara Tarini hill shrine near Berhampur on the lines of the
modern Ropeways at Mansa Devi in Haridwar. According to the secretary of the TTDB, Pramod Panda, the
ropeway had remained defunct since August 2012. Source: The Hindu
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013
Greater Berhampur to get city bus service by September 30
City bus services will start in Berhampur September
30. This was informed by Berhampur Municipal Commissioner Ajit Mishra at a
meeting held in Berhampur on Thursday.
He said the State Government has released `5 crore
to purchase buses which will play between Berhampur and Gopalpur, Berhampur and
Chatrapur and Berhampur and Hinjili.
These buses will be operated by Ganjam Urban
Transport Service Ltd whose Chairman is Ganjam Collector. The company has been
floated by the BMC. Officials like BMC Commissioner, RTO, SDPO and BDA
Secretary will function as the company’s directors.
On each of the three routes, eight buses would play
at 10 to 12 minutes interval and the bus service would be operated on PPP mode.
This meeting, held on the premises of Berhampur
Municipal Corporation (BMC) office premises, was attended by chairperson of the
Behampur Development Authority (BDA) Kailash Rana, secretary of the BDA Manoj
Padhi, city mayor S.S.Dash, BMC commissioner Ajit Mishra, Regional Transport
Officer (RTO), Berhampur Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) and the
representatives of transporters involved in plying small passenger vehicles
between Berhampur and places on its periphery.
The transporters expressed their fear that starting
a city bus service would end their income source. The authorities told them
that city bus service was extremely important for the development of Berhampur
city and its periphery and it cannot be stopped.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Book boon for Berhampur University students
To attract more students to pursue Plus III in the distance
education mode, Berhampur University has decided to provide study materials to
them from this year. The students will have to pay a nominal charge to procure
study materials. The charges for pass and honours students are Rs 1,700 and Rs
2,000 respectively. "The amount is very less compared to the market price
of the books," said director of the Distance Education Centre Sunil Kanta
Behera.
The university has developed a customized syllabus for all
streams of Plus III - arts, commerce and science. At the time of admission, the
university will provide study materials to students for all three years. The
syndicate took a decision in this regard in its last meeting, university
sources said.
"The decision will help many poor students from rural
areas, who are unable to buy the expensive books from the market, to pursue
Plus III. It will also attract more and more students from remote areas to
pursue their college education in the distance mode," said the director.
Besides this, the centre will also continue the contact
programmes, where teachers clear doubts of students in the line of Indira
Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), he said. The contact classes are being
held in Berhampur, Bhanjanagar, Paralakhemundi and Nabarangapur.
Apart from Plus III, the centre is offering some PG courses
and PG diploma in select professional courses. One-year PG course in library
automation and networking will be introduced from this year, he said. The total
number of students in the distance education mode is around 9,500.
Admission for distance education mode will start from August
after completion of admission for regular courses, sources said. ToI
Monday, June 3, 2013
Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) sets up new vegetable vending zone
In all, 303 roadside vegetable vendors would now be able to continue their business in a new vegetable vending zone named Biju Patnaik Vegetable Market.
This project has been taken up by the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) to rehabilitate the vegetable vendors of Kamapalli, Courtpeta and adjoining areas who were also causing traffic problem. According to Commissioner of the BMC, Ajit Mishra details of this new vegetable vending zone were discussed at a special meeting of the BMC on Saturday.
The BMC meeting was convened to pass a resolution demanding special category status to Odisha. Apart from it the issue related to the new vegetable vending zone was also discussed.
This new vegetable vending zone has been established at a cost of Rs. 41 lakh, Mr. Mishra said. In the first phase 168 vegetable vendors would be accommodated in this new vending zone. The others would be allocated space in this vending zone in the second phase.
The vending units would be allocated to the vendors through lottery system, which would be held on June 7 at diamond jubilee auditorium in the city. “Each of these vendors would deposit Rs.10,000 with the BMC as security and they would have to pay nominal rent of Rs.300 per month”, said Mr. Mishra.
Mr. Mishra said that the vegetable vendors of Gate Bazar market who have been rehabilitated at another place would also be provided proper infrastructure. Source: The Hindu