Jatiya Odisha Swabhiman Sammilani concludes in Berhampur

Next Odia meet to be held in Delhi

An international Odia conference will be held in New Delhi in 2014. It was announced during the concluding session of the first Jatiya Odisha Swabhiman Sammilani, a conference of Odias living in and outside Odisha held in Berhampur on December 29. The conference was organized jointly by the Mahan Sangh and Antarjatiya Odia Swabhiman Paratisthan. Mahan Sangh convenor Susant Sabat said regional Odisha Swabhiman Sammilani conferences would be held in Kolkata and New Delhi in near future. During the New Delhi conference, dates of the international Odia conference to be held in the nation’s capital would be finalized.

The concluding day of the first Jatiya Odisha Swabhiman Sammilani had several dignitaries as guests. They included former State Finance Minister Panchanan Kanungo, senior BJP leader and former State Minister Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, writer and MP Baishanab Charan Parida, Rajya Sabha joint secretary Satya Narayan Sahu, and Berhampur University Vice-Chancellor Deepak Behera.

On the concluding day discussions were held regarding the economic, cultural and linguistic development of Odias living in Odisha and outside. Most of the speakers were of the opinion that Odisha was rich in mineral reserve which has not been properly tapped yet. Similarly they were also of the view that the language and culture of Odisha was too rich but the new generation was yet to be properly proud about it. “We should remember that Odia language has now been accepted as one of the classical languages of the country and it is high time for our new generation to be proud about it,” they said.

Prof. Behera lauded the common mass of Odisha for its silent efforts to keep alive rich language heritage of Odisha. According to him, the educated mass may be finding it hard to use proper Odia dialect, yet the commoners have kept alive the rich colloquial form of Odia.

Mr. Harichandan also called upon all to make efforts so that the generation gets related to the folk and classical art, dance and theatre forms of Odisha which are identity of the State.

Mr Parida stressed upon the need of enhancing status of Odia language in modern society. Mr Kanungo in his speech elaborated the tradition of inland and international trading by Odias in history. “We have to take measures to enliven the past economic development of our State,” he said. Source: The Hindu 

New train to be introduced connecting Vizag-Berhampur-TATA

Ministry of Railways has decided to introduce Visakhapatnam-Tata weekly express via Brahmapur-Bhubaneswar and Keonjhar January 5. The 18516 Visakhapatnam-Tata weekly Express via Brahmapur-Bhubaneswar-Keonjhar will leave Visakhapatnam at 05.45 pm on every Sunday and will arrive at Tata at 10.45 am on every Monday.

18516 Visakhapatnam-Tata weekly Express via Brahmapur-Bhubaneswar-Kendujhargarh will leave Visakhapatnam at 1745hrs o­n every Sunday and will arrive at Tata at 1045hrs o­n everyMonday. In the return direction, 18515 Tata-Visakhapatnam weekly Express will leave Tata at 1300hrs o­n every Monday and will arrive at Visakhapatnam at 0440hrs o­n every Tuesday.

This train has O­ne AC-2 tier, Two AC-3 tiers, Nine Sleeper Class Coaches, Six General Second Class Coaches and Two Guard cum Luggage Vans in its composition having stoppages at Simhachalam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Palasa, Sompeta, Ichhapuram, Brahmapur, Chhatrapur, Balugaon, Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Mancheswar, Cuttackm Jakhapura, Sukinda Road, Harichandanpur, Kendujhargarh, Nayagarh, Bangiriposi, Dongaposi, Chaibasa and Rajkharasuan between Visakhapatnam & Tata.

Source: The Hindu & East Coast Railway

120 mega watt thermal power station proposed at Chhatrapur

Source: Dharitri & Odishalinks

Phailin pat for Berhampur

‘Berhampur model’ would be adopted in Philippines and other places: UN Representative Margareta Wahlstrom

A special representative of the UN secretary general for disaster risk reduction, Margareta Wahlstrom, declared the municipal corporation here as a role model for effective co-ordination and preparedness to face a disaster. She handed over a certificate of recognition to Mayor K. Madhaviin Berhampur.

The UN representative congratulated all councillors of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation for restoring normality in the city soon after Phailin. “Disaster is a global problem, and here, the restoration process was very good,” she said. While interacting with the councillors, Wahlstrom particularly wanted to know how the number of casualties was so low as compared to the 1999 super cyclone.

Wahlstrom said the Berhampur model would be adopted in Philippines and other places. The mayor, who received the UN certificate of recognition, said: “The credit for the success of Phailin management goes to all the councillors, commissioner and staff members. It was a team effort.”

Municipal commissioner Ajit Kumar Mishra said: “We requested all the 40 councilors to help evacuate the people from the 254 slum pockets immediately after the meteorological department forecast about the cyclone. The accurate prediction helped us prepare for the cyclone well in advance and the councillors played a key role in disaster management during and after the cyclone,” he said.

Mishra added that 30,000 people had been evacuated in just around 30 hours at that time. Councillor Ashok Shukla, P. Asharani and others apprised Wahlstrom of the steps taken by them during evacuation and restoration.

The UN representative, accompanied by assistant secretary of the Union home ministry Aparna Ganeshan and K.C. Bishoyi of the Odisha Disaster Mitigation Authority, visited a multipurpose cyclone shelter at Matikhal near Chatrapur, Save the Child organisation in Gopalpur, a fishermen’s village called Nua Golabandha and the Berhampur University campus. Source: The Telegraph

Berhampur Municipal Corporation boundary to be redrawn with the merger of 46 villages

Efforts are under way for merger of around 46 villages on the periphery of the city into the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) area.

Berhampur, the oldest municipality of the state was elevated to a Municipal Corporation on Dec 31, 2008. As per the gazette notification made for the purpose the boundary of the new Municipal Corporation, it was to include 26 villages of 14 panchayats on its periphery. Even after four years the boundary of the BMC has not been redrawn. According to BMC authorities, as per the recent plans the number of villages proposed to be included in the BMC has been increased to 46. They are from panchayats adjoining the BMC area. When Cuttack and Bhubaneswar urban bodies were elevated to Municipal Corporations, more than 60 panchayats were merged with these urban bodies. But in case of Berhampur similar action has been delayed.

The Berhampur Sub-Collector convened a meeting to discuss the process to be initiated. As per BMC officials the villages to be included are the ones through which the proposed ring road for the city would pass. With the inclusion of these new villages the population of the city would exceed seven lakh and it would provide scope for planned development of the city. Source: The Hindu

CPM DEMANDS UPGRADATION OF AGE-OLD BRAHMAPUR RAILWAY STATION

The Ganjam district CPI(M) on Monday staged demonstration in front of the Station Manager’s office at the Brahmapur Railway Station, demanding steps for immediate upgradation of the age-old station. Hundreds of party workers holding placards in hands shouted slogans against the Railway authorities and the Central Government for allegedly taking no steps for modernizing the station. “Brahmapur Railway Station is one of the oldest stations of the country. This station also records the highest revenue collection compared to other railway stations in the State. Despite all these, this station stands neglected for long,” lamented CPI(M) State politibureau member and veteran trade union leader Ali Kishore Pattnaik.

Expressing concern over the fact that the station witnessed heavy loss after being affected by cyclone Phailin, Pattnaik slammed the Railway authorities for not taking up even restoration work after two months since the disaster hit it. The passengers are still waiting for trains under the open sky, he rued.

The leaders have also demanded separate toilets for female and male passengers both inside and outside the railway station. Later, the leaders submitted a memorandum addressed to General Manager (East Coast Railway Zone) through the Station Manager Durga Prasad Brahma.

Among others, party leaders Kailash Sadangi, Basanta Nanda, Yudhisthir Behera, Babula Nayak and Panchanan Jena were present. Meanwhile, in a statement, senior BJP leader Rama Chandra Panda criticised the apathetic attitude of the Railway Ministry for not taking steps to make the heritage railway station a world class one. Source: The Pioneer  

Berhampur University restarts fellowship to boost research

The Berhampur University (BU) has decided to re-introduce departmental fellowship for research work in all 21 departments. At least one candidate in each department will be selected through entrance test for award of fellowship.

Candidates, who fail to qualify University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) NET, can get the opportunity to avail university fellowship.

The BU has proposed to provide Rs 5,000 a month to each selected candidate as fellowship amount. In addition to this, Rs 5,000 and Rs 3,000 per annum will be provided as contingency for each research fellow in science and arts stream respectively. "We have decided to introduce the fellowship programme to boost research activities in the university," said vice-chancellor Deepak Kumar Behera.

The BU has provided Rs 25 lakh for the purpose in its revised budget, which was approved by finance committee on Saturday, he said. The decision would be implemented soon after syndicate of the university approved the revised budget, sources said.

The departmental fellowship was discontinued in the university around two decades back due to the paucity of funds, varsity sources said. The BU had provided fellowship to research scholars in some select subjects.

The fellowship amount was provided from interest of a corpus fund, created for the purpose. "The corpus fund merged with university funds with discontinuation of the fellowship," said a retired vice-chancellor of the BU, requesting anonymity.

The BU has also decided to conduct more number of invited memorial lectures and ink memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with more number of institutes within the country and outside for collaborative research and other purposes. In its revised budget, the university has provided Rs 1 lakh each for memorial lectures and signing MoUs.Source: The ToI

Berhampur Muan: The delicacy that makes the city Unique

Source: The Sambad

Convention centre and auditorium promise for BAMP remains on paper

Source: The Sambad

RALLY FOR UNITY; A BIG DRAW IN BERHAMPUR CITY

A historic marathon ‘Run for Unity’ on the eve of 63rd death anniversary of Sardar Vallabhai Patel was organised by Citizens for Accountable Governance at Khallikote College Stadium in Berhampur. In great memory of this iron man, a brief meeting was organised in which Ganjam District BJP president and district coordinator BK Swain presided. While Vice Chancellor of Berhampur University Prof Deepak Behera joined the marathon ceremony as chief guest, Prof Bishnu Charan Choudhury, Professor of Political Science of the university was the Chief Speaker on the occasion. Vice-Chancellor Prof Behera flagged off the rally.

Addressing the gathering Prof Choudhury recalled the contributions of the iron man Patel on unification of princely States in India while Prof Behera in his address described Patel as the symbol of unity and strength of India.

Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Speaker Rama Chandra Panda was present on the occasion and participated in the run for unity. A total of 1,432 youths, students, and senior citizens of both men and women attended the marathon rally.

Source: The Sambad

Among others, District Chief of Statute of Unity Suryanarayan Das, BJP Youth leaders Bibhuti Jena, Sarat Kumar Sahu, Kanhu Charan Pati, Sunil Kumar Sahu, Binod Mishra, Gopinath Panda, Prabhat Kiran Sadangi, N Rajendra Kumar, Prof PK Patra, Govind Das, social worker Brundaban Sahu, Dr Sagar Sadangi and a galaxy of youth leaders, advocates, social activists participated. The participants were awarded C certificates by the Sardar Vallabhai Patel Ekata Trust. The marathon rally moved through Old bus stand, Arnnapurna Market, Girija Square, Goutam Cinema Hall Road, Gandhinagar Main Road, and Congress Bhavan.

In historic Ganjam town, several hundred College students and senior citizens participated in the “run for unity” marathon rally which started from Bada Bazar-Vivekananda Statute and passed through the streets of the heritage town. The marathon run was flagged off by teacher Subash Pattnaik. Source: The Pioneer 

TWELVE-DAY GANJAM BOOK FAIR FROM DECEMBER 18

The Eighth Ganjam District Book Fair-2013 will be held at the Khallikote College Stadium, Berhampur from December 18 to 29. Book Fair Committee founding secretary Bhavani Sankar Panigrahi said a detail blueprint for organizing different social, academic, literary and cultural activities during these 12 days has been prepared. Odisha Sahitya Academy Secretary Dr Bijay Nayak would inaugurate the fair while well known literary figure Prof Sudarshan Acharya would be chief Guest and Brahmapur Sub-Collector Bijay Das the guest of honour on the inaugural day.

The programme of Saraswat Samaroha would be organised by the Brahmapur Sahitya Ghar on December 19 and that of Sanskrutika Bichitra Parivesan by the Baramasi Sahitya Sansad on December 20. The other programmes include Sahitya Aashar by the Ganjam Zilla Pustak Mela Samiti (December 21); Sahitya Aashar by the Ganjam Zilla Lekhika Sansad (December 22); seminar on Sampratika Sahityara Diga O’ Diganta (December 23); workshop on Security and Ganjam Tourism (December 24); cultural discussion Nupur (December 25); Musical Circle on (December 26); Sanskrutika Bichitra Paribeshan (December 27); and multilingual poem recitation (December 28).

The closing ceremony on December 29 would have Congress Chief Whip in Assembly Prasad Harichandan as the chief guest and Ganjam Additional Collector Dr Lingaraj Rath and BMC Commissioner Dr Ajit Mishra as guests of honour. Source: The Pioneer

Work on Sanskrutika Bhawan to begin soon in Berhampur

The work on Biju Patnaik Sanskrutika Bhawan at Hillpatna in Berhampur city is likely to start this month. The tender for the proposed three-storey auditorium with a seating capacity of 600 has been finalized. During a review meeting, Ganjam collector Krishan Kumar directed engineers of the R&B division to immediately issue the work order. "The construction work will begin in a week," he said. They have been asked to complete the project by next year. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone of the Rs 1-crore project in 2008, just before the assembly elections in 2009.

The state-owned Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) was entrusted with the task of constructing the auditorium over one acre at Hillpatna. But it did not take it up, citing technical problem. Meanwhile, the project cost escalated to Rs 4.96 crore. The comptroller and auditor general (CAG) of India also criticized the culture department for the delay as funds for the auditorium were sanction in 2008 itself. According to sources, Sanskrutiak Bhawan would be one of the biggest auditoriums in southern Odisha. The auditorium would not only host dramas and cultural programmes but also house a museum and a tourist office on its premises. Source: The ToI

Mighty Rushikulya at its enchanting best on a winter morning

Greater Berhampur taking definte shape, several projects on the anvil

Source: The Sambad

Berhampur Municipal Corporation still in slumber, development takes a back seat

Source: The Sambad

Tourist flow to the ‘Kashmir of Odisha' gains momentum

Night temperature is hovering around four degrees Celsius in Daringbadi 

The flow of tourists to Daringbadi described as the ‘Kashmir of Odisha’, the hill town in Kandhamal district which is around 170 km from the nerve center of South Odisha Berhampur city has gained momentum with experiencing a cold wave.

The night temperature at the picturesque tourist destination is hovering around 4 degrees Celsius. “Several visitors are coming to Daringbadi every day. The flow of visitors has increased with mercury going down steadily,” said Tourist Officer (Kandhamal) Manoranjan Das.

Besides the cold climate, vast extents of coffee plantations, scenic hills, pine jungles and ‘lovers’ waterfall attract tourists to Daringbadi. The Tourism Department has developed the site keeping tourists’ priorities in mind.

Daringbadi, situated at an altitude of 280 metres above sea level, is the only place in the State which witnesses snowfall during peak winter. Around 400 domestic and foreign tourists visited the hill town last month, Tourism Department sources said. “Tourists are not staying in the night due to the fear of Maoists,” said an officer. Last year, two Italian tourists were kidnapped by red rebels near Daringbadi.

No curbs on foreigners

“There is no restriction on foreigners to Daringbadi. Tourists, who want to visit Belaghara, need to take permission of the district administration as people belonging to the Kutia Kondha tribe reside there. There was a restriction on visiting places inhabited by Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups after the ‘human safari’ controversy,” he said.

The district administration has decided to develop infrastructure at Daringbadi to increase tourist footfall. “We propose to construct a coffee house, a children’s park and a 3D theatre at Daringbadi,” said BDO (Daringbadi) S. N. Jena. There are also plans to develop infrastructure facilities at Dasingbadi, another picturesque place with a pine jungle and a waterfall. Dasingbadi is about 17 km from Daringbadi, he said. Similarly, the administration has also decided to develop the scenic spots at Hatimunda and Kirikutisaid the BDO. – PTI

Motorcycle rally taken out in Berhampur city demanding rail link between Berhampur and Kandhamal

A motorcycle rally was taken out in the city on Friday by ‘Relapatha Sangram Samity, Kandhamal-Ganjam’ demanding railway link between Berhampur in Ganjam and Phulbani in Kandhamal district.

This rally started from First Gate area and travelled through different areas of the city to reach the office of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division. 
Source: The Hindu 

Barracks Stadium in Berhampur faces perpetual neglect; Remains incomplete for 30 years and still counting

Source: The Sambad

Basic services elude the Southern Odisha districts

Source: The Sambad

TENDER FOR OPERATION OF CITY BUS SERVICE IN BERHAMPUR CITY