MKCG Medical College development works begin

Work on Rs.199-crore project for improvement of infrastructure on the campus of MKCG Medical College and Hospital in the city has started. It coincides with declaration of Union Health Minister Gulam Navi Azad that this medical college would be developed as a super specialist hospital. Apart from it there are chances of increase of student intake capacity of this medical college from coming academic year. The L&T group has been handed over charge of development of infrastructure on the campus of medical college and hospital. According to assistant manager of industrial relations of the L&T group, Binay Kumar Patra, they have made soil tests for the construction works they would be taking up on the campus. These construction works had been already sanctioned by the government, he said. Under this new infrastructure development project, 20 new blocks would be constructed on the medical college campus. They include a seven-storied super specialist block, a modern auditorium with 500 capacity, new lecture theatres and hostels. Source: The Hindu

Police Commissionerate system proposed for Greater Berhampur

Odisha government is reportedly examining creation of three more police commissionerates in Berhampur, Sambalpur and Rourkela. Office of the Director General of Police, sources said, had moved the proposal for creation of three more commissioneratesto make focused effort to address law and order challenges in the three major urban centres of the State. At present, Odisha has only one commissionerate of police which has Bhubaneswar and Cuttack under its jurisdiction.

Urban policing

Providing urban policing in these three cities is mulled over keeping in mind that Berhampur and Sambalpur have already been accorded status of Municipal Corporation while Rourkela’s case is under active consideration of the State government.

Berhampur, one of the oldest and largest cities of Odisha, often hits headline for wrong reasons. In view of the dubious crime record of the city, Berhampur was identified Odisha’s first city-based police district. In fact, it is considered hub of illegal arms trade, illicit liquor preparation and gang-war among criminal groups.

Similarly, Rourkela is the State’s first industrial town inhabited by people from different States. In recent times law breakers have been regularly striking important institutions like bank. Even organised gangs comprising criminals from Jharkhand have surfaced. Sambalpur remained the nerve centre of western Odisha having all important institutions around it. Due to presence of industrial pockets around the city, need of city-police system is felt for long.

A top police officer on condition of anonymity said the government need not have to do a much bigger exercise for creation of these police commissionerates. It can be done only by an executive order. Clause 4 of The Urban Police Act 2003 says, “the government may, by notification, create a Police Commissionerate for any area comprising the territorial area of any one or more corporations constituted under the Orissa Municipal Corporation Ordinance, 2003 and may include any other contiguous area as may be specified in the notification.” Although the State government is facing a tough challenge to mobilise huge resources required for creation of additional police posts and building infrastructure, the proposals might be approved early as both assembly and general elections are round the corner.

Source: The Hindu

City Bus service starts in Greate Berhampur

Source: The Sambad

Flyover at Haldiapadar thrown open in Berhampur

Source: The Sambad

Polythene, liquor to be banned at Tara Tarini fest

Tara-Tarini Temple, Odisha

Use of polythene and consumption of liquor would be completely banned during Chaitra festival at Tara Tarini hill shrine this year. It was decided at a preparatory meting for the festival, which was chaired by Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division, Bikash Mohapatra, who also happens to be the president of Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB), new Ganjam Collector Prem Chandra Choudhury as well as officials of different departments. The Chaitra festival at Tara Tarini hill shrine would be held on five consecutive Tuesdays starting from March 18.

A large number of devotees visit the hill shrine during this time. Last year over seven lakh devotees had visited the hill shrine during the Chaitra festival. The TTDB authorities feel their number may increase this year. The Tara Tarini hills shrine had faced severe impact of Cyclone Phailin. So, basic restoration work is on to provide required amenities to the devotees visiting the shrine. As all rest sheds at this hill shrine have been destroyed by the cyclone, both at the hill top and downhill, the TTDB has decided to make alternative arrangements. According to secretary of the TTDB, Pramod Panda, around thirty tents would be put at different places at this hill shrine to provide shelter to the visitors.

It was also decided to protect the environment of this hill shrine through complete ban of polythene at the shrine and its adjoining areas during the Chaitra festivities. Apart from it sale of liquor would also be stopped in this area from Monday evening to Tuesday evening during the Chaitra festival. Sulabh International and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) departments would be in charge of maintenance of sanitation.

To provide adequate quantity of water to the visiting devotees, ten tankers would be used. They would be procured from Army Air Defence College, Gopalpur as well as different urban local bodies in Ganjam district. The ropeway to the top of the hill shrine which had been devastated by the cyclone last year has been restored. “But the operator of the ropeway has been advised to procure new fitness certificate before the Chaitra festival,” said an official. The stairs to the hill top as well as the roads to it have also been renovated for the festival. The bank of Rushikulya river that flows along the Tara Tarini hill has been eroded for a stretch of over 100 meters near the hill shrine. So, it has been decided to deploy Odisha Disaster rapid Action Force (ODRAF) personnel at this stretch to avoid any mishaps. Source: The Hindu

Trauma care centre in Berhampur on revival course

Central team visits the facility to find ways of making it functional

The trauma care centre on MKCG Medical College and Hospital campus, which had been inaugurated before Parliament elections in 2009, is yet to become functional. The then Union Minister of State for Rural Development Chandra Sekhar Sahu had inaugurated the facility on March 2, 2009, just before the election schedule was announced and code of conduct came into effect. Foundation stone for the project was also laid with much fanfare on December 23, 2006.

The facility was aimed at providing timely succour to victims of accidents on NH-16 and NH-59. As more than 600 accidents occur every year near the city, it was thought that at least some of the victims could be saved once the unit comes into being.

However, the prospects of the trauma care centre becoming functional in the near future brightened as a Central team visited it on Wednesday.

The team, led by Additional Director of the Central Health Department Sitaram Agarwal, held detailed discussions with the Superintendent of MKCG Medical College and Hospital Ashok Kumar Behera on issues and problems of the trauma care centre.

Due to various reasons, the medical college authorities have also not been able to utilise the funds allocated by the Centre for the facility.

Speaking to newsmen, Dr. Behera said Rs.3.11 crore had been sanctioned in two phases by the Central government for the project. But, out of it, Rs.2 crore remained unspent.

As per the proposal, the trauma care centre ought to have one surgery specialist, one anesthesiologist, one orthopaedic specialist, eight medical officers, and 40 staff nurses. However, it was yet to have the required staff.

It was also said that the building had no adequate space to house all the equipment needed due to which procurement of equipment was delayed.

According to the medical college authorities, the instruments already procured for the trauma care centre was being used during emergencies in the casualty ward. Source: The Hindu

Lilium cultivation goes commercial in State

Lilium plants being grown by farmers in Ganjam district

Lilium, an exotic flower, is being commercially cultivated for the first time in the State by the flower cultivators of Ganjam and Kandhamal districts.

Till now lilium was being brought to the State from Bangalore and New Delhi. But now those cultivating the lilium flower are planning to send their produce to Bangalore for a good price. Each stick of lilium costs around Rs. 25. In peak marketing season, its price may raise up to Rs. 50 per stick, say the flower growers.

First stock of the produce of lilium in Ganjam district was sent to Bangalore on Tuesday. It was produced in the poly-house of Sridhar Verma, the president of Ganjam District Flower Growers’ Association.

According to him, till now demand for lilium is not high in the State, but it is a sought-after flower in metropolitan cities. So, lilium produce of Ganjam and Kandhamal district would have a ready-made market outside the State, he says.

More than 40 flower growers in Ganjam district have started commercial cultivation of lilium for the first time this winter. Some of them have selected poly-houses for its cultivation like Mr. Verma, while others are cultivating it in the open.

The Horticulture Department in the State has decided to promote cultivation of lilium for the first time during the current winter. “Its cultivation was first tested in the centre of excellence of the Horticulture Department in Bhubaneswar. Ganjam has been chosen for launch of its commercial cultivation as flower cultivation continues to be done on commercial basis in an organised manner in the area. Kandhamal has been chosen as its climate suits cultivation of this exotic flower,” says Mr. Verma. The selected flower growers of the districts have been provided training regarding its cultivation at the centre of excellence in Bhubaneswar.

Three colours

Lilium is mostly cultivated in Netherlands. Each year new breeds that bear flowers of new colours of lilium get introduced by horticulturists. But in the State, three colours of lilium have been introduced for cultivation. These breeds are most sturdy and have ready made market. Liliums of yellow, pink and white are being cultivated in Ganjam and Kandhamal districts now.

As per botanists, lilium can be cultivated where average temperature does not exceed 25 degree C. So, this exotic flower can only be cultivated during the winter months providing a source of good income to flower growers. Source: The Hindu

Land Handed over for solid waste management Plant in Berhampur

The Berhampur Municipal Corporation has handed over a stretch of land at Mohuda, on the outskirts of the city, to Vadodra-based agency UPL Environment Engineers Ltd (UPLEEL) to set up the much-awaited `40-crore solid waste management plant.

Recently, a meeting was held between the officials of UPLEEL and BMC and they also visited the site for the project. Levelling of the site for the plant has started and it would come up in an area of 31 acres of Government land.

Berhampur Waste Management Company Private Limited - a consortium of UPLEEL, Ram Engineering and Construction Company and BMC has been formed for implementation of the project. The project will be an integrated system involving collection, transportation, treatment and disposal with composting technology and closure of site. “Since BMC has no resources to pay the amount for the project, we have decided to collect at least `1 per household in the town daily,” said BMC Commissioner Ajit Mishra.

Mishra said the city generates around 1.38 tonnes of solid waste which is dumped at Chandania hills daily. After the plant comes up, BMC would pay Rs 1,300 to the company per one tonne of solid waste.

BMC has already signed the concession agreement with the UPLEEL for implementation of the project for next 20 years. BMC has asked the implementing agency to start the process of collection of the garbage from August. “We will set up the plant for processing the solid waste after 15 months of collection of the waste materials,” said KP Maheswari, CEO of UPLEEL. The plant will be set up with latest machineries. Source: Express News Service

HEALTH INDICATORS IN ALL 10 DISTRICTS OF SOUTH ODISHA WORST IN STATE

A meeting-cum-workshop of the district Collectors and CDMOs of south Odisha was held in Berhampur on Friday to evolve suitable mechanisms for strengthening the health indicators of these districts. The meeting, presided over by RDC (Southern) Bikash Chandra Mahapatra, was attended by Collectors and Chief District Medical Officers of 10 districts.

Among others, Secretary of Health & FW Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, NRHM Director of Roopa Mishra and Special Secretary of Health Nalinikanta Das participated in the meeting. The workshop discussed formulation of suitable mechanisms to strengthen and revamp the health indicators which are dormant in these districts compared to the State’s other districts.

South Odisha 

Among other issues, how to reduce the infant and maternal mortality rates figured prominently. The State Government has evolved a three-year action plan under which district Collectors are directed to review the works of the officers of the concerned departments on these issues and submit their progress reports every month.

Health Secretary Mohapatra told the media that the conditions of health indicators of the southern districts are worse compared to all other districts. The Collectors and CDMOs of the districts were adkec to find out the reasons behind the high infant and maternal mortality rates. They were also instructed to ensure effective implementation of the immunisation, delivery, family planning programmes to achieve the target of Millennium Gold-2017.

He informed that the State Finance Department and the MCI have agreed to increase the intake of the MKCG Medical College from 200 to 250 MBBS students from the coming academic session. The MKCG is soon going to have a Super Speciality Block at a cost of `350 crore out of which the State would pay `150 crore. L&T has been entrusted the work which is to be completed in 18 months.

About the Government’s failure to check Gutkha, Mahapatra said that only one Gutkha unit, which was in operation in Brahmapur, has been sealed and the Commercial Tax Department has been asked to keep a strict vigil on check-gates as Gutkha is being illegally pushed to Odisha from other States.

The firms producing water pouch without permission would face action, he cautioned. He was shocked to know from the scribes that there are about 100 such firms operating illegally in Brahmapur. Source: The Pioneer

MKCG Medical College, Berhmapur launches first Tele-Ophthalmology unit in State

More focus on eye care

First tele-ophthalmology unit in the State has been started by MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur city. Speaking to The Hindu , B. Nageswar Subudhi, Head of the Department (HOD) of Ophthalmology Department, said the tele-ophthalmology unit of the college was set up with a financial assistance of Rs. 60 lakh by the Central government under the National Programme for Control of Blindness.

The tele-ophthalmology project has a mobile unit and it would reach out to Primary Health Centres (PHC) in rural areas as well as villages without any medical centres to provide eye care at the door step of the poor and needy. The mobile unit would have direct communication link with headquarters of tele-ophthalmology project where a super specialist would be present to assist the ophthalmologic team in the mobile unit.

The mobile unit was equipped with modern instruments, said Dr. Subudhi. The data of tests of patients would be recorded digitally and the physicians in the mobile unit would take up remedial measures in consultation with headquarters of the tele-ophthalmology project. There would be online transmission of data collected from spot to the headquarters of the project.

During its visits to rural areas, the mobile unit would have one faculty member of Ophthalmology Department of MKCG Medical College and Hospital. He would be assisted by two post-graduate students of the department as well as a technician, said Dr. Subudhi.

Eye donation

It may be noted that Ophthalmology Department of MKCG Medical College and Hospital has been successful in promoting eye donation with the help of local philanthropists.

It is also hoped that direct interaction of ophthalmologists with common mass in rural areas would also increase awareness about eye care and would also make people think about eye donation after death. Source: The Hindu