Why Berhampur is more deserving and suitable than Sambalpur to host the IIM in Odisha?

Widespread agitation resurfaces across Ganjam district demanding the establishment of IIM in Berhampur city

World Bank discusses strategies with BMC to develop infrastrcuture in Berhampur city

DEMAND FOR ANKULI PASSENGER HALT (BRAHMAPUR) RESURFACES

Residents of Ankuli industrial area in the city under a banner of the Silpanchal Passenger Halt Sangram Samiti (SPHSS) has decided to stage rail roko on June 2 demanding functioning of a passenger halt at Ankuli.

The decision was taken by the Samiti at a meeting held on Wednesday evening. In the meeting, most of the members expressed grave concern over the apathetic attitude of the Railways and its senior officials for setting up of the passenger halt.

Samiti members including Brahmapur Municipal Corporation (BMC) Deputy Mayor Jyotsna Nayak, SPHSS president Panchanan Choudhury, convener Umacharan Nayak, secretary Abani Gaya and spokesperson Brundaban Sabat said they have requested several important persons starting from Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), Brahmapur to the Railway Minister, but nothing happened till date.

“It is our longstanding demand since 1998, but the railway is not taking any steps to fulfill our demands,” said Choudhury, adding, “If the railway doesn’t take any concrete steps to set up the passenger halt, we will stage rail rok on June 2.”

GANJAM FORUM HOLDS DRIVE FOR IIM AT BRAHMAPUR

To strengthen the demand for setting up of the proposed IIM Odisha at Brahmapur and to create public awareness on the apathetic attitude of the State Government towards the silk city, the Forum for Ganjam held a drive here on Tuesday. Forum members distributed pamphlets and leaflets among the public at important places like Khallikote Collage, Girja Square, Ramalingam Tank Road, Gandhinagar, Komapalli. The pamphlets displayed information on how Brahmapur has been neglected.

The forum members alleged that ignoring the demand to set up the proposed IIM at Brahmapur, the State Government is contemplating to have the institute in Sambalpur or in Bhubaneswar. Form coordinator Sidhir Sahoo and members J Suresh, Rajendra Panda and Rabi Kumar, among others, joined the awareness drive.

Pic-Speak: Berhampur's bustling stretch remains deserted due to soaring heat

 By Ronalisa Parida, 20 May 2015

 

Berhampur roads remained deserted on Wednesday afternoon due to soaring temperatures. With the maximum temperature shooting up to 40 degree Celsius, people preferred to stay indoors. A busy stretch in the city - College road, near Khallikote College, also witnessed very less movement of traffic due to rising mercury.

"I generally avoid movin out in the heat. But today I had to vnture out in the burning sun due to some urgent work," a commuter told Iamin.

Repay Ganjam’s love: Berhampur IIM forum to CM

The Forum for IIM at Brahmapur on Saturday urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to pay back love of Ganjam people for him by recommending Brahmapur or any other place in Ganjam district for establishment of the proposed IIM Odisha.

Forum chairman Dr Pramod Kumar Sahu stated this in a letter sent to Patnaik. He mentioned the HRD Ministry has in a missive informed the forum that the location for the proposed IIM was yet to be finalized and they are in consultation with the State Government for the purpose.

“Ganjam have created history by giving all MLAs and MPs to your party. Unfortunately, the district has remained worst sufferer of gross negligence. A great district of the past is being pushed into oblivion. The people of the district have great hope in you,” Dr Sahu said, adding, “Therefore the people request you to suggest Brahmapur or any place of Ganjam for establishment of the proposed IIM to pay back their love.”

World Bank stresses early completion of Brahmapur-Taptapani Road

Expressing concern over the delay in construction of the 41-km Brahmapur-Taptapani Road in Ganjam district, an expert team from the World Bank has emphasised on early completion of the project.

The team reviewed progress of the work on Saturday. The experts might discuss the bottlenecks in the project with Chief Secretary GC Pati, said a senior engineer of the project.

Notably, the Rs82-crore project funded by the World Bank’s State Road Project was to be completed in November 2010. The road work, which began in November 2008, aimed at improving the State highway, connecting south Odisha’s business city Brahmapur with tourist spot Taptapani.

The delay has escalated the project cost to Rs87 crore, official sources said.

According to Executive Engineer of the project AK Das, around 30 km of the stretch has been completed. The project was held up due to delay in land acquisition, shifting of electric poles and pipelines and payment of compensation to land losers, he added.

Out of the total 31 villages, land of 28 villages had been acquired. It could not be completed at Digapahandi, Lanjia and Gokarnapur due to some disputes, sources said.

Though the contractor has been asked to complete the road work by June, sources said, he expressed his inability and sought time till December. 

Rock Garden to be set up in Berhampur city (Odisha)

Tourists visiting Odisha will soon have a new destination - a Rock Garden - in line with the one at Chandigarh. The proposed rock garden is to come up in Ambapua locality here and will require about Rs 7 crore, officials said here.

The state government has already sanctioned Rs 50 lakh for carrying out preliminary work on the proposed project which would be executed by Berhampur Development Authority (BDA).

Secretary of BDA Dipti Mohapatra said a Delhi-based architectural firm had designed the park and the same was presented before Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

"We have prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed rock garden. It will be submitted to the government soon for approval", Mohapatra said.

About two acres of land have already been identified for the purpose and efforts are on to acquire more adjoining land to add more features in the proposed garden, she said.

Giving an outline of the proposed project, she said as the name suggest, almost all artefacts in the garden would be made of rock and sculptures carved out of stone. The garden would be illuminated by solar energy, water to be stored through rain water harvesting structure besides other amusement facilities.

While stone carvers from different parts of Odisha and outside are likely to be engaged for the purpose, reputed designers will be consulted to make it more attractive, they said. "Our aim is to make the garden an attractive place for visitors, nature lovers, youngsters and children", Mohapatra said.

Press Trust of India | May 17, 2015