Festive look in Berhampur with the carnival of Thakurani Yatra entering third week

Source: The Sambad

More vending zones proposed in Berhampur

The Berhampur Municipal Corporation has started work for establishment of a vending zone at Bijipur to rehabilitate vegetable vendors and fruit-sellers, said mayor Siba Shankar Das. Around Rs 13 lakh would be spent on the zone that would have 24 kiosks. The corporation has already constructed two vending zones at Kamapalli while work is on at Baikiuntha Nagar near Gate Bazaar. There is a proposal to build a vending zone at Goshaninuagon, the site for which has already been selected, the mayor said. Over 150 beneficiaries have been rehabilitated in the first phase, he said. For construction of the vending zone at Bijipur, notices were served on encroachers. The construction would start as soon as they vacate the place, said an officer of the corporation. Initially, it was planned to have 27 kiosks but was reduced after students of Khallikote autonomous college complained that the college gate from the backside would be obstructed by the shops. Source: Times of India

Two-Three lacs of devotees throng Tara Tarini Hill Shrine

Source: The Sambad 

Historic Berhampur Barracks stadium to be renovated

In a bid to conduct national level cricket tournaments in Berhampur Barracks stadium, Odisha government has decided to renovate the ground and install a water reservoir with sprinkling system. Sports and Youth Service department of the state government has sanctioned about Rs 56 lakh for the project. While around Rs 20 lakh would be spent for renovation of the playground, Rs 36 lakh is meant for of a four lakh litre capacity underground reservoir, official sources said.

The project also includes facilities like sprinkler irrigation system, which is now available in various major stadia in the country. "The projects are expected to be completed in the next two months. With these facilities, we can conduct national cricket events in the stadium," said president of Ganjam district cricket association (GDCA) R C Patra. "Under the playground renovation project, new soil would be added with chemical treatment. The grass will be planted in the ground like any other major grounds in the country," he said.

Greenery of the ground would be maintained all over the year through sprinkler system, he added. Even though the Ranji Trophy cricket matches were conducted in nineties in the stadium here, the same ground was declared unfit to conduct Odisha Premier League (OPL) cricket match, conducted by the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) last year. The technical committee of OCA has suggested renovation of the playground with maintaining of its greenery.

Presently there is no sparkling in the ground due to non-availability of the water. "The water supply department only supplies water to the sports hostel," said in-charge superintendent of the sport hostel Dharma Rao. While around 38 inmates were in the sports hostel, there are nine girls in the Centre of Excellence in weightlifting. Apart from weightlifting for girls, the hostel has facilities to train the inmates in volley ball, Basket Ball and weightlifting. Source: Zee News

Source: The Sambad

Steps afoot to make Berhampur city slum free by 2017

Berhampur MunicipalCorporation (BMC) has mooted plans to use Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) to make the city slum free by end of 2017. There are 256 recognised and unrecognised slum pockets in Berhampur, the biggest commercial town in southern Odisha. Around 1.50 lakh, comprising about one third population of the city are the slum dwellers. While several of them have their own houses without having basic facilities in their areas, several others leave the pockets encroaching on government land.

The target to make Berhampur slum free was discussed at a workshop organised by the City Level Technical Cell (CLTC) of the BMC on Friday. It was attended by all corporators of the city, the Commissioner of the BMC Akhaya Kumar Mohanty, city Mayor Siba Shankar Dash and dignitaries of the city.

Barracks, Berhampur

“In a bid to make this south Odisha city “slum free”, BMC is set to implement the centrally-sponsored Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) through public private partnership (PPP) to provide houses and infrastructure facilities in slum pockets. Around 400 housing units are proposed to be constructed in two selected slum pockets at Chandi Sahi and Jhilimili Nagar on a pilot basis”, says BMC commissioner A K Mohanty. “The detail project report (DPR) for the pilot project, which is being prepared by a private agency is likely to be completed next month”, he said.

As per a survey there were 256 slums in BMC area. They have around 12,000 households. According to Sangram Panda, the Slum Improvement Officer cum nodal officer of RAY, around 25 per cent of the city population live in slums. Largest slum in the city was located on the banks of Dhobandha tank. The slums with worst living condition were Pichpicha Nagar and Neliabandha Sahi.

Major tasks

Ramlingam Tank Road, Berhampur

The aim of implementation of RAY was discussed in detail for the corporators as they happen to be key catalysts for its implementation. It was stated that a detailed socio-economic survey was conducted at the slums of the city for their rehabilitation. “This survey was conducted by an outside agency to avoid chances of nepotism and partialism,” said Mr. Panda. Project report for implementation of RAY would be prepared in a phased manner as per this survey report.

The Commissioner of the BMC stated that one of the major tasks of implementation of RAY was identification of genuine beneficiaries who live in slums. According to him in most slums middlemen owned the houses which were handed over on rent to the poor.

For houses constructed under RAY, Central government would provide 50 per cent of the cost, the State government would bear 30 per cent of the cost while the rest 20 per cent was to be borne by the beneficiaries. So, through the NGOs the BMC authorities have started to motivate slum dwellers to start making savings so that when they are chosen to get houses under RAY they could provide their share, said Mr. Panda. The corporators were also urged to help in this motivation work.

Source: The Hindu, Business Standard

Source: The Sambad

SOSA demands upgradation of MKCG Medical College, Berhampur to AIIMS-like Institution

Hon’ble Chief Minister Sir,

As you are aware, Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati (MKCG) Medical College & Hospital in Berhampur, Odisha is completing the 50th year of its establishment this week. Established in 1962 and named after the architect of Modern Odisha, Maharaja Shri Krishna Chandra Gajapati, the medical college is the only referral hospital for the backward districts of KBK, Boudh, Kandhamal and Gajapati of south Odisha.

This half century old Institution is considered as the lifeline of the region, but the quality of healthcare in this Medical College has not seen much improvement over the decades. While the State Government has often claimed that the development of this Medical College is an over-riding priority but the quality of medical care and infrastructure is now forcing patients of the region to prefer medical facilities outside the state and in cities like Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad and Chennai. Infact, the MKCG, Medical College has come under the scrutiny of the Medical Council of India (MCI) several times in recent years for its shortage of staff, lack of modern equipments and infrastructure. The state government on its part has only provided assurances without any follow-up action on the ground.

We urge you through this letter to reverse this deplorable state of affairs afflicting this premier Medical Institution of the State through tangible steps to convert it into a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for medical education and for providing quality medical care to the people of the State and the most backward southern region in particular.

In this respect, inclusion of the MKCG Medical College, Berhampur as one of the Medical Colleges for upgradation to AIIMS-like as proposed under the 12th Five Year Plan under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY) would go a long way in improving the deficient infrastructure of this Institution.

While multiple Medical Institutions from other states have been elevated under the Scheme so far, the Central government has completely neglected the state of Odisha. Considering that none of the 26 approved upgrades since the launch of the PMSSY are from Odisha, the State government should push for the upgradation of the MKCG government medical college, Berhampur to AIIMS-level during the 12th Plan given the critical role of this Medical College in improving access to affordable healthcare in south Odisha.

Sir, as a matter of fact, you had very effectively raised the issue of upgradation of MKCG Medical College to AIIMS level Institution besides raising the number of seats for admission to MBBS Course from 150 to 250 in your recent meeting with the Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in New Delhi on 5th March 2012. However, the issues pertaining to the up-gradation of MKCG Medical College are yet to be addressed by the Union government and we do hope that your government will continue pursuing this matter with the Central government.

Today when the MKCG Medical College is preparing to celebrate its Golden Jubilee year of establishment, it should become a moment for reflecting on the state of healthcare and medical education in Odisha. The Golden Jubilee Celebration of this Institution is the time for espousing the collective resolve of the State to ensure massive up-gradation of healthcare infrastructure in one of the poorest and backward regions of the country. The high-incidence of poverty and backwardness coupled with high rates of infant and maternal mortality, high degree of malnutrition and high prevalence of communicable diseases presently witnessed in South Odisha doesn’t bode well for a state like Odisha aspiring to secure its development destiny. We urge you to accord the priority that the MKCG Medical College, Berhampur deserves and ensure its upgradation to AIIMS-level in its Golden Jubilee Year. 

Warm Regards,

Ram Prasad Tripathy

President, SOSA

Upgradation of MKCG Medical College demanded

South Odisha Students’ Association (SOSA) has demanded up-gradation of MKCG Medical College and Hospital in the city to AIIMS-like institution under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). Members of SOSA have written to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik requesting him to initiate measures for the purpose. It may be noted that MKCG Medical College and Hospital that was established in 1962 would celebrate its golden jubilee on December 1. It happens to be the only medical college and referral hospital in south Odisha. But at present lack of infrastructure in this institution was compelling patients to reach out private medical institutions outside the State, SOSA activists alleged.

Several times in the past the Medical Council of India has pointed out shortage of staff, lack of modern equipment and infrastructure in MKCG Medical College and Hospital. But till now nothing much had happened regarding the suggestions of the MCI part from promises. SOSA demanded the State government initiate measures so that the medical college could be transformed into a centre of excellence for medical education providing quality medical care to the people of underdeveloped southern parts of Odisha. According to president of SOSA R.P. Tripathy, the MKCG Medical College and Hospital could be upgraded to an AIIMS-like institution. Source: The Hindu

Link:  http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/upgradation-of-mkcg-medical-college-demanded/article4145498.ece

Students Body urges Centre to upgrade MKCG to AIIMS-like Institution under PMSSY

Report by Manorama Dhir, Berhampur: South Odisha Students' Association (SOSA) demand for upgradation of MKCG Medical College (Berhampur) to AIIMS-like Institution under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).

SOSA said that Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati (MKCG) Medical College & Hospital in Berhampur, Odisha is completing the 50th year of its establishment this week. Established in 1962 and named after the architect of Modern Odisha, Maharaja Shri Krishna Chandra Gajapati, the medical college is the only referral hospital for the backward districts of KBK, Boudh, Kandhamal and Gajapati of south Odisha…………………………………. Link:    
http://orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=37952

 Odisha: Students Body urges Centre to upgrade MKCG to AIIMS-like Institution under PMSSY

Berhampur: South Odisha Students' Association (SOSA) demand for upgradation of MKCG Medical College (Berhampur) to AIIMS-like Institution under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).

SOSA said that Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati (MKCG) Medical College & Hospital in Berhampur, Odisha is completing the 50th year of its establishment this week. Established in 1962 and named after the architect of Modern Odisha, Maharaja Shri Krishna Chandra Gajapati, the medical college is the only referral hospital for the backward districts of KBK, Boudh, Kandhamal and Gajapati of south Odisha……………………Link:   http://indiaeducationdiary.in/Shownews.asp?newsid=17348

Gopalpur beach festival to be held from 24 to 28 December 2012

The famous Gopalpur Beach Festival (www.gopalpurbeachfestival.com) has been scheduled to start from 24th of December 2012. This five-day cultural festival aimed at promoting the serene Gopalpur beach resort is expected to draw large number of tourists to this popular beach town on the outskirts of Berhampur city. Date of the festival has been chosen to coincide with the Christmas festivities to attract more tourists to this beach resort. This time this beach festival is being organised jointly by the Ganjam district Culture Department, Tourism Department, Gopalpur Notified Area Council (NAC) 

 and GDHA. Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy is the president of the organising committee. According to the organisers like past years this cultural festival would showcase folk art forms from different parts of Ganjam district, other areas of Odisha and outside the State. A handicraft mela would also be part of this beach festival. Details of programmes of this beach festival would be decided at a meeting to be held on November 29, Mr. Panigrahy said. Organisers have suggested that renovation and widening work of Berhampur-Gopalpur road and Karapalli-Gopalpur road should get completed before the beach festival for smooth flow of traffic. Usually these roads get totally jam packed with traffic congestions during the beach festival in past years. Source: The Hindu

Ball set rolling for city bus services in Berhampur

City Bus Stand, Berhampur

The state government has decided to soon introduce city bus services connecting Berhampur to its adjoining towns like Chhatrapur and Gopalpur. The decision is based on a survey by a Mumbai-based consultant on bus services in the biggest town in southern Odisha. The final project report will be submitted to the state government before tender is issued, which will invite private companies to work through public private partnership. The government is likely to provide the buses while the chosen private company will be responsible for services management. Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) will act as a nodal agency. "The government is likely to provide the required buses as no transport operator was coming forward to provide buses when the BDA floated the tender earlier," said BDA chairman Kailash Rana.

At a high-level meeting, held recently in Bhubaneswar, the consultant recommended introduction of at least 25 buses in the first phase in Berhampur, Gopalpur and Chhatrapur. "The district administration will extend all support to BDA in this," district collector Krishan Kumar said. "We have already discussed the matter with the government and talks are in advanced stage," said Purna Chandra Pathy, vice-chairman, BDA. On project cost, he said it was not finalized. Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Notified Area Councils of Gopalpur and Chhatrapur will be other stakeholders in the project. "We have been asked to identify the bus stops within the town. We will soon do that," said BMC commissioner A K Mohanty. 

The Berhampur civic body had introduced town bus services in the 1990s. But the services were withdrawn after the municipality incurred heavy losses. Now, there is no government transport service linking Chhatrapur, the district headquarters town, and Gopalpur, a tourist spot, with Berhampur and people have to depend on trekkers and matadors. With rise in population and tourist visits, authorities feel the services will be feasible this time.

Source: Times of India

Modern flower market and training centre for floriculture inaugurated in Berhampur

A modern flower market and training centre for floriculture was inaugurated at Ambapua area of the city by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday. The project was aimed at promoting floriculture in six districts -- Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Kandhamal, Boudh, and Nayagarh. It was established at a cost of Rs. 2.55 crore. Out of it, Rs. 1.92 crore was sanctioned under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojna and the remaining amount was invested by Regulated Market Committee (RMC), Digapahandi. Members of Ganjam District Flower Growers’ Association (GDFGA) welcomed establishment of the centre. They said it was their long- standing demand and finally their dream came true. The modern flower market at the centre would provide all facilities for proper marketing of flower collected from growers to increase their profit.

Flower grading

It has a receiving dock, flower grading area, modern cooling chamber for preservation of flowers, and a florist-flower distribution area. It has packing centre where flowers would be packed in scientific process so that they could be transported to far off places. The centre also has a dormitory for flower growers coming from outside, an auction hall, and a well-facilitated conference hall. GDFGA secretary Sridhar Verma said the flower market was on par with any modern flower market centre in the country.

Training

Mr. Verma said it was planned to train 5,000 farmers of six districts regarding intricacies of floriculture during the first phase. During the training, farmers would be trained in hi-tech floriculture. They would be provided indepth knowledge about plantation, micro irrigation, flowering plant protection, and their management by experts during the training process. Flower growers, who attended the inaugural function, felt the centre would give a fillip to commercial floriculture.

Source: The Hindu

How credible is BJD's claim about development of Gopalpur (Berhampur)?

TATA’s Gopalpur Industrial Park gets green nod

BERHAMPUR: The Ministry of Environment and Forests has accorded the much-awaited environment clearance to a group of mid-scale projects of Tata Steel at its upcoming industrial park at Gopalpur in south Odisha. The projects include a 55,000-tonne per annum (TPA) high carbon ferrochrome plant, a 400,000-TPA rebar mill and a desalination plant to meet the water requirement of the industrial park.  “While the preliminary work for these projects has already started, the actual work will pick up momentum from the next month. The plants are expected to be completed by the end of next year,” said A K Ojha, general manager, Gopalpur project. As the key investor of the industrial park, Tata Steel would invest about Rs 800 crore on these projects, which would initially create employment for 1,000 people. Tata Steel had acquired about 2,800 acres of land at Gopalpur in mid-1990s for setting up of a mega steel plant. But the company later shelved the project and decided to set up an industrial park there. This would be the fourth ferroalloys plant of Tata Steel in Odisha. The company is currently operating three ferroalloys plants at Joda, Bamanipal and Athgarh (through its subsidiary Rawmet) with capacities of 50,000 tonnes per annum each.

Source: Business Standard

IREL applies for mining of rare earth in Puri coast

BERHAMPUR: Indian Rare Earths Ltd (IREL), which comes under the Department of Atomic Energy, has sought permission for rare earth mining in the coastal stretch in Bramhagiri in Odisha's Puri district. "We have already applied for a prospective license from the Odisha government for mining in the coastal areas of around 2,500 hectares at Bramhagiri in Puri district," IREL Chairman and Managing Director R N Patra said. The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Hyderabad, a constituent unit under the DAE, has conducted survey and found huge deposits of rare earths minerals in the coastal stretch of Puri. The coastal stretch in Puri will be the second area off Odisha coast where deposits of the minerals are found after the coastal areas in Ganjam district.

In order to harness the huge deposits across a mining area of 24.64 sq km from Ganjam coast, IREL has set up Odisha Sands Complex (OSCOM), one of its units at Matikhola near Chhatrapur, Patra said. The company has been mining and separating heavy minerals like ilmenite, rutile, zircon, silimanite, garnet and monazite from beach sands which are high in demand in internal and foreign countries which are used in the manufacture of white pigment, ceramics, polishing glass and TV tubes. "There is a good deposit of rare earths minerals in the Bramhagiri stretch. So we applied for the prospective license," IREL chief said. The IREL has taken lease of around 2,400 hectares off Ganjam coast for mining and to separate the heavy minerals from the sand. The mining was completed in around 35% of the leased areas so far.

Source: Business Standard

Is Rushikulya dying a slow death?

River Rushikulya near Tara-Tarini Hill Shrine

Heavy siltation of the Rushikulya river has led to increased conductivity of the water and the river bed has risen up to the land level making it unfit for consumption and even cultivation. Around 60 per cent of arable land in Ganjam district receives water from this river. According to a report by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the ability to conduct electricity (conductivity) of Rushikulya is 20 times more than the ideal 2,250 micro mhos/cm, which is highest in the State. The high electrical conductivity may adversely affect the yield per hectare in the district. The river is considered lifeline of the farmers in Ganjam. The river’s mean conductivity has been estimated 10 times higher at over 20,786 micro mhos/cm and is among the few in the country to exhibit such conductivity. The CPCB report states that high conductivity would increase the corrosive characteristic of the water, hence it would become unfit for use. Experts of Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology stated that concentration of dissolved salts in the water increases the conductivity. They said dissolution of salts would either be through groundwater or inflow of surface water into the river. Conductivity not only affects the harvest but also the quality of the soil. Worse still, water availability for the crop would reduce greatly. This would be catastrophic for the district that has around 80 per cent of its cultivated area under irrigation during kharif season. Surface water has been the mainstay of irrigation in the district. “Except for a patch work, no steps were taken to renovate the riverbed. The water is unfit for drinking and irrigating,” alleged social scientist Chitaranjan Dash. He urged the Government to take steps to reduce the conductivity and called for research on the effect on humans if they consumed this water.

Source: New Indian Express

Solar lighting project approved for Tara Tarini Hill Shrine

• Tata group has agreed to take up massive plantation work at  Tara Tarini hill
• Rs. 50 lakh would be financed by the Central government for the project
• Bathroom complex & facilitation centre for pilgrims would be built up

A big solar lighting project would be taken up at the famous Tara Tarini hill shrine in Ganjam district. It was part of discussion in the Annual General Body Meeting of the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) held in the conference hall in the office of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division, in Berhampur on May 25, 2012. This meeting was presided by the RDC Laxmi Narayn Nayak, who happens to be the chairman of the TTDB. Vice-chairman of the TTDB, the Ganjam Collector Kishen Kumar, its secretary Pramod Panda, and officials of different departments, office bearers of TTDB, members of TTDB and dignitaries of the city were present at the meeting.

TTDB secretary Mr. Panda said such major solar light project is being implemented in any religious shrine in the State for the second time. A similar solar light project is already on in Sri Jagannath temple in Puri. According to Mr. Panda for this solar lighting project  Rs. 50 lakh would be financed by the Central government and it would be installed by Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA). The hill top of this hill shrine would be lighted up by this renewable source of energy.

During discussions it was also revealed that funds worth around Rs.72 lakh from the Central government and State government for development of tourism prospects of this hill shrine was already with the district administration. Using this fund a bathroom complex and a facilitation centre for pilgrims would be built up at the hill shine.

At the request of the TTDB, the Tata group has agreed to take up massive plantation work at the Tara Tarini hill, said Mr. Panda. Source: The Hindu

Olive Ridley turtles at Rushikulya mouth in Ganjam

Source: The Sambad

City bus service mooted for Greater Berhampur under PPP

Source: The Sambad

Month long Chaitra Jatra ends at Tara Tarini Hill Shrine as faith enlivens tradition

With the chanting of the holy names of Maa Tara Tarini, recitation of hymns, Mantras and Jagna on the Fourth Tuesday, the month long Chaitra Jatra came to an end at the famous Tara Tarini Hill Shrine near Berhampur in Odisha. Considered as one of the biggest religious fairs in India, the Chaitra Jatra at this hill shrine has centuries old history behind it.  

It is noteworthy that of the 4 Adi Shakti Peethas and other major Shakti Peethas in India, it is only in the Tara Tarini Peetha, considered as the Sthana Pith (Breast Shrine) of Adi Shakti that the Chaitra Jatra is held over the entire month of Chaitra whereas in most other shrines it is held for just one day or the Nine days coinciding with Navratra culminating on Ram Navami.

Source: The Sambad

On the last Tuesday, following the age-old traditions, the Sevakas opened the sanctum sanctorum of the temple past the midnight on Monday. After Snana (the divine bath), Majana and Maha Arati the Amruta Kalasha or the first Bhoga was offered to the goddesses at around 3.55 a.m in the morning. Then the goddesses went for a Parikrama of the temple. After the completion of the Parikrama, large number of devotees who gathered on the hilltop to take the first glimpse of Maa were allowed for Darshan. The Darshan continued non-stop till the late evening of Tuesday.   

Like other Tuesdays of this month, around two to three lakh devotees gathered on the fourth and last Tuesday of Chaitra month in the Shrine. The large gathering of devotees and their prayers filled with emotion and enthusiasm surcharged the atmosphere of the ancient Shrine.

Around one thousand barbers were engaged in tonsuring the heads of around five thousand newborn babies on this occasion.   

As per traditional beliefs devotees preferred to climb the 999 holy steps to reach the hill top though transportation facilities to the hill top by Arial Rope way and special Buses were made available. They climbed 999 steps as a penance to get the blessing of the deities.

As per initial reports, so far around 20 lakh people have visited the shrine for Darshan during the month, including the four Tuesdays.

People from far off places like North and South India and from the neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Chhattisgarh, many Sadhakas from the Tara Pith and other famous Shakti Shrines of India, many Buddhists and Hindu researchers from Nepal and many people from abroad were present during the Chaitra Mela.  

A unique feature of this Shrine is that large number of people flocked to the Shrine from various nearby villages in their bullock carts along with their kith and kin. There were also large number of people seen feasting all across the Shrine as a thanksgiving gesture to the Goddesses. The fair comprising rural artisans had large number of buyers and onlookers. Many devotees who could not take the pain of reaching the hilltop made it a point to worship the sacred Ratnagiri Mountain (Tarini Parvat) from a distance.

It may be noted that over the years the number of visitors to this hill shrine have been growing steadily during this Chaitra festivals. As a result, large number of visitors and mainly the elderly persons who find it difficult to reach the hilltop by taking the overcrowded steps and special buses generally prefer the aerial Ropeway to the hill top which is first of its kind in Eastern India. But, the capacity of the existing aerial ropeway is limited. So, sensing the need to accommodate the ever increasing number of devotees, the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) has decided to raise the capacity and frequency of Aerial rope-way service in collaboration with ‘USHA Pvt. Ltd’ a reputed Rope Way service provider in the country. It is expected that by this time next year the carrying capacity of the Aerial rope Way will increase many folds.      

On the occasion of the last Tuesday the District administration, Temple administration and Development Board made wide range arrangements like drinking water, Prasad, Transportation, Primary health care facility, traffic control, and police deployment for peaceful Darshan of the devotees. The office bearers, volunteers of the TTDB, different NGOs, voluntary organizations, media houses, corporate houses and local residents extended their helping hand through out the month to the devotees who came from various parts of the country. 

Visitors throng Tara Tarini

Some eight lakh visited the shrine during four Tuesdays of 'Chaitra'

Over eight lakh pilgrims visited Tara Tarini hill shrine in Ganjam district during the four Tuesdays of the Hindu month of Chaitra. 
On Tuesday which was the fourth and last one of the month, around two lakh devotees visited the shrine. Visitors in large numbers thronged the famous Shakti shrine from the wee hours till late evening. Devotees started thronging the spot from Monday night.......................... Link..The Hindu
The annual festivities pass off peacefully
A few projects were inaugurated during the festivities