CDP for greater Berhampur region to be ready in six months

BERHAMPUR: A Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) for Greater Berhampur region is expected to be ready in next six months. It was declared by Berhampur Development Authority Chairperson Sarat Ranjan Patnaik at a workshop organised in the city on Saturday to elicit views from corporators and councilors of the local urban bodies under the BDA. The corporatoers of Berhampur Municipal Corporation and councilors of Gopalpur and Chatrapur Notified Area Councils (NAC) attended the workshop. The technical team that attended the workshop was led by chief planner of the Town and Country Planning Organisation (TCPO), J.B. Khirsagar. The TCPO, which happens to be the technical advisory body of Central Ministry of Urban Development, is preparing the CDP for greater Berhampur. The master plan is likely to be ready in another six months.

Mr. Khirsagar described the process through which the new master plan is being prepared. The new master plan is Geographical Information System (GIS) based. It depends on both remote sensing data from satellites as well as the ground level data collected by surveys. The Orissa government is bearing the cost of the CDP preparation, which would cost around Rs. 1.08 crores. Mr. Khirsagar said the TCPO was providing the technical collaboration without taking any consultancy fee. The city would get its master plan after four decades as its last master plan was prepared in 1969. The present CDP is being prepared keeping in view the development of greater Berhampur till the year 2031. The area under greater Berhampur will include the urban centres of Berhampur, Gopalpur and Chatrapur and 139 villages between them. The CDP will comprise a total area of 317 sq. km. having a population of around 12 lakhs.

Sources: The Hindu, Orissagrowth, Orissatv

Lack of space a hindrance to BDA's plans

BERHAMPUR: The Berhampur Development Authority (BDA), which is preparing the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) for greater Berhampur region, is worried over lack of space to provide basic amenities to people within the city limits. According to BDA Chairperson Sarat Ranjan Patnaik, different government departments holding large patches of land for their residential quarters are not ready to part these patches of land for planned development of the city. He has asked the State government to take up measures so that the unutilised land could be used for better planning of the city for the future. (CDP for Greater Berhampur Region: http://orissagov.nic.in/housing&urban/Tender_Quo_Advt/6096_11-11-09.pdf),  Several corporators of the city, during a workshop for the crafting of the CDP, have suggested better public use of the vast patches of vacant land under different residential quarters of government officials. Lack of space inside the city limits can be assessed from the fact that most major market areas of the key trading centre of south Orissa still do not have proper parking space and public toilets. Despite plans of the BDA for four well- equipped parking zones and allocation of funds for the purpose, it could not be taken up as revenue department and the municipality could not hand over land for the purpose. These parking zones which have not come up were proposed near Kamapalli, Annapurna market, Bada Bazar and Gate Bazar areas. In most places, the government land was either found to be taken over by encroachers or the government departments were not ready to hand over the vast land inside the campus of residential quarters.
Source: The Hindu

Greater Berhampur Region: HINJILICUT

By Ajay Sahu

HINJILICUT is the 2nd most populous town in Ganjam District and Greater Berhampur Region as per the census “2001”. Further, it happens to be the constituency of the present Chief Minister of Orissa Shri Naveen Patnaik. But, the development of the town leaves a lot to be desired. Following are some specific issues which need to be addressed for the development of HINJILICUT town.

Name of this Town:

People call this town as Hinjili / Hinjilicut / Katu / Hinjilikatu. Even Government offices named this town in different ways …such as Hinjili Thana, Hinjili Assembly Constituency, Hinjili Sub-Register and Hinjilicut Block Office etc. Going by public sentiments the name of this Town must be changed as Biju Nagar as we will be Proud to see our town as like Bhanjanagar or Kabisurya Nagar.

Education: (Also the few points are available in http://www.orissa2020.org/hinjlicut-area)

A. Science College, Hinjilicut (Established 1963) is the 2nd best College in Ganjam district after Khallikote College, Berhampur. Science College, Hinjilicut enjoy (B+) NAAC accreditation rating and it is only second college in Ganjam district to enjoy such a distinction. There is also demand for opening PG Courses along with MBA and MCA and for converting its Status to an Autonomous College as a best regard to this Institution.

B. Women’s College: Women’s college existed in Hinjilicut for more than two decades but unfortunately this has been closed down few years back. So, there is strong demand to open a Govt. Women’s college in memory to Late Gyan Patnaik in the town.

C. Kendriya Vidyalaya: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved setting up of 6,000 Model Schools at the Block level in the country. Initially, in the First Phase of the implementation of this Centrally Sponsored Scheme, 2,500 Model Schools will be set up in the Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs). These schools will be set up through State Governments. A model school will have infrastructure and facilities, at least of the standard as in a Kendriya Vidyalaya and with stipulations on pupil-teacher ratio, ICT usage, holistic educational environment, appropriate curriculum and emphasis on output and outcome. Since Hinjilicut is listed in this, initiatives must be made to start this on a priority basis.  Further, the recently announced Central School in Aska should be established at Hinjilicut for the benefit of maximum people as Hinjilicut is situated between Aska and Berhampur –Just 15 km away on either side.

D. Pharmacy College: The 1st Pharmacy college of Odisha started at Science College, Hinjilicut in the year 1979 and subsequently shifted to Mohuda (Near Berhampur) by Late Brundaban Nayak (ex-MLA of Hinjilicut). So, efforts must be made to open a similar kind of Diploma in Pharmacy or Nursing College at Hinjilicut.

E. Laxmi Nusingha Kala Mandir: Recently this Kalamandir was inaugurated at Hinjilicut by the State Chief Minister but there is no scope for its development / growth. So, there is a need to open a Branch of Government College of Art and Crafts, Khallikote, Ganjam which will be right fit to this region.

F. Agriculture College: Hinjilicut is considered the vegetable feeder for the entire Ganjam district and Betel leaf (Paan) of the place is famous in the entire state and even outside. People of this locality are having their source of income mainly on the crops. So, an Agriculture College at Hinjilicut which serve the purpose of the surrounding area such as Berhampur, Aska, Sheragada, Purushotamapur, Patapur, Kukudakhandi etc, and the best site for this is near to Ghodahada River at Hinjilicut, as a vast patch of land is available.

G. Diploma / Degree Stream School / College: Presently Hinjilicut town is having Five High Schools but unfortunately not to see a Diploma / Degree stream technical institute. As Odisha is heading for rapid industrialization, mobilizing technical staff will be a difficult task for the government to eradicate unemployment. So, a Diploma Stream School (Engg.) at Brundvan Vidyapitha High School must be started as a start up to mark the respect for the 100 yrs old High School.
H. Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT) or National Institute of Design (NID): The silk city Berhampur deserves institute like IIHT -Indian Institute of Handloom Technology or National Institute of Design (NID) as very recently Berhampur Pattu Saree has got Government of India’s Geographical Indications (GI) registry. Since most of the weaver’s society and Surat /Mumbai migrants are in Hinjilicut region, which justifies opening of an institute in NH-217 corridor (Hinjilicut–Berhampur). This will help in the merger of Hinjilicut town with the Greater Berhampur Region.

Health Service:

A. As per a recent Survey, Hinjilicut is the epicenter of HIV in the State and hence facilities for additional ward /doctor for preliminary checkup (HIV) must be made at Govt Hospital, Hinjilicut.

B. A Blood Bank & 24 HOURS medicine Store must be started in the government hospital premises to cater the need of the Public.

C. There is need for an additional Hospital or Dispensary to cater to the Child and Mother’s Health like Children’s Hospital in Bhanjanagar.

D. Additional Ambulance facility is needed at Hinjilicut as most people are dependant on the MKCG Medical College at Berhampur for any Critical /Emergency services.

Road Connectivity

A. NH-217 (Gopalpur-Raipur) is passing through this town with an approximate 4 km stretch. Heavy traffic is always seen in this route due to the prime connectivity between major cities / towns of this district. There is an urgent need for bye-pass road at Hinjilicut and Berhampur to resolve this traffic congestion.

B. There is a need to initiate the work of Taratarini Road (Hinjilicut- Purushotampur-Khallikote) into a National High Way. This is very much required as a part of famous Pilgrimage center with heavy traffic at Taratarini junction and this route would act as a by-pass route to NH-217 while meeting NH-5 at Khallikote. This will reduce the distance to state Capital by at least 30 km.

Industry

A. Spinning Mill: People of this town are mostly dependant on Weaving / Handloom business and making clothes as required to local market. Earlier on two occasions, spinning mill proposal has been shifted from Hinjilicut (after planned) to other places due to political intervention during 1980. It will be proper for this district to have a Handloom Institute (Ministry of Textiles) at Hinjilicut town located in the Greater BERHAMPUR Region.

B. Jems and Jewellery SEZ: About 2 yrs back Gitanjali Group, one of the leading names in gems and jewellery, has proposed to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the State. The group’s infrastructure arm, Gitanjali Infratech Limited (GIL), had approached the Chief Minister to set up its eighth SEZ for gems and jewellery in the past.

As there are more than 3 lakh workers from this region engaged in the diamond cutting and polishing industry in Surat, this will help them find jobs in their hometown. So, the company must be pursued to start a SEZ in the Berhampur –Hinjilicut stretch of NH-217.

Urban Development: Declaration of Hinjilicut as a Municipality and its inclusion under Greater Berhampur region

Recently Berhampur city has been declared as a Municipal Corporation. There is a need for declaring Hinjilicut town as a Municipality, based on its population. Further, steps must be taken to bring it under Greater Berhampur region. (BCGH- Berhampur, Chatrapur, Gopalpur & Hinjilicut). There is a strong justification for the above as Chatrapur and Hinjilicut both are at same distance (15 km) from Berhampur.

Hinjilicut Population (Including U.A)

The Hinjilicut Municipality (proposed) would be consists of the area such as Hinjilicut NAC, Burupada, Sikiri, Kharida, Khandra, Chanduli Sompur, Saru & Pochilima. Presently this area comprises having population more than 50,000 and there is a long standing demand to include Hinjilicut under Greater Berhampur region as it is just 15 km away.