Modern flower market to come up at Berhampur

Flower growers in the state have reason to rejoice. The floriculture industry is likely to get a boost with the government's decision to set up a modern flower market at Ambapua, on the outskirts of Berhampur, to provide organized marketing facilities to flower growers. The foundation stone for the proposed market was laid by Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi. The flower market, which will come up on an area of about one acre, is pegged to cost around Rs 2.35 crore and will have all required modern facilities for e-auction of flowers and a cool chamber for preservation of the products for several hours.  Of the total outlay for the project, Rs 1.62-crore would be provided under the centrally sponsored Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) while the remaining amount would be given by the Regulating Market Cooperative Society (RMCS), Digapahandi, official sources said. "The market will benefit not only the flower growers in Ganjam district, but also those in southern Orissa districts like Kandhamal and Koraput, where flowers are cultivated in most areas throughout the years," Panigrahi said, after laying the foundation stone. The proposed market is expected to be functional in the next six to nine months, informed Ajit Mishra, the sub-collector of Berhampur and also the chairman of the Digapahandi RMCS.

The flower growers will bring their products to the market where they can preserve them in the cool chamber till the e-auction. Facilities like yards for packing, distribution and receiving will also be available at the proposed market. "Flower growers selling their produce here will get remunerative prices through a central e-auction," said A S Varma, the general secretary of the Ganjam DistrictFlower Growers Association. Until now, flower growers have been selling their produce directly to vendors without any auction. "Since there is no organized market facility where growers can get remunerative prices, the farmers of Ganjam have not shown much interest in flower cultivation," Panigrahi said. Around 5,000 farmers grow different varieties of flowers on around 300 hectare in the district. 

Source: Times of India

SOSA appeals for the establishment of I.I.I.T at Berhampur

(Full text of the letter, submitted to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha) 

Hon’ble Chief Minister Sir,

As you are aware, the Central government has announced the establishment of 20 Greenfield IIITs (Indian Institute of Information Technology) across the country during the 11^th and 12^th Five Year Plan periods. Since the Government of Odisha has made its intentions known for locating the proposed IIIT at Berhampur city, it becomes an imperative that prompt efforts are made to ensure the establishment of proposed IIIT sanctioned for Odisha at Berhampur city. Since the state Government was awaiting the nod of the central government to go ahead with locating the proposed IIIT in Berhampur, the recent announcement regarding the establishment of 20 new IIITs should end the uncertainty surrounding this much awaited institution.  

Notwithstanding the fact that the state government had promised for the establishment of the IIIT at Berhampur and assured the people to that effect in the past, the demand is also backed by sound reasoning. First, Berhampur city, for that matter Ganjam District, is yet to have a centrally funded Institute and the absence of which is proving detrimental to an underdeveloped region like south Orissa. Second, Orissa has so far established two IIITs at Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur and therefore the establishment of the centrally funded IIIT at Berhampur will lead to better distribution of IT education base in the state. Third, the Planning Commission data suggests that Ganjam and other southern districts are among the districts with a poor gross enrolment ratio in higher education. IIIT in Berhampur will help in building a knowledge cluster in the heart of the most underdeveloped pocket of India. Fourth, a Software Technology park has already come up in Berhampur city and the IIIT’s establishment there will ensure synergy and investment in the IT and ITES sectors. Finally, Berhampur is the second biggest urban cluster in the state of Orissa with sound communication infrastructure and the establishment of the IIIT will be a great advantage for the city and its future development.

Berhampur is the only major city in Odisha which doesn’t have a centrally funded higher/technical education institution so far. While prestigious professional education institutions like IIT, AIIMS, IIPH, IIFT, NISER, NIT, VSSUT, IIMC, National Steel Institute, CIPET, IIHT, Law University apart from a host of Private Universities have come up across the state in recent years the entire region of South Odisha and its principal city, Berhampur, have been completely left out and remain far behind as far as higher and technical education infrastructure is concerned.

Sir, Berhampur city is considered as the gateway to the vast region of South Odisha and KBK. Owing to its strategic location, prospects of industrial investment, human resource potential, moderate weather conditions and its connectivity with all the major cities of the state and India, Berhampur can attract IT companies and create large number of employment opportunities in this underdeveloped region with the establishment of a IIIT in the city. In view of the potential of Berhampur city in bringing prosperity and in improving the life quality of the people of this backward region, it is crucial for the State government to expand the IT education base in Odisha by adhering to the principle of distributive justice. Prompt and timely action on the part of the state government will be extremely important for realization of this prestigious institution. The IIIT will not only place Berhampur city as the second knowledge hub of the state but will also work as an impetus for industrialization and development of southern Odisha and improve the overall prosperity of the State.

With Regards,

RP Tripathy

Berhampur People: Sisir Misra (Winner of Dada Saheb Phalke Academy Award)

Berhampur city has a special place in the cultural sphere of India. In recent times many youngsters of the city have taken the nation by storm with their awasome performance. The Prince Dance Group and Krishnamohan Reddy, Harihar Dash, Harinath Reddy etc. have drawn the attention of the entire nation. But, that is not all. Noted film director and screenwriter  Sisir Mishra renowned for directing many critically acclaimed films in Hindi and Oriya has again made the city proud. Recognising his contribution to Indian cinema, he was awarded the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award in Mumbai recently. He was born and brought up in Berhampur,Orissa. He is the son of Late Purushottam Mishra. His father, was an engineer under British Govt. He left his academic career as lecturer in Physics, moved to Mumbai in 1965 and started his film career in Hindi films as assistant Director under Mehboob Khan of Mother India fame. He directed many box office hit films in Oriya like "Sindoora Bindoo", "Suna Sansaara", "Subarna Seeta", "Samaya Bada Balawaan", "Ei Ama Sansaara", "Bastra Harana", "Suna Bhauja", "Sabata Maa", etc. He directed many Hindi movies like "Bheegi Palkein", "Samay Ki Dhara", "Billoo Baadshaah", "TADA" and "Aseema", etc.

Awards

2011: Dada Saheb Phalke Academy Award

2006: Jayadeba Puraskar (Orissa Government)

2004: Nitai Palit Award

Photo Source: Wikipedia

and History is made...India wins cricket world cup 2011...Congratulations India!

Cometh the hour, cometh the Man in Blue

Future Berhampur congratulates team India for the spectucular victory

Silk City celebrates India's win

Hundreds of cricket lovers in the Silk City took to the streets, burst firecrackers, waved the national flag and danced to celebrate India's cricket World Cup win. Hundreds of youth danced on the streets with faces painted in the colours of the national flag. In the southern city of Berhampur, many cricket lovers visited temples and broke coconuts before the deities. People from all walks of life were seen hugging each other, singing, dancing with joy in the other cities of the state. Young People were seen queeing up to offer prayers at the famous TaraTarini Hill Shrine on Sunday morning and thousands thronged the Thakurani yatra currently underway in the city with Indian flags and with tattoos of Indian captain Dhoni, Sachin and others.

Medical centre to come up at Tara Tarini Hill Shrine

BERHAMPUR: The Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) has proposed to establish a modern medical centre at the foot hill of this hill shrine with the support of the State government.The authorities of the TTDB held discussions with the State health secretary Anu Garg regarding the plan during her visit to the hill shrine. According to secretary of TTDB Pramod Kumar Panda the health secretary showed positive interest towards the project. The TTDB has proposed to provide all necessary infrastructures for the project. They have urged the State health department to provide doctors and para-medics.Mr. Panda said there is extreme need of a medical centre at this hill shrine as lakhs of devotees congregate here during the month of Chaitra and also during Navaratri celebrations.This year during the four Tuesdays of Chaitra over 20 lakh devotees visited this hill shrine. This medical centre would also benefit inhabitants of four panchayats in the area. It may be noted that the TTDB is continuing its efforts to develop it as a major tourist destination of Orissa. The work on the new temple complex at the hill top is expected to be complete by January 2011. Dedicated bus service to the hill shrine and construction of a new bus stand at the foot hill also start soon. A modern lavatory complex is also to be operational on the hill top. The existing ghat road from Keshpur to the hill top would be widened at a cost of around Rs. 5 crore , the TTDB authorities said.

Efforts are also on to protect hill from landslide. Outer protection walls are to be constructed on the north and south side of the hill. Apart from it retaining wall would be constructed on the side of the hill that faces Rushikulya River to check land slides and erosion from the hill top.This work is being taken up by the rural development department of the State government.

Source: The Hindu

STPI- Berhampur progress updates

Excerpts from The Hindu on the progress of STPI-Berhampur

............Moreover, many young entrepreneurs are evincing interest to set up their own facilities in the State. “We are receiving encouraging response to STPI-Berhampur. One Auro Infotech which is working on search engine optimisation has employed 50 to 60 personnel. It is likely to double the headcount within a year. Two more companies are coming to Berhampur. Moreover five to six enquiries from Non-Resident Oriyas have been received,” Mr. Panda said.

Source: The Hindu

Mass hatching of Olive Ridley eggs begins near Berhampur city in Ganjam

• Nearly 24,00,000 hatchlings had entered the sea and lakhs will follow in the coming days

RUSHIKULYA ROOKERY (GANJAM, ORISSA): Mass hatching of Olive Ridley turtle eggs has begun at this major nesting site under the shroud of environmental degradation caused by oil spill from a ship recently.

The mass hatching, which started on May 01 night, is expected to continue for next two to three days.

Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer Ajay Kumar Jena, who is monitoring the protection of the hatchlings till May 02 morning, said eggs in around 30,000 nests on the coast had hatched.

Around 1,55,000 Olive Ridleys nested along the coastline near the Rushikulya Rookery in March and the eggs have started hatching after 45 days. More than 100 eggs were laid into every nest. On an average, however, around 80 hatchlings came out of each nest, Mr. Jena said.

Nearly 24,00,000 hatchlings had entered the sea and lakhs will follow in the coming days.

The mortality of the hatchlings is usually quite high. Experts say only one in a 1,000 survives to become an adult. Environmental activists like Soumya Tripathy of Greenpeace activist feel the oil spill that occurred on April 13 may increase the mortality of the hatchlings this year. Mr. Jena said though the surface of the sea near the nesting site was monitored, no residue of the oil spill was found.

However, marine scientist and Vice-Chancellor of Berhampur University Prof. Bijay Kumar Sahu said the oil spill would have had be a serious impact on the marine flora and fauna near the rookery, especially on plankton and small organisms that were the food of the turtle hatchlings. Mr. Sahu and Mr. Tripathy said there was immediate need for a detailed multi-discipline faculty study on the long-term impact of the oil spill on the marine environment.

As part of measures to protect the hatchlings, the bright lights of the industrial units and townships near the area have been ordered to be shut down during the hatching period. The hatchlings get attracted to light sources. Nylon nets were in place over a distance of three km at the nesting beach to stop hatchlings from straying towards the land.

Volunteers of the Rushikulya Sea Turtle Protection Committe an organisation comprising people from villages near the rookery involved in turtle protection collected stray hatchlings and released them into the sea.

Source: The Hindu

Performing Arts Institute coming up near Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: An institute of Performing Arts will be opened near Berhampur. The Orissa Chief Minister Shri Naveen Pattnaik has directed the Department of Culture to take initiative for opening of the institute.
As per a release from the Chief Minister’s office on August 16, the State government will provide 4 acres of land near the Silk City for the purpose. For initial cost, the State government has earmarked Rs. 1 crore. This institute will promote dance, acting and folk art forms.

Lawyers hopeful of High Court Bench in Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: The lawyer fraternity of southern Orissa has found a ray of hope in Bikram Keshari Arukh, who has been made the Law Minister, in the establishment of a Bench of the Orissa High Court in Berhampur. The lawyers are optimistic that the new Law Minister, who belongs to the district of Ganjam and is himself a lawyer, will take steps for the cause of delivering justice at the doorstep of the poor and tribal people living in the southern region of the State.

It may be noted here that a movement had started during the time of Biju Patnaik for the establishment of a High Court Bench here in the city as it has been a long-cherished dream and the demand of the lawyers in particular and people of the southern region in general, comprising of ten districts in the State. Even Biju Patnaik had supported the movement. Later, again a movement had started during the second term of Naveen Patnaik as Chief Minister in 2007. Then Naveen Patnaik had written a letter to the High Court requesting to recommend to the Centre for the establishment of a HC bench in the city. But then, the lawyers of the High Court at Cuttack had come in the way and opposed the possible move in this direction by agitating at Cuttack as a result of which the High Court did not recommend to the Centre and the State Government also remained silent afterwards.

Notably, for the establishment of a High Court bench at a place other than the principal seat, the State Government in consultation and consent of the High Court has to recommend the Central Government so that a bench could be established with an amendment in the Parliament. Senior Lawyer Jyoti Chhotray argues that as the State Government needs only the ‘consent’ and not the ‘permission’, it could recommend to the Centre after approving the proposal in the State Cabinet. Chhotray also states that Berhampur is the fittest place for the establishment of a High Court bench as it has all the required criteria and suitability for this purpose. Source: The Pioneer