Berhampur University files gutted in fire

Some important files and examination papers of few professional courses were gutted in a fire that broke out in the confidential section of the Berhampur University on November 02 night. According to sources, the fire engulfed the confidential section in the second floor of the administrative block building. However, the authorities informed the fire brigade at around 8.40 pm. As a result of which prior to the arrival of the fire brigade, some important files and documents including examination papers of courses like MBA, Journalism and Biotechnology were gutted.
The fire raised many questions as it took place under mysterious circumstances keeping in view the inquiry into the allegations of corruption by a high level team led by the Secretary, Higher Education. Notably, after allegations of rampant corruption and irregularities in e-governance project, chair purchase for auditorium and in some other cases, the Governor had ordered to inquire into the matter and the Secretary was entrusted with the inquiry. He had visited the university five times and he was scheduled to visit for the sixth time for the inquiry.

It may be mentioned here that some important files on which the inquiry was made, were kept at the confidential section. A BJP team which visited the university on November 03 said the gutting of files in the fire was suspicious and a high-level inquiry should be ordered to unravel the truth.

Courtesy: The Pioneer

Demarcation of vending zones demanded by kiosk owners in Berhampur city

BERHAMPUR: The city is yet to have demarcations for vending zones. Without proper vending zones, encroachment of roads and traffic problems are on the rise. The small traders who depend on road side business are also demanding establishment of vending zones as they are facing losses because of the sudden anti-encroachment drives by the authorities. Bhaskar Lenka, a tea stall owner whose kiosk was destroyed in a recent anti-encroachment drive from the sides of the NH 217 between Kamapalli square and Engineering School square alleged that neither the Berhampur municipal corporation nor the Berhampur Development Authority had thought of establishment of any vending zone which could save the livelihood of poor traders like him.

The promises for establishment of vending zones have been on since 2004-05, when encroachments by small traders were removed from the sides of the NH 217. As no vending zones were established, the traders whose encroachments had been removed again returned to their old place. Another trader, M.K.Reddy who lost his kiosk in recent anti-encroachment drive said regular anti-encroachment drives and his restarting of business has destroyed his economic condition. According to him the municipal corporation has some responsibility towards them as it was collecting five rupees cess from them every day.

In Gate Bazar area the encroachments had been removed from one side of the National Highway 217. But the same shops have come up on other side of the high way. The irony is that a major portion of the highway near this market is being used as garbage dump yard by the municipal corporation. This market and its vendors have been a major cause of traffic congestion in the area.

It is an irony that the vendors of Gate Bazar area are ready for displacement if they are provided a proper vending zone. But the authorities have not been able to provide them an alternate vending site. The former Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), Satyabrata Sahu had proposed the vegetable market at Gate Bazar to be shifted to an alternate site. It may be noted that the vegetable vendors of the area have in the past had also submitted memorandum for the purpose.

Source: The Hindu

30 crore water supply system for Berhampur City

BHUBANESWAR: State Government has decided to spend Rs 30 crore to improve the water supply system in Berhampur City. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting presided by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar. Longterm and short-term action plan for supplying water to the city were discussed at the meeting. Official sources maintained that as against a requirement of 50 million litre water daily, Berhampur gets 35 million litre now.It was decided that a water treatment plant will be set up in the city to improve the supply system. Besides, more areas will be connected with pipe lines. Naveen directed the officials to float tender for laying drinking water pipeline as early as possible. It has been targeted to supply 20 million litre water daily by the new pipelines. This will solve the problem of drinking water in the city to a large extent. Besides, work on the renovation of Dakhinapur water reservoir has been completed by the Water Resources Department. It was decided that the canals connecting the water reservoir will be renovated. This will lead to the augmentation of water holding capacity of the canals.Among others, Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadei, Minister of State for Urban Development Badrinarayan Patro, Chief Secretary TK Mishra and senior officials attended.
Courtesy: The New Indian Express

Andhra Bank to install closed-circuit cameras in Berhampur Zone

BERHAMPUR: The Andhra Bank has decided to set up closed- circuit cameras in all its branches in Berhampur zone to enhance security. This decision was taken following spurt in attempts of bank dacoities in the region. Seven new branches of the bank are on the anvil to be set up in this zone in near future. The Andhra Bank is also planning to set up two new ATM counters in the city. New ATM counters of Andhra Bank are also to come up at Jeypore in Koraput district of the State and Tekkali of Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh.
According to the zonal manager of the Berhampur zone of the bank, T. Venkaiah said they have targeted to have total deposits worth Rs. 1,660 crore in the zone by March 2010. They also plan to increase their advances to Rs. 795 crore by that time, he said. By September end the branches of Andhra Bank in this zone had a total deposit worth Rs. 1,331 crore, while gross advances was Rs. 649 crore. This new zone was constituted in May. It comprises 73 branches of the bank in Orissa and adjoining Andhra Pradesh. Forty three of these branches are located in 10 districts of south Orissa, while the rest branches are located in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh.
Speaking to newsmen, he said their ‘year on growth’ was 21.77 per cent. During this period they had a tremendous growth in the mobilisation of current as well as savings accounts for the bank in this region. The number of current account deposits rose by 74.39 per cent. The savings account deposits also showed a rise at 20.37 per cent. Mr. Venkaiah attributed this growth to the publicity drive they had taken up to popularise the savings and current accounts of the bank during past six months. According to him the ‘insured current accounts’ where the account holders were getting insurance benefits had a large following. Out of the total deposits with the branches of Andhra Bank in this zone, 49.81 per cent were from current and savings accounts. Total clientele of the bank in Berhampur zone was 9,58,831.
Courtesy: The Hindu

Berhampur Municipal Corporation to strictly implement ban on water pouches

• A fine of Rs. 100 each to be imposed on sellers, Rs. 500 on transporters
• The ban order issued on September 1
• Water pouch manufacturing unit sealed
  BERHAMPUR: The city municipal corporation has decided to impose fine on the sale of drinking water pouches in Berhampur. It may be noted that Berhampur was the first township in Orissa, where sale of drinking water pouches was banned. The sale of drinking water pouches in the city started about a decade ago. The municipal corporation at its meeting on August 28 decided to ban sale of these drinking water pouches as the used drinking water pouches were a major reason behind clogging of drains and were a major sanitary menace. The ban order was imposed on September 1. But clandestine sale of drinking water pouches continued in the city.
  The municipal corporation now decided to be extra strict on these covert sellers of drinking water pouches, said the Mayor of the city, Siba Shankar Dash. According to him, it was decided to put a fine of Rs. 100 on any roadside kiosk that sells these drinking water pouches. Any vehicle found to be transporting drinking water pouches inside the city would be imposed a fine of Rs. 500. Mr. Dash said the ban order on sale of drinking water pouches was an effort to upkeep the sanitation of the city which did not have a proper sewerage system. The large quantity of polythene waste from the lakhs of used drinking water pouches had become a headache for the municipal authorities.
  Municipal corporation medical officer Sashi Bhusan Panda said apart from sanitation and pollution problems, the doubts over the purity of water sold in the pouches was also a reason behind the ban order. Most drinking water pouches sold in the city did not have the date of manufacture and their expiry date printed on the pouches. Some of them did not even have the address of the manufacturer on them. The municipal authorities have also sealed a drinking water pouch manufacturing unit at Haldiapadar.
  Court moved
  Meanwhile, the drinking water pouch manufacturers have approached the Orissa High Court against the ban order of the municipal corporation. The municipal corporation has decided to fight them in court.
  Courtesy: The Hindu
  

Granite quarries thrive near Berhampur city, govt. loses lakhs

BERHAMPUR: As granites of Ganjam district are of high quality and having unique lustre and attractive colours and in great demand in international market, traders of Orissa and outside are out to exploit the resources. Everyone having interest in this sector wants to have his share by hook or crook leading to unbridled and illegal mining and transportation of granite blocks to outside the State. Due to the mad rush for this business, more than 30 granite units have been registered with District Industries Centre (DIC) office in Berhampur while many more units are functioning clandestinely. However, investigation reveals glaring loopholes in the process of registration. According to DIC sources, permission is granted to units when one approaches for it which is equivalent to registration. And as such the DIC has no such control over the units, said the source. Due to lackadaisical attitude of the authorities, the government is losing lakhs of rupees in revenue daily.
Many units, which are into stone quarrying, have acquired licence from the Revenue Department but do not have required clearance from Environment and Forest Department. Large scale blasting and mining of granites also lead to sound and environmental pollution. The surrounding areas are covered with a thick blanket of granite dust.
According to locals, as profit-making is the sole aim of these units, they are hardly bothered for the development of the area under corporate social responsibility (CSR). Even the industrial security norms have gone for a toss in these units leading to increasing number of accidents. More than 10 such mishaps have been reported in the last one year. As the workers engaged by the units are not registered, they are deprived of compensation due to accidents. But the union of the granite units has a different version. There are no such incidents of illegal mining and transportation, a functionary of the union said. The owners are trying their best to address the environmental and other problems said the union.
Courtesy: The New Indian Express

Mondays of Kartik become picnickers’ favourites in Silk city Berhampur

Lord Shiva worshiped on the Kartik Mondays
BERHAMPUR: Families used Mondays of Hindu month of Kartik for picnicking with a religious fervour. The four Mondays of Kartik are used by Hindu families of South Orissa for the worship of Lord Shiva. With the advancement of communication they have started to use these days for family picnics near some Shiva temple amidst nature. Since morning a huge rush was seen at the Shiva temples of the Silk city as well as at the temples on its outskirts. Most of the city dwellers preferred to spend the day at the Shiva temples at scenic spots like Ghatakeswar or Dhavaleswar on the outskirts of the city near Gopalpur-On-Sea for their family gettogether and picnic.

Hundreds of families were seen cooking their food on the beach near Dhavaleswar temple near Gopalpur. Families from different parts of Ganjam district and South Orissa had come over to this beach to observe religious rituals and enjoy a family gettogether for a whole day. “Usually we do not get a chance to spend a whole day in fun and frolic with the family. At least the religious fervour of Kartik Mondays serves as an excuse for a family picnic,” Mita Lenka said. Similar was the scene near Dhavaleswar temple where families enjoyed the serenity of the jungle and the jungle stream that passes by.
Almost all families cooked pure vegetarian food without using onion and garlic. As per tradition spices and oils are avoided in food during the month of Kartik.
The new generation has also started leaving out oil and spices from food on four Mondays of the month. Due to it even grand parents who observe kartik penance could be included in most of the family picnics on these Mondays. On this Monday several traders of the city prefere to shut down their shops to enjoy the day with their families.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Gopalpur-On-Sea sub-post office adjudged best post office in the country

Berhampur: A sub-post office in Orissa's Ganjam district along with two others have been adjudged the best post offices in the country.Union minister for communication A Raja presented the award to M Kamaraju, the post master of Gopalpur sub-post office at a function held at Coimbatore on Saturday.The post office at Gopalpur, launched by the Department of Post under the Project Arrow scheme last year, was selected as the best post office after thorough evaluation of its performance by a private agency appointed by the government.The other two post offices are Darika Tirumulla in Andhra Pradesh and Madangoplapur in Tamil Nadu.It is a matter of pride for Orissa as a sub-post office in the state has been selected for the first prize, said Post Master General, Berhampur, S K Kamila.

Courtesy: The Pragativadi

Govt launches hand washing drive in Berhampur in collaboration with UNICEF

Focusing on cleanliness to prevent deadly viral diseases, the State Government in collaboration with the UNICEF launched a campaign among schoolchildren in Berhampur to make them aware of the importance of washing hand before and after having food.The campaign started with an orientation programme held here to sensitise the teachers in charge of the Red Cross and decided to observe ‘world hand wash day’ on October 27 by organising a rally by the students.The programme was jointly launched by the State Water and Sanitation Mission, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Indian Red Cross Society and Unicef. Most of the viral diseases could be checked with hand wash before and after the foods, Chief district Medical Officer, Ganjam, said. Due to lack of awareness, he said about 95 per cent of people in the society never wash their hands before taking food. As many deadly viral diseases like swine flu are spreading, it is essential to create awareness, particularly among the school children, the CDMO said. Around 90 teachers from different parts of Ganjam district took part in the orientation programme.

Courtesy: The Pioneer

Ganjam Pharma Wholesalers’ Association formed

BERHAMPUR: The Ganjam Pharma Wholesalers’ Association (GPWA) was formally inaugurated in the city on October 24. The State Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patro inaugurated the organisation. According to the general secretary of the GPWA, V.Satyanarayana, they decided to form the GPWA to increase cooperation among the Pharmaceutical wholesalers regarding trading issues. According to him their aim was to increase the quality of relationship between the pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.
The GPWA has approached the All India Chemists and Druggists Association, Ganjam-Phulbani Chemists and Druggists Association and Utkal Chemists and Druggists Association for affiliation. Till now the GPWA has 55 members. Mr. Satyanarayana hoped that more pharmaceutical wholesalers of Ganjam district would become members of the organisation soon. The GPWA members claimed that theirs’ was first of its kind organisation of pharmaceutical wholesalers in the State.

Courtesy:The Hindu

Gopalpur beach festival to be held from December 24

BERHAMPUR: The famous Gopalpur beach festival is scheduled to start from December 24. The beach festival is being organised by Ganjam District Hoteliers Association (GDHA) with help from the Ganjam district administration and police. The five-day cultural extravaganza is aimed at attracting tourists to the serene Gopalpur beach resort.
The State Tourism Department has decided to include the five-day period in December as the time for Gopalpur beach festival in the tourism calendar of Orissa, said Revenue Minister Shri Surya Narayan Patro. Shri Patro attended a high-level preparatory meeting of the beach festival held in the office of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division on October 20. The meeting was attended by RDC Satyabrata Sahu, DIG R.P. Koche, district Collector V.K. Pandian and Berhampur Superintendent of Police R.K. Sharma. Members of the GDHA also took part in this meeting.
Shri Patro, who is also adviser of the beach festival organising committee, asked the organisers to make all efforts so that tourists coming to the beach festival would recommend others to visit the beach resort to enjoy the festival in coming years. According to him, its inclusion in Orissa’s tourism calendar would help in better marketing of the event outside the State. It may be noted that the beach festival was discontinued for three years till 2008. It was again revived by the GDHA last year. President of the association Uma Shankar Panigrahy said now they would make it a regular affair so that the tourists from outside the State could plan a trip to Gopalpur which may coincide with the beach festival.
Crafts expo
RDC Satyabrata Sahu said ‘Gramashree Mela’, an exhibition of rural crafts, would coincide with the beach festival. The exhibition-cum-sale of rural art and craft would continue for seven days even after the conclusion of the beach festival. The SP and the DIG discussed the law and order and traffic related issues during the festival. The Collector congratulated the hoteliers for taking up the initiative. He promised all possible help from the administration to the organisers. The beach festival would try to showcase the local folk art forms. Cultural troupes from all over the country would take part in the festival.
Courtesy: The Hindu

TTDB wishes you on the Auspicious Occasion of Diwali

TARATARINI DEVELOPMENT BOARD
Regd. No. : GJM No. - 7177-A – 676/2002-2003
Hillpatna, Berhampur – 5, (Ganjam), Orissa, India
(0680) 2215168, Website: http:/taratarini.nic.in
------------------------------------------------------------------
The “Tara Tarini Development Board” takes great pleasure in wishing you on the auspicious occasion of Diwali, the festival of lights.

May this Diwali bring you the brightest sparkles of happiness and fulfillment.
May this Diwali bring joy and good health and brighten up you and your near and dear ones lives.
May this Diwali bring you the utmost in peace and prosperity.
May lights triumph over darkness.
May peace transcend the earth.
May the spirit of light illuminate the world.

May the divine blessings of Adi Shakti Maa TaraTarini be ever upon you!

FUTURE BERHAMPUR

WISHES ITS ENLIGHTENED READERS

A VERY

HAPPY DIWALI

Online booking of rail tickets at post offices in South Orissa

BERHAMPUR: Post offices would bring railways closer to people of Aska, Phulbani and Boudh in south Orissa, although no railway track passes through these areas.

The Indian Post and Indian Railways have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to start an online railway ticket booking facility at post offices at Aska in Ganjam district, Phulbani in Kandhamal district and Boudh in Boudh district. Interior areas of Ganjam district as well as Kandhamal and Boudh districts of south Orissa do not have any access to railways. Post Master General of Berhampur postal region S.K.Kamila said this facility would enable the inhabitants of these areas book railway tickets in advance for their long journeys by train. It would also provide extra revenue and increase of public utility of these post offices.

The railway ticket booking facility is expected to be started in these three post offices within next one month. It may be noted that till now the post office at Sundergarh is the only post office in the State to have online railway ticket booking facility. Mr Kamila informed about it at a customers’ meet organised by the Indian Post in the city on Wednesday night.

He also announced that Gopalpur sub-post office in Ganjam district was among the three post offices in the top rank for providing services to customers under ‘Project Arrow’.

SOURCE: THE HINDU

Doppler weather radar to be installed at Gopalpur

BERHAMPUR: After 10 years of super cyclone that took thousands of lives, displacing lakhs of people and destroying properties worth billions in the coastal areas of Orissa in 1999, the state government has seem be to be in a wake up mood as it was decided to install a high powered Doppler radar having the capacity to analyze the frequency of waves, signals and weather reports, at three places in the state including at Gopalpur. For the installation of Doppler radar, an area of 3 acres has already been located along the Gopalpur Sea and it has already been transferred to the weather department. Berhampur Tahsildar, Director of weather department and Relief Commissioner had already visited the site and were supervising the activities to install the radar along the coast in Bay of Bengal. It is learnt that around 7.5 crore had been earmarked for this purpose. Though, it has been decided to install such Doppler radars at three places; Sambalpur, Paradip and Gopalpur in the state, yet Gopalpur project should be the first of its kind in the state and measures are being taken to install it at Gopalpur first as soon as possible. With such a Doppler radar, prior information about cyclones, low pressures and other weather related data and reports can be collected within a range of up to 5,00 KM from the coastal region in Bay of Bengal.

Source: Odishatoday

Berhampur Post Office to have core banking facility

BERHAMPUR: Berhampur Post office will no longer use age-old methods of transferring money. Instead, it would now have access to core banking facilities like any bank today. Five post offices in the state, including Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur and Rourkela, will have core banking facilities from November. "These post offices will be connected to a central server, through which they can get connected to any post office across the state and make necessary transactions," chief post master general (Orissa circle) Yashodhara Menon said.

Source: Times of India

Berhampur Mayor plans to multiply tax revenue

BERHAMPUR: Berhampur Municipal Corporation Mayor S S Das on Thursday, warned the concerned tax collectors of the corporation to collect the tax four times. During the official review meeting on revenue generation and collection Mayor Dash said “collect tax more than your salary or you will loose the job”. The official review meeting of the municipal corporation was held here in the city on Thursday where all the details regarding the tax collection and revenue generation were discussed in the meeting in which the tax collectors and the elected representatives were present. Mayor Dash was not satisfied on the amount of tax being collected at present as the tax collectors were depositing the tax collection amount which is less than the salary of tax collectors. As a result of which he warned that the tax collectors should collect the tax including house holdings, commercial taxes etc, more than the amount of their salaries. In some cases, they have to collect the tax more than four times. The revenue and the tax collection should be more than 12 crores, otherwise the corporation might be at the losing end, warned Mayor Dash. Mayor Dash further said that few tax collectors collect tax from the people and do not deposit it at the corporation office.

Source: Odishatoday

Historic ‘Ganjam Kala Parishad’ in dire straits

BERHAMPUR: Ganjam, the land of art, culture and literature having historic significance since long have been attracting attention through the ages. Moreover, the undivided district of Ganjam has been the epicenter of the Oriya language movement and played a decisive role during the formation of separate province of Orissa and has been politically significant. Even at present, the district becomes important being the constituency of the State’s Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik who has been representing for a decade. Yet, one of the premier cultural centres, the historic Ganjam Kala Parishad located at Berhampur, has been in a neglected state owing to which the cultural centre that has been the witness to the cultural, literary, art and political events of the southern region is losing its charm and not in a condition to host grand shows and events.
Some people and art lovers of the region had then started the initiative to build the centre way back in 1957. As there was no such centre in Berhampur, the centre of southern Orissa, some intellectuals, senior citizens and art lovers had then started the centre within the premises of the historic Utkal Ashram located in the city. Various cultural events were organised in make-shift pandals erected using bamboo sticks and tarpaulin sheets, which became an instant success. Later, the locals constructed a grand hall for holding programmes and the centre started playing a significant role in showcasing and preserving the art, culture and literature of southern Orissa. The centre had celebrated its golden jubilee in 2007 but unfortunately during all these 52 years, the centre has been facing several difficulties due to financial crunch.
Now the centre has fallen prey to negligence and apathy as the administration and the State do not bother to assist the centre for its maintenance and preservation. Somehow, the local committee manages the affairs with limited fund. The roof top of the centre is in such a bad condition now that rain water pours from above on the stage. The walls and the interior parts are crying for attention. Yet people, particularly the politicians and the Ministers who often grace the dias as chief guest and guest of honour during functions do not bother to think about the renovation of the historic cultural centre. It seems that the politicians and Ministers close their eyes once they enter the centre and open their eyes only when they exit after receiving applauds following their ‘promising’ speeches.
The Ganjam Kala Parishad people have been approaching the State Government through various ways, yet nobody cares. Last time, when Revenue Minister Surjya Narayan Patro, who happens to be a native of Berhampur city, had visited the centre on the occasion of unveiling an oil painting of Laxmi Narayan Patnaik, the grand father of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, he had received a memorandum from the Parishad members seeking some assistance in maintaining and preserving the historic cultural centre. The Minister had assured them that he would ask the Culture Minister in this regard. Now, it remains to be seen how the State Government acts to revive and preserve this historic cultural centre of southern Orissa.

PS: Thanks to Shri Santanu Barad for the Picture of Ganjam Kala Parishad
Courtesy: The Pioneer

National honour for Oriya doctor from Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: An Oriya doctor from Berhampur has done the state proud by winning a national award for his research on malaria control among underprivileged tribals in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Union health minister Gulam Nabi Azad awarded Manoj Das, a native of Berhampur, the prestigious Biomedical Research Award in New Delhi recently. The award was in recognition of his pioneering bio-environmental malaria control in Car Nicobar Island that reduced the prevalence of the vector borne disease without the use of insecticides. Das' 16-year-long project among local Nicobarese tribals.

Das, who works at National Institute of Malaria Research in Ranchi, said, "I have worked among primitive tribals such Jarwas, Andamanese, Onges, Nicobarese and Shompens in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. I am happy that my work helped in identifying and establishing the risk factors and methods to control the disease."

Das, an alumnus of Berhampur University, has published over 50 papers in national and international scientific journals. His contributions to malaria control have been appreciated and recognized by the air force, Social Welfare Advisory Board and Tribal Council of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Source: Times of India

Berhampur seeks AIEEE centre

BERHAMPUR: Several professionals have appealed for the setting up of an All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) centre in the town from next year. They said Berhampur was the biggest town in southern Orissa and the centre will be a boon to aspirants from the seven districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangapur and Malkanagiri.

At present, Bhubaneswar has the only AIEEE centre in the state. In a letter to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the appellants said students from southern Orissa found it very difficult to travel and stay in Bhubaneswar. "A large number of students from the southern districts appear for AIEEE every year. The distance of Bhubaneswar from Malkanagiri is over 600 km and poor students cannot afford to travel such a long distance to appear for the entrance examination," said the letter, which was signed by lecturers, doctors, engineers and businessmen.

They said Berhampur had the infrastructure to host the examination. There were more than twenty intermediate colleges in the city besides some engineering schools. About 20,000 students are enrolled in these institutions," they added. Several other entrance examinations including Orissa Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), railway recruitment examination and banking service commission examination were held in the city, they said.

Source: TimesofIndia