2nd phase to start at Sthana Peetha Taratarini under new chairman

Bhubaneswar: Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) of Southern Division of Odisha Chandrasekhar Kumar is the new chairman of the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB), a prominent temple administration body in Ganjam district. He has taken over from the outgoing RDC and former TTDB chairman Satyabrata Sahu who is now the Commerce & Transport Secretary of the State Government. It was under the guidance of the former chairman that the first phase of the stone temple was completed. This religious shrine is believed to be the Sthana Peetha (Breast Shrine) of Mata Sati and one amongst the four major ancient Shakti centers in India.The new chairman visited the shrine and discussed the commencement of the second phase of work. Board Secretary Pramod Panda along with the other board members tabled the primary draft of the second phase of work and it was decided to finish all on-going work before the upcoming Chaitra MelaThe projects in the second phase include completion of Kalyana Mandapam, construction of huge hill-top parking space, widening of stone steps and arrangement of public utilities or rest houses, maintenance of eco-system, construction of a hospital and the construction of a residential school and training centre for the physically challenged.
Source: The Pioneer

Nalco-NPCIL N-power plant proposed near Berhampur city in Ganjam

As part of its proposed diversification activities, National Aluminium Company Ltd (Nalco) has decided to enter into an (MoU) with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) to produce nuclear power. Signing of a nuclear deal with USA by India has ended isolation of the country from sources of nuclear fuel and paved the way for large-scale generation of nuclear power in the country. The Government of India has reportedly decided to produce nuclear power with the support of Central PSUs. Accordingly, the NPCIL, which is eyeing setting up of a nuclear power plant in Odisha, has roped in Nalco, the first Navratna company in the State, revealed sources. An MoU would be signed soon between NPCIL and Nalco for a joint venture (JV), official sources said. The JV company would set up a 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plant with an investment of Rs 8,500 crore. A site has been identified near Berhampur city in Ganjam district for the plant, said an official in the Department of Energy.The JV would be run with a professionally-managed team. A steering committee has been formed to scale up the move and the panel is likely to induct more members, said the sources. Meanwhile, Nalco has been accorded the prestigious Premier Trading House status in accordance with the provision of the Exim Policy by the Government of India. Premier Trading House (PTH) status is the highest award to any Export House.As per the Foreign Trade Policy, an Export House should have exported goods worth Rs 7,500 crore or more during the current year plus previous three years for getting the PTH status. Nalco has achieved an export target of Rs 7,609 crore during the current year up to July 31, 2009 and the previous three years.

Source : The Pioneer

Sporadic mating of Olive Ridleys near Rushikulya

BERHAMPUR: Sporadic mating of Olive Ridleys is being seen in the sea near Rushikulya rookery near Berhampur city in Ganjam district. Usually mass mating of Olive Ridley turtles is reported from this coast during the month of December. The local marine fishermen say they have started noticing mating of these rare turtles slightly early this year. The Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), A. K. Jena said the mass mating of Olive Ridleys is yet to be seen but there have been reports of sporadic mating of Olive Ridleys in sea at a distance of beyond 10 kilometres from the sea coast.
It may be noted that the State government bans fishing in this area from beginning of November till the return of hatched baby turtles into the sea from this coast. The mass nesting of Olive Ridleys occur on the Rushikulya rookery coast in February.
The wild life experts say sporadic mating of Olive Ridleys occurs throughout the year. Therefore sporadic nesting of these turtles is also reported at times other than the mass nesting period. Few Olive Ridleys come over to Rushikulya river mouth near Berhampur city to lay eggs throughout the year barring the summer and monsoon months, when the beaches are not conducive for laying eggs.
Female Olive Ridleys after copulation can store sperms without fertilisation inside their body up to three years. When they find conducive climate on the onset of winter they fertilise their ovum with the stored sperms to lay the eggs.
There has also been a speculation that some recent sporadic mating of Olive Ridleys may related to some of these turtles who may have preferred to stay back near the Orissa coast during past year rather than the migratory groups that visit this coast for mating and nesting. No study has been made yet to ascertain this speculation.
Source: The Hindu

Need for a Fragrance and Flavour Development Centre (FFDC) in Berhampur

There is a need to develop the present Technology Support Centre for Kewra Industry in Berhampur as a full fledged Fragrance and flower development centre on the lines of FFDC, Kannauj. Further, a research institute for the same can also be included under the development centre. Presently the Berhampur cluster (http://www.ffdcindia.org/clusterberhampur.htm) is only the third such cluster in India of its kind on fragrance, the others being Patna and Jhalawar. All these three clusters come under the FFDC, Kannauj. In view of the strong output base of Kewra in the Berhampur region which caters to the need of the entire country, the establishment of FFDC along with the research institute has become an imperative.
Ganjam district of Orissa produces 85-90% of Kewra in our country. The Kewra flowers are used for production of Kewra essence for flavouring of syrup, soft drinks and other food preparations. It is also used in certain perfume blends. In our country, Kewra is being cultivated in the coastal belt of Orissa and to some extent in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. It is estimated that around 3 million trees are grown on about of 5000 ha of land that produces more than 30 million spodices (oil bearing flowers) per year in Ganjam District alone. The spodices are used for production of Kewra oil/essence. With the rapid industrialization and change in the food habits of the common masses of the country, the consumption of Kewra oil is increasing day by day. Presently, the Kewra shrubs are not being cultivated in a planned manner, the demand is met through wildly grown shrubs. Kewra shrubs are not available in sufficient quantity; therefore there is a need to develop proper agronomy and cultivation techniques for increasing production of Kewra oil.

Source: The Samaja

Source: Dharitri

State’s second IIIT in Berhampur

(Recent news report in Pragativadi on IIIT- Berhampur)

State’s second IIIT in Berhampur

• IT Secretary of Odisha reiterates the establishment of IIIT at Berhampur

Berhampur has been identified as the location for the second Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in the state. Delivering the state focus address in the seminar 'Moving Ahead with Innovation' organised by the Odisha Chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here on Friday, IT secretary Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra said that in spite of the current global downturn in IT sector the effort was on to prepare human resources to meet the growing need of the state to roll out e-governance.

Link: http://www.pragativadi.com/071109/other_news.htm

Source: Pragativadi, www. http://imv8in4u.blogspot.com/

Second State-level drama festival concludes in Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: Even in this era of television, good plays can drag audience out of their drawing rooms to auditorium. The second State-level drama festival organised in the city proved it.
This week-long drama festival concluded on November 15 evening. All the seven plays enacted during the festival had packed house at its venue the Ganjam Kala Parishad auditorium. It was a non-competitive drama festival where prominent amateur theatre groups from different parts of the State enacted their best plays, which have won accolades in national level theatre festivals. Some of these plays were decades old and part of development of amateur theatre in Orissa.
Despite the odds like acoustics lacking and bad ventilation in the auditorium, audience filled it up every evening. Veteran theatre activist, Raju Padhi said the welcome sign was that more than 50 per cent of the audience was general public having no relation with stage activities. They had come over only to enjoy the plays. “They enjoyed the plays till the end which hints that despite speculations the live attraction for live theatre would continue in the minds of general public”, he said.
Swagatika Padhi, who came over to see three plays in this drama fest said one of the major reason behind its success was the professional management of the organisers. Usually the enactment of plays precedes elongated boring meetings comprising of long speeches. It delays the beginning of enactment of play. But in this drama festival the enactment of plays started sharp at 7.30 p.m. The meetings that preceded, were short and were attended by prominent personalities related to stage and cinema.
The variety of theme and format of plays was a major draw for the audience. The first two plays ‘Jeeara’ and ‘Baunsa Thenga re Swadhinata’ enacted by ‘Ka Kha Ga’ of Damanjodi and ‘Kala Parishad’ of Dhenkanal were plays based on human formations on stage. ‘Emiti bi Dine’ enacted by ‘Canmas’ of Paradip and ‘Kurukhyetra ra Thikana’ of Tulasi Cultural Association of Kendrapara were based on burning contemporary issues. The play of Casmas dealt with the topic of female foeticide and depicted a time when there would be dearth of women in the country. The other play was based on the corruption that continues in the name of social service. On Saturday a famous folklore of Orissa came alive in the play ‘Ati Achambita Katha’ enacted by three decades old organisation, Manan of Bhubaneswar. Its apt presentation enthralled children as well as the elders. ‘Jhada’ of ‘Sampark’ from Rourkela was the play of the concluding evening of the drama festival.
Courtesy: The Hindu

Conference of Mayors and Municipal heads kicks off in Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) played host to the conference of Mayors and chairpersons of Municipal bodies of the State. The Conference attended by more than 100 heads of Municipal bodies of the state was inaugurated by the state Revenue Minister at the historic Town Hall in the city. Hints of hike in the holding tax was evident during the discussions at the conference which deliberated on the methods of raising resources for the municipal bodies to carryout developmental activities. But, given the poor infrastructure and services provided by urban bodies in cities like Berhampur, Cuttack and Sambalpur, the natives have been opposing any hike in holding tax. In the mean time, a state government agency has already conducted the property survey of the individuals in four important towns of the state including Berhampur, Cuttack, Sambalapur and Puri to assess the holdings of individuals in the unit areas.

Source: The Hindu, Businessstandard, Aahwaan

Berhampur-Rourkela direct train service demanded

BERHAMPUR: Strange it may sound but, Berhampur and Rourkela, the second and third largest cities of Odisha are yet to be connected by a direct train service. This despite the fact that proper railway line exists between the two cities to be connected by a train. The absence of a direct train service is causing hardships to the commuters, who have to change 2-3 trains to reach the other city. It seems the East Coast Railway authorities are neither bothered nor interested in improving railway connectivity in the State. Since the last few years there is also a similar demand from several quarters for a direct train service between Visakhapatnam and TATA via Berhampur, Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, which could also serve the purpose of connecting Berhampur and Rourkela, but this has not evoked any response from the Railway officials. The State Governement on its part has never gone beyond submitting memorandums as a ritual prior to every Railway Budget. Eversince the Hirakhand express that connected Berhampur and Rourkela has been stopped there has been demand for alternate tarin service and yet the Zonal authorities are keeping mum on this issue. Now several organisations of the City have appealed the state government and the East Coast Zonal officials to pursue this issue with all seriousness to connect the silk city with the steel city of Odisha.

(PS: Thanks to Abhisek for the inputs)

Building Berhampur as a Higher Education destination

R.P.Tripathy

Berhampur city has many advantages as a place to emerge as a future higher education destination of Eastern India. To name a few, apart from being the third largest city in Odisha, Berhampur happens to be the commercial nerve centre of South Odisha and KBK regions. Interestingly it caters to the needs of a couple of districts of Andhra Pradesh as well. Further, Berhampur is the biggest city with a port in the state of Odisha. The City has one of the oldest colleges of Eastern India with Khallikote College nearing 150 years of its establishment. Berhampur University and MKCG Medical College have helped Berhampur emerge as a higher education destination of the State. Recently many private engineering colleges have come up in the City along with the Parala Maharaja Engineering College. Yet, the City has failed to get any of the centrally funded Institutes so far, despite the fact that it has got excellent rail and road transport infrastructure in the state apart from moderate weather conditions. Certain demands and suggestions have been made recently from different quarters that are likely to make Berhampur one of the leading destinations for higher education. This will not only help in the growth of the City, but also the vast under developed region of Southern Orissa and KBK. Following are some of the suggestions to build Berhampur as a destination for higher education;

·Declaration of Berhampur-Bhubaneswar knowledge corridor to develop Berhampur as a national level higher education cluster
·Establishment of Indian Institute of Information Technology (I.I.I.T)
·Khallikote College must be upgraded as an Unitary University
·Establishment of one of the state funded professional Universities like Health University or Management University or a second Agricultural University of the State
·One national level research lab of CSIR, DRDO or DAE
·Establishment of the National Institute of Design (NID)
·Establishment of the earlier announced Indian Institute of Labour (IIL) Studies on the lines of VV Giri Labour Institute, NOIDA
·A branch of the National maritime University at Gopalpur.
·Establishment of the Marine Biotech Park at Gopalpur.
·Upgradation of MKCG Medical college into a national level medical college and research centre
·The JN Tata Technical Education Centre to be upgraded as a national level technical institute on the lines of BIT.
·The Ministry of Defense College at Gopalpur to be upgraded as a Defense University and the establishment of AFMC under the University
·Establishment of Sugar Research Institute at Aska and Salt Research Institute at Huma.
·Completion of the STPI and IT Park projects near the City.

Finally, the formation of the Greater Berhampur metropolitan area is of critical importance in bringing the above mentioned Institutes to the City. There is strong justification for the merger of nearby towns like Chatrapur, Gopalpur, Hinjilicut and many villages located close to the City under Berhampur Municipal Corporation. There is also a strong case for developing the Airstrip near Bhanja Vihar as a domestic airport under the PPP route or in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense. The sooner this is done, the better it will be for the future growth of Berhampur and will also give a fillip in making Berhampur a higher education destination in Eastern India by 2020.

Chandrasekhar Kumar takes over as the chairman of Taratarini Development Board

BERHAMPUR: Shri Chandrasekhar Kumar, IAS and the new Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) of Southern Division has taken over the chairmanship of the TaraTarini Development Board, considered as one of the prominent temple administration and development bodies of the State. As per the convention of the Board, Mr Kumar who has recently joined as the RDC is replacing the outgoing RDC and the Chairman of TTDB Shri Satyabrata Sahu, who has since joined as the Commerce & Transport secretary of Government of Orissa. Shri Sahu’s Chairmanship was eventful as it marked the completion of the magnificent stone temple at Taratarini Hill Shrine and the shrine and its peripheral areas witnessed massive development in the past few years. The TTDB members and office bearers while congratulating Shri Kumar expressed the hope that the Hill Shrine will become a great center of religious and tourist importance in the country under his chairmanship. It is worth mentioning that the second phase of the temple, which includes construction of a massive complex for the devotees and the construction of four side-temples, boundary walls, social initiatives apart from many other small projects and plantation drive, have started recently.
Photo source: www.trekearth.com

Berhampur the southern capital of Orissa: A nice commentry on the City

Following are some beautiful lines on Berhampur. Sourced from
www.myberhampur.com

Several projects inaugurated as Naveen visits Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: The Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in his day long visit to Berhampur and Ganjam district on Tuesday has inaugurated several projects at Sheragarh, Gopalpur and Berhampur city besides laying foundation stone for the railway over-bridge near Auto-nagar in Berhampur.
Dharitri and The Sambad on Chief Minister’s visit to Berhampur:

• http://www.dharitri.com/111109/story6.asp,
• http://www.orissasambad.com/news_article.php?id=10490

Naveen launched India’s first gram panchayat banking outpost at Sikiri panchayat of his Hinjili constituency in south orissa in the presence of the Chief General Manager (CGM) of Orissa circle of the SBI Shiva Kumar, State Panchayati Raj Minister, Prafulla Samal and Ganjam district Collector V.K.Pandian. The Chief Minister said this project would put Orissa on the path to become the first State in the country to provide banking facility in all panchayats. In the first phase this banking outpost project would be taken up in 10 districts of Orissa, which have high number of NREGA beneficiaries. Naveen took part in around 16 inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremonies in his home constituency Hinjli and Berhampur city during his visit. He laid the foundation stone of a railway over bridge at Haldiapadar, inaugurated new hostel building of the Helen Keller deaf school of Berhampur, a tribal hostel in Central school, Berhampur and inaugurated the Santh Bhima Bhoi national library and herbal garden in the city.
Source: The Hindu, Orissadiary, Orissasambad, Dharitri and Odishatoday

Dalai Lama to visit Chandragiri near Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: Tibetan Spritiual leader Dalai Lama will be visiting Chandragiri near Berhampur in January. Jigme Rinpoche, Head Lama, Chandragiri Buddhist Monastery said that his holiness Dalai Lama will be visiting the state to inaugurate the Buddhist Monastery in Chandragiri on January 11 next year.
The head Lama called on the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday to discuss about the proposed visit of the spiritual leader next year. It should be noted that during the Chinese Aggression of Tibet in 1959, Tibetan refugees crossed over to India along with the Dalai Lama and were allotted this spot near Berhampur. About 600 Tibetan refugee families had settled in five camps in Chandragiri area, which is topographically and climatically similar to the Himalayan State. The new Buddhist Monastery that is to be inaugurated is going to attract tourists as it happens to be the biggest monastry of its kind in the eastern region of India.

Source: Orissadiary, Orissalinks

Odisha Chief Secretary visits MKCG medical college

BERHAMPUR: State Chief Secretary Tarun Kanti Mishra visited the city on November 06. He went to the Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) centre on MKCG Medical College campus to enquire about the functioning of the CD-4 machine at the centre.
The CD-4 machine at the ART centre has remained unused since August due to software problem and lack of trained technician. Mr. Mishra also visited the centralised kitchen of the Nandi foundation which is providing mid-day meal to schools in several blocks of Ganajm district.
Courtesy: The Hindu

Sanitation to be outsourced in more wards in Berhampur City

The Berhampur Municipal Corporation has decided to privatise the maintenance of sanitation in five more wards of the city. Following this decision, the total; number of wards whose maintenance of sanitation has been privatised would rise to 10. The city has already outsourced the sanitation maintenance of five wards.
Speaking to newsmen, the Mayor, Siba Shankar Dash said they preferred to outsource sanitation of five more wards due to satisfactory results in the wards where it was implemented. He claimed that there had been demands for outsourcing of sanitation work from most wards of the city as it had shown better results in the wards where it was implemented. This outsourcing of sanitation work had been opposed by the sanitary workers of the city in the past.They had also taken up agitation. But the municipal corporation had not preferred to roll back its decision.

Courtesy: The Hindu

20 years into construction, Berhampur Barracks stadium is still incomplete

BERHAMPUR: Two decades have passed since construction of Berhampur stadium began at the Barracks Ground in Berhampur City. The work, however, is far from over due to delay in identifying a patch of land that would be handed over to the Defence Ministry and payment of Rs 88 lakh by the State Government.
A portion of the land in the Barracks Ground that would be used for the stadium is under the possession of the Defence Ministry. The State Government has to hand over another piece of land to them in lieu of Barracks Ground. The Ministry owns 9.183 acres, housing residential quarters for the NCC officials, of the total 17.68 acres earmarked for the stadium-cum-sports complex.
In September 2005, the Defence Ministry agreed to vacate the land in lieu of another piece of land within Berhampur and payment of Rs 88 lakh for relocation. The State Government had agreed to provide 9.183 acres of land to the Ministry at Ambapua area of the city. However, it approached the Ministry seeking exemption from the payment of Rs 88 lakh. The latter, though, kept mum over the issue. Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry constructed a polyclinic for ex-servicemen on the Barracks Ground.
Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) chairman Sarat Ranjan Patnaik said that the Ministry had not sought any approval from the BDA for the polyclinic. “With none taking the initiative for the land transfer, the Berhampur stadium might go into oblivion,” said Prafulla Jagananth Padhi, founder office-bearer of Ganjam District Athletic Association.

Courtesy: The New Indian Express

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