Jatin’s brush paints Rushikulya beach nesting for Olive Ridley conservation

Renowned artist Jatin Das has recently extended his support to the conservation of the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles by painting the Rushikulya beach nesting, one of the favourite rookeries of the sea turtles in Odisha. Das allowed his paintings to go under hammer to raise funds at the International Sea Turtle Symposium (ISTS), recently concluded in Goa. 

NGO Dakhin Foundation, the ISTS organisers, approached Jatin Das to accomplish an artwork on the sea turtles and subsequently urged him to visit Rushikulya beach during the mass nesting. Rushing from New Delhi on March 6 to witness the wonderful sight of the mass nesting, Das had made sketch on the spot. Having the experience of a lifetime, he started working on a serigraph edition for the benefit of the ISTS, held from April 25 to 29 in Goa, said Aarthi Sridhar of Dakhin Foundation. Das also made special numbered and signed serigraph edition of 500, especially released as a donation on the occasion of the 30th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation. 

Although numbered and signed serigraph editions by the noted artist are usually sold for Rs 1,00,000, the price has been reduced to Rs 10,000 considering the marine conservation, added Sridhar. Jatin Das, a present resident of New Delhi........... Full story.............................................. Link ............. http://www.dailypioneer.com/254663/Jatin’s-brush-paints-for-Olive-Ridley-conservation.html, Source: The Pioneer

First Consumer Advice Centre in Orissa with German Collaboration inaugurated at Berhampur

A Consumer Advice Centre, which is part of a Indo-German Collaborative pilot project in the country was inaugurated in Berhampur city on May 09.

It is first centre to be established under this pilot project in Orissa. The next centre is to be established in Bhubaneswar soon. It was inaugurated by the State Minister for Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, Sarada Prasanna Nayak in the presence of the secretary of the department, Ashok K. Meena and Ganjam district Collector, V.K.Pandian.

The minister declared that Satish Kumar Panigrahi and Ashok Senapati were selected as the advisers of this centre.

This Consumer Advice Centre has come on the campus of the District Consumer Forum in the city. This pilot project to create awareness among the consumers regarding their rights and to save them from exploitation has materialised out of collaboration of Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) of the Union government and the German Technical Corporation (GTZ).

This project is already on in four other states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Adviser of the centre Mr. Panigrahi said this Consumer Advice Centre would open up a toll free helpline to help out consumers wherever they are. Any consumer would be able to call up the centre from the spot to complain against any exploitive practice by traders. Any consumer would also be free to come over and take advice from the centre.

This centre would hold regular campaigns in rural areas to educate peer groups especially women regarding consumer rights and their implementation. In the initial target area campaign this centre plans to aim at the Women Self Help Groups (WSHG) in the district. In case of need the centre would also take the help of law and enforcement agencies to provide justice to consumers who need help.

The project manager of this project, Nihar Ranjan Samantray said in Orissa the consumers were still ignorant about their rights and the traders were misusing this gullibility of consumers.

As an initial measure consumer protection and rights have been included in the course of Class IX students. Yet this centre has also decided to come out with printed material to build up awareness regarding consumer awareness.

Source: The Hindu

Thousands welcome Red Ribbon express in Berhampur city

Thousands of rural women from different parts of Ganjam district thronged Berhampur railway station to welcome Red Ribbon Express which started its two day sojourn in Berhampur city on may 7.

Ganjam happens to be the most HIV prone area and as per prevalence of HIV infection it stands in the 14th position in the country. The HIV infection rate of women, pregnant mothers and transfer of HIV infection to children from mothers is quite high in this area. So, the district administration, health officials, Orissa State AIDS Control Society (OSACS) and the NGOs involved in AIDS awareness work had decided to use the arrival of Red Ribbon Express to target the rural women, who are mostly related to migrant labourers of remote areas.

Five representatives, mostly women from 2,800 ‘Gaon Kalyan Samities (GKS)' in Ganjam district have been mobilised to come over to get educated by the Red Ribbon Express and spread the message through meetings at their respective villages after returning back. The representatives included the local Anganwadi workers, Asha volunteer and elected ward member. Around Rs.28 lakh meant for the GKS bodies was used for the purpose.

The inauguration ceremony of the sojourn of Red Ribbon Express in the city was attended by the RDC southern division, Chandrasekhar Kumar, Ganjam Collector, V.K.Pandian, MLAs of Gopalpur, Aska and Berhampur. Full story............. http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/08/stories/2010050858780200.htm,

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

High-level meeting reviews the development of Tara Tarini Hill Shrine

• Hill Shrine to be developed as a national level destination
• Comprehensive development of the Hill Shrine stressed
• Land belonging to the Shrine to be recovered
• Work of the Main Temple Complex to be completed by January 2011
• To check erosion and land-slide, retaining walls to come up with state support

After the formation of the Tara Tarini Development Board the famous Taratarini Hill Shrine got the much needed attention and owing to that in the last 7 years the number of pilgrims visiting to the shrine has gone up significantly. Last year more than 17 lakh people visited the hill shrine during the month of Chaitra. This year the number swelled further. During five Tuesdays of the month around 20 lakh devotees and tourists visited the shrine. However, the figures available from the local media reveals that this year’s gathering has surpassed the records of earlier years and even surpassed the 20 lakh figure anticipated by the Board. Taking this growing number into consideration the Tara Tarini Development Board is expecting the number of visitors to swell further in the coming years.

However, despite the development initiatives undertaken with active participation of the people in the last 7 years, the existing infrastructure is proving inadequate and the significant growth of tourists and visitors has come as a big challenge for the Board. On the other hand, unlike Puri Jagannath Shrine the Tara Tarini hill shrine has inadequate infrastructure to support 20 Lakh visitors within a month.

A high-level meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble minister of Law GoO Shri Vikram Arukh in Bhubaneswar on April 28, 2010 to review the on going developmental works being undertaken by the Tara Tarini Development Board at Taratarini hill shrine. Issues like creating national standard infrastructure for the benefit of visitors and ways to counter the challenge posed by the consistently growing number of visitors in the coming years were discussed in the meeting.

Minister of Tourism Government of Orissa Shri Devi Prasad Mishra, Principal Secretary Urban Development, Government of Orissa Shri Arun Panda, Transport & Commerce Secretary Government of Orissa Shri Satyabrata Sahu, Secretary Law Government of Orissa and Commissioner Endowment Government of Orissa, Ganjam District Collector and Vice-President of TTDB Shri VK Pandian, all senior officials of the Department of Tourism and many other senior government officials of the state and district administration, apart from Secretary TTDB Shri Pramod Panda, Senior audit officer Shri Arun Kumar Sabat, the office bearers of TTDB, Technical Committee members of TTDB and Temple Management were present on the occasion.

Reviewing the works of TTDB, Shri Arukh said the famous Taratarini Hill Shrine the Breast Shrine of Mata Sati, is one amongst the 4 major ancient Shakti centers in India and an important prehistoric religious center. It is gradually emerging as the popular destination of visitors in Orissa. He said seeing the number of visitors in one month any body can say that it’s also emerging as a major religious-tourism destination of Orissa after Puri Jagannath.

He appreciated the work of TTDB and advised to focus on the time bound completion of the ongoing projects of the shrine and to take up developmental projects for the benefit of the growing number of visitors. Shri Arukh also gave importance to the immediate construction of outer protection walls and River-side retaining wall to check land sliding and soil erosion at the hilltop and said the Rural Development department Government of Orissa will undertake the work of both the Northern and Southern side outer protection walls to ensure the safety of the hill top. He assured all help from government side to the Development Board.

Minister of Tourism Government of Orissa Shri Devi Prasad Mishra said Taratarini is an important and ancient Shakti centre of Orissa. Goddesses Tara-Tarini not only have been regarded as the presiding deity (Ista-Devi) in almost every household in South Orissa but also is one among the principal centers of worship in the state. Taratarani attracts thousands of devotees, picnickers and visitors throughout the year. He said so far as tourism is concerned this place has enough potentials and as expected its also emerging as a major tourist destination in eastern India. He assured all support to TTDB and regular attention from his ministry to strengthen the infrastructure of the holy shrine and sanctioned Rs. 70 lakh in the first phase for the overall development of the shrine.

On this occasion the Principal Secretary Urban Development, Government of Orissa Shri Arun Panda presented the keynote address. He gave a proposal to reserve the land in front of the hill shrine for future development of the shrine and it was immediately accepted by the high level committee. Shri Panda also suggested the Board to take the help of reputed NGOs for maintenance of sanitation in and around the shrine and construction of more numbers of Lavatory complexes for tourists.

Transport & Commerce Secretary Government of Orissa Shri Satyabrata Sahu presented the plan for the overall development of the ancient shrine and put emphasis on the early completion of the main temple, side temples, boundary wall, Bhog Mandap and other necessary constructions of the main temple complex on the hill top with in a time bound period. He gave a number of proposals for the development of the shrine area through PPP mode. Ganjam District collector and Vice-President of TTDB Shri VK Pandian delivered the welcome address.

Lastly, in the meeting it was unanimously decided that some of the prioritized list of works proposed by the TTDB and sanctioned by the technical committee of TTDB will be commenced soon for the convenience of devotees and tourists. That are:

1. The work of the hill top temple complex with four side temples and boundary wall will be completed by January 2011.

2. Dedicated bus service to the hill shrine for smooth transportation and the construction of a bus Stand on the foot hill will be started soon.

3. Permanent accommodation facility for the visitors on the foot hill to be arranged.

4. Completion of administrative office and ultra modern lavatory complex on the hilltop of the shrine within December 2010.

5. Further widening of the existing Ghat road from Keshpur to the Hilltop at a cost of around 5 crore to be completed by the end of this year.

6. Construction of North and South side outer protection walls and River side retaining walls to check land sliding and soil erosion at the hilltop at a cost of 1 crore will be started soon by the Rural development dept. GoO.

7. The tourism department in the first phase will sanction 71 lakhs for the overall development of the shrine area. A high-level team will visit the shrine area soon for this purpose.

8. It was also decided that Ministry of Law govt. of Orissa will take immediate steps to recover all the donated cultivated and uncultivated land (Around 300 acres in Gajnam district and around the same size in other parts of the state) scattered in various parts of the state on the line of Jagannath Temple, Puri.

Oil, gas services hub to come up in Ganjam

Three foreign companies have evinced keen interest to set up jointly a large Oil and Gas services hub at Sunapua near Bahuda near Berhampur city of Ganjam district with an investment of Rs 10,000 crore. The representatives of the concerned companies called on Chief Secretary TK Mishra at the Secretariat on Saturday and submitted their proposal to this effect.

They reportedly told the State Government that about six thousand acres of lands are required for setting up this large scale project. The companies which have evinced keen interest to set up their units are Alfa Tech IMC of America, F Camber holdings of Dubai and Greenco PLC of England. The Government has to prepare the feasibility report and two officers of IPICOL and IDCO have been entrusted to asses the report.

Source: The Pioneer

RRB to introduce Core Banking facilities for customers

Emulating other nationalised commercial banks, Rushikulya Gramya Bank (RGB) in Berhampur, Orissa will introduce on-line transaction facilities and issue smart and biometric ATM cards to its customers. The technology development will be done in association with its sponsoring Andhra Bank after implementation of the Core Banking Solution (CBS) in all its 81 branches located in Southern Orissa's Ganjam and Gajapati districts. The bank aims to have CBS in all its branches by March 2011 as against the cut off date of September 2011 by the central government.

The Centre has asked all the RRBs (regional rural banks) across the country to have CBS facilities with support of their respective sponsor banks by the end of September next year. "We have already prepared the roadmaps for the CBS in support of our sponsoring bank Andhra Bank," Chairman of the bank P V S T R Seshagiri Rao said. ..................... Read full story ............
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/banking/finance/banking/RRB-to-introduce-online-facilities-for-customers/articleshow/5867480.cms,

Courtesy: The Economic Times

Vanishing wetlands add to city's woes

Excerpts from Times of India/ Hrusikesh Mohanty  

BERHAMPUR: Unplanned growth is telling upon the wetlands of this south Orissan town. With waterbodies shrinking, drinking water is becoming a precious commodity. These wetlands also used to control the ever escalating summer temperature.

"The Hatibandh pond was big enough to bath elephants. But it doesn't exist today. Instead, there are rows of concrete houses," a senior citizen Chitta Ranjan Das said.

Similar is the fate of other waterbodies in the city. The Berhampur Development Agency (BDA) had filled up Tameya Bandha, one of the major ponds in the town recently to construct a park.

A retired engineer, Ananta Bhola said, canals of river Rushikulya flowing through the town used to fill up the ponds and maintain the groundwater level during summer. "But it is no more so. The system was perhaps designed by the then administrators because Berhampur was not on the banks of any river," he said.

The canal system was constructed in such a way that there was no water-logging in any part of the town during the monsoons. The water used to drain into the ponds. But today, waterlogging is common even after a slight drizzle due to encroachment of wetlands.

According to government records, there are over 70 waterbodies in the town and are in the possession of municipality, revenue and private parties. But many exist only on record.

The existing ponds are not suitable for use. Water in some ponds is contaminated while several others are filled with garbage. The authorities, however, said they have made elaborate plans to reconstruct and renovate the waterbodies under the Central government's Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (IDSSMT).

"The Central government has provided about Rs 8 crore under the scheme," commissioner of Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) Bhim Manseth said. The total project cost is Rs 16 crore, he added. While 25 ponds have been renovated under the scheme, another 17 will be given facelifts soon, he said.

Ganjam Bar Association to intensify stir for HC Bench in Berhampur

It will boycott courts in the city

The Ganjam Bar Association on April 24 formed an action council to strengthen its demand for establishment of a permanent Bench of the High Court for south Orissa in Berhampur city.

This action council was constituted through an emergency meeting called up by the Ganjam Bar Association. The secretary of the bar association, Rabindra Kumar Deo said this newly formed action council would decide upon the future course of action for the fulfilment of the long standing demand for the High Court Bench.

Three elected members of the present bar association including its President, Bhagaban Sahu, its secretary Mr. Deo and its second secretary T.K.Patra are to head this action council. It also includes two elected representatives to the State association from the local bar. Nine former presidents of the bar association and nine former secretaries are also part of it. All the members of the action council were present in Saturday's meeting. ....... Read full story........... http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/25/stories/2010042552160300.htm,

Courtesy: The Hindu

Berhampur city reels under water crisis

Rising temperature and drinking water crisis have left several towns in the State virtually dry and the Silk City is no exception to this seasonal trauma. It is a perennial drinking water problem here which only aggravates in summer and long queues of women waiting for tankers become common in several areas of the city.

Though a two-decade-old problem, no serious measures have been taken to counter the crisis for which the city has started feeling the pinch from mid-March. Unlike the previous years when the water crisis was felt in mid- April this year it was a month early posing more problems for the residents.

The shortage is felt even as the city gets its water supply from two major sources -- the Dakhinapur drinking water project and Rushikulya project at Badamadhapur besides bore wells, tube wells and open wells.According to sources, Berhampur needs over 54 million gallons of water per day. Even the two fully active water projects are unable to meet the demand. Both the projects provide less than 35 million gallons of water per day, said the Public Health Executive Engineer............Read full story............Link........ http://expressbuzz.com/states/orissa/berhampur-reels-under-water-crisis/167654.html,

Source: New Indian Express

Anti-encroachment drive in Berhampur city

Survey for new bypass is completed, says BDA secretary

Administration initiated anti-encroachment drive on April 18 to alleviate traffic congestion on the stretch of NH 217 that passes through Berhampur city.

Encroachments on both sides of highway were removed amidst police cover near Kamapalli square. Encroachments would also be removed from government land for the construction of bypass road aimed at reducing the traffic congestion on the NH 217 near Gate Bazar square. Encroachment of a major road by a vegetable market near Kamapalli square is to be removed soon, officials said. This vegetable market is choking the road leading to a major overbridge in the Kamapalli area.  Read full story............... Link.............

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041951250300.htm,

Source: The Hindu

PNB farmers' training centre to boost farm sector in Ganjam

Excerpts from Business Standard/ Hrusikesh Mohanty

BERHAMPUR: The farming sector in south Orissa's Ganjam district is likely to get a boost with the establishment of a Farmers' Training Centre near Berhampur by the state owned Punjab National Bank (PNB). The Farmers' Training Centre (FTC), the first of its kind in the state, will offer free training to the farmers on latest technologies so as to help raise agricultural productivity. Meanwhile, PNB has started imparting free training to the farmers from Tuesday at the Regional Institute of Technology and Extension (RITE), a building of the agriculture department at Rangeilunda, about 15 km from here. The farmers’ training institute has started functioning here on the occasion of the 116th anniversary of the nationalized bank, said B P Ray, head of PNB's Orissa circle. “We have entered into an agreement with the state government to offer training to the farmers at RITE till our FTC is operational”, he added.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone for the Rs 60-crore project at Karapalli, near Gopalpur last year. The state government has provided about seven acres of land at the site free of cost for the project. The FTC is being set up by the Punjab National Bank Farmer’s Welfare Trust, an organization sponsored by the bank to give training to the farmers in different agricultural activities. Apart from the borrowers of PNB, the borrowers of other banks, including the cooperative banks will participate in the training programme of PNB, Ray said.

Apart from providing training on agricultural activities, the FTC would also offer free training on computer courses, tailoring and embroidery. For computer courses, the Trust has entered into a tie-up arrangement with the Rajiv Gandhi Computer Saksharata Mission. In addition to PNB's own staff, the FTC would have experts from the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) as the resource persons of the institute, he added. “PNB has already set up eight FTCs in several states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The bank has received a very good response from the farmers in these states”, he added. All these centres were set up with the active cooperation of the respective state governments The FTCs have so far imparted training to over two lakh farmers and youths including over 40,000 women.

Oil Spill stops at Gopalpur Port, near Berhampur in Orissa, Olive Ridleys safe

Berhampur:  In a huge relief to the authorities and environmentalists, the spillage of oil from the Indonesian ship at the Gopalpur Port near Berhampur city in Orissa, finally came to a halt.

It has been confirmed that the nesting site of Olive Ridleys near the port in Rushikulya rookery is safe and there is no danger to the rare Olive Ridleys.

On Monday evening, a barge lost control due to rough weather and hit the Indonesian ship MV Malavika anchored near the Gopalpur port. That resulted in oil spillage.An oil coat was found spread over a seven km area off the beach – just 200 metres from the site of the eggs,

The Engineers made all efforts to transfer the oil from the damaged unit. About 7,000 litres of oil poured into the sea before they could stop the spillage. The water and sand were blackened by the oil spillage.

Gopalpur port director said the situation is under control with both port and Coast Guard personnel working to stop any oil spill. The entire fuel oil from the ship was transferred to a tanker within an hour.Efforts are on from the authorities, the local people and nature lovers to purify the water and remove the oil from the sea.

Source: Breaking News

Tata Steel to resume work after notification of Gopalpur SEZ

Excerpts from Business Standard / Hrusikesh Mohanty

BERHAMPUR: Tata Steel will kick off the development works on its proposed multi-purpose Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project near Gopalpur in south Orissa’s Ganjam district, once the SEZ is notified. Though Tata Steel's SEZ project was cleared by the Board of Approvals (BoA) under the Union commerce ministry, it is yet to be notified due to problems in possession of land. “The land possession problems in Chamakahandi and Basanaputi villages will be sorted out very soon. Company authorities have agreed to undertake a fresh survey on the lands being left out in these villages, for the payment of compensation and taking physical possession”, said an official of Tata Steel.

Meanwhile, the company expects to take physical possession of land for the Gopalpur SEZ very soon. “We have already deposited the amount for the land acquisition and hope to get physical possession very soon for construction of the boundary walls”, said S S Routray, senior manager (administration), Gopalpur SEZ project of Tata Steel. A tripartite meeting was held between the villagers, company officials and the district administration for physical acquisition of around 51.502 acres of land in Chamakhandi village and around 25 acres in Basanaputi village. This meeting had a very positive response, said Routray. In a parallel development the Gana Sangram Samiti, the organization spearheading the movement against land acquisition by Tata Steel at the site in the mid-nineties, will hold its meeting on April 16. The objective of the meeting is to decide whether to concede land for the SEZ or not. Tata Steel, on the other hand intends to withdraw from the 206.685 acres of land at Kalipalli village and 691 acres of land at Paikapada. According to official sources, though the land at Paikapada was acquired, it was not handed over to the company. Once the implementation of the SEZ project starts, Tata Steel will have 2792.659 acres in nine villages including Chamakhandi and Basanaputi villages in its possession, sources said. A high-level review meeting was held recently at Chhatrapur on the land availability for the company's SEZ project. The meeting was presided over by Priyabrata Patnaik, chairman and managing director, Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO).

Plans afoot to promote marketing of flowers in Ganjam

BERHAMPUR: The State government is planning to implement a project to promote marketing of flowers produced in Ganjam district and other parts of south Orissa.

The Ganjam District Flower Growers' Association (GDFGA) and the Regional marketing Committee of Berhampur had come up with a project for the development of marketing infrastructure . The State government has now taken interest in the project and its first steps would be implemented in Ganjam district. The secretary of the GDFGA, Sridhar Verma said they had a meeting with the Commissioner-cum secretary of the State agriculture and cooperation department regarding the implementation of special project for the development of floriculture.

Mr. Verma said the district administration has also extended support for the project. A suitable site for the project has been demarcated for the development infrastructure needed by the flower growers for the preservation and packing of their produce. If developed this project is to benefit flower growers of whole south Orissa, said Mr. Verma. Read  full story................. Link.................. http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/12/stories/2010041254810300.htm
Source: The Hindu

Orissa gets Rs 595.14 crore for water body upgrade

• 
  
  Most of these projects under the RRR scheme are being taken up in Ganjam district
• 
  
  Funding for these projects would be shared between the Govt. of India & Orissa govt. in the ratio of 90:10 for  KBK districts

BS Reporter / Kolkata/ Berhampur April 06, 2010 : As many as 1817 water bodies, mostly the minor irrigation projects (MIPs) in 20 districts of Orissa, would be revitalized under the Centrally sponsored scheme of Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies. These water bodies would be revitalized within a period of three years at an estimated cost of Rs 595.14 crore.............

Most of these projects under the RRR scheme are being taken up in south Orissa's Ganjam district. About 800 projects under the scheme are to be taken up in the district at a cost of Rs 250.87 crore.

While the design ayacut of these 800 projects, mostly the MIPs was 49,743 hectares in the district, the irrigation potential of 32,042 hectares would be revived after completion of the scheme, said Jamini Kanta Das, member convener, District Level Implementation and Monitoring Committee, Ganjam and the executive Engineer (Minor Irrigation).

Source: Business Standard  

Silk city to get a new bypass road

BERHAMPUR: The State Government has accorded approval for construction of a bypass road from Gokarneswar temple to Radio station in the city.

It is noteworthy that due to high vehicular traffic on this 3 km road, accidents have become regular.

According to Berhampur Development Authority sources, to minimise the traffic problems from new bus stand to Gate bazaar chowk in the city, BDA administration in 2008 submitted a proposal to the State government for laying the bypass road. 

Almost two years have passed since then, but the bypass project is yet to take shape. Now as per BDA sources the work would begin in a week.

Source: The New Indian Expres

River valley development authority sought for southern Odisha

A river valley development authority was demanded at the conclave of technical experts and intellectuals held in Berhampur under the auspices of the Dakshin Odisha Vikash Parishad (DOVS) that has initiated a novel proposal for resolution of water issues in the southern part of the State. The conclave was inaugurated by Nakshyatramala Panigrahi and was attended by several experts, including engineers, legal experts and intellectuals from across the region.

The Dakshin Odisha Vikash Parishad programme coordinator Sankarsan Panigrahi placed a paper on water resources development plan in the southern part of the State stressing the need of its immediate implementation. Dakshin Odisha Vikash Parishad leader Dayanidhi Sahu delivered a keynote address on river valley development in southern Odisha and the serious emergency of water issues confronted by the people living in ten districts of the region. DOVP leader Dayanidhi Sahu also advocated for establishment of a special development board under Article 371 of the Indian Constitution as well as for a river basin development authority on the lines of the Tennesse River Development Authority of the United states of America (USA). Sahu, while pleading for establishment of such a board, also referred to the quotations of some eminent people like AN Khosla, a former Governor of Odisha, Viswasraya, KL Rao and Thirumal Ayanger.

The conclave demanded immediate construction of dams under Ghatakeswar and Cheligarh projects to address the drinking water problems of Berhampur city and the adjoining areas. It was also demanded that all the river valley projects, including dams on the rivers of Rushikulya, Badanadi and Loharkhandi in the southern region as well as the Manibhadra project on river Mahanadi be implemented on war footing.

Besides, KC Jena also stressed the need of hydropower generation from the water resources available in the southern part.

Moreover, a river network for inter-basin transfer of water on the demand-supply basis was also sought at the conclave which was presided over by Dakshin Odisha Vikash Parishad leader Dayanidhi Sahu.

Source:The Pioneer

Delegation of street vendors of India reaches Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: The delegation of the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), which is now on a nation-wide campaign for the protection of rights of street vendors reached Berhampur city on April 03.

This campaign had started from New Delhi on November 25 last year with an aim to unite all street vendors of the country for the protection of their livelihood and lives. The NASVI happens to be a national federation of street vendors across India, held a women vendors' meet to create a common platform to raise their voice against harassment by the police and demand basic rights that protect their livelihoods and their lives. Read full story......... http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/04/stories/2010040451650300.htm, Source : The Hindu

Record 20 lakh devotees visit Taratarini shrine during Chaitra fest

Record 20 lakh devotees visit Taratarini shrine during Chaitra fest

Pioneer News Service Bhubaneswar:

The Maa Tatarini Hill shrine in Ganjam district recorded a turnout of over 20 lakh devotees during the auspicious Chaitra celebrations. The largest gathering was witnessed on the last and fifth Tuesday, which was marked by devotional celebrations, bringing the month-long annual festival at the ancient temple to a close.

The ritualistic worship by the devotees and invocation of divine benediction charged the atmosphere with an exhilarating blend of spirituality and an all-pervading solemnity. Interestingly, all the Tuesdays of the month of Chaitra are the days of celebration at the hill shrine with devotees pouring in from across the country to offer prayers to Adi Shakti Maa Taratarini (Sthana Peetha of Mata Sati at one of the four major ancient Shakti centers in India) and have their desires fulfilled, as is believed. Read more....... Link...................

http://www.dailypioneer.com/246278/Record-20-lakh-devotees-visit-Taratarini-shrine-during-Chaitra-fest.html,

20 lakh devotees visits Taratarini hill shrine in Orissa's Ganjam during Chaitra festival

Berhampur: With a mammoth gathering and marked by devotional celebration on the fifth and last Tuesday of the auspicious month of Chaitra, the month long famous and biggest annual Chaitra festival at the ancient Taratarini Hill shrine came to an end. The ritualistic worship of the devotees and invocation of divine benediction charged the atmosphere with an exhilarating blend of spirituality and an all pervading solidarity.

It is notable, that all the Tuesdays of the month of Chaitra are days of celebration at this hill shrine and devotees gather in lakhs from the cross section of the country to take a glimpse of Adi Shakti Maa Taratarini (Sthana Peetha of Mata Sati and one amongst the 4 major ancient Shakti centers in India) to eradicate evil from the world and to fulfill all their worldly desires. Read more....... Link...................

http://www.orissadiary.com/Ganjam/ShowDistrictNews.asp?id=17619,

Devotees make beeline on the concluding day of Chaitra festival in Taratarini hill shrine

Orissabarta: With a mammoth gathering and marked by devotional celebration on the fifth and last Tuesday of the auspicious month of Chaitra, the month long famous and biggest annual Chaitra festival at the ancient Taratarini Hill shrine came to an end. The ritualistic worship of the devotees and invocation of divine benediction charged the atmosphere with an exhilarating blend of spirituality and an all pervading solidarity.

It is notable, that all the Tuesdays of the month of Chaitra are days of celebration at this hill shrine and devotees gather in lakhs from the cross section of the country to take a glimpse of Adi Shakti Maa Taratarini (Sthana Peetha of Mata Sati and one amongst the 4 major ancient Shakti centers in India) to eradicate evil from the world and to fulfill all their worldly desires. Read more....... Link...................

http://www.orissabarta.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=438:press-release-from-tara-tarini-development-board-dt31032010&catid=44:tourism&Itemid=87,

Devotees make beeline on the concluding day of Chaitra festival in Taratarini hill shrine

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With a mammoth gathering and marked by devotional celebration on the fifth and last Tuesday of the auspicious month of Chaitra, the month long famous and biggest annual Chaitra festival at the ancient Taratarini Hill shrine came to an end. The ritualistic worship of the devotees and invocation of divine benediction charged the atmosphere with an exhilarating blend of spirituality and an all pervading solidarity. Read More.......... Link.........

Taratarini records 20 lakh devotees

Berhampur: Maa Tatarini Hill shrine recorded 20 lakh plus devotees during the auspicious Chaitra Celebrations.  The largest gathering has been on last and Fifth Tuesday which was marked by devotional celebrations.  The month long famous and biggest annual Chaitra festival at the ancient Maa Taratarini Hill Shrine came to an end.  The ritualistic worship of the devotees and invocation of divine benediction charged the atmosphere with an exhilarating blend of spirituality and an all pervading solidarity.