Berhampur city all set to have a master plan

BERHAMPUR: After a long gap of 40 years, Berhampur city is set to get a master plan for its planned development. The Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) organised a launching workshop on Saturday on the preparations of Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) for a greater Berhampur. The CDP is to be prepared by the Town and Country Planning Organisation (TCPO), the technical advisory body of Central Ministry of Urban Development. The new master plan would be Geographical Information System (GIS)-based. It would depend on remote sensing data provided by satellites as well as the ground level data collected through surveys. (For more on this visit: http://www.dharitri.com/280609/story8.asp)
This workshop was attended by the chief planner of the TCPO, J.B.Khirsagar, director of State Town Planning, chairman of the BDA, Sarat Ranjan Patnaik, chairpersons of Chatrapur and Gopalpur NAC and Mayor of Berhampur municipal corporation. Representatives of all sections of society, various departments of the administration, police officials and social organizations who are stake holders to this new master plan took part in this interactive workshop to provide suggestions.
The preparation of the CDP would cost around Rs. 1,09,75,000. The State Government, which would bear the cost, has provided Rs. 35.50 lakhs for it in the first phase. It may be noted that Berhampur, a major trading and cultural centre had its last master plan way back in 1969. This master plan envisioned the urban growth and required basic amenities for a population of over two lakh persons by the year 1986. The present CDP however would provide urban development plan for the area now under the BDA which includes areas of urban bodies like Berhampur, Gopalpur and Chatrapur and 139 villages. This would be part of the greater Berhampur with a vision of development for next 30 years. The CDP would comprise a total area of 317 square km having a population of one million.

Source: The Hindu

Berhampur People: NARGIS NATRAJAN

‘The place that had clawed itself out of the Madras Presidency of British India and made it’s presence felt in Orissa. A place called Berhampur- my Daddy’s hometown and the city where I was born. Just to annoy me, Shankar often referred to it as the ‘filthiest village in the world’. But for the Alice in me it is a wonderland. For the child in me it is a Disneyland. For the adult in me, Berhampur was, is and always will be… Paradise!’ (This is an excerpt from Nargis Natarajan's book...'Daddy')

Nargis Natrajan's `Daddy: A Bouquet of Memories', is memoir and tribute to her father, Dr. Ferose Ali, affectionately known as the `poor man's doctor in Berhampur. For a girl from the unpretentious town of Berhampur to have written an excellent book of such richness is commendable. Although the book is about the father of Nargis, in a deeper sense filled with local flavour it is more like a historical account of life in the provincial town of Berhampur and its progressive environemnt in the 70s. Dr. Ferose Ali stood out by his iconoclastic and unorthodox views- a man of goodwill and a great humanist. It is these idealistic aspects of the father’s personality that are the substance of Nargis’ literary imagination.

Source: Sulekha, The Hindu etc.

Rail line conversion: Natives seek to expedite work

BERHAMPUR: A delegation comprising natives of Rayagada and Gajapati today submitted a memorandum to Railway Ministry demanding to expedite work on the railway line from Nuapada to Paralakhemundi. They also urged the minister to extend the railway line to Theruvali in Rayagada. The Berhampur MP has also met Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and sought her intervention for early completion of the railway line. He also exhorted the elected representatives irrespective of party lines to put pressure on Centre to earmark funds in the rail budget for South Orissa.

Just couple of days before the election, a trial run of an engine was conducted on the under-construction broadgauge railway line. Obviously the people expected passenger trains to chug on the route, but tardy progress of work has shattered their hopes. Since the railway line will cater to the needs of a large number of people in South Orissa besides of Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh, the demand for converting it into broad-gauge line gained ground. Initally the target was set to complete the track by 2007 but it was again extended to 2009. Just before the general election, the 31-km stretch from Naupada to Paralakhemundi was completed and trial runs were also conducted. But for last one month the work has slowed down.

Source: New Indianexpress

MCI permits MKCG Medical College to raise intake

Berhampur: The Medical Council of India (MCI) has given permission to the MKCG Medical College, Berhampur to admit 150 students from the current academic year. The number of seats in the medical college was increased from 107 to 150 in 2007. The MCI has recommended the Government to admit students as per the enhanced capacity this year. Meanwhile, the MCI has deferred its decision to increase the seat strength in SCB Medical College at Cuttack. 'The decision is likely to be taken within the next two weeks after getting some information from the State Government. The MCI has decided to renew the permission for admission of students against the increased intake (from 107 to 150) for the MKCG Medical College this year based on the report of an inspection team of the council and the report of the State Government. The team was satisfied with the infrastructure facilities available in the college and had recommended favourably. On the basis of recommendations given by the MCI, the Government would permit the medical college to admit 150 students this year.

Source: Business Standard, Odishatoday

Tatas hire Singapore firm for its SEZ in Gopalpur

Tata Realty & Infrastructure (TRIL), Tata Group’s real estate and infrastructure development arm, has hired Singapore-based Jurong International as the master planner for its special economic zone (SEZ) project in Gopalpur (Orissa). “We have shortlisted Jurong for this important project,” said a Tata group official. Jurong offers design and build, consultancy, construction, and facilities management services and its India office is located in Hyderabad. The multi-product SEZ, with all infrastructure facilities and required amenities, will cost the group nearly $ 1billion.So far, Jurong has done master plans for 380,000 hectares, 10 million square meters of industrial land and 5.8 million square meters of residential space.

The SEZ in Gopalpur will focus on minerals, mining and associated industries. At present, Tata Steel possesses the land slotted for SEZ. “We plan to focus on industries that are downstream value-added in the metals and minerals space and allied industries such as gem and jewellery for the SEZ, which is planned to come up in 2,900 acres. The land is already in our possession and the necessary approvals are in place. So we expect that this development will not face any land acquisition related problems,” a TRIL official told Financial Chronicle. “The positioning of the SEZ has been made keeping in mind the advantages of the local area and infrastructure such as a functioning port that’s capable of deep draught, an air strip and railway slidings that could be utilised by the industrial units in the zone,” added the official.

Source: www.mydigitalfc.com

Whales spotted in Rushikulya mouth

Berhampur: Blue whales are spotted in the seas off Rushikulya mouth in the Bay of Bengal. So Rushikulya Mouth may be one of the easiest places to watch whales. Recent sighting of blue whales in Orissa Coast has been reported by Rabindra Nath Sahu. “My experience is fantastic”, says Mr. Sahu, the Secretary of the Rushikulya Sea Turtle Protection Committee (RSTPC).
RSTPC is engaged in protection of endangered species of Olive Ridley turtles. Concentration of blue whales has been spotted in the seas during April, May and June said Mr. Sahu. “To see a blue whale at sea is something most of us can only dream about”, said he. “And to see many in Orissa waters is in fact a very good news”, added Sahu. Blue whales are possibly the largest mammal on the earth growing up to 110 feet and weighing up to some 180 metric tons. The Rushikulya River merges into the Bay of Bengal near Ganjam town in Southern Orissa. While Sahu and his band of volunteers went inside the seas, they found blue whales and he immediately captured it in his camera. Rushikulya Mouth is turning out to be hot spot to watch, whales, dolphins and turtles. On the northern side of the river, a wide stretch of beach is the favored nesting site of olive Ridley turtles.
Every year from November to the end of January, mating takes place in the coastal waters. Hundreds of thousands of female turtles then visit the beach en masse to lay their eggs from February to early April. After 45 - 50 day incubation, hatchlings creep out of the sandy nests and crawl back into the sea. Similarly Irrawaddy Dolphins are also sighted off Rushikulya Coast, said an environmentalist.

Source: http://www.tathya.in/

Robot camp making ‘waves’ in Silk city

BERHAMPUR: A group of young and budding technocrats of the Silk city are trying to promote robotics as a hobby among youngsters. The ten-member group calls itself ‘Dream Waves’. They organised a three-day robotics camp in the Silk city. It was to conclude on June 18 night. But enthusiasm of the participants compelled the organisers to extend the camp for another two days, said leader of Dream Waves M.Vasant.
‘Robotics’ or the designing of robots is fast picking up as a hobby among youth of the city pursuing technical education. But this group wanted the school students to get interested in this futuristic hobby through this camp.
The response was quite enthusiastic. Some 140 students, including 50 girls, from class VII to higher secondary classes took part in the camp. The participants of the camp had to undergo theory classes related to fundamentals of electronics and robotics. But the main thrust was on practical construction of working models of robots.
The efficacies of robots prepared in the camp were put to test through different competitions . The robots constructed by youngsters competed with each other in four different competitions.
In the Robota section the agility, manoeuvrability and problem solving skill of robots were tested on a track full of hurdles. They also constructed some aqua-robots.
These robots were raced in the Aqua Boating competition. But the most exciting competition was Robot Warriors contest where robots with active limb movement capacity fought to defeat each other.
For most participants it was an exciting camp. They felt basic skills of modern electronics that they learnt during the camp would help them in dealing with electronic gadgets that they work with at their homes. Guides of the camp like S.Vaibhav, A. Ashok, S. Suraj said the participants would develop knack of modern technology among them through this camp.
The Hindu

Lawyers hopeful of High Court Bench in Berhampur

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

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

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

SOSA urges Mamata to give fair deal to south Orissa

BERHAMPUR: The South Orissa Students Association (SOSA) has demanded the Union Railway Ministry to provide budgetary provisions for better infrastructure and amenities in south Orissa.

In a letter written to Union Railway Minister Mamata Banarjee, the SOSA has alleged that the railway authorities have till date remained indifferent to problems of and demands of south Orissa. Major portions of south Orissa are still beyond the reach of railway tracks although it is one of the most underdeveloped areas of the country and railways is always considered a catalyst of development. The activists of the SOSA felt it was high time for the railways to take steps to fulfil the long-standing demands for some new railway lines and trains in south Orissa. They also said setting up of some railway manufacturing unit can be a major help for development of this backward region.

The demand for connecting the mineral rich hinterland of south and western Orissa with t Gopalpur port has been a major demand. They also want new railway lines between Talcher-Gopalpur, Gopalpur-Rayagada, Berhampur-Phulbani, Berhampur-Sambalpur, Gunupur-Therubali and Khariar-Nabarangpur- Jeypore. They also felt that there was an urgent need to introduce some new trains besides increasing the frequency of some existing services. There should be direct train link from Berhampur to major destinations in the country. The Sampark Kranti Express, Howarh-Bhubaneswar Jan shatabdi Express should be extended to Berhampur and Ranchi-Bhubaneswar Garib Rath express can be extended to Visakhapatnam for the benefit of south Orissa. These are demands which are yet to be addressed. There is also an urgent need to increase the frequency of Amritsar-Visakhapatnam Express and Puri-Ahmedabad Express. There is also demand for a new Jan Shatabdi Express between Bhubaneswar-Koraput.

Coaching terminal
The SOSA felt there was much to be done for the betterment of Berhampur Railway station. Establishment of a coaching terminal here has been long standing demand which would enable extension of long-distance trains terminating at Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam to Berhampur.
The Orissa government has also requested for a coaching terminal at Berhampur.

Source: The Hindu

Berhampur Municipal Corporation budget approved

BERHAMPUR: The Berhampur Municipal Corporation has come up with a surplus budget for the current financial year 2009-10. The budget was approved at the meeting of Corporators. The Municipal Corporation envisions to have total revenue of Rs.181.77 crore. It has decided to have planned expenditure worth Rs. 163.60 crore during the same period.

TaraTarini Hill Shrine among the most visited destinations of India

The famous Taratarini Hill Shrine (the Sthana Peetha (Breast Shrine) of Mata Sati, one amongst the 4 major ancient Shakti centers in India. and an important prehistoric religious center which bears an uninterrupted history of 6000 years), near Berhampur city is gradually emerging as the popular destination of visitors in Orissa.
According to the data available from the ‘Taratarini Development Board’, this year on the auspicious occasion of the holy month of Chaitra (March / April 2009) at the Taratarini Hill Shrine more than 17 lakh devotees visited the Breast Shrine within a month from various states of India and abroad for a Darshan of the Twin Goddesses. It is noteworthy, that the four holy Tuesdays of the month of Chaitra are famous for Shakti Puja in this Breast Shrine of Mata Sati. So, every year lakhs of devotees visit this shrine on these days.
It is worth mentioning that this year, particularly in the four famous Tuesdays around 12 lakh devotees have visited and in other days around 5 lakh visited to the Hill Shrine.
Amongst them around 13,00,000 visitors are from Orissa, 2,00,000 from Andhra Pradesh around 1,00,000 from West Bengal and the rest mainly from Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Assam and other States.
However, this year the number of visitors from overseas has gone down compared to previous years. This time around a thousand foreigners visited during this month to the famous holy Shrine.
However, the figures available from various source reveals that this year’s gathering has surpassed the records of earlier years and with 17 lakh visitors this holy Shrine virtually has established a new record amongst the religious destinations of the country.
The Statistics:
First Tuesday of Chaitra total number of devotees visited, about: 1,92,000
Second Tuesday of Chaitra total number of devotees visited, about: 3,98,000
Third Tuesday of Chaitra total number of devotees visited, about: 4,80,000
Fourth Tuesday of Chaitra total number of devotees visited, about: 1,60,000
In other days of Chaitra, total number of devotees visited, around 5,00,000
------------------------------------
Total 17,30,000

Apart from this month, in the rest 11 months around 8,00,000 visitors are expected to visit this holy Shrine. So the Tara Tarini development Board has anticipated that, this year the figure of the total number of visitors will go up to 25 lakhs.
The Statistics of Last 5 Years:

1. 2004---12,00,000
2. 2005---13,78,000
3. 2006---15,07,000
4. 2007---16,70,000
5. 2008---19,40,000

Sensing this rapid growth of visitors the state administration in cooperation with the Ganjam district administration has created ‘Taratarini Development Board’ incorporating some of the eminent persons of Orissa and mainly from Southern Orissa, under the Chairmanship of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) Southern Orissa in 2002/03. Since then the Taratarini Development Board (TTDB) has started the overall development of the Taratarini Hill Shrine and its nearby areas. Over this period of time the Board has successfully completed the work of a stone temple on the Hilltop for the Twin Goddesses and has initiated the work of widening of the 999 sacred stone steps with rest sheds, widening of the roads leading to the Hilltop and providing drinking water facility on the hill top and constructed the first Arial “Rope Way” of Eastern India for fastest communication of visitors.
After the formation of the Board this famous Breast Shrine got the much needed attention and spark and owing to that in the last five years the number of pilgrims visiting the shrine has gone up significantly.
To keep pace with this, the Board has approved a number of new projects for the benefit of visitors. Some of the prioritized list of works proposed by the TTDB to be taken up in the first phase, on the hilltop of the Taratarini Hill Shrine for the convenience of devotees and tourists are…………

q Construction of administrative office on the hilltop.
q Construction of Bhog Bazaar on the hilltop.
q Construction of Mundan shade on the hilltop.
q Construction of a hospital.
q Construction of public utilities
q Construction of waiting hall for the Rope-way on the hilltop.
q Arrangement of space to accommodate the buildings for ATMs, Lockers, Shoe stands and other facilities.
q Further development of Arial Rope-way.
q Construction of Kalyana Mandapam.
q Construction of outer protection wall and River side retaining wall to check land sliding and soil erosion at the hilltop.
q Construction of huge parking space at the hilltop.
q Flood Lighting arrangements at the hilltop and inside the Temple premises.
q Lighting arrangement on the 999 holy stone steps and road leading to the Hilltop from Taratarini junction.
q Widening of stone steps and arrangement of public utilities/ rest houses.
q Further widening of the existing road to the Hilltop.
q Maintenance of eco-system in and around the sacred hill by huge plantation in its nearby areas.

Also Published in The Hindu, Tathya.in & OrissaDiary.com

Prisoners, jail staffs take exam together

BERHAMPUR: It was surely a special examination hall on Berhampur circle jail campus where prisoners and warders rubbed shoulders while appearing for their examination. The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has opened a study centre as well as an examination centre on Berhampur circle jail campus. The examinations, which would continue till June 24, commenced on June 01. On the first day of examination three prisoners serving life sentences, Gobardhan Bisoi, Dhiraj Mohan Bisoi and Jagdish Sahu appeared for the second year examination of the degree course. Along with them two warders of the same jail also sat for the same examination in the same room.
While warder examinees were dressed in their khaki uniform, the lifers were attired in their white jail uniform. Senior Superintendent of the jail Bankim Chandra Mohanty took up the role of chief invigilator. Mr Mohanty said that during this examination season of the IGNOU three inmates would appear for the Bachelors’ Preparatory Examination (BPP), one would appear for first year degree examination and three prisoners would appear for second year degree examination. One prisoner of the jail was also going to appear for Postgraduate examination on the jail premises during this period.
Through the help of social organizations, the jail inmates had been provided all possible help for their studies, said Mr Mohanty. The jail teacher Bhaskar Behera said a teachers of ‘Guide institution’ of the city provided expert help to the prisoner students.
It may be noted that this year 4 prisoners of this jail have appeared for secondary school board examination. In 2008 six prisoners had appeared for secondary school board examination in this jail. In recent past more and more prisoners are getting interested in formal education in this jail. During past two years seven inmates of the jail have passed the secondary board examination. Then they opted for higher studies.
Rabindranath Das, a lifer, had managed to pass the secondary board examination in first division. His success had its immediate impact on other prisoners of the jail. The efforts of prisoners also enthused jail staff to pursue higher studies along with prisoners through IGNOU campus in the jail.
Courtesy: The Hindu

Stone laid for Farmer Training Centre near City

BERHAMPUR: State Chief Minister Naven Patnaik laid the foundation stone for the ninth Farmers’ Training Centre (FTC) of the Punjab National Bank (PNB) in the country at Karapalli near Gopalpur in the outskirts of the city on Friday.

The FTC project at Karapalli was to be established at a cost of around Rs. 10 crores by the PNB Farmers’ Welfare Trust. This trust functions without profit motive. The Orissa Government provided seven acres of land for this centre.

The centre would start functioning on Aug 15 at Gramsevak training centre at Rangeilunda, till its own building came up at Karapalli. Farmers, rural women and rural youth would be trained in the centre about modern modes of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry etc.

Source: The Hindu, Daily Pioneer & Orissa Diary

Bryde’s whales sighted near Rushikulya rookery coast

BERHAMPUR: Bryde’s whales are being sighted in sea near the Rushikulya river mouth coast near Berhampur city in Ganjam district, Orissa. As per the traditional marine fishermen of Orissa coast such sightings are not new. They claim since generations they are seeing these mammals in sea that they call ‘Timi’. In 2007 carcasses of two whales had been swept to the Ganjam coast. One of them happened to be a Bryde’s whale.
But this time photographic evidences of these whales have been documented for the first time.
A research scholar of Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun, Sajan John managed to take photographs of these whales during his studies of marine habitat of Olive ridley turtles near Rushikulya rookery. He photographed sightings of these whales in winter as well as in summer.
The photographs of these whales were sent to researcher of cetacean species of Chilika Development Authority (CDA), Muntaz Khan for confirmation and recognition of species. Mr Khan confirmed that the photographs were of Bryde’s whales. “Although we all knew this special species of whales are found in Bay of Bengal we did not have any documented evidence regarding their existence till date,” Mr. Khan said.
This species was located and documented for the first time in Burma in 1878. It was named in honour of Norwegian consul Johan Bryde, who built the first whaling stations in South Africa.
Unlike other whales species the Bryde’s whales prefer to inhabit tropical and temperate waters rather than the polar seas. Moreover, they prefer to live in less deep water near the coast rather than living in deep sea like other whales. So, their sighting near Orissa coast is obvious, said Mr. Khan. These whales are smaller in comparison to other whales. They reach length of around 12 meters and can weigh about 25 tonnes. They are peaceful in nature and live on small fish, krills and planktons. So the fishermen of the area have never been worried of them since generations.
The Pioneer

Nuclear Power Park coming up near Berhampur

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), the Central government owned public sector unit has got official clearance for four massive nuclear parks that could generate as much as 45,000 MW, equal to roughly one-third of India's entire installed capacity today. NPCIL has evinced interest to set up one of these mega nuclear power plants at Patisonapur near Berhampur in Orissa. The survey work for establishment of a shore based 12000 MW power plant with an investment of Rs.36, 000 crore in three phases has begun in the area located about 20 km from Berhampur.

The sites chosen so far for the massive nuclear power parks are Patisonapur (Berhampur) in Orissa, Haripur in West Bengal, Mithirvirdi in Gujarat and Kowadi in Andhra Pradesh. Six to eight reactors, of 1,000-1,650 MW, will be installed at each nuclear park. All four sites chosen by the NPCIL for nuclear parks are at coastal locations. Much of the massive nuclear equipment to be imported for the parks is too big to fit on railway wagons or trucks, and is better transported by barges to a coastal site. All four sites have been cleared for soil quality, flood risk, seismicity and other geo-morphological features.

Transfer of oil depot:Orissa Govt's gift to Berhampur

SOSA & City residents protest against the decision
Berhampur: Intellectuals, senior citizens, transporters, filing station owners and residents of the city resented the conspiracy to transfer the Indian Oil Corporation’s oil depot from Berhampur to Jatni. They have decided to burn the effigies of the local leaders and elected representatives, who remain silent against the injustice meted out to the people of South Orissa.
The oil depot established at the Berhampur railway station in 1964 through its 32 retail depots has been fulfilling the requirements of southern districts including far away Maoist-infested districts like Malkangiri, Rayagada and Nayagrah. Oil is being brought here from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and thousands of people including transporters; truck drivers, labourers and filling station employees depend on this depot for their livelihood.
Now, the authorities have decided to transfer the depot to Jatni and have already stopped supplying oil to the depot. Transfer of the depot to Jatni will increase the price of petrol and diesel to at least 50 paise per litre towards the transportation charges as the filling stations will have to pay an extra transport charge of more than Rs 8 lakh daily. Besides, thousands of people will lose their livelihood. It will also adversely affect the supply of oil to the far away districts particularly the Maoist infested ones. The transfer might affect the industrialization process in view of the presence of the Indian Rare Earths Limited near Chhatrapur, the Gopalpur port, proposed Gopalpur steel plant, titanium plant and other industrial units in the region.
The people from all sections have already started demonstrating against the unjustified move. They have congregated to launch a widespread movement against the leaders and elected representatives, who do not bother to raise their voice against the conspiracy.
At a meeting in which it was decided to burn the effigies of these leaders, Prof Prahallad Panda said that the region, particularly Ganjam district, had played a pioneering role in the formation of the separate Orissa province. Besides, the first three successive Chief Ministers and as many as seven Chief Ministers till date are from this southern region. Yet, none had cared for the development of this region, alleged Prof Panda, adding that even legendary Chief Minister Biju Patnaik had done nothing for this region and now his son Naveen Patnaik has shifted all corporations, institutions, organizations and plants from this region, including the proposed steel plant at Gopalpur to Kalinga Nagar. He further added that the transfer of oil depot from Berhampur to Jatni is the first gift of Naveen Patnaik Government to the people of Berhampur.
Meanwhile the Delhi based South Orissa Student Association (SOSA) in its recently held meeting on May 17 in New Delhi, also decided to protest the move of the state government to shift the oil depot from Berhampur to Jatni and in a letter addressed to the Chief Minister the organization has demanded to revoke the decision immediately and requested to establish the depot near Jagannathpur in the outskirts of the city for the benefit of thousands of poor people of South Orissa.

Expert team makes survey of Gopalpur port area

BERHAMPUR: A high-level expert committee made on-the-spot survey of Gopalpur port area for the environmental clearance of the project. The members of the committee included Director of Ministry of Environment, N.Prasad, Chief Conservator of Forests and regional head of the Ministry of Environment J.K. Tiwari, Director and Special Secretary of State Forest Department Bhagirathi Behera, senior geologist Manmohan Mohanty, Jagannath Bastia of Orissa Beach Protection Forum. This expert committee, which reached the Gopalpur port on May 13 visited the port and the villages in its vicinity. The committee members held discussion with the port officials as well as the traditional fishermen living nearby.
The minor seasonal port at Gopalpur was earlier owned and run by the Orissa govt. The Gopalpur Ports Limited (GPL) is now developing it into an all weather mega port since 2007. The GPL is a consortium of Orissa Stevedores Ltd. (OSL), Noble Group Ltd. of Hong Kong and Sara International Limited. The GPL plans to develop the port at a cost of over 2000 crore rupees. As per the plans the GPL proposes to construct a canal of two-km width and seven-km length in the sea to enable ships to anchor at this port.
According to sources, the members of the committee who came over for on the spot enquiry about environmental matters advised the GPL authorities to start developing a green belt near the port area immediately. They also advised the port officials not to release their wastewater into the sea and to have facility for solid waste management in the port premises. According to sources the report of this committee would decide the environmental clearance of this mega project, which awaits this clearance from central government. The port officials also informed the committee about the social welfare measures they are to take up in the area as per their master plan prepared by IIT Chennai.
The Pioneer

Olive Ridley turtles hatchlings emerge from sandy pits

More than a million baby Olive Ridley sea turtles have started emerging from the sandy nesting grounds at Nasi-1 and Nasi-2 islets under Gahiramatha marine sanctuary of Kendrapara district and Rushikulya river mouth near Berhampur city in Ganjam district, said the divisional forest officer of Bhitarkanika National Park.
After emerging from the nests the turtle hatchlings started their journey towards the sea, said the officer. About 1.67 lakh female Olive Ridley turtles had laid eggs in the last week of March on the two islets, which cover only two km length and are surrounded by the sea for which the mortality of the baby turtles is not high here.
The female turtles drag themselves ashore, dig a nest with their back flippers, deposit about 100 eggs and conceal the nest before returning to the sea. The eggs incubate in the warm sand and the female turtles never visit their nests again to take care of the eggs or the hatchlings. They arrive at the coast in the dead of night and after laying eggs they get back into the deep-sea water. Hatchlings emerge from these eggs after 45-60 days. It is nature’s rare phenomenon that babies grow without their mother.
Informing about the mortality rate of the endangered species he said only one egg out of every 1000 laid ultimately hatch. The Ridleys had skipped the annual sojourn to the beach for laying eggs in the last two years
New Indian Express

Hopes of salt producers of Humma in Ganjam district

BERHAMPUR: Harsh summer without rainfall has rekindled hopes of good harvest for the salt producers of Ganjam district. Several months of dry weather without rainfall has given a fillip to salt production. Although Orissa has a long coastline, the salt production is quite low in the State. Major salt farms are operational in Humma near Berhampur city in Ganjam district. K. Duryodhan Reddy, president of HBSPSCS, said this year they hoped to have a total production of around 40,000 tons of salt from the beds near Humma. Salt production in organized way is not new to this area. The HBSPSCS was formed in 1942. Apart from it salt beds in this area are also under private lease of persons and firms who operate from outside through agents.
The salt producers of the area are however not satisfied with their salt production. They feel it could have increased more this year due to conducive climatic condition. Mr Reddy alleged that the flow of salt water to the salt beds of Huma area through the channel of British era had got reduced during recent times. According to him the flow of salt water from the Chilika lake to the salt beds has got reduced due to deepening of the Chilika canal recently. More water is flowing into the Chilika canals rather than entering the channel directed towards the salt beds.
To study the problem a joint team of Chilika Development Authority (CDA) officials, Ganjam district officials and representatives of salt producers would make a field study on May 13. This study may lead to some measures so that more salt water flows through the channel to the salt beds for salt production. Orissa consumes more than four lakh tons of salt in a year. Jayashree Chemicals, soda-making unit in Ganjam needs 50,000 tons of salt every year. Mr Reddy said long coastal stretch of Orissa has the scope of becoming self-sufficient in salt production. But the salt workers are yet to be trained to adopt scientific method of salt production, which includes use of sub-soil saline water from sea.

The Hindu

Lakhs throng Thakurani Yatra on last day, Berhampur bears the look of a fancy dress show

BERHAMPUR: Now its curtains down on the carnival! Lakhs of people were eager enough to bid a tearfull farewell to their daughter, revered Goddess Thakurani (treated as the daughter of the city who visits her parents every two years) as they have to wait for another two years to witness such a carnival. Lakhs of people from Orissa and from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, West Bengal and Jharkhand thronged silk city Berhampur on the last day of the famous Thakuarni Yatra to have a glimpse of the Goddess and to be part of the grand festivity that is associated with the carnival. The Yatra was celebrated here after an interval of two years. The Yatra started on April 8, when the Thakurani came to her paternal house at the Deshibehera Street here and stayed at the temporary abode for 27 days. On the last day, Goddess Thakurani returned back to the home of her in-laws, the Budhi Thakurani Temple, in the City.

About the Carnival

Thakurani Yatra is a unique biennial celebration of the carnival spirit that lurks in every heart, whether young or old. The whole city of Berhampur in south Orissa bears the look of a fancy dress show during the Thakurani Yatra festival. The whole city jumps into joyous carnival when the reigning deity of the city goddess Budhi Thakurani makes the journey from her permanent temple to a temporary temple at Desibehera Street .It is regarded as the journey of the deity, the role of a married woman, to her parental abode from her in-laws' home. The carnival continues till the deity returns back to her temple after 24 days. As an offering to the deity, during the festival, thousands of people of all ages don the garb of mythological characters. Brothers become Pandavas. Transcending time, Krishna and Hanuman walk the streets hand in hand.Demons and witches jump into the crowd. To mark the religious harmony of the city participants of the festival enact even crucifixion of Christ. Some even try to advertise brands on their painted bodies. Mass carnival rallies by hundreds of persons with tonsured heads mocking the false godmen, a rally by more than 108 children and aged people dressed as 'Vanar Sena' of Lord Ram, procession of people dressed as Buddhist monks or followers of Guru Nanak add colour to this festival. This festival is incomplete without the famous tiger dance of Ganjam district. With their body painted with tiger stripes, people move around performing tiger dance to the beats of drums and 'Changu'.

Source: The Hindu, The Pioneer, Kalingatimes