28 years into construction, Barracks stadium at Berhampur is still incomplete

Source: The Sambad

NIST denies allegations on AICTE approval

Source: The Sambad

Berhampur News

Source: The Sambad

Source: The Sambad

Source: The Sambad

‘Dhanu Muan’, A Ganjam delicacy

Sweetmeat makers preparing ‘Dhanu Muan’ in Berhampur I Express Photo

It is that time of the year again when almost all the sweetmeat shops in Berhampur are busy rolling out ‘Dhanu Muan’ of various shapes and sizes out of their kitchens. ‘Dhanu Muan’, a speciality sweet dish of south Odisha, is mostly sold during the Odia month of ‘Pausa’. It may be noted that ‘Dhanu Muan’ of Ganjam district is famous across the State. The ‘muan’ is ritualistically prepared and sold between ‘Dhanu Sankranti’ and ‘Makar Sankranti’. Although the sweet is prepared during other months, people prefer to buy it during its annual season.

According to the manufacturers, ‘Dhanu Muan’ is related to the economic history of this region. Since long, people of Odisha used to prepare ‘muan’ for ritualistic offering during puja on Dhanu Sankranti. But the ‘muan’ was being prepared with jaggery. One of the first sugar mills on east coast had come up at Aska in Ganjam district during the British era. The sweet vendors of Ganjam were the first in Odisha to use sugar to prepare sweets replacing traditional jaggery. So their ‘Dhanu muan’ had provided them with a unique position in the traditional sweet market of the State. It is during the ‘Pausa’ month that on an average one tonne of ‘muan’ is prepared daily.

However, with the increasing price of sugar, cashewnuts and other ingredients for the ‘muan’, the price of ‘muan’ has been hiked this year. Samar, a ‘Dhanu muan’ manufacturer of the town, said the price of ‘muan’ prepared using ‘desi ghee’ has been fixed at Rs  240 to Rs 260 a kilo. It is costlier by Rs 40 than the last season. Similarly, the general ‘dhanu muan’ which was selling for Rs 60 a kg last year is being sold for ` 80 this year. Source: New Indian Express

Varsity status likely for Khallikote College: Higher Education Minister

The government plans to accord University status to three premier colleges of the state, including Khallikote Autonomous College, Berhampur, Rama Devi Women's College, Bhubaneswar and Gangadhar Meher College, Sambalpur. "We have proposed to make three colleges deemed universities. Before taking the final decision, the higher education department will review the infrastructure facilities available in these colleges," higher education minister Badri Naryan Patra said here . But he did not spell out the specific period for upgradation of these colleges. "It may be this year or next year," he said during the Foundation Day celebration of Berhampur University here.

He said people and students of Berhampur have demanded that the 135-year-old Khallikote autonomous college be converted into a deemed university. But it has only one-third teaching staff of the sanctioned strength. "Khallikote College is not only one. There is a shortage of teaching staff in several other government colleges. We will fill up some posts soon," he said. The minister also said that his department would move to finance department to accord concurrence to open some new departments in Berhampur University. The university has not opened new departments despite UGC sanction for lack of government concurrence. As a result, the university lost UGC funds sanctioned for it.

Source: Times of India

Berhampur University celebrates 47th Foundation Day

Berhampur University celebrated its 47th Foundation Day on Wednesday. The function was held at the Biju Patnaik Auditorium on the university campus. State Minister for Higher Education Badri Narayan Patra attended the function as chief guest. Berhampur MP Siddhant Mohapatra, Berhampur MLA R.C.C. Patnaik, Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy, and Khallikote MLA Purna Chandra Sethy were present. University Vice-Chancellor Jayanta Kumar Mohapatra presided over the function.

The Higher education minister advocated for the promotion of quality education and a competitive spirit while addressing the foundation day celebrations of the University. Mr. Patra said development of human resources in the State was closely associated with development all other resources in the area. The Berhampur MLA said the university deserved to be developed into a centre of excellence. He promised to take up the issue with the government and urged people of all sections to support him in his efforts. The Gopalpur MLA asked the State government to develop the university and the city as an education hub.

Vice chancellor of Berhampur University J K Mohapatra appealed to the minister to call a conference all vice chancellors in the state to review the problems faced by universities. "I hope that will be a best forum to resolve problems of all universities," Mohapatra said. “This practice exists in other states and we must follow it too for a healthy atmosphere in our universities,” he said.

The varsity felicitated former station director of All India Radio (AIR) Madhusudan Panigrahi and Dr Chandramani Swain, a doctor, for their contribution to the society. The minister also inaugurated the state-of-art laboratory, where the students will be taught on personality development to become job-ready. The laboratory has been developed with Rs 10 lakh assistance from the UGC while Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagapur, has provided the technical know-how for the functioning of the laboratory. In-charge of the laboratory Sadananda Nayak said the students will not have to pay any extra amount to undergo training at the laboratory.

The university was established in 1967. As many as 139 colleges in Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput, Rayagada, Nawarangapur and Malkangiri are affiliated to this institution. Six other colleges under its jurisdiction that have been accorded autonomy are Khallikote College in Berhampur, Vikram Dev College in Jeypore, SKCG College in Paralakhemundi, Sashi Bhusan Rath Governemnt Women’s College in Berhampur, Government College in Phulbani and Rayagada College. Sources: The Hindu, Times of India & The Telegraph

Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) to take up infrastructure work in Greater Berhampur on a war footing

Commuters in greater Berhampur that includes Chatrapur, Gopalpur and villages between them would have city bus service by August. It was stated by Ganjam district Collector Krishen Kumar, who has taken charge as vice-chairman of the Berhampur Development Authority (BDA). Speaking to newsmen on Tuesday, Mr Kumar said city bus service was one of the six major projects that the BDA had decided to start in 2013. Total cost of these projects would be around Rs 100 crore. The city bus service for greater Berhampur would be operated through Private Public Participation (PPP) mode on the lines of similar service in Bhubaneswar and Puri. The State government has agreed to provide 28 buses for the city bus service of the BDA. Apart from easing transportation in the city, city bus service would help flow of tourists to Gopalpur beach resort and travel of common mass to district headquarters town, Chatrapur.

The other major proposed project of the BDA was establishment of a new bus stand on the outskirts of the city at Haldiapadar. This new bus stand would be established on a five acres of land. Consultants were appointed for establishment of modern bus stands at Gopalpur and Chatrapur.

Rock garden

To provide recreational facility and zones to the public the BDA has come up with two projects. One of them is establishment of a rock garden in Ambapua area. Two acres of land has been identified for the purpose. Bedabandha, a large water body of the city, would be developed into a water-based recreation centre by the BDA. The Bedabandha project would cost Rs 8-10 crore. “After clearance from State government, tender for the Bedabandha project was expected to be floated in March”, Mr Kumar said. He said the much-awaited Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) for greater Berhampur would be ready this year.

According to him the BDA itself would be revamped. At present the BDA was short-staffed and it did not even have an enforcement officer and secretary. “We have discussed with government to fill key vacancies in the BDA as early as possible,” he said. The vice-chairman of the BDA said in the next four to five months building regulation would be strictly implemented in the city. Lack of enforcement officer in the BDA was a major hindrance to implementation of regulation. There were several multi-storeyed buildings in the city which had used up their parking space fro commercial purpose. Thirty such cases had been identified and 17 had been issued notices.

Source: The Hindu

Source: The Sambad

Progress of City Bus service and modern Bus terminal projects in Berhampur reviewed by the Chief Minister

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the progress of several infrastructural projects currently under implementation in Berhampur (Click here to read the full document). The review included the city bus project planned for Greater Berhampur along with other projects such as development of a modern bus terminal, renovation and beautification of Ramlingam Tank, progress of three railway over-bridges inside Berhampur city, construction of NH-217 bypass, four-laning of the city roads, progress of solid-waste management project apart from several drinking water projects.

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More buses to provide services in Bhubaneswar and Berhampur

As a New Year gift, the state government has decided to augment city bus services in Bhubaneswar and Berhampur. A meeting in this regard was held on December 26.  While 48 buses - 15 standard and 33 mini buses- will be added to the fleet size on Bhubaneswar-Puri and Bhubaneswar city routes, city bus services (CBS), Berhampur, will have a fleet of 24 mini buses in the first phase. Besides, 12 air conditioned buses - six each on Cuttack-Puri via Bhubaneswar and Nandankanan-airport routes via Jayadev Vihar - will be run. The housing and urban development (H&UD) department will spend about Rs 15 crore for augmentation of the fleet of Bhubaneswar-Puri Transport Services Limited (BPTSL) and Rs 5 crore for CBS under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). At present, 105 buses ply in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Khurda and Puri under the JNNURM scheme. As many 95 buses ply in Bhubaneswar alone.

Given the requirement of buses in the existing routes, the fleet size will be increased, said a senior officer of H&UD department. "BPTSL and Dream Team Sahara, which are looking after the operational part of the bus services, had given a proposal to increase the fleet size. Taking into consideration certain specifications, model and other parameters, it was decided to increase the fleet of buses," said the officer. The frequency of service, availability of present infrastructure and demand of the commuters were also taken in the account, he added. While each AC bus will cost around Rs 40 lakh, standard bus and mini bus will come for Rs 25 lakh and Rs 12 lakh respectively. For infrastructure development, Rs 2.12 crore has been set side. Sources said Nandankanan-airport route will have an improved frequency with buses available every 15 minutes. But the number of buses will remain the same. Khurda-Master canteen route will have six more mini buses at an interval of every 25 minutes, while four more buses will be added to the Kalpana square-Niladri Vihar and Biju Patnaik-AG square routes. Dumduma-VSS Nagar, Bidanasi-Master canteen and Sum hospital-Jagatpur routes will also have additional six buses. Five more buses will be run from Barmunda to Puri.

Official sources said Meghraj Capital Infrastructure Services, which is the transaction advisor for city bus services in Berhampur, will facilitate procurement of buses.

Source: Times of India

Speeding train mows down six elephants near Berhampur in Ganjam

Six elephants, including a tusker and three females, were mowed down by the speeding Howrah-Chennai Coromandel Express near Berhampur in Ganjam district. A train attendant also died in the accident, which has triggered a blame-game between the state government and the railway authorities.

While forest officials said the accident took place because their advise to the railway authorities to check the train’s speed was ignored, railway officials said the information reached them a little too late. They said the mishap had occurred at the exact time when they were informed about the movement of the elephants.

Source: The Telegraph

The accident occurred near Subalaya railway level crossing between Rambha and Humma stations in Ganjam district, about 40km from Berhampur. One of the elephants that died was pregnant with a two-month-old baby inside her. The foetus died as well.

A train attendant, Ranjit Jena, 24, a contractual employee, was also killed.

“The train was unstable for about a few minutes after the impact. Ranjit might have opened the door of the coach to check the matter and may have been thrown off the train. We found his body near the tracks,” said Ajaya Kumar Jena, the deceased’s cousin, also an attendant on the same train.

“The tusker that died in the accident was about 25-30 years old. There were two baby elephants and three females in the age group of 45-47 years. The pregnant elephant was dragged by the train for almost half-a-kilometre,” said Khallikote forest division ranger Bijaya Kumar Hota.

“The speed of the Coromandel Express was 110kmph when the accident took place,” said Sudhansu Mishra, divisional forest officer of Berhampur, who, along with the senior forest officers, reached the accident spot. “Railway tracks cutting through migration corridors are to blame for the accident. This is one of the most perilous tracks for wild elephants. We have put up 10 signboards saying ‘Elephant Crossing Zone’ along the railway tracks to caution train drivers and remind them to move the train slowly. They are supposed to run the train at 20kmph in this zone. But the Coromandel Express was running at 110kmph when the accident took place,” he said.

“The ranger of Chilika wild life division P.C. Guru informed the railway control room about the movement of the elephants in the area on Saturday night before the accident and requested the authorities to instruct the drivers of all the trains to move slowly,” he said. “It clearly shows that the railways are at fault and we have initiated steps to arrest the erring driver of the train,” Mishra said.

However, railway officials claimed that the Coromandel Express had already left Khurda when the message came. Chief public relations officer of East Coast Railway R.N. Mohapatra said: “We received the information at 12.43am when the accident had already taken place.”

The state forest officials have buried the dead elephants after conducting post-mortems on the spot. Forests and environment minister Bijoyshree Routray said: “If the railway authorities don’t comply with our directions, we will take up the issue with the chief minister. And he will write a strong letter to the Centre on this issue.” “We will hold a meeting tomorrow with the railway authorities,” she said.

Source: The Telegraph

Gopalpur beach festival comes to a colourful end

Source: The Telegraph

The Gopalpur Beach Festival — 2012 concluded yesterday amid much funfair. The five-day festival, which showcased the rich cultural heritage of Ganjam district, had the crashing waves of the scenic Gopalpur beach as its backdrop.

Folk dance performances from different parts of the district as well as from outside were special attractions of the festival. While renditions by Shaan, Alka Yagnik and Babul Supriyo were the highlights of the show, Odissi dance by Dona Ganguly, wife of former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, was another showstopper.

While the Bollywood singers dished out some of their biggest hits, Dona also presented an elaborate Odissi dance drama. There was also a collage of folk dances, including jodi sankha, ranapa dance, animal mask dance and ghanta mrudunga by artistes of Berhampur, Gopalpur and Chhatrapur. A troupe from Mayurbhanj also performed chhau in the festival. A musical show by Odia singer Kumar Bapi and his troupe, a classical and folk dance show from Manipur, recitals of singer Pammi and her group, modern dance by Prince dance group, Kuchipudi by artistes of Andhra Pradesh, albuja and kachi dance of Rajasthan, performances of Abhijeet Majumdar and Geet Sangeet orchestra, Bihu by artistes of Assam, ghumar and calbalia by Rajashthani artistes, comedy show by Pappu Pam Pam and ballet dance by Russian dancers were part of the various cultural shows of the festival.

“The magical voice of Alka Yagnik mesmerised the audience while Shaan and Babul Supriyo were also at their best. I also loved the mask dances and the performance of the conch-blowing (jodi sankha) troupe,” said Ritesh Narania, a tourist from Hyderabad. This year, the beach festival was organised jointly by the Ganjam district culture department, the tourism department and the Gopalpur Notified Area Council. The beach festival was started in 1996 by the Ganjam District Hotel Association to promote tourism and culture in Gopalpur.

Source: The Telegraph

Source: The Sambad

Gopalpur Beach Festival enthralls lakhs of visitors on the penultimate day

Source: The Sambad

Sreeleathers now in City Mall, Berhampur

Gopalpur Beach Festival draws lakhs of visitors and tourists on the second day

Source: The Sambad

Gopalpur Beach festival gets under way

Gopalpur beach festival and Pallishree mela attached to it were inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Patnaik declared that Rs. 4 crore was sanctioned for the economic uplift of fishermen of Gopalpur under the Integrated Coastal Management Project. He also said that the government was ready to provide all possible support for development of eco-tourism at Gopalpur and its adjoining areas. He lauded the rich cultural heritage of Ganjam district which produced great poets like Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanj and Kavisurya Baladev Rath. He also spoke on the threat of sea erosion at Gopalpur beach resort. A detailed scientific study of the nature sea erosion in the area was being prepared and the report would be ready by April next. Steps to check sea erosion would be taken as per the recommendations of the report. The Chief Minister said the loss of livelihood of fishermen living near Rushikulya rookery during the mating, nesting, and hatching period of Olive ridley turtles would be compensated through alternative livelihood measures. The inauguration ceremony of the beach festival was chaired by organising committee chairman and Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy. State Minister Surya Narayan Patra Bikram Arukh, Aska MP Nityananda Pradhan, and MLAs of Berhampur, Chatrapur, Sorada, and Polasara were also present.

The beach festival would continue for five days.

Highlight of the inaugural evening was Odissi dance recital by Dona Ganguly, a disciple of great Odissi guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. She also happens to be the wife of former captain of Indian cricket team Sourav Ganguly. ‘Pallishree Mela’, attached to the beach festival, will showcase handicrafts from different parts of Odisha, especially Ganjam district. This mela is being organised by the Orissa Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS). 

Source: The Hindu

Source: The Sambad

Solid waste disposal plant of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation facing roadblocks

The fate of Rs 80 crore proposed solid waste disposal plant of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation hangs in balance. Initially, the civic body had decided to set up the waste disposal plant at Chandini Hills in the city. However, it was forced to shift the venue to Mahuda on the city outskirts because of space crunch. Now again, the project faces uncertainty because of stiff resistance from the local residents. The International Finance Corporation is funding the proposed plant, which would come under the Urban Infrastructure Development for Small and Medium Towns. “We have already built the boundary wall and the gate. Electrification was under progress and the plant may come up with in few years,” said municipal commissioner Akshya Kumar Mahanty. The civic body has spent Rs 60 lakh at Chandini Hills for the construction of infrastructure. “Now, we have been allotted 37 acres at Mahuda. We were earlier provided only 10 acres at Chandini Hills,” said Mahanty.

The residents of the Sukunda Math locality had also objected to the practice of dumping garbage in open areas at Chandini Hills earlier. Now, the residents of Mahuda have also opposed the plant. “If the solid waste disposal plant would come up at Mahuda, the life of more than 30,000 people and 10,000 domestic animals would be in jeopardy,” said Mahuda sarpanch Sadhana Mohanty. In a memorandum to the revenue divisional commissioner (southern division), the local representatives urged the administration not to go ahead with the plant. “If the corporation would go ahead with the project, we would take to the street,” he said.

The city generates about 150 metric tonnes of garbage everyday. The city houses 25 apartments and 12 big hotels that generate about 100 metric tonnes of garbage per month in an average. As many as 35 carriers, including 15 tractors, one dredger and four loaders, have been pressed into service to lift the garbage from 41 points. However, heaps of garbage are often found piled up at various corners across the city. Source: The Telegraph

Gopalpur Beach Festival set to start with a glittering ceremony today

Source: The Sambad

MP Renubala Pradhan questions railway neglect to Odisha and Berhampur in Rajya Sabha

Source: The Sambad

Weightlifting champion Arun Santa given hero’s welcome at Berhampur

Arun Santa, the young weightlifter who broke two national records and won three gold medals in recent Youth National Weightlifting Championship held in New Delhi, was given a hero’s welcome when he reached the city. Santa happens to be part of the sports hostel at Berhampur stadium. Arun Santa’s success has again proved that Berhampur continues to be a major cradle of weightlifting in Odisha. Sports enthusiasts in large numbers, especially weightlifters, reached Berhampur railway station to welcome the champion weightlifter.

Arun participated in the national championship in the 56-kg weight category. He lifted 100 kg in snatch and 120 kg in clean and jerk to win gold medals. He also won overall gold in his weight category with the total lift of 220 kg. His total lift and his snatch lift were new national records. Dharma Rao, the coach of Arun, said the young lad had showed sparks which indicate that he had the capacity to become an international- level weightlifter in near future. According to Mr. Rao, now Arun would target the Youth Olympics to be held in 2014. Arun’s intrinsic talent to become a sportsperson was identified during a talent search programme among school students way back in 2008.

Arun, who was studying in a school at village Talari near Umekote in Nabarangpur district of South Odisha had drawn attention of panel selectors of a talent search programme of the State government.

Weightlifting coach and in charge of Berhampur stadium S. Majhi, who was in this panel of selectors, said at that time Arun was not attached to any sport in particular but he had the stamina and talent to excel in any sport. After selection it was found that Arun would excel if he took up weightlifting as his sport. “Now success of Arun has proved that we were not wrong in spotting this raw talent,” said Mr. Majhi.

Source: The Hindu, Odisha TV

Green activists oppose artificial dinosaur park near Chilika in Ganjam

Environmental activists and ornithologists of the State have protested against construction of an artificial dinosaur park within the fragile ecosystem of Chilika lagoon by the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC). The park is being developed on the Chadheihaga island with an aim to attract tourists to the Chilika lake. The OTDC has already put up fibre models of dinosaurs at the island by using concrete and steel reinforcements in the midst of natural rocks of the island. The OTDC has also floated tenders for other works of the proposed dinosaur park at the island.

Recently members of ‘Birds of Odisha (BO)’, Indian Birds (IB) and Open Wildlife Lounge (OWL) made a joint visit to the Chadheihaga island to take stock of the situation. The team was led by ornithologist Gahar Abedin. After the visit, they felt the recent artificial construction work at the island would alter the natural landscape and ecology of the area. They remarked that the government should accord priority to maintain ecological balance in such sensitive area rather than opting for ‘senseless development’ in the name of promoting tourism. The organisations have started a signature campaign to unite nature lovers of the State and outside against the construction work of the OTDC at Chadheihaga island.

The team of nature lovers pointed out that the Chadheihaga island came under Coastal Regulation Zone 1, where no alteration or construction that may disturb or completely destroy the complex ecology of the place was not allowed. Disturbing or altering these rocks of the island by breaking or rearranging would surely disturb the balance of the weight of the island completely or partially, they said. They cautioned that in course of time it may lead to destruction of the island as it would lose its propensity to withstand natural disasters.

Construction activity would also lead to air and noise pollution as well as pollution caused by construction material. After visiting the island they observed that it was an important site for nesting of resident as well as migratory birds. The dinosaur models would serve more like scarecrows and surely scare away both resident and migratory birds, the ornithologists said.

Source: The Hindu

Gopalpur-on-sea getting decked up for beach festival

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will inaugurate the Gopalpur beach festival on December 24. The main attraction of the inaugural evening of the five-day festival will be Odissi dance recital by Dona Ganguly, a disciple of great Odissi guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. She also happens to be the wife of former captain of Indian cricket team Sourav Ganguly.

According to chairperson of the organising committee of the beach festival, Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy, noted bollywood playback singer Babul Supriyo will also perform with his troupe on the inaugural evening. Babul has several famous Odia songs to his credit. The beach festival is being held to promote the serene beach resort as a major tourist destination of Odisha. So, its timing has coincided with the winter vacation tourist season. This time the beach festival is being organised jointly by the Ganjam district Department of Culture, Department of Tourism, Gopalpur Notified Area Council (NAC), and Ganjam District Hoteliers’ Association (GDHA).

According to the organisers, around one lakh tourists are expected to attend the beach festival every evening. Arrangements to maintain law and order and smooth passage of traffic are being made keeping this in view. Cultural troupes from different parts of the country will also perform during the beach festival. But there will be ample scope for the local folk dance troupes to showcase their skills. To cater to the tourists, who would visit the beach festival, there will be a ‘Pallishree Mela’ showcasing handicrafts from different parts of the State, especially Ganjam district. The mela will be organised by the Orissa Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS).

There will be 120 stalls in the Pallishree Mela. Several Women Self-Help Groups will display their handcraft in the stalls. Around 19 government departments will also open stalls to create awareness regarding various developmental projects of the government.

Source: The Hindu

Source: The Sambad