Odisha's Ganjam best Indian district in empowering disabled

Odisha's Ganjam has been adjudged as the best district in the country for empowering disabled by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The Ganjam District Administration was awarded at a function in New Delhi, on the occasion of World Disabled Day yesterday. District collector Krishan Kumar and other senior officials attended the function. "The credit goes to the people of the district, especially persons with disabilities along with officials working for them," the collector said. The disabled in the district have been covered under different welfare schemes after being identified through single window camps. During the year as many as 27,443 persons were provided medical certificates while 24,718 persons benefited through the state-sponsored Madhu Babu Pension Yojana and Central government's Indira Gandhi National Disable Pension Yojana (IGNDPY). Similarly, 19,015 persons had been provided with aids and appliances while 430 and 69 persons benefited under the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) and state government's 'Mo Kudia' scheme with houses respectively, said district social welfare officer (DSWO) Sabita Beura.

Source:PTI 

Ganjam job fair lifeline for the unemployed

A mega job Mela brings a ray of hope to hundreds of unemployed youth in Ganjam district. The proposed fair, to be held at Bhanjanagar on November 28, promises to offer opportunities to job seekers across the board - from under matriculates, degree holders to information technology (IT) professionals. Around 30,000 to 35,000 job-seekers are expected to participate in the day-long Nijukti Mela, jointly organized by the district administration and State Employment Mission (SEM) for the first time in the district. Some 35 different companies, most of them from outside the state, are supposed to conduct the recruitment drive, offering jobs ranging from security guards to BPO and IT professionals, said a senior district official. Selected candidates are expected to get the appointment letter on the spot. Block development officers have asked job seekers to register their names in their respective blocks, said district collector Krishan Kumar. The registration of the candidates will start from Tuesday and will continue till Friday, said Berhampur employment assistant director, R M Khillana. Bhanjanagar, the sub-divisional headquarter town, has been selected as the venue of the fair to facilitate candidates from interior tribal villages to have easy access to the event, the district collector said. Source: ToI 

Famous Gopalpur beach festival from January 11 to 15

Gopalpur beach festival would be held in January this time rather than in December like earlier years. This five-day beach festival would be held from January 11 to 15. Earlier date of this beach festival used to coincide with Christmas. This decision was taken at the first preparatory meeting for the beach festival held in Berhampur city. This beach festival is organised every year jointly by the Ganjam district administration and Ganjam District Hoteliers' Association (GDHA) to promote tourism at this beach resort and to show case cultural heritage of South Odisha. The preparatory meeting was chaired by Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) southern division, Laxmi Narayan Nayak. It was attended by Ganjam Collector Kishan Kumar, MLAs of Gopalpur and Berhampur and many office bearers.

Decision to shift dates of the beach festival was taken at the request of the GDHA. The GDHA felt holding of beach festival during festive tourist season was putting extra pressure on the small beach resort. Added to it large crowd that gathers up for the beach festival and clogged traffic was also causing problems for the tourists who check in hotels of the beach resort during that time. Holding of this beach festival during January would add up another tourist season for the beach resort, felt GDHA. This famous beach festival had been started during 90s by the GDHA and this famous beach is just 9km away from Berhampur city. 

OTDC comes out with package tour to Tara Tarini Hill Shrine

The Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) has come up with a package tour to promote the famous Tara Tarini hill shrine in Ganjam district. This tour would be taken up around five times in a month to enable devotees and tourists from other parts of the State to have a comfortable luxurious trip to this famous hill shrine. As Bhubaneswar would be starting pint of this tour it would enable tourists coming to visit golden triangle, Puri-Bhubaneswar-Konark, to opt for a visit to another chunk of Odisha.

The Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB), Berhampur has decided to provide all possible assistance for this project of OTDC, said secretary of TTDB, Pramod Panda. According to him this package tour would be on Tuesdays along with the day of Sankranti. These are most preferred days for devotees to visit this hill shrine. Mr. Panda said this package tour for Tara Tarini was being provided at affordable price of around Rs 640 per passenger. Tourists would start from Bhubaneswar in air-conditioned luxury buses and reach Tara Tarini hill shrine just before noon.

The TTDB authorities would welcome the passengers and provide them all possible hospitality. These tourists would be provided ‘Prasad' of the temple as lunch which is part of the package. Along with accompanying guide the troupe of tourists would get a chance to move around scenic spots around the hill shrine during their stay there. Ropeway between the hill top and the foot hill was also part of the tour package, Mr. Panda said. According to him this project of OTDC would help in promotion of this hill shrine as a major tourist destination.

Mr. Panda said the second hill top road to the shrine was almost completed and it would be ready for use by public by the end of the year. This new road starts from Keshpur junction. Work was also under way for construction of a ring road around the Tara Tarini hill. The ghat road to the hill top is being widened further for easy driving. In some places gradient of steep slopes have been reduced.

To beautify adjoining areas embankment of Rushikulya River that flows around the Tara Tarini hill is being beautified. “We are planning to increase parking space on the hill top by cutting down and leveling some more portions on the hill top,” Mr. Panda added. During past few years the TTDB has made a complete face lift of this hill shrine that includes erection of a complete new temple in place of the old temple. This new temple is based on ancient Rekha style temple architecture of Odisha.

For further information, OTDC officials can be contacted on mobile phone number 99383-74772.

Source: The Hindu

Online buying hits sales at Berhampur book fair

Online marketing has affected sale of English books in book fairs as well as in book shops.

In the 15th Berhampur book fair that is continuing in the city there seems to be dearth of English books in comparison to past years. Most of the avid readers like Pradipta Das do not feel this a major hurdle.

According to them now it is easy and economical to buy English books of major publishers through online shopping. “Earlier I used to visit book fairs to buy recent English fiction and non-fiction, but now I find it easier to buy them online,” he said.

One of the major reasons behind new generation readers opting for online shopping of books is the price. No bookseller agrees to provide discount of more than ten per cent on the printed price of a book in a book stall or in a book fair. But online shopping portals provide up to fifty per cent discount on price of books.

Internet shopping

With internet banking it has become easy for readers to shop books online at lower price which are delivered within a week without any shipping charge.

During the Berhampur book fair a visitor approached a book seller to buy up a recently published English non-fiction priced Rs. 500. The bookseller was reluctant to give him more than Rs. 50 discount. Immediately the customer took out his smart phone and checked up the price of the same book on an online shopping portal. The portal was selling the same book for Rs. 350 along with free shipping. When he showed it to the bookseller, he got the answer that they were also providing similar discount but only to down-the-line booksellers rather than general readers. According to him general buyers are not provided any discount at their shop and they provide ten per cent discount only during book fairs. Without discussing any further the buyer preferred to buy up the book online rather than paying for it at the book stall.

Pramod Panda of Berhampur book fair committee also accepted that this recent trend has started to affect market of booksellers. According to him it is high time book sellers thought about this disparity in price as most English language readers are also internet savvy.

But there has been good sale of Odia books during this book fair. It may be noted that most Odia publishers have not yet opted for online marketing. So, for readers book fairs are the best places to search for Odia books which are yet to reach out the internet. Source: The Hindu

Efforts on to protect peacocks in Ganjam district

Administration has proposed a joint effort by Revenue, Forest and Agriculture Departments for protection of peacocks in jungles near Pakidi hill in Ganjam district.

It may be noted that use of pesticide in a cotton field led to the death of 13 peacocks in Pakidi area about a fortnight back. It was a shock for the villagers of the area as since long they are involved in protection and conservation of the national bird. Although, till now, no enumeration has been done, it was assessed that there may be around 3,000 peacocks in the Pakidi forest.

Ganjam district Collector Kishen Kumar held a meeting regarding protection of these peacocks at Shergarh. The meeting was attended by president of local Peacock Protection Committee (PPC) Samir Pradhan, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ramesh Sethi, Shergarh Block Development Officer (BDO) D. Singh, local officers of agriculture and veterinary departments. In this meeting it was decided that forest and agriculture department would jointly prepare an action plan for conservation of peacocks in the area so that interest of peasants may not get hampered.

Promotion of bio-agriculture to reduce use of chemical pesticides was also point of discussion in this meeting. It was decided to hold awareness building camps in villages of the area to promote use of bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides for agriculture in the area. Plans were made to build up water tanks on the foot hill of Pakidi hill to provide water source to the peacocks of the area. The issue of stone crushers that have become major menace for the peacocks living in the area also came up for discussion. It may be noted that local villagers united under the PPC with the help of forest department have played exemplary role in the protection of the peacock habitat in the area. Peacocks of the area are also quite friendly with the human populace of the area. Villagers of Sobhachandpur, Kerikerijhola, Ambuabadi, Bharatapalli, Kirtipur, Narendrapur, Chermaria and Nuagaon etc are involved in this peacock conservation work protect and save the national bird on an area of around 917 hectares around the Pakidi hill.

Efforts of these villagers who have got united under the PPC were honoured through the Biju Patnaik memorial award for wild life protection in 2006.

Source: The Hindu 

Ganjam faces drought

By Hrusikesh Mohanty

Berhampur: The gods of nature, it seems, are terribly angry with Orissa. While the north and central parts of the state are suffering from devastating floods, Ganjam, a southern district, is inching towards drought.

Agriculture officials said paddy crops in around 12,000 hectares of land in the district were already suffering from moisture stress condition due to no rainfall since September 23 last. Besides, paddy cultivation could not be started in around 13,000 hectare owing to erratic rainfall, sources said.

The district had a target to cultivate paddy and non-paddy crops in 2.23 lakh and 1.88 lakh hectares of land respectively during the kharif seasons. The district administration has estimated more than 50 per cent crop loss in 1056 villages of 15 blocks. Agriculture officials, however, said the situation improved with some rainfall in the first week of September. The situation, however, worsened due to lack of rain since September 23.

"The situation is very precarious," Ganjam collector Krishan Kumar said. "We have been monitoring the situation daily," he added. He asked agriculture and irrigation officials to make combined efforts to save the crops.

Against the districtas average paddy productivity of 30.65 quintal per hectare, the district targeted 38.50 quintal this year. "It is unlikely that the target productivity would be achieved as rain continues to play hide and seek," said deputy director of agriculture (Ganjam) Aparti Sethi.

Source: Times of India

Berhampur girl grabs gold in Commonwealth Youth championship at Cape Town

Following the footsteps of K Ravi Kumar, another weightlifter of Berhampur city, Minati Das, brought fame to the state. She won gold in the ongoing Commonwealth Youth Girls championship at Cape Town. Ravi, who had won the gold medal in the Commonwealth Games-2010, had also won the medal in the Commonwealth (youth) championships earlier.

Fifteen-year-old Minati of Old Berhampur area won in the 44-kg category, said vice-president of Indian Weightlifting Federation and general secretary of Berhampur-based Veer Hanuman Club Narayan Sahu. Seven girls from the country, including Das, were participating in the youth (girl) category. Though Minati has participated in many national events, the commonwealth (youth) championship is her first international participation. She had a rigorous practice session in Bangalore before this. We are proud that another youth from our club won the prestigious medal in the international event, Sahu said.

Minati is the second daughter of Pramod Das, a farmer and leader of Ganjam District Scheduled Caste Federation. Out of his four children, Minati was the one very keen on sports. At present, she is a Class X student of Government Girlsa High School, Berhampur.

Source: The Times of India 

Tara Tarini Development Board takes great pleasure in wishing you happiness and prosperity on the divine occasion of Dusshera,

the festival that symbolizes the Triumph of Good over Evil.

May the divine blessings of

Maa Tara Tarini be with you always!

Silk City Berhampur gears up for 9-day Durga Puja carnival

Durga puja is also known as Navratri Puja which says the worshipping of goddess Durga for nine days. Like Kolkata, Gujarat and Cuttack, Berhampur also gears up for Durga Puja. With the Mahalaya, devotees have welcomed the goddess Durga amidst all pomp and show to bring bountiful yield and happiness to every household.

Ganjam is famous for its religious “shakti shrines” where the ritual of the 16-day festival is strictly followed. This ritual is known as “Shodasa Upachara” unlike in other parts of the country where it lasts for three to nine days. The prominent Sakti shrines in Ganjam include presiding deity of South Odisha Tara Tarini near Purusottampur, goddess Narayani near Khallikote, goddess Mahamayee (Budhi Thakurani) of Berhampur, goddess Bhairavi at Mantridi, 15 km away from Berhampur, goddess Ramachandi at Gadamanitri, 5 km away from Ganjam town, Mahuri Kalika, Ghata Kalika, Kandhuni Devi, Byaghra Devi, Balakumari, Barahi, Khambeswari, Simhasini, Shyamalai, Kureisuni and Siddha Harachandi. They are all geared up for the festival Dussehra.

Some Puja Mandaps in the city have started the rituals of Navaratripuja formally from Mahalaya night. The Silk City is known as one of the prominent socio-cultural centers of Odisha. The city connects two different cultures of Odia and Telugu since time immemorial.

The Puja bazaar is all set to make a good business in this session. The wholesale markets of garments are the commercial nerve centre as well as inter-State business centers of Odisha. Traffic is getting thicker gradually in the areas beginning from Head Post Office Square, Fire Station Road, Annapurna Road, Urban Bank Road, SNT Temple Road, Sanabazaar to Badabazaar area.

The puja mandaps of Komapalli Square, Courtpeta Square, Bijipur, Station Road, Old Bus Stand, Girija Square, Giri Market, Hanuman Bazaar and Badabazaar have been started formally for the nine day puja of goddess Durga from the night of Mahalaya. Out of total 39 worshiping places, nine have opened their puja pandals and started the rituals of the nine-day puja. Others may open on seventh or eighth day of the ritual of the Navratri Puja. The attraction of this year’s puja is the pandals draped in different colours, themes, and innovative arts and designs. According to a member Kali Prasad Patra of Bijipur Puja Committee, they have hired artists from Dhenkanal and Kolkata for the design of their puja pandal like a temple of Nepal. The pandal is made up of different coloured and designed mats, while the idol is of 15 feet height mesmerizing the devotees of the city. City administration, Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) and police are ready for the nine-day-long carnival. The District Administration has imposed ban on using of loud speaker after 10 pm of the night and it has only permitted bhajans for playing on the puja mandaps.

Orissa Govt. includes two more tourist spots for Ganjam on World Tourism day

On the occasion of World Tourism day two more tourist spots named Gopakuda Island under Keshpur panchayat of Chilika and the Kashi Biswanath temple of Kamalapur village under Digapahaandi tahasil are being added into the district tourism map of Ganjam. It has been decided by the administration to make these two attractive tourist points.

Although the pre-survey reports of the above mentioned places are already submitted by the District Tourism Officer the District Collector has directed him to prepare the full-fledged report and to submit it within a stipulated time period.

With the addition of these spots now there will be 24 tourist spots in Ganjam. Earlier it was 22 in which the sea beach of Gopalpur, Chilka lake & bird sanctuary, beach of Aryapalli, manuscripts of Ashoka at Jaugargh, scenic beauty of Nirmalajhara, Religious place famous Tara Tarini pitha, Narayani, hot spring Taptapani, silk city Berhampur, Biranchi Narayan pitha at Buguda, Girisola at Orissa-Andhra boarder, kulada Byaghra devi, beach of Humma Kantiagargh, historical place Athagargh patna, Sidha Bhairavi temple, Mahuri Kalua, Patisonapur, Potagargh with British memorials,Ghodahada dam of Ujaleswara, religious place Sankulei Pitha, scenic spot of Humuri Tampra and Nijabankeswari temple under Digapahandi block have been included.

It is noteworthy, that the newly added Gopakuda is an Island in Chilika Lake where lord Shiva has been worshipped and popularly known as Gupteswara. The place also consists a Hawa Mahal (palace) as earlier it was the kingdom of Khalikote. Chilika Mahostav, Maha Sivaratri are the major festivals that has been widely celebrated here. Similarly rich in Mythological beliefs Kashi Biswanath temple of kamalapur at Digapahandi is popular as Suranga Saivapitha. Surrounded by the hills the temple is situated on 200 feet above from the surface. Two lingas symbols of Lord Shiva have been worshipped here inside a cave.                    

Mayfair group acquires Oberoi's Gopalpur hotel

The Oberoi Group has sold its 100-year-old hotel property at Gopalpur on Sea in Orissa to Mayfair Hotels and Resorts, a local hospitality company owned by former cabinet minister and industrialist Dilip Ray. The property, Oberoi Palm Beach, was bought by Rai Bahadur MS Oberoi in 1947 from an Italian lady and was the third hotel in his portfolio after Shimla and Kolkata. EIH, formerly East India Hotels, the flagship company of the Oberoi Group, has handed over the property to the Mayfair Group, which now has eight properties, said top executives at both companies.

For the Oberois, the Gopalpur property, though small, had a lot of sentimental value. However, with any significant expansion not possible due to the Coastal Regulation Zone restrictions and high overhead costs, the EIH management decided to lease or sell it. For a few years, they leased the hotel to a Bhubaneswar-based hotelier, but it did not work well, said an EIH source. Ray, who has been expanding his hospitality business in the past few years, said: "It is a dream acquisition. We will try our best to develop this hotel to international standards and expand it."

The Mayfair group now plans to spend 25-30 crore to expand the hotel and add another 15 rooms to the existing 20 rooms. It will also add a spa to the property along with villas.

 Gopalpur on Sea has been a popular destination among the Russian tourists throughout the year. Domestic travellers visit during winters. With Gopalpur port being developed from a seasonal to an all-weather port, commercial and industrial activity is expected to pick up. Tatas too are planning an industrial park at Gopalpur where it will be the anchor investor. The 100-crore Mayfair group operates mid-segment hotels in Bhubaneswar, Puri, Rourkela, Goa, Darjeeling and Gangtok. It also will soon open hotels in Kolkata, Satpada and a new hotel in Puri. Mayfair plans to spend 25-30 crore to expand the hotel and add another 15 rooms to the existing 20 rooms.

River-linking mooted to overcome water crisis in Ganjam

The State Government has proposed linking the river Rushikulya with the Bansadhara through the Nandini Canal Project to overcome drinking water problem in the areas of the Ganjam district affected by drought frequently.

Official sources said the State Government is in touch with the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) for preparation of a pre-feasibility report on the project. This is now at a preliminary stage and details can be known only after the report is completed.

The State Government had earlier proposed to link the Rushikulya and the Bansadhara rivers by constructing a dam near Minajhola in Rayagada district over Bansadhara to tackle regular drought in Ganjam district.

The pre-feasibility report on the project was submitted to the Central Water Commission (CWC) in July 2005 for its approval. But the project idea was dropped after the CWC maintained that it was not feasible.

Agitations by locals were also held� demanding linking of rivers to address their drinking water problem. People from Ganjam and Gajapati districts took out padayatras many times demanding linking of the two rivers.

Rushikulya Banchao Manch, a front led by former deputy speaker Rama Chandra Panda, takes the lead in organising stirs. Representing the plight of the farmers of Ganjam and Gajapati districts, who are facing severe water scarcity, the locals have sought linking of rivers like the Bansadhara and the Mahendra Tanaya, the Mahanadi and the Rushikulya and Rushikulya link project.

The Rushikulya river is the lifeline of Ganjam district and its entire population depends on it for domestic and farming purposes. In the last three decades, the two rivers _ the Bansadhara and the Rushikulya _ are fast drying up because of erratic rainfall, high sedimentation and environmental flow loss besides green cover depletion.

But successive governments have failed to construct low-height dams at different parts of the rivers and their tributaries to save the run off which could have prevented depletion of groundwater. Besides, the major towns of Ganjam such as Berhampur, Aska, Kabisuryanagar, Sorada, Hinjli, Purushottampur, Chhatrapur and Ganjam depend on the Rushikulya for domestic water needs.

Berhampur City alone needs 50 million litre water per day but the supply is just about 35 million litre and with the demand-supply gap widening, pressure on the depleting groundwater is high.

Source: Orissa Diary 

Tata Steel reserves berth at Gopalpur Port

• Jindal Company also visited Gopalpur port to get a reserve berth

• Tata Steel would construct a hospital at Tata rehabilitation colony at Sitalapalli, Berhampur

At a time when the demand for returning the lands acquired for industries in Ganjam district is growing shriller, The Tata Steel Managing Director’s visit to Ganjam district seems to have settled things for now.

Tata Steel MD HM Nerurkar along with vice-president for Orissa Projects of the Company Hrideyshwar Jha visited Ganjam district on Tuesday to take stock of the progress of the proposed projects. They had an informal meeting with Ganjam District Collector Kishen Kumar and Managing Director of Gopalpur Ports Limited (GPL) Mahimanandan Mishra.

Gopalpur Industrial Park project is planned on 3,300 acres of land taken over by the company in 1995 for its now shelved mega steel plant project near Gopalpur port.

Tata Steel, being the anchor investor, has announced a ferrochrome industry with a capacity of around 55,000 tonne a year besides four million tonne capacity rubber industry and a desalination plant. The three units are scheduled to go for production from 2013.

However, as no progress was made even after seven months of the foundation, the displaced families whose lands were acquired started agitation demanding return of their lands.

According to the discussion between Tata Steel, GPL and district administration, Tata Steel would have its own berth and a jetty at Gopalpur Port at Rs. 60 crore for transportation of its proposed production.

However, till the construction of the berth, the port would provide a rebate of around 50 per cent to Tata Steel for transportation.

Tata Steel would construct a hospital in the vacant land at the Tata rehabilitation colony at Sitalapalli for the convenience of port and Tata employees and the GPL authorities would establish a school in the port’s vicinity, in order to reduce dependence on Berhampur.

Meanwhile, a team of officials of Jindal Company also visited the Gopalpur port to get a reserve berth.

Source: IBN Live

Berhampur born Sulagna Panigrahi rocks Bollywood

In conversation with Sulagna Panigrahi

When we saw Murder 2, we were bowled over by the performance of a new girl, Sulagna Panigrahi, the actress with the face of an angel. She has been around for past 4 years and has also done quite a few television shows. Soumil Shukla of FilmiTadka caught up with the young actress and the result was a candid chat.

So tell us a bit about your background.

Well, I was born in a small town called Berhampur in Orissa. Then my family moved to Bhubaneswar and then to Delhi where I spent almost 10 years and did most of my schooling. My dad is a serving Indian Army officer. So we have had to move around a lot. In that sense I am a true Indian!.....

Click here to read the full interview

Source: filmitadka.in

Dust collects on age-old Marda Jagannath temple

BERHAMPUR: Plans to develop Marda, home to a 300-year-old Jagannath temple, into a tourist hub doesn't seem to be moving beyond official files. Even though the temple in the Ganjam district town boasts a marvelous Kalinga style architecture and served as a safe hiding place for the deities of Puri Jagannath temple during 1733-1735 AD, when such temples were being targeted by Muslim invaders, earning itself the honour of Sharan Srikhetra, Marda is yet to get the attention it deserves.

The administration of Sri Jagannath temple, Puri, had intervened some time ago to get the district administration to prepare a plan to attract tourists by developing the spot as a religious tourist place. A few sevayats and researchers of the Jagannath cult, who had visited the place to study the connection of the Marda temple with that of Puri, had promised to popularise the significance of the temple but it is yet to come to fruition.

"If at least five to 10 % visitors of Puri come to Marda, the place can be highlighted on the tourist map, opening up more livelihood opportunities for local people," Marda locals said. Presently, there is no deity in the temple, nor is the famous Rath Yatra held in the town. Some stray visitors drop by for research purpose or to enjoy a picnic or two. More people will visit the place when its historical aspects and connection with the Puri deities is highlighted, said MLA (Polasara) Niranjan Pradhan.

The MLA had spent about Rs 2 lakh to make a compound wall in the temple from his local area development fund. "Some of infrastructure development works have been done. Some more are to be done to make it popular a tourist spot," said Pradhan.

Daily ritual at the Marda temple is performed with financial assistance from the temple administration of Jagannath temple in Puri, but other works to protect the monument need to be taken up by the government, Pradhan said.

When contacted, chairman of the temple development committee and sub-collector (Chhatrapur) Trilochan Majhi said he would convene a meeting of the development committee to review the progress of development works of the temple. The administration would also take initiative to promote it as a religious tourist spot, he said.

Peacock protectors in Ganjam seek eco-tourism tag for Pakidi

BERHAMPUR: The peacock protection committee of Ganjam district has urged the government to declare the Pakidi hill range near Berhampur city, home to a large number of peacocks, as an eco-tourism destination. "If the hill range is declared an eco-tourism spot, it will attract visitors from all across the country and abroad, contributing to the development of the backward area," said Samir Pradhan, the president of the committee.

Pradhan has submitted a memorandum to chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who also holds the forest portfolio. The committee was given the Biju Patnaik Award for Wildlife Conservation, the highest award in the state for protecting wildlife, in 2006, for its effort to protect and conserve the national bird habitat.

When the monsoon clouds loom over Pakidi, droves of peacocks descend on the villages of Sobhachandrapur, Amuabadi, Kerikerijhola, Bharatapalli, Cheramaria, Sameiguda. Flocks of the national bird were also sighted in areas like Karnoli, Khadabahaga, Pakidi and Kirtipur, Pradhan said. He attributed the love and affection showered by the villagers on the birds as the main reason for their rising numbers in the area and for the spread of their habitat.

"While the chances of sighting of peacocks are slim in most places in the country, one is sure to spot the national bird here," he said, adding there is almost no poaching in the area. The committee has estimated a Rs 40 lakh project to develop the area as an eco-tourism destination. The project includes two cottages, a dormitory, an interpretation center, a watch tower, an approach road to the tower and water harvesting structures. "The approach road to the hill range is in a bad shape. No tourist can reach the area even on a motorcycle," the committee president said. The roads urgently need repair to boost tourism here, he added.

Forest officials also support the eco-tourism proposal. The hill range deserves to be an eco-tourism spot along with Bhetanai-Balipadar area near Aska, where a large number of black bucks roam free," said a senior forest officer. Balipadar-Bhetanai area is about 10 km from Pakidi hill range. 

Source: TOI

Dashkathiya: A basic form of folk dance in Ganjam district

Dashkathiya is a basic form of folk dance in Ganjam district, Orissa. Though it is found in every corner of the state but Ganjam has got a unique position in terms of delivering particular rhymes, verses and poems. Being a modulated form of Odia literature Dashkathiya attracts various groups of people both educated and uneducated mass.

Dashkathiya is an open stage performance where two performers are needed. There are two ‘Gayak’ who narrate the story.  While one sings the other ‘Palia’ follows the unsung parts of Gayak’s rhymes. The main instrument of this performance is known as ‘Ramtali’ and ‘Dashkathiya’. The story of any mythology is presented in the form of verses.

The way of presentation of the form is very important. Since, only two artists are required to perform the show, they need to be very much attractive to draw the attention of viewers.

Moving to the next step the artists must have a true knowledge of mythological takes and of literature as well. Ornamentation of words with proper accent forms another important feature of Dashkathiya. Dance forms and acting comes with an attractive dialect that has the capability to swap the attention of audience.

The performances of Dashkathiya need to read the exact situation and condition of a story, thereby developing the stanzas according. It is always useful to understand the language, accent and rhymes. The ‘Palias’ need to create the environment of humours and joy many a times.

Various forms of human emotions are designed in the dance form with the use of ‘tripaata’, ‘aathatali’, ‘ekathali’ and ‘jhulathala. Mostly the verses are composed in the format of fourteen separate alphabets in a particular line.

Dashkathiya though can be compared with other forms of regional folk dances yet, it has its own position in the hearts of Ganjam people.

Source: Orissa Diary  

NIOS opened Study centre for Berhampur jail inmates

By Hrusikesh Mohanty

The inmates of Berhampur jail, who want to clear the Class X examination but are overaged, can now do so. The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) under the ministry of human resources in collaboration with the state government opened an Open Study Centre in the Berhampur jail. This is the first NIOS centre inside a jail in the state.

"Those who have crossed 14 years of age can now enroll in the study center to clear their Class X examination. No formal educational qualification is required to enroll," chairman of NIOS Sitansu Sekhar Jena said while inaugurating the centre. DIG (Prisons) Dharanidhara Dash and other jail staff were present.

He, however, said a person needs to clear his Class X to appear for Class XII examination. The course can be completed from one to five years, he said. "Since several inmates have shown interest to complete their education when they were languishing in the jails, the NIOS decided to open its study centers in different jails," he said. The NIOS would conduct the examinations and also provide certificates that are equivalent to certificate given by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), he said.

Eleven such study centres have been opened across the country, including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Delhi. "We have also written to the Inspector General (Prisons) to open study centers of the NIOS in their jails of the state. We opened it in Berhampur because the jail officers were keen and extended all cooperation," he said.

The NIOS has announced 50 per cent subsidy on the enrollment fee of the jail inmates in the study centers. "The subsidy however is not applicable in case of other persons," he said. The NIOS is also providing vocational training in 86 different trades. "One can take vocational training at the time of studying in the study centre," he said. The NIOS chairman assured to provide all help to the jail staff, if they were interested to start vocational training.

Source: The Times of India

Berhampur Radio Station shines with international awards

The media station of Berhampur has got every reason for its celebration. The Director of the Radio Station of Berhampur, Dr. Hrushikesh Panda has been awarded with National Awards for his productions in regard to social awareness.

Dr. Panda is the director as well as eminent literati who has been recognized with many national and international awards for his radio programmes. “Phula Phutiba Bela” has been awarded recently for its rich social content. It is directed and produced by Dr. Panda. Recently he was also awarded with the International Asia Pacific Broadcasting award for his radio production on an AIDS awareness programme entitled “Cum Cum Morning Dear”. This award was conferred to him at the capital city of Japan, Tokyo. Dr. Panda has highlighted the concept of awareness regarding AIDS suffers in his productions.

He has taken the students of “Utakal Balasrama” in his documentary which has very effective messages.Dr. Panda was assisted by Hrushikesh Panigrahi who also works at the radio station of Berhampur.

Dr. Panda has assembled about 10 national and 2 international awards to his credit. Earlier his works were also appreciated in the international forum. His radio productions like “Khushi” and “Smruti” have also been recognised with awards at international level. The station has also been credited as one of its own kind in delivering programmes in various languages. The above documentaries highly displayed the human emotions and feelings on a high grade. While “Khusi” displayed the human happiness and actions of enlightening souls “Smruti” spoke about the dilemma and pain of the souls who were lost in the fury of 1999 the major flood that attacked Orissa. He was congratulated in his work place by various social organizations and by his staff members as well.

Source: Orissa Diary 

Radiation study centre at Berhampur varsity

The Berhampur University (BU) is all set to have a Gamma Chamber-5000 to study plant response to ionising radiation. The facility is being developed as a component of the research project on plant responses to ionising radiation, which is currently in progress at the department of botany. This is the first time that the state will have such as facility, said Brahma Bihari Panda, head of botany department. A team of experts from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Barc) had visited the university recently and approved the building site after thorough inspection. “We constructed the building as per the guidelines of Barc. But with the onset of monsoon, the delivery of the equipment from Barc has been delayed and we are hoping it will reach us by October or November. The research has been going on since two years,” said Panda. Barc is looking after research components while the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (Brit) will provide the equipment. He said Barc has provided the Gamma Chamber-5000, which is worth Rs 40 lakh, free of cost to the university. An MoU to this effect was signed between the director, health safety and environment group of Barc and registrar of Berhampur University on August 19, 2008.

The botany department of BU is one of the four centres located in different agro-climatic zones of the country chosen under the 11th plan period to conduct the mega research project of Barc. The other three zones are Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) at Pusa in New Delhi, Barc in Mumbai and Tanjavur in Tamil Nadu. “The chamber is the source of radiation from cobalt system which can be used for experimental purposes and scientific investigation. We have already constructed a building, Gamma House, at an isolated area in the botanical garden on the campus. The rest of the equipment will also be installed as soon as they reach us,” Panda said. In addition to the chamber, Barc has also provided other research tools and two research scholars and one field assistant for this purpose. The entire cost would come to around Rs 70 lakh, he said. The departments of chemistry, physics, zoology, marine and pharmaceutical sciences can also use this equipment for an inter-disciplinary approach. “The gamma centre has several applications. We can see the effect of radiation and use it for improvement of crops, sterilisation of medical disposals. Radiation helps preserve food materials. Seeds treated with radiation are not infested by insects. So it is useful for storage of material and aseptic conditions. This is also being considered as a source of income for Berhampur University because it can be used outsourced to researchers and research institutions,” Panda said. He said the importance of radiation was increasing daily with the depletion of natural bio fuel or hydrocarbons. “Radiation will be a perennial and safe source of energy. Because here the regulations are very stringent and there is no pollution from radiation,” he added. The radiological safety division is looking after the safety aspect. “It is a research programme and is well protected. The persons who will work here will be given proper training about how to operate it. A radiation monitor will measure if there is any radiation. The radiation level of this region is slightly high because of the Monazite belt and the black sand at Arjipalli. But we are looking into the safety concerns,” Panda said.

Source: The Telegraph

Land mafia eyeing tanks in the Silk city

Land mafia is allegedly eyeing to fill up some tanks within city limits to use them as real estate. Administration has decided to take strict measures to prevent land mafia from filling up the tanks and water bodies in the city. According to the old revenue records Berhampur had 64 large tanks inside it. During British era the scions of Mahuri royal family had inter-connected the tanks for irrigation and drinking water facility in this area. But with time a large number of tanks have vanished from the map of the city. The canals that connected these tanks have also been filled up and concrete structures stand on them.

In the past Berhampur municipality played a major role in filling up of canals that inter-connected the tanks in this perennially water scarce city, in the name of urbanization. Without water being recharged by the canals, the condition of most tanks has deteriorated.

Land mafia is eyeing the remaining tanks in the city, said Berhampur Tehsildar Satrughna Kar. These unscrupulous elements are targeting the tanks that are in private possession, according to the records of the revenue department. The legal owners of these tanks are not in a position to maintain them. The land mafia is trying to buy these tanks in the heart of the city at low prices. Then they try to deteriorate the condition of the tank and ultimately fill it up so that it could be used as a patch of highly priced real estate to take up building activity, Mr. Kar added. But according to revenue officials the Supreme Court has directed that no water body can be destroyed even by its owner.

Recently a tank in the city was sold by its private owner to some persons who wanted to fill it up and use it for residential purpose. But this move was opposed by some locals. The matter is pending in the High Court.

Source: The Hindu

Rare two-headed house lizard spotted at Berhampur city

A two-headed house lizard was spotted at a residence in Gosaninuagaon Nilakanthanagar area of the city on July 01. A large crowd gathered at the residence of Niranjan Gouda to watch this rare phenomenon of nature.

According to Mr Gouda his family members were astonished when they discovered this unique lizard at their residence. Word of mouth moved around and people from different parts of the city rushed to his house to have a look at this rare lizard.

When contacted by The Hindu, herpetologist Pratyush Mohapatra, who studies amphibians and reptiles confirmed that it was a house lizard of the species Hemidactylus leschenaulti. According to him although rare such genetic absurdities are not new to the different species of reptiles. There have also been cases where snakes have been born with two heads.

The reason behind absurdity of nature is attributed to genetic mutation. But as per experts real reason behind this genetic mutation can be ascertained for sure without proper study.

In every generation of a species there occurs addition and reduction of genetic materials during transfer of genes from parents to the progeny. During this transfer some genetic abnormality occurred which led to this house lizard getting born with two heads, the zoologists said.

Source: The Hindu 

Naveen showing undue favour to Tata Steel in Gopalpur; Odisha Govt. should follow Mamata model

• Demand for return of land acquired for Tata Steel in Ganjam district
• State government showing undue favour to Tata Steel to reuse the land
• Land should be handed over to displaced families immediately

BERHAMPUR: There has been growing demanding in the State for return of land acquired by the Tata Steel for its shelved steel plant project in Ganjam district to the peasants who had been displaced.

The demand has got rejuvenated in the wake of efforts of the West Bengal government for return of the land acquired by Tata Motors for its ‘Nano car' project to the farmers of Singur. The Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal came up with the Singur Land Rehablitation & Development Act 2011 in the State Assembly for the purpose. “But the Orissa government continues to act like an agent or offshoot of the private company as it is only interested in protecting the company's interests rather than that of the common people,” alleged former Union Minister Chandrasekhar Sahu.

Mr Sahu asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to learn from his West Bengal counterpart and initiate legislation so that the land remaining unused in the hands of Tata Steel could get returned to the peasants as it was not used for the purpose it was taken over.

He alleged that the Orissa government was showing undue favour to Tata Steel to reuse the land it acquired in Ganjam district for its shelved steel plant project to establish a Special Economic Zone (SEZ). He alleged that the State government did not have political will to take decision in favour of the peasants against the interests of Tata Steel.

It may be noted that the Tata Steel has proposed to develop a Special Economic Zone on around 3,200 acres acquired about a decade back for a proposed mega steel plant project. Social activist and former president of the Ganjam Bar Association Bhagaban Sahu also demanded immediate return of this land to the peasants as the company was not using it for the purpose for which it had acquired. Gana Sangram Samity (GSS), the organisation that had vehemently opposed Tata Steel project near Gopalpur in the past, has reiterated that they would oppose efforts to establish any SEZ in the area, which according to them was against the interests of the State.

According to State secretariat member of the CPI(M) Ali Kishore Patnaik the displaced families had handed over the land for establishment of a steel plant as per notification made during the nineties under the Land Acquisition Act. As the land was not used for the purpose it is duty of the State government to get it returned back to the owners and it should not be allowed to be utilised for any other commercial purpose by the company as the displaced families are not going to gain anything from it, he said.

Senior Congress leader Chittaranjan Dash said by remaining silent over the issue the Orissa government was betraying trust of the common man. According to him it was high time for the State government to take over the unused land acquired for the shelved project of Tata Steel in Ganjam district and redistribute it to the farmers who had lost their fertile land for it. He demanded the State government to come up with legislation like that of West Bengal for the purpose.

Social activists such as Prafulla Samantra of Lok Shakti Abhiyan and Rabi Dash of Orissa Jan Sammilani also have similar view. “It is an irony that till now the Orissa government has not issued a single notice to Tata Steel regarding non use of land it acquired in Ganjam district for the purpose it was taken over,” Mr Samantra said.

Source: The Hindu 

Stone laid for Rs. 2.35-cr modern ‘flower mandi' in silk city

• E-auction facility will be provided to flower growers
• Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana providing Rs. 1.62 crore for the mandi
• The flower market will be managed by the RMCS, Digapahandi    

BERHAMPUR: Foundation stone was laid for a Rs. 2.35-crore modern ‘flower mandi' at Ambapua area of the city. The ‘flower mandi' is expected to be a major transition point for flower growers and traders in south Orissa. Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy laid the foundation stone in the presence of Berhampur Sub-Collector Ajit Mishra, who is also the chairman of Regulating Market Cooperative Society (RMCS), Digapahandi. Work on this project is expected to be complete by the end of this year. After completion it is expected to be a flag bearer of floriculture in Orissa, said A S Verma, general secretary of the Ganjam District Flower Growers Association.

The ‘flower mandi' would have modern facility for preservation and packaging of flowers. “The greatest help for the flower growers would be the e-auction facility to be provided here as it will ensure good return for the flower growers who at times do not get competitive price for their produce,” Mr Verma said.

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) of the Central government is providing Rs. 1.62 crore for the project. The rest of the amount would be RMCS, Digapahandi. The flower market is to be managed by the RMCS, Digapahandi.

Apart from flower growers of Ganjam, the ‘flower mandi' would also benefit flower growers of south Orissa districts such as Kandhamal, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Koraput.

At present lack of preservation facility is a major stumbling block for the flower growers of south Orissa. Scope of profit of their produce is also at stake due to lack of organised marketing facility. Both these stumbling blocks would get sorted out with the completion of the ‘flower mandi'.                                       

Real-estate boom in Silk city Berhampur

Berhampur city is witnessing a massive real estate boom like never before. While mega residential projects are being announced almost on a regular basis, even real-estate investors from various others cities like Bhubaneswar, Vizag, Surat and Mumbai are flocking in large numbers to make the most of this huge demand for residential apartments in Berhampur city. 

Estimates say that more than hundred mega residential apartments are under construction in and around the city.
One real estate watcher observed that investment of this magnitude is unprecedented in this southern city, and for that matter in a state like Orissa, and can only be compared with the State capital, which witnessed a similar trend in the recent past.

The massive real estate boom in Berhampur can be attributed to the huge migration of people from the interior pockets of Ganjam, South Orissa, Coastal Orissa and neighboring districts of Andhra Pradesh in search of better livelihood opportunities and for its education, trade and transport base.

Infact, one real estate agency of Berhampur city pointed that the skyrocketing housing prices in the state capital which has become almost unaffordable for the middle class has led to this housing boom in Berhampur as the going property prices here are considerably lesser than Bhubaneswar. The city is also well connected with other parts of the country and much cheaper cost of living than the state capital.

The construction boom in the city is likely to change the landscape of Greater Berhampur Region in the years to come with many projects lined up in the city outskirts and especially in areas like Ambapua, Khodasingi, Gosaninuagaon, Narendrapur, Mandiapalli, Rangeilunda, Haldiapadar, Konisi, Gopalpur and Chatrapur.

Non-resident Oriyas have become the biggest investors and drivers of this real estate boom, said a veteran of the city who has seen it growing over the past decades.

 

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