Cargo handling commences at Gopalpur port(Berhampur) in South Odisha

Cargo handling has formally commenced in the Gopalpur port. According to authorities of the Gopalpur Ports Limited (GPL), cargo handling is under way at one berth of the port, which is now completely ready to accept ships. At present, cargo handling is being done on trial basis. At present, a single ship is being loaded with illuminate cargo of Odisha Sands Complex (OSCOM) of Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL). The cargo is to be exported to South Korea. The Odisha Sands Complex was a major user of the seasonal anchorage port in the past. The GPL sources said they had sent notifications to shipping companies and possible users informing them that one of its berths was ready to handle cargo. On completion of ongoing works, the port would have three berths. According to the authorities, construction work and other infrastructure development measures are progressing as per schedule. The GPL is also constructing 11 groynes as part of its corporate social responsibility. More than 80 per cent of the work on these groynes has been completed.

In 1987, the Odisha government had established the port as a seasonal anchorage port. In 2006, the government handed over the port to the GPL for its expansion and management. The GPL had entered into an MoU with the government to take over the port and develop it into a major all-weather facility on Build-Operate-Own-Share-Transfer (BOOST) basis.

Source: The Hindu, The Sambad

Museums in Berhampur city (South Odisha) wallow in neglect

As International Museum Day is celebrated across the world on Saturday, a museum run by the state government here lies in utter neglect.

In fact, very few people of the Silk City know the existence of the district museum at Jaya Prakash Nagar here. Without having its own building and necessary infrastructure, the museum functions from a rented house. It has changed its location ten times since it was established in 1976 at the industrial estate at Ankuli on the outskirts of the town. It was moved to Jaya Prakash Nagar last year, sources said.

Locals said the district museum had very few exhibits. It only has a few stone-carved idols, brass metal works, tribal weapons and models of wild animals. District culture officer Krushan Chandra Nishank said there was a proposal to shift the museum to the proposed Sanskruti Bhawan at Hillpatna area in the town. But construction work for the building is yet to start.

Berhampur MLA R Ch Chyaupatnaik said about one

acre land had been acquired for the Sanskruti Bhawan. The government had also sanctioned Rs 5 crore for the project. "The road and building department would soon start the work," he added.

"Once the museum is shifted to a permanent venue, we will collect valuable exhibits from the public as well as from other museums," Nishank said.

Meanwhile, Berhampur University authorities said they were not getting funds from either the state or the Centre to run the varsity museum. It has several rare books, tribal ornaments from southern Orissa districts including Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkanagiri, Rayagada and Gajapati, and ancient palm-leaf manuscripts. "We run the museum from our own resources," vice chancellor J K Mohapatra said.Source: ToI