Mass hatching of Olive Ridley eggs begins at Rushikulya rookery near Berhampur city

Mass hatching of Olive Ridley eggs started on the Rushikulya rookery coast from Tuesday night. According to localites, mass hatching of the Olive Ridley eggs by was delayed by almost more than a week. Mass hatching has started on slow rate and it is likely to gain pace in next few days.

Volunteers setting the hatched Olive Ridley turtles free near the sea at the Rushikulya river mouth rookery near Gokharakuda in Ganjam district

Usually the Olive Ridley eggs, buried in sand, hatch on their own in 45 to 50 days. But this time the eggs in the Olive Ridley nests on the Ruhsikulya rookery coast in Ganjam district of south showed signs of delay in hatching. This year mass hatching of Olive Ridley eggs at this coast is expected to occur in 56 to 60 days.

It may be noted that the Rushikulya rookery coast is one of the major nesting sites of Olive Ridleys on Indian coast line.

This year record number of mother Olive Ridleys nested on this coast. This year more than three lakh mother Olive Ridleys laid their eggs at the coast. The mass nesting, started on February 12, continued for around a week and on February 15, mass nesting also took place during day time which was unique. The mother turtles get back to sea after laying their eggs and the eggs incubate by the heat of the sand.

According to Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) G. Prakashchand, changes in soil temperature due to climatic changes during incubation period have led to delay in hatching. The Forest Department established two hatcheries for monitored incubation of Olive Ridley eggs. One of them located near Purunabandha was for scientific studies. Eggs collected from nests at places other than the mass nesting site were collected for monitored incubation at the hatchery near Ramayapatna.

Normal span

The ACF has attributed the extension of incubation period to drizzles that the region experienced in last part of February. According to experts, if the sand temperature remains between 28 degree and 30 degree centigrade then the Olive Ridley eggs hatch in 45 to 50 days, which is the normal span of incubation and hatching. But with lowering of sand temperature the incubation period gets extended.

Preparations have been made not to let newborn hatchlings stray out towards the land rather than going into the sea. Net walls have been put on the coast on a stretch of around four km. Apart from the forest officials, people from Purunabandh and Gotharkuda villages near the coast are also involved in protection of Olive Ridey nests and hatchlings.  Source: The Hindu 

Thakurani Jatra enters third day; Ghata Parikrama begins from the Mahuri Royal Palace

Source: The Sambad

Thousands take holy deep in mythological holy river Rushikulya near Tara Tarini

Source: The Sambad

Night-long dharna over weightlifting hostel shifting from Berhampur to Bhubaneswar

Many persons of Berhampur city staged a dharna in front of the Berhampur stadium on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday to prevent shifting of equipment from the girls' sports hostel for weightlifting. The government recently decided to shift the hostel from Berhampur to Bhubaneswar. On March 13, sports persons staged a rally protesting against the government's move and submitted a memorandum to chief minister Naveen Patnaik through revenue divisional commissioner.

"As soon as we get information about the arrival of the truck to take away the equipment, we came to the Berhampur stadium and detained the truck," said BJP's town unit President Ram Kumar Patra. He along with several others staged dharna throughout the night in front of the stadium gate.

"The government has decided to establish a weightlifting academy at Gopalpur. The district administration has identified sx acres of land for the proposed academy," said district collector Krishan Kumar.

Comments (Times of India)

Anju (India)

Naveen Patnaik has in actuality gone mad. this government has done nothing for Berhampur region and now they are taking away one after another institutions of the city to the state capital. now the devil's face of this mad CM has come to the fore and in the forth coming election we will give fitting reply to BJD government and Naveen Patnaik

Odisha (Berhampur, Odisha) replies to anju

No doubt Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has gone mad but question is what the local leaders are doing? Why not the MP, MLA and Mayor of Berhampur protesting against this decision? Why not the leaders of BJD protesting against this decision? Opposition parties like BJP and Congress and the media should also protest against this anti Berhampur decision of the government.

vikas (Koraput)

Rightly said sir. Only a separate state will change the fate of this region. We want 'Kalinga State'

Naveen patnaik's foolish decisions (Delhi)

Naveen Patnaik led BJD govt. ditched the people of Berhampur and South Odisha many times. the recent incident shows the step-motherly attitude of the BJD govt towards Berhampur. now i realize why some people have been demanding a separate Kalinga Pradesh consisting ten districts of south Odisha..........if the govt will not change its decisions than a separate state for South Odisha (the erstwhile kalinga) is inevitable ....only a a separate state will change the condition of south Odisha..............

Ashok (India)

BJD Govt has gone mad for the development of Bhubaneswar at the cost of other cities of the State..

SURYA PRASAD (Bangalore)

bad..

1. Comments (Future Berhampur)
   

   sibaprasadApril 6, 2013 at 9:11 PM

   Exactly, only a separate Kalinga State for south Odisha can save Berhampur and the entire south Odisha. Any field you can see, for example Railway, Air Connectivity, Education, Health facilities, social and economic development, the entire south odisha is under developed. Therefore now it is the time for the local leaders to raise voice for a separate Kalinga State.
   K Krishna Das,(Madhya Pradesh)
2. laxminarayan dasApril 7, 2013 at 9:00 PM

   Berhampur aur south odisha.jo zyada revenue dete hain.par development zero..bbsr mein dusra airport ho gaya. Par Berhampur.no..odisha ka pehla railstation Berhampur ..par development zero..katak bbsr ko 1000 ka each package city development ke liye.par Berhampur ko 70 crore.flyover Berhampur karne ke liye fund odisha sarkar ke paas nahin.par bbsr mein karne ke liye 1500 ka package ..we want separate kalinga state
3. tapanApril 8, 2013 at 1:45 PM

   very sad, during BJD rule Ganjam dist has got nothing,even if the CM represents the district. Naveen pattnaik has become very much bureaucratic in his attitude, and does not understand the minds of the people. Berhmapur has been entirely neglected during his rule, the roads of the city and the water supply system stand testimony to this neglect. all the election packages, he is declaring day in and day out, will not get him the desirable votes to come back to power the next time. the expansion of BBSR city at the cost of the rest of the state gives the impression that Odisha is suffering from malnutrition, pictures of which are availble on the internet, picture of small children with pot bellies.
4. Rashmin Kumar MahapatraApril 8, 2013 at 6:34 PM

   This step by Odisha Government is a clear sign of their biased attitude towards the silk city of Odisha.
   Berhampur off late has emerged as a good centre for Weightlifters. But this attitude of Govt. will hamper this Sports in Berhampur.
   Rashmin Kumar Mahapatra

MODI fever grips youths of Berhampur and Ganjam in Odisha

The Modi fever is slowly gripping the minds of large sections of youth in the silk city Berhampur and Ganjam district of Odisha as is evident from the sudden appearance of posters under the banner of Narendra Modi Youth Forum with Modi figuring prominently in the posters displayed in several key locations of Gandhinagar (Berhampur), Ganjam and Chhatrapur. It may be noted that about four lakh people from Ganjam District are working in Gujarat, most of whom consider Modi as their most favoured icon. When contacted, president and general secretary of Narendra Modi Youth Forum Dharanidhar Behera, former president of Ganjam Zilla Parishad, and advocate N Rajendra Kumar told this correspondent that they formed this youth platform in March last year to campaign  for Modi’s leadership, which is the only answer to the growing social insecurity, terrorism and plight of farmers in the country. A large number of local youth who believe in the ideology of Modi are keen to join the forum in the coming days, they added. 

Interestingly, appreciation for Modi’s personality, his vision and contribution to development became most visible even in the minds of small children. Satya Prakash Panda (Kaanha), an openhearted and soft-spoken boy of eight years and a student of Standard four at the Delhi Public School (Kalali) at Baroda in Gujarat during his visit to his native place Brahmapur in an informal chat with this reporter wanted to see Modi as Prime Minister. As to why Modi should be the Prime Minister, the boy swiftly recollected the contributions of Modi  in the field of communication in Gujarat and candidly replied that construction of an excellent road linked to the Ellora Park, uninterrupted power supply and a lot of other works impressed him most.

Source: www.narendramodi.in, The Pioneer

The Carnival is back: Berhampur gets ready for Thakurani Yatra

Official website of the famous Berhmapur Thakurani Jatra(www.thakurani.com) 

City waits anxiciously to welcome the daughter

Month long festivity associated with this grand carnival to draw millions

The whole city of Berhampur has started to bear a festive look and its inhabitants were ready to have a sleepless night on Friday to witness the journey of goddess Budhi Thakurani from her permanent temple to her so called parental house at Desibehera Street. This journey would mark the ceremonial beginning of famous biennial Thakurani Jatra festival of Berhampur which would continue till her return to the temple on April 29 night.

According to some eminent historians, the cult of Buddhi Thakurani originated along with the emergence of Berhampur town in and around 1672 AD. Telugu Lengayat Dera (weaver) community, who came to Mahuri on the invitation of Raja Saheb of Mahuri to take up their profession of weaving, started their ‘Ghata Yatra’ (Pot Festival) for highlighting the divinity of Mahamayee Thakurani of his capital town Berhampur. The Chief of the Dera community, Kota Chandramani Kubera Senapati, led his community people to migrate to Mahuri and Berhampur who settle down into their hereditary profession of weaving tussar silken products or ‘patta matha’. The ‘Ghata Yatra’ was initiated for the purpose of highlighting the tradition of worshiping Thakurani as well as to use it as a platform for sales promotion of their silken products.

Inhabitants of the city have emotional linkage with goddess Budhi Thakurani, the reigning deity of the city. They consider the deity as a divine daughter of the city. Her journey to Desibehera Street is compared to that of journey of a married daughter to her parental home. Most families of the city including the children and women are ready to do away with their sleep to witness the procession to carry the ghatam representing the deity BudhiThakurani from her temple to her temporary abode at Desibehera Street.

R.Laxmi said, “How can we not remain awake on this night when our beloved goddess is making this journey to her parental home”. Similar was the opinion of Gouri Nayak, who has decided to witness the procession with her family. According to her this is a special occasion that provides a chance to enjoy life and festivity all through the night which she and her family cannot miss.

During the day the traditional hereditary head of the festival Durgaprasad Desibehera and his family reached Budhi Thakurani temple to ritually invite the deity to his home. They also reached the temple of goddess Sana Thakurani with similar invitation. Goddess San Thakurani is considered sister of goddess Budhi Thakurani. At the Desibehera Street the traditional makeshift temple was ready to greet the deity for her biennial sojourn. 

Source: The Hindu 

Source: The Sambad

Tara Tarini chock-a-block with devotees on first Tuesday of Chaitra

Lakhs of devotees from far off places in the state, neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and other parts of the country thronged Tara Tarini temple, about 35 km from Berhampur city, on the occasion of first Tuesday of Chaitra Mela on April 02, 2013.

Braving the scorching heat, they climbed the 999 steps of the 17{+t}{+h} century temple, on the banks of river Rushikulya, to tonsure the head of their children. Devotees offer hair to the deity, as a part of age-old tradition, on every Tuesday during the month of Chaitra. "I work in Delhi and have come all the way to get my child's head tonsured here," said Deepak Sahu, a software engineer. Even though a road has been laid till the temple, most devotees prefer climbing the steps for 'darshan'.

"The district administration and the temple administration have made elaborate arrangements for the convenience of visitors," said secretary of Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) Pramod Kumar Panda. Water is being provided on the way to the temple along with healthcare facilities. At least 500 police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order. "No untoward incident has been reported till now," said SDPO (Chhatrapur) A Ch Pahi.

The authorities charge Rs 20 for 'Mundan' (close shaving) on the temple premises and only Re 1 for 'darshan', though special darshan costs Rs 50 per head, sources said.

Volunteers have been engaged to make the drive against polythene on the temple premises successful. They have been asked to convince the devotees not to throw polythene on the premises. RDC (southern division) Bikash Mohapatra had stressed making the shrine a polythene-free zone at the preparatory meeting for the festival. Source: Times of India

Odisha government’s move to shift women weightlifters’ hostel in Berhampur opposed

The proposed shifting of sports hostel for girls of weightlifting from Berhampur to Bhubaneswar has been opposed by Ganjam District Sports Lovers’ Association (GDSLA).

Cradle of weightlifting

Berhampur is considered cradle of weightlifting especially women weightlifting in the State. It has produced several national-level women weightlifters.

Speaking during a press meet called up in the city on Monday, GDSLA president Kishor Patra said that the sports hostel or training centre for girls interested in weightlifting was opened on the campus of Berhampur stadium in July 2012. “Efforts of Berhampur MLA R.C.C. Patnaik and promise of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during felicitation ceremony of Commonwealth Games gold medal winner K. Ravi Kumar had led to establishment of the centre,” said Mr. Patra. Twelve girls were staying in this weightlifting sports hostel for girls. Former weightlifter and member of GDSLA Kaviraj Gouda said it was an irony that the centre was being shifted to Bhubaneswar while the government claimed that every effort was being made for promotion of weightlifting in the city. It may be noted that Berhampur has produced several international weightlifters, including two Arjun award winners -- Ravi Kumar and Bijay Kumar Satpathy. A sports hostel for boys of weightlifting continues on Berhampur stadium campus.

Academy promised

As per the sports lovers, the State government has announced to promote weightlifting in the region through proposal for establishment of a weightlifting academy at Gopalpur. A sum of Rs. 2 crore was sanctioned for the purpose, Mr. Gouda said. “If there was lack of infrastructure at Berhampur stadum, the authorities could have improved infrastructure rather than shifting the sports hostel for women weightlifters from the city,” Mr Patra said.

Public awareness

To create public awareness about this issue, the GDSLA has decided to hold a rally  in the city. It will also send a memorandum to the State government regarding the matter on that day. Source: The Hindu

Berhampur News

Source: The Sambad

Source: The Sambad

Claims of Berhampur Municipal Corporation: Myth or Reality??

Source: The Sambad

Air traffic potential study of Gopalpur Airport in Berhampur to be take up soon

The Airport authority of India (AAI) has has proposed the Odisha Government to prepare a state-based civil aviation plan to develop regional airports in the State at Gopalpur, Jharsuguda, and Jeypore which will be developed for the purpose. “We have asked the State Government to hand over the required land for the Jharsuguda project which is in advanced stage. Once the Government hands over the land we will start the work to develop the airstrip since our plan is ready”, said the Chairman of Airport authority of India (AAI), V P Agarwal, who was in Odisha to inaugurate the modern passenger terminal at Bhubaneswar Airport. Once developed, the airport will handle large flights though initially it was considered to handle small flights. The AAI requires 190 acres of land to develop the airstrip at Jharsuguda with an investment of Rs 143 crore. The airport could handle 70-80 passenger aircrafts including ATR-72 like flights, he added. Mr.Agrawal also informed that there was also a proposal to develop the airstrips at Jeypore and Gopalpur, which are under the disposal of the State government. The traffic potential study of the Jeypore airstrip has already been carried out and study for Gopalpur is to be taken up soon. The AAI is all set to explore revival of dormant airstrips in the State in a bid to establish all inclusive connectivity within the region. “We are working with the State Government to prepare a State Perspective Civil Aviation Plan for reviving the non-operational airstrips and upgrading them into proper airports wherever there is potential. There are 19 airstrips owned by the Odisha Government. The Government has proposed revival of the airstrips at Jeypore and Gopalpur initially. We are going to start a potential study for both the regions”, AAI Planning member S Raheja said.

Source: Tathya.in, New Indian Express

Berhampur Places: Historic town of Bhanjanagar emerging as a major tourist destination of Odisha

Source: The Sambad

Bhanjanagar Park (Panoramia, By Baburam Nayak)

Bhanjanagar by night

Shiridi Sai Dham, Bhanjanagar (Ganjam, Odisha)

It’s a field day for sellers of ‘ketaki’ flowers in Silk city Berhampur

Peasants from villages on the outskirts of the city got a good income due to heavy demand for ‘ketaki’ flowers, sugarcane, and otherwise unused flowers for Sivaratri celebrations. The peasants, including women, opened their makeshift stalls by the side of busy roads and Siva temples in and around the city. They had a god profit because the urban dwellers still have to stick to agrarian rituals and offerings attached to Sivaratri.

‘Ketaki’ variety of kewra or Screw Pine with botanical name ‘Pandanus fascicularis’ had greatest demand. These flowers were being sold for Rs. 200 to Rs. 350 per piece in Berhampur market. It is the only day on which these flowers are offered to Lord Siva. Moreover, these flowers bloom only during this time of the year.

Kewra plantations are abundant in Ganjam district. The district is the largest producer of this aromatic flower in the country. But bushes of ‘ketaki’ variety of kewra are a fewer in Ganjam district. Each flower of other abundant variety of kewra flower called ‘kia’ fetched around Rs. 10 to Rs. 20. As per kewra growers, there is a difference between the leaves and flowers of ‘kia’ and ‘ketaki’ variety kewra flower. ‘Kia’ flowers have strong smell while smell of ‘ketaki’ is mild. Some of the ‘ketaki’ flower sellers have also got some stock from Puri district to add to their profits.

 Restrictions

Owing to restrictions on gutka and pan masala manufacturing units leading to closure of large number of kewra distilleries in Ganjam district, the kewra growers also had their income dwindling. Demand for kewra flowers has got reduced. These kewra growers also managed to get some income by selling their flowers to devotees during Sivaratri. Source: the hindu

NIST-Berhampur among the top five Engineering colleges in Eastern India; ranked 31st nationally by DataQuest

IFC supported Berhampur solid waste management project on fast track

Source: The Sambad

Odisha CM writes to PM and Railway Minister seeking National Project status for Berhampur-Sambalpur (via Phulbani) and Gopalpur-Rayagada railway lines; demands speedy implementation of railway wagon factory in Ganjam

Berhampur Railway Station, Odisha

Demanding justice and proper share to Odisha in the 2013-2014 Railway budget, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has written a letter to the Prime Minister mentioning the needs of the State in view of investment flow, economic growth and industrialisation. Pointing at the apathetic attitude of the Rail Ministry in spite of huge revenue collection from Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has said that 'the railway route length and all rail density in the state is much below the national average as also substantially lower than that in neighbouring States. In contrast, the gross earnings from various stations in the State of Odisha is estimated to be in excess of 14000 Crore during the year 2012-2013.' Chief Minister has requested the Prime Minister of India, in his letter, to ensure allocation of sizeable part of the revenues generated from Odisha within the State to strengthen and expand rail network.

Citing that the State needs to look for new virgin areas for development and industrialisation as many of the present industrial clusters have attained a stage of saturation in terms of availability of land, water and, also, due to environmental concerns, Naveen has demanded speedy execution of projects such as, Bhadrachalam Road – Talcher Rail Link via Malkangiri, Jeypore, Lanjigarh; Berhampur- Sambalpur new Rail Link via Phulbani; Rayagada – Gopalpur Rail Link via Bhismagiri. Requesting the PM to advise the Ministry of Railways to execute these projects on priority basis, Naveen has also urged that these projects should be treated as “National Projects”. The Chief Minister has demanded the Prime Minister in his letter to expedite the setting up of the Wagon Factory at Sitalapali in Ganjam which was declared in Budget for the year 2011-12 and also take steps to establish a railway apprentice training centre in the backward KBK region to support the skills development and increase employability of the people of this region.

Alleging that the union ministry has bypassed Odisha while implementing ambitious projects like the dedicated freight corridor aligned with mega industrial hubs, national road expressways and high speed train projects, Naveen has demanded that the eastern dedicated freight corridor from Ludhiana to Dankuni should be extended to Vishakhapatnamso as to ensure seamless movement of freight between the ports and the vast northern and central hinterlands of the country. On poor or no rail network in the backward regions of Odisha, the Chief Minister said that lack of infrastructure has been one of the major reasons of impeding socio-economic growth of this region. Mentioning that expansion of rail network in these areas would help minimising the impact of left wing extremism, Naveen adds in his letter to the Prime Minister that ‘delivering rail services in the naxal affected regions is one of the best means to channelise development therein and provide counter active force.’

Source: Hotnhitnews.com & Orissa Diary

Devotees throng gurudwara to view rare editions of Guru Granth Sahib in Berhampur

Three rare and antique versions of Guru Granth Sahib, which are on a tour round the country, were put on display at Gurudwara Singh Sabha premises in the city. Devotees of Sikh community and others of the city thronged the Gurudwara to see these rare Guru Granth Sahib editions and to pay their respect to the most revered scripture of Sikhism.

Devotees paying respect to the Guru Granth Sahib in Berhampur 

The team carrying the three rare versions of Guru Granth Sahib reached Jagannathpur on the outskirts of the city at around 11 a.m. Berhampur Gurudwara Singh Sabha and Sikhs of the city welcomed them there. Then they were taken in a ‘nagar sankirtan’ to the Gurudwara in the city, where the Guru Granth Sahib editions were put on display.

These books are currently on a tour round the country to provide common mass and Sikhs an opportunity to see and learn from the history of Sikh religion and scriptures. This journey had started from Gurdwara Maithan Sahib in Agra on January 21, 2012.

According to the members of Gurudwara Singh Sabha of Berhampur, the three rare displays included a 100-year-old Guru Granth Sahib which was only one inch in size although it contained 1,430 ang or pages, a 225-year-old Guru Granth Sahib prepared by two Muslim brothers of Lahore and a 275-year-old hand written version of the revered scripture.

These books are currently on a nationwide tour to provide common mass and Sikhs an opportunity to see and learn from the history of Sikh religion and scriptures

Mayfair Palm Beach Resorts opened at Gopalpur-On-Sea

History repeated itself at Gopalpur-on-sea on Sunday with the opening of Mayfair Palm Beach Resorts.

Palm Beach Hotel was the country’s first beach resort established in 1914 by two Italian friends. It was used by the British who travelled to Rangoon, Burma (now Myanmar) by ship. Gopalpur was also an old seaport for rice trade.

The hotel was taken over by the Oberoi Group in 1947. It was a favourite place of stay for Indira Gandhi, Biju Patnaik and many other eminent people. But in 2002, the Oberois closed the hotel as business failed.

The Mayfair Group of Hotels and Resorts purchased the property a year ago. Now, it is a splendid hotel with five-star facilities amidst lush greenery. The heritage aspects of the hotel have been preserved aesthetically. Old photographs of Prime Ministers and Presidents, who stayed in the hotel, and maps and artifacts of olden times are found at different places of the hotel.

With 45 rooms, the cost of renovation and modernisation of the hotel by the Mayfair Group amounted to Rs 45 crore. The hotel is now expected to be a national and international destination of tourists in need of luxury rest and tranquility.

When the big Oberoi Group could not run it, local entrepreneur Dilip Ray, who is also a politician and heads the Mayfair Group, has been able to revive it. With the Tata SEZ at Gopalpur on the anvil, the resort is expected to get further boost to its business.

The quiet inauguration of the new hotel was limited to the Mayfair family, its friends and well-wishers. The Mayfair Group earlier has hotels and resorts in Bhubaneswar, Puri, Rourkela, Darjeeling, Gangtok and Goa. A new second hotel is coming up at Puri and another new hotel in Kolkata. There are also plans to construct a five-star hotel at Paradip and another hotel at Chilka, said sources. Source: The Pioneer 

Lives cut short on the rail tracks

Author:  Hiranmay Karlekar

More and more elephants are getting killed or injured by speeding trains in the country despite promises made by authorities to contain such accidents

The killing of six elephants by the Coromondel Express which ran over a herd late on December 29 night in Odisha, has sent shockwaves round the world, and understandably. According to the report of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests' Elephant Task Force, submitted on August 31, 2010, train accidents had killed as many as 150 elephants since 1987. There have been many more similar deaths since then. There was particular reason for being especially careful in Odisha where train accidents had killed one elephant in June and four in August this year. In fact, 12 elephants have reportedly been killed in the State's Ganjam district in the last three months alone. Besides, the accident on December 29 occurred in an area where elephants cross the railway line regularly. There are as many as 10 signboards, warning that it was an “elephant crossing zone” between Rambha and Huma stations where the accident occurred.

Yet, the train was running from Howrah to Chennai at a speed of between 110 and 120 kilometres per hour when it mowed into the herd of elephants. Such was reportedly the speed that the bodies of the elephants hit fell here and there around the track. As could be expected, the railways and the Odisha forest department have started trading allegations about who is to blame, with the latter claiming that the railways had been informed in time and the elephants could have been saved had the train driver been warned on the wireless, and the former claiming that the forest department's information came at the time of the accident, which left no scope for a message to be sent.

An inquiry may well reveal what happened. But whatever the details of the present case, the railways have been guilty of showing utter indifference to the safety of animals crossing the tracks. If nothing else, there should be compulsory speed limits in areas where animals are vulnerable. Unfortunately, such limits, if they exist, are flouted at will.

It is not that the authorities have not had suggestions. Animal Equality, an animal rights organisation in Britain, has, according to its representative in India, Ms Amruta Ubale, outlined a number of steps in letters to the Union Ministers for Railways and for Environment and Forests. These include equipping trains with automatic speed governors which would be activated once trains enter forests where the maximum speed should be 20 to 25 kmph on even tracks and 40 to 45 kmph on steep tracts, and installing in them scintillating head lamps with halogen/LED bulbs which would help illuminate much longer stretches of tracks. Animal Equality has also recommended fitting trains with water cannons to remove animals refusing to budge from tracks. The suggestions also include the installation in trains of radar sensors to detect animals on tracks, determine the train's distance from these, and act as instant auto-brakes to prevent collisions. The Elephant Task Force's report too recommends several measures to prevent road and rail accidents. Besides site-specific short-term and long-term mitigation measures, these include the announcement of the principles of forest area, railway track and highway management, the grant of mining licences and rules governing the drawing and maintenance of power cables through forest areas. These are comprehensive, but will require time and funds. Meanwhile, the railway authorities themselves can implement some measures relatively soon.

Measures taken jointly by forest departments and animal welfare organisations in some States to avert elephant deaths include patrolling, electric fencing, installation of signage and hoardings, levelling of steep embankments, creation of awareness among train drivers and other railway staff, the clearing of vegetation at blind corners to improve visibility for train drivers, and so on. There have been some instances of success, such as in Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand where no elephant has died in train accidents since 2002. Much, however, needs to be done. Trains continue to kill.These measures will help; so will regular inspection and repair of power lines running through forests to prevent electrocution of elephants. While the implementation of all recommendations of the Elephant Task Force, including those against poaching for ivory, will take time, the one for creating a National Elephant  Conservation Authority, on the lines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, can be implemented immediately. It will provide a much-needed effective centralized direction to the task of protecting elephants. 

Source: The Pioneer

BJP to go it alone in coming elections: Dharmendra Pradhan

Any tie-up with BJD ruled out

BERHAMPUR: The Bharatiya Janata Party would never think of alliance with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the State, said party national general secretary Dharmendra Pradhan.

Speaking to newsmen during his visit to the city on Sunday to deliver a talk on ‘good governance’, which was organised by ‘Brahmapur Intellectual Forum’, Mr. Pradhan said the BJP started preparations to fight it alone in the coming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in the State. He claimed that strength of the BJP was on the rise in the State.

It may be noted that till the polls in 2009, the BJP and the BJD were partners in the State. Mr. Pradhan said the new State president of the party, who would replace Juel Oram, would surely be a person who could lead the party in the elections scheduled to be held in 2014. But he refused to name anyone for the post. It may be noted that as per reports inner tussle continued in the State BJP regarding choice of next State president of the party.

 He claimed that there was no inner tussle in the party. He avoided questions related to prospective candidates for the post of next State president of the BJP, saying it was internal matter of the party not to be discussed in public. When asked whether the next State president would be elected or selected, Mr. Pradhan said he would be a man accepted by all. “Ours is a cadre-based party so every decision is a collective decision,” he said.

Mr. Pradhan was in charge of the Karnataka BJP. So, when asked about the division of the party, including its legislative party in Karnataka, he said Karnataka incident was an isolated happening and it would have little effect on the rising clout of the BJP in national politics. “The incidents in Karnataka surely did not have any impact on Gujarat elections,” he added. Source: The Hindu 

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik to inaugurate MKCG Medical College golden jubilee

Preparations were in final stages for the five- day golden jubilee celebration of Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati (MKCG) medical college in the city, which is to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday. According to organising secretary of the golden jubilee celebration, S.N.Mohanty, it was an occasion to celebrate for whole of south Odisha as this institute happened to be the only medical college in this region. The hospital attached to the medical college was also the only referral hospital in south Odisha.

The State government had started a medical college in Berhampur in 1961. Due to dearth of its own campus it was being run in the building in front of the City Hospital, which is now being used as office of Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO). Later it was shifted to the building which is now being used as living quarters of Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division and the building which is now being used by the Ophthalmology Department of the medical college. On November 30, 1963, foundation stone was laid for the new building of the medical college and the hospital attached to it. In 1966 it was named after Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, who had played a pivotal role for the formation of modern Odisha State on linguistic basis. New building of this institution was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Odisha Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo on February 21, 1969.  

During the time of inception this institute had intake strength of 40 students. Now 150 students are getting admitted into its MBBS course every year. At present 96 students were studying in post graduate courses of the institute. As the hospital attached to it happens to be the only referral hospital in south Odisha, more than 1,000 patients reach its out-patients section every day. On an average more than 120 patients get admitted in the indoor wards of the hospital every day. The alumni of the institute include several physicians of national and international repute. According to Dr. Mohanty around 5,000 delegates would attend the golden jubilee celebrations. First principal of the institute Sukumar Das would also attend the inaugural ceremony. As part of the celebration several technical seminars would be held in which experts of international fame would take part. Present as well as past students of the institute were also busy preparing for cultural shows they would perform during the five-day long celebration.

Source: The Hindu

Upgradation of MKCG Medical College demanded

South Odisha Students’ Association (SOSA) has demanded up-gradation of MKCG Medical College and Hospital in the city to AIIMS-like institution under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). Members of SOSA have written to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik requesting him to initiate measures for the purpose. It may be noted that MKCG Medical College and Hospital that was established in 1962 would celebrate its golden jubilee on December 1. It happens to be the only medical college and referral hospital in south Odisha. But at present lack of infrastructure in this institution was compelling patients to reach out private medical institutions outside the State, SOSA activists alleged.

Several times in the past the Medical Council of India has pointed out shortage of staff, lack of modern equipment and infrastructure in MKCG Medical College and Hospital. But till now nothing much had happened regarding the suggestions of the MCI part from promises. SOSA demanded the State government initiate measures so that the medical college could be transformed into a centre of excellence for medical education providing quality medical care to the people of underdeveloped southern parts of Odisha. According to president of SOSA R.P. Tripathy, the MKCG Medical College and Hospital could be upgraded to an AIIMS-like institution. Source: The Hindu

Link:  http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/upgradation-of-mkcg-medical-college-demanded/article4145498.ece

Students Body urges Centre to upgrade MKCG to AIIMS-like Institution under PMSSY

Report by Manorama Dhir, Berhampur: South Odisha Students' Association (SOSA) demand for upgradation of MKCG Medical College (Berhampur) to AIIMS-like Institution under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).

SOSA said that Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati (MKCG) Medical College & Hospital in Berhampur, Odisha is completing the 50th year of its establishment this week. Established in 1962 and named after the architect of Modern Odisha, Maharaja Shri Krishna Chandra Gajapati, the medical college is the only referral hospital for the backward districts of KBK, Boudh, Kandhamal and Gajapati of south Odisha…………………………………. Link:    
http://orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=37952

 Odisha: Students Body urges Centre to upgrade MKCG to AIIMS-like Institution under PMSSY

Berhampur: South Odisha Students' Association (SOSA) demand for upgradation of MKCG Medical College (Berhampur) to AIIMS-like Institution under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).

SOSA said that Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati (MKCG) Medical College & Hospital in Berhampur, Odisha is completing the 50th year of its establishment this week. Established in 1962 and named after the architect of Modern Odisha, Maharaja Shri Krishna Chandra Gajapati, the medical college is the only referral hospital for the backward districts of KBK, Boudh, Kandhamal and Gajapati of south Odisha……………………Link:   http://indiaeducationdiary.in/Shownews.asp?newsid=17348