Ganjam News, April 2012

Source: The Sambad 

Infrastructure boost to counter Reds in Ganjam

BERHAMPUR: To check the spurt in Maoist-induced incidents in Ganjam in recent years, the district administration has chalked out development projects worth Rs 40 crore under the Centrally-sponsored Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for the next two years.

Construction of roads, anganwadi centers, rural playgrounds, mobile veterinary health units and electrification of 110 out of 475 panchayats in the district comprise the development projects, especially chalked out for selected panchayats identified as extremism-affected and underdeveloped.

"We have tressed on infrastructure development of the areas under the project," said collector Krishan Kumar. At least five veterinary mobile units will be functional in the areas, while at least 500 villages will be electrified, he said.

Ganjam, Nayagarh and Jajpur districts have been included in the IPA in the second phase, which will be implemented in 2012-13. In the first phase, 15 Maoist-infested districts in the state have been included in the plan. Each district gets Rs 30 crore annually for infrastructure development to counter Maoist activities.

Though Ganjam was normal till 2010, Maoist activities were witnessed in the adjoining districts of Gajapati, Rayagada and Kandhamal. Spurt in rebel activities was recorded from 2010 onwards in Ganjam with police registering three Maoist related cases the same year, followed by eight in 2011. This year so far, police registered at least three cases. While one civilian has been killed by Maoists this year, police arrested at least six Maoists, official sources said.

Frequent movement of Maoists in jungles of Rayagada, Gajapati and Kndhamal and their presence in the neighboring districts preceded the ultras' activities in Ganjam, said a senior police officer. Lack of infrastructure in remote areas aids Maoists in spreading their tentacles in the district, said a police officer involved in anti-Naxal operations.

More than 10 lakh devotees reached Tara Tarini hill shrine for third Tuesday of Chaitra Mela

The Third Tuesday of the month of Chaitra, also considered as the holiest day in the religious calendar of the Tara Tarini Hill Shrine witnessed a sea of devotees. The massive congregation at this Shrine, also famous as the breast shrine and considered as one amongst the four major ancient Shakti Peethas in India, filled the air with religious fervor and devotion. The ongoing Navratri puja coinciding with the Chaitra festivities further added to the enthusiasm among the people. Stream of visitors thronged the famous Shakti Shrine from the wee hours till late in the evening and the police administration toiled hard to control the crowd and maintain law and order.                                                    

The estimated number of visitors this year has far exceeded the gathering witnessed in previous years with more than 5 lakh people reaching the temple on the hill-top while an equal number of people taking part in the fair on the foothill and on the banks of river Rushikulya.

Thousands of kids tonsured their head as per the age-old belief associated with this Shrine.

Following the tradition associated with Chaitra festivals, people from far and wide were seen cooking food with their family members as thanksgiving to the goddesses on fulfillment of their desires. This is undoubtedly tradition unique of its kind in the country where such large number of people indulge in cooking and which has become an integral part of the Chaitra festivities in Tara Tarini.

The rural fair and temporary shops all across the roads leading to the Temple is another attraction which added to the rush and by noon time the heavy police deployment proved inadequate in front of a congregation of this magnitude. However, the day passed off peacefully without any untoward incident.

The development activities taken up by the Tara Tarini Development Board in recent years helped in ensuring better amenities and services for the devotees this year. Infact, some development projects were also inaugurated on this occasion including the long awaited ring road, street lighting and bathing Ghats on the banks of River Rushikulya which were thrown open for the public.

Keeping in mind the expected gathering, the temple administration made elaborate arrangements for transport, food and water with the help of large number of volunteers. The local administration took all possible measures through heavy deployment of police forces, ambulances and fire brigade. Many senior officials of the state government, district administration and peoples’ representatives visited the Shrine on this occasion to seek blessings of Maa.

3 Lakh devotees throng TaraTarini Hill Shrine on Second Tuesday of Chaitra

Railway Budget leaves South Odisha disappointed

TTDB welcomes devotees to the famous Chaitra Parva at Tara Tarini Hill Shrine

94 crore budget (2012-13 financial year) approved for Silk City, Berhampur

The Berhampur Municipal Corporation approved a budget of Rs 94.99 crore for the 2012-13 financial years.

The council meeting was chaired by Mayor Mr. Siba Sankar Das and Commissioner Mr. Akshya Mohanty.

The officials stressed achievement of targets in time for various development projects to be undertaken in the city. They also recommended;

• Development of sanitation system in the city,
• Construction of parking and vending zones,
• Night shelters and mosquito control,
• Renovation of various water bodies and
• Beautification drive in the city will also be taken up.

It is noteworthy that Berhampur is one of the oldest cities of Eastern India and the third largest city in the State of Orissa.  It is the first Municipality of Odisha. The city was declared as a Municipality in the year 1867 by the Colonial administration.  It was declared as a Municipal Corporation or Class-I Town as per 2001 Census in the year 2008. 

Ganjam News

SOSA demands better railway infrastructure and connectivity for Berhampur and South Odisha

The South Odisha Students' Association (SOSA) submitted a Memorandum to Central Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi demanding better railway infrastructure and connectivity for south Odisha and improvement of amenities at Brahmapur railway station. The Students’ body urged the Railway Minister to consider the long standing demand for a railway coaching terminal complex at Brahmapur, provision of adequate funds for the modernization of century old Brahmapur railway station with additional platforms, widening of the existing platforms, new entry points in place of the goods-shed which was shifted in 2005, adequate passenger amenities besides new long distance trains to New Delhi, Ahmadabad, Allahabad, Jamshedpur, Jaipur and Inter-city trains to Rourkela, Baripada, Sambalpur, Bolangir, Koraput etc.  The Association also demanded the early establishment of the proposed Wagon manufacturing unit at Sitalapalli near Brahmapur and sought approval for new railway lines connecting Brahmapur and Sambalpur via Phulbani and Gopalpur to Rayagada for these railway lines being both economically viable and socially desirable.  In their memorandum the SOSA members alleged that Berhampur station has till date not received proper attention of railway authorities. Members of this students' organisation urged the Railway Minister to visit Berhampur to take stock of situation and to assess the need of development. It may be noted that Berhampur is third largest city of Odisha and its railway station is more than a century old. According to reports this railway station handles second highest number of passengers in the State. 

Berhampur Nagarika Manch demands resumption of Industrial Estate railway passenger halt

A citizens' delegation met the General Manager of East Coast Railway in Bhubnaeswar with the demand to reopen the passenger halt in industrial estate area of Berhampur. This delegation was led former Deputy Speaker of State Assembly Ramchandra Panda and included leaders of Silpanchal Passenger Halt Sangarm Samity (SPHSS), an organisation fighting for the demand and Berhampur Nagarika Manch (BNM). During discussion they pointed out that this was a demand of people of Berhampur since last three decades. There have been protest demonstrations and rail-roko for the demand in the past. According to general secretary of SPHSS, Abani Kumar Gaya, passenger halt with the name Lanjipalli Passenger Halt was recorded in the railway timetable in 1946. But for some reason this passenger halt which was near present industrial estate was closed down. With the expansion of the city and rise of population in the area a passenger halt in the area has become an extreme need, Mr Panda said. In November 1998 at a meeting of the railway coordination committee recommendation was made for establishment of a passenger halt in industrial estate area. In 2010, East Coast Railway authorities had agreed in principle to establishment of this halt near industrial estate.  The Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division had also in the past recommended the establishment of this passenger halt. A delegation of railway engineers had also made a spot visit in the past to prepare a feasibility report. But the passenger halt has not materialized yet. During discussion this delegation also demanded better amenities in the DMUs connecting Berhampur with Bhubaneswar. They also wanted the Gunupur-Puri passenger to be made an express train and a new passenger to be started between Palasa and Puri.

Source: The Hindu

Firemen of South Odisha demand better working conditions

BERHAMPUR: Fire fighters in south Odisha demanded better amenities to strengthen up their fire fighting capability.

This was point of discussion at a meeting of fire officials serving under Berhampur zone of fire brigade. This meeting was chaired by Fire Officer of Berhampur, Jaga Rao. There are 45 fire stations under the Berhampur zone. This meeting of fire fighters was important as usually fire accidents increase many folds during summer months.

Major problems

One of the major problems that came under discussion by the fire officials was provision of pump sets to the fire stations. Thirty eight fire stations under Berhampur zone have only single pump sets. In case this pump set develops some snag, it affects service of fire fighters stationed at the fire station. Demand was made for provision of second pump sets to these fire stations. Fire fighters also protested the fact that most of the time they are being used to search or recover dead bodies from drains and water bodies.

They alleged that it was not their job. But in case of need they are compelled to get involved in these operations. “If in any case they are late to recover a dead body due to fire fighting duties, we are facing wrath of locals ,” they alleged. They demanded their department to make an announcement that fire fighters should not be used in the process of recovery of dead bodies.

Condition of buildings of fire stations and living quarters of fire fighters was also discussed. It was alleged that several fire stations like Khariar, Kesinga, Aska, Digapahandi, Patrapur etc do not have a proper boundary wall due to which land of fire station is getting encroached by unscrupulous elements. It was alleged that salary of drivers posted at fire stations was not sufficient and they were not getting proper number of offs due to which they were not getting good drivers. They wanted extra drivers to be posted at fire stations to ease pressure on existing drivers. To enhance fire fighting services two more fire stations are being constructed at Kukudakhandi and Shergarh in Ganjam district.

Apart from it plans are on for establishment of two more fire stations at Chikiti and Guma under this zone.

Source: The Hindu  

SOSA demands Police Commissionerate system in Greater Berhampur

Dear Chief Minister Sir,

The present state of lawlessness in Berhampur city and its adjoining areas has become a cause for concern. Owing to total lack of alacrity in the police administration here; violence, loot, extortion, murder and gang war have become the order of the day. The Greater Berhampur Region comprising of Berhampur city and its nearby areas of Chatrapur, Gopalpur and Hinjilicut have turned out to be the safe havens for criminals and anti-social elements. As an upshot of this people here are under panic for the last several months, but the state administration is treating this matter with utter callousness. The rising crime graph in the City in the last few years under your dispensation not only shows the insensitivity and inability of the State Government in maintaining law and order in this major commercial city but points to the virtual collapse of the state machinery in the entire region of South Odisha. As the Home Minister of the State the buck stops with you and we demand concrete measures as silence is certainly not the solution.

To deal with the law and order situation in the capital city region, comprising Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, your government created the Commissionerate Police system there. But in case of Berhampur city, where law and order has completely collapsed the State Government has shown little interest in restoring the rule of law. Berhmapur, being a bordering city of Andhra Pradesh and hence the transit point for the anti-social elements and being surrounded by Maoist infested districts, the need for Commissionerate Police system here cannot be overemphasized. In contrast, the discrimination shown towards the city and the entire region of South Odisha is glaring. To mention just one, the state government has created an IG police range for central Odisha at Cuttack, IG police for Northern range at Sambalpur and IG police for Western range at Rourkela while there is no IG range for the entire region of South Odisha even though the law and order situation here is worse compared to the rest of the state.

Notwithstanding this discriminatory approach of the past we want stern measures from your government to contain the rising criminal activities and deteriorating law and order situation in Greater Berhampur. The blame can’t be entirely laid at the local police administration as the existing police infrastructure and man-power is proving to be grossly inadequate for a fast growing city like Berhampur. The existing system of policing therefore needs to be restructured in keeping with the gravity of the present problem and the future growth of the City. In light of the above, Police Commissionerate system for Greater Berhampur has become inevitable and any delay in this regard will prove costly for the safety and security of the citizens.

To overcome the present situation of lawlessness in Greater Berhampur Region and to clamp down the perpetrators of crime we seek your immediate intervention. The people of the region have seen enough of underdevelopment and deprivation and they can ill-afford such a deteriorating environment arising out of complete lawlessness. We do hope that the State Government will take concrete steps for bringing the situation under control by protecting life and property of the people and ensure lasting peace in this major city of the state. Being the Home Minister of the state and for being in the know of the law and order situation of the region, we request you to consider the genuine demand of the people for Police Commissionerate system in Greater Berhampur comprising Berhampur city, Chatrapur, Gopalpur and Hinjilicut, with all seriousness that it deserves.

Warm Regards,

RamPrasada Tripathy

President, SOSA, New Delhi

the pioneer

SOSA demanded establishment of a police commissionerate system at Brahmapur

The South Odisha Students’ Association (SOSA) demanded establishment of a police commissionerate system at Brahmapur.

In a letter to the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the SOSA president Ram Prasad Tripathy said the Greater Brahmapur Region comprising of Brahmapur city and its nearby areas of Chatrapur, Gopalpur and Hinjilicut have turned out to be the safe havens for criminals and anti-social elements. People are in panic for the last several months with a steep rise in the crime graph, but the State administration is treating this matter with utter callousness.

Justifying the reasons for the establishment of the police commissionerate system, the association said Brahmapur is a bordering city of Andhra Pradesh and hence the transit point for the anti-social elements. It is surrounded by Maoist infested districts and so there is a need for restructuring the existing system of policing.

Lamenting that the State Government has discriminated South Odisha against the rest part of the State, the association said there is an IG police range for Central Odisha at Cuttack, IG police for Northern range at Sambalpur and IG police for western range at Rourkela, while there is no IG range for the entire region of South Odisha even though the law and order situation is worse compared to the rest of the State.

   

The Telegraph 

Ram Prasad Tripathy, president of the South Odisha Students’ Association, has demanded a police commissionerate system for the city and nearby areas of Chatrapur, Gopalpur and Hinjilicut.

“The present lawlessness in Berhampur city and its adjoining areas has become a cause for concern. The region has turned out to be a safe haven for criminals and the state administration is treating this matter with utter callousness,” wrote Tripathy in a letter to chief minister Naveen Patnaik on February 6.

“The state government has created an IG police range for central Odisha at Cuttack, IG police for northern range in Sambalpur and IG police for western range in Rourkela. However, there is no IG range for the entire region of south Odisha even though the law and order situation here is worse compared to the rest of the state,” he said.

Ram Prasad Tripathy, president of the South Odisha Students’ Association, has demanded a police commissionerate system for the city and nearby areas of Chatrapur, Gopalpur and Hinjilicut.

The present lawlessness in Berhampur city and its adjoining areas has become a cause for concern. The region has turned out to be a safe haven for criminals and the state administration is treating this matter with utter callousness,” wrote Tripathy in a letter to chief minister Naveen Patnaik on February 6.

“The state government has created an IG police range for central Odisha at Cuttack, IG police for northern range in Sambalpur and IG police for western range in Rourkela. However, there is no IG range for the entire region of south Odisha even though the law and order situation here is worse compared to the rest of the state,” he said.

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