As reported in dharitri
Cold spell in Kandhamal
23/11/2011
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha is headed for a cold spell in the next few days as there might be a fall in temperature. "But we cannot call it a cold wave unless it goes below 10 degree Celsius," director of Bhubaneswar meteorological centre S C Sahu said. The lowest minimum temperature recorded in Odisha so far was 8 degree Celsius at Phulbani.
The weather, however, was rather hot in the city on Monday as the maximum temperature hovered at 31 degree Celsius, while the night temperature was 18.3 degree Celsius.
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha is headed for a cold spell in the next few days as there might be a fall in temperature. "But we cannot call it a cold wave unless it goes below 10 degree Celsius," director of Bhubaneswar meteorological centre S C Sahu said. The lowest minimum temperature recorded in Odisha so far was 8 degree Celsius at Phulbani.
The weather, however, was rather hot in the city on Monday as the maximum temperature hovered at 31 degree Celsius, while the night temperature was 18.3 degree Celsius.
Army recruitment training for tribals
Dt: 31st Oct 2011
Kandhamal to qualify for various posts in the Indian Army in the forthcoming recruitment rally at Koraput, district administration has decided to impart pre-recruitment training to the prospective candidates.
As many as 237 youths have been selected for the 10-day training, to be held in Phulbani from November 10. Since the number of prospective Army candidates is high, the administration has decided to conduct the training in two phases. About 320 aspirants appeared in the first round of screening test. The administration has decided to hold screening tests for one more day on November 5 to help more deserving young men take a shot at military glory.
Kandhamal to qualify for various posts in the Indian Army in the forthcoming recruitment rally at Koraput, district administration has decided to impart pre-recruitment training to the prospective candidates.
As many as 237 youths have been selected for the 10-day training, to be held in Phulbani from November 10. Since the number of prospective Army candidates is high, the administration has decided to conduct the training in two phases. About 320 aspirants appeared in the first round of screening test. The administration has decided to hold screening tests for one more day on November 5 to help more deserving young men take a shot at military glory.
Widening of Road
10th Oct 2011
Arss Infrastructure Projects Limited has informed the Exchange that the Company has been awarded with an work order from the Executive Engineer, Phulbani (R & B) Division, Phulbani, vide their Letter dated October 01, 2011 for Improvement to Jagannathpur - Berhampur-Phulbani road (SH-7) from 112/0 Km to 117/0 Km as a part of Vijayawada - Ranchi Corridor under Central Road fund 2010-11. Total Amount of Orders is Rs. 18.76 Crores.
Maoist menace can be fought with rural development: Jairam Ramesh
PHULBANI (Orissa): Seeking concrete steps to properly implement various welfare schemes in villages, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh today said the Maoist menace can be fought with rural development.
"Rural development is the answer to fight naxalism. It will improve the living standard of the people living in villages," Ramesh told reporters during a visit to the tribal-dominated and Maoist-hit Kandhamal district in Orissa.
Proper and successful implementation of welfare schemes like MGNREGA, PMGSY, IAY would be able to build a new relation between the government and tribal people, the cabinet minister said.
Though a lot of work is being done through MGNREGA and PMGSY, there still exists a gap between administration and people, Ramesh said asking the administration to move closer to the masses.
Impressed with abundant natural resources in Orissa, particularly Kandhamal, he said poor communication facilities poses a major obstacle in bringing speedy development in backward areas.
Yesterday, Ramesh had a meeting with collectors of seven naxal-hit districts of south Orissa - Kandhamal, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nayagarh - at Berhampur.
"Rural development is the answer to fight naxalism. It will improve the living standard of the people living in villages," Ramesh told reporters during a visit to the tribal-dominated and Maoist-hit Kandhamal district in Orissa.
Proper and successful implementation of welfare schemes like MGNREGA, PMGSY, IAY would be able to build a new relation between the government and tribal people, the cabinet minister said.
Though a lot of work is being done through MGNREGA and PMGSY, there still exists a gap between administration and people, Ramesh said asking the administration to move closer to the masses.
Impressed with abundant natural resources in Orissa, particularly Kandhamal, he said poor communication facilities poses a major obstacle in bringing speedy development in backward areas.
Yesterday, Ramesh had a meeting with collectors of seven naxal-hit districts of south Orissa - Kandhamal, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nayagarh - at Berhampur.
Jairam comes calling Saturday
BHUBANESWAR: With the State under CBI scanner for alleged irregularities in rural jobs under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the two-day visit of Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, beginning Saturday, assumes significance.
Although details of his tour are not known, the Minister is likely to visit Ganjam and Kandhamal districts where he will review the implementation of various anti-poverty schemes including the wage-employment programme under NREGS.
Ganjam is one the districts where� massive irregularities in the implementation of the wage employment programme were reported.
His proposed visit to the communally sensitive Kandhamal district is equally important. The district witnessed one of the worst communal riots in the State in 2008 in the wake of the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.
Jairam is likely to review the rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected families and implementation of various schemes funded by his ministry.
The CBI is now probing the rural job scam in six western Orissa districts of Balangir, Kalahandi, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Nuapada and Rayagada following a Supreme Court directive on May 12. The Central agency has been asked to submit a status report in six months.
Jairam is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik after his visit to the two districts. Private Secretary to the Union� Minister R Vineel Krishna, who had hit the national headlines following his abduction by Maoists during his stint as Malkangiri district collector in February, will accompany Jairam.
Uninterrupted power for 13 hospitals
July 6 - 2011
BHUBANESWAR: The state government will spend over Rs six crore for upgradation of electricity infrastructure in 13 district hospitals for uninterrupted power supply.
Health minister Prasanna Acharya said on Monday that the department would soon pay the amount to the power department for special feeder lines and transformer at the Koraput, Malkangiri, Boudh, Khurda, Cuttack, Deogarh, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Phulbani, Nayagarh, Angul, Bargarh and Nuapada district headquarters hospital in the first phase. The department has set a January 2012 deadline for the work. Similar work would be extended to 17 other district hospitals in phases, the minister said after reviewing power supply situation in hospitals.
The government would make a separate plan for Capital Hospital. The power department has made a plan worth Rs 5.17 crore for VSS Medical College and Hospital as well. The 13th Finance Commission will give Rs 75 crore for infrastructure development in the three government-run medical colleges. The government would add 100 seats to the existing 150 seats each in these medical colleges.
BHUBANESWAR: The state government will spend over Rs six crore for upgradation of electricity infrastructure in 13 district hospitals for uninterrupted power supply.
Health minister Prasanna Acharya said on Monday that the department would soon pay the amount to the power department for special feeder lines and transformer at the Koraput, Malkangiri, Boudh, Khurda, Cuttack, Deogarh, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Phulbani, Nayagarh, Angul, Bargarh and Nuapada district headquarters hospital in the first phase. The department has set a January 2012 deadline for the work. Similar work would be extended to 17 other district hospitals in phases, the minister said after reviewing power supply situation in hospitals.
The government would make a separate plan for Capital Hospital. The power department has made a plan worth Rs 5.17 crore for VSS Medical College and Hospital as well. The 13th Finance Commission will give Rs 75 crore for infrastructure development in the three government-run medical colleges. The government would add 100 seats to the existing 150 seats each in these medical colleges.
Police name seven Maoists in chargesheet
Almost three years after senior VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati was killed along with four of his associates by a group of 40-odd assailants in Kandhamal district of Orissa, the police on Monday submitted its final chargesheet against seven Maoists but failed to explain why he was killed.
The police had filed its first chargesheet against seven tribal/Dalit Christians in a Kandhamal court in January 30, 2009. On Monday, it filed its second and final chargesheet against senior Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda and six others.
The other six are Udaya alias Pulari Rama Rao, Jadu alias Somanath Dandasena, Azad alias Dona Keshava Rao, Dasru alias Dasanna, Lalu and Lakhmu alias Madan. Among the seven named, only two have been arrested. Panda has been described as the mastermind of the operation.
In the first chargesheet, the police had named Duryodhan Sunamajhi, Munda Badamajhi, Sanatana Badamajhi, Bijay Sanseth, Gananath Chalanseth, Bhaskar Sunamajhi and Budhdev Naik.
The police had filed its first chargesheet against seven tribal/Dalit Christians in a Kandhamal court in January 30, 2009. On Monday, it filed its second and final chargesheet against senior Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda and six others.
The other six are Udaya alias Pulari Rama Rao, Jadu alias Somanath Dandasena, Azad alias Dona Keshava Rao, Dasru alias Dasanna, Lalu and Lakhmu alias Madan. Among the seven named, only two have been arrested. Panda has been described as the mastermind of the operation.
In the first chargesheet, the police had named Duryodhan Sunamajhi, Munda Badamajhi, Sanatana Badamajhi, Bijay Sanseth, Gananath Chalanseth, Bhaskar Sunamajhi and Budhdev Naik.
Kandhamal turns the corner
7th April 2011 Courtesy TOI.
The beleaguered Orissa district has battled and vanquished its demons. Most perpetrators of the 2008 ethic violence have been dealt with and there is now both communal harmony and economic prosperity. TOI looks at the extraordinary change of fortune in the land of the Kandhs
Kuntala Pradhan is thrilled. The poor tribal from Kandhamal district landed a job in Bangalore two months back and is using her newly-acquired tailoring skills at a leading garment company to earn about Rs 4, 000 a month. "I am very happy," says the girl from Tikabali, one of the worst-affected areas in the ethno-communal riots that swept across the southern Orissa district in the latter half of 2008. Kuntala is among the hundreds of youth from the troubled region to have benefited in the past year from government-sponsored skills development training.
"I feel good when I draw my salary at the end of every month," adds Amita Kanhar from K Nuagaon block. She now works in Tirupur, a textile hub in Tamil Nadu. Kuntala and Amita finally have a reason to smile. They, like countless others in Kandhamal, were mute witnesses to the unprecedented violence that left at least 38 dead and thousands homeless two-and-ahalf years ago. The mayhem, which followed the gunning down of Hindu seer Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four others inside his ashram at Jalespeta on August 23, 2008, scarred Orissa to the extent that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh dubbed it a "national shame" before representatives of the European Union.
But people of Kandhamal need no longer hang their heads in shame. Things are finally looking up and the district is now on the verge of a turnaround it could never have dreamed of. And it's not just repair of the damaged socio-religious fabric that has caught people's attention. Developmental works are pouring in by the dozens;the same PM who had been embarrassed about the tragic turn of events in Kandhamal handed over on February 2 an award to the district for innovations under the UPA's flagship Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) for livelihood generation and promotion of communal harmony.
"It was nice that Kandhamal got some positive recognition after drawing flak from every quarter because of the riots," says district collector Krishan Kumar. "The single biggest challenge before us was to take action against those who perpetrated violence without making it look biased, " he notes.
The tribal Kandhs, constituting over half of Kandhamal's 6. 5 lakh population, and the Panas, a scheduled caste group, have a history of ethnic discord. Over the last few decades, a majority of Kandhs have come under the saffron fold, thanks to Laxmanananda's efforts, while Panas have embraced Christianity. This has compounded differences, making it an ethno-religious problem. Tribals have been accusing Panas of usurping their land, availing government benefits like jobs and doles by forging their caste identities and depriving them of economic and political empowerment. Panas deny the charges.
"We had to act against criminals, rehabilitate riot victims and address long-standing tribal issues. We did everything simultaneously," Kumar says. The district administration has earned accolades for implementing not just the "Work for Peace" initiative under MGNREGS, but also the Forest Rights Act with gusto. Under the Act, the claims of around 53, 000 tribal families have been settled with around 74, 000 acres given to them, making Kandhamal a leading district in according forest rights to people.
Happy sentiments are expressed by thousands across the region rated "most food insecure" in Orissa in a 2008 report. Because of the riots, Kandhamal could only spend Rs 23 crore creating 15. 97 lakh person days in 2008-09, but the following year it utilised Rs 64 crore creating 34. 37 lakh person days, recording a phenomenal 215 per cent jump in employment generation, officers said. Under the scheme, around 56 per cent of eligible families were covered, bettering the state's average of 25 per cent and national average of 23 per cent.
Another initiative which officers say made a difference was Antaranga, a programme celebrating diversity involving 7, 500 youths from every panchayat in the district. "This was essential as youth were at the forefront of the conflict, " says Kumar.
While the state government opened its purse and chief minister Naveen Patnaik announced a special development package for Kandhamal, the turning point, so to say, proved to be the smooth and peaceful conduct of assembly and parliamentary elections in April, 2009. "There were fears ... the general perception was that electioneering will fuel divisiveness and promote hate, " says an officer involved in the elections.
Having overcome the fear factor, people of Kandhamal started rebuilding their lives, returning to their homes after months in relief camps. Police registered 828 cases against around one lakh people for alleged involvement in riots. About 1, 000 were arrested.
To ensure speedy justice, two fast track courts were set up in April, 2009, and special police teams formed to investigate the cases. Within 30 months of the carnage, at least 279 people, including BJP MLA Manoj Pradhan, have been convicted in 58 cases, chargesheets filed in around 480 cases and over 160 cases disposed. "Show us one instance in India where riots cases have been disposed and justice delivered at a faster pace," says Kandhamal SP Praveen Kumar. Kandhamal, compared to the anti-Sikh riots in Delhi in 1984, Bhagalpur riots in 1989 and Gujarat riots in 2002, has done remarkably well in punishing culprits. In the Gujarat riots, the first conviction took place in 2009, while in the case of Bhagalpur the trial started 12 years after the violence; some cases are still pending.
Kandhamal is on the road to good health. Tensions have subsided and bitter enemies are trying to revive old bonds of friendship. But life possibly can never be all that easy in Kandhamal. Maoists have begun spreading base, especially in Daringbadi, Raikia and Kotagarh blocks, even blasting an ambulance last November, killing civilians and threatening to reignite passions. "Unless Maoists are tackled effectively, they might undo all our good work, " a senior officer says. But most feel that a district which has been there and done that can do it again.
The beleaguered Orissa district has battled and vanquished its demons. Most perpetrators of the 2008 ethic violence have been dealt with and there is now both communal harmony and economic prosperity. TOI looks at the extraordinary change of fortune in the land of the Kandhs
Kuntala Pradhan is thrilled. The poor tribal from Kandhamal district landed a job in Bangalore two months back and is using her newly-acquired tailoring skills at a leading garment company to earn about Rs 4, 000 a month. "I am very happy," says the girl from Tikabali, one of the worst-affected areas in the ethno-communal riots that swept across the southern Orissa district in the latter half of 2008. Kuntala is among the hundreds of youth from the troubled region to have benefited in the past year from government-sponsored skills development training.
"I feel good when I draw my salary at the end of every month," adds Amita Kanhar from K Nuagaon block. She now works in Tirupur, a textile hub in Tamil Nadu. Kuntala and Amita finally have a reason to smile. They, like countless others in Kandhamal, were mute witnesses to the unprecedented violence that left at least 38 dead and thousands homeless two-and-ahalf years ago. The mayhem, which followed the gunning down of Hindu seer Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four others inside his ashram at Jalespeta on August 23, 2008, scarred Orissa to the extent that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh dubbed it a "national shame" before representatives of the European Union.
But people of Kandhamal need no longer hang their heads in shame. Things are finally looking up and the district is now on the verge of a turnaround it could never have dreamed of. And it's not just repair of the damaged socio-religious fabric that has caught people's attention. Developmental works are pouring in by the dozens;the same PM who had been embarrassed about the tragic turn of events in Kandhamal handed over on February 2 an award to the district for innovations under the UPA's flagship Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) for livelihood generation and promotion of communal harmony.
"It was nice that Kandhamal got some positive recognition after drawing flak from every quarter because of the riots," says district collector Krishan Kumar. "The single biggest challenge before us was to take action against those who perpetrated violence without making it look biased, " he notes.
The tribal Kandhs, constituting over half of Kandhamal's 6. 5 lakh population, and the Panas, a scheduled caste group, have a history of ethnic discord. Over the last few decades, a majority of Kandhs have come under the saffron fold, thanks to Laxmanananda's efforts, while Panas have embraced Christianity. This has compounded differences, making it an ethno-religious problem. Tribals have been accusing Panas of usurping their land, availing government benefits like jobs and doles by forging their caste identities and depriving them of economic and political empowerment. Panas deny the charges.
"We had to act against criminals, rehabilitate riot victims and address long-standing tribal issues. We did everything simultaneously," Kumar says. The district administration has earned accolades for implementing not just the "Work for Peace" initiative under MGNREGS, but also the Forest Rights Act with gusto. Under the Act, the claims of around 53, 000 tribal families have been settled with around 74, 000 acres given to them, making Kandhamal a leading district in according forest rights to people.
Happy sentiments are expressed by thousands across the region rated "most food insecure" in Orissa in a 2008 report. Because of the riots, Kandhamal could only spend Rs 23 crore creating 15. 97 lakh person days in 2008-09, but the following year it utilised Rs 64 crore creating 34. 37 lakh person days, recording a phenomenal 215 per cent jump in employment generation, officers said. Under the scheme, around 56 per cent of eligible families were covered, bettering the state's average of 25 per cent and national average of 23 per cent.
Another initiative which officers say made a difference was Antaranga, a programme celebrating diversity involving 7, 500 youths from every panchayat in the district. "This was essential as youth were at the forefront of the conflict, " says Kumar.
While the state government opened its purse and chief minister Naveen Patnaik announced a special development package for Kandhamal, the turning point, so to say, proved to be the smooth and peaceful conduct of assembly and parliamentary elections in April, 2009. "There were fears ... the general perception was that electioneering will fuel divisiveness and promote hate, " says an officer involved in the elections.
Having overcome the fear factor, people of Kandhamal started rebuilding their lives, returning to their homes after months in relief camps. Police registered 828 cases against around one lakh people for alleged involvement in riots. About 1, 000 were arrested.
To ensure speedy justice, two fast track courts were set up in April, 2009, and special police teams formed to investigate the cases. Within 30 months of the carnage, at least 279 people, including BJP MLA Manoj Pradhan, have been convicted in 58 cases, chargesheets filed in around 480 cases and over 160 cases disposed. "Show us one instance in India where riots cases have been disposed and justice delivered at a faster pace," says Kandhamal SP Praveen Kumar. Kandhamal, compared to the anti-Sikh riots in Delhi in 1984, Bhagalpur riots in 1989 and Gujarat riots in 2002, has done remarkably well in punishing culprits. In the Gujarat riots, the first conviction took place in 2009, while in the case of Bhagalpur the trial started 12 years after the violence; some cases are still pending.
Kandhamal is on the road to good health. Tensions have subsided and bitter enemies are trying to revive old bonds of friendship. But life possibly can never be all that easy in Kandhamal. Maoists have begun spreading base, especially in Daringbadi, Raikia and Kotagarh blocks, even blasting an ambulance last November, killing civilians and threatening to reignite passions. "Unless Maoists are tackled effectively, they might undo all our good work, " a senior officer says. But most feel that a district which has been there and done that can do it again.
Southern Orissa fails to get Didi's doles
26 February 2010
BERHAMPUR: The aspirations of southern Orissa districts were ignored in the Railway Budget presented by Union railway minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday.
There was no mention in the budget about a railway terminal at Berhampur, direct train from Berhampur to New Delhi, train from Berhampur to Puri and construction of railway track from Gopalpur to Rayagada, Berhampur to Sambalpur via Phulbani and extension of Nuapada-Gunupur railway line up to Therubali. ..
Read more: Southern Orissa fails to get Didi's doles - The Times of India
BERHAMPUR: The aspirations of southern Orissa districts were ignored in the Railway Budget presented by Union railway minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday.
There was no mention in the budget about a railway terminal at Berhampur, direct train from Berhampur to New Delhi, train from Berhampur to Puri and construction of railway track from Gopalpur to Rayagada, Berhampur to Sambalpur via Phulbani and extension of Nuapada-Gunupur railway line up to Therubali. ..
Read more: Southern Orissa fails to get Didi's doles - The Times of India
Maoists kill SPO in Kandhamal
Bhubaneswar: (11 Feb 2011) Maoists strike again at Kotagada. The Red rebels on Friday killed a Special Police officer (SPO) at Denguda village in Kandhamal.
The officer has been identified as Narenga Mallick. The incident took place between 9 -10 am today, when he was heading towards Kotagada police station for work.
According to reports, around four Maoists fired four rounds of bullet on him, killing him on the spot. Maoists left a poster near his body.
According to the poster, Mallick was earlier threatened about the consequences as he was helping the SOG jawans in the combing operations. They have also threatened the other SPO’s who are helping the forces in the combing operations.
Earlier on Thursday, armed Maoists had set afire a police outpost at Subarnagiri under Kotagada police limits in Kandhamal.
The officer has been identified as Narenga Mallick. The incident took place between 9 -10 am today, when he was heading towards Kotagada police station for work.
According to reports, around four Maoists fired four rounds of bullet on him, killing him on the spot. Maoists left a poster near his body.
According to the poster, Mallick was earlier threatened about the consequences as he was helping the SOG jawans in the combing operations. They have also threatened the other SPO’s who are helping the forces in the combing operations.
Earlier on Thursday, armed Maoists had set afire a police outpost at Subarnagiri under Kotagada police limits in Kandhamal.
Maoists blow up police post in Kandhamal
Armed Maoists set afire a police outpost in Orissa's Kandhamal district early on Thursday morning. Kandhamal SP Praveen Kumar said that around 50 Maoists, including women, attacked the newly-constructed outpost at Subarnagiri under Kotgarh police station and set it on fire. No casualty was reported.
“The rebels shouted anti-government slogans. They also left Maoist posters and leaflets warning the government of dire consequences for anti-Maoist operations in the area,” said Praveen Kumar. Additional force had been sent to the area for combing and patrolling.
“The rebels shouted anti-government slogans. They also left Maoist posters and leaflets warning the government of dire consequences for anti-Maoist operations in the area,” said Praveen Kumar. Additional force had been sent to the area for combing and patrolling.
Kandhamal burning to Kandhamal shining
31/1/2011
Two-and-A-half years ago, Kandhamal was tagged as a “national shame”, after communal violence triggered by the killing of a Hindu seer left 38 people dead, with houses and churches burnt and vandalised, and thousands of people homeless.
But on February 2, Kandhamal is set to get a different tag — one of “national pride” — as the Union Ministry of Rural Development awards it for being one of the top 10 districts which have implemented the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) effectively.
“What set Kandhamal apart was the kind of work it did in the difficult circumstances,” said N K Sahu, director (monitoring wing) in the Ministry of Rural Development. Kandhamal has been chosen for using NREGS to generate livelihood and promote communal harmony.
Sahu, accompanied by a team of officials from the ministry, visited Baliguda and Phulbani blocks in Kandhamal last week. The team was From Kandhamal Burning to Kandhamal Shining impressed with the building of roads and farm ponds in Mediakia village, Sirtiguda gram panchayat and Sindhipankhala.
Two-and-A-half years ago, Kandhamal was tagged as a “national shame”, after communal violence triggered by the killing of a Hindu seer left 38 people dead, with houses and churches burnt and vandalised, and thousands of people homeless.
But on February 2, Kandhamal is set to get a different tag — one of “national pride” — as the Union Ministry of Rural Development awards it for being one of the top 10 districts which have implemented the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) effectively.
“What set Kandhamal apart was the kind of work it did in the difficult circumstances,” said N K Sahu, director (monitoring wing) in the Ministry of Rural Development. Kandhamal has been chosen for using NREGS to generate livelihood and promote communal harmony.
Sahu, accompanied by a team of officials from the ministry, visited Baliguda and Phulbani blocks in Kandhamal last week. The team was From Kandhamal Burning to Kandhamal Shining impressed with the building of roads and farm ponds in Mediakia village, Sirtiguda gram panchayat and Sindhipankhala.
Maoists block road in Kandhamal dist
28th January 2011
BERHAMPUR: Suspected Maoists blocked the Bramhanigaon-Daringibadi road by felling trees at Gadapur in Kandhamal district. This snapped off communication between the two town.
It was probably meant to hamper the combing operation launched by police in the area. Police had launched the combing operation suspecting that Maoists are hiding in the forest and increasing their activities in the area as well as adjoining Bhanjanagar and Sorada in Ganjam district.
On Wednesday, the Red radicals had hoisted black flags at the high school in Bahadapadara within Bhanjanagar police limits in Ganjam district. They also pasted a poster at the gate of the high school asking the people to observe Republic Day as black day. Police have seized the flag and poster from the school.
Police on Monday had unearthed three landmines planted by Maoists near Barada village in Ganjam district. The rebels had torched five vehicles of a contractor involved in road works in the area recently.
The Left-wing ultras had also torched vehicle of another contractor at Birikote within Bhanjanagar police limits recently and threatened the contractors to stop the work.
Panicky over the recent developments, people of Daringibadi, Bramhanigaon and Kotagarh area observe bandh on Wednesday following the Maoist's call to observe the Republic Day as "black day". Private bus operators stopped the plying of vehicles and businessmen downed their shutters in these towns.
BERHAMPUR: Suspected Maoists blocked the Bramhanigaon-Daringibadi road by felling trees at Gadapur in Kandhamal district. This snapped off communication between the two town.
It was probably meant to hamper the combing operation launched by police in the area. Police had launched the combing operation suspecting that Maoists are hiding in the forest and increasing their activities in the area as well as adjoining Bhanjanagar and Sorada in Ganjam district.
On Wednesday, the Red radicals had hoisted black flags at the high school in Bahadapadara within Bhanjanagar police limits in Ganjam district. They also pasted a poster at the gate of the high school asking the people to observe Republic Day as black day. Police have seized the flag and poster from the school.
Police on Monday had unearthed three landmines planted by Maoists near Barada village in Ganjam district. The rebels had torched five vehicles of a contractor involved in road works in the area recently.
The Left-wing ultras had also torched vehicle of another contractor at Birikote within Bhanjanagar police limits recently and threatened the contractors to stop the work.
Panicky over the recent developments, people of Daringibadi, Bramhanigaon and Kotagarh area observe bandh on Wednesday following the Maoist's call to observe the Republic Day as "black day". Private bus operators stopped the plying of vehicles and businessmen downed their shutters in these towns.
Mutiliated body of teacher
BERHAMPUR (26th Jan 2011): The body of a retired school teacher of Kandhamal district, who went missing on Thursday, was found near a forest on Tuesday. "The mutilated body of Nargo Subhasundar (65) was recovered by police from Minijapank forest near his village within Bramhanigaon police limits," police said.
The police felt that the teacher was probably killed for practising withcraft. "After retirement, the teacher started practising witchcraft in the village and made many enemies. The villagers might have killed him," police said. "I don't think the Maoists were involved in his abduction," DIG (Southern range) R K Sharma said. The police are investigating to ascertain the exact reason of death.
Police said the family members of the deceased had not reported about him going missing. When police inquired, the family members said that he had gone out with three persons on Thursday and they did not inform police out of fear.
Read more: BERHAMPUR: The body of a retired school teacher of Kandhamal district, who went missing on Thursday, was found near a forest on Tuesday. "The mutilated body of Nargo Subhasundar (65) was recovered by police from Minijapank forest near his village within Bramhanigaon police limits," police said.
The police felt that the teacher was probably killed for practising withcraft. "After retirement, the teacher started practising witchcraft in the village and made many enemies. The villagers might have killed him," police said. "I don't think the Maoists were involved in his abduction," DIG (Southern range) R K Sharma said. The police are investigating to ascertain the exact reason of death.
Police said the family members of the deceased had not reported about him going missing. When police inquired, the family members said that he had gone out with three persons on Thursday and they did not inform police out of fear.
The police felt that the teacher was probably killed for practising withcraft. "After retirement, the teacher started practising witchcraft in the village and made many enemies. The villagers might have killed him," police said. "I don't think the Maoists were involved in his abduction," DIG (Southern range) R K Sharma said. The police are investigating to ascertain the exact reason of death.
Police said the family members of the deceased had not reported about him going missing. When police inquired, the family members said that he had gone out with three persons on Thursday and they did not inform police out of fear.
Read more: BERHAMPUR: The body of a retired school teacher of Kandhamal district, who went missing on Thursday, was found near a forest on Tuesday. "The mutilated body of Nargo Subhasundar (65) was recovered by police from Minijapank forest near his village within Bramhanigaon police limits," police said.
The police felt that the teacher was probably killed for practising withcraft. "After retirement, the teacher started practising witchcraft in the village and made many enemies. The villagers might have killed him," police said. "I don't think the Maoists were involved in his abduction," DIG (Southern range) R K Sharma said. The police are investigating to ascertain the exact reason of death.
Police said the family members of the deceased had not reported about him going missing. When police inquired, the family members said that he had gone out with three persons on Thursday and they did not inform police out of fear.
SC rejects Manoj Pradhan's bail in murder
BHUBANESWAR: (26th Jan 2011) The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the bail plea of BJP MLA from G Udayagiri Manoj Pradhan in a murder case. A division bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijhar, set aside the Orissa High Court order.
The case relates to the killing of the husband of one Kanak Rekha Nayak. The man was allegedly beaten to death in Kandhamal district. The MLA and others were implicated in the case. A local fast track court had awarded seven years imprisonment to the MLA against which he had moved the high court that had given him bail.
Kanak Rekha had moved the apex court with a special leave petition. The government was made a party in the case. The state government's standing counsel Suresh Tripathy, considering the gravity of the case, supported the cancellation of the bail. He argued that being an MLA could not be the ground for bail.
The case relates to the killing of the husband of one Kanak Rekha Nayak. The man was allegedly beaten to death in Kandhamal district. The MLA and others were implicated in the case. A local fast track court had awarded seven years imprisonment to the MLA against which he had moved the high court that had given him bail.
Kanak Rekha had moved the apex court with a special leave petition. The government was made a party in the case. The state government's standing counsel Suresh Tripathy, considering the gravity of the case, supported the cancellation of the bail. He argued that being an MLA could not be the ground for bail.
Orissa's fifteen districts to get Rs. 375 crore Central Grant under IAP
New Delhi (15/Jan/2011): The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has issued a Central Grant of Rs. 375 crore to Orissa's fifteen selected Tribal and Backward districts during the current financial year (2010-11) under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) of these districts.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has issued a Central Grant of of Rs. 1500 crore to 60 selected Tribal and Backward districts of 9 states during the current financial year (2010-11) under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) of these districts. The amount of Grant is Rs. 25 crore per district and is being given under the Development Grant Component of Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) to the concerned States.
The Integrated Action Plan (IAP) has been commenced after an approval by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in November, 2010 with the objective of giving a fillip to development schemes in tribal and backward regions, mostly affected by Naxal violence. It is aimed at quick resolution of problems concerning healthcare, drinking water, education and roads.
Orissa districts are:
Orissa (15)
Bolangir, Debagarh/Deogarh, Gajapati, Kalahandi,Kandhamal/Phulbani, Kendujhar/Keonjhar, Koraput,Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangapur, Nuapada,Rayagada, Sambalpur, Sonapur and Sundargarh
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has issued a Central Grant of of Rs. 1500 crore to 60 selected Tribal and Backward districts of 9 states during the current financial year (2010-11) under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) of these districts. The amount of Grant is Rs. 25 crore per district and is being given under the Development Grant Component of Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) to the concerned States.
The Integrated Action Plan (IAP) has been commenced after an approval by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in November, 2010 with the objective of giving a fillip to development schemes in tribal and backward regions, mostly affected by Naxal violence. It is aimed at quick resolution of problems concerning healthcare, drinking water, education and roads.
Orissa districts are:
Orissa (15)
Bolangir, Debagarh/Deogarh, Gajapati, Kalahandi,Kandhamal/Phulbani, Kendujhar/Keonjhar, Koraput,Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangapur, Nuapada,Rayagada, Sambalpur, Sonapur and Sundargarh
Letter to CM: Proposed NTPC medical college in Boudh or Phulbani
Dear Honorbale Chief Minister Mr Patnaik,
I am glad that MCL and NTPC are establisning medical colleges in Odisha and Talcher has been selected for the proposed medical college by MCL.
Since past couple of years it is being raised that taking distance and geographical location into consideration each undivided district should have at at least a medical college along with super-specialtiy hospital.
http://kalahandia.blogspot.com/2009/06/government-medical-colleges-in-orissa.html
The argument is also recently advocated by Higher Education Task Force formed by Govt. of Odisha.
As per Government information there are 3 government and 3 private medical colleges in the state. Central Government is establishing an AIIMS type medical College at Bhubaneswar. State Government also cleverly highlighting establishment of medical colleges in Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Bolangir etc though WODC initiated not a single medical collge has been functional even after 7 years of MoU whereas more medical colleges are being added in Cuttack-Bhubaneswar region.
Recently central Govenment has committed 6000 new medical colleges including ministry of railway and ESIC. Ministry of Railway and ESIC have already proposed another two medical colleges in Bhubaneswar. Vedanta University is establishing another medical college in Puri and Sri Sri University may establish in Katak/Cuttack. Refering to University demand in Kalahandi, in 1991 late Biju Patnaik had said at Bhawanipatna that University can not be established in everone's kitchen yard. Perhaps ignoring the urgent need for medical college and super-speciality hospital in far off places from Bhubaneswar, the medical colleges presently being considered and proposed by state Government around Bhubaneswar-Cuttack and surrounding region is nothing different from "Biju Babu's kitchen yard".
Many people are unable to find justification why state Government prefers Government medical college in state capital regions and private one in KBK as it is evident that WODC initiated private medical colleges in Kalahandi and Bolangir are not yet started even after 7 years, where as in the last year budget state Government has alloted 30 crore for Capital (hospital) medical college in Bhubaneswar despite AIIMS, Railway, and ESIC medical colleges and Regional Paramedical Training Center are being established and 3 private medical colleges are already in function in Bhubaneswar. This is excluding many well known private hospitals such as APPOLO, LV Prasad, Global Hospital etc branches at Bhubaneswar and new private medical college proposals.
Even due to various controvercies recently people of Kalahandi were hopeless for the proposed WODC initiated medical college. I also learned that Vedanta's initiative to take WODC initiated medical college in Kalahandi could not be materialised due to other involved private parties. In this circumstance why the state Government is not pursuing to Vedanta to build a fresh medical college and hospital in Kalahandi, one of the demand critic of Vedanta's is also advocating?
Kalahandi is not first district to have two private medical colleges, there will be more than 5 Government and 5 private medical colleges in Bhubaneswar-Cuttack region itself, WODC initiated medical college is being established in Rourkela and state Government had already plan to propose SAIL for a medical college in Rourkela. Central University of Orissa has a proposal to build a medical college in Koraput in future and state Government may ask NALCO to establish a medical college in undivided Koraput district beside one being proposed in Rayagada by PPP mode. Similarly Ganjam and Cuttack have Government medical colleges and few private parties are interested to establish private medical colleges in these districts. State Government has also plan to establish medical colleges in PPP mode in Balasore, Naraj (Cuttack) and Rayagada beside a proposal submitted to defence department for a medical college in Balasore. In case things go positive for WODC medical college at Jaring (which is presently in doubt) and Vedanta takes interest tp estblish a new medical college then Kalahandi might get two private medical colleges (one in Bhawanipatna by Vedanta and other in Jaring, Junagarh by WODC) which will not be wrong.
Similarly no party has ever taken any interest to estblish a medical college in undivided Boudh-Phulbani distirct, another backward district in South-Western Odisha. Medical problem in the region needs urgent attention.
Since the medical college at Talcher will serve the purpose for undivided Dhenkanal district (Angul+Dhenkanal) and Boudh-Phulbani is the adjacent disitrict of Angul district where NTPC is located, I request you to consider establishing the prposed medical college by NTPC in Boudh or Phulbani for undivided Kandhamal district.
Thank you and best regards
Digambara Patra
--
Dr. Digambara Patra
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry
American University of Beirut
P.O. Box: 11-0236, Riad El Solh
Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon
Email: digpatra@gmail.com
http://staff.aub.edu.lb/~dp03/
I am glad that MCL and NTPC are establisning medical colleges in Odisha and Talcher has been selected for the proposed medical college by MCL.
Since past couple of years it is being raised that taking distance and geographical location into consideration each undivided district should have at at least a medical college along with super-specialtiy hospital.
http://kalahandia.blogspot.com/2009/06/government-medical-colleges-in-orissa.html
The argument is also recently advocated by Higher Education Task Force formed by Govt. of Odisha.
As per Government information there are 3 government and 3 private medical colleges in the state. Central Government is establishing an AIIMS type medical College at Bhubaneswar. State Government also cleverly highlighting establishment of medical colleges in Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Bolangir etc though WODC initiated not a single medical collge has been functional even after 7 years of MoU whereas more medical colleges are being added in Cuttack-Bhubaneswar region.
Recently central Govenment has committed 6000 new medical colleges including ministry of railway and ESIC. Ministry of Railway and ESIC have already proposed another two medical colleges in Bhubaneswar. Vedanta University is establishing another medical college in Puri and Sri Sri University may establish in Katak/Cuttack. Refering to University demand in Kalahandi, in 1991 late Biju Patnaik had said at Bhawanipatna that University can not be established in everone's kitchen yard. Perhaps ignoring the urgent need for medical college and super-speciality hospital in far off places from Bhubaneswar, the medical colleges presently being considered and proposed by state Government around Bhubaneswar-Cuttack and surrounding region is nothing different from "Biju Babu's kitchen yard".
Many people are unable to find justification why state Government prefers Government medical college in state capital regions and private one in KBK as it is evident that WODC initiated private medical colleges in Kalahandi and Bolangir are not yet started even after 7 years, where as in the last year budget state Government has alloted 30 crore for Capital (hospital) medical college in Bhubaneswar despite AIIMS, Railway, and ESIC medical colleges and Regional Paramedical Training Center are being established and 3 private medical colleges are already in function in Bhubaneswar. This is excluding many well known private hospitals such as APPOLO, LV Prasad, Global Hospital etc branches at Bhubaneswar and new private medical college proposals.
Even due to various controvercies recently people of Kalahandi were hopeless for the proposed WODC initiated medical college. I also learned that Vedanta's initiative to take WODC initiated medical college in Kalahandi could not be materialised due to other involved private parties. In this circumstance why the state Government is not pursuing to Vedanta to build a fresh medical college and hospital in Kalahandi, one of the demand critic of Vedanta's is also advocating?
Kalahandi is not first district to have two private medical colleges, there will be more than 5 Government and 5 private medical colleges in Bhubaneswar-Cuttack region itself, WODC initiated medical college is being established in Rourkela and state Government had already plan to propose SAIL for a medical college in Rourkela. Central University of Orissa has a proposal to build a medical college in Koraput in future and state Government may ask NALCO to establish a medical college in undivided Koraput district beside one being proposed in Rayagada by PPP mode. Similarly Ganjam and Cuttack have Government medical colleges and few private parties are interested to establish private medical colleges in these districts. State Government has also plan to establish medical colleges in PPP mode in Balasore, Naraj (Cuttack) and Rayagada beside a proposal submitted to defence department for a medical college in Balasore. In case things go positive for WODC medical college at Jaring (which is presently in doubt) and Vedanta takes interest tp estblish a new medical college then Kalahandi might get two private medical colleges (one in Bhawanipatna by Vedanta and other in Jaring, Junagarh by WODC) which will not be wrong.
Similarly no party has ever taken any interest to estblish a medical college in undivided Boudh-Phulbani distirct, another backward district in South-Western Odisha. Medical problem in the region needs urgent attention.
Since the medical college at Talcher will serve the purpose for undivided Dhenkanal district (Angul+Dhenkanal) and Boudh-Phulbani is the adjacent disitrict of Angul district where NTPC is located, I request you to consider establishing the prposed medical college by NTPC in Boudh or Phulbani for undivided Kandhamal district.
Thank you and best regards
Digambara Patra
--
Dr. Digambara Patra
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry
American University of Beirut
P.O. Box: 11-0236, Riad El Solh
Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon
Email: digpatra@gmail.com
http://staff.aub.edu.lb/~dp03/
Naveen asks PM to tackle maoism through rail network expansion
Bhubaneswar, Jan 5 2011 (PTI) Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today alleged that several railway projects announced for Orissa in the budget were not carried out and sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh''s intervention in their execution, saying it can check Maoist menace in the region.
"It is a matter of concern that many projects and initiatives those were announced by the Ministry of Railways in previous year budget have failed to make a substantive headway," Patnaik said in a letter to the Prime Minister.
Orissa was emerging as a mining and metal hub of the country with substantive addition of energy generation capacity, Patnaik said, adding, the nature of industrial activities here required robust and well-planned rail infrastructure for stability.
Almost 70 per cent of Orissa''s interior were either untouched or negligibly touched by the rail network, he said.
"These areas (interior) are seriously affected by left wing extremism and require well planned intervention to counter the same," Patnaik said in the letter.
Stating that he was hopeful about expansion of rail network to the affected region is one of the best means to speed up the pace of development and break the shackles of isolation and backwardness.
He demanded that the Bhadrachalam Road-Talcher railway line and Sambalpur-Brahmpur new rail link (via Phulbani) be tagged as national project.
"Survey of these lines have been sanctioned and I would like you to advise the ministry of railways to execute these projects on priority basis," Patnaik said in the letter.
"It is a matter of concern that many projects and initiatives those were announced by the Ministry of Railways in previous year budget have failed to make a substantive headway," Patnaik said in a letter to the Prime Minister.
Orissa was emerging as a mining and metal hub of the country with substantive addition of energy generation capacity, Patnaik said, adding, the nature of industrial activities here required robust and well-planned rail infrastructure for stability.
Almost 70 per cent of Orissa''s interior were either untouched or negligibly touched by the rail network, he said.
"These areas (interior) are seriously affected by left wing extremism and require well planned intervention to counter the same," Patnaik said in the letter.
Stating that he was hopeful about expansion of rail network to the affected region is one of the best means to speed up the pace of development and break the shackles of isolation and backwardness.
He demanded that the Bhadrachalam Road-Talcher railway line and Sambalpur-Brahmpur new rail link (via Phulbani) be tagged as national project.
"Survey of these lines have been sanctioned and I would like you to advise the ministry of railways to execute these projects on priority basis," Patnaik said in the letter.
Orissa''s Kandhamal goes below freezing point
Bhubaneswar, Jan 5 2011 (PTI) Daringbadi in Orissa''s Kandhamal district was today the coldest place in the state as it went below freezing point even as normal life remain affected due to the cold wave across the state.
Daringbadi (-0.5 degree Celsius) was followed by Phulbani (3.6 degree), the district headquarter town of Kandhamal, while Sundargarh in western region recorded 4.9 degree and Keonjhar in north recorded 5.4, the Met office said.
State capital Bhubaneswar recorded 10.8 degree celsius while Sambalpur experienced the chill with the temperature remaining at 5.1.
"Cold wave condition is likely to prevail over interior Orissa during the next 48 hours," S Sahu, Director of the local Meteorological office, told PTI adding the situation could continue due to clear sky and a low pressure area near Sri Lanka.
Places which recorded less than 10 degree Celsius temperature were Chandbali (9.7), Balasore (9.1), Jharsuguda (6.7), Hirakud (7.8), Titlagarh (8), Balangir (8.7), Angul (9.8), Baripada (6.6) and Bhawanipatna (8.7).
Daringbadi (-0.5 degree Celsius) was followed by Phulbani (3.6 degree), the district headquarter town of Kandhamal, while Sundargarh in western region recorded 4.9 degree and Keonjhar in north recorded 5.4, the Met office said.
State capital Bhubaneswar recorded 10.8 degree celsius while Sambalpur experienced the chill with the temperature remaining at 5.1.
"Cold wave condition is likely to prevail over interior Orissa during the next 48 hours," S Sahu, Director of the local Meteorological office, told PTI adding the situation could continue due to clear sky and a low pressure area near Sri Lanka.
Places which recorded less than 10 degree Celsius temperature were Chandbali (9.7), Balasore (9.1), Jharsuguda (6.7), Hirakud (7.8), Titlagarh (8), Balangir (8.7), Angul (9.8), Baripada (6.6) and Bhawanipatna (8.7).
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