Article From Newindpress
Wednesday September 26 2007 13:27 IST
SISIR PANIGRAHY
BERHAMPUR: Maoists, with their long cherished plan to set up a ‘red corridor,’ have taken a new roadmap. The red patch joining Andhra and Chhattisgarh will pass through several newly ‘taken over’ areas of south-western Orissa.
Armed Naxals have been sighted these days along Ganjam-Kandhamal border. Their movements were also reported from remote areas of Bhanjanagar, Bargarh, Sorada, Mujagarh, Baibili and Tarsing in Ganjam district close to Kandhamal border. The dense jungles and hilly terrains of this region are conducive for safe movement of ultras.
If their plan to establish the ‘red corridor’ along Ganjam- Kandhamal-Boudh-undivided Sambalpur border succeeds, it will give them the much-needed passage between their bastions in Andhra and Chhattisgarh.
The Maoists have already established bases in Gajapati and Rayagada districts. They have now started their campaign with wall posters with a warning note for the sympathisers of local landlords, police and government in the inaccessible border areas of Ganjam-Kandhamal districts.
Police from both the districts have started joint combing operations along with the anti-Naxal squad. According to sources, the Naxals have slipped in to South Orissa after mounting pressures in the aftermath of an unsuccessful bid on the life of former AP chief minister N Janardhan Reddy.
All police stations in Ganjam district in this region have been put on high alert. Ganjam SP R K Sharma said extra patrolling and public relation drive in remote tribal pockets of the area have been taken up to keep tribals away from Maoist propaganda.
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Mobile network at Phulbani augmented - Places Raikia and Kalinga
Stateman News Service
PHULBANI, Sept. 12: With the launching of mobile net work of BSNL at Raikia and Kalinga today the number of stations covered under mobile net work service in Phulbani telecom district has now gone up to 14. Construction of another 12 stations will be completed by next year, Mr. B. Patnaik telecom district engineer, Phulbani told the Statesman here today. The Centre has identified 982 more villages in Kandhmal and Boudh districts under Phulbani telecom district to extend the telecom network within a stipulated period, Mr Patnaik said. Ten telephone exchanges are being covered under broadband system including Phulbani and Boudh the biggest exchanges of the district. The BB system is going to be inaugurated by September, he said. 25677 subscribers have already been provided with the telecom facility under both prepaid and post paid mobile connection, and 12394 landline subscribers have also been given connections through 47 telephone exchanges in this Telecom district Mr Patnaik further said. n sns
PHULBANI, Sept. 12: With the launching of mobile net work of BSNL at Raikia and Kalinga today the number of stations covered under mobile net work service in Phulbani telecom district has now gone up to 14. Construction of another 12 stations will be completed by next year, Mr. B. Patnaik telecom district engineer, Phulbani told the Statesman here today. The Centre has identified 982 more villages in Kandhmal and Boudh districts under Phulbani telecom district to extend the telecom network within a stipulated period, Mr Patnaik said. Ten telephone exchanges are being covered under broadband system including Phulbani and Boudh the biggest exchanges of the district. The BB system is going to be inaugurated by September, he said. 25677 subscribers have already been provided with the telecom facility under both prepaid and post paid mobile connection, and 12394 landline subscribers have also been given connections through 47 telephone exchanges in this Telecom district Mr Patnaik further said. n sns
nature spot in Kandhamala
Original Posted URL : http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/?p=360
Grangu Kuti: nature spot in Kandhamala
Nature spots, Kandhamala chitta August 2nd. 2007, 4:04pm
Following are excerpts from a Pioneer report by Pradipta Mishra.
Orissa is a real treasure hunt for nature lovers and off-beat tourists. ..
One such hidden spot is Grangu Kuti or Ganga Kuti in tribals-dominated Kandhamal district. Thirteen km from Raikia, a small town above Kalinga Ghat in Kandhamal district, Grangu Kuti is about 260 km from Bhubaneswar. Along the way one comes across beautiful tribal villages and dense forests along with ancient townships like Bhanjanagar, famous for its enchanting lake, and Ghumusar Udayagiri. A drive to Grangu Kuti is like a good appetiser before a lavish lunch.
In local Kui language, Grangu means dangerous and Kuti connotes gorge. Wordsworth, however, would have called it a heavenly gorge. Such is the beauty of the place that it would turn a hardcore criminal a poet!
Grangu Kuti is a deep gorge surrounded by cloud-capped tall and densely-forested mountains. Local tourists and picnickers go down to the bottom of the gorge to listen to the breathing of nature goddess. Sound of the waterfall nearby and that of the small fountain flowing close to your leg with its crystal clear water is a lifetime experience.
The gorge is about one and a half km long and its width nearly one km. One can go either side of it and go deep as well. The whole area is a lavish feast to one’s eyes. But for one’s belly, he has to travel three km, even for a packet of biscuits. Lunch is 13 km away at Raikia. And accommodation! Forget about a hotel; the only nearest place to stay is a PWD bungalow at Raikia. Here too, one has to do a three-km walk for his morning tea.
… Moreover, the place is only about 50 km from a better-known tourist destination, Daringibadi. …
In fact, Gangru Kutis and Daringibadis have all the potential to emerge as international tourism hubs as they possess tall hills, virgin forests, perennial fountains and charming flora and fauna.
Grangu Kuti: nature spot in Kandhamala
Nature spots, Kandhamala chitta August 2nd. 2007, 4:04pm
Following are excerpts from a Pioneer report by Pradipta Mishra.
Orissa is a real treasure hunt for nature lovers and off-beat tourists. ..
One such hidden spot is Grangu Kuti or Ganga Kuti in tribals-dominated Kandhamal district. Thirteen km from Raikia, a small town above Kalinga Ghat in Kandhamal district, Grangu Kuti is about 260 km from Bhubaneswar. Along the way one comes across beautiful tribal villages and dense forests along with ancient townships like Bhanjanagar, famous for its enchanting lake, and Ghumusar Udayagiri. A drive to Grangu Kuti is like a good appetiser before a lavish lunch.
In local Kui language, Grangu means dangerous and Kuti connotes gorge. Wordsworth, however, would have called it a heavenly gorge. Such is the beauty of the place that it would turn a hardcore criminal a poet!
Grangu Kuti is a deep gorge surrounded by cloud-capped tall and densely-forested mountains. Local tourists and picnickers go down to the bottom of the gorge to listen to the breathing of nature goddess. Sound of the waterfall nearby and that of the small fountain flowing close to your leg with its crystal clear water is a lifetime experience.
The gorge is about one and a half km long and its width nearly one km. One can go either side of it and go deep as well. The whole area is a lavish feast to one’s eyes. But for one’s belly, he has to travel three km, even for a packet of biscuits. Lunch is 13 km away at Raikia. And accommodation! Forget about a hotel; the only nearest place to stay is a PWD bungalow at Raikia. Here too, one has to do a three-km walk for his morning tea.
… Moreover, the place is only about 50 km from a better-known tourist destination, Daringibadi. …
In fact, Gangru Kutis and Daringibadis have all the potential to emerge as international tourism hubs as they possess tall hills, virgin forests, perennial fountains and charming flora and fauna.
Red-buster road on PMO table
Article From Calcutta Telegraph
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070630/asp/frontpage/story_7995397.asp
Bhubaneswar/New Delhi, June 29: A decision on 1,700km answer to the Naxalite arson across three states — the Vijayawada-Ranchi corridor — lies with the Prime Minister’s Office now.
National highway status, however, eludes the dream project of chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who has been harping on this road project at every meeting of Maoist-affected states and at Prime Minister-Planning Commission discussions.
The proposed highway will pass through 12 districts of Orissa, including the Maoist-ridden Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj.
The Orissa stretch of the inter-state road will start from Motu in Malkangiri district in the south and terminate at Tiring in Mayurbhanj district in the north.
The chief minister felt that if the corridor passing through the Maoist affected states of Jharkhand, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh is constructed, it would usher in economic development in the region and thereby reduce the intensity of Left-wing extremism.
Works minister A.U. Singhdeo said out of the total 1,219km passing through Orissa, 215km would be built by the state government with World Bank assistance, while another 106km would be covered under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna.
Another 237km was proposed to be taken up by the National Highways Authority of India.
Though the state government has demanded national highway status for the project, the proposal is still pending with the Centre, the minister said.
Sources in the national capital said a detailed project report (DPR) is being prepared by the ministry of shipping and transport and the costs will decide whether the highway will be a two-lane or two-lane-with-paved-shoulders.
Implementing agency for the project will be decided when the ministry of finance and Planning Commission finalises the project, sources said.
Giving details of the progress of the 509km construction already taken up, Singhdeo said work on the Phulbani-Bhanjanagar stretch (80km) had already commenced with additional central assistance of Rs 20 crore, while tender had been floated for 64km Malkangiri-Jeypore portion, which would be opened in July 31.
For the rest 610km, tenders will be invited soon for preparation of a detailed project report, he said. Responding to a request of Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Congress MLA from Koraput, Singhdeo said the government would consider setting up an office of chief engineer at Koraput to monitor the work.
“Usually it costs anywhere between Rs 1-2 crore,” said an engineer working on the project.
About 314km of the road falls in Andhra Pradesh, 197.13km in Jharkhand and the 1219km in Orissa.
The highway is ploughing funds from the respective governments of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand, the Centre and the Union rural development ministry.
The route is something like this: Vijayawada-Kodar-Khammam-Motu-Malkangiri-Jeypore-Koraput-Rayagada-Digapahandi-Aska-Phulbani-Boudhi-Deogarh-Keonjhar-Tiring-Hata-Chaibasa-Chakradharpur-Khunti-Ranchi (see map).
Since the Naxalites are rapidly infiltrating Orissa, apart from Karnataka, security experts feel the Centre should decide on the project at the earliest and implement it fast.
“After five years, the rebels may not let you work,” said an expert from Chhattisgarh working on the project.
He added that some of the stretches like from Koraput to Rayagada are heavily affected by the Naxalites and need security.
In Jharkhand, engineers working on the project disclosed that contractors have been paying the Naxalites regularly in order to progress with work.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070630/asp/frontpage/story_7995397.asp
Bhubaneswar/New Delhi, June 29: A decision on 1,700km answer to the Naxalite arson across three states — the Vijayawada-Ranchi corridor — lies with the Prime Minister’s Office now.
National highway status, however, eludes the dream project of chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who has been harping on this road project at every meeting of Maoist-affected states and at Prime Minister-Planning Commission discussions.
The proposed highway will pass through 12 districts of Orissa, including the Maoist-ridden Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj.
The Orissa stretch of the inter-state road will start from Motu in Malkangiri district in the south and terminate at Tiring in Mayurbhanj district in the north.
The chief minister felt that if the corridor passing through the Maoist affected states of Jharkhand, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh is constructed, it would usher in economic development in the region and thereby reduce the intensity of Left-wing extremism.
Works minister A.U. Singhdeo said out of the total 1,219km passing through Orissa, 215km would be built by the state government with World Bank assistance, while another 106km would be covered under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna.
Another 237km was proposed to be taken up by the National Highways Authority of India.
Though the state government has demanded national highway status for the project, the proposal is still pending with the Centre, the minister said.
Sources in the national capital said a detailed project report (DPR) is being prepared by the ministry of shipping and transport and the costs will decide whether the highway will be a two-lane or two-lane-with-paved-shoulders.
Implementing agency for the project will be decided when the ministry of finance and Planning Commission finalises the project, sources said.
Giving details of the progress of the 509km construction already taken up, Singhdeo said work on the Phulbani-Bhanjanagar stretch (80km) had already commenced with additional central assistance of Rs 20 crore, while tender had been floated for 64km Malkangiri-Jeypore portion, which would be opened in July 31.
For the rest 610km, tenders will be invited soon for preparation of a detailed project report, he said. Responding to a request of Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Congress MLA from Koraput, Singhdeo said the government would consider setting up an office of chief engineer at Koraput to monitor the work.
“Usually it costs anywhere between Rs 1-2 crore,” said an engineer working on the project.
About 314km of the road falls in Andhra Pradesh, 197.13km in Jharkhand and the 1219km in Orissa.
The highway is ploughing funds from the respective governments of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand, the Centre and the Union rural development ministry.
The route is something like this: Vijayawada-Kodar-Khammam-Motu-Malkangiri-Jeypore-Koraput-Rayagada-Digapahandi-Aska-Phulbani-Boudhi-Deogarh-Keonjhar-Tiring-Hata-Chaibasa-Chakradharpur-Khunti-Ranchi (see map).
Since the Naxalites are rapidly infiltrating Orissa, apart from Karnataka, security experts feel the Centre should decide on the project at the earliest and implement it fast.
“After five years, the rebels may not let you work,” said an expert from Chhattisgarh working on the project.
He added that some of the stretches like from Koraput to Rayagada are heavily affected by the Naxalites and need security.
In Jharkhand, engineers working on the project disclosed that contractors have been paying the Naxalites regularly in order to progress with work.
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