Archive for August, 2007

Semiconductor Technology Innovation Center at Bhubaneswar Infocity SEZ

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, IT, IT, Back office, BPO, Khordha, Semiconductors, SEZs Comments Off on Semiconductor Technology Innovation Center at Bhubaneswar Infocity SEZ

Following is an excerpt from a Pioneer report

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday laid the foundation stone of the Semiconductor Technology Innovation Centre. The centre will be the first of its kind in the country and will mark the beginning of a new era in the development of the IT Industry in Orissa.

Silicon Park will be established in Infocity SEZ with total project outlay of Rs 80 crore over a period of five years. The centre would provide employment opportunities to 1,600 software professionals …

Laying the foundation stone, Patnaik said the centre would take up chip design, embedded software development for products used in IT, Telecommunication and emerging technologies. It will also provide an entrepreneurial business environment and a semiconductor product eco-system.

“My Government is actively considering declaring Electronics and hardware manufacturing as a thrust sector,” he said, adding that the State Government is pursuing an ambitious target of achieving one billion US dollar in software export from the State by 2012.

Chairman of the STG Pvt Ltd M Chandrasekhar Reddy and eminent scientist from Silicon Valley Damodar Reddy were present on the occasion.

The report in New Indian Express on the same event has the following extra information.

The Chief Minister announced that the State Government will set up three more IT special economic zones (SEZs) in the State.

One of them, the knowledge industry township, will be set up jointly with the Union Urban Development Ministry and NASSCOM while the second one will be established by DLF.

While the above report mentions about three new SEZ’s, it only talks about two. The following from Samaja mentions that the third one will be a BPO based SEZ.

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Controlling rainy season pests of rice plants: article from Samaja

Rice-n-Paddy Comments Off on Controlling rainy season pests of rice plants: article from Samaja

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Central insurance program for people without houses

INSURANCE, Insurance for homeless Comments Off on Central insurance program for people without houses

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Success of Biju KBK and Gopabandhu Grameen Yojana – Samaja

Biju KBK Yojana, Gopabandhu Grameena Yojana Comments Off on Success of Biju KBK and Gopabandhu Grameen Yojana – Samaja

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Progress in road construction in Keonjhar district: Samaja

Jajpur, Jajpur Rd- Vyasanagar- Duburi- Kalinganagar, Kalinganagar - Tarini - Keonjhar, Keonjhar, Roads, highways and Bus stands Comments Off on Progress in road construction in Keonjhar district: Samaja

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Organic farming; Pests of rice plants: articles from Samaja

Organic farming, Rice-n-Paddy Comments Off on Organic farming; Pests of rice plants: articles from Samaja

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Orissa government efforts to attract tourists: Samaja

TOURISM, ENTERTAINMENT and SHOPPING Comments Off on Orissa government efforts to attract tourists: Samaja

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Inauguration of Orissa’s first auto component complex

Auto, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack- Kalinganagar, Cuttack Comments Off on Inauguration of Orissa’s first auto component complex

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Following are excerpts from Telegraph’s report on it.

Laying the foundation stone of RSB Group’s auto-component complex at Choudwar, Patnaik said the Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited would set up the industrial park that would house several auto-component manufacturers at Choudwar area of Cuttack.

The chief minister added his government would soon announce a policy for development of small and medium industries.

RSB group, a leading engineering and components manufacturing company is setting up Rs 360cr multi-product automobile component manufacturing project near Choudwar over 300 acre.

The project, to be set up in phases over five to seven years, would consist of a forging unit, an iron-casting unit, aluminium die-casting unit, machine shop and assembling unit. The casting and forging unit is expected to generate an estimated annual turnover of Rs 1,600cr by the end of fifth year and would generate employment for 2,500 people by that time.

Group chairman R.K. Behera said the project would cater to the requirement of Tata Motors. …
Ramakrishna Forgings, an Indian firm manufacturing auto components has expressed an interest to establish another plant near Chowdwar.Ipicol officials estimate the likely investment in the sector to be more than Rs 2,000 crore. Ipicol is trying to lure more investment into the sector by highlighting the easy availability of good quality pig iron and steel ingots, good quality pure aluminum ingots, steel flat products (plates, sheets HR and CR) and rounds.

Dear PM: Drawing your attention towards KBK and tribal area Rail connectivity

APPEAL to readers, CENTER & ODISHA, ECOR, Railway network in Odisha, Railways, SER 13 Comments »

Following is the letter I sent to the PM with copy to Orissa CM, MPs, planning commission and chairman of the railway board. Please consider sending a similar letter to them. If possible please fax the letter to the PMO rather than emailing him.

PM’s fax numbers are 23016857 , 23015603 (Delhi STD code is 11)
Lalu’s fax number is 23387333

To: Dr. Manmohan Singh

Prime Minister

India

Cc: Mr. Arjun Singh, Minister of HRD, Government of India

Cc: Mr. Lalu Yadav, Minister of Railways, Government of India

Cc: Mr. Chandrasekhar Sahu, Union Minister of State, Government of India

Cc: Mr. Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister, Orissa

Cc: Members of Parliament from Orissa

Cc: Media

Subject: KBK and other adivasi areas of Orissa and India can not be left behind while rest of India marches forward with high speed rail; metro rail and freight corridors

Dear Dr. Singh:

First we would like to convey our heartfelt thanks for your recent higher education initiatives that you outlined in the last Independence Day speech; in particular, the announcement regarding 8 new IITs, 7 new IIMs, and 30 new central Universities with 16 of them going to states that do not have any central university. We sincerely hope that in picking the locations for these institutions you will keep in mind that for 60 years no IIT, IIM or central university have been established in Orissa. As a rapidly industrializing state, our highest priority is a new IIT. Following that, since there already exists 23 central universities, and you plan to have 30 more, and Orissa has none yet, our next priority is to have two new central universities in Orissa. We also request that the central university that is proposed to be in the KBK region should have multiple campuses so that it can cover the vast and tribal areas of KBK and because of the very high tribal and backward population in that area this university should be treated at par with the central universities in the north east. Again, we thank you from our heart for your initiatives and thank the HRD minister Mr. Arjun Singh for his role in this.

The above initiatives have restored in us some of the faith that we had earlier lost in your government. Now we would like to point out another burning issue with respect to Orissa that needs to be urgently addressed.

That issue is Rail connectivity to the hinterlands of Orissa, such as the KBK and other tribal districts of Orissa. As you are very well aware these areas are the most backward and poor areas of India; they have a very high tribal population; and are also infested with extremists. One of the important steps in uplifting these areas is making them well connected to the rest of India. That is where Rail Connectivity comes to picture.

As one of the earlier planning commissions has noted

in http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/stateplan/sdr_orissa/sdr_orich2.doc

“Railways have always played an important role in economic development and rapid social transformation in all parts of the globe. It is one of the key economic infrastructures. However, it is most unfortunate that in a poor and backward state like Orissa, development of rail networks has received much less attention of the Central Government in the post-independence period. There are as many as seven districts like Boudh, Kandhamal, Deogarh, Nayagarh, Kendrapara, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur out of the 30 districts of the state, which do not have any railway line passing through them. In the year 1998-99, the density of railway route length per 1000 sq. km of area in Orissa was only 15.03 km as against 42.66 km in West Bengal and 19.11 km. at all-India level”.

The Railway ministry has grand plans for the 11th plan period that includes two freight corridors, high speed rail, and metro rail in several areas and it has a budget of Rs 251,000 crores. While none of these high flying plans (2 freight corridors, high speed rail segments and metro rails) are in Orissa, we are not in a position to rue over that; rather we request that while the rest of India marches forward with 2 freight corridors, high speed rail segments and metro rails during the 11th plan, KBK and other adivasi areas of Orissa and India be not left behind. The particular lines we are referring to are:

 

1) Khurda – Balangir

2) Gunupur-Theruvali

3) Lanjigarh Rd – Bhawanipatna – Junagarh – Nabarangpur- Jeypore – Malkangiri – Bhadrachalam Rd (Andhra Pradesh)

4) Talcher – Bimlagarh

5) Bangiriposi -Gurumahishasini and/or Buramara-Chakulia.

6) Badampahar-Keonjhar

Often the Railway ministry and Railway board has labeled some of the pending lines in these areas as unprofitable and has given them such a low priority that at the current rate of funding (annual allocation less than the inflation) these lines may never be completed.

While the railways calculation may show these lines as unprofitable; they are not unprofitable if one considers how much Indian Railways earns from these areas. For example, the ECOR GM Shri Surendra Singh Khurana in his Independence Day address (available at http://eastcoastrailway.gov.in/custom/press_release/index.php) while talking about ECOR, said: “With only 4% of the track of Indian Railways, we cater for about 12% of total loading of Indian railway and about 7% of total earning of IR.” In regards to profitability, for the 2003-2004 and 2004-05 the working expense as part of gross earnings of the ECOR zone is the second best at 66.64% and 61.75% respectively. The profit making zones in those years were South east central (62.8% and 56.1%), ECOR (66.64% and 61.75%), North central (76.33% and 66.71%), Central (80.29% and 82.48%), South eastern (81.24% and 83.51%), South Central (85.72% and 83.62%), West Central (80.99% and 84.08%), South Western (91.35% and 86.15%), Western (93.21% and 90.85%), Northern (91.08% and 92.89%) and East Central (93.65% and 98.9%). The loss making zones were: metro Kolkata (247% and 264.38%), North Eastern (151.93% and 160.88%), Northeast Frontier (147.98% and 159.45%), Eastern (161.3% and 152.84%), Southern (118.55% and 120.79%) and North Western ( 106.26% and 104.98%).

So, if the Indian Railway is making 7% of its earning from ECOR and a much higher percent of its profit from ECOR is not it unfair to give only 4% of its track to ECOR? This means profit and revenue from ECOR is being ploughed into rest of India. Nothing wrong with that per se, except that the part of ECOR that is neglected is the most backward part of India, and has a high tribal percentage. Some of these tribals, without proper connectivity, risk their lives and travel on the roof of freight trains. Does India and Indian Railways want to take money and investment away from the tribal and backward areas to enrich its metro residents?

Dr. Singh: Is that the India of your dreams? Is that the equality and inclusiveness that you talk about in your speeches?

We don’t think so!

Perhaps this has not come to your notice. Perhaps your current planning commission has not brought this to your notice. It is our sincere request that you look at this issue and include in the 11th plan the completion of the earlier mentioned lines and the establishment of a few rail factories in the backward and tribal areas of India, possible 1-2 in the KBK districts.

(Additional data points are in the attached document.)

Sincerely,

Chitta Baral

Writing and literature awards

Odia literature Comments Off on Writing and literature awards

Following are excerpts from a Pioneer report:

Versatile literary critic, translator, book editor and former Professor of the Berhampur University, Sudarshan Acharya, was conferred the coveted Atibadi Jagannath Das award for literature for the year 2006 here on Tuesday.

The award, instituted by the Orissa Sahitya Akademi, is the State’s highest honour for literature, consisted of a cash prize of Rs 25,000 and a citation. …

Thirty prominent litterateurs were felicitated and awarded on the occasion for their contributions to Oriya literature.

The awards for the years 2003 went to Shanti Mohapatra (novel), Sadananda Tripathy (short story), Gopal Krushna Rath (poetry), Mihir Kumar Meher (drama and one-act play), Sulochana Das (essay and criticism), Hrudananda Ray (biography and travelogue), Suryamani Khuntia (translation), Birakishore Padhi (children’s literature) and Narayan Prasad Singh (lyrics). The winners for 2004 were Rashmi Roul (novel), Rajanikanta Mohanty (short story), Nrusingha Kumar Rath (poetry), Dilliswar Moharana (drama and one-act play), Baishnab Charan Mohanty (essay and literary criticism), Subash Chandra Mishra (biography and travel writing), Kanan Mishra (translation), Harihar Shukla (children’s literature) and Gurukrushna Goswami (lyrics).

Each of the awards carries a cash prize of Rs 10,000, besides citations.

The twelve litterateurs felicitated for the year 2006 were Bishnu Charan Mohanty (Bhubaneswar), Subodh Kumar Chatterjee (Cuttack), Prafulla Chandra Patnaik (Puri), Rabindra Kumar Praharaj (Bhubaneswar), Hadibandhu Mirdha (Bargarh), Arabinda Mohapatra (Sambalpur), Bhagaban Nayak Barma (Bhadrak), Sabitri Devi (Cuttack), Krushna Prasad Mohapatra (Bhubaneswar), Nityananda Nayak (Bhubaneswar), Bipin Behari Khamari (Bhubaneswar) and Purnamasi Jani (Phulbani). …

NHDP Phase IV: Two laning with paved shoulder of 20,000 km of the NH

CENTER & ODISHA, Roads, highways and Bus stands 1 Comment »

Following is from a PIB.

National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase-IV is at initial stage of planning wherein two laning with paved shoulder of 20,000 km of National Highways is envisaged with an estimated cost of Rs. 27,800 crore. NHDP Phase-IV is targeted to be completed by December, 2015.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Shri K.H. Muniyappa in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

Six laning using BOT

Balasore, Bhadrakh, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Bhubaneswar-Berhampur, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack- Kalinganagar, Cuttack, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kalinganagar- Chandikhol- Paradip, Kalinganagar-Bhadrakh, Kendrapada, Khordha, Puri, Roads, highways and Bus stands Comments Off on Six laning using BOT

Following is from a PIB.

The Government accorded approval for undertaking six laning of 6,500 km of National Highways comprising 5,700 km of Golden Quadrilateral and balance 800 km on other sections, under National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase-V.    As per the approved implementation mechanism for NHDP Phase-V, stretches of 100 km or more that have been completed at least two years ago and contractual actions on previous contracts have been completed, are being included in the year-wise programme.   Where the distance between two cities is less than 100 km, such stretches are also being included as exception cases.   Cost per km has been estimated as Rs. 6.34 crore. 

            List of proposed stretches of National Highways in different states under NHDP Phase-V is given below:

SIX LANING OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

Stretches

States

Length

(in km)

(a)     Golden Quadrilateral

Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu,

Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand.

5700

(b)     Other Stretches

   

(i)    Panipat-Jalandhar

Haryana and Punjab

300

(ii)   Delhi-Hapur-Moradabad

Delhi and Uttar Pradesh

170

(iii)  Samkhiali-Gandhidham

Gujarat

56

(iv)  Indore-Dewas

Madhya Pradesh

55

(v)   Agra-Gwalior

Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh

85

(vi)  Chandikhol-Paradeep

Orissa

77

(vii) Ludiana-Chandigarh

Punjab

82

  Feasibility report for seven stretches have been completed by the technical consultants and detailed is given below: 

STATUS OF FEASIBILITY REPORT FOR SEVEN STRETCHES UNDER NHDP PHASE-V.

Sl. No.

Stretch

NH No.

Length

(in km)

Cost per km

(in crore)

1

Panipat-Jalandhar

1

291.100

7.55

2

Gurgaon-Kotputli-Jaipur

8

225.600

6.72

3

Surat-Dahisar

8

239.000

5.67

4

Chilkaluripet-Vijayawada

5

82.500

6.55

5

Chennai-Tada

5

43.400

7.71

6

Chandikhole-Jagatpur-Bhubaneswar

5

67.000

15.39

7

Delhi-Hapur

24

52.000

10.36

 Total 203 firms have applied for pre-qualification for eight stretches under NHDP Phase-V.

            NHDP Phase-V is scheduled for completion by December, 2012.   Estimated civil construction cost for Gurgaon-Kotputli-Jaipur of 225 km is Rs. 1517 crores.  The likely time period for completion is 30 months from the appointed date.

This information was given  by the Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Shri K.H. Muniyappa in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

BDOs allowed to sanction projects up to Rs 2 lakh in Orissa

ADMINISTRATION & REPs, State Bureaucrats (IAS, OAS, etc.) Comments Off on BDOs allowed to sanction projects up to Rs 2 lakh in Orissa

The Pioneer reported that

In order to expedite works at rural level, the State Government has decided to give more powers to the Block Development Officer (BDO). The BDOs can sanction project up to Rs 2 lakh without getting the prior approval from the Chairman of the Block. A notification to this effect was issued on Wednesday.

Earlier, the BDO was competent enough to sanction a work upto Rs 25,000. If a BDO wanted to give a project more than Rs 25,000 to any one, he had to take the permission of the chairman of the block. The chairman had to make a counter sign on the bill.

Revisiting Coal Royalty: A Samaja article by Trilochan Kanungo

Coal, Mining royalty Comments Off on Revisiting Coal Royalty: A Samaja article by Trilochan Kanungo

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Railways in North and Northwest Orissa

Angul, Angul - Talcher - Sukinda (under constr.), Balasore, Bargarh, Bhadrakh, Bouda, Deogarh, ECOR, Jakhapura - Daitari, Jharsuguda-Sambalpur- Bargarh, Jharsugurha, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Railway maps, Rourkela-Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sambalpur - Talcher, SER, Sonepur, Sundergarh, Talcher - Bimlagarh (under constr.), Titlagarh - Jharsugurha Jn, Tomka - Jaroli Comments Off on Railways in North and Northwest Orissa

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Railways in South and Southwest Orissa

Balangir, Bargarh, Bouda, Deogarh, ECOR, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, KBK Plus district cluster, Khurda Rd - Balangir (under constr.), Koraput, Koraput - Rayagada, Lanjigarh Rd - Junagarh, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Naupada - Gunupur (Gauge conversion), Nuapada, Railway maps, Rayagada, Sonepur, Titlagarh - Jharsugurha Jn, Vizag ..Shimiliguda - Koraput - Dhanapur ..Kirandul Comments Off on Railways in South and Southwest Orissa

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Railways in Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada districts: Naupada-Gunupur and lines around Chilika Lake

Bhadrakh-Sarla Rd...Vizag, ECOR, Gajapati, Ganjam, Khordha, Khurda Rd - Puri, Naupada - Gunupur (Gauge conversion), Railway maps, Rayagada Comments Off on Railways in Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada districts: Naupada-Gunupur and lines around Chilika Lake

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Railways around Greater Kalinganagar

Angul, Angul - Talcher - Sukinda (under constr.), Bhadrakh, Bhadrakh-Sarla Rd...Vizag, Cuttack, Cuttack - Paradeep, Dhenkanal, ECOR, Haridaspur - Paradeep (under constr.), Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Jajpur Rd- Vyasanagar- Duburi- Kalinganagar, Jakhapura - Daitari, Kalinganagar - Kamkhya Nagar - Talcher, Kalinganagar - Panikoili - Jajpur - Kendrapara, Kalinganagar - Tarini - Keonjhar, Kalinganagar corridors, Kalinganagar- Chandikhol- Paradip, Kendrapada, Keonjhar, Khordha, Railway maps, Railways, Rajathagara - Nergundi, Talcher - Barang Comments Off on Railways around Greater Kalinganagar

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Railways around Greater Bhubaneswar

Angul, Bhadrakh-Sarla Rd...Vizag, Bhubaneswar and vicinity, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Bhubaneswar-Berhampur, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack- Kalinganagar, Bhubaneswar-Dhenkanal- Anugul, Bhubaneswar-Nayagarh, Bhubaneswar-Puri, Corridors emanating from Bhubaneswar metro, Cuttack, Cuttack - Paradeep, Cuttack-Paradip, Dhenkanal, ECOR, Ganjam, Haridaspur - Paradeep (under constr.), Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Khordha, Khurda Rd - Balangir (under constr.), Khurda Rd - Puri, Nayagarha, Puri, Puri - Konark, Railway maps, Rajathagara - Nergundi, Talcher - Barang Comments Off on Railways around Greater Bhubaneswar

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ECOR data as of April 1 2007

ECOR Comments Off on ECOR data as of April 1 2007

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The ones that are missing in the above are:

  • Junagarh-Nabarangpur-Jeypore-Malkangiri-Bhadrachalam Rd (Andhra Pradesh)
  • Bangiriposi-Gurumahishasini and/or Buramara-Chakulia.
  • Badampahar-Keonjhar

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Station names in Haridaspur-Paradip, Talcher – Sukinda Rd, Khurda Rd-Balangir and Lanjigarh Rd – Junagarh segments

ECOR Comments Off on Station names in Haridaspur-Paradip, Talcher – Sukinda Rd, Khurda Rd-Balangir and Lanjigarh Rd – Junagarh segments

Plans for a modern youth hostel in Bhubaneswar

Berhampur- Gopalpur- Chhatrapur, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Ganjam, Khordha, TOURISM, ENTERTAINMENT and SHOPPING, Youth Hostels Comments Off on Plans for a modern youth hostel in Bhubaneswar

Following is from Dharitri. It also talks about the stadium that is to be built in Berhampur.

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National Handloom Development Corporation to establish fibre godowns in many districts

Angul, Balangir, Bhadrakh, Bouda, Cottage industry and Handlooms, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Jharsugurha, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, KBK Plus district cluster, Kendrapada, Keonjhar, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nayagarha, Nuapada, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Sundergarh, Uncategorized Comments Off on National Handloom Development Corporation to establish fibre godowns in many districts

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