Archive for the 'Mayurbhanj' Category

Eighteen Odisha districts will get two Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellows (PMRDFs) each to help the district administration

Balangir, Central govt. schemes, Deogarh, Extremist infested districts program, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, Keonjhar, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nayagarha, Nuapada, Rayagada, RURAL & SPECIAL PROGRAMS, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Sundergarh 2 Comments »

A brief description of the program is given here and here. Following are some excerpts.

About PMRDF The Ministry of Home Affairs has identified 60 districts of the country as Left Wing Extremism (LWE) districts. The Government of India has launched a special programme in these districts called Integrated Action Plan (IAP). On 13th of September, Union Minister of Rural Development Mr. Jairam Ramesh announced a scheme of PM’s Rural Development Fellows for deploying young professionals in each of the IAP districts to assist the District Collector. Mission PMRDFs will basically function as development facilitators, they will assist the Collector and his/her colleagues in each of the IAP districts and provide them with the necessary analysis of situations and how they should be handled. The fellows would actively pursue a district programming approach following three key strategies given below:

• Strengthen the district resource base for programming by finding ways of resourcing all the planned activities and rational budgeting.

• Establish or strengthen systems by exploring alternative ways of delivering services to reach the most deprived communities.

• Trigger processes which would support the changes that have been envisioned in this approach (e.g. village planning).

This would be complemented by a set of supportive actions such as building the capacity of district and block officials; triggering district-wide social mobilization processes particularly among the youth; achieve a ground swell of support and build strong relationships with the Panchayats.

The number of districts is now 78 instead of 60. Each of these districts will have two fellows. 18 of those districts are in Odisha. They are listed below. We welcome the 36 fellows that will be working in those districts in Odisha and will be happy to help them in any way possible.

Current and planned eco-toursim centers in Odisha

Angul, Balasore, Bhadrakh, Bhitarakanika, Ecotourism, Gajapati, Kandhamala, Kendrapada, Mayurbhanj, Nature spots, Satkosia gorge and tiger reserve, Similpal, Waterfalls Comments Off on Current and planned eco-toursim centers in Odisha

Following is an excerpt from an article in Pioneer.

In the biodiversity management, three eco-tourism destination sites were developed in Satkosia, Bhitarakaniaka and Similipal. Community reserves and heritage sites were developed in five places. Bichitrapur mangrove area near Jaleswar, Rissia wildlife sanctuary in Baleswar wildlife division, Mandasaur in Phulbani forest division, Khasada waterfall, Black Pepper plantations, Gandahati waterfall and Red Sanders plantations in Paralakhemindi Forest Division were taken up for development as  new eco-tourism destinations.

 

SER needs to have a division HQ in Odisha (possibly in Rourkela) as more than 22% (and growing) of its route kms lie in Odisha; and without a proper voice from Odisha SER has been neglecting and making blunders in Odisha (work in progress)

APPEAL to readers, Balasore, Balasore-Baripada-Rasgovindpur, Baripada - Bangiriposi (under constr.), Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Rourkela- Kansbahal, Rupsa Jn - Baripada, SER, Sundergarh 38 Comments »

Please help me fill the missing data in the table below. (The important data we need is the route kms for the red states in Column 2 as those states do not have a division HQ of that zone.)

Zones, Zone HQ (Route kms from page 13 of 2009-10 yearbook) States where the zones lie (Route km break up) Division HQs and states they lie in
Central, Mumbai (3905) [wiki,home,map] Maharashtra, Karnataka, MP. Bhusawal, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Solapur (all Maharashtra)
Eastern, Kolkata (2414) [wiki,home,No map] West Bengal, Bihar Asansol, Howrah, Malda, Sealdah (all West Bengal)
East Central, Hazipur (3628) [wiki,home, No map] Bihar, Jharkhand, UP Danapur (Bihar), Dhanbad (Jharkhand), Mughalsarai (UP), Samastipur (Bihar), Sonpur (Bihar)
ECOR, Bhubaneswar (2572) [wiki,home,map] Odisha (1807.25), Chhatisgarh (268.50), AP (570.64)=2646.39 [from map] Khurda Rd (Odisha), Sambalpur (Odisha), Visakhapatnam (AP)
Northern, New Delhi (6968) [wiki,home,map] Punjab, Delhi, UP, J & K, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Rajasthan, Chandigarh Ambala (Haryana), Delhi, Firozpur (Punjab), Lucknow (UP), Moradabad (UP)
North Central, Allahabad (3151) [wiki,home,map]  UP, MP, Rajasthan, Haryana Agra, Allahabad, Jhanshi (all UP)
North Eastern, Gorakhpur (3667) [wiki,home]  UP, Uttaranchal, Bihar Izzatnagar (UP), Lucknow (UP), Varanasi (UP)
Northern Frontier, Guwahati (3907) [wiki,home,India map] WB, Bihar, Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh Alipurdar (WB), Katihar (Bihar), Lumdig (Assam), Rangiya (Assam), Tinsukia (Assam)
North Western, Jaipur (5459) [wiki,home,map] Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, MP. Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur (all Rajasthan)
Southern, Chennai (5098) [wiki,home] Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Pondicherry Chennai (TN), Madurai (TN), Palghat (Kerala) Trichi (TN), Trivendrum (Kerala)
South Central, Secunderabad (5803) [wiki,home,map]

AP (4348.4), Maharashtra (1115.8), MP (70.2), Tamil Nadu (6.9),  Karnataka (268.7) = 5810
[from map]

Guntakal (AP), Guntur (AP), Hyderabad (AP), Nanded (Maha), Secunderabad (AP), Vijaywada (AP)
SER, Kolkata (2631) [wiki,home]

West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha (589+)

2004 data: West Bengal (894), Jharkhand (954), Odisha (574.6) = 2422.6

Adra (WB), Charadharpur (Jharkhand), Kharagpur (WB), Ranchi (Jharkhand)
SE Central, Bilaspur (2447) [wiki,home,no map]

Chhatisgrh (891.3), Maharashtra (662.3), Odisha (51.1), MP (792.5) = 2397.3 Total [From a 2005 map]

But BG distribution is as follows:
Chhatisgrh (802.3), Maharashtra (482.1), Odisha (51.1), MP (263.6) = 1599.3 [From a 2005 map]

Bilaspur (Chhatisgarh), Raipur (Chhatisgarh), Nagpur (Maharashtra)
South Western, Hubli (3177) [wiki,home,map] Karnataka (2702.6), Andhra Pradesh (224.2), Tamil Nadu (174.3), Maharashtra (27.9), Goa (69.3) = 3198.3 [from map] Bangalore, Hubli, Mysore  (all Karnataka)
Western, Mumbai (6182) [wiki,home,map] Gujarat, Maharashtra, MP, Rajasthan. Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Bhavnagar (Gujarat), Mumbai (Maha), Ratlam (MP), Rajkot (Gujarat), Vadodara (Gujarat)
West Central, Jabalpur (2965) [wiki,home,map] MP, Rajasthan Bhopal (MP), Jabalpur (MP), Kota (Rajasthan)

 

Why it is important that SER have a division in Odisha?

  • As we will show below SER, without a proper representation in Odisha, has badly messed up in Odisha.
  • SER has neglected stations in Odisha. In particular, it has neglected Rourkela, the second largest metropolitan area of Odisha in many ways. For example, Rourkela is not in the list of world-class stations.

How has SER messed up in Odisha?

  • The Rupsa-Bangiriposi conversion to broad gauge has been messed up badly. See page 8-9 of 2006-may-CAG report.
  • Alignment of Jaleswar – Digha line.
  • The dangling lines
  • etc.

 


Having made the point that SER needs to have a division HQ in Odisha, the best location for such a division HQ would be Rourkela. It would of course need a reorganization of the current division break-up. Below we will give some suggestions on a possible reorganization.

 

 

Odisha districts under the IAP, SRE and KBK BRGF plans (Update: SADP plans)

Balangir, Bargarh, BRGF: Backward districts program, Central govt. schemes, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Extremist infested districts program, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, KBK Plus district cluster, Keonjhar, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nayagarha, Nuapada, Programs for special districts, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Sundergarh Comments Off on Odisha districts under the IAP, SRE and KBK BRGF plans (Update: SADP plans)

Update on May6th 2012: 300 crores for Malkangiri and Sukma (Chhatisgarh) under the Special Area Development plan (SADP).


The initial list of 83 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme is at http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/LWE-aftdDist-131210.pdf. A jpg copy is given below.

In the 83 SRE districts all the expenses incurred on security in these districts are reimbursed by the MHA. These districts were identified after a survey where Maoist violence incidents are more than 20 percent of all the incidents in that district.

As per a recent news item in Pioneer, four more districts from Odisha have been included in this list. They are: Nuapada, Bargarh, Bolangir and Kalahandi.


Besides the LWE SRE scheme, there is an Integrated Action Plan for Backward and Tribal districts. Originally there were sixty such districts out of which:

(a) Five are in Odisha. They are: Deogarh, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Rayagada and Sambalpur. Each of these districts get a block grant of 30 crores.

(b) The eight KBK districts are also included in the IAP and they get the 30 crores each plus 130 crores for all 8 as part of the BRGF (Backward Regions Grant Fund). The eight KBK districts are:  Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Balangir and Sonepur.

(c) As per a recent news item in Pioneer, three more districts from Odisha have been included in this list. They are: Ganjam, Nayagarh and Jajpur.

In total there are 14 districts from Odisha that are covered under the IAP. They are: Balangir, Deogarh, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri,  Nabarangpur, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Rayagada, Sambalpur and Sonepur.

 


In total, 20 of Odisha’s 30 districts are now covered under these schemes. Following is the list.

 

  • Balangir (IAP, KBK, LWE SRE)
  • Baragarh (LWE SRE)
  • Deogarh (IAP, LWE SRE)
  • Dhenkanal (LWE SRE)
  • Gajapati (IAP, LWE SRE)
  • Ganjam (IAP, LWE SRE)
  • Jajpur (IAP, LWE SRE)
  • Kalahandi (IAP, KBK, LWE SRE)
  • Kandhamal (LWE SRE)
  • Keonjhar (LWE SRE, LWE SRE)
  • Koraput (IAP, KBK, LWE SRE)
  • Malkangiri (IAP, KBK, LWE SRE) (Update: SADP)
  • Mayurbhanj (LWE SRE)
  • Nabarangpur (IAP, KBK, LWE SRE)
  • Nayagarh (IAP, LWE SRE)
  • Nuapada (IAP, KBK, LWE SRE)
  • Rayagada (IAP, KBK, LWE SRE)
  • Sambalpur (IAP, LWE SRE)
  • Sonepur (IAP, KBK)
  • Sundergarh (LWE SRE)

The ten districts that are not covered above are: Angul, Balasore, Bhadrak, Bauda, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Jharsuguda, Kendrapada, Khurda and Puri.

ASSOCHAM proposes 16 new PPP based clusters in Odisha

Balasore, Bhadrakh, Clusters, Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj, MSE - medium and small enterprises, MSMEs, Puri Comments Off on ASSOCHAM proposes 16 new PPP based clusters in Odisha

Following is from a report in Economic Times by Nageshwar Patnaik.

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) on Wednesday proposed setting up of 16 new clusters on public-private partnership [PPP] in Orissa each accommodating about 1000 units and providing direct and indirect employment close to 4 lakh people.

Releasing the ASSOCHAM study on "Cluster Development for Inclusive Growth in Orissa" National Secretary General, D. S. Rawat said, "The total funds required for basic and essential infrastructure to these clusters will be about Rs. 480 crores. Once functional, it will contribute additional 10% revenues per annum to the exchequer, help in inclusive growth and simultaneously lead to upgradation of existing clusters.

…  In the state, there are only 26 clusters in the state recognized by the Central government as against 6500 clusters in the country out of which 450 are assisted by the government. The 16 new clusters suggested by ASSOCHAM are: Palasa (Cashew), Buditi (Brass & Bell Metal), Baripada (Sabai Grass), Dhenkanal (Powerloom), Puri (Rice Mills), Bhadrak (Rice Mill Cluster), Dhamara (Ice Plant), Basudevpur (Ice Plant), Chandbali (Chuda Cluster), Tihdi (Chuda Cluster), Basudevpur (Chuda Cluster), Bhandaripokhari (Honey), Dhamara (Honey), Betaligaon (Wood Carving), Olaga (Wood Carving) and Dhusuri (Wood Carving).

The MSME sector contributes around 40% to GDP with an estimated value of goods and services around Rs. 20 lakh crore in 2009-10. The sector is estimated to employ about 5.9 crore people in over 2.6 crore units in the country and has consistently registered a higher growth rate than the rest of the industrial sector. There are over 6000 products ranging from traditional to high-tech items, which are being manufactured by the MSMEs in India.

Centre to take over the Subarnarekha Multi-purpose Project (SMP) under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP)

Dam project, Mayurbhanj Comments Off on Centre to take over the Subarnarekha Multi-purpose Project (SMP) under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP)

Update: Following from the PIB release at http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=71375.

Centre has provided an assistance of Rs.216.817 crore for Subernrekha project to Orissa State for 2010-11. With this, the total Central assistance for this Project has gone to Rs.1,058.35 crore. Subernrekha project is an inter-state project between Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal. West Bengal component of the project is at present at initial stage and is not being posed for Central Assistance under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) after 2002-03. Jharkhand component of the project is not included in AIBP so far. Hence active component of the project under AIBP is in Orissa State only. Government of Orissa has earmarked March 2014 as the targeted completion date for Subernrekha Project. A total of 6,920 families in Orissa have been affected from this project. The Centre has been informed by the Government of Orissa that rehabilitation assistance has been paid to 2,840 families and payment is in progress for 1,699 families. The Government of Orissa has a budgetary provision of Rs.350 crore for the project for 2010-11.


Following is an excerpt from a report in Times of India.

The project, a joint venture of Jharkhand, Orissa and Bengal, aims to cover around 3.6 lakh hectares of land. Jharkhand will benefit the most as its 2.63 lakh hectares land will be irrigated. It will also generate around 500 MW hydel power. Orissa’s 90,000 hectares and West Bengal’s 5,000 hectares will also be benefited by the SMP.

… The technical advisory committee of the Central Water Commission (CWC) has approved the project under the AIBP with an estimated cost of Rs 6,613 crore in four years.

… Joint secretary of the information and public relation department Rajiv Baxi said, "The CWC has approved the proposal of the state government to take the SMP under the AIBP. According to the decision 90 per cent of the project cost will be shared by the Union government as it covers three states and the remaining cost will have to be shared by the three beneficiary states," said Baxi.

Officials in the state water resources department said the Centre’s decision would be a boon for people of the three states as it would provide irrigation facility round-the-year. "Farmers will not have to depend on the vagaries of monsoon and at the same time it will also help maintain underground water reserve," said an official.

Odisha continues to attract investors in Steel, Energy and Cement during July-September 2010

Angul, Balangir, Bargarh, Bouda, Cement, Coal, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Jharsugurha, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Paper and newsprint, Rayagada, Steel, Thermal 7 Comments »

Following is from a Business Standard report.

The state has attracted investments worth Rs51963.54 crore in the July-September quarter of 2010-11, reinforcing its image as an investor friendly destination.

… Of the 22 proposals that the state has received in the July-September period of this fiscal, seven have been in the energy sector followed by six in the steel and mines sector and three in the cement sector.

Investment proposals in the energy sector have been to the tune of Rs32024.76 crore with a cumulative capacity of 5175 Mw. Hecate Power Company Ltd has proposed to set up a 1080 Mw (4×270) thermal power plant in Bolangir district at a cost of Rs5350 crore.

Samvijaya Power and Allied Industries Ltd has proposed to set up a 1320 Mw (2×660) thermal power plant at Rampela in Jharsuguda district at an investment of Rs6828.38 crore.

Another power firm- Arissan Energy Ltd has also proposed to set up 1320 Mw (2×660) thermal power plant at the same location, entailing an investment of Rs6828.38 crore.

Similarly, Action Ispat and Power Ltd has evinced interest in setting up a 1320 Mw (2×660) thermal power plant at Puruna Pani in Boudh district at a cost of Rs8079.74 crore.

Embassy Nirman Pvt Ltd has proposed to set up a 135 Mw coal based power plant at Ghantikhal in Cuttack district at an investment of Rs618 crore.

Moser Baer Power and Infrastructures Ltd has proposed to put up a 1320 Mw (2×660) power plant in Bolangir district at a cost of Rs7400 crore.

Sonepur Energy and Oil City Pvt Ltd has lined up an investment of Rs5000 crore in setting up a gas processing plant and petrochemical complex at Sonepur in Ganjam district.

In the steel sector, ARSS Steel & Power Ltd has proposed to set up a three million tonne per annum (mtpa) steel plant at Boinda in Angul district, involving an investment of Rs10900 crore.

Similarly, Neepaz B C Dagara Steels Pvt Ltd, has planned to set up a 0.4 mtpa integrated steel plant and a 45 Mw captive power plant (CPP) at Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj district at a cost of Rs1152 crore.

International Minerals Trading Company Pvt Ltd has proposed to set up an iron ore fines beneficiation plant at Barbil in Keonjhar district at a cost of Rs150 crore.

In the cement sector, Visa Cement Ltd intends to set up a portland cement plant at Bargarh at a cost of Rs1840 crore. Jaipur Cements Pvt Ltd has proposed to set u a 0.5 mtpa cement grinding plant at Kalinganagar in Jajpur district at a cost of Rs63.50 crore.

Bhushan Infrastructure Ltd has planned an integrated township at Mangalpur in Dhenkanal district at an investment of Rs425 crore. J K Paper Ltd plans to set up a paper board plant at Jaykaypur in Rayagada district at a cost of Rs1475 crore.

Recent Odisha Tourism Department plans and initiatives

Chandaka, Chilika, Circuit: Bhubaneswar-Chilika-Puri, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Ecotourism, Ganjam, Jajpur, Kandhamala, Khordha, Koraput, Lakes, Mayurbhanj, River Cruise, Sambalpur, Sites in and around Bhubaneswar, Waterfront 1 Comment »

Following is an excerpt from a report in tathya.in.

The Empowered Committee on Infrastructure (ECI), chaired by Chief Secretary has decided to run water sports facilities at Rambha, Barkul and Satapada in Chilka lake and in Ramchandi, Nua Nai, Tampara, Jhumuka, Naraj, Hirakud, Deras, Derjang, Bhanjnagar, Upper Kolab, Upper Jonk and Pitamahal.

… To start cruise, house boat and other water sports facilities in the above locations, it was decided to rope in private players on PPP Mode.

Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) will be implementing the project and Department of Tourism will provide onsite infrastructure.

The developer will provide boats and other sporting equipments and operate and manage the facilities.

… The ECI has decided to invite bidders for development of water sports in the above places.

Recently the leading Seashore Group has started water sports facilities in Mahanadi, which has attracted great attention of the tourists.

Tourists are flocking to avail the facilities, said Prashant K Dash, Chairman of Seashore Group.

Experts feel that to start with two main places for the dare-devils of the water are Chilka and Dhabaleswar.

Barkul, Rambha, Balugaon and Satpada are the bases for visiting Chilika, where water sports can be developed in a big way.

Similarly Dhabaleswar in Cuttack also provide an excellent opportunity to enjoy water sports, feel experts.

Following is an excerpt from another report in tathya.in.

The meeting decided to hand over 9 properties of the State Tourism for renovation by the private players and it was decided that these properties would be offered to these highest bidding private players on a long-term lease of 30 years.

… These properties at Kapilas, Daringibadi, Dhabaleswar, Patharajpur, Sunabeda, Rameswar, Jaipur, Ramachandi and Aradi are to be handed over to highest bidders, ECI decided.

DOT will go for fresh tender for Ratnagiri, Nrusinghnath, Bangiriposi and Sohela, where offers were found less attractive.

The Government will also go for fresh tenders for 17 properties which failed to attract any bidder in the tendering process held earlier.

Another 10 properties will be included in the new bidding process to attract private players, said sources.

These properties include Panthashala, Panthika and Wayside Amenities Centre (WAC) in various tourist centres of the state.

With the help of these private players the properties will be given a face lift which has been rendered decrepit due to want of maintenance.

While the State Government will continue to hold the ownership of such properties, the onus will be on the private players to refurbish and maintain them.

The renovation of the properties is being done on the public private partnership (PPP) mode.

The private players, who will refurbish and maintain the properties, will give us an upfront payment besides paying the usual annual royalty”, said Mr.Tripathy.

A 3-Star hotel and a Convention Centre will be developed at Puri on PPP mode, where the DOT has 2 acres of land as Puri is the most important destination of the state.

And Puri has the potential to be developed to a Meeting Incentive Convention Exhibition Destination (MICE), said Principal Secretary Mr.Tripathy.

Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) approves remaining 600 Kms of State roads in Odisha that are part of the Ranchi-Vijaywada highway

Angul, Bouda, Deogarh, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamala, Keonjhar, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Vijaywada-Ranchi highway Comments Off on Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) approves remaining 600 Kms of State roads in Odisha that are part of the Ranchi-Vijaywada highway

Following is from a PIB release dated 5th October 2010.

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure

05-October-2010 19:48 IST

Upgradation of road from Vijayawada to Ranchi approved

The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) today approved improvement of balance 600 Km. of State roads in Orissa with a view to develop, in a phased manner, the entire 1632 Km. long Left Wing extremism affected Vijayawada-Ranchi corridor at an estimated cost of Rs.1200 crore. The project will be completed in next three years by March, 2014.

The project will also provide a good communication network between the tribal districts of Orissa and other developed areas in the State as well as to the neighbouring States of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

The project will cover Malkangiri, Jaypore, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhmal, Boudh, Sambalpur, Angul, Deogarh, Koenjhar and Mayurbhanj districts in Orissa.

BACKGROUND:

In view of growing activities of Left Wing Extremists in various States, the stretch between Vijayawada-Ranchi Route was considered for development as an integrated project by Central and State Governments. In Sept., 2009, the Government took decision to sanction remaining stretches of National Highways on Vijayawada Ranchi route in Orissa for widening to two-lane standards and undertaking preparation of Detail Project Reports (DPRs) for 600 Km. length of State Roads, which are not covered under any other programme.

***

AKT/SH/SM

Odisha Single Window Clearance Committee approves new investment of 6500 crores

Angul, Balasore, Bhadrakh, Cement, Chemicals, Food processing, INVESTMENTS and INVESTMENT PLANS, Jagatsinghpur, Keonjhar, Khordha, Manufacturing, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarha, Paper and newsprint, Sambalpur, Single Window Clearance (SLSWCA), Steel, Sundergarh 4 Comments »

Following is from a report in Hindu Businessline.

… Orissa government on Friday approved fresh investment of Rs 6,500 crore …

The investment proposals were approved by the Single Window Clearance Committee (SLWCC) meeting chaired by the chief secretary Mr B K Patnaik here.

“The 16 projects approved today will give direct employment to 15,000 people and provide indirect employment for another 25,000 persons,” Industries secretary Mr Sourav Garg told reporters adding that projects worth less than Rs 1,000 crore got clearance from the SLWCC.

Stating that the projects were in cement (4 units), food processing (one unit), manufacturing (one unit), power (one unit), paper (one unit) and steel (five units) sectors …

The name of the companies and additional details are given in this report from Samaja.

Similipal national park: a Telegraph article

Mayurbhanj, Similpal 2 Comments »

Following is from http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100913/jsp/orissa/story_12924189.jsp.

Backwardness of Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj: op-ed from Samaja

Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj Comments Off on Backwardness of Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj: op-ed from Samaja

News round-up: 3 more terminal markets at Cuttack, Berhampur & Rourkela; MOU with IPPs; 595 crores for water body upgrade; Mega food park at Malipada

Angul, Balangir, Balasore, Bargarh, Berhampur- Gopalpur- Chhatrapur, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Cuttack, Dam project, Dhenkanal, Food processing, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, KBK Plus district cluster, Khordha, Koraput, Loans, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nayagarha, Nuapada, Rayagada, Rourkela- Kansbahal, Sambalpur, Sambalpur-Burla-Jharsuguda, Sonepur, Sundergarh, Thermal, WATER MANAGEMENT Comments Off on News round-up: 3 more terminal markets at Cuttack, Berhampur & Rourkela; MOU with IPPs; 595 crores for water body upgrade; Mega food park at Malipada

1. Economic Times on 3 more terminal markets in Odisha:

Orissa government will provide four terminal market yards to enable the farmers to sell their produce at market prices…. One of the terminal has already been constructed at Sambalpur with an investment

of Rs 86 crore and three others are coming up at Cuttack, Berhampur and Rourkela,…

2. Business Standrad on MOU with five IPPs for 4800 MW power:

The cumulative capacity of these projects would be 4800 Mw and the total investment is envisaged to be Rs 23203.52 crore.

With this, the total power generation projected in the state would increase to 31100 Mw from 26300 Mw earlier.The Orissa government has already inked MoUs with 21 IPPs with an aggregate generation capacity of 26,300 Mw earlier.

… Five companies who signed the MoU included BGR Energy System, JR Powergen Private Ltd, Adhunik Power and Natural Resources Ltd, Maa Durga Thermal Power Company Ltd and Vijaya Ferro and Power Private Ltd.

JR Powergen Private Ltd would set up a 1980 Mw thermal power plant at Kishorenagar near Angul at an investment of Rs 7988 crore. BGR Energy Systems Ltd also plans to set up a 1320 Mw power plant at Bhapur in Nayagarh district at an investment of Rs 6287 crore.

Similarly, Adhunik Power and Natural Resources Ltd would set up a 1320 Mw power plant at Birmaharajpur in Sonepur district entailing an investment of Rs 8079.74 crore. All these proposals were cleared by the High Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) chaired by the chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

On the other hand, Maa Durga Thermal Power would set up a 60 Mw ((2x30Mw) power plant at Tangi in Cuttack district, involving an investment of Rs 296.95 crore. Besides, Vijaya Ferro and Power Private Ltd, planning to set up a 120 Mw power plant (IPP) at an investment of Rs 550 crore at Kesinga (Turla Khamar) in Kalahandi district.

The total land requirement for these projects have been assessed at 4360 acres and about 22,325 direct and indirect employment opportunities are expected to be created when these projects would be fully commissioned. Three projects namely BGR Energy System, JR Powergen Private Ltd, Adhunik Power and Natural Resources Ltd would source water from the Mahanadi river system, Maa Durga Thermal Power would draw water from Birupa river.Vijaya Ferro and Power plans to source water from Tel river.

3. Hindu on preliminary bids for UMPP at Bedabahal:

the government was likely to invite preliminary bids for the 4,000-MW Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) at Bedabahal in Orissa by April 30.

The request for qualification (RSQ) for the project may be issued by April 30.

This Bedabahal project would be the sixth UMPP project. The government has already awarded four UMPPs, of which three — Sasan in Madhya Pradesh, Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Tilaiya in Jharkhand — have been bagged by Reliance Power.

4. Sify on 595 crores for waterbody upgrade:

As many as 1817 water bodies, mostly the minor irrigation projects (MIPs) in 20 districts of Orissa, would be revitalized under the Centrally sponsored scheme of Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies.

These water bodies would be revitalized within a period of three years at an estimated cost of Rs 595.14 crore.

The funding for these projects would be shared between the Government of India and the Orissa government in the ratio of 90:10 for the Maoist infested, drought prone and backward districts of Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput (KBK).

For the other districts, the share between the Centre and the state government will be 25 per cent and 75 per cent respectively.

While the design ayacut of all 1817 projects was 2, 48,545.86 hectares, the irrigation potential of an additional 89,110.02 hectares of land would be revived through these projects, sources said.

Most of these projects under the RRR scheme are being taken up in south Orissa’s Ganjam district. About 800 projects under the scheme are to be taken up in the district at a cost of Rs 250.87 crore.

… Apart from Ganjam and KBK, the other districts where the scheme will be implemented are Bargarh, Bolangir, Gajapati, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Mayurbhanaj, Nabarangapur, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Balasore, Malkanagiri, Subarnapur, Deogarh and Dhenkanal.

The pilot project for this scheme was implemented for 137 projects in Ganjam and Gajapati districts at a cost of Rs 18.84 crore during 2005-06 to 2008-09.

5. Hindu on Japan giving 150 crores for an irrigation project:

Japan will also give … over Rs 150 crore for Rengali irrigation project in Orissa.

6. Hospitalitbizindia on a mega food park at Malipada, Khurda:

Government of India is likely to set up a mega food park and a marine food park at Malipara near Khurda in Orissa with an area of 282 acres. This information was given by Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister for Food Processing while responding to a demand raised by Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister, Orissa at the Orissa Investors meet 2010.

RVNL seems to be taking up Buramara-Chakulia new line with upgradation of Rupsa-Buramara

Balasore, Baripada - Bangiriposi (under constr.), Buramara - Chakulia, Dhamara port (under constr.), Mayurbhanj, Rupsa Jn - Baripada, RVNL 3 Comments »

The link http://www.rvnl.org/project/project_desc.php?id=74 has the following.

 NAME OF THE PROJECT–    BURAMARA – CHAKULIA – NEW LINE WITH UPGRADING OF RUPSA – BURAMARA
   
Plan Head NEW LINE PIU CPM KOLKATA
Rly. SOUTH EASTERN Executing Agency RVNL
State ORISSA Funding Source SPV
Length (Kms) 125.00 Status Under Development Stage.
GQ/PC PC Anticipated Cost (Cr.) 466.48

This is the latest addition to the list of RVNL projects. (15 of 60 projects in that list involve Orissa.)  It is listed as a port connectivity (PC) project. Among the various proposed ports in that area, Dhamra port is closest to be operational. This link will shorten Rupsa-Chakulia distance from 167 kms to 125 kms. More importantly it will bypass the busy Kharagpur junction and provide an alternative path to Tatanagar. It will also provide a bypass of the area that sometimes gets flooded by the Subarnarekha river.


The following map illustrates the area. (Thanks to Samit for permitting to use this map fragment from his book.)

The following is from SER’s Kharagpur division map.


 


The complete list of 15 Orissa related projects listed at http://www.rvnl.org/project/project.php are: 

  1. (11) KHARAGPUR (NIMPURA) – BHUBANESWAR (GQ electrification – completed)
  2. (12) BHUBANESWAR – KOTTAVALASA ELECT (GQ electrification – completed)
  3. (14) TALCHAR-CUTTACK-PARADEEP DOUBLING WITH 2ND BRIDGE ON RIVERS BIRUPA AND MAHANADI (GQ doubling completed)
  4. (15) DAITARI – BANSPANI NEW LINE (Port connectivity completed)
  5. (19) ANGUL – SUKINDA NEW LINE (Post connectivity – under development)
  6. (20) JAKHPURA- HARIDASPUR 3RD LINE DOUBLING (Port connectivity – recently sanctioned)
  7. (26) RAJATGARH – BARANG DOUBLING (GQ – work in progress)
  8. (27) CUTTACK – BARANG DOUBLING (GQ – work in progress)
  9. (28) KHURDA ROAD – BARANG 3RD LINE DOUBLING (GQ – work in progress)
  10. (44) HARIDASPUR – PARADEEP NEW LINE (Port connectivity – work in progress)
  11. (53) TOMKA -BANASPANI – RE (Port connectivity, electrification, recently sanctioned)
  12. (54) SAMBALPUR – TITLAGARH – DOUBLING (Port connectivity, recently sanctioned)
  13. (55) RAIPUR – TITLAGARH – DOUBLING (Port connectivity, recently sanctioned)
  14. (60) BANASPANI – JAKHPURA – DOUBLING (Port connectivity, electrification, unsanctioned)
  15. (63) BURAMARA – CHAKULIA – NEW LINE WITH UPGRADING OF RUPSA – BURAMARA (port connectivity, new line, under development)

 With the Gopalpur port getting ready, RVNL should be soon taking up the Gunupur-Theruvali line. 

Subernarekha Multipurpose Project (SMP) to be partly functional by the middle of 2010

Balasore, Dam project, Mayurbhanj, Subarnarekha Comments Off on Subernarekha Multipurpose Project (SMP) to be partly functional by the middle of 2010

Following is an excerpt from a report in Business Standard.

The Subernarekha Multipurpose Project (SMP) which is an inter-state irrigation project conceived in 1970 by the Bihar government with funds from the World Bank, is likely to be partly functional by the middle of 2010 when the 56-km canal now in final stages of construction will be operational by releasing water to irrigate at least 6,000 hectares of land in Orissa.

According to SMP sources, the Jharkhand government is likely to hand over the canal to Orissa government in the middle of next year. The Orissa government has started construction of three reservoirs to store surplus water to irrigate more lands.

…  The initial cost of the SMP was estimated at Rs 3,000 crore, but gradually the cost went up manifold. The original plan of the SMP was to erect a dam on the Kharkai at Chandil, near Jamshedpur and a barrage at Galudih to supply water to Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal using the canals.

Army base to come up in Amarda, Mayurbhanj

Baripada- Bangiriposi- Similipal foothills, Defence establishments, Mayurbhanj, New Indian Express, Indian Express, Financial express Comments Off on Army base to come up in Amarda, Mayurbhanj

Following is an excerpt from a report in expressbuzz.com.

Land has been identified near Amarda in Mayurbhanj district for establishment of the Army base in the State.

General-officer-commanding (GOC), central command, J.K. Mohanty met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here at the Secretariat today to discuss the issue.

Mohanty told mediapersons that it is now for the State Government to acquire the land and hand it over for establishment of the base.

The Centre recently informed the State Government that it had decided in principle to establish an Army base in the State and requested it to provide the required land. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had assured the Centre that it will extend all cooperation including provision of land for this purpose.

Amarda is close  to NH 60 on State highway 61. Its about 15 kms west of from Jaleswar. It is 10 km from Rasgobindpur airport and is about 50 kms from Baripada. There is an Amarda Road station between Basta and Rajghat stations.

The sequence of Railways stations around Amarda Rd are: Balasore, Rupsa Jn (18), Basta (28), Amarda Rd (34), Jaleswar (48).

Similpal among 22 new biospheres named by UNESCO

Mayurbhanj, Similpal Comments Off on Similpal among 22 new biospheres named by UNESCO

Following is an excerpt from a blog in New York Times.

 

A new batch of special spots where humans are interacting with the rest of nature in sustainable ways have been named by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The 22 new biosphere reserves include a legend-laced mountain in North Korea and a fairly populous region of towns and surrounding green space in southern Germany — the most urbanized such reserve so far.

Worldwide there are now 533 biosphere reserves in 107 countries. The designation has no force of law, but is aimed at building and promoting a network of places where people are attempting to mesh human activity with biological and scenic assets.

Nokrek, India, is a biological hotspot in the state of Meghalaya featuring undisturbed natural ecosystems and landscapes. Besides harbouring elephants, tigers, leopards and hollock gibbons, the area is also noted for its wild varieties of citrus fruit which may come to serve as a genepool for commercially produced citrus.

Pachmarhi, India, is located in the heart of India, in Madya Pradesh State, and includes tiger and other wildlife reserves. At the interface of several types of forest – tropical, moist and dry as well as sub-tropical hill forests – the area is considered a botanist’s paradise. Through their social and cultural traditions, local tribes contribute to conservation of the forest while drawing on a variety of resources for nutrition, agriculture and income generation.

Similipal, India, is a tiger reserve in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, which used to be the hunting ground of the Maharajah of Mayurbhanj. This tropical environment abounds with tigers, elephants, panthers, deer and numerous plant species, making it a living laboratory for environmental scientists. The area’s tribal inhabitants depend on agriculture, hunting and collection of forest products for their livelihoods but additional sources of income are badly needed to alleviate their poverty.

The complete list of the earlier UNESCO identified 531 Biospheres in 105 countries is at http://www.unesco.org/mab/doc/brs/BRlist2008.pdf. This earlier list has 4 from India.

 

  • Nilgiri 2000
  • Gulf of Mannar 2001
  • Sunderban 2001
  • Nanda Devi 2004

The new list of 22 has the above mentioned three sites (Nokrek, Pachmarhi, Similipal) from India.

Baidya Sing’s election symbol is Baloon

Elections 2009, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, TRIBAL WELFARE 1 Comment »

He is an independent candidate from Karanjia. A web page and blog set up for his campaign is at http://www.baidyasing.org/.

Baidyanath Sing for the Karanjia Assembly seat

APPEAL to readers, Elections 2009, Mayurbhanj 3 Comments »

Baidyanath Sing is from a poor tribal family of Aswakuti (Hudisahi) village near Similipal of Mayurbhanj district. Since his school days he had to struggle financially for his studies. He got admission to NIT Rourkela in Electrical Engineering. Lacking financial resources, he was supported by his friends for his study. After that he did his M.Tech at Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. About his early days, this is what he has to say:

Since from my school days, I struggled for existence, had to work to support my education. After getting admission into Engineering Institute, my friends supported me financially for entire four years as I was in no position to support by my own, nor my parents were. During those days, when I visited my native place, I saw lot many talented students not being able to complete their studies due to poverty, like mine. This moved me so much and forced me to think again and again. This, I realized is not an isolated case and there is a need to look at the bigger picture. From that day onwards, I realized that I have a bigger role to play than any of my friends and thought of doing something for the poor people like me. My determination was multiplied by several other problems such as deforestation by jungle mafias, ignorance of the fellow villagers about their rights and resulting exploitations. I realized that people in here needed somebody to lead them and show them ways to create a better life for themselves and the generation next. Situation demanded that, I spend my valuable asset, my times, as I myself don’t have enough funds to spin on development of my fellow sufferers. 

During his days at NIT Rourkela and IISc Bangalore he cultivated friendships with his classmates, juniors, seniors, and alumni working across India and abroad. About this interactions and how it shaped his future agenda this is what he has to say:

During our electronic e-conference all my intellectual troupes suggested insisting upon taking legitimate care of the education from the grass root level. We concluded that we will start with education i.e. we will interact with primary school teachers, guardians by arranging meeting in regular time interval and we will support attractive accessories to kids to attract them so that we can avoid drop out in the primary levels. Then I personally realized that visibility of development would take much time if we will start first with education, in the most deprived area where education is a distant dream, and our effort would be useless. They dearth in living standard and they are not at all in a position to think of education, and mostly they are busy arranging for their per day foods. So, we have to observe their weakest point, through which we can attract them more easily and we can change their mentality to bring them towards the mainstream of developed path. Then I proposed if we can start education and parallel with some income generating activities like agriculture, agricultural related activities, managing locally available natural resources by local people and villagers empowerment porgrammes. then there may be possible in “sustainable rural development” and finally my proposal was accepted by all others.

 With those agenda in mind Baidyanath Singh left his job in an IT company in Bangalore and embarked on several projects in and around his villages. In pursuing those projects the procedure he adopted is outlined as follows in his own words.

Step 1: We are having local tribal educated mass, arranging farmers’ awareness programmes in targeted village and forming FSHG (Farmers Self Help Group) and WSHG (Women Self Help Group), which consist of 15 to 20 no of members. In each village there are minimum 5 to 8 no of SHG depends on strength of the targeted village. There is no discrimination in cast, religious, BPL and APL during group formation. Landless villagers are also included in the groups so, that they can take advantage out of it. And we are trying to create competitive mind among the groups.

Step 2: When we are arranging awareness programmes in targeted village we are making survey of

  • What are their livelihoods?
  • What are their traditional crops?
  • Any person in the village doing other crops pattern?
  • Any crops they were cultivating previously but they stopped now, if yes when and why?
  • After getting all data there will be a mutual discussion with them and they will give proposal what can possible so that everyone can accept it with great interest by which no one will feel as a burden and probability of success for proposed crops should be 100% with any weather conditions so there will be no frustration among the farmers. With this our aim is to attract more and more no of farmers not only that village but also in consecutive villages.

Following are some of the activities that he has been involved in, in and around his village, after he left his job in Mumbai and came back to his village to help develop his village and its surroundings. They are in his own words.

Activities 1: My village Aswakuti (Hudisahi) is located very close to Similipal    reserved area. During my B.E. time there was lot of timber business used to happen by Jangle mafia from out side. They were taking advantage of villager’s illiteracy, innocence and poverty. The mafia groups motivated the villagers up to such extend that, instead of traditional farming their hobby became supplying timber.  Which became easiest income source in a short time period.

I personally realized that if a thing goes so then just after 5 years there may be vagaries of nature. Then we motivated some people to understand the reality and arranged one meeting in our village and formed one "Jangle Surakhya Committee". This committee formed four groups and each groups was assigned to do duty in jangle once in a week. As a result it hampered mafia and motivated villagers, which became a great problem for our committee. They became our great enemy and we got life threatening from them. At last we took help of our Sarat local forester who supported us. He became our advisor now our village committee is renamed into J.F.M (Joint Forest Management). This JFM is working so effectively that we are also getting financial support from Forest Department. Interesting thing is that now maximum villagers are having Committee.

Activities2: Year 2004-05 we promoted Niger cultivation as an experimental basis in the village of Dangadhia, Khukundu and Paterpada of Thakurmunda block in Mayurbhanj district among the 100 beneficiaries, but seeds were not perfect even though it was a great success for us, farmers accepted it very easily. maximum farmers earned minimum of Rs 3000/- just for four month.

Activities3: Year 2005-06 we distributed same seeds in my sarat area of Kaptipada Block among the three villages named Keshpada, Kadabahali and Kutumundi with four FSHG as a foundation seeds for this area. This activity was so popular for this area and also they earned very god amount. I will feel proud to inform you that this year agriculture department people (Udala ADAO) visited our field and he appreciated it.

Activities 4: Last year’s Niger activity was so popular and year 2006-07 (this year) we distributed 5 quintal Niger seeds which covered more than 100 acars of free land, vegetables seeds, 1 quintal of mustard seeds which has covered more than 20 acars of land and 60 no of vegetable kits from Horticultural department in different villages. I think this Niger project was a biggest activity in whole Mayurbhanj. This years Niger activity was so excellent and attractive. I will be proud to inform you that last 25th Oct. during flowering time we organized one Agricultural Awareness Programme.

Activities 5: This year on 24th Sept. We organized Mathematics Olympiad Test Called Rural Mathematics Talent Search Test (RMTST) for 6th class, which was state level Exam. and supported by Institutes of Mathematics, BBSR and NRO’s USA. Qualified students will be awarded Rs 1500/- per annum for five years and they will be eligible for National level (for national level they will get Rs 1500/- per month) and then for International level.


Activity 6: From this year I became a lifetime member of Foundation for Excellence (FFE) USA based Organization through which we can be able give scholarship to students from BPL/antardoya/arnapurna card holders with good marks in High School, +2, +3, Diploma, Medical (rank within 280) and Engg. (Rank within 2050) from Rs 5000/- to Rs 40,000/-. Per annum until to complete their course. This year I have provided scholarship (Rs 5000/-) to Mr. Manash Mallick from BPL family who has secured 667 marks in HSC-2005, Kumini Prava Panigrahi (Rs 19000/-) who is doing Diploma in Rourkela but yet to come.

Activity 7:  From next month we are going to start Masses for Rural Computer Education Institute in Sarat for school and college level students with minimum price. Which is also going to support by NRO’s USA.

Activity 8: We are running one non-formal school for students from class 1 to 5th in my village Aswakuti itself (class timing is 6.30 am to 8.30 am and 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm) this is just a special class and volunteer teachers from village itself, salary for them is donated by parents themselves. This school is running so effectively and we are planning to do in other villages also. Some NRO’s from USA are also going to support these special schools very soon.

He has the following proposals for the near future; again in his own words.

    1. All activities as mentioned above will be continued in future and multiplied into large scale till turned into sustainable activity.
    2. As farmers’ interest is multiplying drastically, which is a positive symbol for this area, within next two years we are trying to cover all nine Gram Panchayat, which includes more than 80 villages with more than one lakhs people. Our mission will be to form as many as no of FSHG and WSHG. All groups will make saving account in near by Baitarani Gramyan Bank.
    3. Last year we encouraged only for Niger, mustard and some area for vegetable cultivation but this year we are preparing to promote mixed horticulture farming which includes Turmeric, Zinger, Sun flower, Sweet Potato, Drumstick, Hybrid Banana, Mango, Amala with very large scale.
    4. Beneficiaries list is increasing. If these activities go in this way then within very short span of time this area may be able to give huge amount of Agro-product. But main problem is market potential. As per Orissa is concerned Agro-Industries are very rare so agro market potential is not supportive for farmers. Farmers are not getting proper justice for their product, which is tending to create frustration among the farmers.
    5.  According to our vision, if there will be a processing unit just like a Small Scale Agro-Industries (SSAI) in the local area there will no question of mediators in between grass root level farmers and SSAI by which maximum benefits goes towards grass level framers only. Which can influence financial status of farmers directly.

Few weeks back he contemplated getting into electoral politics and run in his constituency. Following is an excerpt from an email he sent to Sandip Dasverma on his thoughts on why he should run and his chances.

… whole area is requiring one good leader for them so I am thinking that I may not be a good leader for them but I will try to be a good leader for them. I am thinking that as election in Orissa is very close and I am thinking to contest from my constituency (KARANJIA) as a MLA …

Since I am a highly qualified tribal guy who has been involved directly with social problems since from long days so, why shouldn’t I enter into politics in order to deliver my capabilities and my dreams for my areas. People of my area love me very much and I have excellent chances to win from my constituency.


Yesterday Baidyanath Sing went to file his nomination for the Karanjia Assembly seat as an independent and we support his candidacy whole heartedly. 

Following is a map of the Karanjia constituency. We encourage readers with ties to that area to help Mr. Sing.

 

 

Indian Railways exploitation of backward and tribal areas of Orissa: confronting Railway Board Chair with the facts in Toronto

Balasore - Niligiri (defunct?), Baripada - Bangiriposi (under constr.), EXPOSING ANTI-ODISHA-GROWTH SCHEMES, FINANCE & BANKING, Gajapati, Ganjam, Interstate disputes on Water and rivers, Jaroli - Deojhar .. Chaibasa, Kandhamala, KBK Plus district cluster, Keonjhar, Koraput - Rayagada, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarha, Odisha Consumer Welfare Foundation, Paradip - Jatadhari - Kujanga, Railway maps, Rajathagara - Nergundi, Rayagada, Samaja (in Odia), Sambalpur, Sonepur, Sundergarh, Talcher - Barang, Titlagarh - Jharsugurha Jn, Tomka - Jaroli, Uncategorized 3 Comments »

Following is the news report on the discussion (almost a confrontation) with the Railway Board Chair, as reported in India Abroad. The basic premise behind our grievances against Indian Railways and our demands is simple.

  • Indian railways is scheduled to make 2500-3000 crores/year from Orissa, but spends only 1000 crores/year on Orissa in terms of new lines, doubling and gauge conversion.
  • Its current plan for major spending includes freight corridors, metro rails, and high speed rails, none of which touch Orissa. It plans to do gauge conversion of 12000 kms, most of which is unprofitable (this proves that Indian Railway lies when it says it only does profitable lines), very little (less than 100 km) of which is in Orissa.
  • Orissa is already behind the national average in terms of rail density and way behind its neighbors such as West Bengal and Bihar. If no changes are made to the 11th plan IR allocations Orissa will further fall behind.
  • Indian Railways must not take money from its profit in Orissa, and spend it else where, until it takes care of proper connectivity to Orissa’s tribal, backward and maoist infested areas. The 2500-3000 times 5 = 12,500 -15,000 crore that Indian Railways will profit from Orissa during the 11th plan must be spend in new lines in Orissa until the (i)-(v) lines below and other port and mine connectivity lines are completed during the 11th plan.
  • To Mr. Jena’s retort that Mumbai earns so much in taxes and not all of it is spent in Mumbai; we reply that it is often acceptable to take from rich and give to poor; But when did it become acceptable to take from poor (Orissa) and give to rich (freight corridors etc. in other states)?

The lines in Orissa connecting to the tribal and backward areas that we demand to be finished during the 11th plan are:

  • (i) Khurda Rd – Nayagarh – Balangir: Lack of connectivity was one of the reasons a recent Maoist mayhem happened in Nayagarh. It seems after recent events, including the confrontation with the Railway Board Chair and various dharanas in Bhubaneswar, IR has started responding to this demand, but not to the extent to promise its completion during the 11th plan. Note that Balangir is the B in the KBK districts that are the most backward in India.
  • (ii) Lanjigarh Rd – Junagarh – Nabarangpur – Jeypore – Malkangiri – Bhadrachalam Rd in Andhra Pradesh: Only small part of this is approved. Most of it is not even surveyed. In the long run this will really bring those parts of Orissa closer to the rest of Orissa. This is the most important connection and has to be take care of at the earliest. Like the approved Vijaywada-Ranchi highway, this line will create an alternative Hyderabad – Ranchi path passing through backward and tribal areas of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand. This line will connect the Kalahandi and Koraput districts, the two K’s in KBK. The recent Maoist attack and killing of the Greyhound forces in Malkangiri might have been prevented if this line existed as then the forces would have used the train rather than being seating ducks taking a boat across a lake in Malkangiri.
  • (iii a) Rayagada – Gopalpur: This has been surveyed and but work on it has not started. Note that Rayagada is part of the undivided Koraput district, one of the K’s of KBK. This line could come under port connectivity and will be a viable line connecting the industries near Rayagada with the upcoming port in Gopalpur.
  • (iii b) Gunupur – Theruvali: This will add to the Naupada-Gunupur line and make it an economically viable line. (IR and Mr. Jena agree about its importance.) This line will be completely inside the Raygada district, part of the undivided Koraput district, one of the K’s of KBK.
  • (iv) Talcher – Bimlagarh (connectivity to the tribal district of Sundergarh): This line has been approved but is only being given a few crores each year, which is less than the inflation. This line will reduce the distance between Sundergarh district and teh coastal areas significantly. For example, it will make Rourkela only 4-5 hrs from Bhubaneswar.
  • (v) Baripada/Buramara – Chakulia: This line will connect the tribal district of Mayurbhanj to tribal areas of Jharkhand. It will add to the Rupsa-Baripada-Bangiriposi line and make it an economically viable line. (IR and Mr. Jena agree about its importance.)

All these lines can be completed if Indian railways just suspends its practice of taking from poor (Orissa) and giving to the rich for only a few years (may be just 3-4 years). The following maps show the above mentioned lines.

List of 300 identified tourist places in Orissa

Angul, Balangir, Balasore, Bargarh, Bhadrakh, Bouda, Cuttack, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Jharsugurha, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, Kendrapada, Keonjhar, Khordha, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nayagarha, Nuapada, Puri, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Sundergarh, TOURISM, ENTERTAINMENT and SHOPPING 1 Comment »

The following list is from www.orissatourism.gov.in/new/Identified_Tourist_Centre_of_Orissa_261207.pdf.

GOO Land acquisition in recent years: Samaja

Balasore, Bhadrakh, Cuttack, Ganjam, IDCO, Jagatsinghpur, Kalahandi, Kendrapada, Khordha, Land acquisition, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Odisha govt. action, Puri Comments Off on GOO Land acquisition in recent years: Samaja

Some land acquisition numbers:

  • Total: 61,769.527 acres
  • Coastal: 15,536.153 acres
    • Ganjam: 3229.815 acres (top)
    • Baleswar: 347.643 acres (bottom)
  • Naupada: 11,816.27 acres since 2000 (top)
  • Kalahandi: 6,163.77 acres (2nd)
  • Mayurbhanj: 6113.78 acres (3rd)
  • Malkangiri: 3.65 acres (bottom)
  • IDCO indsutrial land acquistion in last 3 years for 58 industries
    • 4778 acres govt. land
    • 6532 acres private land

Swosti travel introduces Jungle Safari in Bhitarakanika and Simlipal

Bhadrakh, Bhitarakanika, Mayurbhanj, Nature spots, Safari, Similpal 2 Comments »

Following is an excerpt from a report in http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/.

Swosti Travels,…, recently introduced jungle safaris at Bhitarkanika and Simlipal sanctuaries in Orissa. According to S Patnaik, General Manager, Swosti Group, the seven-day-package includes stay at diverse locations, interaction with local artisans, forest explorations, animal rides, etc.

"We have roped in private players running eco camps, forest cottages and cruise liners for the project, as we wanted it to be on par with its international counterparts. To begin with, we had to get the requisite clearance from the forest and the tourism departments of the state in terms of the safety and security measures," said Patnaik, as he went on to add that the packages were already being promoted at international fairs and festivals.

Bhitarkanika is the second largest mangrove ecosystem in India, whereas the Simlipal National Park boasts of several scenic spots such as Barehipani and Joranda waterfalls.