___________

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

At the CoreNet Global Summit that met in Atlanta last week, experts identified the up-and-coming cities that are expected to be the economic hubs of the future. In a session called, “Around the World in 90 Minutes,” panelists picked dozens of cities in Asia, Europe and the Americas that offer a business climate making them ripe for development by growing companies.

When selecting European locations for manufacturing centers or Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) offices, René Buck, President of Buck Consultants International, advises companies to look for three differentiators before citing a new European facility; talent, technology and connectivity. Buck said emerging business centers like Glasgow/Edinburgh, Scotland and Istanbul, Turkey are among Europe’s brightest future development stars. But he added that Sofia, Bulgaria is, “on the rise and will attract a lot of new companies.”

Dennis J. Meseroll, director of Tractus Asia Ltd., a location consulting firm, said companies should look to second and third tier cities that he calls “sleepers,” which include Chengdu, China, Orissa, India as well as Ho Chi Minh City/Hanoi, Vietnam.

Despite the attractiveness of exotic new Asian and Eastern European markets, Dennis Donovan, principal of Wadley-Donovan-Gutshaw Consulting, said North, Central and South America, “continues to be very strong,” for outsourced call centers and manufacturing centers. Donovan calls places ranging from Dickinson, North Dakota, to Hermosillo, Mexico to Santiago, Chile, among the hottest future investment hotspots in the Western Hemisphere. …

Following is the Pioneer report on this.

The Centre’s stepmotherly attitude towards the cause of Orissa is clearly evident in the railway sector. While the State contributes significantly to the revenue of Railways, the railway route length spread across Orissa is a mere 2,495 km with an average of 15.03 km per 1,000 square km as against the national average of 19 km and much less than the average in the contiguous States.

During 2003-2004 and 2004-05 with respect to the working expenses as a part of gross earnings, the top two profitable railway zones were the South East Central (62.8 percentage and 56.1 percentage) and the East Coast Railways (66.64 percentage and 61.75 percentage). A big part of the profit of the East Coast Railways comes from transporting minerals from various mines in the tribal areas of Orissa.

Despite this, on an average during the last 16 years beginning from 1992-93, the State has received a paltry of Rs 254 crore per annum only. As a whole during the last 16 years, the State has received only Rs 4,070 crore.

While in 1992-93 it had received Rs 68.48 crore, the State received Rs 107.61 crore in 1993-94. Similarly the State received Rs 93.62 crore in 94-95, Rs 149.24 crore in 95-96, Rs 80.29 crore in 96-97, Rs 158.73 crore in 97-98, Rs 254.74 in 98-99, Rs243.74 crore in 99-2000, Rs 239.19 crore in 2000-01, Rs 178.66 in 2001-2002, Rs 194 crore in 2002-03, Rs 306 crore in 2003-04, Rs 360.98 crore in 2004-05, Rs 374.51 crore in 2005-06, Rs 653.90 crore in 2006-07 and Rs 606.51 crore in 2007-08.

Criticising the Ministry of Railways apathetic attitude towards the State, Speaker of Orissa Legislative Assembly Maheswar Mohanty said the Centre had been consistently ignoring the demands of the State in the railway sector for the last several years. “While preparing the Railway Budget, the Centre should take the revenue contribution and economic condition of the State as a criteria rather than taking population into account,” he said.

BJP State president Suresh Pujari has also criticised the Centre’s funding pattern to the State in railway sector.

It may be noted that East Coast Railway that was made functional from April 1, 2003 with three divisions namely, Khurda Road, Sambalpur and Waltair, has a lowest operating cost in the entire country. However, expansion of jurisdiction of East Coast Railways has become a necessity in light of the recent industrial projects coming up in Orissa for ensuring better coordination and facilitation of bulk customers.

In its memorandum which will be submitted to the Prime Minister and Railway Minister, the House Committee of the Orissa Assembly has urged the Ministry of Railways to either extend the jurisdiction of Sambalpur division to include Jharsuguda-Barsuan-Kiriburu, Rourkela-Nuagaon, Jharsuguda-Himgiri or to create a new division with headquarters either at Rourkela or Jharsuguda with its jurisdiction.

Likewise, the jurisdiction of East Coast Railways may be extended to include Bansapani-Padapahar section and Bhadrak-Laxmanath Road section.

Since Independence, only three broad gauge rail links namely, Talcher- Sambalpur, (174 km), Koraput-Rayagada (164 km) and Daitari-Banspani BG rail link have been commissioned. Projects like Lanjigarh Road- Junagarh sanctioned in the year 1993-94 have not been commissioned due to inadequate allotment of funds.

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

Adhunik Metaliks commissioned its state-of-art rolling mill at its steel facility at Kuarmunda near Rourkela, reports Business Standard.

The rolling will manufacture a wide range of rolled products which earlier had to be outsourced from third party rolling mills. The installation of the rolling mill is in line with the second phase of expansion of the company`s Orissa project.

The rolling mill will complete a vital link in the entire production value chain. It will enable the company graduate from a seller of intermediate product to finished steel.

Adhunik Metaliks will now be able to cater to the very discerning and quality conscious auto component and tier I customers from the automobile industry.

Following is an excerpt from Pioneer, which mentions what Orissa has requested.

The House Committee of the State Legislative Assembly would soon submit a memorandum to the Union Ministry of Railways demanding Rs 1,000 crore in the Railway Budget for 2008-09. In this connection, a delegation lead by Assembly Speaker Maheswar Mohanty would visit New Delhi on a possible date between November 10 to 17.

During their visit they would meet the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and submit the memorandum. The House Committee in its meeting on Monday approved the final draft of the memorandum. It may be noted that during 2006-07, the State demanded Rs 785 crore.

In its memorandum, the committee also recommends increase in allotment for ongoing projects, sanction of new railway lines, survey, and introduction of new trains, completion of sanctioned projects, electrification and doubling of lines.

For the expansion of Haridaspur-Paradeep (82 km) line, the committee demands Rs 150 crore to ensure expeditious completion of works. The Ministry of Railways has also been requested to allot Rs 100 crore for the Lanjigarh Road-Junagarha (56 km) line and ensure commissioning of the section between Lanjigarh to Bhawanipatna by December, 2008.

The Committee in its memorandum also demanded an allotment of Rs 100 crore for the Khurda Road-Bolangir (289 km) line and also of commissioning the section from 0-36 km.

On the Angul-Duburi-Sukinda road (90 km) project, the land acquisition process is yet to commence. The Ministry of Railways has been requested to allot Rs 50 crore for the project, the Committee said in its memorandum.

For the Talcher-Bimalagarh (154 km), the Committee demanded an allotment of Rs 50 crore for 2008-09. On the Daitari- Banspani Rail Link Project (155 km), the committee in its memorandum says the BG (Broad Gauge) rail link was commissioned in February,2007. However, residual works will have to be completed. The Ministry of Railways has been requested to allocate Rs 50 crore for this project. It also urged the Railway Ministry to take up gauge conversion works for Rupsa-Bangiriposi and Nuapada-Gunpur railway link.

In its memorandum, the committee also urged the Rail Ministry to start new lines connecting Jeypor-Malknagiri, Bargarha-Nuapda via Padamapur, conversion and extension of Nuapada-Gunupur BG raillink to Theruvali, Jaleswar-Digha, Puri-Konark, Talcher-Gopalpur, Rupsa-Bangiriposi to Gorumahisani, Badampahar to Keonjhar, Berhampur to Phulbani.

The Committee in its memorandum also urged the Ministry to take up survey works in Gopalpur-Rayagada, Jajpur-Keonjhar Road-Jajpur, Sambalpur-Berhampur, Bolangir-Nawapara, Bansapani to Bimalgarh, Lanjhigarha to Boudha via Charichhaka.

It also urged the Railway Ministry to take steps for doubling of the Sambalpur-Talcher BG Rail link, Daitari-Bansapani. The Ministry has also been requested to sanction electrification for Daitari-Banspani BG rail link, Haridaspur-Paradeep BG Rail link, Talcher- Sambalpur BG rail link and Sambalpur, Jharsuguda BG rail link.

I think Orissa is being very shortsighted in its requests. Let me elaborate on this. (See also http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/?p=529 and http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/?p=489 for more data points on this.)

1. The total IR budget in 2006-07 was 23,475 crores and in 2007-08 (1st year of 11th Five yr plan) total Ir budget was 31,000 crores. IR is planning to have a 251,000 crore budget for the 11th Five year plan.

2. In that context Orissa asked for 800 crores in 2006-07 and 830 crores in 2007-08.
The above news report says that we are asking 1000 crores for next year.

3. Based on (1), 220,000 crores will be the total IR budget for the next 4 years and next years budget would probably be 45,000-50,000 crores; almost double that of 2006-07. Thus we should at least ask for double of what we asked in 2006-07. I.e., we should ask for 1600 crores.

4. The Pioneer article has the laundry list of things that we want, and it adds up only to 1000 crores. So we have to be imaginative in what we ask. In this we must note that a big part of the 11th plan IR budget goes towards

(a) two freight corridors (neither passing through Orissa)

(b) high speed rail corridors (none passing through Orissa) and

(c) several metro rails (none in Orissa).
In addition we must note what can be sold to the PM and Rail M. (For example: Rail connectivity to KBK, adivasi areas and naxal areas can be sold if the CM makes a case for them. If every other metro area is going to have metro rail, we can at least sell commuter/sub-urban rail. Similarly, big rail stations like Vizag, which are not in the first list of world class stations, will try to be in the next list; so we must sell Rourkela to be in the next list of world class stations. etc.)
5. Hence, following are my suggestions that we should add:

(i) We should send a 1 year proposal as well as a 4-5 year proposal. The 4-5 year proposal will match the 11th five year plan. The 4-5 year proposal should mention clearly that by the end of year 4-5, the following lines should all be completed.
** Khurda-Balangir
** Gunupur-Theruvali
** Lanjigarh Rd – Bhawanipatna – Junagarh – Nabarangpur- Jeypore – Malkangiri – Bhadrachalam Rd (Andhra Pradesh)
** Talcher – Bimlagarh
** Bangiriposi -Gurumahishasini and/or Buramara-Chakulia.
** Badampahar-Keonjhar
in addition to the port connectivity lines of
** Haridaspur – Paradip
** Talcher – Sukinda Rd
** Bhadrakh Dhamara
and the tourism/education connectivity lines of
** Jaleswar – Digha
** Puri-Vedanta U – Konark

Its very important to get a commitment with respect to what should be done with respect to Orissa in the 11th plan.

(ii) We must ask for a rail factory, or two, possibly in PPP mode, to be established in a backward region of Orissa. (Last year they approved 2 in Bihar, one in Rae Bareli and one in Kerala)
(iii) Establishment of suburban-Rail infrastructure around Bhubaneswar with MEMUs and appropriate stations in the Bhubaneswar area to help the commuters without creating jams. The infrastructure is to encompass the following lines.

* Bhubaneswar-Khurda Rd – Puri – Vedanta U – Konark (Past Puri would be new)
* Bhubaneswar – Barang – Naraj-Dhenkanal (exists)
* Bhubaneswar-KhurdaRd – Khurda-Nayagarh (part of Khurda-Balangir)
* Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Paradeep (exists)
* Bhubaneswar-Khurda Rd – Balugaon-Berhampur (exists)
* Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Jajpur Rd-Bhadrakh (exists)
* Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Jakhapura-Daitari (exists)
* Bhubaneswar-Naraj-Salagaon (exists)
* Bhubaneswar-Khurda Rd – Khurda-Banki-Naraj (Khurda-Naraj will be new and will create a loop)

(iv) Include Rourkela in the next round of world class stations.
Finally, if the Orissa house is sending a delegation to the PM and Rail M; they should also visit the planning commission and ask for IIT and two central universities (KBK Central U and upgradation of Ravenshaw University.)

Financial express reports that Orissa Govt. will formulate a sugar policy soon. Excerpts:

“The state will soon announce a policy for sugar industries and cane growers”, said state agriculture director, Arabinda Padhi. “We are, in fact, working on formulating the policy “ he added.

Only last week, the Federation of Sugar Industries, in a memorandum to the state government, had demanded that the government come out with a policy to promote sugar mills and cane farming. According to the federation, there is a huge potential to not only make the state self-sufficient in sugar production but also exports. Pointing out that 12.5% value-added tax on cane, the highest in the country, was killing sugar mills in the state, the federation demanded that Vat rates be immediately rationalised. It said at least 15 crore farm labour days could be created in the cane sector in the state. “

Business standard reports that Posco near Paradip in Orissa has received a major boost with people of two grampachayats, out of three panchayats affected by the project, writing to the district collector pledging their support to the project. Excerpts:

“For its steel project, Posco had sought 4,004 acres of land spreading over three panchayats — Nuagoan, Gada Kujanga and Dhinkia. Of the total land, 3,566 acres are government land while the remaining 438 acres are privately owned.

However, the company was unable to acquire land due to stiff opposition by the local people to the project even after lapse of two years of signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Orissa government in June 2005 and issue of 4/1 notification for land acquisition in May 2006.

The recent submission by the village committees of Nuagaon and Gada Kujanga to the Jagatsinghpur district collector, pledging their support to the project, has brightened up the prospect of its establishment, pointed out an official of the district administration.

The two panchayats account for 238 acres, out of 438 acres of private land slated to be acquired for the project. Similarly, of the 471 families likely to be displaced by the project, 275 families belong to these panchayats.

Further boosting up the company’s moral 40 betel vine owners, who are among the most affected villagers, have recently surrendered their betel vines and accepted compensation while 250-300 others are waiting to surrender their vines.

In their letters, the respective village committees have expressed their willingness to part with land for the project and offered their participation in the peripheral development work to be undertaken by the government, the sources added.

However, the Dhinkia panchayat, which is the nerve centre of anti-Posco movement, is yet to reconcile though fissures have appeared in stitching up a united front by the people of this panchayat against the company. Seventy-two families from Patna village under Dhinkia gram panchayat have offered their land to the project.

Similarly, the people of Gobindpur village under this gram panchayat pledged their support to the project in September 2007, and invited the district collector to visit them to discussion on land acquisition and compensation packages.

The growing support for the Posco plant was further demonstrated when over 5,000 people attended a rally and public meeting under the leadership of local MLA and senior BJD leader Damodar Rout at Balitutha, the entry point to the troubled site on November 1.

This was the first show of strength by the pro-project groups whose support to the project was often muted by the vocal and often violent opposition mounted the anti-project brigade in the area. To counter the pro-Posco rally, the project opponents had organised a demonstration just across the Balitutha bridge. However, they were hugely outnumbered with about 1,000 people participating in it.

But the leaders of the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), spearheading the agitation against the proposed plant, are willing to accept defeat just on the basis of this headcount.

Most of the people who participated in the pro-Posco rally were outsiders who were transported to the venue by the ruling party, says Abhaya Sahoo, the president of PPSS.

“We will continue our fight and not allow the company to set up its plant here,” he added.“

This looks positive.
Just to summarize

• GadaKujang and Nuagaon are supporting the project.
• Some villages in Dhinkia Panchayat seem to be favouring POSCO like Patna village and Gobindpur village.
• 5000 people supported POSCO in the rally, but , 1000 went against it.
• 72 families from Patna village have already offered land.
• This was the first show of strength by the pro-project groups whose support to the project was often muted by the vocal and often violent opposition mounted the anti-project brigade in the area

Following is from a report in Odisha.in.

1st Day – 23.11.2007 (Friday)
Ø       Lighting the lamp at the lotus feet of “Sri Sri Jagannath Mahaprabhu” & declare the festival open – 5.30 p.m.

Ø       Veda Patha – by Students of Veda Karmakanda Vidyalaya,Puri

Ø       Sankh Dhwani – Subhashree Sankha Dhwani Kalakendra, Ganjam

Ø       Odissi Group Dance by Guru Naba Kishore Mishra & Troupe, Abartta, Bhubaneswar

Ø       Chadeiya Folk Dance – Subhashree Sankha Dhwani Kalakendra, Ganjam

Ø       Sambalpuri Dance – by Kala Vikas Kendra, Cuttack

Ø       Ranappa Folk Dance – Subhashree Sankha Dhwani Kalakendra, Ganjam

Ø       Chhow Dance by Mayur Art Centre, BBSR

Ø       Tribal Dance by Dist. Council , Boudh

Ø       Creative Dance Ballet by – Shri Krishna Cultural Academy, Puri

Ø       Inauguration by Shri Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare, His Excellency Governor of Orissa

Ø       Shri Maheswar Mohanty, Hon’ble Speaker OLA (Chief Guest)

Ø       Shri Deviprasad Mishra, Hon’ble Minister – Excise & Tourism (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri Debasis Nayak, Hon’ble Minister – I&PR & Sports & Y.S (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri Asit Tripathy, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secy. Tourism (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri Gourahari Pradhan, Chairman Puri Municipality (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Dr. Mrs. Vaijanitmala Bali, Noted Actress (Guest of Honour)

2nd Day – 24.11.2007 (Saturday)
Dignitaries & Guests for the Evening
Ø       Odissi Dance Ballet – Kabita Dwibedi & Troupe, New Delhi

Ø       Kathak Dance Ballet – Keya Chand & Troupe, Kolkata

Ø       Folk & Creative Dances by Song & Drama Division, Kolkata

Ø       Sambalpuri Dance – Sanskrutika, Padmapur, Bargarh

Ø       Gotipua Dance by Konark Natya Manda

Ø       Danda Dance by Khedu Sahu & Troupe, Athamallik sponsored by Sankarcharya Pradhan, Angul

Ø       Creative Dances by Keya Chand & Group, Kolkata

Ø       Creative Dance Ballet – Swagatika Sanskrutika Sansad, BBSR
Ø       Sports Activities sponsored by Dept. of Sports & Youth Services, Govt. of Orissa

Ø       Country Boat Race among local Nolias(3.30pm), Flag off by Sri Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) & Sri Debashish Nayak, Minister, Sports & I&PR, Govt. of Orissa

Ø       Beach Volley ball -(Women) – 4pm & Beach Cricket (Girl) – 3.45pm

Special Attraction Para-Sailing (11.00 am to 5.00 pm).

MEGA NITE:
(Mrs. Hema Malini with Daughters Eesha & Ahana Deol)

Ø       Shri Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, Hon’ble Member Rajayasabha (Chief Guest)

Ø       Shri Prafulla Chandra Ghadei, Hon’ble Minister Finance (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Dr. Prasanna Patsani, Hon’ble MP- Loksabha (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri Tathagat Satpathy Hon’ble MP Loksabha (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri C R Pradhan, Chairman (NALCO) (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri Srimay Kar, Chief of Bureau – Indian Express (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri S C Patnaik, Secy, Sports – 3.30 pm & 6.00 pm (Guest of Honour)

3rd Day – 25.11.2007 (Sunday)

Ø       Odissi Dance Ballet  &  Braja Leela by Kunja Lata & Troupe, Venunad Kalakendra,Brundaban (U.P.)

Ø       Bharat Natyam group dance by – Kashmira Samanta & Group, Kolkata

Ø       Purulia Chhow, of West Bengal by EZCC, Kolkata,

Ø       Siddi Dhamal of Gujrat by WZCC, Udaipur

Ø       Bhangra Dance of Punjab by NZCC, Patiala

Ø       Folk & Creative Dances by – Song & Drama Division, Kolkata

Ø       Contemporary Dances by Kashmira Samanta & Group, Kolkata

Ø       Creative Dances by – Ritz & Amit Dance Academy, Angul

Ø       Sports Activities sponsored by Dept. of Sports & Youth Services, Govt. of Orissa

Ø       Women Beach Kabadi – 4pm. , Banati (Hoola) – 6pm.

Special Attraction Para-Sailing (11.00 am to 5.00 pm).
Ø       Shri Chandrasekhar Sahu, Hon’ble Union Minister of State – RD (Chief Guest)

Ø       Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Hon’ble Minister UD&PE (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri Baijant Panda, Hon’ble MP – Rajyasabha (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri Gopal Chandra Nanda, IPS, DG Police (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri Padmanabha Behera, Hon’ble Minister, Steel & Mines (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri Ravi Narayan Nanda, Director, Tourism (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri L N Pattnaik, Chairman Pollution Control Board (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Head of ETV – Oriya, (Guest of Honour)

4th Day – 26.11.2007 (Monday)

Dignitaries & Guests for the Evening

Ø       Orissa Dance Ballet  – by Guru Gajendra Panda & Troupe, Tridhara, Bhubaneswar

Ø       “Breath of life” in Odissi Style by Guru Chita Ranjan Acharya & Troupe, Bhubaneswar

Ø       Purulia Chhow of West Bengal by EZCC, Kolkata,

Ø       Siddi Dhamal of Gujarat by WZCC, Udaipur

Ø       Bhangra Dance of Punjab by NZCC, Patiala
Ø       Sports Activities sponsored by Dept. of Sports & Youth Services, Govt. of Orissa

Ø       Wrestling – 4pm., Body Building – 6pm.

Special Attraction Para-Sailing (11.00 am to 5.00 pm).

MEGA MUMBAI NITE
Amit Paul & Ankita Mishra – Indian Idol (3)

Ø       Shri Surya Narayan Patra, Hon’ble Minister, Energy, IT & Culture (Chief Guest)

Ø       Shri Manmohan Samal, Hon’ble Minister, Revenue (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, IAS, RDC Central Zone (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri Sanjay Pattnaik, Chief Resident Executive, TISCO (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Director – Door Darshan, Orissa (Guest of Honour)

CLOSING CEREMONY
5th Day – 27.11.2007 (Tuesday) Dignitaries & Guests for the Evening

Ø       Odissi Dance Ballet “Sarad Rasa” by – Leena Mohanty & Group, Banshi Bilasha , Bhubaneswar

Ø       Purulia Chhow, West Bengal by EZCC, Kolkata,

Ø       Siddi Dhamal of Gujarat by WZCC, Udaipur

Ø       Bhangra Dance of Punjab by NZCC, Patiala

Ø       Nritya Vahar – A Dhiman Sankar Ballet Presentation, Kolkata

Ø       Creative Dances – by Habiba Dance Group, BBSR, Direction by Sarat Malia

Ø       Sports Activities sponsored by Dept. of Sports & Youth Services, Govt. of Orissa

Ø       Mal Khamb – 5pm., Rugby (KIITS – 4pm.

Special Attraction Para-Sailing (11.00 am to 5.00 pm).

Ø       Shri Maheswar Mohanty, Hon’ble Speaker OLA (Chief Guest)

Ø       Shri Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, Hon’ble Minister RD, Law, Industries (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri Ajit Tripathy, IAS, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Orissa

Ø       Shri Rashmi Ranjan Pattnaik, Collector, Puri (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri Asit Panigrahi, SP, Puri (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri S R Upadhya, Chairman-cum-MD, MCL (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri Indrajeet Mohanty, Hon’ble Justice-Orissa High Court (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Smt. Jagi Mangat Panda, MD- Ortel Communication (Guest of Honour)

Ø       Shri Sanak Mishra, Chief of Mittal Steel India Chaptger, New Delhi (Guest of Honour)

N. B.

||  Exhibition timing from 11.00 am to 10.00 pm  ||

||  Cultural Programmes daily starts at 6.00 pm  ||

||  Sports items as per timing mentioned each day  ||

Following are excerpts from an Odisha.in report on this.

• Existing channels: OTV and ETV
• Manoj Dash group had issued notice in the newspapers announcing that they have purchased all the stakes of MD TV.
  According to sources, Dash would soon go ahead with completing the necessary formalities with different ministries to launch his channel.

  It is likely to be a news-cum-entertainment channel in Oriya. However the promoters have so far not finalized the shape of channel. However, it would have its studio and office at Alaka Buildings in Unit-II of Bhubaneswar, from where the programmes would be up linked to the satellite from the tele-port already installed over the building.

• Pravat Kumar Mallick, promoter of Bhubaneswar College of Engineering, and Kaustav group of technical institutes has also made some progress towards launching an Oriya satelite channel named as Naxatra TV.

  According to sources close to the promoter, the channel will be basically a news channel and would also promote awareness about technical education. As a prelude to launching of the channel, the group have already launched  English and Oriya news portal Naxatranews.com, with eminent scribe Ashok Mohapatra as its editor.

• …, the only media house which has made some progress in planning for launching an Oriya news channel is Soumya Ranjan Patnaik’s ” Sambad ” group.
  

  After unexpected success of  ” Radio Chocolate ” FM Channel,  dreamer Patnaik seems to  be determined to  launch ” Sambad TV ” an Oriya satellite news channel.

  Since Sambad group is a professional group in production of newspapers , the news regarding preparations for launching of Sambad TV is likely to inspire many young journalists in the State.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Pioneer.

Eleven writers will be conferred with the Rajdhani Book Fair Award-2007 at the eighth edition of the fair to begin at the Exhibition Ground here on December 1. The award will be presented to Oriya litterateurs in the field of novel, poetry, essay, short story, translation, play, religion, science, travelogue, satire and children’s literature, said organisers of the fair on Thursday. The book fair committee will also publish a 700-page catalogue on Oriya publications from 1804 to 2007, titled Oriya Pustak Prakashan Soochi, which will be sold at Rs 50. Like previous years, all informative books on Lord Jagannath will be available at the entrance. A host of publishers, distributors and booksellers from the State and outside are expected to participate in the 12-day event.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Pioneer.

The modernisation works of the Biju Patnaik Airport at Bhubaneswar will soon be completed. A new terminal will be set up to accommodate the rising air traffic. At one time, eight A-320 Airbuses can be parked in the airstrips. The terminal building is in the planning stage and will be given a formal shape soon, sources said. Rs 20 crore has been invested to give a new look to the airport.

Meanwhile, the runway of the Airport has been increased from 7,500 feet to 9,000 feet. The parking system of the airport will be increased two times of the existing capacity. It may be noted that the inflow of air passengers have been increased a number of times.

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

Tata Steel is likely to start the construction work of its greenfield steel project in Orissa within two months.

“We have got necessary clearances. Work to rehabilitate more than 1,200 families have been completed and now we are going to start the construction by the end of this year,” Tata Steel Kalinganagar project General Manager N A Ansari told PTI.

Tata Steel is seeking to increase the production of steel from 27 MT to 45 MT by 2015 and it will be achieved through greenfield projects, he said and pointed out, “Kalinganagar is the first such greenfield project undertaken by the company outside Jamshedpur.” Tata Steel is setting up a greenfield steel project in Kalinganagar, Orissa, to produce 6 MT of steel per annum and is investing Rs 18,000 crore in the project. The project is scheduled to be commissioned by mid-2009.

When asked whether there has been any delay in the project, he said, “We intend to go little faster, but there has been not much delay and these are usual things happens in any big project.

“We have already placed the order for more than Rs 5,800 crore worth of equipment and materials and all other things related to planning layout and estimates have already been done,” he said.

Speaking about the company’s investments in Orissa, he said, Orissa is one state where it has planned to invest more Rs 35,000 crore in various projects.