Rail Roko held protesting delay in Khurda-B’ngir rail project

BHUBANESWAR: Members of the joint action committee formed for the Khurda Road- Balangir rail line staged ‘Rail Roko’ on Thursday at several places in the State including Khurda Road, Balangir and Redhakhol demanding allocation of more funds for the speedy completion of the much-awaited rail project.

Hundreds of supporters of the action committee began demonstration at the Khurda road and Bhubaneswar railway station and put to halt East Coast Railway services by sitting on the rail track. Several expresses and super fast express trains did wait for hours to leave the station. Similarly, the Balangir Nagarika Committee staged demonstration at Balangir railway station.     

Kandhamal MP Rudra Madhab Ray, the joint convener of the committee, said the construction of the 289-km long Khurda Road-Balangir rail line was started from 1994-95 but is yet to be completed. The project would be carried out in five phases, while the first phase, Khurda-Begunia (32 km), and the second phase, Begunia-Nayagarh (34 km), did not meet their minimum targets of construction, he added.

Committee members said the Railways has been consistently reducing its budget from Rs 120 crore during the year of 2010-11 to Rs 40 crore in 2012-13. Even, Rs 17 crore has been curtailed in two instalments from this project during the current Budget session, they lamented.

Another member of the action committee and former MP Sibaji Patnaik said the committee would demand an allocation of Rs 400 crore for the project in the coming railway budget. The Railways gets the highest benefit around Rs 7,200 crore from its Odisha zone but doesn’t pay attention towards important rail projects in the State, he added.

State Govt responsible for distress sale of paddy: BJP

-- Party’s farmer wing to protest CM’s visit across State

BHUBANESWAR: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s farmer wing, during its State-level official meeting here on Thursday, held the State Government responsible for distress sale of paddy. The Naveen Patnaik-led-Government failed to address the farmer issues, said the BJP Krushak Morcha State president Maheswar Sahu.

Sahu said the farmers of the State are living in a precarious condition with the pressure of loan as they could not get right price for their produces which lead them to take extreme steps. The distress sale of paddy added salt in their wound, he added.

“There is no certain agriculture policy to look after the interest of the poor farmers. Failure of the State Government created frustration among them,” said Sahu, adding, “If the State Government fails to solve the problems of the farmers, the Morcha members will oppose the visit of Chief Minister across the State.”

Among others, Morcha general secretary Rama Chandra Patra, vice-president Rabi Narayan Mohapatra and Lala Ashok Kumar Ray, State secretary Ajay Kumar Pradhan, Manoj Sahu and Samir Sahu were present.         

    

Govt to increase CET engg college seat to 740

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has decided to increase seat numbers of various B Tech courses in College of Engineering and Technology (CET) at Ghatikia on the outskirts of the city from 390 to 740. It would effect from 2013-14, said Employment and Technical Education and Training Minister Pratap Keshari Deb on Wednesday.

The seat number of B Tech civil would increase from 30 to 120, while the seat number of Instrumentation and Engineering would also increase from 30 to 120. Mechanical trade’s present seat number 45 would increase to 120 and the seat number of Electrical trade would also be increased to 120.

Similarly, the M Tech seat number would be increased from 117 to 178, informed the Minister.    

  

Debate on Foresight programme by OTV

‘People’s attitude towards women need to be changed’

--Women in India can live with dignity: Nirmala

BHUBANESWAR: “People’s attitude towards women in India need to be changed. Only law can’t protect the vulnerable group, if the public fail to bring change in their mindset,” said noted columnist Swapan Dasgupta attending the first session of Foresight programme organised by the OTV here on Wednesday.

Dasgupta participating in the debate on the topic of ‘Can Women in India Live with Dignity?’, said the people left the Delhi gang-rape victim and her friend unattended for hours, even police were discussing with themselves about the border of the police station which shows the ill mindset of the people now days. He said Bhubaneswar city is far better than Delhi in this regard.

Another participant and BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said the women in India could live with dignity. “It is possible to live in India, but the systems need to be corrected soon,” she said.

Sitharaman further said the Government should come with affirm actions at the time of need. “Laws are not up to date to give necessary rights to women,” she said, adding, “Verma Commission has done a good job, but our system should implement the recommendations properly.”

Among others, Advertising guru Prahlad Kakar, veteran journalist Nalini Singh and columnist Leher Kala participated in the debate.              

State to set up 32,000 units in MSME sector to employ 1.6 lakh youth

--500 hostels to be built for tribal students at college level

BHUBANESWAR: “We have targeted to set up 32,000 units in MSME sector thereby crating employment opportunities for about 1.6 lakh people of our State,” said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while inaugurating the Foresight programme organised by the OTV here on Wednesday.

Patnaik said the State in recent times has been a hub for higher education in the eastern region of the country. Many institutes of national and international repute are running their centres in the State, he added. “We also have a vision for skill up-gradation of nearly one million youth in next five years,” Patnaik asserted, adding, “We have given maximum importance to small industries in the 12th five-year plan that will create huge employment opportunities for our youth.”

The Chief Minister further said that his Government is building hostels to facilitate education of tribal girls. They have decided to build 500 hostels in next five years for tribal students at college level. Moreover, schools, colleges, scholarships, bi-cycles and other facilities were being provided for improvement in the education of this very significant section of our population, he added.

Patnaik also said that a stagnant economy with a growth rate of four per cent in the year of 2000 accelerated to nine per cent during the period 2001-10, while the State has reported highest reduction in poverty by 20.2 percentage points from 57.2 percent in 2004-05 to 37 percent in 2009-10. The State economy grew at 8.23 per cent against 7.9 per cent at the national level during 11th plan in spite the adverse impacts of global economic slowdown, he added.

Form-‘F’ software for Ultrasound units launched

--Mandatory from 1st March

BHUBANESWAR: State Health and Family Welfare Department secretary PK Mohapatra launched the form- ‘F’ software under the Pre-conception Prenatal Diagnostics Techniques (PCPNDT) Act during the State Advisory Committee meeting held here on Monday. The software was developed by the department with technical and financial support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Under the PCPNDT Act, it is mandatory to fill in ‘form-F’ which captures medical history of every pregnant woman who undergoes an obstetric scan and submit to the District Appropriate Authority (DAA) by the 5th of every month. Incorrect and incomplete filing of ‘form-F’ and non-maintenance of medical records remains a major issue under the Act. On one hand, the software is aimed to facilitate the doctors and ultra sound units in easy recording and reporting of data as mandated under the Act and on the other it would help the appropriate authorities to analyse data and track discrepancies and defaulters.

The software which works both online and offline would be installed in all registered ultrasound units for use from February 2013. For new clinics the software would be provided at the time of registration by the DAA. Odisha is the second State after Maharashtra to have form ‘F’ software under the PCPNDT Act in the country.

The department has constituted four State-level task forces to regularly conduct inspection of the functioning of ultra sound units. During the last six months 27 clinics have been raided and 15 clinics sealed for violations of the provisions under the PCPNDT Act. The State has so far filed 34 cases under violation of PCPNDT Act with three convictions.

Four districts- Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Ganjam and Anugul that have large numbers of ultrasound clinics and low sex ratios have been supported by district PCPNDT units with the support of UNFPA and another 10 districts would have these units soon functional with NRHM support.

Notably, the State witnessed an alarming decline of Child Sex Ratio (CSR) as evident from the provisional census data 2011 (from 953 to 934). Four districts, Anugul, Dhenkanal, Nayagarh and Ganjam have a CSR of less than 900 points, which should have been 950 as per natural trends. Further, about 10 districts have witnessed a decline of 30 to 50 points which is a serious concern.

City Cong gherao Bhubaneswar block office

BHUBANESWAR: Bhubaneswar District Congress Committee on Monday gheraoed the Bhubaneswar block protesting the Naveen-led-BJD Government’s involvement in multiple scams, including those relating to mining, Dal and MGNERGA and against the fast-deteriorating law and order across the State. Later, the Congress leaders handed over a memorandum consisted of 13-point charter of demands to the local BDO here addressing Odisha Governor.

Hundreds of workers and supporters of Congress came in a procession started from Congress Bhawan to Bhubaneswar block to make common people aware about the involvement of BJD Government in multiple scams and corruptions during their tenure. The Bhubaneswar Loksabha Youth Congress Committee members burnt the effigy of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during the demonstration during the gherao.

A meeting was held at the block presided by Subhendu Mohanty and exposed that how the BJD Government is bungling the Central funds. He also held the State Government responsible for farmer suicide and law and order situation in the State.

Among others, senior congress leader Suresh Kumar Routray, Ashok Samal and Lokanath Moharathy participated in the rally.

Farmers lose Rs 10-20 crore due to distress sale in Ganjam

BRAHMAPUR: Farmers of Ganjam district lose Rs 10-20 crore every year due to distress sale of paddy and irregularities during purchasing of paddy, alleged the Rushikulya Ryot Mahasabha (RRM) and the Chasi Surakhya Abhiyan (CSA) here on Sunday.

In a Press release, CSA members said the State Government is yet to open paddy procurement cells (Mandi) in many places in Ganjam district. Around 80 per cent farmers of the district, who belong to sharecropper and small farmer category, face problems while selling paddy in the mandi as they have many restrictions. As a result, the poor farmers sell their paddy to the middlemen with Rs 200-250 less per quintal, they added.

“The paddy procurement committee at the panchayat level is a farce,” said CSA’s district convener Ravi Rath, adding, “There is a nexus between society secretaries, supply officer, officials of district administration, RMC officials and middlemen for which the poor farmers are suffering a lot.”

Rath alleged that the farmers are giving extra 2-7 kg more in a quintal as the mill owners convince the farmers by citing the reason of FAQ standard, though the paddy of the district was proved as it fulfill the necessary standard. The farmers are not getting their payment within seven days of paddy procurement, he alleged.

On January 19, a meeting was held between the district supply officials and mill owners at the District Magistrate’s conference hall on paddy procurement where mill owners were told to purchase paddy from anywhere in the district, but the district supply officers are not following the order for which reason the paddy could not purchased, said the RRM members.

“Stop anti-farmer policy and give Rs 1250 per quintal paddy without creating problems. If the Government doesn’t pay attention to our demands, we would take the matter to streets,” said the members of the RRM and CSA.

       

State lose Rs 20k cr as mineral royalty every year: OYJM

BHUBANESWAR: The State lose Rs 20,000 crore as mineral royalty every year due to inefficiency of the Naveen Patnaik led State Government, alleged Odisha Yuva Jan Morcha (OYJM) here at the first executive body meeting of the Morcha on Sunday.

Attending as the chief guest of the meeting, Odisha Jan Morcha chief Pyari Mohan Mohapatra while analysing the root cause of poverty and unemployment in the State said the Naveen Government failed to demand appropriate mineral royalty from the Central Government.

The State should demand 50 per cent royalty from the Centre like a share cropper’s demand from the owner, but it is very unfortunate that the State is asking for 20 per cent royalty, he added. “If our State gets 50 per cent mineral royalty, our State can be self dependant,” said Mohapatra.

Among others, OYJM president Siddheswari Prasad Mishra, OJM leader Jagyenswar Babu, Mihir Mohanty, Sarat Mishra, Nayan Das and members of OYJM were present.                 

 

Pugmarks of tigress, cub found in city outskirts

BHUBANESWAR: Forest Department on Sunday confirmed the movement of a tigress and its cub after tracing pugmarks near Manei Sahi of Jhumuka area under Chandaka forest range in the outskirts of the city. The forest officials advised the local people of the area to be alert after seeing pugmarks of the wild animals there.

On Sunday morning, the forest officials collected the pugmarks at Jhumuka and Kantabada area. “We are examining the pugmarks after taking its footprints with the help of plaster of Paris. We suspect that a tigress and her cub are roaming freely in the sanctuary area,” said Chandaka forest range officer Abhay Acharya.

Pugmarks of the wild animals were also found at Chandaka, Dampada, Haladia and Nandankanan area. On January 16, Nandankanan Zoo authorities had started drive to track the wild tigress and her cub whose pugmarks were found inside the zoo on January 13.

Notably, the forest department officials on December 28 last year had confirmed that the tigress and its child were freely roaming around the Chandaka-Dampada sanctuary on the outskirts of the city.

On December 24, according to the report, the tigress and its child had come to drink water from Khiragadia pond, near Talabasta village. After the scientific inquiry into the foot mark of the tigress and her child, the forest officials had proved that the rumour was true.

SAT quashes former Pipili IIC’s dismissal

BHUBANESWAR: The State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) has quashed the dismissal order given by the State Government on former inspector in-charge of Pipili police station Amulya Kumar Champatiray in connection with the gang-rape in Pipili, said a lawyer on Wednesday.

Champatiray was transferred to the headquarters and subsequently suspended later on Jan 13 last year and then he was dismissed after 10 days for not taking necessary action in the case and allegedly suppressing the issue. Dissatisfied IIC had moved the SAT against the Government action.

After hearing the police officer’s plea, the tribunal quashed the order stating that action against Champatiray had been taken without giving him chances to defend, his lawyer MK Balabantaray told reporters here. However, the tribunal in its order said the Government may initiate departmental proceedings against the IIC, the lawyer informed.

Notably, Champatiray was dismissed for not registering a case of a dalit girl who was allegedly gang-raped by a few people near her village Arjunagoda on Nov 28, 2011. Various NGOs, social organisations, civil society and women bodies had demanded dismissal of the then Pipili IIC.

The gang-rape victim succumbed to her injuries at the hospital bed of the SCB Medical College and hospital at Cuttack on June 21 last year.

Huge cache of explosives seized from Maoist camp in Rayagada

RAYAGADA: Joint forces of CRPF and Odisha police busted a Maoist camp and seized huge cache of explosives from the camp during a joint operation at Chandrapur police station area in Rayagada district on Tuesday night.

The joint forces seized the Maoist materials including a tiffin bomb, claymore mine, potassium nitrate, detonator, wire and battery from Gadargudi forest. However, no Maoist has been arrested during the operation, while the police are suspecting the hand of Maoist leader Nikhil of Bansadhara division in setting up of the camp in the forest.

According to Bisamkatak SDPO Suresh Chandra Jena, they also seized Maoist materials including uniforms, red banner and explosives from the camp. “The anti-Maoist operation will be intensified in the forest area,” he said.

Ethical reporting on Human Rights issues needed

BHUBANESWAR: “To unearth the truth of any hidden issue related to human rights violation is need of the hour and for which a proper training should be given to the journalists about the rights of the people,” said National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Damodar Sarangi at a State-level training programme for media persons on human rights organised by the Human Rights Front (HRF) supported by the NHRC here on Wednesday.

Addressing the media persons, Sarangi said the journalists should be acquainted with the knowledge of human rights which will come in their use during reporting. The sensitive cases related to the life and security of a human being should not be overlooked, he added.

Sarangi stated that a prisoner gets around Rs 45 for food everyday, while some poor people die without getting food in western Odisha. The State Government has been saying that they have surplus food grain, but why starvation death is occurred in the State, he said, adding, “The journalists should bring out with those stories in an ethical ways and high light that with proper follow ups.”

The two-day training programme was organised to upgrade skill and knowledge of the media persons to make aware about human rights law, to build protection mechanism and capacity building, to create State-wide network, skilful reporting on human rights issues and to create a campaign to demand for implementation of the Whistle-blower Protection Act.

Among others, HRF president Manoj Jena, State Commission for Women member Snigdha Panigrahy, The Hindu special correspondent Prafulla Das, Hindustan Times bureau chief Priya Ranjan Das, Satya Prakash Nayak from Kanak TV, RTI Activist Pradeep Pradhan, Rajeev Sarangi from Doordarshan and representatives of various media houses were present.      

Kidnapped nursery student rescued from J’guda

JHARSUGUDA: In a successful operation, Jharsuguda Government Railway Police rescued a nursery student of Bandhamunda area in Sundergarh district and arrested the kidnapper from Jharsuguda railway station on Tuesday. The GRP then sent the student and kidnapper to Bandhamunda GRP police station.

The accused was identified as Sunil Sabat (27) of Aska area in Ganjam district. Sabat was working in a book store in Bandhamunda area and also was involved in contracting in the area. The name of the rescued student was Nitesh Lakra (4), son of Sanjay Lakra who is a railway employee.

According to the police sources, Sabat had fancy on Nitesh’s mother Laxmi. He was trying to woo her, but could not succeed. He started blackmailing her over phone and then kidnapped her to get the lady’s favour. He took the nursery kid who was studying at Goodwill Public School at Bandhamunda and left for Jharsuguda railway station by Nehal bus.

Laxmi immediately lodged a complaint about her son’s kidnap at local police station. Bandhamunda OIC Tulasi Mohan Nayak tracked the phone of the accused Sabat and informed the Jharsuguda GRP about the matter.

The Jharsuguda GRP led by DSP Manoj Kumar Mahant rescued the kid and arrested the accused who had sat in a train to go Jeypore.

CB inquiry into attack on lady Sarpanch demanded

BHUBANESWAR: The State Progressive Women Forum (SPWF) members demanded high level Crime Branch inquiry into the case of attempt to rape and murder of Kendrapada block’s Ghagra Panchayat Sarpanch Banajini Parida. They have written a letter to the Chief Minister in this regard.

The supporters and workers of SPWF came in a procession from Ram Mandir square and sat in dharna in front of the Redcross Bhavan here demanding action against Nikirai IIC and stringent action against culprits who attempted to rape and murder of the lady Sarpanch on December 25 last year.

The SPWF members alleged that the Nikirai IIC disregarded the Supreme Court’s decision and purposefully omitted the attempt to rape and murder offences and other grave offences. They also demanded initiation of a disciplinary proceeding by suspending the IIC for her conduct contrary to the Police Order No-301/2005 for Establishment of Mahila and Sishu Desk showing scant regard for the protection honour and dignity of a woman.

Following the incident, the SPWF members approached the Home Ministry for necessary investigation and made allegation against IIC for her illegal conduct. The Ministry then directed the Director General and Inspector General of police on January 9 to inquire over the matter and furnish the same within seven days, said SPWF president Mamata Samantray, adding, “But seven days have already passed and no action has been taken against the local IIC.”

The lady Sarpanch along with other Sarpanchs of her area sat in dharna here demanding justice. “If the State Government doesn’t take any appropriate step into the matter, they would continue their dharna and agitation,” said Samantray.    

  

CM visits Gajapati, inaugurates development projects

PARLAKHEMUNDI: During a one-day official visit to Gajapati district, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated few development projects and laid foundation stones of an office building in the district on Tuesday.

Patnaik first inaugurated Ginger juice production unit of ‘Gram Tarang’ branch at Centurion University here. Gram Tarang and university president Prof Muktikant Mishra and Prof DN Rao were present during the inauguration of the unit. Patnaik then inaugurated 100 bedded SC and ST girls’ hostel of Tagore Memorial High School at Upalada under Gosani block in the district.

Patnaik also inaugurated the new office of Assistant Commercial Tax Commissioner here, new polytechnic building and new fire station at Bedhaguda and laid foundation stone of Regional Transport Office here. Later, he attended a public meeting at the MKCG Autonomous College here.

Among others, Agriculture Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Brahmapur MP Sidhant Mohapatra, Parlakhemundi MLA K Narayan Rao, district collector Basudev Bahinipati, Zilla Parishad chairman P Lata, District president of BJD Basant Das and party workers attended the programmes.        

‘Stop slum dwellers eviction, implement dev projects effectively’

BHUBANESWAR: “Stop slum dwellers eviction drive and implement development projects and Government schemes effectively to help the urban poor,” said Mumbai based organisation Yuva’s director Raju Bishi attending a two-day long State-level conference on Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) and Social Security of Slum-dwellers organised by the Odisha Basti Sangharsha Samiti (OBSS) here on Tuesday.

Bishi said the Central Government drafted bill the Property Rights to Slum Dwellers Act, 2011 has many defects like induction of many landless and homeless urban poor who live in roadside. The definition of ‘landless’ in the bill is not clear and correct, he added.

Attending the conference, Cuttack Basti Unnayan Mahasangh president Subash Singh said about the struggle of the slum dwellers and vendors to get their rights. Many a times, the police and local administration demolish the slums without offering proper settlement which is illegal, he said.

Among others, State Communist Party of India leader Narayan Reddy, OBSS president Pratap Sahu, Street Vendors’ Association general secretary Dhirendra Swain, Sharmila Patnaik, Suraj Lal Samal, Kirtan Nayak, Sudam Charan Swain and slum leaders from 14 districts were present.   

      

Dolphin population rises in Chilika: CDA

BHUBANESWAR: The number of dolphin calves has increased from 11 to 18 and overall population of dolphin increased in the lagoon to 152 against last year’s 145, stated the latest dolphin census report of the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) released on Monday.

This year Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaellabrevirostris) population of Chilika estimated to be 152 out of which there are 118 adults, 16 sub-adults and 18 calves. As per the 2013 census, there has been an increase of population by 4.6 per cent in comparison to last year.

Eighteen teams consisted of some volunteer organisations and experts from various institutions were engaged in the survey with Chilika Wild Life Division on January 18 and 19 for two days. The total number of survey transect were 18 numbers as the experts used Line Transect Method for the survey of the dolphins. Total 130 participants were deployed in 18 boats from various organisations in the census operation.

State chief after polls for national chief, State BJP told

--State leaders return from Delhi

BHUBANESWAR: Election for State chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would be held after the poll for national chief, said the State BJP leaders who returned from Delhi after four days of staying there to discuss with national leaders of the party over the State president election.

The national leaders had assured that the State chief would be appointed before the elections for the party’s national president, but that could not be materialised as the date for national chief election fixed on Jan 23.

  

“Election for State BJP chief would be held soon after the polls for national chief is completed, though the present party president didn’t fix the date,” said State BJP’s election officer Bijaylaxmi Mishra.

Notably, as many as 46 BJP members, including some office bearers, the State returning officer and district presidents had left for Delhi on January 16 to raise the voice against the dithering attitude of the Central leadership to fix a date for the State president election.

They had met returning officer for the internal elections Thwarchand Gehlot, senior leaders LK Advani, Rajnath Singh, party president Nitin Gadkari, opposition leader in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and other top leaders regarding the issue.

SUCI (C), SP stages ‘Rail Rok’ demanding rail fare hike

BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK: Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) Party workers stopped Jodhpur- Puri express today in Cuttack Railway station to protest against increased railway fare which will be effective from January 22. They were led by SUCI(C)’s Cuttack District Committee organiser  Khageswar Sethi, Babi Balabantray, Sasmita Mohanty, Deepak Das, Bhagyarabi Das, Sipra Mohanty and Sasmita Sahoo. Following the arrest of party SUCI(C) workers the train service became normal.

Samajwadi Party workers staged ‘Rail Rok’ demanding withdrawal of railway fare hike and controlling of essential commodities at the railway station here on Monday. The party workers stopped New Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express for almost two hours protesting the hike.

Party State president Rabi Behera addressing the workers said diesel de-regularisation would give rise to price hike and the aam aadmi would be the victim. Due to high inflation, the price of essential commodities like vegetables, fruits, dal, oil and sugar is beyond the reach of the poor, he added.

Permanent campus of CUO inaugurated

SUNABEDA: The academic block of main campus of the Central University of Orissa (CUO) at Sunabeda in Koraput district was inaugurated by its Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Surabhi Banerjee on Monday.

While inaugurating Banerjee said the campus should be developed into a township which would have health facilities for the people of the Koraput region in the form of a Medical College and Hospital. She also asserted that the campus shall hold new subjects and modern infrastructure apart from the existing disciplines.

Notably, the only Central University of the State was established as one of the 14 new central universities under the Central University Act, 2009. Among others, Pro-Vice Chancellor of CUO Prof Y Narsimhulu, Registrar Prof AK Mishra, students and staff were present.

Unemployed engg stage dharna at Law Min’s house

BHUBANESWAR: Unemployed diploma engineers staged dharna in front of the Law Minister Raghunath Mohanty on Sunday protesting the Government notification of December 29, 2012 which announced that the vacancies of junior engineer posts arising in different departments would henceforth be filled up on the basis of recommendations made by the State Staff Selection Board.

The unemployed engineers requested the Minister to roll back the decision of abolishing the panel which would ruin the job prospects of thousands of meritorious students who have been waiting in the merit list since 1996.     

“We will inform the Chief Minister’s office about the demands of the engineers. A discussion will be held to examine the requests of the engineers to re-establish the panel,” said Minister Mohanty.

More than ten thousand unemployed diploma engineers in the State started agitating against the State Government for the December 29 notification to fill up the junior engineer posts by the State Staff Selection Board on the basis of a merit list prepared by the Board after conducting a written test and considering the career marks. This means that the panel list which till date was the only feeder to these posts since 1970 would be overlooked.      

Wild bear mowed down in Ganjam

BRAHMAPUR: A wild bear was killed and a cub got critically injured when a speeding train hit them at Kantapada, 40 km from here, under Rambha police station in Ganjam district on Saturday night. The incident happened near Subalaya where six elephants were mowed down by the Chennai-bound Coromandel Super Fast Express on December 30.

According to the forest officials, the incident happened while the animals were crossing the railway line. The officials have sent carcasses of the animals for autopsy.

Recently, Forest Department and Railway had an altercation over the death of six elephants near Subalaya in the district. Even Minister of Union Forest and Environment Minister Jayanthi Natrajan and the State Government had written letter to the Railway Minister to reduce the speed limit of trains at the elephant crossing zone in the vulnerable areas in the State.

Maoist camp busted in Ganjam

BRAHMAPUR: A Maoist camp was busted and a huge cache of explosives and other materials were seized by security forces in a forest in Ganjam district, said Ganjam SP Ashish Singh on Sunday. No Maoist was arrested during the operation, he said.

During the anti-naxal operation ‘Jungle’, the joint forces comprising of Special Operation Group (SOG), District Voluntary Force (DVF) and Soroda police staff traced one Maoist camp situated in the outskirts hillocks areas Adipanka village under Gajalabadi Beat House of Sorada police station in Ganjam district.

The joint forces seized explosive items included two tiffin land mines bombs, three soap case bombs, nine detonators, 26 detonators with non-prime, two printer cartridge, three bundles of fuse wires, a bag containing white powder, around two Kilograms of iron plates used for preparation of clamour mines, 150 sticks of the cylindrical shape, ammunition pouch and around a dozen empty soap boxes, police said.

A lot of confidential and secret documents were recovered from which detail of Maoist organisation, personal information about Maoists and their leaders, future plan of action of the Maoist could be ascertained, said Singh.

BJP State prez to be appointed before National prez election

-- Advani, Gadkari assure State leaders

BHUBANESWAR: State chief of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would be appointed before the national president election, said the national leaders of the party to the State BJP leaders in New Delhi on Saturday. To elect the State chief, final decision would be taken very soon, sources said.

The State leaders on Saturday met senior leader Lal Krishna Advani and national president Nitin Gadkari to discuss on the matter. The senior leaders assured them that the State chief would be appointed through mutual understanding. “We hope, we can settle the problem within two or three days after discussing with the national leaders,” said State BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan.

Notably, as many as 46 BJP members, including some office bearers, the State returning officer and district presidents had left for Delhi from January 16 to raise the voice against the dithering attitude of the Central leadership to fix a date for the State president election. They met returning officer for the internal elections Thwarchand Gehlot, senior leaders Rajnath Singh, opposition leader in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and other top leaders regarding the issue.     

Revenue Minister tells CREDAI members to purchase genuine land

--3-day CREDAI Property Expo begins

BHUBANESWAR: “The real estate companies should purchase genuine lands for selling to their customers to bring transparency in business,” said Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Surya Narayan Patro while inaugurating a 3-day long Property Expo organised by the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI), Odisha chapter here on Saturday.

Patro said the customers are facing lot of difficulties after purchasing a plot or flat due to land and infrastructure problem. Some real estate companies cheat the investors by giving fraudulent lands and later the customers especially middleclass families lose their money with plot

The Minister said the State Government is drafting a policy especially for the capital city to provide affordable houses for different categories people. According to that policy, the Government land would be come under a society which would provide the plot in an affordable price to the middle class families as well as the slum people.

“The Government is planning a greater Bhubaneswar by 2020 as a result the size of the capital city would increase,” said Minister, adding, “More people would come to the city in future for which more houses are needed and we are planning to bring the policy to meet the challenge.”              

CREDAI Odisha president DS Tripathy said that land availability would reduce the price of the houses. He urged the State Government to help the real estate sector by implementing CDP and there should be a clear guideline to provide land to the real estate sector.

As many as 40 companies participated in the event and around hundred builders participated in the expo with their projects to attract customers of various classes starting from Rs 12 lakh. Besides the expo, the CREDAI would hold seminars on various topics relating to real estate by bringing policymakers and other stakeholders to ensure more clarity and accountability in this sector.

Among others, Bhubaneswar Municipality Corporation Mayor Anant Narayan Jena, CREDAI general secretary Umesh Patnaik, former CREDAI president Subash Chandra Bhura and members of the association were present.

Law and order deteriorates in State: Pyarimohan

-- OJM holds worker’s meet at Jeypore

BHUBANESWAR: “Law and order situation is deteriorating in the State and especially violence against women is increasing alarmingly day by day,” said Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM) chief Pyarimohan Mohaptra while addressing Morcha workers at Jeypore in Koraput district on Friday.

Mohapatra said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has become too arrogant to pay heed to the problems of party workers and people of the State. Incident like Rayagada Gang-rape is increasing in the State, which clearly shows the helplessness of the Naveen Government, he added.

OJM chief said that his political party would be launched in next two months. Within four months, he said, at least three lakh people had joined OJM the figure was expected to touch 20 lakh by May. “If we will come to the power, unemployment will go in five years,” he promised.

Mohapatra said that they would not organise Samabesh anymore, but hold workers’ meet by visiting various assembly constituencies in the State. “We target at least 5,000 members in each assembly constituency,” he added.

The bureaucrat-turned-politician again made allegation against the Biju Janata Dal president for creating obstacles in their way to organise their workers’ meet successfully.

He recollected the memories of his posting in Koraput in the early eighties and claimed that he had suggested many proposals for the development of the region, but that could not be materialise due to lack of interest of the then Government. 

Workers from Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada and Nabarangapur districts attended the meeting.    

CM lays foundation of several projects in Ganjam

BRAHMAPUR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid foundation stones of several developmental projects and inaugurated few projects in Bhanjanagar, Belaguntha and Polasara blocks in Ganjam district on Friday. 

Patnaik inaugurated office buildings of Polasara Science College and local Tehasil, whereas he laid foundation stones of Gudeisuntha Bridge and ICDS building in Polsara. Addressing a public meeting at Polasara, the Chief Minister stated that supply of adequate water, electricity and construction of roads would be the major focus of the State Government. “Tehasil services will be made more nearer to the people,” Patnaik said, adding, “The economic situation of the State is improving and poverty has been reduced up to a large extent.”    

In Belaguntha block, Patnaik inaugurated a public library, Biju Patnaik Children’s Park and Nuagaon- Badanadi Bridge and visited his parental village Nuagaon. In Bhanjanagar, he inaugurated an aquarium made by the irrigation department and a children’s park in a public place in the area.

Another mishap in Bhushan plant, 1 injured

BHUBANESWAR: Industrial mishaps are increasing day by day in the Bhushan Steel plant in Kantabania of Dhenkanal district. Again an accident occurred in the plant where one worker was injured after falling into an iron bunker on Friday. It was the fourth mishap within last fifteen days where four persons died and several were injured.

Two days after four contractual employees were killed and three others sustained severe burn injuries in fire mishap at the plant’s phase-II area on January 6, three other persons on January 8 sustained severe injuries inside the factory as a beam fell on them.

  

At least 42 workers died due to several accidents in the plant within last four years, sources said. The workers many a times held the plant authorities responsible for not taking appropriate measures to check the mishaps inside the plant.

Recently, State Labour Minister Bijayshree Routray on January 15 expressing grave concern over the serial accidents inside the plant asked the plant authorities to report on safety measures taken by the company within a week.

Malaria case management pilot programme inaugurated

BHUBANESWAR: An operational research project called Comprehensive Case Management (CCM) - Pilot Programme for effective malaria control was launched in the State on Friday by Health and Family Welfare Department secretary Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra.

The project is implemented in partnership with National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Malaria Medicine Venture (MMV), an international foundation dedicated for developing new malaria drugs in collaboration with World Health Organisation (WHO).

The State National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) under Health and Family Welfare Department is the implementing agency where as NIMR and WHO are technical support agencies. MMV would provide financial support for the research project and the project has been approved by the Health Ministry Steering Committee of the Central Government.

Speaking on the occasion, Mohapatra said that early, effective and complete treatment of all malaria positive cases in the entire population of a block is the objective of the project. “This is because the stages of the parasite which cause fever and the stages which are transmitted from the patient to mosquitoes are killed by different drugs,” said Mohapatra, adding, “With the right drugs at the right time and full follow-up we could cure the patient and prevent further transmission to other persons in the community.”

Mohapatra said the present research project would be implemented in three districts- Angul, Dhenkanal and Balangir having high, moderate and low malaria burden respectively. In each district, two blocks have been selected which are having similar geo-ecotypes and malaria transmission features.

This type of operational research project is being implemented for the first time in India and South-East Asian countries as the Programme division is directly involved in high quality research to generate evidence.

96 Tibetans self-immolate lives within 3 yr protesting Chinese rule

BHUBANESWAR: Within three year, 96 Tibetans have set themselves alight and 81 of them succumbed to their injuries protesting the brutal Chinese rule, said the Tibetan Parliamentary delegation led by former Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPIE) Pema Jungney here at a Press meet on Thursday.

At the Press meet, the delegation screened a film on current crisis in Tibet and Chinese oppression in their country. They praised India for supporting them in their freedom struggle. “India is the only country, which can challenge China and solve the problem by imposing pressure on the world leaders to settle the issue,” said Dhardon Sharling, a delegate of TPIE.     

The delegation made a clarion call for freedom inside Tibet and return of the Dalai Lama into his country. For which the TPIE launched a massive ‘All-India Lobby Campaign’ to highlight the critical situation inside Tibet and to seek timely support of the Indian leaders and people while alongside calling for immediate global intervention to end the crisis inside their country.

The second leg of the North-East zone lobby campaign kick-started with a ‘Mass Solidarity Rally for Tibet’ on the evening of January 13 in the city. Later the delegation met Governor, Ministers of the State, heads of the main political parties of the State, Chief Secretary and other secretaries, intellectual bodies, luminaries and social activists appealing for urgent diplomatic intervention from the Indian side in the light of the deepening crisis inside Tibet.

After a successful lobbying work in West Bengal and Odisha, the delegation would visit Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, Sikkim and Nagaland for the ‘All India lobby campaign’.

Two killed in elephant attack in Keonjhar

--Solar fencing to prevent elephants’ death by speeding trains

KEONJHAR/BRAHMAPUR: Two persons were killed in elephant attack in two different places of Keonjhar district on Thursday.

First incident occurred at Lenkada village under Sadar forest range in Keonjhar district on the wee hours of Thursday when the man was fast asleep in his house. After the death, irate villagers blocked the NH-215 demanding compensation for the victim’s family. Due to the road blockade, the communication was disrupted for few hours.

The second incident took place at a village under Telkoi forest range in the district where a woman was killed by the marauding elephants.

On the other hand, to prevent wild animals’ death caused by speeding trains, the State Forest Department is planning to install solar fences on both sides of the railway track from Rambha bypass to Palur junction in Ganjam district where six elephants were mowed down by an express train on December 29 last year.

The forest officials proposed a permanent solution to the problem by giving the solar fencing idea. They have submitted the proposal to the chief wildlife warden and principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) for construction of five-km solar fence at the proposed area near Subalaya, informed Brahmapur DFO SS Mishra.