Sarvodaya leaders seek Gananath Patra’s unconditional release

BHUBANESWAR: Demanding unconditional release of Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha advisor Gananath Patra and withdrawal of ‘false and fabricated cases’ instituted against him by the police,  Utkal Khadi Mandal (UKM) president Baishnav Das and chief of Baji Rout Chhatrabas and Sarvodaya leader Krishna Mohanty on Sunday said they would organise all mass organisations under one bannewr and resort to State-wide agitation to exert pressure on the Government for his release if the Government did not meet their demend at the first instance.

Speaking to the media at the Lohia Academy here, Das described Patra as a man believing in non-violent methods of action and termed the police depicting him as a Maoist “most unfortunate”.

“Patra was a brilliant student and a good professor. Though he subscribed to Leftist ideology, he was a staunch believer in non-violence. He was working in democratic ways for the poor adivasi farmers whose lands were usurped by big farmers. If a man like him would be put behind the bars for selflessly serving the poor, we can firmly say the future of the poor in this country is bleak, he grieved, adding that the big farmers, the police and the local administration were partners in a joint conspiracy to nail him, falsely dubbing him a Maoist which he is not.

Das said they would very soon approach the Governor and the Chief Minister in writing, demanding Patra’s unconditional release and withdrawal of all cases against him. The next step would be be moving the State Human Rights Commission.

Patra who is currently lodged in the Koraput jail, is physically completely unwell and fighting with death and it would be inhuman not to release him honourably,

Das said.

Krishna Mohanty was all praise for Patra as a true patriot and said if fighting for the rights for the poor in democratic manners invites the wrath of the administration and the law enforcing agencies, it would be the most horrible thing in the biggest democracy of the world, where the Constitution backs the poor. The senior sarvodaya leader said Patra did not accept the conditional bail granted by the High Court as it was not honourable for him. She also demanded his immediate release and withdrawal of all cases which are totally fabricated.

Present among others at the media conference included former Information Commissioner Pro Radhamohan, Lok Shakti Abhiyan convener Prafulla Samantra, sarvodaya activists Sobhakar Swain and Prashant Mishra.

Study reveals 100 % milk in State adulterated

In a shocking revelation, a Government study has found that the milk available in Odisha market is hundred per cent adulterated. The milk, contaminated with substances like salt and detergent, is bad for health, the study reveals.

The National Survey on Milk Adulteration, 2011 was conducted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to determine the quality of milk and identify different types of adulteration in liquid milk throughout India, the biggest milk producer of the world. It found 70 per cent of milk adulterated nationwide. While 100 per cent milk adulteration was found in Odisha, the study revealed that the adulterated substances included skimmed milk powder (SMP), SNF, fat, glucose, detergent and added water.

Besides Odisha, other States including Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Daman and Diu, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Mizoram were found with100 per cent milk adulteration whereas the entire samples from Goa and Puducherry conformed to the standards.

All 1,791 samples collected from different sources were sent to the Department of Food and Drug Testing of the Government of Puducherry, Central Food Laboratory at Pune, Food Research and Standardisation Laboratory at Ghaziabad, State Public Health Laboratory at Guwahati and Central Food Laboratory at Kolkata for testing.

Only 565 samples (31.5 per cent) milk passed the test. More than 1,226 samples (68.4 per cent) were declared as contaminated. One hundred and three samples were found with detergent substance, 548 samples SMP and 477 samples contained glucose substance. In urban India, 68.9 per cent samples were found to be contaminated, compared with 31 per cent of samples in rural area.

The State Government on Wednesday ordered for testing of all packet milk being sold in the market, including that of the milk packaged by the State-owned Omfed to determine milk standard.

Reacting to the report that milk sold in packets in Odisha, Bihar and West Bengal are most contaminated and substandard, Fishereies and Animal Resources Development Secretary Satyabrata Sahu said the findings of the report would be studied. However, he sought to know the basis of the study undertaken and the places from where the milk samples were collected.

Victim of human rights violation murdered

Berhampur: A floated dead body of a woman was found from a roadside pond near K Samantarapur village of Kushapada Panchayat uneder Digapahandi police station on Sunday evening. The dead body was identified as L Sebati wife of L Shyambabu Reddy of Matiaburei village under Patapur police station of Ganjam district.

It was a preplanned murder according to the brother of the deceased. The family members of the dead had given complains at the nearby Patapur police station, as she was missing during last few days. While on Sunday, some people noticed the dead body which was floating on the pond water. The dead body could not be rescued on Sunday.

It may be noted that the family members of the deceased L Sebati were tortured suspecting them as sorcerer-who allegedly practising witchcraft wherein one of them was badly beaten up, two sons were paraded half-naked with forcefully balding the head in front of others and forced to eat human excreta. Even the villagers boycotted the family from the village, sources said.

Human Rights Commission was investigating into the matter. Earlier, it was a much discussed debate when NHRC came to the Matiaburei village on May 31 this year.

Before the villagers were conducting a ‘Magic Cot’ trick to caught the burglar and the persons who were allegedly practising witchcraft in the village. In the meantime, L sebati of the village convicted with the so called magic trick system. The villagers took the sons of the lady and tied in an electric pole and telephone pole by balding their head. Even they forcefully blackened the face of the family members in the middle of the village. The villagers suspected her as the sorcerers’ allegedly practicing witchcraft in the village. The villagers punished her with the fine of Rs 30,000.   

After the incident the family members went to police station to file a case against the inhuman behavior of the villagers. Patapur police had registered a case no 23 on March 19 last year. 18 people of the village were arrested in connection to the inhuman behavior on the families of Sebati.   

When Human Rights Commission came to the village Sebati had given some information regarding the torture on her. This conversation and information sharing between the investigation team and Sebati created anger among some groups of the village. It is the main reason behind the murder says the family members of the deceased.

The dead body rescued by the police on Monday and it brought to the MKCG for post mortem. When we contacted with the police they told that after the postmortem report which will come soon, they can say about the matter. “We are investigating into the matter. After the report the enquiry will continue. Before that no comment on this sensitive issue”, said Berhampur SP Safeen Ahmed K.

Four minors among 8 girls rescued from Berhampur rly station

Berhampur: GRP police rescued eight girls; including four minors with the help of Child Line from the railway station here on Friday evening as the women leader of the group was taking them to Mumbai to engage them in an unorganised sector.

Child Line received information from mediapersons regarding trafficking of eight women by Konark Express train. The girls were sitting in the ladies compartment when the Child Line officials and mediapersons entered with the help of GRP police to rescue them.

The women along with the minor were identified as Sabita Pradhan (19), Arati Nayak (11), Reena Nayak (12), Minati Behera (19), Reena Dehury (15), Duti Dehury (16), Ranjita Dehury (18), Pramila Nayak (26). They were going to Mumbai to work in a prawn and fish processing unit. They were being taken by C K Gopi , who works as contractor in Mumbai.

“Following the information from a person who was coming in the train from Bhubaneswar, we contacted the Child Line to rescue them. The women were come under the supervision of a young woman Jyotirmayee Behera from Bhadrak. After the investigation, the police handed over them to Child Line said an official Himanshu Sabat.

Sabat informed that three were from Dhamnagar and others from rural villages of Bhadrak district. The supervisor told that they were going to Mumbai to work there. “We are from poor families, the contractor told us to give good money, that’s why we came,” said Jyoti to The Pioneer.

All Block gherao by Block Grant Teachers in Ganjam

Berhampur: Block Grant high school teachers and staffs along with the students and their parents were gheraoed the blocks in Ganjam as the part of the state wide block gherao call by State Block Grant High School Association on Thursday. All 22 blocks were in the gherao of the teachers, students and parents of Block grant schools.

The indefinite strike demanding hike in salary and full grant for the block grant teaching and non-teaching staffs reached at 40th day on Friday. Thousands of students, teachers and parents were joined in the gherao in the respective blocks of the district. Polsara and Beguniapada blocks were witnessed huge flow of students and parents along with block grant teachers to support the cause.

The Block Grant high school teachers and staffs were conducted rally in front of the respective blocks of the district to gather the public support for their cause and to show the power of the mass to impose the pressure on the State Government.

It may be noted that there are 159 block grant high schools in Ganjam circle. All block grant high schools were locked by their union from August 1. The teaching and non-teaching staffs demanded hike in salary who have been working for more than 25 years and cent percent grant for block grant staffs.

The Block Grant high school teachers and staffs handed over the memorandum through BDO to the Chief Minister of Odisha. The BDO stated that he will forward the memorandum to the Chief Minister.

‘Mamata’ scheme starts in Ganjam

Berhampur: To control Child Mortality Rate and to give importance to the health care of the pregnant women and child care in the state, Odisha government initiated ‘Mamata’ scheme shortly by the state Women and Child Development Department in all the districts of the state.

The scheme will benefit rural women, especially those pregnant women who are working as labourers in different sectors. The scheme has kick started in Ganjam on Tuesday.

 According to the scheme, each pregnant woman above 19 years of age will be covered under the scheme for first 2 live births. The eligible pregnant women of the state will be provided financial assistance of Rs. 5000/- in four separate installments for having additional nutrition and care for the pregnant mothers and the children.

To get the assistance fund, the pregnant women will have to register their name in a nearest Anganwadi center within six months of the pregnancy.  They will get financial assistance within from 6 months of their pregnancy to 9 months of their child. Women & Child Development department will issue specific guidelines and required forms for circulation among Anganwadis and pregnant women. The Anganwadi Workers will report the list of eligible women in the end of every month to the C.D.P.O. through Supervisor. After getting the list of the beneficiaries from the Anganwadi workers, the assistance amount will be provided to bank account of beneficiary directly in ‘Account Pay’ system.

According to the scheme, first installment of Rs 1500 will be provided after 6 months of pregnancy, Second installment of Rs 1500 after 3 months of Birth of the baby, third installment of Rs 1000 after 6 months of the baby’s birth and the fourth and the last installment of Rs 1000 will be provided after 9 months of the birth.

District Welfare Extension Officer Sabita Beura supplemented that this scheme has been started in all the Anganwadi centers of the district which will help the mothers and children of the poor families of the district.

Less rainfall creates drought like situation in Ganjam

Berhampur: Rain has been remaining the lifeline for the farmers in agricultural field. Less and erratic rainfall has left the farmers sulking. Still, they are waiting for a good rain. Rangeilunda and Belaguntha block are severely hit by less rain, revealed the district level review meeting on Monday.

In the district level review meeting, the officials were discussed about the alarming situation in the field of agriculture in Ganjam. On the direction of State Government, district collector Dr Krishan Kumar called the sub-collectors, Tehsildars, BDOs, agriculture officers, statistics and Irrigation Department officials to attend the review meeting on the present situation of agriculture in Ganjam.

In the meeting, the agriculture and statistics officials informed that the district has received 489 mm rainfall against 650 mm rainfall during this season till August 3rd week which is 25 percent less rainfall against the expectation. In the month of April it has received 33 percent less rain while 22 percent less in May, 34 percent less in June, 19 percent less in July and 22 percent less in August till 3rd week.

Two blocks were severely affected by less and erratic rainfall this season. Except Buguda, the rest 21 blocks have received less rainfall, the officers informed in the meeting.

Among others, DRDA Project Director M Muthukumar, ADM Sashibhusan Padhi, Sub-collectors of the district were attended the meeting. Collector directed all the Tehsildars, Statistics and agriculture officers to give report before 29 of this month on this matter.

Mass rally in Berhampur supporting Anna Hazaare




“Whether I am there or not, don’t allow this flame to be extinguished. Till India is free from corruption, this flame should burn,” said Anna.

 

Berhampur: A mass rally supporting anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazaare and Jan Lokpal Bill was organized by the youth organizations of the city on Saturday here.

Hundreds of youth led by coordinator B. Santosh Kumar along with other members of the organizations in the city were participated in the procession started from Khallikote College stadium at 7.30 am of the morning. The procession reached again at the Khallikote square after end of the procession in the town. Then they organized a signature campaign to support Jan Lokpal Bill.

Similar rally was organized on Friday by Berhampur Nagarika Manch led by former Deputy Speaker Ramachandra Panda. Protesting the arrest and detention of Anna Hazaare by Delhi police, they demanded at the Government to accept the Jan Lokpal Bill. They also demanded that Government should pass an accountability law to make civil service accountable to the public. Among others, Prof Prahallad Panda, Laxmi baba, Rajendra Panda, Rama Patra, Gadadhar Patro and others were taken the lead of the movement.

While on Saturday also Supporting Anna Hazaare the Nagarika Manch and other organization members were sat in the morning to evening dharna in front of Gandhi statue near Gandhi nagar square.

The Nagarika Manch is holding a series of public meeting to generate public opinion to support Anna Hazaare and Jan Lokpal Bill. On Monday, the Manch organizes a meeting to disscuss on this matter.

Kin of Languished Odia workers in Sudan decry for help

Berhampur: After one and half month, again the Odia labourers working in a Sudan power plant in Africa have complained against the power plant of giving torture to them in the foreign land. 25 workers are reportedly arrested by the Sudan police after the agitation by the Odia labourers against the plant due to cheating in wage and minimum facility committed by the Indian farm and Sudan power plant.

The workers complained that the management of the power plant located at Costi in Sudan has reneged on the promises given to them by Bhawani Construction of Kerala which acts as the company’s employment agent in India. The conditions to provide them free treatment, insurance, 8-hour working day, one holiday per week, monthly salary of Rs 15,000 with boarding and lodging facility were simply dreams for them since they joined the plant six months back in February this year.

They are exploited by the company in working hours, wage and otherwise. Even the company administration has recovered the transportation fees from India to Sudan from their accounts. All this has agitated the workers who are currently on strike but not without threat to their life from the company goons.

“We have taken further steps to bring back the labourers languishing in Sudan. We have already informed the labour commissioner of India. He is looking into the matter”, said District Magistrate of Ganjam Dr Krishan Kumar to The Pioneer on Friday.

“The company didn’t listen to our demand, what they had committed to provide. So our people went on strike. After Media’s interference, the Sudan plant agreed to provide health insurance and medical facility but after one month again they are giving torture. After protest by the workers, they were arrested by Sudan police and the police took them to an unknown place. Those were remained in the plant, they are in distress without food and minimum facility”, said Simanchala Gauda, a worker fled from Sudan.

“We have contacted the Bhabani Erectorates Ltd after the complaint from the kin of workers in distress in Sudan. The Agent informed that they had taken 67 workers from Ganjam district. Those are working in Sudan through Bhabani Erectorates Ltd; we have all that data with us. From August 11 they have started agitation against the company. We informed the Labour Commissioner to take further steps to bring back the workers”, said Labour Officer of Ganjam Dipti Ranjan Mohanty.

 It may note that, more than 150 Odia labourers are reportedly languishing in Sudan where they were dispatched by a Kerala firm to work in a power plant. The labourers migrated mainly from villages under Patrapur block, Rangeilunda block in Ganjam district. Things came to light when the workers on Thursday morning requested their relatives back home over phone for help to rescue them.

A worker who is working in the power plant in Sudan, informed his family members about the incidents over phone. The family members of the workers from Kesharipada, Khandadeuli, Antarasingi, Gundra, Poleru, Khambarigaon, Buribada, Baranga, Sashan, Turubudi and Jayantipur met the district administration and requested for immediate steps for the safe return of their kin from Sudan.

The families of the distressed workers on Thursday met the Ganjam officials to bring back their relatives from the foreign land. They met Ganjam collector and District Labour Officer and appealed for the rescue of arrested workers by Sudan police.

Big support for Hazare continue in Berhampur



"Anna tum age badho, hum tumhare saath hai"



BERHAMPUR: Supporting Anna Hazaare, various institutions, social organizations and political parties held different programmes in different parts of the city on Thursday. The student organizations condemned the fundamental right violation by Union Government in the case of Anna Hazaare’s arrest by Delhi police.

Support for Anna Hazaare is increasing day by day all around the country, while the Silk City Berhampur is not the exception. BJP workers condemning Union Government burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh near Kommapalli in the city.

In the other hand, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) called a nationwide college bandh on Thursday. Its effect has been felt in Ganjam. The colleges were closed by ABVP’s call. The youth organization staged dharna in front of Khallikote Autonomous College here. The youths of Gandhinagar protesting Lokpal bill framed by the Union Government and organized a signature campaign programme in the city.

While the Ganjam district youth wing of BJD were organized a huge protest meeting near Mahatma Gandhi statue at Gandhinagar here.

Hundreds of BJD workers and the local people of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's home town Hinjilikatu, 18 km from here took out a procession and a motorcycle rally led by Ajay Kumar Maharana in the town protesting the fundamental right violation of Anna Hazaare.

This is the second day of Strong and spontaneous support came forth for Anna Hazaare in the district in the wake of his arrest by the Delhi Police at the behest of the UPA Government.

Support for Anna from Ganjam

Berhampur: A strong support has come from Ganjam district for Anna Hazaare on Wednesday.

Protesting Anna Hazaare’s arrest, supporters were showed their inclination towards Anna and his fight against corruption campaign by agitating, giving slogan and sitting in dharna in different places of Ganjam.

Supporters of Anna Hazaare protesting the Lokpal Bill framed by Union Government, called a 12 hour bandh in chief minister’s home town Hinjilikatu 18 km away from Berhampur on Wednesday. Hundreds of supporters were come out with a procession and a motorcycle rally in the town. They sat in a dharna in Hinjili bus stand led by Ajay Kumar Maharana.

Protesting Anna’s arrest by Delhi police, School and college were closed in Hinjili. Market, shops were also closed here. A strong support has come from Hinjili area for Anna Hazaare.

While in Berhampur, student organization SUCI organized a dharna near Khallikote College in Berhampur city. Supporting Anna Hazaare Berhampur University students were come out in a procession by holding placards in Bhanjabihar.

Similar protest was organized in Khallikote town. College students set out in a rally here by chanting slogans against corruption and a procession supporting Anna’s anti-corruption campaign.

   

 

Railrok in Berhampur demanding passenger halt

Berhampur: The residents of Ankuli and Lanjipalli area organized a railrok demanding a passenger halt near Lanjipalli here on Wednesday.

Lang standing demands from the people of Ankuli and Lanjipalli area for a passenger halt near of Lanjipalli could not be solved by the railway authority or the district administration till today, though the people of the area have been demanding it from 1997.

The area people many a times attracted the attention of district authorities, elective representatives of Berhampur and DRM’s of Railway for fulfillment of their demand, but they could not succeed.

As a result the people of Ankuli, Lanjipalli, Berhampur Industrial area, Engineering College area came out with a huge gathering for railrok near Lanjipalli.

The administration and railway authorities’ inaction compelled the area people for railrok. Hundreds of women along with men were sat on the railway line demanding for their cause. Due to this strike, the communication was hit for few hours. The trains like Berhampur-Bhadrak fast passenger and Duronto Express were took a halt for few hours.

After the given commitment by the railway officials, the agitators were moved from the strike.

Fire beak out in Ganjam village

Berhampur: 14 houses were turned to ash in the Madhurchua village under Rambha police station of Ganjam district on Monday morning.

Around 3.10 am at the wee hour of early morning, the fire broke out in the thatched houses. Villagers tried a lot to control, but it became futile and 14 houses completely turned into ash. The villagers rang up to fire station for help. Fire station team reached at the village at morning 6 o’clock. All most 14 houses were burnt at that time.

The houses of Kalicharan Nahak, Khalia Nahak, Santosh Nahak, Sanku Nahak, Bighnaraj Nahak, Pramod Nahak, Judhistir Nahak, Ravindra Nahak, Rajendra Nahak, Gokula Nahak, Advaita Nahak, Rahash Nahak, Akhil Nahak, Tarabati Nahak were burnt in the fire.

The villagers suspecting electric short circuit might be the reason of the fire break out. Most of the families are below poverty line. They have lost all their belongings in the incident.

MLA of Chatrapur Adikanda Sethi, Ganjam block chairman Surath Pahan, Ganjam Tehsildar Bijayananda Nayak, CPI leader Narayana Reddy were visited the site and assessed the lose by the fire accident.

Instantly, Surath Pahan and his team have given assistance by giving polythene, dry food to manage the family for some days. The team has given assurance to provide Indira Awas to the bereaved families.

“We visited the place with our team. We are planning to provide Indira Awas to each family; those houses are burnt in the fire. We also discussed with the district administration to give all support to the families of fire victim”, said block chairman Pahan.

Last year also 4 houses were burnt due to fire breakout in that same village. The villages of that area have been demanding a fire station near Rambha, which will help them at the time of need due to close proximity. It may be noted that, this area is 25 km away from Chatrapur fire station. The political leaders along with block chairman are supporting them for a fire station near Rambha.

Development work can curb Naxal problem: Jairam Ramesh

Berhampur: “There are 60 districts are Naxal affected in the country, out of which 15 districts from Odisha. The Naxal problem in Odisha is not worsened like Chhattisgarh. We are planning out to tackle the situation. From that, development work in the Naxal affected area is the need of hour, which can curb the Naxal menace in Odisha”, said Rural Development central minister Jairam Ramesh in a review meeting on Saturday at Berhampur RDC office, as the part of his Odisha visit.

He reviewed the central government funded development works by visiting different parts of Odisha. During the visit, he reached at Berhampur RDC office to review the development work of the districts under southern RDC on Saturday morning here.

He also reviewed the MGNREGA works and the development works in Naxal affected areas. He lauded a collector’s proposal of building playgrounds under the scheme of NREGS in the tribal area. He discussed about road connectivity, Indira Awas Yojana and other welfare projects of the tribal area. He told that there is the need of more Post Offices and Banks in rural areas for the smoothly transactions of NREGA wages.

“This year central government has sanctioned one hundred thousand crore rupees as the budget for Rural Development, from which Rs 6,000 crore has been sanctioned for Odisha. Every year centre allocates 25
crore extra for the upliftment of the tribal districts, but this year extended to 30 crore”, said Jairam Ramesh in the review meeting.

He advocated for the farmers to stop acquisition of the cultivable land, which yields 3 tier crop a year, and also suggested to computerize all the data to bring more transparency in MGNREGA work. He gave the instances of Andhra Pradesh, who get succeed in this field. He told about the road connectivity, broadband connection and to modernize the old system in the rural area.

Among others, RDC Laxmi Narayana Nayak, Panchayatiraj Secretary Aurobinda Padhy, Rural Development Secretary Ashok Tripathy, Jairam Ramesh’s Personal Secretary R Vineel Krishna, collector of Nayagada with the district collectors under southern division RDC were present over the review  meeting.

14 injured in group-clash near Golanthara, raged villagers block road

Berhampur: Again a group-clash has taken place near Golanthara after Kodala violence. 14 persons were injured in the group-clash between Singabadi and Medinipur village of Simhala Panchayat under Golanthara police station of Ganjam district on Thursday night. Protesting this, Medinipur villagers blockade the road on Friday demanding action against the villagers of Singabadi.

Before, the villagers of Medinipur had complained against the villagers from Singabadi for the matter of damaging the crops by the domestic animals like buffaloes and cows in their land, though there was no grazing land without the paddy fields. But the villagers of Singabadi did not listen to them. The villagers had complained to the administration against the defiant behavior of the Singabadi villagers. But they could not get solution from the administration.

On Saturday night, villagers of the Medinipur and Singabadi came to a face to face clash taking into this matter. 10 villagers from Medinipur and 4 from Singabadi were injured in the group-clash. Then the next day the villagers of Medinipur blocked the Chikiti-Berhampur main road for demanding strong action against the villagers of Singabadi.

Injured persons are in MKCG medical college and hospital for their treatment. ADM Sangram Panda and Tehsildar Manoj Panda rushed to the spot to take the stock of the situation and after the interfere of the officials the raged villagers were agreed to stop road blockade.

5.38 crore housing project for slum dwellers in Berhampur

Berhampur: Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) laid foundation stone to the 5.38 crore Integrated Housing Project for slum dwellers of the city on Wednesday here.

Two years before, Central Government had sanctioned the Integrated Housing for Slum Development Project, but due to some problems in land demarcation construction work was delayed.

There are 250 houses will be built in the first phase, for which 5 crore 38 lakh 71 thousand rupees is estimated. For this project center will bear 80 percent of the expenditure, whereas 10 percent from the state and the rest by the beneficiaries.

In the first phase, 2 crore 24 lakh 83 thousand rupees is sanctioned for 98 houses in Bauri Sukunda, 1 crore 43 lakh 85 thousand rupees for 65 houses in Gola Raghunathpur, 88.91 lakh for 46 houses in Mochi street and 81.04 lakh for 41 houses in Bijipur Badabauri street as well.

All the facilities will be available in the slum colonies, which are going to be constructed soon. The tender process has finished.Necessary steps have been taken to speed up the construction work within the stipulated time.

On the occasion of lay foundation stone, Berhampur MLA Ramesh Chandra Chyaupatnaik, Mayor Sib Shankar Das, Deputy mayor Sanjukta Samal, BMC Commissioner Bheem Manseth along with other officials, engineers and elected representatives of BMC were present.

Dharakot chickungunya: officials take the stocks of the situation

Berhampur: Following breakout of dengue in Anugul along with other district, the chickungunya at Dharakot block in Ganjam district left the people in the state of panic. The number of patients rose to hundred in the block on Tuesday. It seems that some of the patients are unable to walk and the rest have pain in their external body parts, the people apprehend that the dreaded disease has broken out in the district.

From Sunday onwards, the number of patients are on the rise. On Monday, near about fifty people were affected and rushed to the hospital, but on Tuesday, more than hundred people were affected in the disease at Gadadamodarpalli and nearby villages of Dharakot block.

Most of the patients were taking treatment by sleeping on the floor due to lack of bed. Ganjam District Mediacal Officer (Maleria) Dr Uma Shankar Mishra has visited the affected village on Monday afternoon. Among others Dharakot Tehsildar Sangeeta Behera and Zilla Parishad member have visited the spot to take stock of the situation.

The medical team has started spraying DDT by going to door to door in the village. Treatment is going on. Awareness programmes has been started to keep clean the surrounding of the village as well as the houses.

Out of the affected, Tamal Gauda, Kalu Gauda, Kanak Gauda, Devraj Gauda, Sibani Khatei, Jitendra Das and Bharati Dakua are reported to be in serious condition and have been admitted at the Dharakot Community Health Centre for treatment while the rest hundreds are getting treated in the hospital and in village on Tuesday.

A press meet was organized on Wednesday in the IEC hall of CDMO, Ganjam to discuss about Dengue and Chickungunya problem in the district. CDMO Suryamani Patnaik along with other health officials discussed about the symptoms, pre-caution, treatment and preventive measures for Chickungunya and Dengue.

“We have discussed about the prevention of Chickungunya and Dengue disease. It’s curable, no need of panic over this. We have taken preventive measures in Gadadamodarpalli village of Dharakot block. We are waiting for the medical report of the disease, which will come very soon”, said CDMO to the newsmen here.

Two jumbos electrocuted in Ganjam

… After 48 hours, administration got into the spot
… Intelligence failure says DFO
… If administration will not take any action to give compensation for farmers and to drive away the jumbos, then the people will solve the problem in their own way, told the raged villagers.
… Lack of Coordination between wildlife and forest official delayed the operation, as a result the jumbos became the victims of people’s anger


Berhampur: Two wild jumbos died in electrocution at Haripur near Rambha under Khallikote Forest Range area of Ganjam district on Monday.
Two female wild elephants were died. Among them one is adult of 30 years and the second one is a young of 10 years. These two elephants were breathed their last near the tail end of the jungle and in a paddy field at Haripur village. When the villagers went out for works in their paddy fields in the morning, they found these two jumbos dead.

After the death of these two, other jumbos were raged and roared violently. The violent behavior of these pachyderms created terror among the local people.

Forest officials have reached at the spot after 48 hours of the death of the elephants. The forest officials have started enquiry into the matter. The young elephant had come in to contact of electric wire first, to save the life of the young one the mother came into contact of the electric wire and breathed her last. The wire was near a pump house of the paddy field. The first one was away from 755 ft and later one was 203 ft away from the pump house.


“Enquiry is going on. After the post mortem report the real reason will come out, whether they had consumed poison or electrocuted. The veterinary doctors have reached in the spot. Due to intelligence failure we could not get the information early”, said DFO of Berhampur AK Jena to The Pioneer.

“Elephants are electrocuted. We have started enquiry into the matter. If any found guilty under wild life protection act, then they will prosecute them”, said Ranger of Khallikote Forest Range Kishore Kumar Nayak.

Before The Pioneer had reported about the nuisance work of the 32 wild elephants in the Ganjam block and lack of co-ordination between wildlife and forest official, who delayed the operation, as a result the jumbos became the victims of people’s anger.

Fight between man and elephant claimed seven life of human beings and five lives of the jumbos in 2008 as well. 19 houses along with damaging of crops during the years affected on economy of the farmers, sources said.