College poll ended peacefully in Berhampur



Santosh Sahu of KK College, Berhampur



Berhampur: After the cancellation of students’ union election in Berhampur University campus due to clash between two different students’ groups, district administration along with the police was concentrated on the other colleges of the district for smooth discharge of polling in respective campuses, which ended peacefully on Thursday.

Polling was held in 23 colleges in the district. A day before, the candidates were attended the ‘why I stand for’ meeting and conveyed their views, opinions about their stand. Students of different colleges in the district were excited fir Thursday’s poll. Student leaders were trying to motivate the students to gain their precious vote.

The polling started from 12 noon to 2 pm, while vote count started after the polling and then the result was declared on the same day on Thursday. All the candidates of Lingaraj Law College were elected uncontested, while the other colleges in the city conducted polling.

Santosh Kumar Sahu was elected as Students’ Union president of Khallikote Autonomous College against Mrutyunjaya Sahu, while Jagannath Panda and Tutu Behera were elected as General Secretary and Vice-president of the College respectively. Similarly in Shasi Bhusan Rath Autonomous Womens’ College in the city, Suman Mishra was elected as president by defeating Darpana Subudhi in 19 votes, While Suchita Sahu and M Puja Reddy were elected as General Secretary and Vice-president of the College respectively.

The other two important colleges of the city Binayak Acharya College and City College were geared up for the polling. Basanta Behera was elected as president of City College, while Sunil Mahankuda was elected as president of Binayak Acharya College.   

Security for the college election was specially arranged by the police to avoid embarrassing situation in the campus while polling. All the important colleges in the city ended their poll peacefully.  

      

Count down begins for Durga puja



Jaa devi sarba bhuteshu........



Berhampur: Mahalaya welcomed the goddess Durga for the season of festival to bring bountiful yield and happiness to the home. Durga puja is also known as Navratri puja which says the worshipping of goddess Durga for nine days. Like Kolkata, Gujarat and Cuttack; Berhampur also gears up for Durga Puja.

Ganjam is famous for its religious “Shakti shrines” where the ritual of the sixteen day festival is strictly followed. This ritual is known as “Shodasa Upachara” unlike in other parts of the country where it lasts for three to nine days at most. The prominent Sakti shrines in Ganjam include presiding deity (Ista-Devi) of South Orissa Tara Tarini near Purusottampur, goddess Narayani near Khallikote, goddess Mahamayee (Budhi Thakurani) of Berhampur, goddess Bhairavi at Mantridi 15 km away from Berhampur, goddess Ramachandi at Gadamanitri 5 km away from Ganjam town, Mahuri Kalika, Ghata Kalika, Kandhuni Devi, Byaghra Devi, Balakumari, Barahi, Khambeswari, Simhasini, Shyamalai, Kureisuni, Siddha Harachandi with other Sakti shrines of Ganjam district are geared up for the festival Dussehera which is celebrated  with utmost solemnity, religious fervor, gaiety and éclat.

Some Puja Mandaps in the city have started the rituals of Navaratri puja formally from Mahalaya night. The Silk city Berhampur which is known as one of the prominent socio-cultural centers and religious epicenter of Odisha as it connects two different cultures of Odia and Telugu since the ancient times is getting ready for the much awaited carnival.



Bijipur Dussehera medha



The Puja bazaar is all set to make a good business in this session. The garment showrooms, wholesale markets also hit the market of Berhampur, the commercial nerve centre as well as an inter-state business center of Odisha. Traffic is getting thicker gradually in the areas beginning from Head post office square to fire station road, Annapurna Road, Urban Bank Road, SNT Temple Road, Sanabazaar and Badabazaar area. So the police administration is planning for a better traffic management during Puja.

The puja mandaps’ of Komapalli Square, Courtpeta Square, Bijipur, Station Road, Old Bus stand, Girija Square, Giri market, Hanuman Bazaar and badabazaar have been started formally the nine day puja of goddess Durga from the night of Mahalaya. Out of total 39 worshiping places, nine were opened their puja pandals and started the rituals of nine day puja. Others may open likely on seventh or eighth day of the ritual of Navratri puja.

The attraction of the puja is their respective pandals draped in different colours and in different themes, ideas and innovative arts and designs. According to a member Kali Prasad Patra of Bijipur Puja committee, they have hired artists from Dhenkanal and Kolkata for the design of their puja pandal like a temple of Nepal. The pandal is made up of different colored and designed mats, while the idol is of 15 feet height mesmerizing the devotees of the city.

City administration, Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) along with the police administration is ready for the nine day long carnival. For the better sanitation facility, BMC have planned for special arrangement for the devotees. Administration imposed ban on using of Mike after 10 pm of the night and it permitted bhajans for playing on the puja mandaps.

Navaratri puja has brought joy and exuberance among the inhabitants of the city once again. They believe that Durga puja not a puja only, but it is the original feeling and experiencing of their old tradition and Sakti-cult of the state as well as Ganjam from very near.

Clash between two student groups in BU

Berhampur: Clash between two student groups regarding the election matter took place in the campus of Berhampur University on Saturday here. A face to face challenge was taken place following the matter of withdrawal of the filing nomination.   

Some students of the first group asked the other group to withdraw the nomination for the Vice-president post while the second group did not agree with the proposal and protested the first group. Taking into this silly matter, a small fight was taken place. Three students namely Ashok Mahankuda, Akhandaleswar Swain, Biswajit padhy of the second group injured in the tussle.

The injured students rushed to the MKCG medical. Police and Chairman of the PG council along with university administration interfered in the matter to keep the campus peaceful. The University administration then called an emergency meeting to solve the matter. According to the Unversity Administration the situation is now under control.

          

          

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.

Campus politics begin for college election

Berhampur: Following the Government notification for college election by September 29, College and University campuses in Ganjam became very active as the candidate selection process by the students’ union of the respective colleges is going on. The mood of campus politics is in peak as the filing of nomination will be held on Thursday.

Student wings of BJD, Congress and the student organizations like AISF, SFI, ABVP and DSO are prepared for the election. Selection of the candidates for the campus election is almost finalized and those are in confused state, they will finish their selection work on Thursday on the day of nomination.

As per the government notification of state Higher Education department, nomination paper can be filed in between 9 am to 12 o’clock on September 22. Scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on the same day afternoon from 2 to 4 pm. While list of valid nomination papers will be published at 11 am on September 23. On the same day from 2 to 4 pm students can withdraw their nomination papers if they want and the final list of candidates will be published at 5 pm.

Students’ Union of the nerve centre of education in south Odisha, Berhampur University is ready for the upcoming election. The campus is very cool and peaceful as the recent government notification of state Higher Education department stated that if any violence occurs in the campus regarding election matter, then the election of that college or university will be called off.

The other important colleges like Khallikote Autonomous College, SBR Autonomous Women’s College, Binayak Acharya Govt. College, City College, Chatrapur Govt. Science College, KSUB College Bhanjanagar, Asika Science College, Hinjili College, Ganjam College, Khemundi College are prepared for the college election. The election will be held in the campuses of 23 colleges of Ganjam district.

The planning meetings for the upcoming election are being held regularly by the student wings of respective political parties and organizations. Some students have also tried to attract fellow students by stringing up the welcome posters. The front gate of the University and also other college campuses are filled by the welcome posters bearing the names of the willing candidates for the election. Even the selected candidates have started campaign by going to the individual classes.

“Election is not a new thing. Every year this happens, interfering of the politicians in the election is a new trend but very dangerous for the society. Political backing for the college election poisoned the educational atmosphere of the campus. Criminalization of politics rightly started from here only. A neutral, intelligent and development minded student is not getting chance in the election due to threaten from political backed student candidate”, said a Journalism and Mass Communication student of Berhampur University Rudra Patra.

“During last two year student BJD remain champion in the campus elections and this year also we hope for the same. Our candidates along with me have started campaigns by going to the class rooms of respective department”, said DRL student of Berhampur University Jaydev Pandit.

While the officials of university administration told that College attendance, Lyngdoh Commission recommendations will be strictly followed in the college election and the administration hopes for a peaceful election in the campus.

Tata hold public hearing in Ganjam

… Public demand for mega steel project in the land

Berhampur: Much discussed and awaited Tata’s public hearing finally held at Chamakhandi near Chatrapur to discuss with the public about the environment clearance of its proposed project near Gopalpur on Tuesday. There was no such highlighted discussion on environment problem after the set up of the industry, whereas most of the representatives of the people were talked about mega steel plant, employment, displacement problems and other things, though the hearing was for environment clearance.

The meeting started from hue and cry between some groups after ex-MLA of Gopalpur Dr Trinath Behera’s opinion regarding support for mega steel plant and compensation for the displacement family. The meeting started from hearing to the people’s representatives and political leaders. They kept their opinion on this matter. They are ex-MLA of Gopalpur Dr Trinath Behera, ex-chairman of Chatrapur NAC Ramachandra Behera, Trilochan Behera, Kamraju Verma, Ramesh Chandra Mahankuda, Ramesh Chandra Jena, Uma Shankar Sahu, Zilla Parishad member Kailash Palei, Gorachand Bhattamishra, Girijaprasad Reddy, Bibhuti Jena, Biswanath Sahu,  Chatrapur MLA Adikanda Sethi, Berhampur MP Sidhanta Mahapatra were talked from different angles of public hearing.

While Tata officials told that they will set up three industries on the acquired land of 450 acres. First, a high carbon ferrochrome industry of which production capacity will 5,500 tonne per year and the raw material will be imported  from Jamshedpur, Re-bar mill having the production capacity of 4 lakh tonne per year and desalination plant over 450 acres of the acquired land. It will invest 30 crore for environmental protection. They also informed that the estimated cost of the plants is around 800 crore were scheduled to start production by 2013. They also told that the project is for common people only.

“For the betterment of our people, the company should bring a separate project by which the displacement people pertly or full will get benefit out of it”, said Berhampur MP Sidhanta Mahapatra.

One ex-Sarapanch Rajendra Jena told that Tata acquired the land in very low cost. If it acquired the land, it should start the proposed mega steel plant otherwise give full compensation for the land according to the market rate. Otherwise we will not give chance to Tata for industrialization here and on the coming days we will break the boundary wall of Tata.

The Ganjam District Congress Committee (GDCC) alleged that Tata had acquired 3700 acre Government and private land to set up a big steel project but the company derailed from its commitment and now it is planning for an Industrial park and re-rolling mill. Before, the company was talking about the investment of 10,000 crore which is decreased to 1,000 crore now. Due to this land acquisition, thousands of families were in distress by loosing their cultivable land of thousands of crores in market value.

UCP engineering college students demand quality education

 

Berhampur: The students of Uma Charan Patnaik (UCP) Engineering College boycotted the class and sat on a strike in front of the college demanding better facility and quality education on Monday here.

The students of the college alleged that they are not getting proper facility like sanitation, good resourceful library, well equipped laboratory, cycle stand and campus recruitment. They demanded that they are not getting proper scopes though they are technology students. The quality of education should be increased as the competition market need good professionals.

The sanitation problem is very acute in the campus which creates trouble to the health. Students claimed that there are many problems in the lab. As they are the technical students and depended more on practical knowledge about any subject, but due to lack of equipment they are not getting the chance for learning. Some students alleged that there are no sufficient computers for their practical.

 While we contacted with the Vice-principal of UCP, she told that the students never complained orally or in written to us. They are trying to solve the problem. “It is a good school, which always give preference to its students. It is a well maintained campus than other Government Engineering College of Odisha”, she maintained.