Shah Commission’s 2nd phase hearing begins

BHUBANESWAR: The Justice MB Shah Commission probing the irregularities in mining in Odisha and some other States began its second-phase hearing of mining lessees at its Ahmedabad office from Tuesday.

On the first day of the hearing, the Commission conducted hearing on 27 mines out of 57 mines in the State leased out to 40 miners. It would also hear from the lessees on section-37 of Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act which imposes restrictions on subletting of mines to third parties.

The Commission, which is hearing violation of Rule-37 of the Mineral Concession Rules (MCR)-1960, questioned the lessees about the violation of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Shah also asked about the encroachment made by the lessees in the mining area.     

A few lease holders, who could not present their cases in the previous rounds of hearings, would depose before the Commission during its three-day hearing in the Gujarat capital.

“The State Government has already submitted the report following the investigation on violation of Rule 37 of the MCR. Now the lessees are airing their views before the Commission. If the Commission asks any further information regarding the matter, the State Government would provide in time,” said director of Mines Deepak Mohanty.   

In addition to it, the lessees would provide a blueprint for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities they would undertake for development of mineral-rich Sundargarh and Keonjhar districts.

Central Command’s GOC-in-C Lt Gen Anil Chait visits State

BHUBANESWAR: General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Command (Lucknow) Lt General Anil Chait visited the State for the first time. He returned on Tuesday after finishing his three-day visit to Odisha.

Chait, who was commissioned into Armoured Corps in Dec 1973, was instrumental in raising Special Action Group (The Black Cats Commandos) of the National Security Guards. He met Governor Dr S C Jamir on March 31 and discussed various issues relating to welfare of Ex-Servicemen and Army Personnel of the State.

The General Officer was accompanied by Commander Chhattisgarh and Odisha Sub Area Brigadier Balaraj Mehta and Commanding Officer of 120 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) Bihar Colonel Amir Singh.

Home Science as minimum qualification for CDPO demanded

BHUBANESWAR: The students of BSc (Home Science) started indefinite day and night dharna in front of the State Assembly here on Tuesday demanding BSc (Home Science) as minimum qualification for the post of Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) under the project of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).

According to a student Lila Lalantika Debi, BSc (Home Science) is a 4-year technical degree course under Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology. These days they are demanding to set BSc (Home Science) as minimum qualification for the post of CDPO as their syllabus is highly suitable for various integrated child development schemes under the Government of Odisha, she added.

“If these students get appointed in several schemes on women and children development, the project will run more affectively,” said Lalantika Debi, adding, “But, their lament is that they could not get employment opportunity even after completion of their 4-year technical course.”

Notably, the students had conducted a rally on March 14, three days dharna at the Lower PMG and two weeks long dharna in front of their college to express their demands. Neither the Government nor the authority of their university took responsive action towards their demand as a result they again sat in dharna.

Gaon Sathis’ fast enters 9th day; 3 critical

BHUBANESWAR: The Gaon Sathis, who have been sitting on dharna here from March 7 demanding pay hike, resorted to other forms of agitation like sweeping in front of the State Assembly here on Tuesday to mount pressure on the State Government for fulfilment of their demands.

Hundreds of Gaon Sathis came in a procession started from Master Canteen to the Lower PMG square holding brooms in their hands and swept the road to protest the State Government’s apathy.

Meanwhile, their hunger strike, which was launched from March 25, entered the ninth day on Tuesday. The conditions of three fasting Gaon Sathis are critical and they are undergoing treatment at the Capital Hospital from March 26, said State coordinator of Gaon Sathi Sangh Joint Action Committee Laxmidhar Biswal.

Biswal alleged that the doctors of the hospital forced the serious Gaon Sathis for discharge from the Disaster Ward and even a doctor called one of the three a psychiatric patient which is very unfortunate. “How can a person, who didn’t take food for nine days, leave the hospital bed,” asked Biswal.

The Gaon Sathis have written a letter to the director of the hospital to look into the matter and urged him to take appropriate steps for the treatment of the agitating Gaon Sathis. On the other hand, Capital Hospital’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Sudarshan Das rubbished the allegation and clarified that they asked the Gaon Sathis to vacate the ward which has limited bed, but they arranged a bed and other facilities in another ward for the treatment of the agitating Gaon Sathis.

The Gaon Sathis demand a dignified salary of at least Rs 4,500 per month and their engagement in the Panchayati Raj Department as Gram Rojgar Sevaks like the VLWs at the block level. “We will continue our hunger strike and demonstration till our demands are fulfilled,” said Biswal.

   

3 killed as train hits mini truck near Khurda

BHUBANESWAR: Three persons were killed when a mini truck crossing the railway tracks at an unmanned level crossing was hit by a train in Khurda district, about 30 km from here on Tuesday.

At 5.45 am, the mini truck was hit by the Nagercoil-Shalimar (Kolkata) Gurudev Express at the level crossing between Khurda Road and Kaipadar Road railway stations. The vehicle, in which the three persons including driver were travelling, died on the spot.

The vehicle after colliding with the passenger train fell into the near by track which was again run over by a goods train coming from the opposite side. The vehicle fell into pieces on the track.

The local people staged demonstration at the spot demanding compensation to the families of the deceased and completion of the work of unmanned level crossing. The accident affected train services on the busy Chennai-Howrah route for some time.

State observes Utkal Divas

BHUBANESWAR: In order to mark the 77th foundation day of the formation of Odisha as a separate province, various political parties and organisations along with educational institutions observed the Utkal Divas across the State on Tuesday.

On the occasion of Utkal Divas, the State Government organised a photo exhibition and a laser show at the Exhibition Ground to commemorate the contributions and sacrifices made by eminent leaders of the State who were the mastermind behind the formation of a politically separate state on linguistic basis on April 1, 1936.

Utkal Sammilani, which had played a major role in the formation of modern Odisha on linguistic basis during the British era, observed the day by garlanding on Madhusudan Das statute in front of Raj Bhavan here. Similarly, Pradesh Congress Committee observed the day by garlanding on the statues of great personalities and commemorated their contributions in formation of the State.

Odisha Jan Morcha also observed the day and organised a meeting to pay tribute to the great men behind the special State. OJM general secretary Jagyenswar Babu urged the State Government to direct all the Government offices of the State to use Odia as administrative language.

All the major government buildings in the State capital on Monday wore a glittering look. The buildings include the Assembly, Secretariat, Jayadev Bhawan, Rabindra Mandap, NALCO, RBI and Railway headquarters have been decked up in colourful lights.

Gaon Sathis’ fast enters 8th day; 3 critical

BHUBANESWAR: The Gaon Sathis, who have been sitting on dharna here from March 7 demanding pay hike, would resort to other forms of agitation like begging in the name of the Chief Minister from Tuesday to mount pressure on the State Government for fulfilment of their demands.

Meanwhile, their hunger strike, which was launched from March 25, entered the eighth day on Monday.  The conditions of three fasting Gaon Sathis are critical and they are undergoing treatment at the Capital Hospital from March 25, said State coordinator of Gaon Sathi Sangh Joint Action Committee Laxmidhar Biswal.

The Gaon Sathis demand a dignified salary of at least Rs 4,500 per month and their engagement in the Panchayati Raj Department as Gram Rojgar Sevaks like the VLWs at the block level. “We will continue our hunger strike and demonstration till our demands are fulfilled,” said Biswal.