The Pioneer, Dec 19, 2008
PNS | Bhubaneswar
The State Government would provide 500 acre of land to the Centre to facilitate the establishment of a Central University in Koraput town, said Higher Education Minister Samir Dey in the State Assembly on Thursday.
Dey on the floor of the Assembly said the Ministry of Human Resources Development has already constituted an inspection committee to identify the land.
“A committee under the Deputy Secretary Sunil Kumar would soon visit the State to examine the lands. After the Committee completes its work, the establishment work for the university would start,” he said, adding that the land would be provided at free of cost.
A serious debate took place during the Question Hour regarding the establishment of the Central University in Koraput.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Koraput-Bhawanipatna-Rayagda Tribal Tourism Triangle in Orissa
Dharitri, Nov 28, 2008
Toursim attraction in between Bhawanipatna and Indravati Artificial Lake
Comment:
Similar to golden triangle comprising Puri-Konark-Bhubaneswar, Koraput – Bhawanipatna – Rayagada could be marketed as Tribal Tourism Triangle by Orissa tourism Department.
Koraput (temple) – Kolab (water reservoir and power station) – Raniguda - Tentulikhunti (Temple) - Mukhiguda (water reservoir and power station) – Indravati dam (water reservoir) - Thuamul Rampur (tribal life, tea/coffee garden, waterfall) –Karlapat (sanctuary, wildlife) – Phurli Jharan and Jakham (water fall)– Bhawanipatna (temple) – Asurgarh(historial place, ruins of a fort) – Bisam Cuttack (tribal: dongria kondh) – Gadgada (water fall) - Therubali (temple) – Rayagada (temple) – Hati Pathar (waterfall) - Laxmipur – Damanjodi (natural beauty) – Koraput (temple)
Toursim attraction in between Bhawanipatna and Indravati Artificial Lake
Comment:
Similar to golden triangle comprising Puri-Konark-Bhubaneswar, Koraput – Bhawanipatna – Rayagada could be marketed as Tribal Tourism Triangle by Orissa tourism Department.
Koraput (temple) – Kolab (water reservoir and power station) – Raniguda - Tentulikhunti (Temple) - Mukhiguda (water reservoir and power station) – Indravati dam (water reservoir) - Thuamul Rampur (tribal life, tea/coffee garden, waterfall) –Karlapat (sanctuary, wildlife) – Phurli Jharan and Jakham (water fall)– Bhawanipatna (temple) – Asurgarh(historial place, ruins of a fort) – Bisam Cuttack (tribal: dongria kondh) – Gadgada (water fall) - Therubali (temple) – Rayagada (temple) – Hati Pathar (waterfall) - Laxmipur – Damanjodi (natural beauty) – Koraput (temple)
Friday, November 21, 2008
Letter for Tribal Tourism Triangle in KBK
Dear Director, Dept of Tourism, Govt. of Orissa,
Similar to golden triangle comprising Puri-Konark-Bhubaneswar, Koraput – Bhawanipatna – Rayagada could be marketed as Tribal Tourism Triangle by Orissa tourism Department.
Koraput (temple) – Kolab (water reservoir and power station) – Raniguda - Tentulikhunti (Temple) - Mukhiguda (water reservoir and power station) – Indravati dam (water reservoir) - Thuamul Rampur (tribal life, tea/coffee garden, waterfall) –Karlapat (sanctuary, wildlife) – Phurli Jharan and Jakham (water fall)– Bhawanipatna (temple) – Asurgarh(historial place, ruins of a fort) – Bisam Cuttack (tribal: dongria kondh) – Gadgada (water fall) - Therubali (temple) – Rayagada (temple) – Hati Pathar (waterfall) - Laxmipur – Damanjodi (natural beauty) – Koraput (temple)
Doing so other tourist places near to Koraput (like Jeypore, Duduma, Nandapur, Gupteswar etc), Bhawanipatna (like Junagarh, Ranipur Jharial, Khariar, Bhim Khoj near Dharamgarh, Dokrichanchra, Patalganga, Sunabeda in Nuapada, Gudahandi etc) and Rayagada (Minajhola, Devgiri, Padampur, Gunpur, Daringbadi in Kandhamal, etc) will also get more emphasis and importance as Koraput, Bhawanipatna and Rayagada would facilitate as the center for them encouraging more nature and tribal loving tourists to KBK-Kandhamal regions.
A state highway is required to connect Raniguda with Indravati dam via Singpuru, Jagganathpur and Tentulikhunti for tourism development in the area, particularly natural and tribal beauty of Thuamul Rampur, Karlapat (wildlife) and Indravati dam could be well exploited through it.
Similarly connecting Indravati dam with Ranipur jharial, Patalganga, Sunabeda in Nuapada via Moter, Dharamgarh, Sindhekela by a state highway would also encourage tourists in KBK region.
Tribal dance like Ghumura, Dalkhai, Danda, Kondh dance, Paraja dance, Bonda dance etc could be associated at various tourist locations.
Thanks and best regards
Digambara
Similar to golden triangle comprising Puri-Konark-Bhubaneswar, Koraput – Bhawanipatna – Rayagada could be marketed as Tribal Tourism Triangle by Orissa tourism Department.
Koraput (temple) – Kolab (water reservoir and power station) – Raniguda - Tentulikhunti (Temple) - Mukhiguda (water reservoir and power station) – Indravati dam (water reservoir) - Thuamul Rampur (tribal life, tea/coffee garden, waterfall) –Karlapat (sanctuary, wildlife) – Phurli Jharan and Jakham (water fall)– Bhawanipatna (temple) – Asurgarh(historial place, ruins of a fort) – Bisam Cuttack (tribal: dongria kondh) – Gadgada (water fall) - Therubali (temple) – Rayagada (temple) – Hati Pathar (waterfall) - Laxmipur – Damanjodi (natural beauty) – Koraput (temple)
Doing so other tourist places near to Koraput (like Jeypore, Duduma, Nandapur, Gupteswar etc), Bhawanipatna (like Junagarh, Ranipur Jharial, Khariar, Bhim Khoj near Dharamgarh, Dokrichanchra, Patalganga, Sunabeda in Nuapada, Gudahandi etc) and Rayagada (Minajhola, Devgiri, Padampur, Gunpur, Daringbadi in Kandhamal, etc) will also get more emphasis and importance as Koraput, Bhawanipatna and Rayagada would facilitate as the center for them encouraging more nature and tribal loving tourists to KBK-Kandhamal regions.
A state highway is required to connect Raniguda with Indravati dam via Singpuru, Jagganathpur and Tentulikhunti for tourism development in the area, particularly natural and tribal beauty of Thuamul Rampur, Karlapat (wildlife) and Indravati dam could be well exploited through it.
Similarly connecting Indravati dam with Ranipur jharial, Patalganga, Sunabeda in Nuapada via Moter, Dharamgarh, Sindhekela by a state highway would also encourage tourists in KBK region.
Tribal dance like Ghumura, Dalkhai, Danda, Kondh dance, Paraja dance, Bonda dance etc could be associated at various tourist locations.
Thanks and best regards
Digambara
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Govt to restructure State’s 314 blocks
The Pioneer, Nov 2, 2008
The Orissa Government has decided to restructure all the 314 blocks of the State. A decision to this effect was taken at the all-secretaries meeting chaired by Chief Secy Ajit Kumar Tripathy.
It was decided in the meeting that Government would seek financial assistance from the 13th Finance Commission to go ahead with the restructuring of the blocks. Steps would be taken to build up the cluster of different categories block wise.
At the time of restructuring of the blocks, existing population, the socio-economic condition of the people would be taken into consideration. The SC and ST population and the population of other backward class would be taken into consideration. The block would be restructured to improve the administrative efficiency and augmenting the delivery mechanism. Most of the funds now straight come to the block. A lot of money under NREGS and other programmes is being spent by the block unit.
Tripathy asked the officials to take steps for expediting the establishments of ITIs in block level. In yet another development, the Planning Commission has asked the State to submit an- eight year action plan for the KBK districts for which fund can be released.
The Orissa Government has decided to restructure all the 314 blocks of the State. A decision to this effect was taken at the all-secretaries meeting chaired by Chief Secy Ajit Kumar Tripathy.
It was decided in the meeting that Government would seek financial assistance from the 13th Finance Commission to go ahead with the restructuring of the blocks. Steps would be taken to build up the cluster of different categories block wise.
At the time of restructuring of the blocks, existing population, the socio-economic condition of the people would be taken into consideration. The SC and ST population and the population of other backward class would be taken into consideration. The block would be restructured to improve the administrative efficiency and augmenting the delivery mechanism. Most of the funds now straight come to the block. A lot of money under NREGS and other programmes is being spent by the block unit.
Tripathy asked the officials to take steps for expediting the establishments of ITIs in block level. In yet another development, the Planning Commission has asked the State to submit an- eight year action plan for the KBK districts for which fund can be released.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Single Window authority clears 2 projects: one in Balangir
The Pioneer, Oct 28, 2008
The State level- Single Window Clearance Authority on Monday cleared two proposals in power sector. It approved the NTPC's 4, 300 megawatt power project. Rs 19,840 crore would be invested and the project would come up in Dhenkanal.
It also approved another proposal in the thermal sector. Sahara India Power Corporation in collaboration with Goudin of China will set up a thermal project at Bolangir. Rs 5,604 crore will be invested in the project. Chief Secretary Ajit Tripathy presided over the meeting.
The State level- Single Window Clearance Authority on Monday cleared two proposals in power sector. It approved the NTPC's 4, 300 megawatt power project. Rs 19,840 crore would be invested and the project would come up in Dhenkanal.
It also approved another proposal in the thermal sector. Sahara India Power Corporation in collaboration with Goudin of China will set up a thermal project at Bolangir. Rs 5,604 crore will be invested in the project. Chief Secretary Ajit Tripathy presided over the meeting.
Monday, October 27, 2008
KBK still limping
The Statesman, Oct 27, 2008
Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, Oct 26: Two decades of focused intervention, entailing pumping in crores of rupees, seems to have had little impact on the notoriously backward KBK region (erstwhile undivided Koraput-Bolangir-Kalahandi districts) according to the Food Security Atlas released by World Food Programme and Institute for Human Development.
"It is surprising that the efforts put into the development of the region have not yielded tangible results," states the report, while dealing with KBK region and noting that widespread malnutrition and mortality levels are a pointer to the dismal situation.
The region is characterised by wastelands, scrublands, low agriculture development, abysmally low literacy levels and high malnutrition levels.
The KBK region accounts for 31 per cent of the total area of the state, but only 20 per cent of the total population indicating low density of population. A huge part of the region is unfit for cultivation and is mostly degraded forests and scrublands. Koraput, for instances, has more than 1,000 sq kms of its area under wastelands.
Low levels of land development in the region have resulted in poor performance on the agricultural front. Despite all talk of wasteland development, the fact is that the region has not benefited from the programme as yet.
Consequent to this is the fact that very small area can be cultivated twice in an agricultural year and the cropping intensity is low. Only 19 per cent of the total area of Rayagada district is under cultivation while it is barely 20 per cent in Malkangiri district, 35 per cent in Koraput, 37 per cent in Bolangir and 41 percent in Kalahandi. The KBK average works out to 35.5 per cent in terms of area under cultivation.
The food grain yield per heactre in KBK region is 590 kg with the yield per hectare in some districts like Nuapada being as low as 221 kg, Bolangir 302 kg and Kalahandi 491 kg said the report.
Less than five per cent of the surveyed tribal population were found to be in a food secure situation in these districts. The proportion of extremely food insecure tribal households that can hardly manage one square meal a day is highest in Rayagada district at almost 12 per cent of the tribal population being unable to get one meal per day for major part of the year. Five of the eight districts in the region have a less than 10 per cent urbanisation level and these districts have a very high proportion of STs, almost twice the proportion of tribes in other parts of the state.
Other parameters too show that KBK is lagging behind the rest of the state. Koraput, Nawarangpur, Malkangiri and Rayagada have a rural female literacy rate of less than 20 per cent. The food insecurity status of the region manifests itself in high mortality and malnourishment. Most of the districts in the region record over 150 child deaths per 1000 live births and over 40 percent of the children are in the moderately underweight category.
Shockingly, the situation prevailing in KBK region is despite special interventions in the form of Area Development for Poverty Termination (ADAPT) in 1988 followed by the Long Term Action Plan ( LTAP) in 1993 and the Revised Long Term Action Plan ( RLTAP) in 1998. Each of these schemes involved expenditure of crores of rupees towards overall improvement of the region, feeding programmes, water harvesting etc.
Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, Oct 26: Two decades of focused intervention, entailing pumping in crores of rupees, seems to have had little impact on the notoriously backward KBK region (erstwhile undivided Koraput-Bolangir-Kalahandi districts) according to the Food Security Atlas released by World Food Programme and Institute for Human Development.
"It is surprising that the efforts put into the development of the region have not yielded tangible results," states the report, while dealing with KBK region and noting that widespread malnutrition and mortality levels are a pointer to the dismal situation.
The region is characterised by wastelands, scrublands, low agriculture development, abysmally low literacy levels and high malnutrition levels.
The KBK region accounts for 31 per cent of the total area of the state, but only 20 per cent of the total population indicating low density of population. A huge part of the region is unfit for cultivation and is mostly degraded forests and scrublands. Koraput, for instances, has more than 1,000 sq kms of its area under wastelands.
Low levels of land development in the region have resulted in poor performance on the agricultural front. Despite all talk of wasteland development, the fact is that the region has not benefited from the programme as yet.
Consequent to this is the fact that very small area can be cultivated twice in an agricultural year and the cropping intensity is low. Only 19 per cent of the total area of Rayagada district is under cultivation while it is barely 20 per cent in Malkangiri district, 35 per cent in Koraput, 37 per cent in Bolangir and 41 percent in Kalahandi. The KBK average works out to 35.5 per cent in terms of area under cultivation.
The food grain yield per heactre in KBK region is 590 kg with the yield per hectare in some districts like Nuapada being as low as 221 kg, Bolangir 302 kg and Kalahandi 491 kg said the report.
Less than five per cent of the surveyed tribal population were found to be in a food secure situation in these districts. The proportion of extremely food insecure tribal households that can hardly manage one square meal a day is highest in Rayagada district at almost 12 per cent of the tribal population being unable to get one meal per day for major part of the year. Five of the eight districts in the region have a less than 10 per cent urbanisation level and these districts have a very high proportion of STs, almost twice the proportion of tribes in other parts of the state.
Other parameters too show that KBK is lagging behind the rest of the state. Koraput, Nawarangpur, Malkangiri and Rayagada have a rural female literacy rate of less than 20 per cent. The food insecurity status of the region manifests itself in high mortality and malnourishment. Most of the districts in the region record over 150 child deaths per 1000 live births and over 40 percent of the children are in the moderately underweight category.
Shockingly, the situation prevailing in KBK region is despite special interventions in the form of Area Development for Poverty Termination (ADAPT) in 1988 followed by the Long Term Action Plan ( LTAP) in 1993 and the Revised Long Term Action Plan ( RLTAP) in 1998. Each of these schemes involved expenditure of crores of rupees towards overall improvement of the region, feeding programmes, water harvesting etc.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Initiative by Er Lalit Patnaik for Lanjigarh road-Phulbani-Angul Railway Line
Yesterday in an Action Plan for Khandhamal, I proposed our Rail Line demand for growth of Khandhamal to be included. The rail line should connect Lanjigarah Station to Angul via Phulbani that will almost bisect Khandhamal District. The chairman Dr Bhagaban & Prof Radhamohan appreciated the proposal but there were very few in public who could fully visualise the would be impact of our demand in peace making process.
In the mean time many a reporter and public of Bolangir region have telephoned me and have highly appriciated our proposal about Khandhamal that came out in a local news paper after our meeting at Bolangir. ........................
Yours,
Lalit Mohan Pattnaik
In the mean time many a reporter and public of Bolangir region have telephoned me and have highly appriciated our proposal about Khandhamal that came out in a local news paper after our meeting at Bolangir. ........................
Yours,
Lalit Mohan Pattnaik
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Poor infrastructure in K'mal escalates conflict
The Pioneer, Oct 8, 2008
Pioneer News Service | Phulbani
The Kandhamal ethno-communal violence seems to have lost some of its force. Ground-level intelligence sources, however, feel that the truce may be a temporary phenomenon.
Thanks to new DGP Manmohan Praharaj's direct initiative - 107 alleged conspirators and instigators, including Hindu and Christian fundamentalists, have been arrested. On Saturday morning, the police apprehended two Christians carrying crude bombs. The VHP has accused the Government of arresting Hindu activists while being soft towards the perpetrators of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati's murder. Long term improvement of the most backward environment of Kandhamal district, the basic cause of conflict, are not being addressed, lamented a former chief administrator of KBK. Though till date Kandhamal has not been included in KBK fold, but situation is more pathetic than KBK, he revealed.
Poor communication is one of the most nagging problems of the district, said an NRO, Sandip K Dasverma. He in a letter to the Chief Minister has detailed out the both physical and cyber connectivity for the district and KBK. After 61 years of Independence, Kandhamal continues to be one of the districts in the country without any railway connectivity. Khurda Road-Kandhamal-Balangir railway line will go a long way to serve the backward zone in a big way. The funding for the Khurda Road-Balangir railway track by the Railway Ministry is woeful. With the present level of funding it will take another half a century to complete the link, alleged Professor Chitta Baral.
Just like Ranchi-Vijayawada Highway intended to counter Maoists, the road connectivity inside the Kandhamal district will go a long way to serve the hapless tribals, he said he.
Equally concerned for the people of Kandhamal, Dhirendra Kar, a pro-active NRO said all the 12 blocks of the district from the district headquarters are ill served by the road network. In an e-mail to the Chief Minister, Kar has also harped on the infrastructure owes of the unrest-hit zone. t is very much difficult to contact people in the interior areas of the district. Internet service is equally dismal and it is non-existent even in the Block Headquarters.
Given such poor infrastructure, the ability of the administration and police to contain the raging frenzy is seriously compromised, said a senior police officer posted at Baliguda.
Pioneer News Service | Phulbani
The Kandhamal ethno-communal violence seems to have lost some of its force. Ground-level intelligence sources, however, feel that the truce may be a temporary phenomenon.
Thanks to new DGP Manmohan Praharaj's direct initiative - 107 alleged conspirators and instigators, including Hindu and Christian fundamentalists, have been arrested. On Saturday morning, the police apprehended two Christians carrying crude bombs. The VHP has accused the Government of arresting Hindu activists while being soft towards the perpetrators of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati's murder. Long term improvement of the most backward environment of Kandhamal district, the basic cause of conflict, are not being addressed, lamented a former chief administrator of KBK. Though till date Kandhamal has not been included in KBK fold, but situation is more pathetic than KBK, he revealed.
Poor communication is one of the most nagging problems of the district, said an NRO, Sandip K Dasverma. He in a letter to the Chief Minister has detailed out the both physical and cyber connectivity for the district and KBK. After 61 years of Independence, Kandhamal continues to be one of the districts in the country without any railway connectivity. Khurda Road-Kandhamal-Balangir railway line will go a long way to serve the backward zone in a big way. The funding for the Khurda Road-Balangir railway track by the Railway Ministry is woeful. With the present level of funding it will take another half a century to complete the link, alleged Professor Chitta Baral.
Just like Ranchi-Vijayawada Highway intended to counter Maoists, the road connectivity inside the Kandhamal district will go a long way to serve the hapless tribals, he said he.
Equally concerned for the people of Kandhamal, Dhirendra Kar, a pro-active NRO said all the 12 blocks of the district from the district headquarters are ill served by the road network. In an e-mail to the Chief Minister, Kar has also harped on the infrastructure owes of the unrest-hit zone. t is very much difficult to contact people in the interior areas of the district. Internet service is equally dismal and it is non-existent even in the Block Headquarters.
Given such poor infrastructure, the ability of the administration and police to contain the raging frenzy is seriously compromised, said a senior police officer posted at Baliguda.
Orissa to explore bauxite in Keonjhar, Koraput
Business Standard, Oct 8, 2008
With a view to augment the availability of bauxite for the aluminium plants coming up in the state, the Orissa government plans to start exploration of bauxite in the Keonjhar and Koraput districts during the current fiscal.
It will take up exploration in the surrounding areas of Dholkata Pahar in the Keonjhar district and small and medium size plateaus in Dashmantapur block in the Koraput district to assess the availability of bauxite there.
An exploration was undertaken in Dholkata Pahar by the directorate of geology between the field seasons 1975-76 and 1981-82 and a reserve of 5.09 million tonnes of metallurgical grade bauxite was found.
Preliminary investigations carried out in the surrounding areas of Dholkata Pahar, like Unsir, Serenda and Samrajpahar, also indicated the presence of bauxite.
Drilling in Dholkata Pahar has revealed the thickness of laterite profile of up to 18metres, with bauxite being encountered up to a maximum depth of 16 metres from the surface. As Unsir, Serenda and Samraja Pahar are adjacent to Dholkata Pahar and have similar geological set up, the directorate hopes to get bauxite of the same nature there.
Keeping that in view, it plans to carry out geological mapping for bauxite in these areas, followed by drilling wherever necessary. While geological mapping will be taken up for 100 square kilometres, trial excavation, drilling and sampling are proposed to be taken up if necessary, sources added.
Similarly, assessment of bauxite and gemstone potential in Dashmantpur block in the Koraput district is proposed to be taken up during the current fiscal. It may be noted that the area around Girliguma in Dashmantapur exposes the ‘Eastern Ghat Super’ group of rocks.
While the eastern part of Girliguma is occupied by about 36 plateaus of various dimensions, the valley part of the area exposes basic granulites, pegmatites and quartz veins. The gravels, derived from the pegmatites and their contact zones, are often panned by the local people to recover fibrolite with cat’s eye effect.
In this backdrop, an exploration will be undertaken in these plateaus for bauxite.
With a view to augment the availability of bauxite for the aluminium plants coming up in the state, the Orissa government plans to start exploration of bauxite in the Keonjhar and Koraput districts during the current fiscal.
It will take up exploration in the surrounding areas of Dholkata Pahar in the Keonjhar district and small and medium size plateaus in Dashmantapur block in the Koraput district to assess the availability of bauxite there.
An exploration was undertaken in Dholkata Pahar by the directorate of geology between the field seasons 1975-76 and 1981-82 and a reserve of 5.09 million tonnes of metallurgical grade bauxite was found.
Preliminary investigations carried out in the surrounding areas of Dholkata Pahar, like Unsir, Serenda and Samrajpahar, also indicated the presence of bauxite.
Drilling in Dholkata Pahar has revealed the thickness of laterite profile of up to 18metres, with bauxite being encountered up to a maximum depth of 16 metres from the surface. As Unsir, Serenda and Samraja Pahar are adjacent to Dholkata Pahar and have similar geological set up, the directorate hopes to get bauxite of the same nature there.
Keeping that in view, it plans to carry out geological mapping for bauxite in these areas, followed by drilling wherever necessary. While geological mapping will be taken up for 100 square kilometres, trial excavation, drilling and sampling are proposed to be taken up if necessary, sources added.
Similarly, assessment of bauxite and gemstone potential in Dashmantpur block in the Koraput district is proposed to be taken up during the current fiscal. It may be noted that the area around Girliguma in Dashmantapur exposes the ‘Eastern Ghat Super’ group of rocks.
While the eastern part of Girliguma is occupied by about 36 plateaus of various dimensions, the valley part of the area exposes basic granulites, pegmatites and quartz veins. The gravels, derived from the pegmatites and their contact zones, are often panned by the local people to recover fibrolite with cat’s eye effect.
In this backdrop, an exploration will be undertaken in these plateaus for bauxite.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Open Letter to PM on Kandhamal violence - proposed long term solutions
To:
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
Cc: Mr. Naveen Patniak, Chief Minister of Orissa
Cc: Shri Muralidhan Chandrakant Bhandare, Governor of Orissa
Subject: The common thread of large scale violence in Orissa in 2008; proposed solution to be taken on war footing
Dear Dr. Singh:
While the nation's eye is focused on the recent Kandhamala violence, I would urge you to go over the following news reports about large scale violence, most initiated by Naxalites and Maoists, in Orissa in 2008. These large scale violent events happened in Nayagarh, Malkangiri, and Kandhamal districts, and have spread to nearby districts such as Gajapati and Boudh. To really solve the Kandhamala violence and to ensure that it does not happen again, one needs to dig a bit deeper and find the fundamental issues that need to be addressed. Just more police is not enough as we can never have enough police to guard over the thousands of villages in these areas. The news snippets are:
February 15 2008 (Deecan Herald): "Fifteen people including 13 policemen, a civilian and a gram rakhi (village guard) were killed when armed Naxalites unleashed a wave of attacks on police establishments like stations, district police armoury and police training centre in Nayagarh town … Twelve policemen and women have also sustained injuries in the attacks and have been hospilised. The condtion of some of the injured police personnel is stated to be critical. In a daring and meticulously planned wave of attacks, the ultras virtually laid a siege to the town. The Naxals who included women cadres have looted huge quantities of arms and ammunitions from the district armoury in a truck and a bus they hijacked, besides setting on fire the police stations and vehicles. The arms looted by the ultras included light machine guns and assault rifles. … According to Rajesh Kumar, the Superintendent of Police(SP), Nayagarh, nearly 400 to 500 armed Naxals launched simultaneous attacks on the police stations and other establishments taking the security personnel by surprise."
June 29 2008 (AFP): "At least 39 members of an elite Indian anti-insurgency unit were missing feared drowned in the east of the country Sunday after their boat capsized following an attack by Maoist rebels, police said. The boat, which was carrying 64 people, came under heavy rebel fire while patrolling a reservoir near Malkangiri in the south of the coastal state of Orissa, police said."
July 16 2008 (Times of India): "In the second major strike by Maoists in Orissa in less than three weeks, 21 Orissa policemen were feared killed in a land mine explosion and firing by the ultras in Malkangiri district on Wednesday. The van carrying the members of the Special Operations Group was on its way from MPV 126, 50km from here, to MPV-41, when the landmine went off. The SOG personnel were going to the place where the house of a BJP leader was attacked by the Maoists on Tuesday night."
Dec 27 2007 (Times of India): "Eleven churches and prayer houses were ransacked and torched in several areas of Kandhamal district in Orissa in the early hours on Thursday. Seven churches and prayer houses were attacked and set afire in Gandapadar, Badahapanga, Bhandarapada, Pisupadar, Masapadar, Minia and Adigara under Phulbani Sadar police station area, police said."
August 23 2008 (Times of India on Oct 3' 2008): "Many Christians have been killed, and an estimated 50,000 forced to flee their homes in the eastern state as attacks on Christians have escalated across the country after a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides were shot dead by unidentified gunmen at his Jalespata Ashram in Kandhamal district on August 23."
Oct 4 2008 (The Hindu): "The Orissa State committee of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) on Saturday claimed that it killed Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda in Kandhamal district on August 23. Talking to a team of journalists from Bhubaneswar in a forest in Kandhamal, the spokesperson of the party's Orissa unit, Sabyasachi Panda, alias Sunil, said it became necessary to eliminate the Swami as he was forcing tribals and Dalit Christians in Kandhamal to convert to Hinduism. "After the December 2007 communal violence in Kandhamal, we threatened to kill him if he and his supporters did not refrain from harassing tribals and Dalit Christians to change their religion," said Mr. Panda."
Now let us dig into the geography of Nayagarh, Malkangiri and Kandhamal.
Nayagarh is about 100 kms from Bhubaneswar close to the Dasapalla forest. It is also 65.6 kms away and the fifth station from the Khurda Rd station on the Khurda Rd - Balangir railway line which was sanctioned in 1994-95, but has made very little progress. The other proposed stations from the Khurda Rd side include Dasapalla (110.25) and Boudh (198). Dasapalla is considered deep jungle and an often used hide out for the Maoist rebels. Boudh is the town where disturbances spread to from Kandhamala.
Malkangiri is to the southwest of Koraput, the farthest district heard quarter town from Bhubaneswar and close to Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgarh, and again a major operation area of the maoists. It is the second major town (Motu on the border is the first) on the Orissa side on the proposed Vijyawada-Ranchi highway. Also, for several years now the Orissa government has been proposing survey of a Railway line linking Jeypore to Malkangiri and beyond.
The Kandhamal district (earlier called Phulbani) is probably the worst connected district of Orissa, with large tracts of dense and open forested areas. One way to connect it would to the mainstream is to have a railway line from Lanjigarh Rd in Kalahandi cutting across the district, touching Boudh on the under construction Khurda Rd - Balangir line and then go across Mahanadi to Talcher.
The attached map shows these districts are surrounded by large tracts of dense and open forested areas, and partly explains why the naxalites and Maoists are able to make them their base.
(NOTE: Phulbani is now called Kandhamala)
(Note: The lines in red are the ones that are needed to bring rail connectivity to the Kandhamala, Nayagarh and Malkangiri districts and criss-cross the big connectivity gap in the heart of Orissa. The crossed segments are already approved but progressing very slowly.)
Dear Prime minister: As an economist and a world leader you must know that lack of connectivity, entrenched forest and mountainous areas together with a different population base is a recipe for the sprouting of troubled areas. This is true all across the world; from J& K and North eastern areas of India to caucuses in Asia. While one cannot and should not get rid of the mountains or the people, the problem can be solved by making the areas well connected and bringing development. The Indian government is doing that in J & K and in the northeast; but has mostly forgotten about the similar areas in Orissa, Chhatisgrah, and Andhra Pradesh, which are the favorite bases of the naxalites and Maoists.
Sir: We would like you to pay the same attention to these areas in terms of connectivity as you do to the North east and J & K. In particular we would request that following be done in a war footing within the 11th plan.
(i) The Vijaywada-Ranchi highway that passes through many of these areas be completed.
(ii) Broadband connectivity be brought to these districts with adequate access locations.
(iii) Two Railway lines, parts of which have already been sanctioned by the Railways but are progressing slowly, are completed and made operational. Those lines are:
a. Khurda Rd – Balangir (passes through Nayagarh and Boudh) – This line was sanctioned in 1994-95 is progressing very slowly.
b. Bhadrachalam Rd (Andhra Pradesh) – Malkangiri – Jeypore – Nabarangpur – Junagarh – Lanjigarh Rd – passing through Kandhamala – Boudh – Angul – Talcher – Bimlagarh: Several segments of these lines are approved but progressing slowly. Those segments are Junagarh – Lanjigarh Rd and Talcher – Bimlagarh. Angul – Talcher is operational.
(iv) With the above lines operational, development should be brought into Kandhamal, Boudh, Gajapati, and KBK districts (including Kalahandi and Malkangiri) through 1-2 Rail factories and public sector units that can use the steel and aluminum and power produced in abundance in Orissa.
Sir: You may be advised by the Indian Railways, which has no qualms in taking profits made from Orissa to its other projects outside Orissa that the cost of the above lines would be too much, but let me point to some data.
(a) As per the calculation in http://kbkrail.orissalinks.com/ Indian Railways is scheduled to make profit of 2679.72 crores/year from its operations in Orissa. If 1500 crores of this money (the rest may go to Indian Railway's current plans for Orissa) is put into Orissa, in just 2-3 years the above mentioned lines could be completed.
(b) While we do not begrudge IR related developments in the rest of India, we would just like to point the following to counter the common IR retort (including one given by the Railway Board chair to an Oriya-American gathering in Canada earlier this year – please see http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/archives/1550 ): The Indian Express article at http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Rlys-brochure-lists-what-Lalu-has-done-for-Bihar/355013/ says the following:
That Bihar has been one of the top beneficiaries of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav's largesse in the last four years is no secret. Now, armed with an 18-page brochure, his ministry is going all out to drive home the point that Bihar bagged railway projects worth Rs 52,323 crore during his term.
Sir: We are very happy for Bihar and also for the regions benefitted by the IR's other 11th plan grand plans such as the freight corridor, metro rails and high speed rail corridors, none of which touch Orissa.
But shouldn't immediate attention be paid to bringing connectivity to the backward, forested, badly connected areas of Orissa that includes the trouble spots of Kandhamala and Malkangiri. This is especially puzzling when IR makes a lot of profit from Orissa (details at http://kbkrail.orissalinks.com/) and spends only a small part of it in Orissa. We understand that redistribution of profits and tax collections across regions of a country are normal, but does it make sense to take from the poor (Orissa) and give to the rich, especially when this act creates chaos with the poor (Kandhamala, Orissa).
Sir: We sincerely hope that you will now see the common thread running through the several large scale violent events in Orissa in 2008 and address the key issues of lack of connectivity and development in these areas.
Sincerely
Appendix:
1. Estimated profit Indian Railways will make from Orissa in 2008-09:
Zone in Orissa Total Route Kms Route kms in Orissa Estimated Orissa's proportional
2008-2009 share of the profit
profit in 2008-2009
(in crores)
ECOR 2430 1607 3077.15 2034.97 crores
SECR 1599 51 2529.89 80.69 crores
SER 2577 589 2467.88 564.06 crores
Total 2247 2679.72 crores
2. One of the earlier planning commissions has noted in http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/stateplan/sdr_orissa/sdr_orich2.doc
"Railways have always played an important role in economic development and rapid social transformation in all parts of the globe. It is one of the key economic infrastructures. However, it is most unfortunate that in a poor and backward state like Orissa, development of rail networks has received much less attention of the Central Government in the post-independence period. There are as many as seven districts like Boudh, Kandhamal, Deogarh, Nayagarh, Kendrapara, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur out of the 30 districts of the state, which do not have any railway line passing through them. In the year 1998-99, the density of railway route length per 1000 sq. km of area in Orissa was only 15.03 km as against 42.66 km in West Bengal and 19.11 km. at all-India level".
3. The tribal population percentage of the KBK districts are as follows: Malkangiri 58.36% ST (+19.96% SC), Rayagada 56.04% ST (+14.28% SC), Nabarangpur 55.27% ST (+15.09% SC), Koraput 50.67% ST (+13.41% SC), Nuapada 35.95% ST(+13.09% SC), Kalahandi 28.88% ST (+17.01% SC), Sonepur 22.11% ST (+9.5% SC), Balangir 22.06% ST (+15.39% SC). Two adjacent districts also have high tribal population. They are Kandhamala 51.51% ST (+18.21% SC) and Gajapati 47.88% ST(+8.77% SC).
4. The literacy rates in the KBK districts are abysmally low. Malkangiri 31.26%, Nabarangpur 34.26%, Rayagada 35.61%, Koraput 36.2%, Nuapada 42.29%, Kalahandi 46.2%, Balangir 54.93%, Sonepur 64.07%. Two adjacent districts also have low literacy: Gajapati 41.73% and Kandhamala 52.95%. The state average is 63.1%.
5. Population below the poverty line in southern Orissa (of which KBK is a part) is reported to be 89.17% of the people according to the 1999-2000 NSS data and 72% of the families according to the 1997 census.
--
Chitta Baral
Professor and Chair
Department of Computer Science & Engineering
Arizona State University
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
Cc: Mr. Naveen Patniak, Chief Minister of Orissa
Cc: Shri Muralidhan Chandrakant Bhandare, Governor of Orissa
Subject: The common thread of large scale violence in Orissa in 2008; proposed solution to be taken on war footing
Dear Dr. Singh:
While the nation's eye is focused on the recent Kandhamala violence, I would urge you to go over the following news reports about large scale violence, most initiated by Naxalites and Maoists, in Orissa in 2008. These large scale violent events happened in Nayagarh, Malkangiri, and Kandhamal districts, and have spread to nearby districts such as Gajapati and Boudh. To really solve the Kandhamala violence and to ensure that it does not happen again, one needs to dig a bit deeper and find the fundamental issues that need to be addressed. Just more police is not enough as we can never have enough police to guard over the thousands of villages in these areas. The news snippets are:
February 15 2008 (Deecan Herald): "Fifteen people including 13 policemen, a civilian and a gram rakhi (village guard) were killed when armed Naxalites unleashed a wave of attacks on police establishments like stations, district police armoury and police training centre in Nayagarh town … Twelve policemen and women have also sustained injuries in the attacks and have been hospilised. The condtion of some of the injured police personnel is stated to be critical. In a daring and meticulously planned wave of attacks, the ultras virtually laid a siege to the town. The Naxals who included women cadres have looted huge quantities of arms and ammunitions from the district armoury in a truck and a bus they hijacked, besides setting on fire the police stations and vehicles. The arms looted by the ultras included light machine guns and assault rifles. … According to Rajesh Kumar, the Superintendent of Police(SP), Nayagarh, nearly 400 to 500 armed Naxals launched simultaneous attacks on the police stations and other establishments taking the security personnel by surprise."
June 29 2008 (AFP): "At least 39 members of an elite Indian anti-insurgency unit were missing feared drowned in the east of the country Sunday after their boat capsized following an attack by Maoist rebels, police said. The boat, which was carrying 64 people, came under heavy rebel fire while patrolling a reservoir near Malkangiri in the south of the coastal state of Orissa, police said."
July 16 2008 (Times of India): "In the second major strike by Maoists in Orissa in less than three weeks, 21 Orissa policemen were feared killed in a land mine explosion and firing by the ultras in Malkangiri district on Wednesday. The van carrying the members of the Special Operations Group was on its way from MPV 126, 50km from here, to MPV-41, when the landmine went off. The SOG personnel were going to the place where the house of a BJP leader was attacked by the Maoists on Tuesday night."
Dec 27 2007 (Times of India): "Eleven churches and prayer houses were ransacked and torched in several areas of Kandhamal district in Orissa in the early hours on Thursday. Seven churches and prayer houses were attacked and set afire in Gandapadar, Badahapanga, Bhandarapada, Pisupadar, Masapadar, Minia and Adigara under Phulbani Sadar police station area, police said."
August 23 2008 (Times of India on Oct 3' 2008): "Many Christians have been killed, and an estimated 50,000 forced to flee their homes in the eastern state as attacks on Christians have escalated across the country after a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides were shot dead by unidentified gunmen at his Jalespata Ashram in Kandhamal district on August 23."
Oct 4 2008 (The Hindu): "The Orissa State committee of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) on Saturday claimed that it killed Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda in Kandhamal district on August 23. Talking to a team of journalists from Bhubaneswar in a forest in Kandhamal, the spokesperson of the party's Orissa unit, Sabyasachi Panda, alias Sunil, said it became necessary to eliminate the Swami as he was forcing tribals and Dalit Christians in Kandhamal to convert to Hinduism. "After the December 2007 communal violence in Kandhamal, we threatened to kill him if he and his supporters did not refrain from harassing tribals and Dalit Christians to change their religion," said Mr. Panda."
Now let us dig into the geography of Nayagarh, Malkangiri and Kandhamal.
Nayagarh is about 100 kms from Bhubaneswar close to the Dasapalla forest. It is also 65.6 kms away and the fifth station from the Khurda Rd station on the Khurda Rd - Balangir railway line which was sanctioned in 1994-95, but has made very little progress. The other proposed stations from the Khurda Rd side include Dasapalla (110.25) and Boudh (198). Dasapalla is considered deep jungle and an often used hide out for the Maoist rebels. Boudh is the town where disturbances spread to from Kandhamala.
Malkangiri is to the southwest of Koraput, the farthest district heard quarter town from Bhubaneswar and close to Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgarh, and again a major operation area of the maoists. It is the second major town (Motu on the border is the first) on the Orissa side on the proposed Vijyawada-Ranchi highway. Also, for several years now the Orissa government has been proposing survey of a Railway line linking Jeypore to Malkangiri and beyond.
The Kandhamal district (earlier called Phulbani) is probably the worst connected district of Orissa, with large tracts of dense and open forested areas. One way to connect it would to the mainstream is to have a railway line from Lanjigarh Rd in Kalahandi cutting across the district, touching Boudh on the under construction Khurda Rd - Balangir line and then go across Mahanadi to Talcher.
The attached map shows these districts are surrounded by large tracts of dense and open forested areas, and partly explains why the naxalites and Maoists are able to make them their base.
(NOTE: Phulbani is now called Kandhamala)
(Note: The lines in red are the ones that are needed to bring rail connectivity to the Kandhamala, Nayagarh and Malkangiri districts and criss-cross the big connectivity gap in the heart of Orissa. The crossed segments are already approved but progressing very slowly.)
Dear Prime minister: As an economist and a world leader you must know that lack of connectivity, entrenched forest and mountainous areas together with a different population base is a recipe for the sprouting of troubled areas. This is true all across the world; from J& K and North eastern areas of India to caucuses in Asia. While one cannot and should not get rid of the mountains or the people, the problem can be solved by making the areas well connected and bringing development. The Indian government is doing that in J & K and in the northeast; but has mostly forgotten about the similar areas in Orissa, Chhatisgrah, and Andhra Pradesh, which are the favorite bases of the naxalites and Maoists.
Sir: We would like you to pay the same attention to these areas in terms of connectivity as you do to the North east and J & K. In particular we would request that following be done in a war footing within the 11th plan.
(i) The Vijaywada-Ranchi highway that passes through many of these areas be completed.
(ii) Broadband connectivity be brought to these districts with adequate access locations.
(iii) Two Railway lines, parts of which have already been sanctioned by the Railways but are progressing slowly, are completed and made operational. Those lines are:
a. Khurda Rd – Balangir (passes through Nayagarh and Boudh) – This line was sanctioned in 1994-95 is progressing very slowly.
b. Bhadrachalam Rd (Andhra Pradesh) – Malkangiri – Jeypore – Nabarangpur – Junagarh – Lanjigarh Rd – passing through Kandhamala – Boudh – Angul – Talcher – Bimlagarh: Several segments of these lines are approved but progressing slowly. Those segments are Junagarh – Lanjigarh Rd and Talcher – Bimlagarh. Angul – Talcher is operational.
(iv) With the above lines operational, development should be brought into Kandhamal, Boudh, Gajapati, and KBK districts (including Kalahandi and Malkangiri) through 1-2 Rail factories and public sector units that can use the steel and aluminum and power produced in abundance in Orissa.
Sir: You may be advised by the Indian Railways, which has no qualms in taking profits made from Orissa to its other projects outside Orissa that the cost of the above lines would be too much, but let me point to some data.
(a) As per the calculation in http://kbkrail.orissalinks.com/ Indian Railways is scheduled to make profit of 2679.72 crores/year from its operations in Orissa. If 1500 crores of this money (the rest may go to Indian Railway's current plans for Orissa) is put into Orissa, in just 2-3 years the above mentioned lines could be completed.
(b) While we do not begrudge IR related developments in the rest of India, we would just like to point the following to counter the common IR retort (including one given by the Railway Board chair to an Oriya-American gathering in Canada earlier this year – please see http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/archives/1550 ): The Indian Express article at http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Rlys-brochure-lists-what-Lalu-has-done-for-Bihar/355013/ says the following:
That Bihar has been one of the top beneficiaries of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav's largesse in the last four years is no secret. Now, armed with an 18-page brochure, his ministry is going all out to drive home the point that Bihar bagged railway projects worth Rs 52,323 crore during his term.
Sir: We are very happy for Bihar and also for the regions benefitted by the IR's other 11th plan grand plans such as the freight corridor, metro rails and high speed rail corridors, none of which touch Orissa.
But shouldn't immediate attention be paid to bringing connectivity to the backward, forested, badly connected areas of Orissa that includes the trouble spots of Kandhamala and Malkangiri. This is especially puzzling when IR makes a lot of profit from Orissa (details at http://kbkrail.orissalinks.com/) and spends only a small part of it in Orissa. We understand that redistribution of profits and tax collections across regions of a country are normal, but does it make sense to take from the poor (Orissa) and give to the rich, especially when this act creates chaos with the poor (Kandhamala, Orissa).
Sir: We sincerely hope that you will now see the common thread running through the several large scale violent events in Orissa in 2008 and address the key issues of lack of connectivity and development in these areas.
Sincerely
Appendix:
1. Estimated profit Indian Railways will make from Orissa in 2008-09:
Zone in Orissa Total Route Kms Route kms in Orissa Estimated Orissa's proportional
2008-2009 share of the profit
profit in 2008-2009
(in crores)
ECOR 2430 1607 3077.15 2034.97 crores
SECR 1599 51 2529.89 80.69 crores
SER 2577 589 2467.88 564.06 crores
Total 2247 2679.72 crores
2. One of the earlier planning commissions has noted in http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/stateplan/sdr_orissa/sdr_orich2.doc
"Railways have always played an important role in economic development and rapid social transformation in all parts of the globe. It is one of the key economic infrastructures. However, it is most unfortunate that in a poor and backward state like Orissa, development of rail networks has received much less attention of the Central Government in the post-independence period. There are as many as seven districts like Boudh, Kandhamal, Deogarh, Nayagarh, Kendrapara, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur out of the 30 districts of the state, which do not have any railway line passing through them. In the year 1998-99, the density of railway route length per 1000 sq. km of area in Orissa was only 15.03 km as against 42.66 km in West Bengal and 19.11 km. at all-India level".
3. The tribal population percentage of the KBK districts are as follows: Malkangiri 58.36% ST (+19.96% SC), Rayagada 56.04% ST (+14.28% SC), Nabarangpur 55.27% ST (+15.09% SC), Koraput 50.67% ST (+13.41% SC), Nuapada 35.95% ST(+13.09% SC), Kalahandi 28.88% ST (+17.01% SC), Sonepur 22.11% ST (+9.5% SC), Balangir 22.06% ST (+15.39% SC). Two adjacent districts also have high tribal population. They are Kandhamala 51.51% ST (+18.21% SC) and Gajapati 47.88% ST(+8.77% SC).
4. The literacy rates in the KBK districts are abysmally low. Malkangiri 31.26%, Nabarangpur 34.26%, Rayagada 35.61%, Koraput 36.2%, Nuapada 42.29%, Kalahandi 46.2%, Balangir 54.93%, Sonepur 64.07%. Two adjacent districts also have low literacy: Gajapati 41.73% and Kandhamala 52.95%. The state average is 63.1%.
5. Population below the poverty line in southern Orissa (of which KBK is a part) is reported to be 89.17% of the people according to the 1999-2000 NSS data and 72% of the families according to the 1997 census.
--
Chitta Baral
Professor and Chair
Department of Computer Science & Engineering
Arizona State University
No President Rule but Stop violence in Kandhamal: Letter to the PM
To
Dr. Manmohan Singh, Honorable Prime Minister of India, New Delhi, India,
Copy to:
Smt Pratibha Patil, The President of India
Smt. Sonia Gandhi, President: Indian National Congress
Mr Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Orissa
Shree Somnath Chaterjee, Speaker of Lok Sabha
The Media
Dear honorable Prime Minister Dr Singh,
I am surprised to read in few media section on possibility of President Rule in Orissa though statements issued by both central Government and Orissa state Government clearly indicate there was an infrastructure failure in Kandhamal for which security people from out side the district could not reach on time.
Unfortunately, cooperation between state and central Governments is missing in the latest violence in Kandhamal and has been become a political battle field for both UPA and NDA due to up coming national and state elections next year.
Practically if the state Government has failed to stop communal violence in Orissa, then morally union Government of India has also failed to stop terrorism and communal violence in other states which is clear from recent consecutive terrorist activities in Bangalore, Ahemadabad, Delhi, Maligaon and violence in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala etc.
Along with Kalahandi, Balangir and Koraput (KBK), Kandhamal is also one of the backward districts in the country.
Since independence, there is no railway line passing through this district though it is geographically located towards the center of the state. Theoretically, the district has potential to act as bridging point to connect North-East to South-West and South-West to North-East of Orissa. However, this was not the case due to severe failure of road infrastructure in the district.
Though officially NDA Government declared NH217 passing thorough some of the small towns in Kandhamal, in actual road condition have not yet improved as there was no support from the present central Government to this project.
Except a heart line like road from Tumudiband to Phulbani via Baliguda and G.Udayagiri there is no alternative road in manageable condition to Phulbani or Bhanjanagar from Tumidibandh.
Blockade of this route can easily make difficult for security movement in the region as was in the recent case. Most of the buses which were traveling from state capital to KBK districts are now diverted to some other routes as these routes passing through Kandhamal are in worst in condition. Other state roads in the district such as Lanjigarh road – Tumudibandh-Simanbadi - Daringbadi- Bhagbanpur-Gunduribadi –Bhanjanagar, G.Udayagiri – Paburia – Bandhaguda – Nuagaon and Raikia – Simanbadi are unusable in normal standard.
If there was no political ill treatment then Vijawada – Ranchi highway which was proposed by Orissa Govt. recently should have passed though whole Kandhamal district from Tumudibadh to Puruna Cuttack instead of just few kilometer as proposed now and brought more development in road infrastructure in Kandhamal.
Our railway minister is now also eager to implement President Rule in Orissa, however, no proposal has been considered yet for Lanjigarh road – Phulbani- Anugul railway link passing through whole Kandhamal district, the rail route that is one of the major hopes for railway development in this backward and highly tribal and Christian populated district.
On the other hand most of the railway projects in KBK are hanging since decades. Kantabanji – Khariar – Dharamgarh – Nabarangpur – Jeypore which passes most backward pockets in the country (Nabarangpur, Koraput and Kalahandi parliament constituency were recently ranked at the bottom 5 Lok Sobha constituency in Socio-economic development by India Today, Sept 22, 2008) is not yet surveyed and approved whereas railway minister’s home constituency gets railway projects of tens of thousands of crores in last 3 years.
When both state and central Government has equally failed since decades to develop road and railway infrastructure of a remote and backward place (which was already known for communal tense between tribal and minorities since years) then it is foolish to think that President Rule in Orissa would solve the problem permanently.
A sensitive issue like communal violence in Orissa can not be solved unless there is a political seriousness to solve the problem. Kandhamal is not a new issue, tension between two tribes, one supported by missionary group and other by Viswa Hindu Parisad in Kandhamal was there since years. Most of the major national political parties are well aware of this thing.
The story on communal tension as presented in the national media and by national political leaders is not all about the case, one need to unearth the hidden tension between two tribes of Kandhamal in the context of communalism.
It would be nice if both state and central Government look the matter in the local level before bringing national politics to it and bring more infrastructure and educational development to this remote pocket which would help to solve the problem permanently.
Implementing President Rule may satisfy some of the UPA partners but will never solve the problems in Kandhamal permanently. Rather it would bring a dark spot for a Prime Minister (who is largely respected among intellectual mass in the country) simply due to toppling a democratically elected Government not because Naveen Patnaik Government has failed but because when Central Government itself has been failing to control terrorism and communal violence in other places in the country.
On the other hand politically it may bring more controversy as when Graham Strain was brutally killed in Orissa with his children there was no implementation of President Rule in Orissa at that point of time (the time when both center and state were rules by Indian National Congress party). Thus, it may further help Hindu fundamentalists to spread their ideas and bring more communal tension to a naturally beautiful place like Kandhamal and rest of the country.
President Rule in Orissa would also add another political struggle to the list severely affecting state and center relation in years to come.
I sincerely hope your Government would not take such a step which would harm Orissa state and the nation in general and request both Orissa state and central Governments of India to come forward and cooperate to stop communal violence and bring back peaceful normal life to Kandhamal.
Thank you and best regards
Digambara Patra
Dr Digambara Patra
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
American University of Beirut
Bliss Street-P.O. Box: 11-0236
Beirut, Lebanon
Email: digpatra@rediffmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/digpatra/index.html
Dr. Manmohan Singh, Honorable Prime Minister of India, New Delhi, India,
Copy to:
Smt Pratibha Patil, The President of India
Smt. Sonia Gandhi, President: Indian National Congress
Mr Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Orissa
Shree Somnath Chaterjee, Speaker of Lok Sabha
The Media
Dear honorable Prime Minister Dr Singh,
I am surprised to read in few media section on possibility of President Rule in Orissa though statements issued by both central Government and Orissa state Government clearly indicate there was an infrastructure failure in Kandhamal for which security people from out side the district could not reach on time.
Unfortunately, cooperation between state and central Governments is missing in the latest violence in Kandhamal and has been become a political battle field for both UPA and NDA due to up coming national and state elections next year.
Practically if the state Government has failed to stop communal violence in Orissa, then morally union Government of India has also failed to stop terrorism and communal violence in other states which is clear from recent consecutive terrorist activities in Bangalore, Ahemadabad, Delhi, Maligaon and violence in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala etc.
Along with Kalahandi, Balangir and Koraput (KBK), Kandhamal is also one of the backward districts in the country.
Since independence, there is no railway line passing through this district though it is geographically located towards the center of the state. Theoretically, the district has potential to act as bridging point to connect North-East to South-West and South-West to North-East of Orissa. However, this was not the case due to severe failure of road infrastructure in the district.
Though officially NDA Government declared NH217 passing thorough some of the small towns in Kandhamal, in actual road condition have not yet improved as there was no support from the present central Government to this project.
Except a heart line like road from Tumudiband to Phulbani via Baliguda and G.Udayagiri there is no alternative road in manageable condition to Phulbani or Bhanjanagar from Tumidibandh.
Blockade of this route can easily make difficult for security movement in the region as was in the recent case. Most of the buses which were traveling from state capital to KBK districts are now diverted to some other routes as these routes passing through Kandhamal are in worst in condition. Other state roads in the district such as Lanjigarh road – Tumudibandh-Simanbadi - Daringbadi- Bhagbanpur-Gunduribadi –Bhanjanagar, G.Udayagiri – Paburia – Bandhaguda – Nuagaon and Raikia – Simanbadi are unusable in normal standard.
If there was no political ill treatment then Vijawada – Ranchi highway which was proposed by Orissa Govt. recently should have passed though whole Kandhamal district from Tumudibadh to Puruna Cuttack instead of just few kilometer as proposed now and brought more development in road infrastructure in Kandhamal.
Our railway minister is now also eager to implement President Rule in Orissa, however, no proposal has been considered yet for Lanjigarh road – Phulbani- Anugul railway link passing through whole Kandhamal district, the rail route that is one of the major hopes for railway development in this backward and highly tribal and Christian populated district.
On the other hand most of the railway projects in KBK are hanging since decades. Kantabanji – Khariar – Dharamgarh – Nabarangpur – Jeypore which passes most backward pockets in the country (Nabarangpur, Koraput and Kalahandi parliament constituency were recently ranked at the bottom 5 Lok Sobha constituency in Socio-economic development by India Today, Sept 22, 2008) is not yet surveyed and approved whereas railway minister’s home constituency gets railway projects of tens of thousands of crores in last 3 years.
When both state and central Government has equally failed since decades to develop road and railway infrastructure of a remote and backward place (which was already known for communal tense between tribal and minorities since years) then it is foolish to think that President Rule in Orissa would solve the problem permanently.
A sensitive issue like communal violence in Orissa can not be solved unless there is a political seriousness to solve the problem. Kandhamal is not a new issue, tension between two tribes, one supported by missionary group and other by Viswa Hindu Parisad in Kandhamal was there since years. Most of the major national political parties are well aware of this thing.
The story on communal tension as presented in the national media and by national political leaders is not all about the case, one need to unearth the hidden tension between two tribes of Kandhamal in the context of communalism.
It would be nice if both state and central Government look the matter in the local level before bringing national politics to it and bring more infrastructure and educational development to this remote pocket which would help to solve the problem permanently.
Implementing President Rule may satisfy some of the UPA partners but will never solve the problems in Kandhamal permanently. Rather it would bring a dark spot for a Prime Minister (who is largely respected among intellectual mass in the country) simply due to toppling a democratically elected Government not because Naveen Patnaik Government has failed but because when Central Government itself has been failing to control terrorism and communal violence in other places in the country.
On the other hand politically it may bring more controversy as when Graham Strain was brutally killed in Orissa with his children there was no implementation of President Rule in Orissa at that point of time (the time when both center and state were rules by Indian National Congress party). Thus, it may further help Hindu fundamentalists to spread their ideas and bring more communal tension to a naturally beautiful place like Kandhamal and rest of the country.
President Rule in Orissa would also add another political struggle to the list severely affecting state and center relation in years to come.
I sincerely hope your Government would not take such a step which would harm Orissa state and the nation in general and request both Orissa state and central Governments of India to come forward and cooperate to stop communal violence and bring back peaceful normal life to Kandhamal.
Thank you and best regards
Digambara Patra
Dr Digambara Patra
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
American University of Beirut
Bliss Street-P.O. Box: 11-0236
Beirut, Lebanon
Email: digpatra@rediffmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/digpatra/index.html
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Plea of not getting land for Central varsity in Kalahandi false
The Pioneer, Sept 24, 2008
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar
To divert public demand of a Rs 350-crore Central University in Kalahandi since two decades, the State Government is rather generating false propaganda saying that the district does not have land for a Central University though there are plenty of lands available in Kalahandi, alleged leading non-resident Oriya Digambara Patra.
Patra, who is Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the American University in Beirut, in a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has stated that if the State and Central Governments could use forestland, unused land and even agricultural land for IIT, Central University, industries in other parts of the State and country, it is foolish to argue that such a step cannot be taken in Kalahandi.
The State Government is providing thousands of acres of lands to Posco, Arcelor-Mittal, Vedanta, Tatas, Jindal and Bhushan, across the State which are not only agricultural, private and Government lands but also large section of the lands acquired for industrialisation in the State comes under forest lands.
Kalahandi has a geographical area of 7920 sqkm out of which 2538 sqkm (32 per cent) are forest land (private independent sources claim in actual only 10-18 per cent are left over as forest land in Kalahandi by now due to deforestation and rest of the forest lands are only unused land by now (though officially it belongs to Forest Department).
Despite high population and congestion major cities like Pune, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Chennai, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Mumbai, Delhi can find land for establishing new Central institutes, universities in their vicinity for development, then it is useless to repeat Orissa Government cannot find land in Kalahandi and it can find in Koraput when Kalahandi has plenty of land like but not limited to forest and unused lands in Karlapada and Jaring near Bhawanipatna and agricultural land near its vicinity, stated Patra.
The population density of Kalahandi is 169 per sq km, much less than the State (236 per sqkm) than Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack. Vedanta Alumina could easily acquire 2000 acres of land in Kalahandi for its refinery therefore arguing Kalahandi does not have 500 acres of land for a central University is based on false propaganda, political ill motivation and ignorance towards Kalahandi rather than factual data by the State Government, alleged Patra.
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar
To divert public demand of a Rs 350-crore Central University in Kalahandi since two decades, the State Government is rather generating false propaganda saying that the district does not have land for a Central University though there are plenty of lands available in Kalahandi, alleged leading non-resident Oriya Digambara Patra.
Patra, who is Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the American University in Beirut, in a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has stated that if the State and Central Governments could use forestland, unused land and even agricultural land for IIT, Central University, industries in other parts of the State and country, it is foolish to argue that such a step cannot be taken in Kalahandi.
The State Government is providing thousands of acres of lands to Posco, Arcelor-Mittal, Vedanta, Tatas, Jindal and Bhushan, across the State which are not only agricultural, private and Government lands but also large section of the lands acquired for industrialisation in the State comes under forest lands.
Kalahandi has a geographical area of 7920 sqkm out of which 2538 sqkm (32 per cent) are forest land (private independent sources claim in actual only 10-18 per cent are left over as forest land in Kalahandi by now due to deforestation and rest of the forest lands are only unused land by now (though officially it belongs to Forest Department).
Despite high population and congestion major cities like Pune, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Chennai, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Mumbai, Delhi can find land for establishing new Central institutes, universities in their vicinity for development, then it is useless to repeat Orissa Government cannot find land in Kalahandi and it can find in Koraput when Kalahandi has plenty of land like but not limited to forest and unused lands in Karlapada and Jaring near Bhawanipatna and agricultural land near its vicinity, stated Patra.
The population density of Kalahandi is 169 per sq km, much less than the State (236 per sqkm) than Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack. Vedanta Alumina could easily acquire 2000 acres of land in Kalahandi for its refinery therefore arguing Kalahandi does not have 500 acres of land for a central University is based on false propaganda, political ill motivation and ignorance towards Kalahandi rather than factual data by the State Government, alleged Patra.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Alumina smelter in Koraput soon: Pangi
The Pioneer, Sept 19, 2008
Sunabeda: The State Government plans to establish an alumina smelter plant in Koraput district in order to utilise the alumina powder in State instead of exporting it to other countries, said Pottangi MLA Jayaram Pangi at a meeting organised by the Nalco Mazdoor Sangh on the occasion of National Labours Day. It is to be noted that about 50 per cent of the alumina powder is being exported to other countries. Pangi, who joined the meeting as the chief guest, advised the members of the Sangh to work for the development of Nalco. ARGM of Nalco Bira Narayan Mohanty was the guest of honour, while All India Secretary of the Sangh Paban Kumar joined as the chief speaker. RD Biswal proposed the vote of thanks.
Sunabeda: The State Government plans to establish an alumina smelter plant in Koraput district in order to utilise the alumina powder in State instead of exporting it to other countries, said Pottangi MLA Jayaram Pangi at a meeting organised by the Nalco Mazdoor Sangh on the occasion of National Labours Day. It is to be noted that about 50 per cent of the alumina powder is being exported to other countries. Pangi, who joined the meeting as the chief guest, advised the members of the Sangh to work for the development of Nalco. ARGM of Nalco Bira Narayan Mohanty was the guest of honour, while All India Secretary of the Sangh Paban Kumar joined as the chief speaker. RD Biswal proposed the vote of thanks.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Vedanta to Invest $9.8 Billion
World Street Journal, Sept 10, 2008
LONDON -- Vedanta Resources PLC, an India-focused metals and mining company, said it will invest $9.8 billion to boost its aluminum-smelting capacity in a bid to become one of the world's biggest producers of the metal.
London-listed Vedanta said it aims to increase capacity to 2.6 million metric tons a year by 2012, up from the 396,000 tons it produced in the fiscal year ended in March.
"Upon completion, Vedanta is expected to be Asia's largest and among the top five integrated producers of aluminum world-wide," the company said. The world's biggest aluminum producers include Rio Tinto's Alcan, Russia's United Co. Rusal and Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Inc.
Vedanta's investment plans will focus on projects in India, where the bulk of its operations are. Of the total investment, $5.65 billion will be spent expanding the capacity of the Jharsuguda II project; $2 billion will be spent on the Korba III project, and the remaining $2.15 billion will be invested in expanding the Lanjigarh project.
Vedanta, which has a market capitalization of about £4.5 billion ($7.92 billion), also said the company will be restructured into three commodity-focused divisions: copper, zinc and lead; aluminum and energy; and iron ore. The restructuring will simplify Vedanta's corporate structure, eliminate conflicts of interest, and increase efficiency, the board said. The restructuring is expected to be completed by March.
Merrill Lynch said, "Inasmuch as this is finally a step toward simplification of the group shareholding structure, we view this transaction as a positive."
LONDON -- Vedanta Resources PLC, an India-focused metals and mining company, said it will invest $9.8 billion to boost its aluminum-smelting capacity in a bid to become one of the world's biggest producers of the metal.
London-listed Vedanta said it aims to increase capacity to 2.6 million metric tons a year by 2012, up from the 396,000 tons it produced in the fiscal year ended in March.
"Upon completion, Vedanta is expected to be Asia's largest and among the top five integrated producers of aluminum world-wide," the company said. The world's biggest aluminum producers include Rio Tinto's Alcan, Russia's United Co. Rusal and Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Inc.
Vedanta's investment plans will focus on projects in India, where the bulk of its operations are. Of the total investment, $5.65 billion will be spent expanding the capacity of the Jharsuguda II project; $2 billion will be spent on the Korba III project, and the remaining $2.15 billion will be invested in expanding the Lanjigarh project.
Vedanta, which has a market capitalization of about £4.5 billion ($7.92 billion), also said the company will be restructured into three commodity-focused divisions: copper, zinc and lead; aluminum and energy; and iron ore. The restructuring will simplify Vedanta's corporate structure, eliminate conflicts of interest, and increase efficiency, the board said. The restructuring is expected to be completed by March.
Merrill Lynch said, "Inasmuch as this is finally a step toward simplification of the group shareholding structure, we view this transaction as a positive."
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Kalahandi’s alma mater remains neglected
Express buzz, Sept 16, 2008
BHAWANIPATNA: Despite government’s avowed policy of universalisation of education, many old educational institutions are going into the oblivion.
Brajamohan High School of Bhawanipatna, the oldest educational institution of Kalahandi, is now suffering due to the district administration’s apathy. The institute was set up in 1916 by the erstwhile Kalahandi princely state for higher education of the area. Building of the school is treated as one of heritage in the State. Many luminaries of that period like Mayadhar Mansingh and Rajkishore Ray were part of the faculty.
However, after the 70s, performance of the school started declining due to negligence of the authorities. The school building, at present, is dilapidated. The building has developed cracks and there is seepage in walls.
The headmaster post has been vacant since February last and a teacher is in-charge of the post without having any financial power. The students’ strength has come down to 343 from 3,000 four decades ago.
Many government offices have come up on the premises of the school and this has been hampering the school’s ambience.
The office of the Inspector of Schools, District Culture Office and library of the Culture Department are functioning on the premises. Recently, Rs 9 lakh was allotted by the Government for repair of the school building. However, this amount is not sufficient for complete renovation.
The school will celebrate its centenary in a few years. The authorities feel that there is need for concerted effort by the government to develop the school.
BHAWANIPATNA: Despite government’s avowed policy of universalisation of education, many old educational institutions are going into the oblivion.
Brajamohan High School of Bhawanipatna, the oldest educational institution of Kalahandi, is now suffering due to the district administration’s apathy. The institute was set up in 1916 by the erstwhile Kalahandi princely state for higher education of the area. Building of the school is treated as one of heritage in the State. Many luminaries of that period like Mayadhar Mansingh and Rajkishore Ray were part of the faculty.
However, after the 70s, performance of the school started declining due to negligence of the authorities. The school building, at present, is dilapidated. The building has developed cracks and there is seepage in walls.
The headmaster post has been vacant since February last and a teacher is in-charge of the post without having any financial power. The students’ strength has come down to 343 from 3,000 four decades ago.
Many government offices have come up on the premises of the school and this has been hampering the school’s ambience.
The office of the Inspector of Schools, District Culture Office and library of the Culture Department are functioning on the premises. Recently, Rs 9 lakh was allotted by the Government for repair of the school building. However, this amount is not sufficient for complete renovation.
The school will celebrate its centenary in a few years. The authorities feel that there is need for concerted effort by the government to develop the school.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Kalahandias angry over Naveen
Tathya, Aug 17, 2008
Bhawanipatna:17/August/2008
Naveen Patnaik will have tough time in Kalahandi.
Educated youths of district in general and intelligentsia in particular are angry with the Chief Minister.
With their aspiration to have the First Central University at Bhawanipatna being shattered, they have branded Mr. Patnaik as a ‘manipulator’.
The Chief Minister’s recent controversial decision to ask the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to set up the proposed Central University at Koraput instead of Kalahandi have irked them.
According to them, Bhawanipatna was more suitable for the World Class Institution, but allegedly misguided by political and bureaucratic advisors, the Chief Minister decided in favor of Koraput.
“The unusual behavior by the Chief Minister indicates his lose of rationality”, lamented Digambara Patra, leading voice of Kalahandias in the international forum.
Professor Patra in a scathing letter has charged Mr.Patnaik being politically motivated and a leader of myopic vision.
The budding educationist has alleged that Mr.Patnaik has ignored the educationally backward areas of KBK in view of the impending general and state elections.
A politically motivated Chief Minister has done more damage to the areas of Kalahandi than any body else, lamented Prof.Patra.
Prof.Patra has said that without studying the ground realities, the decision to establish the Central University was taken.
This decision is hurting Kalahandias most as they were lobbying hard with the MHRD for the Central University, while not a soul from Koraput ever raised a voice for the same.
He has appealed the President Mrs. Pratibha Patil to look into the matter and give justice to the most backward areas of KBK.
An appeal letter to the Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh has also been made to provide justice to the millions of people of Kalahandi by forcing the State Government to change its decision and place the World Class Central University at Bhawanipatna, said Dr.Patra.
Bhawanipatna:17/August/2008
Naveen Patnaik will have tough time in Kalahandi.
Educated youths of district in general and intelligentsia in particular are angry with the Chief Minister.
With their aspiration to have the First Central University at Bhawanipatna being shattered, they have branded Mr. Patnaik as a ‘manipulator’.
The Chief Minister’s recent controversial decision to ask the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to set up the proposed Central University at Koraput instead of Kalahandi have irked them.
According to them, Bhawanipatna was more suitable for the World Class Institution, but allegedly misguided by political and bureaucratic advisors, the Chief Minister decided in favor of Koraput.
“The unusual behavior by the Chief Minister indicates his lose of rationality”, lamented Digambara Patra, leading voice of Kalahandias in the international forum.
Professor Patra in a scathing letter has charged Mr.Patnaik being politically motivated and a leader of myopic vision.
The budding educationist has alleged that Mr.Patnaik has ignored the educationally backward areas of KBK in view of the impending general and state elections.
A politically motivated Chief Minister has done more damage to the areas of Kalahandi than any body else, lamented Prof.Patra.
Prof.Patra has said that without studying the ground realities, the decision to establish the Central University was taken.
This decision is hurting Kalahandias most as they were lobbying hard with the MHRD for the Central University, while not a soul from Koraput ever raised a voice for the same.
He has appealed the President Mrs. Pratibha Patil to look into the matter and give justice to the most backward areas of KBK.
An appeal letter to the Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh has also been made to provide justice to the millions of people of Kalahandi by forcing the State Government to change its decision and place the World Class Central University at Bhawanipatna, said Dr.Patra.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Row over location of proposed varsity in Koraput
The Statesman, Aug 11, 2008
Statesman News Service
BHAWANIPATNA, Aug 10: Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik’s suggestion to locate the proposed Central University at Koraput has evoked strong protests here.
The Kalahandi Kriyanusthan Committee which was canvassing for the varsity has described Mr Patnaik’s decision as 'whimsical.' Denouncing the CM for having gone back on his earlier promise, the organisation threatened to launch an agitation in the district.
Convenor of the Kalahandi Kriyanusthan Committee Dr Lambodar Sahu said: "Since two decades people of Kalahandi have been demanding a central university."
Terming the CM’sdecision as an act of betrayal, the organisation said on 6 April 2008 an all party delegation from Kalahandi had met the chief minister and apprised him about the demand.
The chief minister agreed and instructed the Kalahandi district collector to locate suitable land for the proposed varsity.
A suitable and feasible site was identified near Karlapada.
The site had all the pre-requsites ~ an air strip at a distance of just 9 km, the World Bank financed super high way passing through the site and its distance from the district headquarter was barely 20 km.
The land details along with the map was submitted to the CM through the collector on 8 July.
After all this the CM suddenly shot off a request letter to the Central government asking it to locate the proposed central university in Koraput district, decried Dr Sahu.
"Kalahandi is perpetually neglected and despite being rich in natural and human resources it continues to remain in the poverty zone.
Citing another instance of neglect, he said the KBK headquarter ought to have been in Bhawanipatna but for some strange reasons it was not done.
Similarly there is no effort to locate the headquarter of the Western Orissa Development Council, at Kalahandi, he noted.
Mr Sahu informed that a delegation will once again call on the CM and try to impress upon him that the central varsity should be established in Kalahandi district.
Meanwhile the Kriyanusthan Committee has drawn up plans to launch a mass movement from next week.
Statesman News Service
BHAWANIPATNA, Aug 10: Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik’s suggestion to locate the proposed Central University at Koraput has evoked strong protests here.
The Kalahandi Kriyanusthan Committee which was canvassing for the varsity has described Mr Patnaik’s decision as 'whimsical.' Denouncing the CM for having gone back on his earlier promise, the organisation threatened to launch an agitation in the district.
Convenor of the Kalahandi Kriyanusthan Committee Dr Lambodar Sahu said: "Since two decades people of Kalahandi have been demanding a central university."
Terming the CM’sdecision as an act of betrayal, the organisation said on 6 April 2008 an all party delegation from Kalahandi had met the chief minister and apprised him about the demand.
The chief minister agreed and instructed the Kalahandi district collector to locate suitable land for the proposed varsity.
A suitable and feasible site was identified near Karlapada.
The site had all the pre-requsites ~ an air strip at a distance of just 9 km, the World Bank financed super high way passing through the site and its distance from the district headquarter was barely 20 km.
The land details along with the map was submitted to the CM through the collector on 8 July.
After all this the CM suddenly shot off a request letter to the Central government asking it to locate the proposed central university in Koraput district, decried Dr Sahu.
"Kalahandi is perpetually neglected and despite being rich in natural and human resources it continues to remain in the poverty zone.
Citing another instance of neglect, he said the KBK headquarter ought to have been in Bhawanipatna but for some strange reasons it was not done.
Similarly there is no effort to locate the headquarter of the Western Orissa Development Council, at Kalahandi, he noted.
Mr Sahu informed that a delegation will once again call on the CM and try to impress upon him that the central varsity should be established in Kalahandi district.
Meanwhile the Kriyanusthan Committee has drawn up plans to launch a mass movement from next week.
Row over location of proposed varsity in Koraput
Statesman, Aug 11, 2008
Statesman News Service
BHAWANIPATNA, Aug 10: Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik’s suggestion to locate the proposed Central University at Koraput has evoked strong protests here.
The Kalahandi Kriyanusthan Committee which was canvassing for the varsity has described Mr Patnaik’s decision as 'whimsical.' Denouncing the CM for having gone back on his earlier promise, the organisation threatened to launch an agitation in the district.
Convenor of the Kalahandi Kriyanusthan Committee Dr Lambodar Sahu said: "Since two decades people of Kalahandi have been demanding a central university."
Terming the CM’sdecision as an act of betrayal, the organisation said on 6 April 2008 an all party delegation from Kalahandi had met the chief minister and apprised him about the demand.
The chief minister agreed and instructed the Kalahandi district collector to locate suitable land for the proposed varsity.
A suitable and feasible site was identified near Karlapada.
The site had all the pre-requsites ~ an air strip at a distance of just 9 km, the World Bank financed super high way passing through the site and its distance from the district headquarter was barely 20 km.
The land details along with the map was submitted to the CM through the collector on 8 July.
After all this the CM suddenly shot off a request letter to the Central government asking it to locate the proposed central university in Koraput district, decried Dr Sahu.
"Kalahandi is perpetually neglected and despite being rich in natural and human resources it continues to remain in the poverty zone.
Citing another instance of neglect, he said the KBK headquarter ought to have been in Bhawanipatna but for some strange reasons it was not done.
Similarly there is no effort to locate the headquarter of the Western Orissa Development Council, at Kalahandi, he noted.
Mr Sahu informed that a delegation will once again call on the CM and try to impress upon him that the central varsity should be established in Kalahandi district.
Meanwhile the Kriyanusthan Committee has drawn up plans to launch a mass movement from next week.
Statesman News Service
BHAWANIPATNA, Aug 10: Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik’s suggestion to locate the proposed Central University at Koraput has evoked strong protests here.
The Kalahandi Kriyanusthan Committee which was canvassing for the varsity has described Mr Patnaik’s decision as 'whimsical.' Denouncing the CM for having gone back on his earlier promise, the organisation threatened to launch an agitation in the district.
Convenor of the Kalahandi Kriyanusthan Committee Dr Lambodar Sahu said: "Since two decades people of Kalahandi have been demanding a central university."
Terming the CM’sdecision as an act of betrayal, the organisation said on 6 April 2008 an all party delegation from Kalahandi had met the chief minister and apprised him about the demand.
The chief minister agreed and instructed the Kalahandi district collector to locate suitable land for the proposed varsity.
A suitable and feasible site was identified near Karlapada.
The site had all the pre-requsites ~ an air strip at a distance of just 9 km, the World Bank financed super high way passing through the site and its distance from the district headquarter was barely 20 km.
The land details along with the map was submitted to the CM through the collector on 8 July.
After all this the CM suddenly shot off a request letter to the Central government asking it to locate the proposed central university in Koraput district, decried Dr Sahu.
"Kalahandi is perpetually neglected and despite being rich in natural and human resources it continues to remain in the poverty zone.
Citing another instance of neglect, he said the KBK headquarter ought to have been in Bhawanipatna but for some strange reasons it was not done.
Similarly there is no effort to locate the headquarter of the Western Orissa Development Council, at Kalahandi, he noted.
Mr Sahu informed that a delegation will once again call on the CM and try to impress upon him that the central varsity should be established in Kalahandi district.
Meanwhile the Kriyanusthan Committee has drawn up plans to launch a mass movement from next week.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Orissa CM Mr Naveen Patnaik betrayed Kalahandi
Reference:
1. Report on May 8, 2008:
Central varsity: CM promises to use his good offices with Centre
BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has assured a delegation from Kalahandi district that he will pressurise the Centre to set up a central university in Kalahandi district.
A 25-member delegation led by Minister of State for Law and Employment Pradipta Kumar Nayak met the Chief Minister at the Secretariat on Tuesday. The delegation impressed upon the Chief Minister about the need for establishment of a central university in Kalahandi district as it is educationally backward.
The district has all infrastructure facilities for establishment of a central university and the demand has been pending since 1988, the delegation comprising former ministers Balabhadra Majhi, Himansu Sekhar Meher and legislator Pushpendra Singhdeo said.
After hearing from the delegation, Naveen assured that he will write a letter to Human Resources Development (HRD) ministry about setting up the varsity in Kalahandi.
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20080507225928&Page=Q&Title=Orissa&Topic=0
2. Report On 6th August 2008:
CM wants Central varsity at Koraput
BHUBANESWAR, August 5: Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik suggested the establishment of the proposed Central university might be at Koraput and demanded for setting up IIT near Bhubaneswar to start as soon as possible.
In two separate missives to Union minister for human resources development Mr Arjun Singh today, the chief minister noted the establishment of proposed Central university at Koraput would reduce the existing disparity in education in the state. Maintaining that Koraput has been a backward region as far as education is concerned, Mr Patnaik said that besides 500 acres of land, the proposed site has water, power, road and rail connectivity.
"The Jeypore airstrip is just 30 km away from Koraput," the CM pointed out. "The Union government should send a technical team and start the university work soon," Mr Patnaik suggested.
He also put emphasis on the early set up of the IIT. The state government has identified 500 acres of land for this purpose and can make available more land. Assuring that the state government would provide all sorts of required support, the chief minister urged for early start of construction work. n sns
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=9&theme=&usrsess=1&id=217152
1. Report on May 8, 2008:
Central varsity: CM promises to use his good offices with Centre
BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has assured a delegation from Kalahandi district that he will pressurise the Centre to set up a central university in Kalahandi district.
A 25-member delegation led by Minister of State for Law and Employment Pradipta Kumar Nayak met the Chief Minister at the Secretariat on Tuesday. The delegation impressed upon the Chief Minister about the need for establishment of a central university in Kalahandi district as it is educationally backward.
The district has all infrastructure facilities for establishment of a central university and the demand has been pending since 1988, the delegation comprising former ministers Balabhadra Majhi, Himansu Sekhar Meher and legislator Pushpendra Singhdeo said.
After hearing from the delegation, Naveen assured that he will write a letter to Human Resources Development (HRD) ministry about setting up the varsity in Kalahandi.
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20080507225928&Page=Q&Title=Orissa&Topic=0
2. Report On 6th August 2008:
CM wants Central varsity at Koraput
BHUBANESWAR, August 5: Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik suggested the establishment of the proposed Central university might be at Koraput and demanded for setting up IIT near Bhubaneswar to start as soon as possible.
In two separate missives to Union minister for human resources development Mr Arjun Singh today, the chief minister noted the establishment of proposed Central university at Koraput would reduce the existing disparity in education in the state. Maintaining that Koraput has been a backward region as far as education is concerned, Mr Patnaik said that besides 500 acres of land, the proposed site has water, power, road and rail connectivity.
"The Jeypore airstrip is just 30 km away from Koraput," the CM pointed out. "The Union government should send a technical team and start the university work soon," Mr Patnaik suggested.
He also put emphasis on the early set up of the IIT. The state government has identified 500 acres of land for this purpose and can make available more land. Assuring that the state government would provide all sorts of required support, the chief minister urged for early start of construction work. n sns
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=9&theme=&usrsess=1&id=217152
Bad news for Kalahandi on Central University
List of fully state or central Government funded higher educational institute established since the demand of central university in Kalahandi, 1988.
Coastal Orissa region:
National Institute of Science Education and Research Bhubaneswar
IIT Bhubaneswar
World Class Central University Bhubaneswar (proposed)
IIIT Bhubaneswar
Ravensha University, Cuttack
Capital Medical College, Bhubaneswar
Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal
Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications, Bhubaneswar
North Orissa region:
Fakir Mohan University, Balasor
North Orissa University, Baripada
Orissa School of Mining, Keonjhar
Biju Patnaik University of Technology Rourkela
South Orissa region:
IIIT Berhampur (proposed)
Paral Maharaja Engineering College, Berhampur (proposed)
Central University, Koraput (proposed)
Western Orissa and Kalahandi region:
NIL
Coastal Orissa region:
National Institute of Science Education and Research Bhubaneswar
IIT Bhubaneswar
World Class Central University Bhubaneswar (proposed)
IIIT Bhubaneswar
Ravensha University, Cuttack
Capital Medical College, Bhubaneswar
Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal
Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications, Bhubaneswar
North Orissa region:
Fakir Mohan University, Balasor
North Orissa University, Baripada
Orissa School of Mining, Keonjhar
Biju Patnaik University of Technology Rourkela
South Orissa region:
IIIT Berhampur (proposed)
Paral Maharaja Engineering College, Berhampur (proposed)
Central University, Koraput (proposed)
Western Orissa and Kalahandi region:
NIL
CM wants Central varsity at Koraput
The Statesman, Aug 6, 2008
BHUBANESWAR, August 5: Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik suggested the establishment of the proposed Central university might be at Koraput and demanded for setting up IIT near Bhubaneswar to start as soon as possible.
In two separate missives to Union minister for human resources development Mr Arjun Singh today, the chief minister noted the establishment of proposed Central university at Koraput would reduce the existing disparity in education in the state. Maintaining that Koraput has been a backward region as far as education is concerned, Mr Patnaik said that besides 500 acres of land, the proposed site has water, power, road and rail connectivity.
"The Jeypore airstrip is just 30 km away from Koraput," the CM pointed out. "The Union government should send a technical team and start the university work soon," Mr Patnaik suggested.
He also put emphasis on the early set up of the IIT. The state government has identified 500 acres of land for this purpose and can make available more land. Assuring that the state government would provide all sorts of required support, the chief minister urged for early start of construction work.
BHUBANESWAR, August 5: Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik suggested the establishment of the proposed Central university might be at Koraput and demanded for setting up IIT near Bhubaneswar to start as soon as possible.
In two separate missives to Union minister for human resources development Mr Arjun Singh today, the chief minister noted the establishment of proposed Central university at Koraput would reduce the existing disparity in education in the state. Maintaining that Koraput has been a backward region as far as education is concerned, Mr Patnaik said that besides 500 acres of land, the proposed site has water, power, road and rail connectivity.
"The Jeypore airstrip is just 30 km away from Koraput," the CM pointed out. "The Union government should send a technical team and start the university work soon," Mr Patnaik suggested.
He also put emphasis on the early set up of the IIT. The state government has identified 500 acres of land for this purpose and can make available more land. Assuring that the state government would provide all sorts of required support, the chief minister urged for early start of construction work.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
IIPA meet focuses on KBK region issues
The Pioneer, July 29, 2008
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar
KBK Additional Chief Secretary and Chief Administrator Rajalaxmi highlighted the major issues and progress in the implementation of the KBK development programmes at a seminar on KBK organised by the Orissa Branch of the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) here.
She dwelt on various intervention programmes and narrated a few success stories like installation of non-conventional energy plants utilising biomass at the seminar held on Saturday.
She also pointed at the challenges posed by Left-wing extremism and by natural calamities in the region.
Information Commissioner-designate Jagadananda and CYSD member-secretary spoke on the structural causes of poverty and backwardness. He suggested for fast track courts for land records, ownership and development and implementation of Forest Rights Act 2006.
In his presidential address, IIPA branch chairman SC Misra analysed the pace of development in KBK districts and hinted at the economic cost of Left-wing extremism and corruption.
He also drew attention to the reluctance of the Government employees to work in those areas which caused a hindrance in their development. He urged for active involvement of the civil society in the successful implementation of the KBK programmes.
Initially, vice-chairman of the IIPA branch Prof GC Kar introduced the subject, and finally, secretary Dr JK Misra proposed a vote of thanks at the end.
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar
KBK Additional Chief Secretary and Chief Administrator Rajalaxmi highlighted the major issues and progress in the implementation of the KBK development programmes at a seminar on KBK organised by the Orissa Branch of the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) here.
She dwelt on various intervention programmes and narrated a few success stories like installation of non-conventional energy plants utilising biomass at the seminar held on Saturday.
She also pointed at the challenges posed by Left-wing extremism and by natural calamities in the region.
Information Commissioner-designate Jagadananda and CYSD member-secretary spoke on the structural causes of poverty and backwardness. He suggested for fast track courts for land records, ownership and development and implementation of Forest Rights Act 2006.
In his presidential address, IIPA branch chairman SC Misra analysed the pace of development in KBK districts and hinted at the economic cost of Left-wing extremism and corruption.
He also drew attention to the reluctance of the Government employees to work in those areas which caused a hindrance in their development. He urged for active involvement of the civil society in the successful implementation of the KBK programmes.
Initially, vice-chairman of the IIPA branch Prof GC Kar introduced the subject, and finally, secretary Dr JK Misra proposed a vote of thanks at the end.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Economic constraints of tribal development in KBK
Merinews, July 26, 2008
by Basant Rath
Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi (KBK) are the poorest regions of the country comprising mainly of tribals. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Still rooted in ancient beliefs the tribals do not make serious attempts to raise their wealth..
THE UNDIVIDED districts of Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi popularly known as KBK is one of the poorest region in the country. The KBK regions have been divided into eight districts, ie Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Balangir, Sonepur, Kalahandi and Nuapada. These eight districts comprise of 14 subdivisions, 37 tehsils, 80 CD blocks, 1437 gram panchayats and 12,104 villages, Almost 75 per cent of the total population is reeling under the poverty line even after 58 years after independence.
The KBK districts account for 19.72 per cent population for over 30.59 per cent geographical area of the state. About 89.89 per cent people of these districts still live in village and remote areas. As per 1991 census about 38.72 per cent people of KBK districts belong to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) and 16.63 per cent of the population belongs to Scheduled Castes (SC) communities. Literacy rates are far below the state as well as national averages. Female literacy is only 24.72 per cent. As per the 1997 census of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families about 72 per cent families live below poverty line. Nuapada ranks as the district with highest number of BPL families of 85.70 per cent and Bolangir ranks as the lowest with 61.06 per cent of BPL families. As per an estimate based on 1999-2000 NSS data 87.14 per cent people in southern Orissa, are below poverty line.
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Nearly 80 per cent of the tribal workers earn their living as cultivator and agricultural labourers only 10 per cent of the people work in construction trade and commerce, nine per cent of the people works in mining, quarrying and the rest of the population is engaged in house hold and manufacturing. The traditional occupation was agriculture, hunting and gathering forest products but now they depend on wage labourers. They work as agricultural and casual labours. A few of them have their own agricultural lands.
Basically the tribal people believe in eat, drink, and be merry principle. There is no place for economic competition, due to free availability of land and minor forest produce followed by low population pressure, the competition has not been felt by the tribals.
Tribal economy mainly comprises of subsistence farming, wage earning from forest works and government sponsored programmes. Subsistence farmers grow food crops barely enough to meet their own farm and family requirements. Diffusion of technological changes in agriculture does not take place properly as this is the main constraint.
More than 80 per cent of the total population depends on agriculture; most of the tribals are landless and work as wage earners. Owing to their illiteracy, superstitions and conservative practices, they are deceived and exploited by moneylenders and other non tribals. Tribals who do not have a permanent income live in perpetual poverty. No doubt that the government is implementing a number of projects for the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of tribals, but due to illiteracy, they are unaware of several developments around them.
On the other hand poor irrigation, bad infrastructure has taken a huge toll on agriculture, the main source of livelihood. Unemployment has soared with even seasonal jobs under various schemes becoming scarce. Almost 75 per cent of the total population is reeling under the poverty line even after 58 years after independence.
Most of them do not even get a single meal a day due to acute poverty. Also, per capita availability of land continues to plunge, coming down to 70 per cent. Due to the practice of slash and burn farming locally called Podu, denudation of forest and forcible occupation of their land, they are compelled to go to other places in search of employment.
Want of an organised marketing is a big bottleneck of tribal economy, weekly markets are held in big villages and small villages on roadside but remain defunct for six months in a year. Retail traders and hawkers visit these markets and purchase agricultural and forest produce. In return they sell manufactured items of daily requirements to the local tribals. There is complete absence of profit motivation in the tribals with the result the tribals cannot enter into commercial undertaking in any sale.
In a recent tour to different parts of KBK region revealed that in most of the villages there are several traders and businessman who have found their roots in the shops, also purchase of agricultural and forest products. But to ones surprise none of these are of tribal origin, all are new settlers who have come either from Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, West Bengal, or other parts of Orissa. The landless agriculturist are either with zero ownership or ultra marginal ownership of land. Rural poverty of ST and SC population is rampant and 75 per cent were found to be land less and living below poverty line. The growth of tribal population and the rise in the burden of agricultural workers on land also made them landless workers. Social values of the tribals play an important obstacles for raising wealth capital and income.
The tribals of KBK region believe in ghosts, ancestors worship and also believe that the fortune of man is controlled by their super natural power. Hence they do not make serious attempts to raise wealth. What ever they produce on their lands 90 per cent of it is consumed as food and drink and seven per cent of the produce is utilised for meeting other expenses, three per cent on clothing. Food, shelter, sex and clothing are the only important wants of the tribal people. These wants are locally satiable without paying any substantial cost. Education, modern medicines and conveyance are still far cry, which could hardly catch the imagination of most of the tribal peoples of KBK region.
by Basant Rath
Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi (KBK) are the poorest regions of the country comprising mainly of tribals. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Still rooted in ancient beliefs the tribals do not make serious attempts to raise their wealth..
THE UNDIVIDED districts of Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi popularly known as KBK is one of the poorest region in the country. The KBK regions have been divided into eight districts, ie Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Balangir, Sonepur, Kalahandi and Nuapada. These eight districts comprise of 14 subdivisions, 37 tehsils, 80 CD blocks, 1437 gram panchayats and 12,104 villages, Almost 75 per cent of the total population is reeling under the poverty line even after 58 years after independence.
The KBK districts account for 19.72 per cent population for over 30.59 per cent geographical area of the state. About 89.89 per cent people of these districts still live in village and remote areas. As per 1991 census about 38.72 per cent people of KBK districts belong to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) and 16.63 per cent of the population belongs to Scheduled Castes (SC) communities. Literacy rates are far below the state as well as national averages. Female literacy is only 24.72 per cent. As per the 1997 census of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families about 72 per cent families live below poverty line. Nuapada ranks as the district with highest number of BPL families of 85.70 per cent and Bolangir ranks as the lowest with 61.06 per cent of BPL families. As per an estimate based on 1999-2000 NSS data 87.14 per cent people in southern Orissa, are below poverty line.
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Nearly 80 per cent of the tribal workers earn their living as cultivator and agricultural labourers only 10 per cent of the people work in construction trade and commerce, nine per cent of the people works in mining, quarrying and the rest of the population is engaged in house hold and manufacturing. The traditional occupation was agriculture, hunting and gathering forest products but now they depend on wage labourers. They work as agricultural and casual labours. A few of them have their own agricultural lands.
Basically the tribal people believe in eat, drink, and be merry principle. There is no place for economic competition, due to free availability of land and minor forest produce followed by low population pressure, the competition has not been felt by the tribals.
Tribal economy mainly comprises of subsistence farming, wage earning from forest works and government sponsored programmes. Subsistence farmers grow food crops barely enough to meet their own farm and family requirements. Diffusion of technological changes in agriculture does not take place properly as this is the main constraint.
More than 80 per cent of the total population depends on agriculture; most of the tribals are landless and work as wage earners. Owing to their illiteracy, superstitions and conservative practices, they are deceived and exploited by moneylenders and other non tribals. Tribals who do not have a permanent income live in perpetual poverty. No doubt that the government is implementing a number of projects for the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of tribals, but due to illiteracy, they are unaware of several developments around them.
On the other hand poor irrigation, bad infrastructure has taken a huge toll on agriculture, the main source of livelihood. Unemployment has soared with even seasonal jobs under various schemes becoming scarce. Almost 75 per cent of the total population is reeling under the poverty line even after 58 years after independence.
Most of them do not even get a single meal a day due to acute poverty. Also, per capita availability of land continues to plunge, coming down to 70 per cent. Due to the practice of slash and burn farming locally called Podu, denudation of forest and forcible occupation of their land, they are compelled to go to other places in search of employment.
Want of an organised marketing is a big bottleneck of tribal economy, weekly markets are held in big villages and small villages on roadside but remain defunct for six months in a year. Retail traders and hawkers visit these markets and purchase agricultural and forest produce. In return they sell manufactured items of daily requirements to the local tribals. There is complete absence of profit motivation in the tribals with the result the tribals cannot enter into commercial undertaking in any sale.
In a recent tour to different parts of KBK region revealed that in most of the villages there are several traders and businessman who have found their roots in the shops, also purchase of agricultural and forest products. But to ones surprise none of these are of tribal origin, all are new settlers who have come either from Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, West Bengal, or other parts of Orissa. The landless agriculturist are either with zero ownership or ultra marginal ownership of land. Rural poverty of ST and SC population is rampant and 75 per cent were found to be land less and living below poverty line. The growth of tribal population and the rise in the burden of agricultural workers on land also made them landless workers. Social values of the tribals play an important obstacles for raising wealth capital and income.
The tribals of KBK region believe in ghosts, ancestors worship and also believe that the fortune of man is controlled by their super natural power. Hence they do not make serious attempts to raise wealth. What ever they produce on their lands 90 per cent of it is consumed as food and drink and seven per cent of the produce is utilised for meeting other expenses, three per cent on clothing. Food, shelter, sex and clothing are the only important wants of the tribal people. These wants are locally satiable without paying any substantial cost. Education, modern medicines and conveyance are still far cry, which could hardly catch the imagination of most of the tribal peoples of KBK region.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Non-resident Oriyas rue Railway Board chief's attitude towards Orissa projects
The Pioneer, July 16, 2008
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar
Non-resident Oriyas (NROs) are quite unhappy over the railway authorities' attitude towards the long-delayed projects in Orissa, including the Khurda Road -Balangir rail line.
Railway Board chairman Kalyan Coomar Jena, who hails from Orissa, was invited to the convention of the Orissa Society of Americas (OSA) recently held in Toronto in North America. Jena dismissed speeding up of the Khurda-Balangir project projects without significant contributions from the State Government on the plea that it is a social line.
The NROs repeatedly reminded Jena that the three zones operating in Orissa -- East Coast Railways (ECoR), South Eastern Railways (SER) and South Eastern Central Railways (SECR) -- are the highest profit-making zones, but Orissa and Chhattisgarh have the lowest railway densities.
The areas of concern are the connectivity to KBK districts and the other tribal districts of Orissa like Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sundargarh, which are among the most backward areas in the country. The proposed rail lines include the Khurda Road -Nayagarh - Balangir, Talcher - Bimlagarh, Naupada-Gunupur- Theruvali, Lanjigarh Road -Bhawanipatna -Junagarh-Nabarangpur-Jeypore - Malkangiri - Bhadramchalam - Bhadrachalam Road, Buramara - Chakulia and Bangiriposi - Gurumahisani-Keonjhar.
The NROs pointed out that the minerals extracted and transported from those districts are the contributing factors in making these railway zones highly profitable. If only Indian Railways had listened to the plea of Orissa and completed the Khurda Road-Balangir line, which it started 15 years ago, and the line from Jeypore to Malkangiri and beyond, the Maoist mayhems in Nayagarh and Malkangiri would have been avoided.
Some participants at the meeting like Purna Mishra and Chitta Baral were armed with statistics from various IR publications and web sites to counter the arguments of Jena. They rubbished the contention that the Indian Railways was only going after profitable routes. Prof Baral pointed out that the IR priorities include gauge conversion of 12,000 km, most of which is not profitable.
What made some of the participants really sad that the Railway Board chairman did not even sympathise when pointed out that while huge profits are made by ECoR, SER and SECR, the big money of the 11th Plan is going to freight corridors, high-speed rail and metro rails, none of which benefits Orissa. The NROs were of the view that the Railway Board Chairman was pursuing a highly bureaucratic approach.
Jena repeated that he has Rs 1,000 crore for Orissa, and breaking that up to various projects leaves little for social projects like Khurda Road-Balangir.
It was pointed out to him that when ECoR is estimated to make Rs 3,600 crores of profit during 2008-09, he is talking about only Rs 1,000 crore.
In addition, the NROs demanded that the IR, the largest employer in the world, must make two production units in the backward and tribal areas of KBK so that it indeed gives a fair employment opportunity to the tribals.
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar
Non-resident Oriyas (NROs) are quite unhappy over the railway authorities' attitude towards the long-delayed projects in Orissa, including the Khurda Road -Balangir rail line.
Railway Board chairman Kalyan Coomar Jena, who hails from Orissa, was invited to the convention of the Orissa Society of Americas (OSA) recently held in Toronto in North America. Jena dismissed speeding up of the Khurda-Balangir project projects without significant contributions from the State Government on the plea that it is a social line.
The NROs repeatedly reminded Jena that the three zones operating in Orissa -- East Coast Railways (ECoR), South Eastern Railways (SER) and South Eastern Central Railways (SECR) -- are the highest profit-making zones, but Orissa and Chhattisgarh have the lowest railway densities.
The areas of concern are the connectivity to KBK districts and the other tribal districts of Orissa like Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sundargarh, which are among the most backward areas in the country. The proposed rail lines include the Khurda Road -Nayagarh - Balangir, Talcher - Bimlagarh, Naupada-Gunupur- Theruvali, Lanjigarh Road -Bhawanipatna -Junagarh-Nabarangpur-Jeypore - Malkangiri - Bhadramchalam - Bhadrachalam Road, Buramara - Chakulia and Bangiriposi - Gurumahisani-Keonjhar.
The NROs pointed out that the minerals extracted and transported from those districts are the contributing factors in making these railway zones highly profitable. If only Indian Railways had listened to the plea of Orissa and completed the Khurda Road-Balangir line, which it started 15 years ago, and the line from Jeypore to Malkangiri and beyond, the Maoist mayhems in Nayagarh and Malkangiri would have been avoided.
Some participants at the meeting like Purna Mishra and Chitta Baral were armed with statistics from various IR publications and web sites to counter the arguments of Jena. They rubbished the contention that the Indian Railways was only going after profitable routes. Prof Baral pointed out that the IR priorities include gauge conversion of 12,000 km, most of which is not profitable.
What made some of the participants really sad that the Railway Board chairman did not even sympathise when pointed out that while huge profits are made by ECoR, SER and SECR, the big money of the 11th Plan is going to freight corridors, high-speed rail and metro rails, none of which benefits Orissa. The NROs were of the view that the Railway Board Chairman was pursuing a highly bureaucratic approach.
Jena repeated that he has Rs 1,000 crore for Orissa, and breaking that up to various projects leaves little for social projects like Khurda Road-Balangir.
It was pointed out to him that when ECoR is estimated to make Rs 3,600 crores of profit during 2008-09, he is talking about only Rs 1,000 crore.
In addition, the NROs demanded that the IR, the largest employer in the world, must make two production units in the backward and tribal areas of KBK so that it indeed gives a fair employment opportunity to the tribals.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Online move for rail network
Tathya.in, July 7, 2008
Bhawanipatna:7/July/2008
Poor communication links of rail and road has resulted in expansion of Red Corridor in the tribal districts of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgarh.
While most of the Maoist activities are centered round the KBK Region of the State, the ultras are expanding their tentacles to the nearby underdeveloped areas.
While Prime Minister Dr.Man Mohan Singh is dubbing the Red Menace as the “ most dangerous virus”, in deciding the connectivity plans for the country, case of KBK has been ignored time and again.
So under the leadership of Digambara Patra, a leading Non Resident Oriya (NRO), the intelligentsia of Orissa has taken up the cause of rail expansion in a big way.
An online signature campaign is underway to raise awareness on the issue of rail connectivity.
More than 60 have signed the online petition and many are joining the league.
Making a full fledged research on the subject, they have demanded for special treatment by the Indian Railway Board in declaring the Kalahandi-Balangir- Koraput (KBK) region in Orissa, other adjacent tribal regions of Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgarh as a national project.
KBK is the poorest and most backward region in India.
While other backward regions in India like North Eastern States, J&K and Himachal Pradesh have received special treatment by Railway Board, KBK region has been neglected since decades, lamented Dr.Patra.
Naxal activities are predominantly high in the border regions of Orissa, Chhatisgarh and Andhra Pradesh due to poor communication and infrastructure, said he.
And recently it is spreading to other bordering and backward districts like Balangir, Nuapada and Kalahandi districts.
The railway infrastructure in Orissa and Chhatisgarh is substantially low compared to national average despite both the states are in the profit making zones, where as railway infrastructure in Bihar and West Bengal are remarkably high though they are the loss making zones.
East Coast zone and South Eastern zone covering Orissa state and South East Central zone covering Chhatisgarh are among top most profit making zones.
And large amount of profit made by Indian Railways comes from the transportation revenue from coal, ores and minerals for which both the states substantially contribute.
However, Indian railway has ignored KBK region of Orissa and Chhatisgarh since decades.
Indian Railway Board has always danced to the tune of the political bosses ignoring the genuine requirement of the states, lamented Madhusmita Panda, another online petitioner.
For example, Khordha Road – Balangir and Lanjigarh Road – Junagarh railway lines in Orissa which were approved much earlier than Muzaffarpur – Sitamari and Sultanganj-Deogarh lines in Bihar are still struggling to be completed, where as other two lines in Bihar are completed, said she.
Pratyusa Mandhata asked for uniformity in approving projects and said that during last 15 years, more railway lines were approved in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal than Orissa and Chhatisgarh.
In last 5 years Indian Railway has set up 3 factories in Bihar (loss making zone) and one in Kerala (another loss making zone), but none of the plants including the recently proposed power plant by Indian Railway, was being established in Orissa or Chhatisgarh, said Mr.Mandhata.
Sandip Dasvarma, leading NRO said that since decades less funds are allotted in the Railway Budgets to profit making zones like East Coast Railway (ECOR) and South East Central Railway (SECR), which is much lower than that of loss making zones.
The petitioners have requested the Orissa and Chhatisgarh Governments to provide land free of cost for railway development in the backward region.
And they have requested the Government of India is to declare all the railway projects in KBK and bordering regions in Chhatisgarh and Andhra Pradesh as national projects in the line of North Eastern states of India immediately.
They have demanded to complete Khordha road – Balangir railway line to connect the KBK region with state capital
Approval of Junagarh – Ambaguda line proposed under extension of Lanjigarh Road – Junagarh is needed.
Approval is requested for Bargarh – Padampur - Nuapada road - Kantabanji – Khariar- Ampani-Navarangur- Jeypore – Makangiri – Kottagudem (Andhra Pradesh) new line in the backward region, which would help to control Maoist menace by bringing development in the region
The petitioners have demanded to carry out new survey and approve Rajim (Chhatisgarh) – Gariaband (Chhatisgarh) – Deobhog (Chhatisgahr) – Junagarh – Lanjigarh road – Simanbadi (Kandhamal) – Asika- Berhampur – Gopalpur line to directly connect Raipur with Gopalpur port passing through one of the most backward regions of India.
They have also demanded that new survey of Dhamtari (Chhatisgarh) – Umarkote (Orissa) – Nabrangpur (Orissa) line, an alternative direct access to Gopalpur and Visakhapatnam ports from Raipur and other mining region in Chhatisgarh is to be developed.
Carrying out of fresh survey of the Simanbadi -Phulbani-Angul line is needed to benefit NALCO by further reducing the distance between Damanjodiand Angul, said the online petitioners.
Bhawanipatna:7/July/2008
Poor communication links of rail and road has resulted in expansion of Red Corridor in the tribal districts of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgarh.
While most of the Maoist activities are centered round the KBK Region of the State, the ultras are expanding their tentacles to the nearby underdeveloped areas.
While Prime Minister Dr.Man Mohan Singh is dubbing the Red Menace as the “ most dangerous virus”, in deciding the connectivity plans for the country, case of KBK has been ignored time and again.
So under the leadership of Digambara Patra, a leading Non Resident Oriya (NRO), the intelligentsia of Orissa has taken up the cause of rail expansion in a big way.
An online signature campaign is underway to raise awareness on the issue of rail connectivity.
More than 60 have signed the online petition and many are joining the league.
Making a full fledged research on the subject, they have demanded for special treatment by the Indian Railway Board in declaring the Kalahandi-Balangir- Koraput (KBK) region in Orissa, other adjacent tribal regions of Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgarh as a national project.
KBK is the poorest and most backward region in India.
While other backward regions in India like North Eastern States, J&K and Himachal Pradesh have received special treatment by Railway Board, KBK region has been neglected since decades, lamented Dr.Patra.
Naxal activities are predominantly high in the border regions of Orissa, Chhatisgarh and Andhra Pradesh due to poor communication and infrastructure, said he.
And recently it is spreading to other bordering and backward districts like Balangir, Nuapada and Kalahandi districts.
The railway infrastructure in Orissa and Chhatisgarh is substantially low compared to national average despite both the states are in the profit making zones, where as railway infrastructure in Bihar and West Bengal are remarkably high though they are the loss making zones.
East Coast zone and South Eastern zone covering Orissa state and South East Central zone covering Chhatisgarh are among top most profit making zones.
And large amount of profit made by Indian Railways comes from the transportation revenue from coal, ores and minerals for which both the states substantially contribute.
However, Indian railway has ignored KBK region of Orissa and Chhatisgarh since decades.
Indian Railway Board has always danced to the tune of the political bosses ignoring the genuine requirement of the states, lamented Madhusmita Panda, another online petitioner.
For example, Khordha Road – Balangir and Lanjigarh Road – Junagarh railway lines in Orissa which were approved much earlier than Muzaffarpur – Sitamari and Sultanganj-Deogarh lines in Bihar are still struggling to be completed, where as other two lines in Bihar are completed, said she.
Pratyusa Mandhata asked for uniformity in approving projects and said that during last 15 years, more railway lines were approved in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal than Orissa and Chhatisgarh.
In last 5 years Indian Railway has set up 3 factories in Bihar (loss making zone) and one in Kerala (another loss making zone), but none of the plants including the recently proposed power plant by Indian Railway, was being established in Orissa or Chhatisgarh, said Mr.Mandhata.
Sandip Dasvarma, leading NRO said that since decades less funds are allotted in the Railway Budgets to profit making zones like East Coast Railway (ECOR) and South East Central Railway (SECR), which is much lower than that of loss making zones.
The petitioners have requested the Orissa and Chhatisgarh Governments to provide land free of cost for railway development in the backward region.
And they have requested the Government of India is to declare all the railway projects in KBK and bordering regions in Chhatisgarh and Andhra Pradesh as national projects in the line of North Eastern states of India immediately.
They have demanded to complete Khordha road – Balangir railway line to connect the KBK region with state capital
Approval of Junagarh – Ambaguda line proposed under extension of Lanjigarh Road – Junagarh is needed.
Approval is requested for Bargarh – Padampur - Nuapada road - Kantabanji – Khariar- Ampani-Navarangur- Jeypore – Makangiri – Kottagudem (Andhra Pradesh) new line in the backward region, which would help to control Maoist menace by bringing development in the region
The petitioners have demanded to carry out new survey and approve Rajim (Chhatisgarh) – Gariaband (Chhatisgarh) – Deobhog (Chhatisgahr) – Junagarh – Lanjigarh road – Simanbadi (Kandhamal) – Asika- Berhampur – Gopalpur line to directly connect Raipur with Gopalpur port passing through one of the most backward regions of India.
They have also demanded that new survey of Dhamtari (Chhatisgarh) – Umarkote (Orissa) – Nabrangpur (Orissa) line, an alternative direct access to Gopalpur and Visakhapatnam ports from Raipur and other mining region in Chhatisgarh is to be developed.
Carrying out of fresh survey of the Simanbadi -Phulbani-Angul line is needed to benefit NALCO by further reducing the distance between Damanjodiand Angul, said the online petitioners.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Reminiscing KBK Plan: Myth and Reality of Development in India
Reminiscing KBK Plan: Myth and Reality of Development in India
Rajat Kumar Kujur
Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict
Article No:87, September 27, 2006
Recently during Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s maiden visit to Orissa, once again it was re-established that the most powerful word that drives the politicians and bureaucrats in contemporary Orissa is the infamous three-letter word KBK (Kalahandi–Bolangir–Koraput). It has been more then a decade that KBK area has been showered with specially designed programmes, grants and so many high profile visits. Unfortunately, the benefits of all these assistances are yet to reach the people of the region. While the state government is making no stone unturned to make the state a mining hub and a new destination for industrial investment, the ghost of KBK is still a force to reckon with the politics of Orissa.
In its recent report the New Delhi based Institute of Applied Manpower and Research, which is entrusted by the Union government to review the KBK programme revealed that despite of the Central aid of Rs.4544 Crore under the KBK head (1995-96 to 2005-06), it has not really changed the living condition of the people. Consequently, the Governor of Orissa, Rameswar Thakur recently observed that despite a huge chunk of money has been spent; it has not really changed the situation what it was in early 1990s.
The undivided districts of Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput are universally known as the most backward regions in India. After the reorganizations of districts in Orissa, these three districts were divided into eight districts, i.e. Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bolangir, Sonepur, Malkangiri, Koraput, Gajapati, and Nabarangpur. Statistically speaking the total area of these districts are 47.646 thousand square kilometer; the total population is of 72,490,691; and among all the 80 revenue blocks, there is only one block which is developed, three blocks are developing, 28 blocks are backward and 49 blocks are declared as most backward.
It was during early nineties that Union government recognized that those areas being backward had been grossly neglected in the fields of agriculture, education, health, industrialization, irrigation, employment, social and economic development. To bring about rapid economic growth for minimizing the economic gap in this region, then Prime Minister of India, PV Narasimha Rao declared a special Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput or KBK Yojana in 1995 at Koraput. It was declared that from 1995-96 to 2001-02 a total sum of Rs. 6654.44 Crore would be spent through KBK Yojana under the Revised Long Term Action Plan.
Despite the much-hyped declaration, subsequent events suggest that no separate provision were made in the Union budget in the name of “KBK Yojana”. It was mentioned in the third Revised Long Term Action Plan that in the field of rural development other then the allotted money of central plan there would be an additional requirement of Rs. 715.15 Crore. Similarly, in the field of agriculture, health and family welfare, employment etc. there will be an additional requirement of Rs. 789.35 Crore. Going through such calculations the Union Ministry of Finance decided to provide an additional amount of Rs. 1503.85 Crore only. Subsequently, another Central delegation headed by Yugandhar, the then Secretary of PMO, after holding discussion with the state government observed that at both the stage the required amount is Rs. 4859 Crore. In addition, after deducting the already allotted central assistance of Rs. 4282.39 Crore in those areas, it calculated that another Rs. 576.61 Crore could be provided for these areas. Finally, the grant amount came down to only a sum of Rs. 389.21 Crore. In the subsequent years what was provided in the name of KBK Yojana or Revised Long Term Action Plan was far below from what was announced originally.
The undivided districts of K-B-K are predominantly tribal inhabited and majority of its population are deprived of the bare necessities of life, forget about the comforts. Taking account of the deplorable socio-economic condition of these districts, the KBK programme would have been a milestone had it focused on Primary Education, Higher Education (Medical College, Agriculture College, Mining school), Irrigation (small and medium), Livelihood, Health care and sanitation, Agro based industries, cooperatives etc. But this was not done. Instead the government took a short cut and marginally increased central aid to these districts; as a result the people of KBK did not get any major benefits from these programmes.
Arguably, KBK is a national issue, it’s a challenge on India’s concern for human development and the goal along with the whole implementing mechanism of KBK Yojana needs a strong revision. If this is not done then whatsoever amount may be sanctioned it will never reach to the hungry stomach of the poor and needy people of KBK.
[Rajat Kumar Kujur, Research Associate, SSPC, New Delhi.]
Rajat Kumar Kujur
Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict
Article No:87, September 27, 2006
Recently during Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s maiden visit to Orissa, once again it was re-established that the most powerful word that drives the politicians and bureaucrats in contemporary Orissa is the infamous three-letter word KBK (Kalahandi–Bolangir–Koraput). It has been more then a decade that KBK area has been showered with specially designed programmes, grants and so many high profile visits. Unfortunately, the benefits of all these assistances are yet to reach the people of the region. While the state government is making no stone unturned to make the state a mining hub and a new destination for industrial investment, the ghost of KBK is still a force to reckon with the politics of Orissa.
In its recent report the New Delhi based Institute of Applied Manpower and Research, which is entrusted by the Union government to review the KBK programme revealed that despite of the Central aid of Rs.4544 Crore under the KBK head (1995-96 to 2005-06), it has not really changed the living condition of the people. Consequently, the Governor of Orissa, Rameswar Thakur recently observed that despite a huge chunk of money has been spent; it has not really changed the situation what it was in early 1990s.
The undivided districts of Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput are universally known as the most backward regions in India. After the reorganizations of districts in Orissa, these three districts were divided into eight districts, i.e. Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bolangir, Sonepur, Malkangiri, Koraput, Gajapati, and Nabarangpur. Statistically speaking the total area of these districts are 47.646 thousand square kilometer; the total population is of 72,490,691; and among all the 80 revenue blocks, there is only one block which is developed, three blocks are developing, 28 blocks are backward and 49 blocks are declared as most backward.
It was during early nineties that Union government recognized that those areas being backward had been grossly neglected in the fields of agriculture, education, health, industrialization, irrigation, employment, social and economic development. To bring about rapid economic growth for minimizing the economic gap in this region, then Prime Minister of India, PV Narasimha Rao declared a special Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput or KBK Yojana in 1995 at Koraput. It was declared that from 1995-96 to 2001-02 a total sum of Rs. 6654.44 Crore would be spent through KBK Yojana under the Revised Long Term Action Plan.
Despite the much-hyped declaration, subsequent events suggest that no separate provision were made in the Union budget in the name of “KBK Yojana”. It was mentioned in the third Revised Long Term Action Plan that in the field of rural development other then the allotted money of central plan there would be an additional requirement of Rs. 715.15 Crore. Similarly, in the field of agriculture, health and family welfare, employment etc. there will be an additional requirement of Rs. 789.35 Crore. Going through such calculations the Union Ministry of Finance decided to provide an additional amount of Rs. 1503.85 Crore only. Subsequently, another Central delegation headed by Yugandhar, the then Secretary of PMO, after holding discussion with the state government observed that at both the stage the required amount is Rs. 4859 Crore. In addition, after deducting the already allotted central assistance of Rs. 4282.39 Crore in those areas, it calculated that another Rs. 576.61 Crore could be provided for these areas. Finally, the grant amount came down to only a sum of Rs. 389.21 Crore. In the subsequent years what was provided in the name of KBK Yojana or Revised Long Term Action Plan was far below from what was announced originally.
The undivided districts of K-B-K are predominantly tribal inhabited and majority of its population are deprived of the bare necessities of life, forget about the comforts. Taking account of the deplorable socio-economic condition of these districts, the KBK programme would have been a milestone had it focused on Primary Education, Higher Education (Medical College, Agriculture College, Mining school), Irrigation (small and medium), Livelihood, Health care and sanitation, Agro based industries, cooperatives etc. But this was not done. Instead the government took a short cut and marginally increased central aid to these districts; as a result the people of KBK did not get any major benefits from these programmes.
Arguably, KBK is a national issue, it’s a challenge on India’s concern for human development and the goal along with the whole implementing mechanism of KBK Yojana needs a strong revision. If this is not done then whatsoever amount may be sanctioned it will never reach to the hungry stomach of the poor and needy people of KBK.
[Rajat Kumar Kujur, Research Associate, SSPC, New Delhi.]
Saturday, July 5, 2008
State road in between Titlagarh and Raniguda via Jayapatna in KBK: A letter to Orissa CM
To
The Chief minister of Orissa
Copy to: The chief secretary of Orissa
Dear honorable Chief Minister Mr Patnaik,
I had the chance to go through the recent major state road proposed by
the state Government.
However, among them which was totally not addressed is a road
connectivity between Titlagarh and Raniguda via Jayapatna as per the
following route.
Titlagarh (Balangir dist) ? Ailabhatta (Balangir)- Kegaon (Kalahandi
dist)-Khaliakani-Dharamgarh (Kalahandi)? Moter ? Jayapatna
(Kalahandi)-Sunamal ? Tentulikhunti (Nabrangpur
dist)-Jagannathapur-Singpuru (Koraput dist)-Raniguda -Koraput
Following reasons made this road route urgent and important to be established.
(1) Kegaon region which is in the border to Kalahandi and Balangir
districts, is neither porperly linked with Kalahandi dist nor with
Balangir district. A bridge construction near Kegaon is required for
the proposed road route.
(2) Upper Indravati project in Mukhiguda/Jayapatna (being one of the
largest hydropower generating unit) needs a special road connectivity
with NH201 and with Nabarangpur and Koraput districts.
(3) Similalry Tentulikhunti region in Nabarangpur and Singpur region
in Koraput need better road connectivity due to cumbersome
infrastructure.
(4) KBK is a special region and improving infrastuture only will bring
development in the region.
(5) If the state Govt. take proper inititative, the proposed state
road project between Titlagarh and Raniguda could be easily
materialized through funding from WODC project, Biju KBK project,
national KBK project and NREG shceme and bring more development in
backward and tribal pocket of Odisha.
I urgue to immediately survey the above road route and declare this
route as a major state road through financial support from WODC, KBK &
Biju KBK projects and NREG scheme.
Thank you and kind regards
Digambara Patra
The Chief minister of Orissa
Copy to: The chief secretary of Orissa
Dear honorable Chief Minister Mr Patnaik,
I had the chance to go through the recent major state road proposed by
the state Government.
However, among them which was totally not addressed is a road
connectivity between Titlagarh and Raniguda via Jayapatna as per the
following route.
Titlagarh (Balangir dist) ? Ailabhatta (Balangir)- Kegaon (Kalahandi
dist)-Khaliakani-Dharamgarh (Kalahandi)? Moter ? Jayapatna
(Kalahandi)-Sunamal ? Tentulikhunti (Nabrangpur
dist)-Jagannathapur-Singpuru (Koraput dist)-Raniguda -Koraput
Following reasons made this road route urgent and important to be established.
(1) Kegaon region which is in the border to Kalahandi and Balangir
districts, is neither porperly linked with Kalahandi dist nor with
Balangir district. A bridge construction near Kegaon is required for
the proposed road route.
(2) Upper Indravati project in Mukhiguda/Jayapatna (being one of the
largest hydropower generating unit) needs a special road connectivity
with NH201 and with Nabarangpur and Koraput districts.
(3) Similalry Tentulikhunti region in Nabarangpur and Singpur region
in Koraput need better road connectivity due to cumbersome
infrastructure.
(4) KBK is a special region and improving infrastuture only will bring
development in the region.
(5) If the state Govt. take proper inititative, the proposed state
road project between Titlagarh and Raniguda could be easily
materialized through funding from WODC project, Biju KBK project,
national KBK project and NREG shceme and bring more development in
backward and tribal pocket of Odisha.
I urgue to immediately survey the above road route and declare this
route as a major state road through financial support from WODC, KBK &
Biju KBK projects and NREG scheme.
Thank you and kind regards
Digambara Patra
Letter to CM to speed up central university in KBK
Dear Chief Minister of Orissa,
Tamil Nadu Govt. has taken initiative on the second central university in the state, Tiruvarur Central University, to start functioning from this year.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/20/stories/2008062050140100.htm
It has also taken the initiative to allot land for another World Class Central University in Coimbatore.
However, Orissa Govt. has not taken any initiative for the other proposed central university in the state except for the world class central university at Bhubaneswar.
Instead recently state Government is establishing institutes like Engineering College, Medical colleges and universities solely funded by state Government in those regions which have already similar state Govt. funded institution.
Bhawanipatna is a right place to establish the other proposed central university as it has all necessary infrastructure.
(1) NH201 and NH217 pass through Bhawanipatna and connect all the major KBK towns and other major towns such as Berhampur, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Bhubaneswar in the state as well as with Raipur. In fact location of Bhawanipatna, one of the major towns in KBK, over NH201 is such that it equilibrates the distance between Malkangiri and Sonpur as well as between other two major towns Jeypore and Balangir.
http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/india_roadway_map.jpg
(2) Kesinga railway station is 25 kms from Bhawanipatna and is directly linked by railway to Bhawanipatna .
(3) Raipur airport is about 220 kms from Bhawanipatana and there is another aerodrome in Bhawanipatna which can be a regular airport in the future.
(4) KBK needs special attention for the solely government funded higher educational institute and Kalahandi is geographically the epicenter for all the KBK districts.
(5) Govt. Autonomous College Bhawanipatna which was awarded as the Potential Center of Excellence among 3 colleges in the very first year from Orissa by UGC has all the infrastructure to start a central university temporarily.
Tirivarur in Tamil Nadu is smaller than Bhawanipatna in regards to the population and has the similar infrastructure like that of Bhawanipatna. However, the Tamil Nadu Govt. is working hard to establish the other central university in that place for which the Tirivarur Central University is going to function from this academic year. Where as our state Govt. has little towards establishing the other central university in Bhawanipatna.
A long standing demand of fully Govt. funded institution in KBK has not yet been fulfilled, Kalahandi and Nuapada regions have been demanding a university since 1989, but our state Govt. has fulfilled many other demands like National Law School, Capital Medical College, Ravensha University, Engineering College in Berhampur, etc. recently in other parts of the state except similar demand in KBK.
Even for central Govt. funded central university the state Govt. has not taken initiative to establish in KBK, whereas similar central university is going to function from this year in other states.
I request you to take your action in this regard
Thank you and regards
Digambara Patra
Tamil Nadu Govt. has taken initiative on the second central university in the state, Tiruvarur Central University, to start functioning from this year.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/20/stories/2008062050140100.htm
It has also taken the initiative to allot land for another World Class Central University in Coimbatore.
However, Orissa Govt. has not taken any initiative for the other proposed central university in the state except for the world class central university at Bhubaneswar.
Instead recently state Government is establishing institutes like Engineering College, Medical colleges and universities solely funded by state Government in those regions which have already similar state Govt. funded institution.
Bhawanipatna is a right place to establish the other proposed central university as it has all necessary infrastructure.
(1) NH201 and NH217 pass through Bhawanipatna and connect all the major KBK towns and other major towns such as Berhampur, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Bhubaneswar in the state as well as with Raipur. In fact location of Bhawanipatna, one of the major towns in KBK, over NH201 is such that it equilibrates the distance between Malkangiri and Sonpur as well as between other two major towns Jeypore and Balangir.
http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/india_roadway_map.jpg
(2) Kesinga railway station is 25 kms from Bhawanipatna and is directly linked by railway to Bhawanipatna .
(3) Raipur airport is about 220 kms from Bhawanipatana and there is another aerodrome in Bhawanipatna which can be a regular airport in the future.
(4) KBK needs special attention for the solely government funded higher educational institute and Kalahandi is geographically the epicenter for all the KBK districts.
(5) Govt. Autonomous College Bhawanipatna which was awarded as the Potential Center of Excellence among 3 colleges in the very first year from Orissa by UGC has all the infrastructure to start a central university temporarily.
Tirivarur in Tamil Nadu is smaller than Bhawanipatna in regards to the population and has the similar infrastructure like that of Bhawanipatna. However, the Tamil Nadu Govt. is working hard to establish the other central university in that place for which the Tirivarur Central University is going to function from this academic year. Where as our state Govt. has little towards establishing the other central university in Bhawanipatna.
A long standing demand of fully Govt. funded institution in KBK has not yet been fulfilled, Kalahandi and Nuapada regions have been demanding a university since 1989, but our state Govt. has fulfilled many other demands like National Law School, Capital Medical College, Ravensha University, Engineering College in Berhampur, etc. recently in other parts of the state except similar demand in KBK.
Even for central Govt. funded central university the state Govt. has not taken initiative to establish in KBK, whereas similar central university is going to function from this year in other states.
I request you to take your action in this regard
Thank you and regards
Digambara Patra
Separate ministry demanded for KBK
The Statesman, June 24, 2008
Separate ministry demanded
Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, June 23: Former law minister and Congress legislator Mr Narasingha Mishra strongly pleaded for a separate ministry at the central level for tribal dominated districts and the KBK area like the north eastern states’ ministry. He said that these areas were still in acute distress and were proving a fertile ground for Naxalite operations.
"Creation of such a ministry will help in ensuring speedy development of the KBK area and Baster district of Chhatisgarh," he said before insisting that the proposed Central University and IIT ought to be established in the KBK region.
KBK districts of Orissa and Bastar district of Chhatisgarh are amongst the most backward areas of the country. Of the eight districts of KBK region, four have more than 50 per cent tribal population. Ninety per cent of the population live below poverty line, in Bolangir.
In his letter to AICC president Mrs Sonia Gandhi, he mentioned that barely three per cent of the land is irrigated, health care services are non-existent and more than 50 per cent of the posts of teachers and doctors are vacant.
Every year a lot of people migrate from these regions to other states in search of livelihood.
“Inspite of efforts like the KBK long term action plan and implementation of NREGA, there has been no material change in the distressed situation,” he said.
Urging upon Mrs Sonia Gandhi to consider formation of a separate ministry which could include 10 districts of Orissa and Bastar district of Chhatisgarh, Mr Mishra said: “the central government should also consider establishing the proposed central varsity either at Bolangir or any other place within the KBK districts”.
Separate ministry demanded
Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, June 23: Former law minister and Congress legislator Mr Narasingha Mishra strongly pleaded for a separate ministry at the central level for tribal dominated districts and the KBK area like the north eastern states’ ministry. He said that these areas were still in acute distress and were proving a fertile ground for Naxalite operations.
"Creation of such a ministry will help in ensuring speedy development of the KBK area and Baster district of Chhatisgarh," he said before insisting that the proposed Central University and IIT ought to be established in the KBK region.
KBK districts of Orissa and Bastar district of Chhatisgarh are amongst the most backward areas of the country. Of the eight districts of KBK region, four have more than 50 per cent tribal population. Ninety per cent of the population live below poverty line, in Bolangir.
In his letter to AICC president Mrs Sonia Gandhi, he mentioned that barely three per cent of the land is irrigated, health care services are non-existent and more than 50 per cent of the posts of teachers and doctors are vacant.
Every year a lot of people migrate from these regions to other states in search of livelihood.
“Inspite of efforts like the KBK long term action plan and implementation of NREGA, there has been no material change in the distressed situation,” he said.
Urging upon Mrs Sonia Gandhi to consider formation of a separate ministry which could include 10 districts of Orissa and Bastar district of Chhatisgarh, Mr Mishra said: “the central government should also consider establishing the proposed central varsity either at Bolangir or any other place within the KBK districts”.
Petition: Declare rail project in KBK as national project
Click here to sign the online petition
To: All
Sub:- Declare railway projects in multi-facet backward KBK and bordering regions in Chhatisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh as National Project in the Line of North Eastern States of India
To
The President of India
The Prime Minister of India
Copy to:
The Union Railway Minister
The Chief Minister of Orissa
The Chief Minister of Chhatisgarh
Planning Commission of India
Chairman, Indian Railway Board
Media
Dear honorable President and Prime minister of India,
Kalahandi-Balangir- Koraput (KBK) region in Orissa is a multi-facet backward region due to hilly backwardness, tribal populated backwardness and backward due to natural calamities.
Similar backward regions in India like North Eastern States have received special treatment by railway board where as KBK region has been neglected since decades. Even hilly region like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand have received special package in railway by Govt. of India. Unfortunately, KBK region where backwardness is multi-facet has not yet received similar treatment.
Naxal activities are predominantly high in the border between Orissa and Chhatisgarh/ Andhra Pradesh due to poor communication and infrastructure and recently it is spreading to other bordering and backward districts like Balangir, Nuapada and Kalahandi districts.
The railway infrastructure in Orissa and Chhatisgarh is substantially low compared to national average despite both the states are in the profit making zones, where as railway infrastructure in Bihar and West Bengal are remarkably high though they are in the loss making zones.
Ref: http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/maps/all_india.htm
East Coast zone and South Eastern zone (under which Orisss state comes) and South East Central zone (under which Chhatisgarh state comes) of Indian railways are among top most profit making zones and large amount profit made by Indian railway comes from the royalty by transporting coal, metals, ores, and minerals which Orissa and Chhatisgarh substantially contribute, however, Indian railway has ignored Orissa, specially KBK region, since decades.
Ref: http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/archives/489
Politically, Indian railway was being always misused by railway ministry and development in the important backward but profit making states like Orissa and Chhatisgarh was being marginalized.
For example, Khordha road – Balangir and Lanjigarh road – Junagarh railway lines in Orissa which were approved much earlier than Muzaffarpur – Sitamari and Sultangang-Deogarh railway lines in Bihar are still struggling to be accomplished, but other two lines in Bihar are completed by now.
Ref: http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/
During last 15 years, more railway lines were approved in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal (all of them comes under loss making zones) than Orissa and Chhatisgarh (both are in profit making zones). The lines accomplished in Orissa are solely due to mineral transportation for railway’s own interest unlike in those above states mentioned earlier.
In last 5 years Indian railway is establishing three railway plants in Bihar (loss making zone) and one in Kerala (another loss making zone), but none of the plants including the recently proposed power plant by Indian railway, was being established in Orissa or Chhatisgarh despite profit making zones and rich in coal. Such railway plant through Govt. initiative in multi-facet backward region like KBK is imminent for social development.
Since decades, funds allotted in the railway budgets to profit making zones like East Coast railway (ECOR) and South East Central railway (SECR) is lower/comparable as/to that of loss making zones like Eastern railway, North Eastern railway and Southern railway zones. The large amount of funds allotted to ECOR is towards mineral transportation and there was very little fund towards social need of the state.
We do not have any objection towards development of railway infrastructure in Bihar, West Bengal and any other states in India rather would like to see their well being, but we are totally against the marginalization of Indian railway towards backward state and region like Orissa, Chhatisgarh and KBK.
We propose Orissa and Chhatisgarh State Governments to give land free of cost for railway development in the backward region and Central Government of India to declare all the railway projects in KBK and bordering regions in Chhatisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh as national projects in the line of North Eastern states of India as soon as possible, and
(i) Accomplish immediately Khordha road – Balangir railway line to connect the KBK region with state capital
(ii) Approve Junagarh – Ambagura line proposed under extension of Lanjigarh road – Junagarh line
(iii) Approve Bargarh – Padampur - Nuapada road - Kantabanji – Khariar- Ampani-Navarangur- Jeypore – Makangiri – Kottagudem (Andhra Pradesh) new line in the backward region, which would help to monitor naxal acitivities by bringing development in the region
(iv) Carry out new survey and approve Rajim (Chhatisgarh) – Gariaband (Chhatisgarh) – Deobhog (Chhatisgahr) – Junagarh – Lanjigarh road – Simanbadi (Kandhamal) – Asika- Berhampur – Gopalpur line to directly connect Raipur with Gopalpur port passing through one of the most backward regions of India.
(v) Carry out new survey and approve Dhamtari (Chhatisgarh) – Umarrkote (Orissa) – Nabrangpur (Orissa) line, an alternative direct access to Gopalpur and Visakhapatnam ports from Raipur and other mining region in Chhatisgarh.
(vi) Carry out new survey and approve Simanbadi -Phulbani-Angul line to benefit NALCO by further reducing the distance between Damanjodi (Asia’s largest Alumina plant) and Angul and passing through tribal backward region.
Thank you and best regards
Click here to sign the online petition
To: All
Sub:- Declare railway projects in multi-facet backward KBK and bordering regions in Chhatisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh as National Project in the Line of North Eastern States of India
To
The President of India
The Prime Minister of India
Copy to:
The Union Railway Minister
The Chief Minister of Orissa
The Chief Minister of Chhatisgarh
Planning Commission of India
Chairman, Indian Railway Board
Media
Dear honorable President and Prime minister of India,
Kalahandi-Balangir- Koraput (KBK) region in Orissa is a multi-facet backward region due to hilly backwardness, tribal populated backwardness and backward due to natural calamities.
Similar backward regions in India like North Eastern States have received special treatment by railway board where as KBK region has been neglected since decades. Even hilly region like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand have received special package in railway by Govt. of India. Unfortunately, KBK region where backwardness is multi-facet has not yet received similar treatment.
Naxal activities are predominantly high in the border between Orissa and Chhatisgarh/ Andhra Pradesh due to poor communication and infrastructure and recently it is spreading to other bordering and backward districts like Balangir, Nuapada and Kalahandi districts.
The railway infrastructure in Orissa and Chhatisgarh is substantially low compared to national average despite both the states are in the profit making zones, where as railway infrastructure in Bihar and West Bengal are remarkably high though they are in the loss making zones.
Ref: http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/maps/all_india.htm
East Coast zone and South Eastern zone (under which Orisss state comes) and South East Central zone (under which Chhatisgarh state comes) of Indian railways are among top most profit making zones and large amount profit made by Indian railway comes from the royalty by transporting coal, metals, ores, and minerals which Orissa and Chhatisgarh substantially contribute, however, Indian railway has ignored Orissa, specially KBK region, since decades.
Ref: http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/archives/489
Politically, Indian railway was being always misused by railway ministry and development in the important backward but profit making states like Orissa and Chhatisgarh was being marginalized.
For example, Khordha road – Balangir and Lanjigarh road – Junagarh railway lines in Orissa which were approved much earlier than Muzaffarpur – Sitamari and Sultangang-Deogarh railway lines in Bihar are still struggling to be accomplished, but other two lines in Bihar are completed by now.
Ref: http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/
During last 15 years, more railway lines were approved in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal (all of them comes under loss making zones) than Orissa and Chhatisgarh (both are in profit making zones). The lines accomplished in Orissa are solely due to mineral transportation for railway’s own interest unlike in those above states mentioned earlier.
In last 5 years Indian railway is establishing three railway plants in Bihar (loss making zone) and one in Kerala (another loss making zone), but none of the plants including the recently proposed power plant by Indian railway, was being established in Orissa or Chhatisgarh despite profit making zones and rich in coal. Such railway plant through Govt. initiative in multi-facet backward region like KBK is imminent for social development.
Since decades, funds allotted in the railway budgets to profit making zones like East Coast railway (ECOR) and South East Central railway (SECR) is lower/comparable as/to that of loss making zones like Eastern railway, North Eastern railway and Southern railway zones. The large amount of funds allotted to ECOR is towards mineral transportation and there was very little fund towards social need of the state.
We do not have any objection towards development of railway infrastructure in Bihar, West Bengal and any other states in India rather would like to see their well being, but we are totally against the marginalization of Indian railway towards backward state and region like Orissa, Chhatisgarh and KBK.
We propose Orissa and Chhatisgarh State Governments to give land free of cost for railway development in the backward region and Central Government of India to declare all the railway projects in KBK and bordering regions in Chhatisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh as national projects in the line of North Eastern states of India as soon as possible, and
(i) Accomplish immediately Khordha road – Balangir railway line to connect the KBK region with state capital
(ii) Approve Junagarh – Ambagura line proposed under extension of Lanjigarh road – Junagarh line
(iii) Approve Bargarh – Padampur - Nuapada road - Kantabanji – Khariar- Ampani-Navarangur- Jeypore – Makangiri – Kottagudem (Andhra Pradesh) new line in the backward region, which would help to monitor naxal acitivities by bringing development in the region
(iv) Carry out new survey and approve Rajim (Chhatisgarh) – Gariaband (Chhatisgarh) – Deobhog (Chhatisgahr) – Junagarh – Lanjigarh road – Simanbadi (Kandhamal) – Asika- Berhampur – Gopalpur line to directly connect Raipur with Gopalpur port passing through one of the most backward regions of India.
(v) Carry out new survey and approve Dhamtari (Chhatisgarh) – Umarrkote (Orissa) – Nabrangpur (Orissa) line, an alternative direct access to Gopalpur and Visakhapatnam ports from Raipur and other mining region in Chhatisgarh.
(vi) Carry out new survey and approve Simanbadi -Phulbani-Angul line to benefit NALCO by further reducing the distance between Damanjodi (Asia’s largest Alumina plant) and Angul and passing through tribal backward region.
Thank you and best regards
Click here to sign the online petition
Sunday, June 15, 2008
A tottering lifeline
The New Indian Express, June 14, 2008
KORAPUT: Jolaput bridge, the lifeline of the people of Orissa and bordering villages of Andhra Pradesh awaits repair for the last two years. It was damaged after the release of Jolaput reservoir water in 2006.
For the residents of the two small project towns, the Orissa side called Right Flank (RF) and the AP side Left Flank (LF), the bridge is the only means of communication but in the absence of railings or parapet wall crossing the bridge, for many, is just impossible.
The 150-metre-long bridge was constructed 60 years back as a passage for the residents and traffic when the Machkund project was in progress. Unfortunately half of the bridge was washed away when the damē“ gates were opened in 2006.
Though the Machkund project is the oldest and the highest profit- making power sector for both the states, earning about Rs 100 crore per annum, the dilapidated bridge continues to be neglected. No government has shown interest in it.
The ITDA of Andhra Pradesh put some wooden logs on the damaged portion of the bridge. Many, fearing for their lives, prefer not to cross the weak structure.
A local resident Udaya Kumar said Oriya and Telugu students are the worst affected. The alternative dam route is far more dangerous, he said.
The two governments should hold talks on repairing the bridge, feel the locals. The residents have threatened to boycott the 2009 general elections if the bridge was not constructed immediately.
KORAPUT: Jolaput bridge, the lifeline of the people of Orissa and bordering villages of Andhra Pradesh awaits repair for the last two years. It was damaged after the release of Jolaput reservoir water in 2006.
For the residents of the two small project towns, the Orissa side called Right Flank (RF) and the AP side Left Flank (LF), the bridge is the only means of communication but in the absence of railings or parapet wall crossing the bridge, for many, is just impossible.
The 150-metre-long bridge was constructed 60 years back as a passage for the residents and traffic when the Machkund project was in progress. Unfortunately half of the bridge was washed away when the damē“ gates were opened in 2006.
Though the Machkund project is the oldest and the highest profit- making power sector for both the states, earning about Rs 100 crore per annum, the dilapidated bridge continues to be neglected. No government has shown interest in it.
The ITDA of Andhra Pradesh put some wooden logs on the damaged portion of the bridge. Many, fearing for their lives, prefer not to cross the weak structure.
A local resident Udaya Kumar said Oriya and Telugu students are the worst affected. The alternative dam route is far more dangerous, he said.
The two governments should hold talks on repairing the bridge, feel the locals. The residents have threatened to boycott the 2009 general elections if the bridge was not constructed immediately.
Next weekend you can be at ... Laxmipur
The Telegraph, June 15, 2008
Laxmipur is a hamlet in the hills in the wild western part of Orissa. It was unheard of by tourists even a decade back. The launch of the 160 km-plus Koraput-Rayagada line put it on the map of those willing to go off the beaten track.
The new line branches off the Kirandul-Visakhapatnam route through the Araku Valley, covering Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Chhattisgarh. The tracks were laid mainly for transportation of minerals mined in the region and development of tribals who populate the stretch.
The route, with numerous waterfalls and over 40 tunnels, is one of the most picturesque in the country. The 1.5-km tunnel near Tikri is the longest on broad gauge tracks in India. There are also more than 50 bridges.
At an altitude of 3,000 ft, Laxmipur is surrounded by thickly forested hills. The forest envelops even the station, which is 3 km from the village. It is deserted after evening, when wild animals often drop by.
According to the station master, a stray dog that lived in the compound was carried away by a leopard in front of his eyes. Bear, hyena, wild boar, neelgai, sambar and peacock are some of the other inhabitants of the forest.
Several streams gurgle through mango, jackfruit, mahogany, tamarind, sirish and akashmoni trees to merge with rivers like the Marbeguda, Apreboda and Godlam. There are several water bodies which are frequented by animals. Tribals constitute the only human presence.
Clouds stretching several kilometres hang over the hilltops from monsoon to winter. This has earned Laxmipur the epithet of Darjeeling of Orissa. Nights can be cold even in August-September.
Damonjodi, Kakrigumma, Tikri, Rauli, Lilligumma, Bhalamaska and Kentuguda are some of the stations near Laxmipur that are also known for their wild natural beauty.
The largest bauxite mine in India is at Damonjodi. Bhalamaska was named after bears that overrun the forest.
There are many places of tourist interest in the vicinity. Koraput, Kolaba, Gupteswar, Duduma and Chitrakoot and Tiratgarh falls are worth a visit.
Going
Howrah-Koraput Express touches Laxmipur. If you are staying at Rayagada, get off there. Cars are available on hire for the 60 km-plus journey to Laxmipur.
Staying
Rayagada and Koraput have plenty of hotels. Contact the divisional forest officers at Rayagada and Koraput for government-run accommodation. There are also a few lodges at Laxmipur, along the Rayagada-Koraput road.
Laxmipur is a hamlet in the hills in the wild western part of Orissa. It was unheard of by tourists even a decade back. The launch of the 160 km-plus Koraput-Rayagada line put it on the map of those willing to go off the beaten track.
The new line branches off the Kirandul-Visakhapatnam route through the Araku Valley, covering Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Chhattisgarh. The tracks were laid mainly for transportation of minerals mined in the region and development of tribals who populate the stretch.
The route, with numerous waterfalls and over 40 tunnels, is one of the most picturesque in the country. The 1.5-km tunnel near Tikri is the longest on broad gauge tracks in India. There are also more than 50 bridges.
At an altitude of 3,000 ft, Laxmipur is surrounded by thickly forested hills. The forest envelops even the station, which is 3 km from the village. It is deserted after evening, when wild animals often drop by.
According to the station master, a stray dog that lived in the compound was carried away by a leopard in front of his eyes. Bear, hyena, wild boar, neelgai, sambar and peacock are some of the other inhabitants of the forest.
Several streams gurgle through mango, jackfruit, mahogany, tamarind, sirish and akashmoni trees to merge with rivers like the Marbeguda, Apreboda and Godlam. There are several water bodies which are frequented by animals. Tribals constitute the only human presence.
Clouds stretching several kilometres hang over the hilltops from monsoon to winter. This has earned Laxmipur the epithet of Darjeeling of Orissa. Nights can be cold even in August-September.
Damonjodi, Kakrigumma, Tikri, Rauli, Lilligumma, Bhalamaska and Kentuguda are some of the stations near Laxmipur that are also known for their wild natural beauty.
The largest bauxite mine in India is at Damonjodi. Bhalamaska was named after bears that overrun the forest.
There are many places of tourist interest in the vicinity. Koraput, Kolaba, Gupteswar, Duduma and Chitrakoot and Tiratgarh falls are worth a visit.
Going
Howrah-Koraput Express touches Laxmipur. If you are staying at Rayagada, get off there. Cars are available on hire for the 60 km-plus journey to Laxmipur.
Staying
Rayagada and Koraput have plenty of hotels. Contact the divisional forest officers at Rayagada and Koraput for government-run accommodation. There are also a few lodges at Laxmipur, along the Rayagada-Koraput road.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Public protest for delaying Khordha-Balangir railway
Prafulla Kar speaking about Swabhiman and Satkodi Hota looks on
Satkodi Hota, Prafulla Kar and Sibaji Pattnaik at Khurdha meeting
The audience at Khurdha meetin
Source: Er Lalit Patnaik
Friday, June 6, 2008
Unimaginable ignorance towards KBKK in higher education by Odisha State Government
Dear Chief Minister, Intellectuals and Journalists of Odisha,
Father bought a sophisticated toy and gifted it to the elder son who knew how to play with it. Looking at that the, younger son, who had the capability to learn but did not know how to play with it, started crying. Noticing it the mother immediately put a Rasagola into his(younger son's) mouth to shut him up. The youngest son was in awe without understanding anything till the end.
In this daily routine of a middle class family, the role played by central and Odisha state governments are like that of the father and the mother and that Bhubaneswar, Berhampur and KBK regions are the respective elder, younger and youngest sons.
The central Government announced an IIT for Odisha and people around Berhampur wanted to establish it in their region, which is all right.
Nonetheless, consistent persuasion of central Govt. and policy makers to have an airport in the vicinity of IIT, the dream of Berhampur region started getting marginalized. Taking into notice the frustration of CM's home district, the state Govt. immediately announced an engineering college in Berhampur opening the Pandora box of the beloved state.
If the state Govt. wanted to establish a new engineering college, it's a very welcome decision. However, it should reflect the practical and social requirements for the whole state.
Except undivided Kalahandi, Balangir, Koraput and Kandhamal (KBKK)districts in Odisha, rest of the undivided districts have at least one government institutions solely funded by state Government like a state university, engineering college, medical college or agriculture college. For many of them second institution through PPP or state Govt. funded are under consideration and few of them are lucky to have 3 government institutions funded completely by the state government.
What these poor undivided KBKK districts did to the Odisha state Government that their demands always fall into deaf ears?
Secondly, state Govt. is not getting enough funds to establish a new state Govt. institute in other parts of Odisha, therefore, it is encouraging private parties to participate through PPP to build higher educational institutes importantly in KBK districts, and none of them have succeeded so far. Then suddenly the same state Govt. is able to announce new Govt. Engineering College in Berhampur ignoring KBKK districts, does not it sound funny?
Are our policy makers mad reasoning PPP mode institutions in Koraput/Balangir and complete state Govt. funded institution in Bhubaneswar/Berhampur?
I am not saying Berhampur does not deserve a state Govt. engineering institute which is like saying Punjab did not deserve an IIT. However, the timing, location and political bargaining have made the present situation so easier that any intellectual could easily realize the ignorance towards KBKK districts by state Govt. is unimaginable and deeply shameful.
If the state Government needed to establish an Engineering institute in South Odisha, wasn't Koraput more suitable choice to satisfy every aspect, or, south Odisha means people of Berhampur and framers of Ganjam district only?
Engineering colleges in smaller towns such as Gunpur (private), Pralakhemundi (private), Sarang (state Govt.) etc are being very much successfully run in Odisha. Amazingly, why can't Koraput/Jeypore, Bhawanipatna, Balangir, or Phulbani, those are considered as major towns in Odisha representing major chunks of regions, make for an engineering institute?
Is it the reason our CM wanted to establish a new engineering college in his home district like our HRD minister and Prime minister tried and exposed them-selves to the whole nation?
Berhampur already has a state university, medical college and a diploma engineering college solely funded by the state Government and there are also few good private engineering institutes in its vicinity.
Do we mean the farmer and economically weaker sections in Berhampur region deserves more a state Govt. engineering institute than the same sections in Koraput, Bhawanipatna, Balangir or Phulbani regions?
Before taking the decision hurriedly, it should have been practical to bring regional balance to all regions regarding solely state funded Governmental institutes to every region in Odisha.
If the state Govt. feels KBKK is only for backwardness and poverty, it's a shame to the state and its people. Balangir, Kalahandi, Nabrangpur regions are top districts in rice production (Balangir and Kalahandi are among top 3). In industries too KBK is not that backward while contributing to her mother state, such as hydroelectricity project like Upper Kolab, Upper Indravati, Balimela, Machhakund,
Duduma etc., aluminium mining and projects in Damonjodi, Rayagada, Lanjigarh, etc, and ferro silicon industries in Rayagada, Koraput etc, in addition to supplying forest resources mainly Kendu leaves, Mahul, bamboos and woods; all of them are equally contributing to the state/nation.
It's the step motherly attitude and ignorance of the state Govt. which is making KBKK more backward.
Is it not the role of the state Government to equalize every region of the state, so that each of them would feel confident and equally participate in state's overall development?
Instead of doing that the state Government is acting like a mother who knows the trick to put a Rasagola into the mouth of those crying children to appease them each time they create a hue and cry about such a situation.
Thank you and best regards
Sincerely
Digambara Patra
American University of Beirut
Lebanon
Father bought a sophisticated toy and gifted it to the elder son who knew how to play with it. Looking at that the, younger son, who had the capability to learn but did not know how to play with it, started crying. Noticing it the mother immediately put a Rasagola into his(younger son's) mouth to shut him up. The youngest son was in awe without understanding anything till the end.
In this daily routine of a middle class family, the role played by central and Odisha state governments are like that of the father and the mother and that Bhubaneswar, Berhampur and KBK regions are the respective elder, younger and youngest sons.
The central Government announced an IIT for Odisha and people around Berhampur wanted to establish it in their region, which is all right.
Nonetheless, consistent persuasion of central Govt. and policy makers to have an airport in the vicinity of IIT, the dream of Berhampur region started getting marginalized. Taking into notice the frustration of CM's home district, the state Govt. immediately announced an engineering college in Berhampur opening the Pandora box of the beloved state.
If the state Govt. wanted to establish a new engineering college, it's a very welcome decision. However, it should reflect the practical and social requirements for the whole state.
Except undivided Kalahandi, Balangir, Koraput and Kandhamal (KBKK)districts in Odisha, rest of the undivided districts have at least one government institutions solely funded by state Government like a state university, engineering college, medical college or agriculture college. For many of them second institution through PPP or state Govt. funded are under consideration and few of them are lucky to have 3 government institutions funded completely by the state government.
What these poor undivided KBKK districts did to the Odisha state Government that their demands always fall into deaf ears?
Secondly, state Govt. is not getting enough funds to establish a new state Govt. institute in other parts of Odisha, therefore, it is encouraging private parties to participate through PPP to build higher educational institutes importantly in KBK districts, and none of them have succeeded so far. Then suddenly the same state Govt. is able to announce new Govt. Engineering College in Berhampur ignoring KBKK districts, does not it sound funny?
Are our policy makers mad reasoning PPP mode institutions in Koraput/Balangir and complete state Govt. funded institution in Bhubaneswar/Berhampur?
I am not saying Berhampur does not deserve a state Govt. engineering institute which is like saying Punjab did not deserve an IIT. However, the timing, location and political bargaining have made the present situation so easier that any intellectual could easily realize the ignorance towards KBKK districts by state Govt. is unimaginable and deeply shameful.
If the state Government needed to establish an Engineering institute in South Odisha, wasn't Koraput more suitable choice to satisfy every aspect, or, south Odisha means people of Berhampur and framers of Ganjam district only?
Engineering colleges in smaller towns such as Gunpur (private), Pralakhemundi (private), Sarang (state Govt.) etc are being very much successfully run in Odisha. Amazingly, why can't Koraput/Jeypore, Bhawanipatna, Balangir, or Phulbani, those are considered as major towns in Odisha representing major chunks of regions, make for an engineering institute?
Is it the reason our CM wanted to establish a new engineering college in his home district like our HRD minister and Prime minister tried and exposed them-selves to the whole nation?
Berhampur already has a state university, medical college and a diploma engineering college solely funded by the state Government and there are also few good private engineering institutes in its vicinity.
Do we mean the farmer and economically weaker sections in Berhampur region deserves more a state Govt. engineering institute than the same sections in Koraput, Bhawanipatna, Balangir or Phulbani regions?
Before taking the decision hurriedly, it should have been practical to bring regional balance to all regions regarding solely state funded Governmental institutes to every region in Odisha.
If the state Govt. feels KBKK is only for backwardness and poverty, it's a shame to the state and its people. Balangir, Kalahandi, Nabrangpur regions are top districts in rice production (Balangir and Kalahandi are among top 3). In industries too KBK is not that backward while contributing to her mother state, such as hydroelectricity project like Upper Kolab, Upper Indravati, Balimela, Machhakund,
Duduma etc., aluminium mining and projects in Damonjodi, Rayagada, Lanjigarh, etc, and ferro silicon industries in Rayagada, Koraput etc, in addition to supplying forest resources mainly Kendu leaves, Mahul, bamboos and woods; all of them are equally contributing to the state/nation.
It's the step motherly attitude and ignorance of the state Govt. which is making KBKK more backward.
Is it not the role of the state Government to equalize every region of the state, so that each of them would feel confident and equally participate in state's overall development?
Instead of doing that the state Government is acting like a mother who knows the trick to put a Rasagola into the mouth of those crying children to appease them each time they create a hue and cry about such a situation.
Thank you and best regards
Sincerely
Digambara Patra
American University of Beirut
Lebanon
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
