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.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
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.
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