Top anti-Posco leader Abhay Sahu arrested

The police on Friday arrested top anti-Posco leader Abhay Sahu for his alleged involvement in several cases. Sahu, president of Posco Pratirodh Samgram Samiti (PPSS), spearheading agitation against the
proposed $12 billion steel plant by the South Korean steel major Posco in Jagatsinghpur district, was
arrested in the evening near Nuapokhari village near Ersama in the district, about 20 km from paradip.

Jagatsinghpur district police SP Devdutta Singh said: "Sahu was arrested for his involvement in several cases including tampering evidence in a dowry death case and atrocity against Scheduled Caste persons."

The PPSS condemned the arrest and described it as a conspiracy to suppress the movement Posco. "The state government thinks by arresting Sahu it can weaken the movement. They are wrong as they could not suppress it last time when Sahu was arrested in 2008," said Prasant Paikray, spokesperson of PPSS.

Universal Brotherhood and the Temple of Lord Jagannath at Paradip

BY: PRABHAT KUMAR NANDA

Chaturdha Deities at Jagannath Temple, Paradip

Apr 24, 2011 — JAGATSINGHPUR, ORISSA (SUN) — Paradip Port has specific importance from cultural and religious point of view. As per the religious history of the area, famous monk, Parashar was directed to meditate at the confluence point of river Mahanadi. Bay of Bengal of today was popularly known as Kalinga Sagar from the period Before Christ. There was dense mangrove forest around the confluence point of river Mahanadi and Kalinga Sagar. The name of the area was considered Paradip after the name of monk Parashar. In public parlance, the name "Paradweep" was transferred to " Paradip".

According to literary analysis there cannot be any meaning to "Paradip". In ancient times the place was called as Paradweep, i.e., the island of virtues or sacred importance. The meaning of the word "para" is celestial and religious. Island is called "dweep" in Oriya. Hence, as far as geographical situation is concerned, the port of Paradip is situated as an island being covered by the Bay of Bengal, River Mahanadi and River Atharbanki. As per the cultural heritage of the above island, it is justified to name it as a sacred island, i.e. Paradweep. In most of the ancient navigational charts prepared by English, Portuguese and Dutch mariners the name of the Port has been reflected as Paradweep. In the 21st Century Paradip Port is well known as an established major sea port of the world. The Port has achieved the glory as a developing deep sea port. [ ]

Before the construction of a major port, Paradip was a famous religious place. A number of local fishermen were using the River Atharbanki for catching fish to meet their livelihood. The age old saying continues in the area that fishermen could hear chanting of religious songs from the dense forests of Paradip. Of many occasions fishermen in groups ventured to enter into the forest to know about the source of such chanting, but they failed to find out the particular place of such chanting of religious songs. Hence, it was believed that such celestial continuous chanting of religious verses were the act of God, fostering the age old importance of the area. This area of Paradip is popularly known as Madhuban.

Pandit Padma Charan Tripathy, one of the ardent devotees of Goddess Sarala, was directed in his dreams to select Madhuban for the construction of a Jagannath Temple. As per the divine instructions through the dream, Sri Padma Charan Tripathy with the assistance of Ananta Ojha, Gopal Baba, Gopi Baba and other devotees, searched for the appropriate sight in the dense forest of Madhuban. During the searching of the site, a wonderful scene came to their sight. A falcon was attempting to attack a crow. The crow could overpower the falcon and the falcon fled away, being afraid of the crow. Observing this scene, Pt. Padma Charan Tripathy and his associates could observe the holiness of the site. It was also observed that a big cobra appeared under a Peepal tree and started hissing in order to draw the attention of Pt. Tripathy and others. The site was full of medicinal plants. Pt. Tripathy and others selected the site for the construction of the Jagannath Temple.

Pt. Padma Charan Tripathy organized religious function (yagna) from 25th April to 19th of May 1974. Fifty-one Vedic scholars offered 35,000 offerings with ghee (ahuti). Prior to selection of the site in the year 1969, devotee Ananta Ojha took the pivotal role in searching out a neem tree for the construction of the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Sudarsana. A neem tree was worshipped by the people of Paradip Gada, the area at a distance of 15 kilometers from Paradip. The neem tree was in the orchard of Sri Narahari Sahoo at Paradip Gada. Devotee Ananta Ojha, Sanket Das and Gopi Baba could observe the holy signs of Sankha, Chakra, Gada and Padma (conch shell, wheel, bludgeon and lotus) on the trunk of the neem tree. The tree was cut observing holy practices and was kept at Patrika Mahal of Paradip. Gopal Baba constructed the idols within 15 days. In the year 1967, the construction of the idols continued from Chitalagi Amabasya to the day of Purnima.

In the year 1972, an organization named Jagannath Samaj was formed and the Endowment Commissioner of Govt. of Orissa included the temple in their index in the year 1974. The index number was 6388/31 of 1972-73. On the holy day of Akhyaya Trutiya, 1974, the Deities were installed in a thatched house. Pt. Padma Charan Tripathy invited navi padma (spiritual soul) to enter into all the idols.

Sri Premananda Tripathy, one of the celebrated Indian Administrative Service Officers of Orissa, was appointed as the Chairman of Paradip Port Trust and constructed a black top road from Paradip colony to the temple site. Govt. of Orissa reserved 5 acres of land in the village Sandhakuda for the use by Jagannath Temple Trust, for the construction of the temple and other religious activities.

The permanent temple of Lord Jagannath was constructed by the side of the thatched house/temple in the year 1982. Mark Yaswant Rao, one of the members of the Indian Administrative Service posted at Paradip, as the Chairman of Paradip Port Trus, took the pivotal role for the construction of the permanent temple. He was Christian by religion. He permitted Jagannath Samaj to use the auditorium of Paradip Port Trust named as Jayadev Sadan for the display of the films on payment of nominal rent to the Port Trust. The funds generated from such film show by selling tickets were utilized for the construction of the main temple. The construction of the permanent temple were started on the day of Akhaya Trutiya of 1984. Twenty-one scholars of Mukti Mandap Sabha (the platform of scholars) of Puri under the guidance of Pt. Chintamani Mishra organized Yagnya and the construction of the temple was initiated.

The construction of the temple took six years and it was completed in the year 1990. Sri Prasanna Kumar Mishra, another member of Indian Administrative Service posted as Chairman of Paradip Port Trust, commissioned the temple on the sacred day of Akhaya Trutiya i.e. 27th April 1990. All the Deities were brought to the new temple by procession on that date. Prior to it, another saint, Swami Arupananda, organized a week-long Yagnya from 21st to 27th April, 1990. Gajapati Maharaja of Puri was present during the Yagnya.

After the construction of the main temple in a two storeyed architectural style, the construction of other temples i.e. Radha Krishna temple, Biswanath temple, Sarala temple, Laxmi temple, Hanuman temple, Bimala temple, and Kalki Ananta temple were initiated with the assistance of different devotees.

Snana Mandap, the platform for the bathing ceremony of the Deities; Ananda Bazaar, platform for the community dining, and Bata Ganesh temple were also constructed by different devotees. Different temples within the premises of Jagannath temple were constructed by the united efforts of different devotees and Paradip Port Authority.

Sri Jagannath Temple, Paradip

On careful analysis of systems, practices and rites observed in the main Jagannath Temple at Puri and at Paradip, a number of differences have been noticed. Only orthodox Hindus are allowed to enter into the temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri, whereas people of all religions, castes and creeds are permitted to enter the temple of Lord Jagannath at Paradip. It is beyond dispute that the name of Lord Jagannath symbolizes the Lord of the Universe. Lord Jagannath is the saviour of all the creatures of the world, people of all castes, creeds and religions. Since He is the master of the world and considering the importance of the Name of the Lord, nobody of the world should be denied to enter the temple of Lord Jagannath.

The other name of Lord Jagannath is Patita Pavan. The down-trodden people of any society are known as patita. The status of down-trodden is not limited to Hindus, Muslims or Christians. Any human being suffering from distress under the sun is considered down-trodden. Hence they are named as Patita. Since Lord Jagannath is the saviour of all the down-trodden people of the world, anybody interested to visit the temple should not be restricted or denied considering His nomenclature.

Sarba Dharma Samanwaya Sthambha

Not only people of all religions are allowed to enter the temple of Lord Jagannath at Paradip, but also symbols of important religions are prominently displayed on the eight facets of a pillar named as Sarba Dharma Samanwaya Sthambha, i.e. the Pillar of the Assimilation of All Religions. As that of the presence of Aruna Stambha before the temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri, Sarba Dharma Samanwaya Sthambha is commissioned in front of 22 steps of Lord Jagannath Temple at Paradip. Symbols of different religions are on the top of the pillar made of black granite stone, an attraction for all devotees at Paradip. A circular figure has been placed on the top of the pillar having the symbol of Om in the middle. The symbol Om depicts Sanatana Dharma, i.e. the religion of eternity. On the outer layer of the circle symbols of Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism and Jainism have been decorated. Hence in public, the temple of Lord Jagannath, Paradip, enunciates the glory of the assimilation of all religions of the world into the cult of Lord Jagannath.

Kalki and Ananta in Kalki Temple, Paradip

The third differentiation which attracts the sight of devotees is the presence of Lord Kalki and Ananta in the temple premises. It has been established that the 10th incarnation of Lord Jagannath will be Kalki. In Kali Yuga, Lord Jagannath will have the incarnation of Kalki to eliminate vices and to establish the virtues in the human society. The flag of blue and white colour has been placed on the Kalki Temple as per the prediction in Malika, i.e. writing of saints for the future of the world. It is mentioned in Malikathat when there will be the flying of a blue and white flag on the temple, the action of the incarnation of Kalki will be initiated in the world. In no other Jagannath temple of the world have the idols of Kalki and Ananta been commissioned as per the verses of Malika.

A number of religious signs are observed within a distance of 15 kilometers of the Paradip Port. Lokanath Temple at Paradip Gada depicts the union of Hindu and Buddhist culture. A place named Udayabata has been narrated in Malika as one of the important places of religious awakening. It is mentioned in the Malika that, near Udayabata, there will be emergence of sacred activities (lila). Devotees from all over the world will assemble near Udayabata and will engage themselves in the devotion of God.

Taking all nearby places of Udayabata into consideration, Paradip Port is the most important place and scholars have predicted that the future telling of Malika about the emergence of the Kalki Avatara will start from the Port of Paradip. Considering the facility of communication, people from all over the world can safely and easily come to the Port of Paradip by all modes of transport, i.e. road, air and sea. As a major Port, large vessels requiring deep draft to sail can easily enter the Port of Paradip carrying thousands of passengers.

The popularization of the philosophy of Lord Jagannath is the main motto of Jagannath Samaj. While other temple authorities have preferred to run buses or commercial establishments for the generation of the fund for the temple, Pt. Padma Charan Tripathy, the founder of the temple, preferred for commissioning a printing press for the publication of literature at low cost for distribution to the people of the world. The Jagannath Temple Printing Press is continuing within the premises of the temple.

Two publications named Udayantu are published every year during the Car festival (month of July) and Kartika Purnima (month of November), with the compilation of essays contributed by scholars on different aspects of Jagannath culture. Such publication of about 200 pages are made available to the general public at the reduced price of Rs.5 each. Articles in Oriya, Hindi and English are published in Udayantu, facilitating readers of different languages to go through the articles.

The age old blind belief, i.e. chanting of vulgar language by Dahukas (persons directing the movement of the chariot during car festival) was stopped at Paradip from the year 1994. Ladies of Paradip insisted on the withdrawal of such practice in order to keep the glory of feminine sentiment. A book consisting of 100 verses based on local culture was published by Jagannath Samaj for the use by Dahukas in place of vulgar enunciation. Such book as Rath Yatra Boli was sent to all the temples of Lord Jagannath in India and abroad.

Paradip Sakhyarata Samiti further published another book, Ho Bhagate, consisting of verses based on local traditions of Orissa. At the request of Paradip Sakhayarata Samiti, an organization established for the promotion of social awareness, the Jagannath Trust authorities of Puri issued an order in the year 1998 prohibiting the enunciation of vulgar language in the chanting of Dahukas during the car festival.

The culture of Lord Jagannath is based on universal brotherhood fostering the dignity of humanity, which is known as Purosottama-tattva. Such essence of the culture of Lord Jagannath has been put to practice in the activities of the temple of Lord Jagannath at Paradip. The Port of Paradip has secured a prominent position in the world map of trade and commerce along with the promotion of the culture of Lord Jagannath and international brotherhood.

Prabhat Kumar Nanda is the Vice President of Sri Jagannath Samaj, Paradip, Jagatsinghpur. 

Source: Orissa Review.

Orissa agriculture minister Damodar Rout resigns

May 9 (PTI) Bhubaneswar, Amid speculations about a possible ministry reshuffle in Orissa, agriculture minister Damodar Rout today resigned after being asked by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to do so.
“I was asked to resign as minister and accordingly I sent my resignation letter to the chief minister,” said Rout, who was embroiled in a controversy for alleged casteist remarks made by him last year.
Though a few other ministers were also believed to have been asked to put in their papers apparently as part of the process for a reshuffle, it could not be officially confirmed.
Rout came under flak for allegedly making certain remarks about dalit leaders – Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhu Tarai and MLA B C Das besides some officials at a meeting in Jagatsinghpur district in August 2010, sources said.

Jagatsinghpur SP appears before caste panel

BHUBANESWAR: Jagatsinghpur superintendent of police S Debadutt Singh appeared the National Commission for Scheduled Castes in New Delhi in relation to a case against Paradeep MLA and senior BJD leader Damodar Rout for allegedly using the word 'Harijan'.

"I apprised the commission about the case and the progress of investigation," Singh told TOI over phone. "I told the commission that investigation would be expedited. I believe the commission was satisfied," he added.

The complainant, Manoj Kumar Bhoi, too, appeared before the commission and sought expeditious disposal of the case.

Bhoi had lodged a case against Rout, then agriculture minister, at Kujang police station on August 21, 2010, for allegedly uttering the word Harijan' at in a public meeting while referring to a particular group of persons. Rout had allegedly made anti-Dalit remarks against Jagatsinghpur MLA Bishnu Das, Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhu Prasad Tarei and additional district magistrate, of Jagatsinghpur, Upendra Mallick, triggering protests from scheduled caste groups.

Rout has repeatedly denied the allegations, maintaining he had not used the word in a derogatory manner.

In April, senior BJD leader and ex-minister Bishnu Das had met National Commission for SC chairman P L Punia and sought action against his arch-rival Rout for using the word "Harijan". Though partymates, Das and Rout have been at loggerheads since long. Das belongs to the SC community. 
sourced from The Times of  India 

jairam ramesh

Forecast station waits for upgrade

MANOJ KAR

Paradip, April 27: Stalemate persists over the much-awaited Doppler project in Paradip.

Commissioning of the Doppler radar project for generation of foolproof weather data, especially regarding advance information about cyclones, storms and cloudbursts, is going to be further delayed. The procurement of indigenous brand of radar has emerged as a stumbling block for the project. Incidentally, the Rs 24crore project was scheduled to get operational by December 31 this year.

Earlier, the defence ministry had put brakes on the installation of the China-made Doppler system. The ministry had sought for its replacement with indigenously manufactured radar on the grounds of national security.

“We have been officially told that the Doppler system, manufactured by the government-run Bharat Electronics Limited, would be installed in Paradip. We are expecting its arrival shortly,” said Sarat Kumar Sahu, state director of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

From routine temperature predictions to chasing mighty storms, the Doppler station would meticulously predict adverse weather conditions in advance. The system would have a digital image of the weather condition of a particular region, thus projecting a clear and accurate weather forecast.

“The Doppler radar station would be of use to the natural calamity-prone Orissa coast as it would make accurate forecasts about the changing weather patterns, cyclones, storms and cloudbursts,” said Sahu.

“The China-made Doppler radar system is still in our possession. After the Union defence ministry directed us not to install the China-made equipment, it is now under lock and key and has not been put to use. The building and other infrastructure are ready for launching the state-of-the-art weather station. We are yet to be provided with the indigenous Doppler system,” said Sahu.

“Since the radar meant for the Paradip meteorology wing is manufactured in China, security concerns have been raised by the defence ministry. It was apprehended that the in-built chips in the radar might help pass on vital information to the manufacturing country,” Sahu said.

The Doppler radar station in Mumbai had faced similar defence-related problems in using the China-made radar equipment. However, now it has become operational with the installation of an indigenously built Doppler system.

At present, the meteorology station in Paradip is equipped with a less improvised analogous radar system.

(sourced from the telegraph)

Waste project locked in land tangle - Piled up garbage leads to pollution and unhygienic conditions in Paradip

MANOJ KAR

GARBAGE DUMPED NEAR BANGALIPADA WASTELAND ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF PARADIP. TELEGRAPH PICTURE Paradip, April 21: The World Bank funded solid waste management project under the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme (ICZM) in Paradip is locked in a land tangle. The Rs 16 crore project requires 22 acres of compact patch of land within the port town. However, the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) is hit by scarcity of land for its infrastructure expansion programme. The port town still goes without an urban solid waste management and treatment system with accumulated solid wastes sparking off pollution and unhygienic condition. Huge volume of solid waste that is generated everyday is being disposed off in a dumpyard on outskirts of the township. As mechanism to waste treatment is absent, its hazardous effect is largely felt in some localities near the dumpyard in Bangalipada. “The project is of great significance to a growing industrial township like Paradip. According to the project, the state-of-the-art solid waste treatment plant would be installed to treat and process waste and garbage in a modernised technology,” executive officer of the Paradip Municipality Surath Mallick. “We have identified the suitable land patch at Kansaripatia within the municipality area. The land is owned by the PPT. The port trust authorities have been requested to hand over it so that the much-needed project could be implemented at the earliest,” Mallick said. “The PPT is suffering from acute scarcity of land. Owing to the port’s infrastructure development, we badly require more government land. We have written to the state government for providing us with more land as we are planning to relocate the township to a new place,” said said secretary of the PPT Pravat Kumar Nanda. “However, still we are looking forward to allotting land to the municipality so that the waste management project could be implemented,” Nanda added Everyday, 48 metric tonnes of solid waste and garbage are generated from the municipality jurisdiction. As the enormous quantity of solid waste is getting deposited, there is a need to treat and process it to maintain hygiene. However, the ground reality remains on the contrary. The filth and garbage fill the air with stench smell. Moreover, the dumpyard has turned into a congenial breeding ground for mosquitoes. Paradip, April 21: The World Bank funded solid waste management project under Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme (ICZM) in Paradip town is locked in a land tangle. Rs 16 crore worth ICZM project is in requirement of 22 acre stretch of land within the port town. But the root of the problem is that Paradip port trust is hit by severe dearth of land for its infrastructure expansion programme. There is hardly the availability of land within the port town for execution of such ambitious World Bank project. The bustling port town still goes without an urban solid waste management and treatment system with accumulated solid wastes sparking off pollution and unhygienic environment. Huge volume of solid waste that is being generated everyday from the port town is presently being disposed off in a dump yard on the outskirts of the port township. As mechanism to treat the wastes is conspicuous by its absence, it’s hazardous effect is largely felt in sum localities, located nearby the dumping yard near Bangalipada. “The project is of great significance to a growing industrial township like Paradip. As per the ICZM project, the state-of-the-art solid waste treatment plant would be installed to treat and process the waste and garbage in a modernised technology” Surath Mallick, Executive Officer, Paradip Municipality. The project is in requirement of at least 22 acre stretch of compact patch of land. We have identified the suitable land patch at Kansaripatia within the municipality. The said land is owned by PPT. The Port trust authorities have been requested to hand over the same so that the much-needed project could be implemented at the earliest, Mallick, municipality executive officer maintained. “The PPT is in acute scarcity of land. For infrastructure development of the port, we badly require more government land. We wrote to the state government for providing us with more land as we are planning to relocate the existing port township to a new place. Still we are planning to allot land to the municipality as the solid waste management project is an important national coastal management programme”, observed Pravat Kumar Nanda, Secretary, PPT. Everyday, 48 metric ton of solid wastes and garbage is being generated from the municipality jurisdiction. As enormous quantity of solid wastes is getting deposited every day, there is the need to treat and process it for maintenance of hygiene in the port town. But the ground reality remains on the contrary. The filth and garbage fills the air with stench smell. Besides the dumping yard has turned into a congenial breeding ground for mosquitoes. (sourced from the telegraph)

Jumbos forced to beg on Paradip streets - Mahouts from Bihar remain ignorant of wildlife laws, drive their pets in Orissa during summer

MANOJ KAR

A mahout drives his pet elephant to street begging on NH-5 (A). The jumbo extorts crews of cargo-laden trucks stranded at the highway. Telegraph picture

Paradip, April 18: Hordes of pet elephants from Bihar have turned into itinerant street beggar in Paradip, thanks to their ignorant mahouts.

The jumbos are extorting crews of ore-laden trucks stranded on NH-5 (A).

As per the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, using elephants to beg on streets is a punishable offence. Moreover, the mahouts by exposing the jumbos to stride on tar roads amid scorching heat are committing an offence under the prevention of cruelty to the Animals Act. However, forest personnel have shied away from booking the offending mahouts. Earlier, mahouts from Uttar Pradesh were arrested for putting to use their pet elephants for street begging. But the move backfired as the animal had stopped taking food, as if to protest against its master’s arrest. The starving elephant had forced the forest officials to pray before the local court for bailing out of the arrested mahout.

“The mahouts are in possession of valid permission from the concerned state’s forest department for animals’ seasonal migration to Orissa. But they are breaking law by forcing the pets to street begging. Keeping in view the past incidents, we are yet to arrest the mahouts under legal provisions,” said Manoj Kumar Mahapatra, divisional forest officer (DFO) of the Rajnagar Mangrove (Wildlife) Forest Division.

“Forest officer of the Kujang forest range has inspected one of the male itinerant elephant and found out the animal healthy. But, the mahout is breaking law by using the elephant for street begging. Unless he mends his ways, we will be forced to arrest him under the wildlife law,” said Mahapatra.

Owner of the tusker Sambhu Kumar from Gaya was caught unaware of the wildlife laws. “I have got six month’s permit to take the pet to Orissa. During summer, we fall short of water and leaves to feed the animal. That’s why we migrate to Orissa every year. People here love and pay respect to the elephants. Most people in rural Orissa bow their head to the elephant and offer things such as, grains and bananas. Some of them donate money also. My elephant requires a minimum of 300 to 400 litres of water a day during the summer. There is ample source of water in Orissa than in Bihar,” said Kumar.

“In our state there are hundreds of captive elephants under private ownership and duly permitted by the state forest department. We never abuse and ill-treat our pets,” he said.

“Elephants born and brought up in captivity never adapts to natural habitats. That’s why official permission for private ownership of pet jumbos is given despite the fact that the animal is accorded the Schedule-1 security status under the Wildlife Protection Act with strict conditions. By violating the conditions, pet elephants are forced by their owners to live and work in inhospitable urban environment. The owner or handler makes money by forcing the elephants to perform tricks for people’s entertainment. Moreover, the animals are rampantly used in street begging,” said wildlife activist Bijoy Kumar Kabi.

(sourced from the telegraph)

Steel crores in land labyrinth

SUBHASHISH MOHANTY AND MANOJ KAR

Bhubaneswar, April 19: Posco India Limited has so far spent Rs 3,000 crore in its proposed steel plant near Paradip though the project still remains stuck with the company yet to take possession of even an inch of land at the site.

The company’s investments came to light during an ongoing review meeting chaired by steel and mines minister Raghunath Mohanty.

Posco India Limited had signed an MoU with the Orissa government on June 22, 2005 to set up a steel plant in an area of 4,004 acres. Due to stiff opposition by Posco Pratirodha Sangram Samiti (PPSS), a people’s outfit, the state government has not able to acquire the land. The company, according to available information, has disbursed Rs 1.36 crore towards land acquisition. The amount was disbursed by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDCO) of Orissa on behalf of the company to 97 people for the acquisition of betel vines in Gadakujang gram Panchayat for the Rs 52,000 crore project. Posco officials could not be contacted.

Around two acre of forestland under betel vine cultivation had been taken possession of by IDCO when the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) put brakes on the land acquisition process.

“This apart, 651 acre litigation and encroachment-free revenue land has already been leased out to the Posco-India by the Orissa government against a payment at the rate of Rs 25,000 per acre. The lease term extends to 99 years,” said Sujeet Das, project director (rehabilitation and resettlement) for the Posco project.

Sources said Posco India has so far given direct employment to 53 persons and indirect employment to 20. The state has got Rs 4.41 crore as taxes from the project that continues to hang in the balance with questions being raised with regard to settlement of forest rights of people in the project. The Union environment ministry has now asked the state government to look into the claims made in this regard by PPSS.

The Orissa government today began a two-day review of the progress of projects in the steel sector. The state has signed MoUs with 50 industrial houses. The review revealed that acquisition of encroachment-free government land and free access to government land in different districts were the major bottlenecks in the execution of the projects.

Sources said the progress of nearly 11 projects was reviewed today. Most company officials said they were not getting the required support from the state government.

However, steel giant Tata Steel Limited has so far invested Rs 1818.12 crore in its proposed plant at Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur. The company plans to invest Rs 15,400 crore to set up the six-million-tonne plant. While the state has so far received Rs 13.78 crore, the Centre has received Rs 38.12 crore as tax from this project.

There hasn’t been much progress in ArcelorMittal’s proposed steel plant in Keonjhar though it signed an MoU with the state government on December 21, 2006, land acquisition seems a problem. The validity of the MoU will expire on December 20, 2011.

Steel and mines minister Raghunath Mohanty said: “Steps are being taken to acquire land for the plant. They have assured us that they are not going away from Orissa.”

The extension of the MoU of Essar Steel Orissa Limited is under consideration of the state government. Out of the proposed investment of Rs 10,721 crore in the company’s six-million tonne plant at Paradip, Rs 5,077 crore has already been invested. Jindal Steel and Power Limited has so far spent Rs11,283.24 crore in its proposed plant at Angul.

 (sourced from the telegraph)

POSCO site: Tribals trying to prove their existence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34_LlfTDRYg&feature=player_embedded#at=313Save India's coast: The residents of Dhinkia in Orissa are out to prove their existence after the state government assured the Environment Ministry that there were no tribals or traditional forest dwellers living or farming on the proposed site of the $12 billion POSCO project.

AIDS patients refuse pension

MANOJ KAR

The government-run HIV diagnostic centre in Paradip. Telegraph picture

Paradip, April 15: Fear of getting identified haunts the HIV positive patients of Jagatsinghpur district. Here, barring a few, majority of the HIV/AIDS carriers are shying away from receiving their monthly pension introduced by the state government.

Of the 462 persons diagnosed as HIV/AIDS carriers, tiding over social stigma, only 38 persons have come forward to receive their cheques of the Madhubabu pension scheme. Of them, around 13 persons are from urban areas, while 25 others are from rural areas. The rest have opted to live in anonymity as the disease carries with it stigma and threats of social ostracisation.

If civil society activists are to be believed, the virus-infected persons of both the urban and rural areas think it prudent to skip the miserly Rs 200 monthly incentives. Receiving the sum means exposing themselves to identification as AIDS patients in front of other villagers.

On April 1, 2008, the state government had launched the Rs 200 monthly pension for HIV infected people. The scheme was named after Madhubabu, a prominent nationalist Oriya leader.

“It is a matter of concern that AIDS patients are keeping themselves away from social security pension scheme. According to reports that we are receiving, it is a fact that fear of exposure has distracted them from availing pension,” said Bijoy Kumar Swain, deputy director, Orissa State AIDS Control Society (OSACS).

“The fear of identification might have led these people to skip their monthly pension. It is a disturbing trend. We are looking into it. In some cases, the infected persons wanted the pension to be sent to their homes. But it could not be disbursed as they gave wrong postal addresses,” said Sudhakar Biswal, medical officer of the government-run Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC).

(sourced from the telegraph)

Living and chirping in Bhitarkanika - House sparrows make national park permanent home as it suits their adaptability needs

MANOJ KAR

In other parts of the state house sparrows are disappearing fast and their sighting has become rare. File picture

Kendrapara, April 15: The idyllic wetland and meadows within the Bhitarkanika national park continue to be a conducive habitat for house sparrows, a specie now on the verge of extinction.

Although sparrows were once present everywhere, these pint-sized birds are incidentally not listed in any schedule of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Over the years, they are disappearing fast and its sighting has become rare.

In such a scenario, it is heartening that the sparrows have made Bhitarkanika their permanent home.

“The human habitations thriving on the fringes of the national park have turned out to be blessing for the house sparrows. The villagers have built many straw thatched houses. Twigs from the straw come handy for sparrows’ nesting. They feed on the grains from the crop fields,” said Manoj Kumar Mahapatra, divisional forest officer (DFO), Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Division.

In most other areas the grains and insects the sparrows feed on have gone out of sight due to man-made factors. The birds used to throng the countryside and the urban landscape. The increasing use of pesticides in agriculture fields mainly has spelt doom. These birds steadily perished as grain-feeding birds failed to withstand toxicity. Urbanisation and fast disappearing traditional straw-thatched houses have contributed to the shrinkage of their habitat.

However, farmers in Bhitarkanika grow saline-resistant paddy. There is less use of pesticides here. Sparrows are averse to eating grains grown through application of pesticide. Thus grains here suit the food chain of these birds.

“We have sighted many nests of house sparrows near the tourists rest sheds of the sanctuary. Large groups of sparrows have been seen in various places of Bhitarkanika,” Mahapatra added.

(sourced from the telegraph)
 

PARADEEP MUNICIPALITY LIBRARY

News cutting-The Dharitri dt14th April 2011
(click on pic to enlarge)

'Orissa to renew MoU with Posco-India soon'

The Orissa Government said on Thursday it would soon renew the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Korean steel major Posco for its proposed steel plant near Paradip.
"The Steel and Mines department has already received the recommendation of the Law department in this regard. The nodal department will soon invite Posco for renewal of the MoU," Orissa's Steel and Mines Minister Raghunath Mohanty told reporters here.
The MoU signed between the state government and Posco-India on June 22, 2005 had expired after completion of the fixed five years tenure on June 21, 2010.
Though nine months had since passed, the state government had not been able to renew MoU with Posco-India mostly due to addition of some new clauses, sources said.
This apart, the minister said that the department was also considering whether to fix the tenure of MoU for five years or extend it. 


sourced from  The INDIAN EXPRESS

Paradip port in expansion mode

BHUBANESWAR: Paradip Port has laid out a major plan to expand its cargo handling capacity from the present 76 million tons to 237 million by 2020 on PPP mode, according to its chairman G J Rao.

Speaking to media persons here on Sunday, Rao said after completion of the capacity expansion work Paradip port would be one of India's top most port.

He said efforts are on undertake massive dredging of the channels and improvement of other facilities in order to handle bigger ships of 1.25 lakh Dead Weight Tonnage (DWT). He said the port would award construction works to any Central PSUs or state organizations based on their expertise in the field.

The chairman admitted fall in total cargo handling by the port from 57.01 million tons in 2009-10 to 56.03 million tons in 2010-11 and attributed the lower performance to recession and imposition of a 20 per cent tax on export.

The port had set a target of 63 million tons, which could not be possible, one of the major reasons being drop of 14.29 per cent in iron ore traffic.

Paradip handled 13.85 mt of iron ore last year compared to 16.16 mt the previous year.

The chairman further said neither the expansion of the Operation area of Kolkotta Port nor the proposed Posco captive port would affect the Paradip port. He however said the private Dhamra port might hit its business.

"The Dhamra port may affect the business of Paradip port. But it is good because we welcome competition and that it would improve our efficiency as well."

The PPT chairman said the port had signed an agreement with the Paradip municipal authorities for maintaining the township including developing civic amenities. Since Paradip town is growing in population, steps had been initiated to bring water directly from Cuttack.

sourced from The Times of  India

Cops bust criminal gang

Paradip, April 4: The son of a port trust employee, who allegedly ran a well-knit crime syndicate and unleashed lawlessness in Paradip and adjoining areas, was arrested today by local police.

The arrest of 24-year-old Siba Prasad Mallick has revealed disturbing facts of how educated youths from decent family backgrounds have begun making foray into dark alleys of crime. The police are looking for his associates.

The gang led by Siba Prasad Mallick is alleged to be involved in cases of extortion in the fast-growing Paradip township and industrial zones around it. The police said that the gang had been collecting money from contractors, builders and real-estate agents by issuing threats.

“Mallick’s father is an employee in the public health engineering wing of the port trust. Mallick is a graduate and has been living the quarter allotted to his father in Madhuban locality. His parents and family members seemed to be unaware of his criminal antecedents,” said Shantanu Kumar Das, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Paradip. Though Mallick did not have any criminal records, the police had maintained close watch on his activities for some time. “We had received conclusive feedback that he was operating a racket of criminals to terrorise the traders, real estate businessmen, builders, contractors and construction companies,” the police said.

A revolver and live cartridges were seized from his possession. He was charged with offences of extortion and carrying illegal arms, and was forwarded to court.

Mallick’s link with a crime syndicate based in Kendrapara has been established. Police are looking for his associates. The area of operation of the band of criminals led by Mallick was mostly concentrated in the Indian Oil Company Limited’s project area near the port town.

“With construction work of the project going on in a big way in that area, the private farms engaged in the project works were becoming soft target of these criminals. Mallick and his associates used to extort them at gunpoint,” SDPO Das added.

(sourced from the telegraph)

Unsafe wheels put schoolkids at risk - Vehicles overloaded with schoolchildren go unpunished in Paradip because of lack of surveillance

Risky Game: An overloaded vehicle carries schoolchildren in Paradip. Telegraph picture Paradip, March 29: The safety of schoolchildren commuting through various modes of transport to their respective institutions here is at stake. The safety issues of the schoolchildren apparently do not remain in priority list of the authorities of the English medium private schools that have lately mushroomed in this port town. The sight of small children packed like sardines in pick-up vans, autorickshaws and cyclerickshaws are too glaring to escape one’s notice. The overloaded vehicles give a distasteful look of miniature cattle wagons full of children. “The journey is highly unsafe. Most of the vehicles that carry schoolchildren in Paradip traverse though the accident-prone national highway and state highway. With the vehicles being overloaded, threat of mishaps looms large,” said Binayak Swain, child rights activist. “There are around 20 private educational institutions in the port town and its periphery. Most of these schools do not have bus service of their own. Parents are forced to ferry their wards in private transports modes like vans, autorickshaws and cyclerickshaws. These vehicles do not stick to safety norms while ferrying the children,” he said. “My son is enrolled in a school that is around 2km from our residence. I accompany him to the school in a rickshaw. I was initially thinking of sending him on pick-up vans. But I gave up the idea as it is a not a safe mode of transportation,” said Suchismita Pattnaik, a homemaker. There is no mechanism to regulate the transport vehicles that are carrying schoolchildren. Neither the road transport department nor the civil administration is paying attention to the issue. Even the school authorities are found washing off their hands from this tricky issue. “We have hired buses on contract to ferry children from distant locations. We do not have any other school-owned transport mode for children. It’s the responsibility of parents and guardians to see that children are brought to school safely,” said James Tharanyl, principal, Saint Joseph’s public school. “The vehicles carrying children beyond their capacity are liable to face penal action. But the fact is that the administration is not in receipt of a single complaint in this regard. Still, the road transport authorities are being directed to keep watch on the school vehicles,” said Sarojkanta Choudhury, additional district magistrate. According to child rights activist Swain, there are instances of unlawful operation of school vehicles with LPG gas cylinders. Incidentally, the port town is not having any authorised centre for gas kits for vehicular use. The operators are putting the small children at risk. But they are going unpunished because of gross absence of surveillance by motor vehicle inspectors.    (sourced from the telegraph)

Education For All-

News cutting from The Dharitri dt.24.03.2011

News cutting from The Dharitri dt.24.03.2011

Land trouble for six primary schools in Paradip

MANOJ KAR

Classes at Loknath Colony Project Primary School are being conducted temporarily at an anganwadi centre and (right) the another primary school functioning in a thatched house in Paradip. Telegraph pictures Paradip, March 25: The government-run primary education system is the latest victim of dual administration in the port town. Six government-run primary schools do not have permanent buildings as the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) authorities refused to allot land to the state government to construct the buildings. At present, the schools are being operated from temporary structures. These schools are meant for slum children belonging to scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities. All these schools are housed in temporary accommodation extended by private organisations. Though flush with funds under reconstruction of school buildings programme (RSBP), the school and mass education department has failed bring up school buildings as the port authorities have thrown a spanner on their plan. “Within the Paradip Municipality’s jurisdiction, there are 14 government-run primary schools. “While eight of those located within the planned civil township have permanent buildings, the rest of such schools in slum settlements are languishing without buildings of their own,” said Surath Mallick, executive officer, Paradip Municipality. “The schools lacking building infrastructure are Bangalipada Primary School (ward-18), Loknath Colony Project Primary School, Lockpada Primary School, Bangalipada Primary School (ward-6), Balijhara Gholapada Primary School and Beer-Factory Primary School,” said Debendra Das, district inspector of schools, Kujang. “The schools are presently functioning temporarily in local anganwadi centres, the offices of self-help groups and youth clubs. Academic activities are getting affected for obvious reasons as the schools do not have their own infrastructure. Children enrolled in these schools are getting deprived of mid-day meal as there is no room for cooking foods for the school’s children,” said Mallick, executive officer of the municipality. The Jagatsinghpur district collector, Narayan Chandra Jena, said: “These schools are facing several problems. The administration has decided to solve the crisis as children from poor families are enrolled in these schools. The municipality authorities and the school and mass education department officials have been directed to submit a report regarding the lack of infrastructure of these institutions.” “The private building where our school is functioning also houses an anganwadi centre, an organisation’s office, and a self-help group office, besides a youth club. On most occasions, we are forced to teach students on the balcony of the building. There is no facility to provide meals to the children,” said Laxmi Mahakud, headmistress of the Loknath Colony Project Primary School. The PPT authorities, however, said the problem is that these government-run institutions have come up in unauthorised and encroached land. “The PPT’s policy is not against opening up of schools by the government. But it should be established in a litigation-free land,” said Pravat Kumar Nanda, secretary of the PPT.   (sourced from the telegraph)

Land trouble for six primary schools in Paradip

MANOJ KAR

Classes at Loknath Colony Project Primary School are being conducted temporarily at an anganwadi centre and (right) the another primary school functioning in a thatched house in Paradip. Telegraph pictures

Paradip, March 25: The government-run primary education system is the latest victim of dual administration in the port town.

Six government-run primary schools do not have permanent buildings as the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) authorities refused to allot land to the state government to construct the buildings. At present, the schools are being operated from temporary structures. These schools are meant for slum children belonging to scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities.

All these schools are housed in temporary accommodation extended by private organisations. Though flush with funds under reconstruction of school buildings programme (RSBP), the school and mass education department has failed bring up school buildings as the port authorities have thrown a spanner on their plan.

“Within the Paradip Municipality’s jurisdiction, there are 14 government-run primary schools.

“While eight of those located within the planned civil township have permanent buildings, the rest of such schools in slum settlements are languishing without buildings of their own,” said Surath Mallick, executive officer, Paradip Municipality.

“The schools lacking building infrastructure are Bangalipada Primary School (ward-18), Loknath Colony Project Primary School, Lockpada Primary School, Bangalipada Primary School (ward-6), Balijhara Gholapada Primary School and Beer-Factory Primary School,” said Debendra Das, district inspector of schools, Kujang.

“The schools are presently functioning temporarily in local anganwadi centres, the offices of self-help groups and youth clubs. Academic activities are getting affected for obvious reasons as the schools do not have their own infrastructure. Children enrolled in these schools are getting deprived of mid-day meal as there is no room for cooking foods for the school’s children,” said Mallick, executive officer of the municipality.

The Jagatsinghpur district collector, Narayan Chandra Jena, said: “These schools are facing several problems. The administration has decided to solve the crisis as children from poor families are enrolled in these schools. The municipality authorities and the school and mass education department officials have been directed to submit a report regarding the lack of infrastructure of these institutions.”

“The private building where our school is functioning also houses an anganwadi centre, an organisation’s office, and a self-help group office, besides a youth club. On most occasions, we are forced to teach students on the balcony of the building. There is no facility to provide meals to the children,” said Laxmi Mahakud, headmistress of the Loknath Colony Project Primary School.

The PPT authorities, however, said the problem is that these government-run institutions have come up in unauthorised and encroached land.

“The PPT’s policy is not against opening up of schools by the government. But it should be established in a litigation-free land,” said Pravat Kumar Nanda, secretary of the PPT.

  (sourced from the telegraph)

Classes at Loknath Colony Project Primary School are being conducted temporarily at an anganwadi centre and (right) the another primary school functioning in a thatched house in Paradip. Telegraph pictures

Folk art reawakens

Folk art reawakens

MANOJ KAR

Artistes perform Mughal tamasha and Ghumra forms of folk art at the culture festival in Paradip. Telegraph picture Paradip, March 21: Mughal tamasha, a traditional folk art that is a prominent remnant of Muslim rule in the state, was enacted with brilliance as the Orissa Sangeet Natak Academy (OSNA) tried to revive the dying tradition on the concluding day of a two-day cultural festival in Paradip last week. Dressed in glittering clothes, the artistes put on an appealing show. Shadow puppetry, a form of folk art that is on the verge of extinction, was also a major attraction at the two-day festival that was jointly organised by the OSNA, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Calcutta and Paradip Port Trust. Talking about Mughal tamasha, art critic Sriman Mishra said the theme and script of the play that was performed subtly portrayed the complex multi-racial ingredients of medieval Orissa. “It revolves round the visit of a Mughal emperor’s revenue collector to a remote village. Driven by curiosity, the representative of the Muslim ruler visits a Hindu temple. He comes across a beautiful local woman from the milkmen community falls in love. It’s the love that conquers intricate barriers of religion, language and economic status,” said Mishra. Pratap Kumar Sahany, secretary, Orissa Sangeet Natak Academy, said that despite ample doses of entertainment and creativity, this folk art form that grew and flourished mainly in Bhadrak district is now on a fast decline. “About three decades ago, there were a number of troupes who performed Mughal tamasha. “Now, there are perhaps a couple of active troupes. It’s a unique folkart that is symbolic of the state’s rich cultural history. It needs to be conserved. The Orissa Sangeet Natak Acedemy is doing its best to save the art with support from the Union ministry of culture and various other organisations”. The play that was performed dates back to 18th century and was a classic case in point of Hindu-Muslim unity. The dramatised version bore ample testimony to the fact that both communities co-existed peacefully. Orissa ,then a part of the Bengal-Bihar province rich with indigenous culture was free from communal tension. “Mughal tamasha brings under focus the influence of Muslim rule in Oriya culture. The dresses, ornaments, food habits, art and culture of the Oriya people were deeply influenced by Islamic culture,” said Dipti Prakash Pattnaik, a folk art lover. Both Mughal tamasha and shadow puppetry found plenty of appreciators. “The shadow puppetry show and the enactment of the Ramayan and the killing of demon king Ravan was a treat to watch. It was exhilarating. My child enjoyed the show very much,” said Sarat Rout, a resident of the port town, Paradip. sourced from 'the telegraph'

Smooth ride for examinees

Paradip, March 14: This year, students appearing for the high school certificate (HSC) examination in the port town can expect a traffic jam-free ride to their centres.

Authorities here have decided to put the brakes on the movement of heavy vehicles used to transport mineral ore on the Paradip-Daitary Expressway. The prohibition will remain effective during the scheduled examination days for almost a fortnight from March 16 to 29.

“We have decided to impose a prohibitory order on the movement of ore-laden trucks on National Highway 5 (A) between Daitari and Paradip port to ensure the smooth conduct of the HSC examination.

“This stretch is hit by frequent traffic jams. So, there won’t be any heavy vehicle movement on the NH during the HSC annual examination that will be held from March 16 to 29,” said additional district magistrate, Akuli Charan Bhuyan.

The NH-5 (A) is the principal road route that connects several HSC examination centres. Therefore, the administration thinks it’s wise to restrict vehicular movement during the scheduled examination days.

“The prohibition is being imposed under various sections under rule-115 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, and also on the basis of regulations framed under the Orissa Motor Vehicle Rules,” said Bhuyan.

As many as 23, 248 examinees are appearing for the annual HSC examination this year in 103 examination centres. Keeping in view the enormous traffic load on the NH because of the spurt in iron-ore transportation to Paradip port, the government had constituted a high-power committee that included collectors of Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Keonjhar and Jajpur districts.

Any movement of ore-laden trucks during examination days will lead to confiscation of the loaded vehicles and imposition of hefty penalty under the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act.

“To restore traffic order, we have now restricted the number of such trucks to 1,300 everyday. The principal mining hub of Joda-Barbil will have the right to release 1,000 loaded vehicles while 300 loaded trucks from the rest of the mining belt in Jajpur district will be allowed to ply on the expressway,” said Bhuyan

This highway is referred to as the lifeline of Paradip port as it connects it with the mineral-rich hinterland in Keonjhar and Jajpur districts.

With the export of iron-ore being at an all-time high at present, there has been enormous pressure on the highway.

Authorities here have decided to put brakes on mineral ore transportation through heavy vehicles on the Paradip-Daitary Expressway for the smooth conduct of this year’s annual high school certificate examination. The prohibition would remain effective during the scheduled examination days from almost for a fortnight from 16 March to the 29th.

It was apprehended from various quarters that students appearing the examination might get stranded on the way to examination centres as the busy NH is hit by frequent traffic jam bottleneck.

“We have decided to impose prohibitory order on the movement of ore-laden trucks on the National Highway 5A, between Daitari and Paradip port to ensure the smooth conduct of the HSC examination. There would be no heavy vehicle movement on the NH during the the HSC annual examination that would be held from 16 March till the 29 March”, said Additional District Magistrate, Akuli Charan Bhuyan.

There is every likelihood that the examinees, parents, invigilators and teachers would be affected by the heavy rush of traffic on the said NH. The NH-5 (A) is the principal road route that is connecting several HSC examination centres. Thus administration has thought it prudent to restrict vehicular movement during the scheduled examination days, he said.

The prohibition is being imposed under various sections of under rule-115 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 and also on the basis of regulations framed under the Orissa Motor Vehicle Rules, said ADM Bhuyan.

23, 248 examinees are appearing the annual HSC examination this year in 103 examination centres, said officials.

Keeping in view the enormous traffic load on the said NH because of the spurt in iron-ore transportation to Paradip port, the government had earlier constituted a high-power comprising with the collectors of Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Keonjhar and Jajpur districts. The district magistrate and collector of Kendrapara is the nodal officer to ensure smooth traffic on this stretch.

Any movement of ore-laden trucks during the examination days would invite confiscation of the loaded vehicles and imposition of hefty penalty under motor vehicle act provision.

“To restore traffic order, we have now limited plying of such loaded trucks to 1,300 everyday. The principal mining hub of Joda-Barbil would have the right to release 1,000 loaded vehicles while 300 loaded trucks from the rest of mining belt in Jajpur district would be allowed to ply on the expressway,” said ADM Bhuyan

The highway in question is referred to as the lifeline of Paradip port because it connects it with the mineral-rich hinterland in Keonjhar and Jajpur districts. With the export of iron-ore being at an all-time high at present, there has been enormous pressure on the highway.

     (sourced from the telegraph)

Mock fight off Paradip coast to keep forces on toes - Joint naval exercise Hamla-2 shows might of coastal security in Bay of Bengal Members of the coastal security perform their exercise off Paradip coast.

MANOJ KAR

Members of the coastal security perform their exercise off Paradip coast. Telegraph picture

Paradip, March 15: A mock mid-sea battle was fought off the Paradip coast today as part of a coastal security exercise with the concerned agencies putting up a spirited show of preparedness to counter possible terror strikes besides infiltration and sea-route smuggling.

Named “Hamla-2”, this mock drill was the fourth in the series of such exercises taking place along the 480km porous coastline in the past two years.

“The two-day mock security drill is a coordinated teamwork by naval wing, coast guard, customs, Paradip Port Trust, state marine police and state fisheries department to counter coastal security exigencies. Earlier it was successfully carried out in country’s sensitive coastal territories to reenergise coastal security preparedness,” said officials of Coast Guard, Paradip.

“The Coast Guard, Paradip, district headquarters is the coordinating agency of this security exercise with active participation of other agencies to bolster the sea-route security. The two-day surveillance exercise is covering the coastline extending from Digha to Gopalpur south coast,” said Coast Guard commandant Saroj Kumar Sahu.

“The whole focus of this venture is to inculcate a combative spirit in the agencies involved in coastal security. In case of any eventuality of a sea-route subversive activity, the mock drill would keep them better prepared to face the crisis,” said Sahu.

“The 26/11 Mumbai sea route terror strike was enacted. The anti-national forces penetrated the security ring to perpetrate the Mumbai terror strike while security personnel masquerading as terror groups were intercepted by agile and vigilant coastal security forces,” said a state marine police official.

Naval ships INS Nirvika. INS Sabitri, INS Bibhuti and Coast Guard service ships Braja, Chanda Bibi and Sarojini Naidu apart from four aircraft and sea-worthy vessels took part in the mock drill. All the aggressors were neutralised by the coastal defence force during the exercise.

The exercise that forms part of the Centre’s coastal security plan, intends to improve the coordinating capabilities of dealing with any coastal contingency and exigency.

The joint naval exercise or the Operation Hamla is the fourth of its kind that has got underway along Orissa’s shoreline.

Similar joint naval exercises were held in the state during July 29-30, 2009, October 5-6, 2010 and February 3-4 this year, said Coast Guard sources.

“Emphasis is being given to invigorate the coastal security along the state’s 480km shoreline. The state is armed with over Rs 1,000 crore central grants under the Coastal Security Scheme. With central assistance, 13 new marine police stations, in addition to the existing five are being planned to be set up in the state. At present five marine police stations are in operation at Balramgadgi, Jambu, Paradip, Argipalli and Dharma. These stations are equipped with 15 mechanised vessels including eight latest improvised interceptors to maintain coastal vigil and security,” said nodal police officer, coastal security, Shantanu Kumar Das.

sourced from the telegraph

Truck threat to river bridgesParadip,

Paradip, March 11: With stranded ore-laden trucks exerting “static load” on river bridges on the Paradip-Daitary expressway, the National Highways Authority of India has sounded a warning that the bridges may eventually collapse if swift remedial measures are not taken.

The NHAI authorities have shot off a letter to the revenue divisional commissioner (central division) and the collectors of Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts asking them to ensure that the loaded trucks are not stranded on the bridge because of traffic jams.

In fact, the NHAI has sent a series of letters to the state government in this connection in the past one year. The latest communication was sent on February 17. But no visible action has been taken to address the problem, said A.K. Ray, project director, NHAI (Orissa).

“Uninterrupted load exertion will lead to the bridge caving in. It’s an exceedingly precarious situation as there is no let up. Two river bridges on the Paradip-Daitary expressway, which connects Paradip port with mineral-rich hinterlands, are under threat,”

The four-lane highway is covered by two bridges over the river Mahanadi. Both the old and the new bridge are bearing heavy static load as loaded trucks on their way to Paradip port get stranded on the bridges, Ray said.

“Recently, we issued a statutory warning to the state government as the safety of the bridge is at stake. The RDC (central) besides the collectors of Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur were requested to ensure the safety of the bridge and people. But the scenario remains unchanged,” said Ray.

The river bridge is 930-metre long. Its structural design and load-intake capacity are not at all compatible to the static load.
(sourced from   telegraph)