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)