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.

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)

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)
 

'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

INDIAN COAST GUARD SAVED SIX LIVES IN MID SEA OFF PURI

INDIAN COAST GUARD OFFICERS WITH RESCUED FISHERMEN

INDIAN COAST GUARD RESCUE WORK

FISHING VESSEL MAHADEV-III

 PARADIP: 19 DEC2010 -COAST GUARD SHIP (CGS) RAZIYA SULTANA RESCUED SIX FISHERMEN FROM A FISHING VESSEL UNDER FIRE. FISHING VESSEL MAHADEV-III WAS OPERATING SEVEN MILES EAST OF RAMACHANDI, PURI WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO BLAST OF LPG CYLINDER. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT 1230 HRS WHEN THE CREW WAS PREPARING THEIR LUNCH.

ON RECEIPT OF MESSAGE BY COAST GUARD DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS PARADIP IMMEDIATELY DIVERTED CGS RAZIYA SULTANA WHICH WAS ENGAGED IN OPS OLIVIA TO RENDER ASSISTANCE.

        THE SHIP ARRIVED IN THE AREA AT 3 PM AND RESCUED ALL THE SIX FISHERMEN FROM SEA. THE SHIP PROVIDED MEDICAL AID AND FOOD TO THE AFFECTED FISHERMEN. THERE AFTER THE SHIP EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE USING ITS FIREMAIN, HOWEVER THE BOAT SUNK AT 5:30 PM DUE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND INGRESS OF SEA WATER FROM DAMAGED HULL. ALL THE SIX FISHERMEN ARE BEING BROUGHT TO PARADIP BY CGS RAZIYA SULTANA.

Funds blow to civic body - Members up in arms against embezzlement

MANOJ KAR

The Paradip Municipality administrative office. Telegraph picture Paradip, Nov. 23: Close on the heels of mysterious disappearance of immovable asset like ‘pindis’ or shelter structures, more skeletons have begun tumbling out of Paradip Municipality’s cupboard. The alleged misuse of urban development grants has come to the forefront with the civic body council drawing the state government’s attention. Majority of members of the urban local body (ULB) are up in arms against the money laundering allegedly perpetrated by the dissolved municipality body during 2008-09. “Fiscal embezzlement is crystal clear. An estimated Rs 2.67 crore were by and large misappropriated by the former ULB. After the new municipality council took over earlier this year, we have unmasked the corruptive practice,” vice-chairman of Paradip Municipality Basanta Kumar Biswal said. “The municipal body, while adopting a unanimous resolution, has knocked at the doors of the state urban development department. The state urban development minister has been apprised of the rampant misappropriation of taxpayers’ money. The council has pressed forth the point that the government should institute a probe by vigilance wing of state police apart from the special audit squad,” Biswal said. During 2008-09 financial year, authorities violated the rules and guidelines with impunity and laundered public money without adhering to mandatory tender bidding process. For street lighting, high-max lights were purchased without the mandatory tender bidding process. The materials were substandard and the lighting system gradually turned dysfunctional. “The misuse of funds during the mosquito control drive is evident. Anti-malaria lubricant to wipe out mosquito larvae was purchased from a fictitious farm instead of Indian Oil Corporation. The port town, with its 18 urban wards, required 40 to 45 barrels of larvae-killing oil, but the authorities at that time procured 137 barrels,” said Biswal. Over Rs 2 crore for urban infrastructure repair were mostly misused. For various projects, works were executed on paper only. Eighteen Balwadi workers recruited by the then ULB under Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) were mired in favouritism. “Without seeking the advice of the neighbourhood committee, appointments were made. However, the ICDS authorities terminated the recruitments after the urban local body members had taken up the matter,” Biswal said. “The ULB members have raised these corruption-related issued in the municipality council meet and they have adopted an official resolution in this regard. The state urban development department is probing the charges,” said executive officer of municipality Surath Mallick. Paradip Port Trust takes care of most of the work in urban infrastructure development in Paradip civil township. However, the municipality body is duty-bound to look after the civic amenities and sanitation measures in the township. The municipality had taken care of the drinking water supply and road laying and repair in a cluster of slum settlements, said Mallick. Paradip, Nov 23 Close on the heels of mysterious disappearance of immovable asset like ‘pindis’ or shelter structures, more skeletons have begun tumbling out of Paradip municipality’s cupboard. The alleged misuse of urban development grants has come to the forefront with the civic body council drawing the state government’s attention. Majority of members of the urban local body are up in arms against the money laundering allegedly perpetrated by the dissolved municipality body during 2008-09 financial year. “Fiscal embezzlement is crystal clear. An estimated Rs 2.67 crore was by and large misappropriated by the former ULB. After the new municipality council took over earlier this year, we have unmasked the corruptive practice”, Basanta Kumar Biswal, vice chairman, Paradip municipality told The Telegraph. “The municipal body while adopting a unanimous resolution has knocked at the doors of state urban development department. The State urban development minister has been apprized of the rampant misappropriation of tax payers’ money. The council has pressed forth the point that the government should institute a probe by vigilance wing of state police besides by special audit squad”, Vice chairman Biswal maintained. The said financial irregularities were perpetrated during 2008-09 financial year. The then authorities violated the rules and guidelines with impunity and laundered public money without adhering to mandatory tender bidding process. For street lighting, high-max lights were purchased without the mandatory tender bidding process. The materials were substandard. As a result, lighting system gradually turned dysfunctional. “Whiff of fund misuse in mosquito control drive is quite noticeable. Anti-malaria lubricant to wipe out mosquito larvae was purchased unauthorizedly from a fictitious farm while the public sector Indian oil corporation used to supply this oil in past. The port town with its 18 urban wards is in requirement of 40-45 barrels of larvae-killing oil, but the then authorities procured 137 barrels of such oil during the said period”, charged vice chairman Biswal. Over Rs 2 crore spent for urban infrastructure repair was mostly misused. For various projects, works were executed on paper only. Eighteen Balwadi workers recruited by the then ULB under Integrated child development scheme (ICDS) was mired in favoritism. Without seeking the advice of ‘neighborhood committee, the appointments were made. However, the ICDS authorities terminated the recruitment after the urban local body members took up the matter, he told. “The urban local body members have raised these corruption-related issued in the municipality council meeting and they have adopted an official resolution in this regard. The charges that were leveled by the council members are now being probed by the state urban development department”, said Surath Mallick, executive officer of the municipality. The major works in urban infrastructure development in Paradip civil township is shouldered by Paradip port trust. However the municipality body is duty-bound to look after the civic amenities and sanitation measures in the fast-growing township. The drinking water supply and road laying and repair in a cluster of slum settlements, both authorized and unauthorized, are taken care of by the municipality body, added Mallick. sourced from the telegraph

Colourful wall art to beautify Paradip

MANOJ KAR

Paradip, Nov. 18: The port town is slowly getting a cultural makeover due to the efforts of the Paradip Port Trust (PPT). Authorities of PPT have embarked on a beautification drive. Many roadside walls wear an ethnic look with murals and patachitra paintings. The artworks and murals mainly highlight the rich maritime history, culture and heritage of this region. Telegraph pictures “The focal point of the exercise is to promote art. At the same time, it’s a concerted effort to give a facelift to defaced walls. Paintings would add to the intrinsic beauty of the fast-growing port town,” said Pravat Kumar Nanda, secretary, PPT. “Our emphasis is to showcase the rich maritime history, culture and heritage of this region through the artworks. We have begun refurbishing the walls with traditionalpatachitra paintings,” said Biplav Kumar, chairman, PPT. “The traditional form of paintings has its own lucid style. The dexterous portrayal of bold lines and bright colours captivate the eye. We’ve seen many school children getting attracted to the paintings. It would enhance creative attributes in their minds,” said Dipti Prakash Pattnaik, an art lover. In the first phase, the compound walls of the buildings owned by PPT are being given a new look with artistic touches. Its cost is being borne by the port trust. Besides this, the port trust has leased out buildings to various public sector undertaking units, nationalised banks, insurance sectors, state government offices and private enterprises. PPT has hired the services of traditional patachitra artists for the purpose of patronising the art form, which is struggling for survival. “We have been asked to depict the rich navigation history of Paradip through our paintings. We’ll also illustrate the tribal lifestyle and culture,” said Narendra Sutar, a patachitra artist. They are being paid Rs 40 per square foot of painting. sourced from the telegraph

Paradip Port adjudged for the Major Port of the Year award

 The Paradip Port Trust (PPT) has been adjudged for the Major Port of the Year award for the year 2009-10 at the Annual Indian Maritime Gateway Awards 2010 ceremony organised by Gateway Media Private Ltd.

PPT chairman Biplav Kumar received the trophy at a function on November 12 in Mumbai. The award was conferred on the port for its outstanding achievements.

The port carved golden letters in the Indian maritime history by handling 57.01 MT of cargo during the year 2009-10, registering 22.84 per cent growth year-on-year compared to 5.74 per cent average growth of all Major Ports during the period.

Red signal for trucks on NH-5A - Govt bans iron-ore carrying vehicles after traffic chaos, accidents

MANOJ KAR

Paradip, Nov. 16: The district administration has imposed prohibitory orders on the movement of ore-laden trucks on the National Highway 5A, between Daitari and Paradip port due to growing public resentment. A large number of ore-laden trucks from mining areas went to Paradip port for export through the 82km expressway.

Ore-laden trucks stuck in a jam on the national highway en route to the Paradeep port. Telegraph picture

A major section of the expressway runs through Kendrapara district and thousands of ore-laden trucks from the mineral rich Keonjhar and Jajpur have made life miserable for people in Kendrapara because of frequent jam on the national highway. The district administration has initiated the move under rule-115 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 and also on the basis of regulations framed under the Orissa Motor Vehicle Rules.

“We have been forced to impose the ban as it is causing hardships for villagers living near the national highway in particular and the people of the district in general. It will remain effective till further orders. The ban will be withdrawn after the administration reviews the situation,” said Kendrapara collector Dhananjaya Das.

Keeping in view the enormous traffic load because of the iron-ore transportation to Paradip port, the government had 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.

Earlier, ore-carrying trucks were barred from plying on the right lane of the NH. The right lane was reserved for normal vehicular traffic. But that was mostly violated as the traffic control mechanism jointly managed by the Paradip and Kendrapara police, miserably failed to restore order.

Apart from this, the ore-laden trucks ran totally unregulated. Thousands of trucks were on the move at any given time. This resulted in chaos as truckers indulged in overtaking and got into the restricted right lane of the NH. That led to normal traffic being stranded for hours together. There was also a spurt in road accident cases.

“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 collector Dhananjaya Das.

The district administration has directed the deputy director of mines to regulate the number of trucks at the ore lifting points. “We have no complaints against such a ban as it has been done on larger public interest. Still, it should be for a limited period of time,” said Giridhari Sahu, vice-president, Paradip Truck Owners’ Association.

“In the Paradip-Kendrapara region, there are more than 4,000 truck-owners. In the event of such a ban stretching longer, the livelihood of thousands of families would be at stake. Most of them are unemployed youths who are on the transport trade by borrowing from banks and private financiers,” Sahu added.

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.

“The residents of this district are being sandwiched while the Paradip Port Trust and the mine owners are minting money as the iron-ore export has reached its peak. The people of this region are getting killed on a daily basis following a spurt in road mishaps. The iron-ore boom and its resultant traffic congestion has badly affected daily life here,” said senior district congress committee president Debendra Sharma.

(sourced from the telegraph)

Industrial units of Paradip under scan

Port units in line of fire

MANOJ KAR

Paradip, Sept 30: The Jagatsinghpur district administration has sought assistance of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) finding out the impact of dredging activities by a public sector oil refinery project. Four industrial units in and around Paradip came under the line of fire for alleged violation of environmental norms at the Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) review meeting held yesterday. Members of the committee from gram panchayats, which come under the project areas, expressed anger at the erosion in villages caused by dredging. They passed a proposal for assessment of the impact of dredging works. The RPDAC resolved to constitute a task force to oversee proper implementation of peripheral activities by the units — Essar steel project, IFFCO fertiliser plant, Deepak Fertilizer and Indian Oil Corporation’s oil refinery project. “Dredging by the oil refinery near Paradip has led to erosion in seaside villages. Moreover, the artificially created brackish water pond by the refinery project has resulted in increased salinity level of ground water and iron contents in drinking water from deep-dug tube wells,” Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai said. “It was decided to seek the services of the NIO to ascertain whether the Indian Oil Company Limited’s oil refinery was responsible for erosion,” said Jagatsinghpur collector Narayan Chandra Jena. Agriculture minister Damodar Rout, Jagatsinghpur MLA Bishnu Charan Das, Erasama-Balikuda MLA Prasanta Muduli, representatives of zilla parishad and members of panchayati raj institutions attended the meeting chaired by revenue divisional commissioner (central) Pradipta Mohapatra. (Sourced from Telegraph)

Essar Steel paradip plant to be operational by October

The 6 million tonne Essar Steel pellet plant here at paradip will be made operational by October this year.

  

The Rs  2,200 crore project includes an 8 million tonne ore beneficiation plant at Joda and Barbil and a 250 kilometer slurry pipeline from Joda to Paradip. The company plans to expand the beneficiation and pellet manufacturing capacities to 12 million tonne in the future.

Initially, the company will source iron ore from private mines at Joda and Barbil. However, the company expects that the State and Central Governments will grant it lease for a captive mine in the long run.

The pellets to be produced at Paradip would be exported through the Paradip Port to Essar's steelmaking unit at Hazira in Gujarat, which is undergoing a capacity expansion to 9.6 million tonne from 4.6 million tonne by 2012.

Port city welcomed the lord of all craftsmen and architects in a cyclonic weather

In spite of cloudy weather and intermittent showers due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal, the famous Viswakarma Puja of Paradip  started from September 17 here with much fanfare and enthusiasm.

Various worker unions, truck owner  associations,trawler owner association,dumper owner associations, electrical, public health and marine departments of the Paradip Port Trust were  organized the puja . Viswakarma Puja was also  celebrated in various industries in and around Paradip like IFFCO, PPL etc.

Many temporary shops and eateries had been opened for the visitors. information centers had also opened near the puja venues from municipality. Many reputed opera (jatra) groups and melody parties of Odisha as well as outside States had perform and entertained visitors with a wide range of entertainment programmes.

Paradip police had handled the traffic and low and order very efficiently. paradip municipality had engaged its men to keeping the city and puja venue clean and checking the quality of the food item sold near puja venue.PPT fire fighter were also camped and alerted near the venue to prevent any kind of fire accident,  the co-ordination between PPT,municipality and police department made the event very successful.peoples from every religion enjoyed the puja.

Bangladeshi infiltration: Threat to costal security

Bangladeshi infiltration: Threat to costal security


Odisha has one of the largest coastlines, stretching over 480 kms along the Bay of Bengal. But, as regards the security measures taken to plug any illegal and terror related influx from outside, there are still many question marks.
Right from the ITR Chandipur, near Balasore, Wheeler Island close to the Dhamra port (which comprise of several defence-related establishments of utmost importance) and other strategic points like Paradeep Port, etc are not adequately secure. On Several occasions, in the past, fishing vessels from Myamar, Thailand and most frequently from Bangladesh had been seized by the forest authorities or the coast guard.

The coast passing along Kendrapara springs several surprises, as the illegal influx of Bangladeshis continue. Today, areas like Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur coast have become mini-Bangladesh as the migrant population keeps ballooning every year.

The influx of Bangladeshi immigrants in the coastal patches along the Mahanadi deltaic region, which possesses the country’s second largest mangrove cover, has started since the seventies and it has posed a serious problem to the local administrations in Kendrapara. Under the shadows of the political parties, these intruders have apparently bolstered their own fate in the alien land at the cost of the locals and destroying the region’s fragile eco-system. They have also turned these areas into a safe haven for illegal activities.

The Bangladeshi infiltrators manage to intrude in the coastal Kendrapara district, every year, during in the month of May - September in order to settle in the dollar spinning prawn business near the coasts. Some also come to their relatives’ houses, who have settled in the coastal districts, to help their relatives in prawn farming. During the month of September, some of the Bangladeshi immigrants manage to return to their country after harvesting prawns and some illegally manage to settle permanently in the coastal pockets of Rajnagar and Mahakalpada blocks.

According to official sources, the Bangladeshi immigrants have infiltrated into the coastal Kendrapara district in two phases. The influx of Bangladeshi nationals had started in the year 1947 during the partition of Bangladesh and it became more pronounced after the Bangladeshi Liberation War in 1971 and has been rapidly rising since then. The maximum chunk of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and the illegal settlement has gone unabated since the eighties, as these people had taken the sea route to reach in these areas and settle here.

In the year 1956, nearly 1250 Bangla immigrants were rehabilitated as registered refugees and resettled in the coastal pockets of Rajnagar assembly constituency. During the 1980s, the number of immigrants was only 20,000 but now their number is more than 60,000, said a septuagenarian registered refugee, Nepali Sarkar, of Tubi.

Most of the Bangla immigrants have been coming from the district of Jashore, Khulna, Barishal and Faridpur districts of Bangladesh.

The Bangladeshi intruded into Kendrapara and they took the sea-route to land here. All the illegal immigrants concealed their nationality and posed themselves as owing their origin from Midnapur in West Bengal. With the immigrants bearing the striking similarity in physical appearance and mother tongue with that of the locals, who have migrated from West Bengal, had settled in the coastal pockets of Rajnagar, Mahakalpada and Pattamundai block, official sources stated.

The villages, where illegal settlement of Bangladeshi were residing, are identified as Dangamal, Talachua, Rangani, Gupti, Bhitarkanika, Gahirmatha, Benakanda, Ramanagar, Jamboo, Kharnashi, Batighar., Pitapat, Kulapatia, Barajabahakuda, Ahirajpur, Vecta, amarabati, manjulapalli, Daityaprasad, Bahakud, Rajapatana, Birabhanjapur, Bhanjaprasad,Tiakyatnagar, Krushnanagar, Rajendranagar, Uddyana, kanakanagar, Kalatunga and Guladia. In these villages more than 70 per cent Bangla infiltrators are now unauthorised residents.

While areas like Chandballi, Rajnagar, Jamboo, Ramnagar, Kharinasi, Batighar, Mahakalpada, have turned into hub for intruders from across the border, political coupled with administrative support is said to have given boost to unsavory trend of infiltration. Locals alleged that with the infiltrators getting the political patronage, their unlawful stay was legalised over the years with sizeable number of them availing ration cards, voter’s identity card and BPL cards and allegedly enjoyed government benefits.

These Bangla infiltrators, destroying the mangrove cover in the coastal belt, have turned it either to some home-stead land or paddy fields as a result the illegal immigrants seemingly invited ecological disaster to the area. Massive prawn farming operation by them also brought about environmental degradation in several ways, alleged locals.

About 60 clusters of hamlets inhabit in the fringes of Bhitarkanika National Park and several villages have developed illegally within the sanctuary limits in the last half a decade by decimating mangroves. These areas are yet to be notifies as reserve forest area, adding to the complexities of protecting the unique mangrove forest, said forest officials of Rajnagar Mangrove forest.

The Bangladeshi infiltrators have also created the Bhitarkanika National park area into a safe haven for their criminal activities.

The local police had arrested some Bangladeshi immigrants in the year 2004 from Mahakalpada area on the alleged charge of circulating counterfeit currency notes of Rs 100 and Rs 500 denomination in Jamboo, Kharanashi, Talachua , Dangamal and Rangani areas. The local police had seized counterfeit currency notes and some printing machinery, etc, which were used for the making of counterfeit currency notes.

In 2001, the Rajnagar police had also unearthed six illegal radio stations, which operated in the sea-side hamlets of Rajnagar block .Local police had arrested one Bakuram Dey, on the alleged charge of operating the fake radio stations.

According to police, the radio stations, which were unearthed by the police, were established at Balabhadrapur, Baradia, Kuitkulla, Dushigaon, Odasahi and Dhamara village by the Bangladeshi immigrants. Through this radio station, the Bangla infiltrators had allegedly sent some valuable information about defence to their country.

Several cases of temple burglary and idol thefts in Rajnagar block were committed by these Bangladeshi infiltrators. Police also arrested about dozen Bangla immigrants on the alleged charge of selling the idols in the adjoining areas of Rajnagar, informed sources in the police department.

Every now and then, these Bangla infiltrators commit wildlife crimes. In last five years, the local police and forest officials arrested more than 40 Bangla immigrants on the alleged charges of poaching more than 45 endangered migratory bird species, 15 deer, six boars and a dozen of Olive Ridley sea turtles. The police have also seized antlers, hide and raw venison from their possession during the raids, informed police sources.

These Bangla immigrants are also involved in luring the gullible girls to West Bengal and outside the district with ulterior motives and later engaged them in the flesh trade or immoral trafficking. Some even lured the girls by giving false assurance of attractive marriage and job offers. The poverty stricken parents easily fall prey to such offers and the girls ended up in the flesh trade, informed police sources.

More than 2,000 cases have been registered in the local courts regarding the problems of Bangladeshi immigrants and about 60-70 percent case’s decision are going against the state government

Even after three years of the state government serving Quit India notice under the Foreigners’ Act, 1948, to at least 1551 Bangladeshi immigrants, who had come to the seaside villages after December 16, 1971, and have been residing in the coastal pockets of Mahakalpada block, but the deportation drive of 1551 Bangladeshi immigrants is yet to start.

The state government is sitting silent on the deportation drive of the Bangladeshi immigrants allegedly by encouraging them to reside illegally in the coastal patches and spreading crimes in the areas. Locals alleged that more than 3000 Bangla immigrants have allegedly infiltrated to the coastal pockets and they were residing in Kajalapatia, Batighar, Bahakuda,Kharanashi and Pitapata after the district administration served Quit India notice, on January 15, 2005.

The apparent intention is that sizeable section from this particular community may turn into the vote-bank in the coming general polls .The state government does not want to deport Bangladeshi immigrants, as the Bangladeshis immigrants have proved to be a major vote bank for the local political leaders, who tasted victory in the past. With much political interests at stake, the state government has either ignored the issue or launched steps detrimental to infiltrators’ interest haphazardly, alleged Ranjan Sahu, a local resident.

It seems the state government might have dragged its feet over the deportation subject without taking up the matter further, for which the final report for deportation of the Bangla immigrants is lying idle on the state government’s table, according to official sources.

To corroborate the point, the locals reiterate that a mere two thousand odd members of the community have been identified till date even though not less than 40,000 illegal immigrants are firmly ensconced in these parts. The Bhitarkanika National Park is the country’s only wildlife sanctuary where such immense population pressure is rising day by day. As senior state government officials from this part informed the dictate from the higher-ups in the past years had slowed down the move on this sensitive issue.

A drive to detect these foreign nationals was undertaken, in 2003, for the last time and since then the joint exercise by police and revenue staff of the district administration is yet to happen, the locals alleged.

The Coast Guard personals have recently enhanced vigil in the sea route of Bay of Bengal keeping in view on the basis of threat perception from the sea route by Bangladeshi intruders after the terrorists, who sneaked into Mumbai via sea route and attacked Taj, Oberai hotels and Nariman house in Mumbai.

Two ships ‘Suchitra Krupalini’ and ‘Rama Devi’ reached Paradeep Port on first week of December from West Bengal’s Haladia Port to monitor the coastline of the state to mitigate possible threat of cross-border activities and intrusion of Bangladeshis into the coastal pockets of Mahakalapada and Rajnagar block.

But the role of Coast Guard is limited and the state government has yet not been able to establish essentially required 18 Costal police stations, including Paradeep and Jamboo, despite the repeated advice from the Centre.

Experts strongly feel that the said migrants are the baseline informers for their native perpetrators of unrest. The situation is indeed pathetic and if any outside elements design some plot, they could enjoy a walk-over, like breeze. Is anyone listening?