The Setting Sun (31st December 2013) inBolangir. By Sudhir Mishra

By 
SudhirMishra/Bolangir 
31st December,2013
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As the sun sets in the west, it announces the end of the last day of 2013.Unmindful of any such thing ,as sun sets birds are returning to their nest to move again tomorrow morning. I enclose a few pictures of Sunset in Bolangir(odisha)and birds returning to their nest.Picture taken by me from Nikon Coolpix camera at 5.15-17pm today.

ABHIMANYU’S MURDER POLITICAL, SAYS WIDOW/T’GARH BANDH PEACEFUL Monday, 30 December 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

ABHIMANYU’S MURDER POLITICAL, SAYS WIDOW

Monday, 30 December 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

Not convinced by what the Crime Branch (CB) authorities told the media on Saturday, slain Titilagarh BJD youth leader Abhimanyu Sahu’s widow Gita Sahu on Sunday reiterated her demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into her husband’s murder case.

Talking to an Odia TV news channel, she strongly refuted the Crime Branch’s theory that there was a longstanding business rivalry and personal enmity between the main accused Alok Das and her husband which led to the murder.

“There was never any kind of business rivalry between the two and nothing that could drive him (Alok) to kill my husband. They are incapable of doing this on their own,” she said, hinting at the possibility that the four arrested persons, including Alok, could have carried out the murder at the behest of some other people.

“Some ‘big wigs’ are involved in the murder and the reason behind the crime is purely political, nothing else,” Gita said.She said the real villains who were behind the crime need to be exposed and that can happen only if the case is handed over to the CBI.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Sessions Judge Court at Titilagarh on Sunday rejected the bail pleas of the four accused persons who were arrested on Saturday in the murder case and allowed the Crime Branch to take them on a six-day remand.

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STATE EDITIONS

T’GARH BANDH PEACEFUL

Monday, 30 December 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

The 12-hour Titiligarh bandh call given by Yuva Sangathan demanding arrest of the main accused in the BJD youth leader Abhimanyu Sahu murder case on Sunday passed off peacefully except one incident in which a dhaba, owned by arrested mastermind Alok Das, was set ablaze by the protesters.

Dissatisfied over arrest of only four persons in connection with the sensational murder case, the Sangathan called the Titilagarh Bandh.

Notably, Crime Branch ADG Bijay Sharma claimed that the CB police had arrested four persons, Alok Das, Jagdish Bag, Santosh Rana and Naresh Singh in connection with the case.

“We demand the arrest of the main accused in the case. If the Crime Branch fails, the investigation should be handed over to CBI which would certainly arrest the main accused,” the activists of the Sangathan demanded during the bandh.

Business establishments, Government offices and schools were remained closed during the day. The vehicle movements in the town were paralysed. But some protesters set ablaze a dhaba, reportedly owned by Alok Das, who the CB termed mastermind of the Abhimanyu’s murder.

“The bandh call passed off peacefully, except one incident in which a dhaba was set ablaze by the protesters. normalcy has been restored,” said Balangir SP Ravi Prakash

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Read these news in The Pioneer abour murder of AbhimanyuSahu (BJD LEADER MURDERED IN TITILAGARH)

STATE EDITIONS

BJD LEADER MURDERED IN TITILAGARH

Monday, 16 December 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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In a shocking incident, a BJD leader of Titilagarh in Balangir district was brutally murdered by unknown assailants while he was on his morning walk at Titilagarh on Sunday.

Abhimanyu Sahu, general secretary of the Biju Yuva Janata Dal, had gone for a walk at 5.30 in the morning when some unknown persons attacked him with sharp weapons. Some passersby found the body of Sahu with his throat slit open lying in a pool of blood on the roadside. Reports said four persons were following Sahu by a vehicle before attacking him.

After the news of the murder of the popular young leader spread, hundreds of BJD supporters rushed to the spot. Angry supporters of Sahu later gheraoed the Titilagarh police station demanding immediate arrest of the killers. The police sealed the border of district and a scientific team was sent to the spot for investigation. The police launched a massive manhunt to nab the murderers. "The police are looking into this incident from all angles," said Balangir SP Ravi Prakash. Leaders of various political parties while expressing grief and shock over Sahu's brutal killing demanded an impartial inquiry into the gruesome incident, which has triggered tension in the town. Sahu was a trusted aide of Balangir BJD MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, who said Sahu's killing is a great loss to the BJD.

ABHIMANYU MURDER: CRIME BRANCH PROBE ORDERED

Tuesday, 17 December 2013 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR / TITILAGARH | in Bhubaneswar

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Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday ordered a Crime Branch inquiry into the murder of BJD leader Abhimanyu Sahu at Titilagarh in Balangir district. ADG, Crime BK Sharma said a four-member SIT (special investigation team) of the Crime Branch headed by an ASP has left for Titilagarh for the purpose.

The police suspect that political rivalry was the reason behind the murder, for which professional killers were engaged. However, a total bandh was observed in Titilagarh on Monday with Sahu’s supporters and several organisations demanding a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) inquiry into the brutal murder of the popular leader. Vehicles went off the roads, shops downed shutters and educational institutions and business establishments remained closed

Titilagarh town erupted in anger and outrage after the gruesome murder of Biju Yuba Janata Dal (BYJD) State general secretary Sahu while on his routine morning walk early on Sunday morning. Hundreds of Sahu’s angry supporters staged a demonstration at the local hospital questioning the way the police were going about the preliminary investigation. Titilagarh PS IIC Chinatmani Pradhan faced the ire of the agitators when he sought to restrain one of them.

Sensing the mood of the protesters, the officer ran back to the police station, but the crowd followed him. The protesters relented only after persuasion by SDPO Dilip Purohit. In view of the tension, Balangir Superintendent of Police R Prakash and Additional SP Prafulla Patra rushed to Titilagarh and camped there to oversee security measures.

Hundreds of people joined the funeral procession of Sahu, who was widely tipped to be the Titilagarh BJD candidate in the coming Assembly elections. As the procession winded through the streets of the town, hundreds more paid their last respects to the departed leader on roadsides. A host of BJD leaders, including Industries Minister Niranjan Pujari, former Minister AU Singh Deo and BYJD president Sanjay Dasburma, joined the funeral procession.

The wrath of the crowd erupted again when AU Singh Deo, along with his two sons Kalikesh Singh Deo and Arkesh Singh Deo, were paying their last respects to Sahu at the cremation ground. Sahu’s supporters rained abuses on the father-son trio and threw away the wreaths they had placed on the body of their leader.

Though close to the Singh Deos in the initial stages, Sahu had fallen out with the royal family of late and become close to Finance Minister Prasanna Acharya, Energy Minister Arun Sahu and BYJD president Dasburma. He was eyeing the BJD ticket from the Titilagarh Assembly constituency which made him an eyesore for some local BJD leaders.  Sahu had been attacked with some sharp weapon near a dhaba in the Bandupala area of the town. He was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival. His neck had been slit and there was a serious injury on the backside of his head.  According to reports, more than five persons followed Sahu. While one of them was on a motorcycle, the others were in a white Bolero. The police believe that the car first dashed him from behind and after that his neck was slit.

But the crucial question is whether locals or outsiders committed the heinous crime. According to sources, the police have got some CCTV footage of the happening from a hotel on the road through which Sahu went on morning walk.

‘TOP BJD LEADERS BEHIND ABHIMANYU MURDER’

Wednesday, 18 December 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

Speculations are rife as senior Congress leader belonging to Balangir district Nrasingha Mishra on Tuesday reiterated that top leaders of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) are involved in the murder of BJD youth leader Abhimanyu Sahu’s gruesome murder at Titilagarh in Balangir district on Sunday.

“Abhimanyu’s murder was the result of the internecine conflict within the BJD. The top leadership of the ruling party is linked with the incident. Such political murders are on the rise in Balangir district, but the killers are not being caught,” Mishra told the media, demanding a CBI probe into the case.

Mishra, who is also an acclaimed lawyer, also referred to the clear hints by slain Sahu’s wife Gita and Balangir Superintendent of Police Ravi Prakash that political rivalry was the reason behind Sahu’s killing.

Mishra demanded to know why Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is not responding to the demand of a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) inquiry and has, instead, ordered a State Crime Branch probe into the murder. The Crime Branch is under the State Government’s domain, he pointed out.

Mishra, who is the State Congress media cell chairman, reminded the Government that Sahu’s supporters are demanding a CBI inquiry and the total Titilagarh Bandh on Monday was held in support of this demand.

Mishra alleged that the Chief Minister seems to have come to know who is behind the murder and that’s the reason he has ordered a Crime Branch inquiry instead of a CBI probe.

On the other hand, Government (BJD) chief whip in the State Assembly Pravat Tripathy justified the Chief Minister’s act in ordering a Crime Branch probe. He remarked that there are differences in the BJD as there are in other parties, but the BJD infighting is not serious that it would lead to elimination of a leader.

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Bolangir MP gave away solar Lanterns to women artisan in Bolangir.

DECEMBER 25,2013

Bolangir; MP Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo  gave away Solar lantern to Women artisan in Bolangir at a function organized at District industry Centre today.
With this solar lantern,the ordeal of artisan  in rural areas would be lessened as they would get electricity in evening and power -cut hours/time in rural area  which would  go a long way in increasing their productivity and also ensure the education of children of that family. 
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60 MIGRANTS RESCUED FROM BALANGIR BUS STAND Wednesday, 25 December 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

60 MIGRANTS RESCUED FROM BALANGIR BUS STAND

Wednesday, 25 December 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

As many as 60 migrant labourers, including women, and children were rescued from a Government bus-stand here by local police on Monday night.

The labourers were rescued when they were being taken by middlemen to work in brick kilns of Cuttack and other adjoining areas in a bus from Padampur to Cuttack. The migrant labourers mostly belong to some villages of Patnagarh block. According to reports, the police have detained a person in this case and the rescued labourers were sent back to their homes. However, the police have not registered any case in this connection.

Meanwhile, members of the Jana Jagaran Dadan Sangha led by its president Khagapati Kumbhar on Tuesday staged a dharna before the Collectorate here demanding compensation of `15 lakh each for the migrant labourers whose palms were chopped off by the contractors recently. They also demanded exemplary punishment to those involved in the crime.

Dharna by JanaJgaran DadanSangha demanding hike in compensation to victim labour family.24th December2013

24^th December2013

Dharna by JanaJgaran DadanSangha demanding hike incompensationto victim labour family.

Balangir;Membersof JanaJagaran Dadan Sangha led by its president Khagapati Kumbhar and others today staged dharna before collectriate condemning the brutal chopping of palmsof  migrant labourers of Kalhandi district by labour Dadal it demanded a compensation of rupess 15lakhs to migrant labour family, whose palms were chopped of,  as compensation and  exemplary punishment to the culprits involved in this incident.

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WOMAN THREATENED FOR SUSPECTED SORCERY IN BALANGIR Monday, 23 December 2013 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

WOMAN THREATENED FOR SUSPECTED SORCERY IN BALANGIR

Monday, 23 December 2013 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Even though the Odisha Legislative Assembly passed Odisha Prevention of Witch-Hunting Bill recently to protect women from being attacked on suspicion of practicing witchcraft, reports of a rural woman facing threats and hiding herself from co-villagers has come in, to the dismay of many.

According to reports, Kesari Majhi (40) of Laterbahal Chalki village under Muribahal block was forced to leave her village along her family members as she was allegedly practicing sorcery. Villagers have alleged that one Bhagaban Majhi of the village met with an accident due to her witchcraft practice.

Much to the bad luck of the woman, few months later a child of the village died due to some reason but it was connected to the alleged witchcraft practice by Keshari. A sorcerer of the region reportedly blamed Kesari for Bhagaban’s accident and the child’s death.

“Although, there is no evidence against me, Bhagaban’s accident and the child’s death slur was put on me. Bhagabana’s family members have threatened to eliminate me and my family members,” Kesari told mediapersons here in shivering voice. She said she has come along with her husband Alekha Majhi and two children to seek protection from police.

When contacted, ASP PA Patra said he has directed Inspector-in-charge of Saintala police station to inquire into the matter.

LABOUR BODY STAGES DHARNA FOR WORKERS’ WELFARE Monday, 23 December 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

LABOUR BODY STAGES DHARNA FOR WORKERS’ WELFARE

Monday, 23 December 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

The members of whopping 32 organisations under the banner Pashimanchal Milita Shramik Karmachari Manch on Saturday staged a sit-in in front of the Collectorate here to press for their 22-point charter of demands including strictly implementation of existing provisions for the welfare of unorganised labourers.

Manch president Manoranjan Sahu, Bibhuti Shankar Bindhani, trade union leader Pramod Mishra, Ravi Shankar Mishra, Niranjan Bisi and Brajakishore Singhbhoi spoke on the occasion.

The leaders slammed the State Government for not paying attention to their repeated demands relating to the unoganised labourers. “It is unfortunate that even though there are various provisions for the welfare of unorganized labour sector, the State Government has turned callous to implement those,” Manch president Sahu.

The labour leaders also highlighted the problems of migrant labourers. They demanded complete abolition of bonded labour system. Bonded labour is a social strain and it has to be wipe out from the society completely, trade union leader Pramod Mishra pointed out.

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LOWER SUKTEL-HIT PEOPLE STAGE DEMO Thursday, 12 December 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar ===================================================

LOWER SUKTEL-HIT PEOPLE STAGE DEMO

Thursday, 12 December 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Members of the Balangir Action Committee led by its president Gopalji Panigrahi and supported by different organisations of the town and people from around 10 villages of the Lower Suktel Project areas staged a dharna in front of the district Collectorate here on Wednesday demanding adequate compensation. They submitted a memorandum to ADM Balangir BN Ratha.

“Earlier we submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, held talks with the Chief Secretary and other officials demanding speedy payment of compensation to people displaced due to the project, besides other issues. But unfortunately, the compensation payment process has been very slow and many posts are lying vacant in the project. The Government should expedite the payment of compensation,” said Panigrahi.

The speakers also criticised the apathy of the Government and the people’s representatives of this area on this issue.  “We have given a one-month notice to fulfil our seven-point charter of demands which include payment of compensation as per the new 2011 rehabilitation policy and early convening of an RPDAC meeting to include four other villages which are fully submerged but declared partially affected,” Panigrahi added.

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RALLY DEMANDS PROTECTION OF FARMERS’ HUMAN RIGHTS

RALLY DEMANDS PROTECTION OF FARMERS’ HUMAN RIGHTS

Wednesday, 11 December 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Members of the Zindabad Sangathan and Shramik Adhikar Manch led by Lingaraj of the Samajwadi Jan Parishad, Bargarh and Trilochan Punji took out a huge procession of peasants and tribals here on Tuesday demanding fulfilment of their 22-point charter of demands.

The rally was held on the occasion of the Human Rights Day. At the call of the Zindabad Sangathan and Shramik Adhikar Manch, several people’s organisations, which are fighting for the cause of human rights of farmers and dalits hit the street highlighting their various demands.

The demands included proper implementation of the Forest Right Act, end to distress migration, implementation of the Bonded Labour (Abolitions) Rehabilitation Act, adequate compensation to farmers affected by the cyclone Phailin and declaration of the Gandhmardan Mountains as a national property, said Lingaraj of the Samajwadi Jan Parishad speaking to the media. Later, the activists submitted a memorandum to the President of India through the district 

A visit to Ranipur Jharial.By SudhirMishra/Bolangir. A visit to Ranipur Jharial.8th December 2013.

8th December 2013.
By 
SudhirMishra/Bolangir. 
A visit to Ranipur Jharial.
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Ranipur Jharial is an obscure village of Bolangir district. However this village has unique 64 Jogini mandirand Someswar mandir. Besides there is Indralath mandir made by Bricks only.This was seat of ancient tantra learning.Both Shiva and Shakta follower worshiped/learnt here here.In this open air pandal many idols have been taken away thanks to the rumour/and greed that there was gold inside the statue of goddess.As many as seven idols were missing from their place(the number could be more ).Thereis a puzzle circle .once you enter it would be difficult to come out of it.Moreover according to locals there is a lucky stones in village Ranipur .It was already 1 pm when in reached.Due to Sun ,the photographs were not good.Most of-the

photographs were taken from my Mobile .My camera developed problem there.Recently boating facility has been introduced .I am posting few photographs for viewing of all and let other give their comment.

DARING DACOITS LOOT VALUABLES FROM B’NGIR Thursday, 05 December 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

DARING DACOITS LOOT VALUABLES FROM B’NGIR

Thursday, 05 December 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

1

Around 20 dacoits hurled bombs at the house of Gyanendra Sahu of Sirabahal under the Sadar police station here on Tuesday and decamped with cash and gold jewelleries worth over Rs 3 lakh.

The dacoits wearing masks came by two Bolero vehicles and hurdled bombs to terrorise the villagers. They barged into the house of Sahu and overpowered his old mother and daughter.

They again hurled a bomb while decamping. The police rushed to the spot and seized a motorbike, which was left behind by the criminals. The police suspected involvement of local criminals in the incident. The police are trying to nab the culprits, said Balangir SDPO Narayan Nayak

20 LABOURERS TRAPPED IN BRICK KILNS OF K’TAKA Tuesday, 03 December 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

STATE EDITIONS

20 LABOURERS TRAPPED IN BRICK KILNS OF K’TAKA

Tuesday, 03 December 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the District Magistrates of Bangalore and Bargarh to submit the action taken reports (ATRs) within 15 days on the complaints pertaining to 20 bonded labourers from Odisha trapped in the brick kilns of Ankela in Karnataka.

Acting on a petition filed by Dr Subash Mahaptra, a human rights activist, the Commission has issued the directives. As per the petition, as many as 20 poor labourers from Katangpali and Talpali villages of Paikmaal in Bargarh district had migrated to Anakela district of Karnatak to eke out a living by working in brick kilns.

However, as ill fate would have it their plight started just after their landing at Anakela as they were pushed to work hard for 12 hours a day and at times without proper food and clothes by the brick kiln owner Madhu NR. Besides being compelled to work in harsh conditions, they were subjected to inhuman torture by the employer who used to confine them in isolated places for days together. Moreover, when their spouses opposed to this, they were abused and even sexually exploited by Madhu and his associates. Moreover, the petition said, no public authority there paid any heed to the complaints of the hapless labourers.

The NHRC has directed the DM of Bangalore to conduct an inquiry to identify the bonded labourers, if any, there, besides looking into the fact that whether the employer obtained license from competent authority and whether the Minimum Wage Act, Contract Wage Act, provisions of Inter-State Workmen Migrant (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act 1979 and Minimum Wage Act 1948 were followed and facilities extended to the labourers were adequate.

The NHRC has also directed the DM to probe whether the Vigilance Monitoring Committee at district level has been formed as per the Bonded Labour System (Abolitions) Act of 1976 and other provisions. The Bargarh DM has been asked to probe the labourers’ residential addresses and submit the ATR within 15days.

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TRUCKERS THREATEN INDEFINITE STIR FROM JANUARY 15

TRUCKERS THREATEN INDEFINITE STIR FROM JANUARY 15

Monday, 02 December 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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The All Odisha Truck Owners’ Association on Sunday threatened to go on an indefinite strike from midnight of January 14-15 next unless their seven-point charter of demands is fulfilled. This was announced at a Press conference at the end of the association’s executive body meeting here.

The demands include hike in freight charges, end of harassment of truckers at the inter-State check-posts and corruption by MVIs posted there and privatisation of the registration system. 

The association leaders said the Government last fixed freight charges in 2008 when the diesel price per liter was Rs 37 as against the present price of Rs 57. The Government has set up three technical committees to look into this problem since 2008 and the committees submitted their reports which were never implemented. The association has tried to appraise the problems to Transport Minister Subrat Tarai, but he has no time for talks, said association secretary Ravi Satpathy.

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All Odisha Truck Owner’s threatens indefinite strike from 15th January next Demands hike in freight charges for goods carriages

All Odisha Truck  Owner’s  threatens  indefinite strike from 15^th January next

Demands hike in freight charges for goods carriages

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By

SudhirMishra/Bolangir 

1^st December,2013.

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Balangir;The All Odisha Truck Owner’s Association has threatened to go on indefinite strike from midnight of 15^th January 2014 unless their seven points demands are fulfilled .This was announced to media men at press conference at the end of one day Executive Body meeting of All Odisha Truck Owner’ss Association held today(1^st December2013) in Bolangir.

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A big let down;

By
SudhirMishra/Bolangir.

29^th November2013
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A big let down

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I believe people of Bolangir were let down at least on setting up a wagon manufactuing unit in Kantabanji ,Bolangir.Ironically the former CM and erstwhile Maharaja ofPatnastateSri RNSinghdeo had donated (around700acres) ofland toRailwayin Kantabanji.Earlier ,as per my knowledge there was a sleeper manufacturing unit in Kantabanji which was closed.

Even as the land was available, this unit was not set up in Kantabanji. It was decided to set up at Kalahandi/and in Ganjam. Interestingly an RTI reply also reveals that Railway had also recommended for setting up the unit in Kantabanji--

Everything went wrong and the unit was set up elsewhere--

As a working Journalist I highlighted this issue-both in the Pioneer and in the Industry and Mines Observer making a story which was appreciated by many. other media too highlighted it .But no political parties here made it a big issue--

I strongly believe ,had this unit be set up in Bolangir, it would have ensured "economic and industrial development of small and medium industry ,besides providing employment to local youth----

And Balangir continues to be a district without any industry or the NO Industry district(NID) and an economically backward district.(EBW).even today---(29th November2013)

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