NO TENDER FOR WORKS COSTING UP TO RS5 LAKH Tuesday, 01 September 2015 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

Read this news published  in thePioneer

NO TENDER FOR WORKS COSTING UP TO RS5 LAKH

Tuesday, 01 September 2015 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

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Now onwards, all Government contracts for works estimated to cost up to Rs5 lakh may be given out with or without inviting open tenders at the discretion of the Divisional Officers to the best advantage to the Government.

Earlier, the contracts for works estimated to cost less than Rs 50,000 were to be given out with or without tenders at the discretion of the Divisional Officers. With the Department of Works allowing amendment of the Odisha Public Works Department Code, now the new rule will be applicable to all Government procurements, their attached subordinate offices, public sector undertakings under the Government and statutory bodies.

According to officials sources, notices inviting tenders for works of more than Rs10,000 but up to Rs5 lakh should be circulated among the local offices. However, the State Government following in the footsteps of the Union Government has decided to make e-tender mandatory for tenders valued above Rs5 lakh. Tenders for works costing more than Rs5 lakh and up to Rs10 lakh shall be published in two local Odia newspapers, said an official.

The Union Government has affected this new system from April 1, 2015 as 30 per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) constitutes Public Procurement. This would ensure transparency and prevent cartelisation and allow more participation in the tendering process.

It has also been notified that tenders shall be invited for all works costing more than Rs5 lakh. However in case of urgency, the prescribed period of notice may be suitably reduced.

The OPWD Code is intended to define the scope of the functions of the officers in charge of public works working under the administrative control of Works, Water Resources, Energy,  Rural Development, Urban Development Departments and any other departments to which the execution of public works is assigned by the State Government.

Unless otherwise stated in the OPWD Code, the Rules in this Code apply to all public works and are complementary to those laid down in the Odisha Treasury Code, Odisha Service Code, Odisha General Financial Rules, and Central Public Works Account Code as adopted and other Rules.

The dark clouds by SudhirMishra/Bolangir(India)31-08-2015

The dark clouds by SudhirMishra/Bolangir(India)31-08-2015

MINISTER ASKS B’NGIR OFFICIALS TO MEND LI POINTS Monday, 31 August 2015 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

MINISTER ASKS B’NGIR OFFICIALS TO MEND LI POINTS

Monday, 31 August 2015 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar 

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4Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathi reviewed the agriculture situation in Balangir district in a meeting here. It was attended by MSME Minister Jogendra Behera, district Collector M Muthukumar and district level agriculture and horticulture officials.

Later speaking to mediapersons, Maharthi said that the transplanting work of paddy crop has been affected due to shortage of water. However, the rains of last two days have improved the situation slightly.

However, he admitted that the planting of old paddy seedling would affect paddy productions in the district. He directed the Lift Irrigation officials to repair the defunct LI points within 15 days.

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NAVEEN LAYS STONE FOR BALANGIR MED COLLEGE Monday, 31 August 2015 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

NAVEEN LAYS STONE FOR BALANGIR MED COLLEGE

Monday, 31 August 2015 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone of Balangir Medical College here for the third time on Sunday.

Patnaik, who arrived at the helipad constructed in the proposed college site from Tusura, was received by Rajya Sabha member AU Singh Deo, Leader of Opposition Narsingha Mishra and Ministers Jogendra Behera and Atanu Sabyasatchi Nayak.

Already, the construction work of medical college is in progress and is scheduled to be completed in two years.

The Chief Minister gave away laptops to meritorious students.

Addressing a public meeting at the Rajendra College field, Patnaik observed that besides irrigation, migration is a major problem of Balangir district. For the welfare of workers, the daily wage has been increased to Rs200 and provisions for labour pension and insurance have been made, he said.

For development of irrigation, the Lower Suktel, Lower Indra and Titilagrah irrigation project stage-2 are under construction, and once completed these projects would irrigate 48,000 hectares of farmland in the district, Patnaik said.

AU Singh Deo demanded setting up of an Agriculture University and a permanent Bench of the Odessa High Court at Balangir. He also requested the Chief Minister to take step to extend the crop insurance deadline and early crop cutting to know the status of loss of crop in the district.

The Chief Minister left for Titilagarh to inaugurate other development projects there.

Migration is a major problem of Bolangir CM Naveen Pattnaik addressing gatherings at Bolangir on 30th August2015;By SudhirMishra/Bolangir

 Migration is a major problem of the district.:Chief MinisterNaveen Pattnaik inBolangir on 30thAugust2015
By
SudhirMishra/Bolangir(India)

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Bolangir; Chief Minister NaveenPattnaik today laid the foundation stone of Bolangir Medical college for the third time today at Bolangir.

The Chief Minister,who arrived in the Helipad constructed in the Medical college site, from Tusura, was received by AUSinghdeo, Leader of Opposition SriNarsinghaMishra,MinisterJogendraBehera and HealthMinisterAtanuSabyasachi.

“I am delighted to lay the foundation stone of medical college at Bolangir”  says Chief Minister Naveen  Pattnaik to media men at the helipad.Already the construction work of medical college is going on and scheduled to be completed by two years.

Later addressing a public meeting at Rajendra College field the Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik, observed besides irrigation,  Migration  is a major problem of the district .
BijuJanta Dal has all along strived for development of Labourers. For the development of workers, daily wage has been increased to 200rupees.For the development of labourers labour Pension and Insurance provision for labourers has been started ,Pattnaik says further.

For the development of irrigation, LowerSuktel,LowerIndra,Titiligrah irrigation project stage2 is going on and once completed it would irrigate48000hectaresof district.He sought the cooperation of people to make a developed Odisha,says Pattnaikfurther.

Speaking on this occasion RajyaSabhaMP AU Singhdeo demanded settingup Agriculture University and  permanent Bench of OdishaHighCourt at Bolangir.Sri Singhdeo also requested the Chief Minister to take step to extend the crop insurance deadline, and early crop cutting to know the status of crop loss  in the district.

Among others Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi,MinisterJogendraBehera,AgricultureMinisterPradeepMaharathy ,BJD State Council member ArkeshSinghdeo spoke on this occasion.

The Chief Minister, left for Titiligarh via helicopter to inaugurate other development project there.
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CONG HOLDS DEMO IN DISTS, SUBMITS MEMO TO GUV Saturday, 29 August 2015 | PNS | BRAHMAPUR/ JHARSUGUDA/BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

Balangir: The Balangisr District Congress Committee (DCC) led by its president Bhagabana Bagarti staged a dharna in front of the district Collectorate here on Friday protesting the rise of prices of essential commodities, including pulses and onions.

The party leaders held the Government responsible for the price rise and demanded effective measures to be taken to control the situation.

Later, Congress leaders, including Hemanta Panda, Laxman Meher, Suryabhanu Mishra and Kailash Mishra led by the DCC president submitted a memorandum to district administration in this regard.

Kaun Kitney Paani Mein (KKPM),directed byNilamadhabPanda,is slated for an all -India release on 28 August 2015;

27thAugust2015

Bolangir; 
Kaun Kitney Paani Mein (KKPM) is a new Hindi feature film directed by Nila Madhab Panda (award-winning Director of ‘I am Kalam’) set in a hypothetical village in Odisha. The film is a satire on the issue of water scarcity set against the backdrop of a traditional Bollywood love story. The film seeks to entertain viewers but leave them thinking about the importance of water conservation long after they leave theaters. The film was produced by One Drop, an international organization in the water sector, with the generous contribution of the Royal Bank of Canada and United Technologies, as part of its unique social arts-oriented approach to behavior change with respect to water and sanitation. Radhika Apte, Kunal Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla and Gulshan Grover star in the film that is slated for an all -India release on 28 August 2015
Bollywoodstar Hrithik roshan seen in the premier offilm held atNewDelhi,besides other leading actors and personalities)

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B’gir bonded labourers yet to get rehab aid Thursday, 27 August 2015 | PNS | in Bhubaneswar

INBRIEF..

Thursday, 27 August 2015 | PNS | in Bhubaneswar

B’gir bonded labourers yet to get rehab aid 

Balangir: A district-level meeting of bonded labourers in Balangir district was held here on Wednesday. The meeting was organised by the Balangir Zilla Dadan Goti Surakshya Manch with support from the Migration Information Resource Centre (MIRC) Bhubaneswar and Aide et Action, Bhubaneswar. The labourers narrated various problems faced by them on the occasion. It was learnt that 638 bonded labourers have so far been rescued in the district; but 265 among them are yet to get their rehabilitation assistance.

KOSAL BANDH HITS LIFE IN 10 WESTERN DISTRICTS Thursday, 27 August 2015 | pns | BHUBANESWAR/ BALANGIR/ JHARSUGUDA | in Bhubaneswar 1

KOSAL BANDH HITS LIFE IN 10 WESTERN DISTRICTS

Thursday, 27 August 2015 | pns | BHUBANESWAR/ BALANGIR/ JHARSUGUDA | in Bhubaneswar

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Ten Western Odisha districts observed a 12-hour bandh on Wednesday demanding separate Statehood for the Kosal region under Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution of India.

Normal life was disrupted in the morning at several places in these districts in response to the bandh call given by the Kosal State Coordination Committee (KSCC).

While shops, Government and private establishments and schools and colleges remained closed, agitators stopped movement of trains at some stations. The bandh was effective in the districts of Balangir, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sundargarh (including Rourkela), Bargarh, Deogarh, Subarnapur, Nuapada and Kalahandi.

In Balangir, a meeting was held before the district Collectorate in which several organisations participated,

In Sundargarh district, movement of traffic was disrupted with dumpers and trucks remaining off the roads and transportation of minerals coming to a standstill. Agitators owing allegiance to Kosal Kranti Dal (KKD) force-closed some Government offices, which were open, by picketing in front of them.

In Jharsuguda district, public transport was disrupted and the streets almost wore a deserted look. The MCL area offices, Government offices, business establishments, including banks, and educational institutions remained closed at most places in Belpahar, Brajrajnagar and Jharsuguda.

Kosal movement leader Pramod Kumar Mishra said, “In 1936 and 1948, the political leaders of Odisha got our land merged with the State (Odisha) through a conspiracy. We are demanding a separate State as per the provisions of Article 2 and 3 of the Constitution.” Formation of a separate state is the only solution to the problems like regional imbalance, discrimination in education, employment, industrialisation and development, he added.

Two years ago I had written this article.posting again for perusa lof all Onion at 60 By SudhirMishra/Bolangir.(11thSeptember2013)

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Onion at 60 By SudhirMishra/Bolangir.11thSeptember2013

Onion at 60

SudhirMishra/Bolangir.11thSeptember2013

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Balangir; 60 is a quite substantive and satisfactory number by any yardstick. In common parlance anyone who brought 60 or 60%is considered to have brought a first class a good satisfactory standard.

But when the price of any daily consumable goods touches 60rupees per kilogram  it became unbearable and the impression of satisfactory thing turns out to a nagging painful and bitter one for common people.

Take the case of Onion. Onion was used by millions of people including Odiyas  since longtime.  The  people of Odisha used to consume piyaj (onion) with Pakhal (watery rice)or either in  their daily launch and dinner.

Although Onion which has a lot of medicinal properties and contains vitamins, irons is not liked by many for its pungent smell. And for few decades it was less used by all and only a category of people used extensively. 

However as its anti -heat stroke capabilities were published and propagated in mass media and TVs its acceptability regained further.

Produced in the early February –to April, this perishable goods cost a little more  in rainy season than summer very often hit hard the  customer –themidle class most. However this year the price of onion crossed all limit with price of per KG onions raised from rupees 32to 40 to52 to 60rupees per KG now.

I have to purchase it as I am cooking meat to observe ChhadKhai and we are two persons staying .I cannot afford to purchase more. Already the single piece of onion has cost me rupees 10 says worried customerwho purchased it from a shopkeeper today morning.

Today a child came to purchase onion and four onions weighed250gramsand its cost was 15rupees.Before delivering it, I told the child to inform this to his parents and then purchase, least the parent may complain of cheating informs a shopkeeper.

Apparently, unsatisfied with the quantum of onion for rupees 15, thechild did not return, adds the shopkeeper.

While the salaried class people are hardly affected by rising prices and purchasing it with less difficulty, it is the working and lower middleclass are feeling the punchofrising price of onions.

Since last two months we have not consumed onions. We cannot afford consuming it at such high price. But to cook meet I am purchasing 250gramsonly today informs another customer.

Ironically Bolangir district produces a large quantity of  onions but thanks to inadequate storage space, forcing  onion farmers to go for distress sale and  People of Bolangir have to purchase  Onion at such high prices as it  had to be brought from Outside state namely from Nasik, Maharashtra.

This year there has been a drought in Maharashtra affecting its production, besides the hoarding and other irregularities Prices of Onions has increased high and common man and poor especially the lower middle class are suffering the worst.

With no sign of fresh arrival of onions are near future, it is sure that people are resigned to reel under the impact of high onion price, besides rising price of petrol, and other essential products, making their life a “painful one”

While 60 could be satisfactory for many, but onion at rupees 60 is breaking the backbone of many mostly poor and lower middle working-class— 

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NB; while the NUanKhai is observed on Rishi Panhami Day, theday afterGanesh Chaturthi. The Next dayofNuanKhai is observed asCHHADKhai.On this day people consume meat and and enjoy themselves

Friday, 21 August 2015 | PNS | in Bhubaneswar State Police Football Championship from Aug 21

STATE EDITIONS

STATE EDITIONS

SPORTS

Friday, 21 August 2015 | PNS | in Bhubaneswar

State Police Football Championship from Aug 21

Balangir: The 78th State Police Football Championship would be held  at Balangir from August 21 to September 6, informed Superintendent of Police of Bolangir ,Dr Deepak Kumar at a Press conference on Wednesday. A total of 44 teams from different police districts, OSAP Battalions, IRBN units, Commissionerate police team, and Odisha fire services team are scheduled to participate in this tournament.  All the 108 matches would be played in three different playgrounds of Bolangir namely Reserve Police ground, Manoharpur, Gandhi Stadium and Pallishree Stadium Sadaipali. DIG Northern Range Sambalpur  Prateek Mohanty is schedule to be chief guest on opening day on  August 21 and Arun Kumar Ray Additional DGP, SAP Odisha ,would be  the chief guest on the closing day. We hope this tournament would give a boost to the game of football in the district, added Kumar.

The beautiful green canopy of trees;By SudhirMishra/Bolangir(India)

A tree and its reflections in standing water of paddyfield;By SudhirMishra/Bolangir(India)

78State Police Football Championship in Bolangir from 21stAugust ;By SudhirMishra/Bolangir(India)

78State Police Football Championship in Bolangir from 21stAugust

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Bolangir;The 78State Police Football Championship 2015 would be held from 21stAugust to 6thSeptember2015inBolangir.Thiswasannouncedto media men by Superintendent of Police(SP)Bolangir ,Dr Deepak Kumar at a press conference on Wednesday.

A total of 44teams from different police districts, OSAP Battalions, IRBN units, Commissioner ate police team, and Odisha fire services team are scheduled to participate in this tournament.  All the 108 matches would be played in three different playgrounds of Bolangir namely Reserve Police ground, Manoharpur, GandhiStadium and Pallishree Stadium Sadaipali .Deepak Kumar Said further.

DIG Northern Range Sambalpur Sri Prateek Mohanty is schedule to be chief guest on opening day on 21^st August and SriArunKumar Ray Additional DGP, SAP Odisha ,would be  the chief guest on the closing day. SP Deepak Kumar says further.

We hope this tournament would give a boost to the game of football in the district, Kumar says further.

A butter fly;SudhirMishra/Bolangir(India)

LO AND BEHOLD, B’NGIR NOW IN DRINKING WATER CRISIS Tuesday, 18 August 2015 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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STATE EDITIONS

LO AND BEHOLD, B’NGIR NOW IN DRINKING WATER CRISIS

Tuesday, 18 August 2015 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

    

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It is common to find people experiencing water shortage in summer, but Balangir town is facing acute shortage of drinking water even these days when the monsoon season is underway.

The town requires about 13.75 Million Liters Per Day (MLD) as per an earlier estimate. The current requirement is 17 MLD.

Drinking water is supplied to the Balangir town from Nandan Nal in Sonepur district and from there it is pumped to a water treatment plant at Sibtala and from Sibtala to Keiserkela to Madhiapali and then to Balangir town. In this 48km long route, around 25 per cent water is lost due to leakage and deliberate damage to pilferage water by nearby villagers to meet their water needs, says an official here.

“We are providing 6 MLD of drinking water to Balangir town in last few days. The entire town has been divided in eight water supply zone. We have increased the duration of water supply so that wherever water is supplied the people could get sufficient drinking water and they could store for some days,” says a PHD official.

The drinking water crisis of Balangir town would be solved once the water supply project from Tel river is completed. Around 60 per cent work has been completed

and the project is expected to be completed by 2016, says the official.

With inadequate and erratic rainfall this year, agriculture operations have been badly hit and a specter of drought is looming large in the district. The drinking water crisis is attributed to the scanty rainfall as well.

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OMOA’S STIR FROM AUG 19 BEFORE ASSEMBLY Monday, 17 August 2015 | PNS | Balangir | in Bhubaneswar

OMOA’S STIR FROM AUG 19 BEFORE ASSEMBLY

Monday, 17 August 2015 | PNS | Balangir | in Bhubaneswar

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Members of the Odisha Ministerial Officers’ Association (OMOA) will stage a dharna before the State Assembly on August 19 and 20, pressing for a slew of demands.The demands include enhancement of pay of junior clerk, senior clerk, head clerk and change of the British style designation of ‘Clerk’ to Executive Assistant and Head Assistant.

This was announced to mediapersons on Sunday by OMOA president Satrughna Panigrahi. If both the demands of the association are fulfilled by the Government, it would have marginal financial burden on the State exchequer, Panigrahi said. 

NHRC ASKS B’NGIR DM FOR PERSONAL APPEARANCE Monday, 17 August 2015 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

NHRC ASKS B’NGIR DM FOR PERSONAL APPEARANCE

Monday, 17 August 2015 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has summoned the Balangir district Collector-cum-Magistrate for personal appearance on September 24, 2015 along with requisite report over the latter’s failure to comply with the commission’s repeated directions over assault of a girl student by a residential school night watchman.

“In case the report is received on or before September 17, 2015 the personal appearance of the Balangir District Magistrate shall stand dispensed with,” stated the latest order of the commission.Angul-based Human Rights Watch secretary Sangita Swain has moved the apex human rights watchdog alleging that on November 18, 2013 three girl students of Kasturaba Goandi Girls’ Hostel in Kholan in Titilagarh block were sexually assaulted by night watchman Ratnakar Ghibela.

The petitioner alleged that though around 100 girls are staying in the residential school no lady warden/staff have been appointed to take care of them violating the Government guidelines.The petitioner urged the commission to initiate criminal/disciplinary action against the abetment concerned public authority and ensure a compensation of `5 lakh to the victim girls.

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RAINS ELUDE B’NGIR: MUSINGS OVER UNUSED RAINCOAT Monday, 17 August 2015 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

RAINS ELUDE B’NGIR: MUSINGS OVER UNUSED RAINCOAT

Monday, 17 August 2015 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

As I entered a room in my house a polythene carry bag which looked more like a bundle of something caught my attention. For a moment, I could not recall what it was inside and out of curiosity I went near it and opened it. I had forgotten that I had kept a raincoat folded properly since the end of last years’ monsoon season.

I recalled that with the onset of monsoon by second week of July, I had brought out it from an old almirah to be used in the rainy season.The discovery of the unused rain coat would have been a simple matter if it was not for a question striking my mind why the coat was still lying unused even as it was middle of August and normally the monsoon starts in June.

The fact of the matter is rains have played truant this year with the draught prone Balangir.The rainy season consists of four months namely June, July, August, and September. In past, most people in rural and urban areas had no such rainy coats. People were using umbrellas. The rainy season would start by the second week of June with regular rain and kharif paddy cultivation process would commence by that time. Besides regular rainfall, there would be torrential rains (Jhadi Barasa) accompanied with strong wind for days together bringing the normal life to a grinding halt. Schools would be closed due to leaking roofs or wet surface and young boys/girls and students would play in rain water flowing on road.

The most troublesome month of the season is August. Due to continuous rain, all rivers, streams, ponds and wells are filled with water and the heavy rain would invariably cause floods and at times it would be impossible to go out of house. Where ever you look there would be water, with cloudy sky; the earth filled in with sounds of frog croaking from the paddy fields or road side water bodies.

With the advent of small, stylish and foldable umbrellas, people are no more taking the old, bigger-in-size and cumbersome umbrellas. However, rain coats have replaced robbed umbrellas of their craze which are these days used in large numbers, be it a pedestrian or two-wheeler rider. As these are made up of light polythene, a person finds it very comfortable to wear. But Balangir has not witnessed dark clouds and heavy rains till date.

Rains were there no doubt, but largely erratic and often they came in nights. The scanty and erratic rainfall has threatened the paddy crop and consequently, a drought scare is looming large in the district.The farmers without rainfall have been a worried a lot. They have been waiting for heavy downpour desperately. The raincoat could not be used even once showing that the intensity of rain and number of rainy days have declined drastically.