'SANCTION K'BANJI-N'RANGPUR, RAIPUR-JUNAGARH RAIL LINES' Tuesday, 24 January 2017 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar 1 2

'SANCTION K'BANJI-N'RANGPUR, RAIPUR-JUNAGARH RAIL LINES'

Tuesday, 24 January 2017 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

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Non-resident Odia (NRO) Professor Digambara Patra has urged for sanction Kantabanji-Koksara-Nabarangpur and Raipur-Rajim-Junagarh railway lines and survey for Lanjigarh road-Brahmapur railway line in the coming Budget.

He has written a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu in this regard.  He said Kantabanji-Jeypore railway line via Khariar, Dharamgarh and Koksara has been a long pending demand since past 50 years. After continuous demand, the Railway Ministry had proposed to survey this line more than a decade ago during pervious NDA Government keeping connectivity of backward KBK, especially Balangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Nabrangpur and Koraput in mind.

Importantly, Kantabanji - Jeypore railway line will connect Balangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur and Koraput districts to boost economy and communication in the local level while connecting interior part of these districts with Raipur, Bhilai, Nagpur, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Visakhapatnam and Kolkata. Despite the slow progress of the project, the State Government has not taken any proactive initiative to fulfil the long standing local demand. There is a persistent and growing demand from people of Khariar, Sinapali, Golamunda, Dharamgarh and Koksara region to immediately implement the project. Many protest letters and memorandum have been submitted in this matter to both the State Government and the Railway Minister since past decade. Unfortunately, the Odisha Government has failed to take note and seriously write to the Railway Minister for specifically implementing the project.

Similarly, Raipur-Rajim -Dharamgarh-Junagarh railway line is under survey. The route by extending to Lanjigarh road-Brahmapur will make access to South East Asian countries, Raipur, Bhilai, Nagpur and central India via the Gopalpur port.

This will further reduce distance between Gopalpur port and Nagpur and make Gopalpur port as competitive as Mumbai port from Nagpur or central India region to access East Asia market. At the same time, it will bring railway infrastructure to the Maoist and tribal dominated region and connect Ganjam/Brahmapur, Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Gariaband and Raipur districts with Raipur and Nagpur. This will also establish a direct connection between Raipur and Talcher along with Talcher-Lanjigarh road proposed route. Survey work of Raipur - Rajim -Debhog - Junagarh is almost complete and this route should be approved immediately.

Sadly, both the State Government and the Railway Ministry have forgotten and not taken proactive step for immediate approval and completion of these two projects. This is well reflected in the recent letter by Odisha Chief Minister to the Railway Minister as there is no mention about the above two projects. Similarly, there is no proposal to survey Lanjigarh road-Brahmapur railway line in this letter although this letter comprehensively mentions lots of projects in other parts of Odisha, he added. 

TIGER MOVEMENT FRIGHTENS BALANGIR VILLAGERS Monday, 23 January 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

TIGER MOVEMENT FRIGHTENS BALANGIR VILLAGERS

Monday, 23 January 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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A month after a Royal Bengal Tiger died at Chormunda village near the Jhalialiti forest under Balangir district’s Lathor Range, a report of movement of a tiger in villages under the range has come to the fore.

Villagers of Gainimal Sasan, Gurji Bhata Katua, Tankpaniand and Sariabaha are in a state of fear now.

According to reports, a villager of Debriamunda, while plucking cotton below the nearby mountain on January 18 morning, got symptoms of a tiger coming to the area. He soon sounded an alert, and accordingly, other villagers, who were there, fled from the spot.

Unconfirmed reports stated that a vehicle driver had also seen a tiger in Ruaanjhar ghati.

 “We are keeping a tab oh the situation and have intensified patrolling. We have not received any concrete evidence regarding movement of a tiger,” said a forest official. 

B’GIR BJP ZILLA PARISHAD NOMINEE GETS THREAT CALL Thursday, 19 January 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

B’GIR BJP ZILLA PARISHAD NOMINEE GETS THREAT CALL

Thursday, 19 January 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Acting on a complaint of threat to life of a BJP Zilla Parishad (ZP) candidate, police on Tuesday night raided the Balangir jail and seized a mobile phone and a SIM card.

Sources said after the complaint from BJP ZP candidate Kishore Jain of zone number 20 under Bongomunda block, the call was traced and a   raid was conducted on cell no- 2 of the Balangir jail.

 “We have seized the phone and the SIM card from an inmate Laxman Bag. A case has been registered and further investigations are on, said district Superintendent of Police Ashish Singh.

This incident has exposed how lax the security is in Balangir jail and one can operate easily from inside the jails four walls and even issue threats, said the local residents.

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Ganja worth `6 lakh seized in Balangir

Balangir: The Balangir police seized around one and a half quintal of ganja from a vehicle on Wednesday. On Tuesday, a vehicle flouting traffic rules had tried to flee away, but since the railway gate at Sudpada was closed, the accused person fled from the spot leaving the vehicle there. The vehicle was opened and 74 packets of ganja were found. The value of the contraband was estimated at around `6 lakh, said Balangir town police station in-charge Prasanta Pattnaik. More details were awaited.

HARASSED AT MANDIS, B’NGIR FARMERS FALL IN MILLERS’ TRAP Monday, 16 January 2017 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

HARASSED AT MANDIS, B’NGIR FARMERS FALL IN MILLERS’ TRAP

Monday, 16 January 2017 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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While good kharif paddy harvest this year brought cheers among farmers, yet they are now reeling under a problem of how to sell the paddy legally and check distress sale.

Thanks to official apathy, procedural difficulties, lapses and unholy nexus between officials and millers, exploitation of farmers by the mill owners is rampant.

This year, it was decided to start paddy procurement at 158 mandis from November 25, but actually it started in first week of December last, leading to distress sale from the beginning.

There was good production and the cap of 12quintals per acre of land for farmers was inadequate. It should be raised to 18quintals, demanded several farmers’ organizations here. But this fell in the deaf ear of the authorities.

As per the rules, a farmer gives all his documents to the PACS to get him registered in order to sell the paddy and thereafter the name of the farmer is enlisted and P-PASS is issued. Thereafter token is given to the farmer.

Although several farmers submitted their documents to register themselves with PACS, yet their names did not figure in the list resulting in unexpected problems for the farmers and forcing them to go for distress sale.

On January 7, several farmers under the area of Manhira PACS came to district Civil Supplies office and lodged their protest for being unable to sell their paddy. They said that as token was not issued to them they failed to dispose of their produce.

An activist said that the mess at the procurement points to apathetic attitude of the officials and an unholy nexus between them and the millers. If the farmers are harassed and their selling is delayed, they would fall back on distress sale, he added.

By the month of October, the Government introduced the linkages of ADHAR card system in the registration process. This prevented farmers to register them effectively and sell their produce. Although the Government extended the dateline twice till December last year, many farmers could not know it properly for lack of awareness, which prevented them from registering themselves.

There were also allegations that the weighing machines at the PACS were not functioning properly. The grading was also not done. With no options left, the farmers are sent to a mill to weigh it and determine the quality whether it has FAQ or not. There the millers deduct 5-10kg per quintal by manipulation.

Recently a farmer had brought his paddy to Chhatapipal mandi. He could not unload his paddy there and he slept in open field. Later, he was sent to a mill where the mill deducted 15kg per quintal for not conforming to the standards. However, following complaints with the district administration, the permission of the mill to purchase the paddy in the season was cancelled by the district Collector.

The Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACSs) have not developed their infrastructure. In a PACS, there should be proper grading, weighing machine and people to help loading and unloading. Why are these things absent? These conditions continue to prevail, deliberately to continue the unholy nexus between officials, millers and other people to exploit the farmers, alleged several activists here.

The Regulated Market Committee (RMC) is getting a specific per cent of commission to provide the technical manpower at PACS. And the PACS authorities also get a specific per cent to provide proper infrastructure at the mandi, which is sadly missing, alleged president of Zilla Krushak Mahasangha Sudhir Parischha.

This demonization introduced by the Modi Government has hit many small and medium farmers. Special provisions should be made to safeguard the farmers from the repercussion of demonetization. The Central Government should look into the plight of farmers and take appropriate steps to compensate the farmers, pointed out Zilla Krushak Samanya Sanghthan president ArunMishra.

The Government should demand hike in paddy MSP to Rs 3,000 and should claim special financial assistance from the Center for the loss caused by demonetization to the farmer community and to the people at large, Mishra added.

Meanwhile, till January 9 last, a total of 69, 6, 413 quintals of paddy  have been procured in the district. And MARKFED has started purchasing paddy in the district from January 2, said sources.

BJD NAMES 4 ZP CANDIDATES FOR IN B’NGIR Monday, 16 January 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswa

BJD NAMES 4 ZP CANDIDATES FOR IN B’NGIR

Monday, 16 January 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

    

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After the Congress announced the names of 19 candidates for the different Zilla Parishad (ZP) zones a few days ago, it was the turn of the BJD on Sunday.

The district BJD announced the names of four ZP candidates namely Satyanarayan Bhoi, Gurudev Rana, Sushmita Bag and Sushil Chand for four ZP zones under the Balangir and Deogaon blocks.

“I have been given responsibility by BJD party president and Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik for these four zones, said Arkesh Singh Deo.

 “We have selected four candidates for ZP zones coming under Balangir and Deogaon blocks on the basis on their popularity and chances of win, after due consultation with grassroot workers and other representatives,” said Singh Deo.

The development works undertaken by the Naveen Patnaik Government to boost basic infrastructure facilities in the rural areas and to uplift the poor by providing better amenities like road, water supply and other socioeconomic programmes would be highlighted further and his hands needs to be strengthened to continue the process of development in the district and the State, he further said.

BJD(Bolangir) announces the name for 4 ZP candidates for Deogaon and Balangir Sadar Block.

15thJanuary2017

Bolangir ;After the Congress announced the names 19 candidates for different Zilla parishad zones few days ago, on Sunday it  was the turn of Biju JanataDal(BJD)

I have been given responsibility by BJD party president and Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik for  four zones coming under Bolangir and Deogaon block says Arkesh Singhdeo  We have selected four candidates for four zilla parishad zones coming under Bolangir and Deogaon block the basis on their popularity and winnability, after due consultation with grassroots workers and other representatives at grass root level Singhdeo Says further.

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B’NGIR: CONG FINALISES 19 ZP CANDIDATES Friday, 13 January 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

B’NGIR: CONG FINALISES 19 ZP CANDIDATES

Friday, 13 January 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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The names of 19 Congress candidates for different Zilla Parishad (ZP) zones coming under the Balangir, Loisingha and Patnagarh Assembly constituencies was announced on Thursday.

At a meeting held at the Congress Bhawan here, party leader Samrendra Mishra urged the block president and other Congress office- bearers to work vigorously to elect the Congress candidates in the forthcoming ZP election.

The Block Congress Committee was given responsibility to select the candidates. The candidates have been selected by them on the basis of popularity and winnability criteria, said Mishra to the media.

Asked to comment on the absence of District Congress Committee functionaries in the crucial meeting, he said the committee functionaries might be busy in some function.

Asked to comment on the factionalism and dissidence in the party, he said the Congress workers at the grassroot level are united. The party would put up a better performance this time than the previous polls, he further said.

Demonetisation, irregularities in ration card distribution, the farmers’ plight and absence of adequate irrigation facilities at the grassroot level would be the major issues besides highlighting the failures of the ruling BJD Government, said Mishra.

Death ofRoyal Bengal Tiger under Lathore Range office of Bolangir district on 28th December2016 and other photohraphs;BySudhir Mishra Bolangir

Survey of aquatic birds inBolangir;By Sudhir Mishra/Bolangir;4th January 2017

I visited various water bodies/Minor Irrigation Project(MIP) near Bolangir town namely KrupasagarMIP,GandhrelDam and one water bodies at LarkiPali early in the morning with local forest department staff.Igot this photographs of few birds.Posting here for perusal/viewing  of all

BLOODLETTING CONTINUES AT SULIA YATRA Wednesday, 04 January 2017 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR |

STATE EDITIONS

BLOODLETTING CONTINUES AT SULIA YATRA

Wednesday, 04 January 2017 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Hundreds of animals were killed at the altar of Sulia deity at Khairguda, which is known as Badkhala in Deogaon block, on Tuesday irrespective concerns of animal lovers and environmentalists across the State.

Hundreds of hens, goats and sheep were slaughtered as a mark of a long going tribal tradition to appease the goddess at the Sulia Buda site. Reports of killing of buffalos were also received from Saan Khala, another place of the Sulia Yatra.

Every year Sulia Yatra is held on the first Tuesday of the Odia Pausha month at Khairguda in Kultapada gram panchayat in the district, 20 km from here. The tribal devotees have been worshipping Sulia Budha at the village by the side of Sulia Dangar hill for over 100 years. The Yatra has been also observed in the locality for over 100 years.

According to a legend, Sulia Budha deity came from Vindhybasini area. A Nishi puja used to be held first at the mountain top. But later, it was held near the foothill.

Despite prohibition of animal killing by the administration for some years and protests from various quarters to stop the inhuman act, the tribals are unconvinced. Rather they allege it as interference on their freedom to religious practice.

Tribals are nature lovers and worshippers. The tribal villagers collect voluntary donation and with that money they arrange an animal for killing. Tribals also offer milk to tigers with a payer that the animal being the king of forest guard the forest and mountain, said Maya Pradhani.

The tribals are of the opinion that those who do not understand the tribal culture are opposing animal killing which is an integral part of the festivities.

“I have come from Bargarh district .As my wish was fulfilled I offered a goat to the Sulia deity. We had asked the mother goddess to help us so that my sister is married off and she fulfilled it,” said Jayadev Matari of Saharapali.

Another devotee, Satyapriya Sethi of Dumerpali village said, “I have been coming to Sulia for the last four years. As my brothers’ skin ailment was cured, we offered a hen to the deity this year.”

Th Yatra was also held at Kumria, Bihibandh and Mirdhapali.

Meanwhile, Balangir Sub Collector BimalPrasad Mohanty said that all arrangements were made for a hassle free yatra. Four platoons of police, senor police officers, besides Executive Magistrates, have been deployed to maintain law and order, informed SDPO Narayan Naik. 

ELEPHANTS WREAK HAVOC IN BALANGIR Tuesday, 03 January 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

ELEPHANTS WREAK HAVOC IN BALANGIR

Tuesday, 03 January 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Following the unexpected death of a Royal Bengal Tiger, now comes a report of movement and damages wrought by a herd of 27 elephants causing anxiety among people of Patnagarh and Loisingha block in Balangir district. A few months ago, there was movement of a herd of elephants in Loisingha block causing damages to crops.

Moreover, two elephants died due to anthrax in Loisingha. After the incident, the elephants moved away to the Gaisillet area of Bargarh district.

Interestingly, these elephants were sleeping at village Damkipali in the Patnagarh Forest Range area of Balangir district and causing damages in Gaisillet.

However, the herd again moved to Gaisillet and killed a person there only to return to the old place in Balangir district.

Since last three days, they have been moving near Damkipali village and damaging paddy stored in barns, banana plantations and some other crops. On Sunday night, they moved to Sankripani village in Gaisillet block and is expected to cross over into Loisingha area again, said Patnagarh Range Officer Banmali Sahu.

In another development, at least three more elephants are moving in Upparjhar and Tandamunda villages in the Balangir Forest Range and damaging paddy kept in the barns and in other areas. The elephants even damaged the boundary of a school football field at Upparjhar.