BANDH IN B’NGIR, SUBARNAPUR: KOSAL STATE DEMANDED Saturday, 25 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR/SONEPUR | in Bhubaneswar

BANDH IN B’NGIR, SUBARNAPUR: KOSAL STATE DEMANDED

Saturday, 25 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR/SONEPUR | in Bhubaneswar

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Normal life in Balangir town and elsewhere in the district was affected on Friday due to a 12-hour bandh call given by the Kosal State Coordination Committee (KSCC) protesting against the “continuous neglect of this region and demanding formation of separate Kosal State”.

Shops and other business establishment, post offices, petrol pumps, banks and Government offices remain closed. The District and Sessions Judge Court was also closed. Both Government and private Buses were off the road. However, trains services were normal.

KSCC members along with activists of different organisations went round the town and shouted slogans for formation of a separate Kosal State.

KSCC chief coordinator Pramod Mishra said, “Today, people of Balangir and Subarnapur districts have supported the bandh for a separate Kosal State. Prior to merger with the State of Odisha in 1948, the ex-Patna state was a rich and prosperous one. After the merger, many reputed institutions and industries of this region were either shifted to other places or neglected totally. As a result, our region remains economically backward and facing distress migration in the absence livelihood and job opportunities. We demand a separate Kosal State under Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution. Henceforth, the Kosal movement would be taken to village level to intensify our agitation further.”

Later a meeting was held before the district Collectriate where Pramod Mishra, Gopalji Pangrahi of the Balangir Action Committee, advocate Dolamani Pradhan and Ravi Shankar Mishra and other organisations’ leaders, members of the Citizen Committee decried the State Government’s neglect of the region and demanded formation of a separate Kosal State.

There was no report of any incident from any parts of the district and the bandh was peaceful, said Additional Superintendent of Police Sashibhushan  Satpathy to this correspondent over phone.

The bandh in the neighbouring Subarnapur district called by the KSCC also passed off peacefully.

Educational institutions, commercial establishments and Government offices remained closed in all the blocks. Traffic was disrupted on the Khordha-alangir National Highway and other roads connecting Sonepur as vehicles were not allowed to ply through the town.

Many social organisations supported the bandh in all six blocks in the district.

15 DAYS ON, PADDY PROCUREMENT UNSATISFACTORY IN BALANGIR DIST

15 DAYS ON, PADDY PROCUREMENT UNSATISFACTORY IN BALANGIR DIST

Thursday, 23 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Even as 15 days have passed since the process of procurement of Kharif paddy began at PACS-run mandis in Balangir district, significant quantity of paddy has not been purchased as yet, thanks to the strike by Secretaries of PACS, which was lifted only on November 19.

As per the decision taken in the district-level paddy procurement committee, paddy would be procured from farmers at mandis of 156 PACS.

Majority of the mandis have no adequate infrastructure to reduce the “exploitation of farmers” and leaving enough scope for exploitation of farmers by miller’s.

According to sources, 56 out of 61 rice mills have signed agreement papers with Civil Supplies Corporation to participate in the paddy procurement process in 2017.

However, some of the mills have hiked capacity to produce rice in the mills from two to six tonnes and from six to 12 tonnes, according to papers given to Civil Supplies authority. The hike in the capacity would enable the rice millers to participate in the paddy procurement process in other districts and creates scope for manipulation and rice recycling, alleged many.

As per the rules, if a rice mill hikes its capacity, the concerned mill owner has to intimate and take approval from electricity department, District Industry Center, Pollution Control Board, Factories and Broilers wing of electricity department6 and has to pay taxes for the purchase of new equipment.

Rules and provisions of different Acts have been breached more than followed in this regard. A thorough inquiry should be undertaken in this regard, opined a local here.

“We usually ask for security deposits and papers of the rice milld when they hike their capacity. We attach more importance on security deposits. In case of a complaint, we will enquire into the allegation,” said in-charge Civil Supplies Officer B Kar. 

PADDY MSP ROW: NARASINGHA SLAMS CENTRAL GOVERNMENT Wednesday, 22 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

PADDY MSP ROW: NARASINGHA SLAMS CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

Wednesday, 22 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Narasingha Mishra severely slammed the Narendra Modi Government for not increasing paddy MSP to 150 per cent of the production cost even after passing of over three years since it came to power at the Centre.

 “While Rs 2,350 is spent for production of a quintal of paddy, a farmer is getting only Rs 1,550 now. During 1014 elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to raise paddy MSP to 150 per cent of cost of production but nothing has been done so far,” Mishra said at the 64th Cooperative Week programme held here on Monday evening.

Among others, Jagneswar Babu, Radha Kanta Panda and Lalit Nayak spoke.

District Central Cooperative Bank president Laxman Meher said the back could earn Rs 9 crore due to hard work of employees and others.

On this occasion, BDCC former president and employees who worked dedicatedly were honoured with shawl and citation.

Social activist Lalit Nayak demanded that all vacant posts in the DCCB be filled up soon. Members of Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACSs) of Balangir and Subarnapur districts attended. 

B'NGIR POULTRY FARMERS DEMAND PROTECTION Tuesday, 21 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

B'NGIR POULTRY FARMERS DEMAND PROTECTION

Tuesday, 21 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Balangir District Poultry (Broiler) Farmers Association president Prasanta Satpathy expressed concern over unauthorized entry of outside traders in the district.

There are 70 poultry (broiler) farmers in the district whose capacity varies between 1,000 and 10,000 birds per day and the district produces around 13,000 birds daily, said Satpathy. But he said that since the outside traders are selling chicks at much lower prices, the local farmers are incurring heavy losses.

A poultry farmer usually purchases chicks and sells it after two months for consumption. Earlier, we were purchasing chick at Rs 24 per kg and after feeding for two months, we sold it at Rs 60. But in an unexpected development, big poultry firms have entered into the district and are offering chicks and other facility to the farmers to woo them. At times, these firms are creating artificial shortage of chicks and selling them at higher prices, which affect the local farmers here.

Moreover, some traders are selling chicks bringing from Chhatisgarh and selling here to the detriment of the local farmers, said Satpathy.

"We urge the district administration to take proper steps to check the unauthorized trade by big agencies here and check import from the neighbouring State to protect the interest of local poultry farmers," said Satpathy. 

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No Mandi yet, Balangir farmers agitate(21nov2017)

Balangir: Several farmers led by president of Zilla Krushak Mahasangha Sudhir Parischha on Monday staged a dharna before the District Civil Supplies Office here demanding opening of a Mandi to procure paddy from them. Even though the district administration had decided to open a Mandi from November 6, the facility has not yet functioned. "We demand immediate opening of a Mandi in the district so that farmers are able to sell their paddy; otherwise, the farmers will resort to distress sale of their produce," said Sudhir Parischha.

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WORK FOR NAT’L UNITY, B’NGIR YOUTHS TOLD

Tuesday, 21 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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The 100th birth anniversary of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was observed at Jhalap village under Bongomunda block. It was organised jointly by the Nehru Yuva Kendra and Palli Pragati Pathagar, Jhalap.

Former Congress MLA from Kantabanji Santosh Singh Saluja was the chief guest on the occasion. Saluja recalled the efforts of Gandhi to make India a strong one and strengthen the national integrity. He called upon youths to work for strengthening the national unity and developing the nation.

Earlier, Saluja inaugurated a blood donation camp wherein 23 youths donated blood.

Among others, Zilla Parishad Member Chandrarani Nayak, Bipin Jena of NYK Bolangir, Vice Chairman of Bongomunda Block Mamraj Jain and Lekhram Bhoi of Palli Pragati Pathagar spoke.

HUGE CACHE OF EXPLOSIVES SEIZED; 3 HELD IN BALANGIR

(police announcing it in a press conference)

HUGE CACHE OF EXPLOSIVES SEIZED; 3 HELD IN BALANGIR

Friday, 17 November 2017 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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On a tipoff, a police team led by DSP Gunanidhi Mallick raided the storehouse of one Sudam Mahaling on Tuesday night at Sadeipali village located on the outskirts of the town and seized a huge cache of explosives.

The police arrested three persons, including the BJP’s Kantabanji Nagar president Murarilal Agarwal and his son Mahesh Agarwal in connection with the incident.

They seized 106 bundles of safety fuse, 38 bags of ammonium nitrate and also another loose 15kg of ammonium Nitrate, 13,527 electrical detonators, 35, 5,770 non-electrical detonators, 15 kg charcoal powder, 15 kg sulphar powder and electrical wire of 8 bundles besides cash of Rs 2, 32,155, informed Balangir SDPO Narayan Naik at a Press conference here on Thursday.

The police during investigations found that Sudam had an explosives license which was valid till March 2011. He used to procure the explosives from one Mahesh Agrawal of Kantabanji.

Although father of Mahesh, Muralilal Agrawal is having an explosive licence, yet the explosive supplied to Sudam is illegal, the SDPO said.

Neither Murailal has provided any documents for selling the explosive to Sudam nor has he a valid license to store the huge quantity of explosives. The police have seized cash worth of Rs 2, 32,155 of the transaction, further said the SDPO.

Sudam used to sell the explosive to quarry operators in the district. But he could not produce any papers in support of his purchase from Murarilal. The police arrested Sudam and Mahesh and registered a case under Sections 5 of the Explosive Substance Act, said Naik.

But the question is how the police and intelligence machinery could not know about the trading of explosives of huge quantity going on here.

Reporters pointed out how police in Kantabanji let off a truck laden with explosives a few years ago and expressed concern over illegal operation of stone quarries in the district and blasting.

Locals also expressed surprise how could such a huge quantity of explosive were stored in the village. 

LOCALS GUNG-HO AS WINTER BIRDS THRONG B’NGIR VILLAGEFriday, 03 November 2017

LOCALS GUNG-HO AS WINTER BIRDS THRONG B’NGIR VILLAGE

Friday, 03 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Birds, locally called ‘Kank’ or open billed stork, are thronging Sirabahal village in Deogaon block during the ongoing winter, much to the joy of bird watchers. The village is 15 km from here and given the safety ensured to them by the locals, the winged guests have been coming here every year over the last decade.

These birds usually come in the month of June or just before the festival of Sitalsashti. “We do not know where these birds come from and fly back after they have a short stint here till Kartik Purnima,” says a villager.

Initially, when the birds came here, there was no dearth of poachers but the locals provided them safety. Consequently, poaching is a thing of the past here. After staying here for four months, these birds leave for their native destinations. Only those who give birth to chicks stay here, says Dibya Lochan Biswal, a villager.

“We believe these birds as the harbinger of monsoon. Around 1,500 birds are staying in different trees of our village near the pond and mango trees. While they reside in mango and others trees, usually Banyan and Pipal tree branches regenerate to the impact of the acidic stool of birds,” points out the Biswal further.

These birds are coming to the villages as they are finding it a safe place to stay and form nest.

There is a symbiotic relationship between the people and birds since they love each other. Paddy crops are also protected as these birds eat away snail and other insects, says a bird lover.

BALANGIR FARMERS TORCH DAMAGED CROPS Saturday, 04 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR

BALANGIR FARMERS TORCH DAMAGED CROPS

Saturday, 04 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR / JHARSUGUDA/ BRAHMAPUR | in Bhubaneswar

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Close on the heels of farmers of several other parts of the State torching their paddy crops due to damage caused by pest attack, farmers in Balangir district also burnt their paddy crop due to damage.

According to reports, a farmer of Khapraphol in Balangir, Brundaban Barik, on Thursday set fire to his paddy crops after it was

affected due to Chakada or Brown Plant Hopper (BPH) pest attack.

Barik has a total of eight acres of land, out of which three acres are having irrigation facility and rest five acres are non-irrigated.

He had appraised the district administration about his problems. Agriculture Department officials had advised him to spray insecticide.

But although the crop condition was good, the unseasonal rainfall, hot and humid conditions accelerated the pest attack, sources said.

Normally, the BPH pest occurs in the summer paddy crop. But the rainfall after Durga Puja and hot and humid conditions led to BPH pest attack in the Kharif paddy crop. Due to this pest attack at the roots of plants, the nutrition and other supplies to the plants are cut off, resulting in death of the plants, said Balangir Deputy Director of Agriculture Sridhar Das.

Asked to comment on substandard insecticide being sold in the market and provided to farmers, Das said, “We have collected samples of the insecticide and sent them to the State laboratory for test.”

“We have got reports of the pest attack from Gudvella, Loisingha and Khapraphol blocks and a report is being prepared for submission to the Government, he added.

In Jharsuguda district, farmers in Siriapalli village set fire to their crops after attack by pests. Reports said more than 50 farmers set their damaged crops ablaze on Friday.

Besides, in Rampa village of Chikiti block of Ganjam district, a farmer set on fire his damaged crops

STORED PADDY TORCHED BY MISCREANTS Wednesday, 08 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

STORED PADDY TORCHED BY MISCREANTS

Wednesday, 08 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Even as farmers of Balangir and other districts are torching their paddy fields due to the damage caused by pest attack, in a new development, a farmer of Balangir district has sought assistance from the local Tehsildar after his stored paddy crop was burnt by miscreants.

According to the petition submitted to the Loisingha Tehsildar, Taaini Pradhan of Santika village in Agalpur block had cultivated paddy in five acres of land which included three acres of land taken on sharecropping basis.

After harvest, the paddy was kept in his barn .However on Sunday night, some unknown miscreants set fire to the stored paddy.

Though Fire Brigade personnel doused the fire, the paddy stock was reduced to ashes.

Following this, Pradhan knocked at the doors of the Tehsildar to conduct an inquiry and extend him the necessary assistance. 

ELEPHANT TUSKS SEIZED; TWO ARRESTED IN BOUDH

ELEPHANT TUSKS SEIZED;  two arrested   IN BOUDH

Thursday, 16 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Acting on a tip-off, a team of Boudh forest officials arrested two persons while they were negotiating sale of tusks on Tuesday morning. 

Sources said the team led by ACF Sushil Tripathy and DFO Yashobant Seth nabbed two persons while negotiating sale of two tusks from Ghat road near Matakrupa reserve forest in Kantamal forest range in Boudh district, 75 km from here.

The two tusks weighed 5.9 kg and the local value of the seized tusks would be around Rs 21 lakh and in the international market it would be around Rs 8 lakh, said forest office sources.

Forest officials suspect that a gang is operating in Boudh and Kandhamal area and carrying out this illegal trade of wildlife products.

In Boudh forest division there are 25 elephants. Forest official believe that the seized tusks is of an adult elephant around 30 years 

PREMATURE-BORN ELEPHANT DIES IN B’NGIRWednesday, 15 November 2017

PREMATURE-BORN ELEPHANT DIES IN B’NGIR

Wednesday, 15 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Even as farmers of Balangir, Loisingha and Deogaon blocks often get crops damaged due to movement of pachyderms yet the death of a newborn elephant has caused a lot of concern among animal lovers in the district.

According to reports, the elephant baby was found dead near Danipali village, 35 km from here, under the Negipali reserve forest in Agalpur block. It was a premature-born male elephant baby, sources said.

As the baby was premature-born, many questions have now hunted animal lovers as to what could be the condition of the mother elephant. It should be studied under what conditions elephants are giving birth before time, said some locals.

Just a year ago, a baby elephant was born in Loisingha range. What would be next movement of the herd of elephants numbering around 31 that remains to be seen, they said. According to reports, the movement of the herd has been a cause of tension between villages located along the borders of Balangir and Subarnapur districts as it damages their paddy crops. Each time, they attempt to drive away the elephants using crackers, cymbals and stones.

“Elephants are king of the forest. Nobody can check their movement. But we are facing the ire of local people,” said a forest official.

According to reports, the elephant baby was buried in the Negipali Reserve forest area in the presence of forest and veterinary officials.

“The ACF has gone to the spot. Details will be known when he reports to me,” said Balangir DFO Sameer Satpathy.

FARMER ATTEMPTS TO COMMIT SUICIDE Monday, 13 November 2017 | PNS | BARIPADA/ BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

FARMER ATTEMPTS TO COMMIT SUICIDE

Monday, 13 November 2017 | PNS | BARIPADA/ BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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A farmer, Maheswar Mohanty, of  Pingua village in Mayurbhanj district tried to end his life by consuming pesticide on Sunday.

He was rushed to the Udala hospital in a critical condition.

He had grown crops in five acres of land, but due to pest attack the crops were totally damaged, said his family members.

Reports also said that another farmer in Semilia village of Balangir district also tried to commit suicide due to crop damages and was hospitalised.

MEET HELD FOR B’NGIR FRC MEMBERS Thursday, 09 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

MEET HELD FOR B’NGIR FRC MEMBERS

Thursday, 09 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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To promote women leadership among Forest Rights Committee (FRC) members and empower and ensure women participation more in Gram Sabha meetings and FRC meetings, a women leadership development meeting was held at Sandasmunda village.

Sarapanch Kermeli panchayat Swarna Champa Suna presided. It was organised by the Regional Centre for Development Cooperation and supported by the Oxfam India. Social worker and lawyer Minakshi Purohit was chief guest.

She explained in detail about legal rights of women on land resources and urged them to raise their voice against exploitation. Sarapanch Suna supported the women leadership movement and assured all kinds of support for the purpose.

Director Programme Services of RCDC Asim Mohapatra shared regarding RCDC activities and welcomed the participants for 25th year celebration of RCDC in 2017. Pravat Mishra highlighted the provision of FRA and role of women in FRA process. Kulamani Sahu raised the issue of Kendu leaf and thanked the participants for their cooperation. 

MIGRANT HELP DESK OPENED IN TELANGANA Thursday, 09 November 2017 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

MIGRANT HELP DESK OPENED IN TELANGANA

Thursday, 09 November 2017 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

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The Odisha Government has taken initiatives to set up migrant labour help desks in five States to extend support to workers from Odisha working at brick kilns and different factories in those States.

The help desks have been established as part of a three-year action plan in view of frequent incidents of torture and deaths of Odisha workers in plant mishaps reported in recent years. The Government has decided to provide safety and welfare to the migrant workmen in destination States.

Under this year’s annual action plan (AAP), help desk works have begun in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Delhi.

Telangana Help Desk has already been launched with effect from May 1, where the Tata Trust is extending support. It is operating at Labour Commissioner’s office at Hyderabad, sources said. Another help desk would come for Andhra Pradesh.

Similarly, a help desk would be opened at the Odisha Bhawan soon and help desks in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka would be opened subsequently.

In many instances there are complaints of migrant workmen not being paid their dues or being kept in poor living conditions or being restrained at the worksite of the employer. These help desks, being set up by the Labour and ESI Department with support of associations of Odia persons, would resolve their problems, said officials. The associations have been given required funds, they said.

The Management of Utkal Association of Madras, Odisha Cultural Association, Bangalore, Utkal Sanskrutika Samaj, Vishakhapatnam have undertaken works.

Government officials are now visiting destination States during the peak migration season to make contact with Odia labourers and enquire into their problems and welfare, said sources.

As more migrant laborers are working in Chennai and Hyderabad, Labor Commissioner Sachin Ramchand  Jadav is visiting these places, sources added.

Meanwhile, mobile squads have been set up in migration-prone districts for providing immediate response to complaints of illegal migration.

Sources said that special police officers have been appointed to conduct checks at gram panchayat level in vulnerable districts. 

LET ARTISTS OF NATIONAL REPUTE TRAIN LOCAL TALENTS’ Thursday, 09 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar 1

‘LET ARTISTS OF NATIONAL REPUTE TRAIN LOCAL TALENTS’

Thursday, 09 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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For the development of Kosal Kalamandal, a proposal to construct an indoor auditorium inside the Kosal Kalamandal at an estimated cost of Rs 9 crore has been submitted to the WODC, said Balangir MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, speaking at the 3rd day of Balangir Lok Utsav on Tuesday evening.

The indoor stadium would try to have a dance, performing art and drama school so that other talented artists from outside could come and give training to the artists here, he said.

“My grandfather RN Singh Deo had donated land for promotion of art and culture to promote local talents and make Balangir a center of art and culture,” Singh Deo said further.

He suggested that the Lok Utsav Organizing Committee should use the social media extensively by uploading the videos of live performances in social media like Face book, Twitter and You tube so that people living outside could view them.

Among others, guest artist Ramachandra Sahu spoke how he became an artist and opined for the establishment of a dance drama and performing school. The Kosal Kalmandal should have the statue of late RN Singh Deo, he opined.

Among others, Chairman of Balangir Municipality Santosini Behera and ADM Laxmikant Pyrelal Pradhan also spoke. Artist Phagunu Parabhue was honoured with shawl and citation.