Panic as another leopard sighted in B’ngir Monday, 17 September 2018 | PNS | BALANGIR

Panic as another leopard sighted in B’ngir

Monday, 17 September 2018 | PNS | BALANGIR

In yet another instance of leopard sighting, the people in Balangir saw a leopard at Mahima Chowk near Gulmi forest, 50km from here, on September 14. Consequently, there is panic in the locality.

According to reports, people saw the leopard sitting on a concrete structure of water pipes.

Notably, the cement structure is near the water project at Dumerbahal  from which water is supplied to the ordnance factory at Badmal through large pipes. While going through the road towards Balangir from Titilagarh, people saw the leopard sitting over a cement structure on the day of Nuakhai. Staying a few minutes, the leopard vanished.

According to sources, there are around eight leopards in Titilagarh forest range. A good deal of the area comes under the jurisdiction of ordnance factory, Badmal. As there is water source of Dumerbahal project and protection due to the boundary of the ordnance factory, leopards are often sighted here. There is no incident of any attack by leopard so far.

However, Titilagarh range officer J Nanda rubbished the report of leopard sighting. “We don't have any reports of leopard sighting in our area,” he said even as there were confirmed sources of the sighting.

B’ngir locals terrified after leopard sightedSunday, 16 September 2018 | PNS | BALANGIR

Pugmark of the leopard)

B’ngir locals terrified after leopard sighted

Sunday, 16 September 2018 | PNS | BALANGIR

Even as the people of Balangir district and other areas are rejoicing due to the Nuakhai festival, yet the appearance of a big leopard in the Shiv Durga temple located near Malpada village, 40km from here, under Deogaon block on Friday evening has sent shockwaves.

The temple is located just below a hillock (dungar) and adjacent to Punjigoad jungle, which shares borders with Upparjhar forest area and Sulia Ghati forest in Boudh district.

According to reports, a person had brought his new tractor for worship by the temple priest. However, as the priest had gone to the village for Nuakhai, he waited for sometime there.

By this time, he heard some sounds from the nearby foliages and soon a big size tiger (leopard) appeared and stood a few seconds before a tree where the deity is worshipped. The man there remained awestruck.

As the temple is located around 1km from the village and that too, near the forest, nobody was there. Later, the tiger disappeared from the place.

According to reports, a few days ago, there were incidents of cow lifting in the area of Mukundpur-Puranpani areas.

“We could manage to get the photograph of pugmarks of the tiger. It appears to be well grown leopard,” said a villager.

The villagers have demanded that the Forest Department take adequate steps to ensure safety of the people.

Rafale scam: Congress holds demo in B’ngir

News in English daily The Pioneer

Rafale scam: Congress holds demo in B’ngir

Saturday, 08 September 2018 | PNS | BALANGIR

The members of Balangir district Congress Committee led by its president Dilip Behera, Samarendra Mishra and Santosh Singh Saluja staged a protest before the Collectorate here alleging corruption by the Modi Government in purchase of Rafale fighter plane from France.

The Congress leaders criticised the BJP led NDA Government at the Centre for corruption in purchase of Rafale fighter plane, fuel price rise, inflation and failure to provide jobs to youths.

The 126 Rafale fighter plane deal was finalised during UPA Government at Rs 526.10 crore per plane with France .18 planes were to be purchased from France and 108 planes were to be produced at HAL with transfer of technology.

But after the Modi Government came to power, Rafale plane deal was finalised at Rs1, 670.70 crore per plane and total 36 planes will be purchased.

The total purchase cost of Rafale plane would have been Rs 18,940 crore, whereas the Modi Government’s new deal has hiked the total purchase price of fighter plane to Rs 60,145 crore. Hence, there is a corruption of Rs 41,205 crore in the deal, the Congress leaders charged. Besides, they told if the planes were to be produced in HAL, Odisha, it could have provided employment to 35,000-40,000 youths of the State, said former MLA Saluja.

B'ngir forum submits memo for Vig probe Wednesday, 29 August 2018 | PNS | BALANGIR

News in English Daily the Pioneer

B'ngir forum submits memo for Vig probe

Wednesday, 29 August 2018 | PNS | BALANGIR

The members of the Balangir Action Committee led by its convenor Gopalji Panigrahi and others on Tuesday submitted a petition to the Superintendent of Police (Vigilance) Sambalpur through DSP Vigilance, Balangir, to inquire into the irregularities committed in preparation of financial proposals submitted to the Center for construction of a bypass road in the town.

It would be pertinent to mention here that a proposal of Rs 241.70 crore was sent to the Center for construction of the Balangir bypass road. Two National Highways namely NH-26 and NH- 54passs through the Balangir town which create huge traffic problems, besides rising accidents. For construction of the bypass road, land acquisition is required. In collusion with teshil officials, a proposal quoting high prices of land was submitted to the Center, which exceeds the benchmark value of land fixed by the Center.

However, the Center returned the proposal to the State Government stating that excess land price has been quoted for land acquisition and asked to send a revised estimate.

Accordingly, a proposal of Rs 224crore was sent again to the Ministry of Road Transport and National Highways.  However, this proposal was also not accepted by the Ministry and it was returned.

An estimate of Rs 190 crore has been submitted latest to the Center for bypass road.

“Today we submitted our petition to Superintendent of Police (Vigilance ) Sambalpur through DSP Vigilance Balangir to inquire into the irregularities in proposal submitted to the Center for the Balangir bypass road and take action against them,” said convenor Panigrahi

“We would sent the petition to our SP office  and would start a probe after getting instructions from there,” informed DSP Vigilance Parmeshwar Kisan to mediapersons.

5 YRS ON, RESCUED MIGRANTS YET TO GET REHABILITATION AID Friday, 01 June 2018 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

5 YRS ON, RESCUED MIGRANTS YET TO GET REHABILITATION AID

Friday, 01 June 2018 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Around 15 rescued and released migrant bonded labourers of Bairkhamn, Badbahali and Phapsi villages of Subarnapur district are yet to get their rehabilitation assistance even though they were rescued as far back as on April 23, 2013 from a brick kiln of Guddur district of Andhra Pradesh.

The plight of the migrant bonded labourers came to light in a recent leadership development programme organised by the Aide et Action Bhubaneswar which was attended by the rescued labourers of Nabrangpur, Nuapada, Balangir, Bargarh and Subarnapur districts.

According to the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976, a labourer/person who is rescued as a bonded labourer is entitled to rehabilitation assistance of Rs 20,000 and a certificate of release. While Rs 1,000 is given on the rescue spot, the rest amount is paid by the native district administration or the State.

The leadership development programme, among others, stressed on how released and rescued migrant bonded labourers would get more entitlements, more wage employment and inclusion in the Government’s pro-poor and welfare schemes and benefits for their economic upliftment. The meeting expressed surprise over reports of closure of seasonal hostels meant for migrant children in Balangir district as the rules say that seasonal hostels should be kept open till the return of the parents of migrant children.

While the rescued migrant bonded labourers related their ordeal in getting job work and how they overcome it, the meeting also stressed the need to pay attention to the returning migrants and their children and steps for them to make a living in the villages.Among others, Umi Daniel, Saroj Barik and Jyoti Prakash of Aide et Action clarified their doubts. The rescued and released migrant bonded labourers were told to strive hard to get the Government entitlements to lead a better life.

Jivan bindu Programme at Bolangir on 11thApril,2018

https://youtu.be/zm1ctbyoalk
Jivan bindu Programme at Bolangir on 11thApril,2018

Distress sale of tomato in Bolangir

distress sale of tomato in Bolangir
https://youtu.be/tkYXXZccirs

https://youtu.be/tkYXXZccirs
7thApril2018

Bolangir

Tomato farmers of village Jankpur Bolangir led by President of Zilla Krushak Mahasangha Sri Sudhir Parischha today threw tomato on the road before collectriate, protesting against the low price and demanding mechanism to protect them.

I had cultivated tomato in two Acres of landand invested a lot of money. Now traders are demaning us to sell tomato at rupees one per kg which is quite low and disgusting. Hence we have thrown it before collectriate, says Birendra Bag afarmer of Janakpur village.

I had also cultivated tomato in three Acres of land and today in the market ,p traders/people offered a price 50paisaper kg which was Disgusting. I didn't sale and threw it here today saysSanuj Bhoi .Some mechanism should be developed for tomato farmers to check distress sale of farmers, says Sanuj further.

"Both the state and Central government are shedding crocodile tears for development of farmers.However till today there is no facility of Krushak Bazar nor chain of Cold storage has been set up to store tomoato andto ensure remunative (adequate price)for tomato.

Today the farmers have thrown thetomato on the street as a mark of protest and unless Government take remedial measures, farmers will report to agitation, says President of Zilla Krushak Mahasangha Sri Sudhir Parischha.