Balangir girl rescued from brick kiln in Bangalore FRIDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2011 23:22 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 6 User Rating: / 0

Balangir girl rescued from brick kiln in Bangalore
FRIDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2011 23:22 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 6
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A minor girl, Kuni, of Phulki Munda village in Balangir district was left behind by her parents in a Karnataka brick kiln in June, 2011 was rescued by Bangalore police on Thursday.

DSP (Rural), Bangalore Kumarswamy said the girl along with her parents had been brought by a middleman here. Her parent fled from the brick kiln on the pretext of going to market to purchase essential items. And they did not return. But the minor girl was left behind.

A freelance journalist Premanada Mishra brought the incident to the limelight by posting it to different sources and in the internet.

The incident was also published in The Pioneer on July 23, 2011.Following publication of this news the NHRC took suo motto cognisance of the incident and directed the Karnataka police to trace out the girl, informed Mishra

“I got a call from Bangalore police on Thursday evening who informed me that NHRC has taken suo motto cognisance of this incident and instructed them to trace the and asked me for more details, informed Mishra further.

“After getting the order from NHRC to trace the girl we launched a search and could locate the girl in village Suli ,near Hospate, Bangalore .The girl was found to be staying with other Odia labourers children there, informed DSP Kumarswamy to this correspondent over phone.

“We have contacted and informed about the incident to Balangir Superintendent of police.” The girl would be sent with ASI and constable to his native village within a day and they are expected to arrive in Balangir by next day evening or one day late,” he informed.

“The girl has been rescued and the process of handing over the girl to his parents is on. She is expected to arrive here within two days, informed the SP.

Balangir farmers protest inadequate fertiliser supply

Balangir farmers protest inadequate fertiliser supply
THURSDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 2011 22:00 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 2
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The farmers here once again gheraoed the Collectorate on Thursday reiterating the same demand. They contended that a farmer is given only one packet of Urea which is not enough and the dealer is unable to provide the fertiliser to all farmers.

Led by Zilla Kurshak Mahasangha president Sudhir Parischha, the farmers held a rally in the town and gheraoed the district collector’s office.

After prolonged discussion in the presence of police, media and Agriculture Department officials, the district collector assured the farmers to supply 100 tonnes, which would be distributed among the farmers.

District collector SN Dey directed enquiry into allegations about black-marketing of Urea and fake fertiliser license holders.

Later speaking to mediapersons, Dey said, “We have a stock of 110 tonne of urea fertiliser in the district. We have decided to supply 100 tonne through different dealers.”

Another rake of fertiliser is expected to arrive in the district very shortly, informed Deputy Director of Agriculture (DDA) Manoranjan Mallick.
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Balangir robbery solved, four held WEDNESDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2011 22:08

Balangir robbery solved, four held
WEDNESDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2011 22:08 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 0
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The police have claimed to solve the daylight robbery case that occurred almost a month ago in the heart of the town by arresting four youths from village Risida in Kalhandi district on Tuesday.

The four accused have been identified as Biswadeepak Patra, Ranjan Naik,Giridhari Behera, and Kailash Kumra. These four miscreants came on two motorcycles and while two entered house of Sunil Behera of Rugudipada on August 19 at 11.30 am wearing helmets and the other two waited outside. Barging inside they terrorised the wife of the house owner and administered her an injection and decamped with gold ornaments, some cash. Solving the robbery had become a challenge for the police.

Under the direction of SP Abinash Kumar, a police team consisting ASI Sarojini Samad, inspector in-charge Bimalendu Satpathy, SDPO Mahendra Kumar Patel and Seshdev Barik conducted a raid and nabbed them from Rishida on Tuesday. Police took the help of mobile tracking technology to nab them, ASP Srikant Mishra told the media on Wednesday. These youth do not have any previous criminal record in Balangir district, ASP said.

Balangir farmers block roads, demand supply of urea WEDNESDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2011 22:13

Balangir farmers block roads, demand supply of urea
WEDNESDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2011 22:13 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 0
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Notwithstanding the crop loss this year in Balangir district due to irregular rainfall, irate farmers, mostly of Puintala block, on Wednesday held Rastaroko before the Collectorate protesting against the shortage of urea fertiliser and its black-marketing.

A few days ago, the Balangir police had raided some godowns and arrested a Markfed official for blac- marketing of fertiliser.

“We demand that the Government provide fertiliser without further delay,” said an agitating farmer, Brundaban Naik. “The district administration is callous. We came to the local shop for fertliser, but we were told to go to Sudpara, where too we did not get it. So, we came here with our demand for supply of urea,” said another farmer, Lal Behari Kheti. “We suffered loss due to drought. Whatever crop we have, we want to save it, for which fertiliser is needed,” he added.

In Balangir district, paddy cultivation is undertaken by two methods: broadcasting and transplanting. While a majority of lands was covered by the broadcasting method, the transplanting method was targeted to be taken up in 76,000 hectares. But due to the scanty rainfall the transplanting operation could not be undertaken. It was hardly taken up in about 15,000 hectares of land in the beginning.

After the rains in August and September, farmers have taken up transplanting operation. And mostly these farmers expecting a good yield are in need of urea, explained a Government official.

It was planned that 39,760 metric tonnes (MT) of fertilisers, including 19,000 MT of urea, would be supplied during this year’s kharif crop for the district. But about 15,000 MT of urea has been supplied so far. The farmers who have carried out transplanting of paddy late need urea for the top dressing operation, said an agriculture official.

But the clamour for urea seems to be a misplaced one as the old paddy seedlings planted in the second week of September may not give a good yield and the effort may go in vain, said an official under condition of anonymity.
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56 LPG cylinders seized at Patnagarh

56 LPG cylinders seized at Patnagarh.
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Balangir: In a bid to check hoarding and black-marketing of LPG cylinders and streamline the distribution of LPG supply to people at Patnagarh town in Balangir district, a special squad led by Inspector of Police Ranjan Pattnaik under the direction of SP Awinash Kumar raided various establishments on Monday and seized 56 LPG cylinders stocked illegally by hotels, shop owners and black marketers. While 32 LPG cylinders were recovered from one Arun Subudhi, 15 from the establishment of B Raju and nine from one Pritam Wadwani.
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New barrages over Tel, Undher rivers mulled WEDNESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2011 00:06 PNS | TITILAGARH (BALANGIR) HITS: 18 User Rating: / 0

New barrages over Tel, Undher rivers mulled
WEDNESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2011 00:06 PNS | TITILAGARH (BALANGIR) HITS: 18
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While the rest of Odisha, particularly the coastal region, is under grip of severe floods in the Mahanadi system, the people in the State’s western part could think of barrages over rivers Tel and Undher.

Planning & Coordination and Excise Minister AU Singh Deo gave this assurance to the people attending the ruling BJD’s Jana Sampark Abhijan on Sunday.

“Building small barrages over Undher and Tel can be surveyed as per the requirement of the people of Titilagarh town,” he told the gathering to its loud applause.

Stating that funds are not a problem in the Naveen Patnaik Government for construction of the barrages, the Minister said the Government would undertake the projects after survey and feasibility studies are conducted. He, however, said that the purpose of the small barrages would help maintain temperature of Titilagarh town, which uses to boil during summer. This has been a major demand of the people of Titilagarh, who experience temperature of 48 degree Celsius during hot summer.

This apart, the barrages would also be helpful for the irrigation purpose, the Minister pointed out.

“I couldn't believe the public response at the BJD gathering,” said Arkesh Narayan Singh Deo, the young scion of Balangir. Balangir BJD MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo also spoke on the occasion. Youth BJD general secretary Abhimanyu Sahu, who was the prime mover of the rally, said this royal family has brought both economic and social changes in this part of the State.

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Farmer dies after losing land in Balangir TUESDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 2011 22:42 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 0 User Rating: / 0

Farmer dies after losing land in Balangir
TUESDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 2011 22:42 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 0
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Even as the district, along with other parts of western Odisha is reeling under a severe drought due to scanty and irregular rainfall resulting in loss of Kharif paddy and reports of farmers suicide are coming at regular intervals, yet in a shocking development, a farmer Lingaraj Sahu (55) of village Ghumer in Patnagarh block died.

Earlier, Lingaraj had lost his mental balance after losing his land to a company. Ghumer village shot into limelight four years ago as the land of poor farmers were transferred to different companies in a fraudulent manner by their agents in connivance with local tehsil officials and influential people of Patnagarh to promote Jatropha cultivation.

According to sources, ten companies New Ace Builder and Developers, New Delhi,Taj Gases Private Limited ,Agra, Enercore Diesels Private Limited ,Delhi, Supertech Printing Private Limited Delhi, Sparsh Medicare Private Limited Delhi, LEFIN (India) Private Limited, Delhi, Cladyin Hoteland Resort Private Limited Delhi, Millennium Steel Cast Private Limited Delhi, Fasteck Sofwares Private, Delhi and Siyaram Energy Private Limited, Delhi acquired total of 358.43acre of land and a total of 70 sale deeds were executed.

Nine of these companies are registered in New Delhi and only one company Taj Gases is in Agra. Moreover, the address furnished by others is their broad area and not the detailed address.

According to reports, in 2005 Mahesh Dixit of Taj Gases of Agra along with locals including Bikram Acharya and one Sushil Pradhan held a meeting in the village Ghumer where Mahesh appealed and requested villagers to give their land on lease for three years so that he could start a dairy farm and set up an incense stick factory. Mahesh took a pledge in the local village temple to win the hearts of the people. And as the gullible people were convinced somehow, they brought them to Patnagarh and registrations of their land were completed till late night and the farmers land was transferred to company overnight. Sources said Mahesh purchased land on behalf of three companies.

Lingraj lost 5 .23 of land in this process including 1.5 acres of Bahal land which was also sold in the name of Att land. When one day -he went to collect Mahul (Mahua flower) from his field, he was driven away by the company agent saying that land no longer belongs to him . This made him further depressed.

Lingaraj was poor farmer, was who was managing his life somehow. He along with the others villagers gave his land and as he lost all his land, he became mentally unstable and died.

This company fraudulently registered people’s land in their name. This is not the only case in Ghumer village .Villagers of Jaalpali, Aintulanga Ghunghutipali and Telkhochhapar have also lost their land in this process. Moreover reports of such companies purchasing land in Belpada and Khaprakhol have also been noticed said a social activist Promod Bagarti. Lingaraj’s mother had died two years ago in a state of extreme desperation as their land was lost forever.

The whole thing came to light after the poor villagers were refused entry to their land to collect Mahua flowers fallen there. The company officials told them that they are taking their land on lease and yet they were debarred from collecting Mahua flower fallen there.

They approached us and narrated the entire episode and urged us to take steps to get back their land, reveals Saroj Barik of NGO ADHAR, who is fighting the case for these people to get their land back.

Agriculture in the district is at the crossroads. The Government is promoting cash crops and this has provided avenues to multinational companies to grab land from gullible farmers by offering different alluring packages. See the Ghumer case.

“The company promised to set up dairy farm, incense stick so that people especially the youth would get jobs. And once the Jatropha is planted it would start giving them returns for 40 years. With the basic schemes of Government like PDS and MGNREGA in shambles in the drought prone Patnagarh, the poor farmers could not resist the ‘alluring offer’ and they become victim of it, said Saroj further.