A report from SAMBAD about the reality of CDP
Thursday, 29 March 2012
IGH docs felicitated for performance
Daily Pioneer Reports
Ispat General Hospital (IGH) Director-in-Charge (M&HS) Dr SK Mishra felicitated a team of doctors of the hospital who came out with flying colours in the 33rd All India Steel Medical Officer’s Conference (AISMOC) held at Visakha Steel General Hospital, Visakhapatnam in February last.
Dr Mishra said AISMOC is the best platform for dissemination of knowledge and ideas related to medical advancement. He congratulated the doctors for their outstanding performance in the conference. Director (M&HS) Dr BB Rao was also present.
The scientific papers presented by the IGH doctors were highly appreciated in the conference. Dr Sanjaya Kumar Tiwary, Consultant, Orthopedics bagged the second best paper during the event. The crowning glory of the event was the Gold Medal bagged by Dr Saroj Rout, Senior Medical Officer and Dr B Singh, Medical Officer, for “Medi Quiz–2012” competition where doctors from all the steel sectors of the country competed. Dr PK Satpathy, Senior Deputy Director, IGH coordinated the programme.
It is noteworthy that, AISMOC, which started in 1980 at the IGH for the first time, is held every year in different locations of the country to apprise the doctors of the State- of-the-art technology for providing better quality treatment to the patients. It is also trying to keep pace with the latest development in the field of medical technology to reach out to the patients with latest treatment facilities.
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Western Odisha districts top in State growth rate
Daily Pioneer reports
Sundargarh district posted the highest growth of 17.9 per cent followed by industrial hub Jharsuguda with an average growth of 10.9 per cent.
The same growth pattern is more or less reflected in per capita incomes of districts with Angul wresting the top slot at Rs 20,500 followed by Jharsuguda Rs 19,800 and Sundargarh Rs 15,700. On the whole, the State with a per capita income of Rs 25,708 in 2010-11, is gradually closing in the gap with the national average. Its per capita income is projected at Rs 26,900 in 2011-12.
Latest data contained in the Economic Survey for 2011-12 has predicted growth of Odisha’s GDP at 7.18 per cent for the current fiscal as against the national average of 6.9 per cent. Quick estimates have pegged the State’s growth at 8.60 per cent in 2010-11 at 2004-05 prices.
The State economy has grown in real terms at 2004-05 prices at an average annual rate of 8.49 per cent in the first four years of the 11th Plan despite global economic slowdown. The agriculture sector which supports more than 60 per cent of the State’s population has grown at the rate of 4.12 per cent in the first four years of the 11th Plan.
Industrial sector which has 26 per cent share in the State’s economy has posted growth of 9.12 per cent in this period while services sector has witnessed the highest growth at 9.86 per cent.
On the poverty index, the State has shown perceptible improvement with the key economic indicator plunging from 39.90 per cent in 2004-05 to 29.69 per cent in 2009-10 as per NSS (National Sample Survey) data of the 66th round.
However, widespread regional and social disparities have been noticed in development. In public finance sector, the State has been able to contain fiscal deficit at 0.34 per cent of the GDP in 2010-11compared to 1.38 per cent in 2009-10.
This has been achieved through lower growth of revenue expenditure and increase in revenue receipts. Fiscal deficit, has, however, been budgeted at 2.5 per cent of the GDP in 2011-12. Capital expenditure has gone up from Rs 5,733 crore in 2008-09 to Rs 6,683 crore in 2010-11.
The debt-GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) ratio has also been scaled down from 55.92 per cent at the end of 2002-03 to a more sustainable level of 20.07 per cent by the end of 2010-11. Advances estimates for 2011-12 predict that agriculture would account for 16.46 per cent of the GSDP while services and industrial sector would have a share of 57.34 per cent and 26.20 per cent, respectively.
Dust pollution alarming in steel city
New Indian Express reports
ROURKELA: Dust pollution in Rourkela city has been showing a worrying trend for the past few years. With road expansion works being taken up, the problem of dust pollution has aggravated, exposing its citizens to grave health hazards. Coupled with emissions from vehicles, the dust particles form a toxic haze that hangs over the atmosphere for a long period.
Two of these road expansion projects are moving at a snail’s pace for nearly three years now. To worsen the situation, seldom is water sprinkling done to keep the problem under control.
In view of the development needs of the ever-growing Rourkela city, several road expansion works have been initiated simultaneously by the Public Works Department (PWD) and Rourkela Municipality. Even after almost three years, the Hanuman Vatika-Hockey Square and Panposh-Uditnagar four-lane projects are still to be completed.
Moreover, the existing main road at Chhend Colony along with other arterial roads have been dug up. Similar works are being carried out at the Koel Nagar and Labour Tenement area and other parts of the city.
In particular, the Basanti Colony road-over-bridge ending at Uditnagar has made life miserable with passing vehicles kicking up clouds of dust incessantly.
Former municipal chairman Ramesh Bal said the civic body had spent ` 13 lakh last year towards water sparkling, without actually doing it. He also held the PWD responsible for the inconvenience as the majority of the ongoing projects are executed by the PWD. PWD Executive Engineer UC Mishra said the contractors avoid water sprinkling to save costs. Former municipal chairman and Jan Kalyan Sangathan president Narendra Tripathy also resented the callous attitude of the PWD. He said two months back, despite repeated requests from the people of Uditnagar water sprinkling was not done.
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Finally RDSC wakes to Railway Division
In a move which will make Rourkelites smile, Rourkela Development Steering Committee (RDSC), a host of political and apolitical organizations has demanded the creation of a Railway Division at Rourkela , under East Coast Railways.
Here is a report from Sambad on the issue
Friday, 23 March 2012
Neglect of Rourkela by Railway Authorities
A report from SAMBAD
Repeated negligence of genuine demands of Rourkela like Railway Division by the Railways and its after-effect has been highlighted in this report
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Sundargarh MP shatters the hopes of Sundargarh
In a really disheartening incident, MP from Sundargarh Shri Hemananda Biswal failed to represent the genuine railway demands of the district before the Railway Minister and the Lower House.
Taking part in the discussion, this evening,the MP lost his valuable time in speaking about budget allocation to Odisha, completion of Khurda-Bolangir Railway Line and Doubling of Jharsuguda-Sambalpur Railway Line.
He completely forgot the constituency he is representing there.
The only positive thing he spoke was the connectivity of Rourkela to Delhi and South India. Further he was demanding the stoppage of Express Trains at Bisra, when he was stopped by Chairperson Shri Satpal Maharaj, because he had run out of his allocated time.
The Chairperson told him that the statements he had not made in his allotted time were not recorded.
This person has failed to represent the demands of Sundargarh. Talcher-Bimalagarh route and Rourkela Railway Division are missing from his list.
Hence he should resign immedietly
Rourkela to have India's second largest Krishi Vigyan Kendra
Here is an extract from SAMBAD regarding the construction of India's second largest Agricultural Research Institute at Rourkela
Survey for Rajiv Awas Yojana to kick off
A report from Dainik Jagran
राउरकेला, जागरण संवाददाता : इस्पात नगरी राउरकेला के विभिन्न क्षेत्रों में बसी 115 बस्तियों के लोगों के लिए राजीव आवास योजना लागू करने पर नगरपालिका की ओर से काम जारी रखा गया है। शहर में 12 बस्तियां की सरकारी जमीन पर बसी हैं जिनमें इस योजना को प्राथमिकता दी जायेगी। पहले चरण में नगरपालिका की ओर से बस्तियों में रहने वाले परिवारों का सर्वेक्षण किया गया था अब बस्तियों की स्थिति पर सर्वेक्षण तथा लोगों को इसके प्रति जागरूक करने की जिम्मेदारी भुवनेश्वर की एनजीओ को सौंपी गई है। मंगलवार को नगरपालिका के अधिकारियों व एनजीओ के प्रतिनिधियों के बीच इस मुद्दे पर विस्तार से चर्चा की गई। बुधवार से एनजीओ का सर्वे का काम शुरू होगा।
राउरकेला नगरपालिका में राजीव आवास योजना लागू करने के लिए सर्वेक्षण का काम किया गया था। इसमें बीपीएल परिवार व राजीव आवास योजना में शामिल होने के योग्य परिवारों के संबंध में जानकारी संग्रह की गई थी। शहर की 115 बस्तियां रेलवे, वन विभाग, आरएसपी, नगरपालिका तथा अन्य जमीन पर बसी हैं। जिससे योजना के क्रियान्वयन के लिए कई बाधायें आ सकती हैं। राजीव आवास योजना पर घर राज्य सरकार की जमीन पर ही तैयार की जा सकती है ऐसे में एजीओ, एचडीआई भुवनेश्वर के द्वारा सर्वेक्षण कर यह स्पष्ट करेगी कि कौन सी बस्ती किसकी जमीन पर बसी है। आवास योजना लागू करने के दौरान बस्ती वासियों को उसी स्थान पर बसाया जायेगा या अन्यत्र। एनजीओ के सर्वेक्षण एवं नगरपालिका सर्वे के साथ मिलाकर नया रिपोर्ट तैयार किया जायेगा एवं इसे राज्य सरकार के पास भेजा आयेगा। मंगलवार को नगरपालिका में एनजीओ के साथ हुई बैठक में इस पर विस्तार से चर्चा की गई। इसमें एनजीओ एचडीआई भुवनेश्वर प्रमुख अननिंदा दास, नगरपालिका के ईओ विजय कुमार स्वाई, चेयरमैन रश्मिबाला मिश्र, नगरपालिका ईई मनोरंजन दास समेत अन्य अधिकारी मौजूद थे।
Monday, 19 March 2012
Rourkela civic body okays Rs 84.51-crore Budget
New Indian Express reports
ROURKELA: The Rs 84.51-crore budget of Rourkela Municipality for 2012-13 was finally approved on Saturday. Earlier, the Opposition councillors had boycotted the first budget session three days back, objecting to anomalies regarding expenditure figures of 2011-12.
Sources said the budget estimate for 2012-13 was approved after the BJD-led council admitted to wrong expenditure entries under certain overheads and addressed other concerns of Opposition councillors.
BJD Vice-Chairman R N Mishra said the thrust will be on completing major road works, streetlights, sanitation and other development projects.
Earlier, Congress and BJP members on Thursday had made noisy scenes as the income and expenditure statement of the budget estimates had disparities. In the absence of satisfactory reply, they boycotted the budget meeting which was deferred to Saturday.
Former municipal chairman and Congress member Ramesh Bal had accused the BJD-led council of supplying wrong information regarding expenditures. Bal claimed anomalies were detected in urban housing scheme and in urban electrification there was no mention of last year’s expenditure against fund allocation of ` 1.25 crore.
Friday, 16 March 2012
State’s first solar plant sealed after land row
Daily Pioneer reports
The district administration of Sambalpur sealed the first solar power plant at Haripada village in Bamra Tehsil in Kuchinda subdivision for lacking valid land documents. The unit had been inaugurated on March 11.
“We sealed the solar power plant as the company didn’t submit valid papers for its land. We are further verifying if the land has been converted to non-agricultural status,” said Kuchinda Sub Collector Sayad Mahemmad Akdas.
Sources said Jay Iron and Steel Ltd, a company from Rourkela, set up the solar power plant of 1 MW capacity at Haripada at an expenditure of `15 crore. It is one of the eight solar power plants in the State.
“Sixty firms had applied to set up solar power plants in the State. But the Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) short-listed only 20 from them. However, Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy selected only eight of them, of which the Haripada unit was one,” informed Jay Iron and Steels Limited MD Sunil Agrawal.
As per an agreement, GRIDCO was to purchase energy from the company for 25 years. At the same time, WESCO would distribute the energy,” informed Agrawal. The equipment for the solar power plants was supplied and erected by Vikram Solar (P) Ltd in technical collaboration with Pronear, a company of Spain. Engineers from Spain came to set up the power plant which took five months to complete the project. Entire power generated through solar cells had been fed into 11 KV grid of WESCO at Bamra, he added.
“If after verification of the land documents, the papers would be found authentic, then we would allow the plant to function,” said the sub-collector.
“We sealed the solar power plant as the company didn’t submit valid papers for its land. We are further verifying if the land has been converted to non-agricultural status,” said Kuchinda Sub Collector Sayad Mahemmad Akdas.
Sources said Jay Iron and Steel Ltd, a company from Rourkela, set up the solar power plant of 1 MW capacity at Haripada at an expenditure of `15 crore. It is one of the eight solar power plants in the State.
“Sixty firms had applied to set up solar power plants in the State. But the Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) short-listed only 20 from them. However, Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy selected only eight of them, of which the Haripada unit was one,” informed Jay Iron and Steels Limited MD Sunil Agrawal.
As per an agreement, GRIDCO was to purchase energy from the company for 25 years. At the same time, WESCO would distribute the energy,” informed Agrawal. The equipment for the solar power plants was supplied and erected by Vikram Solar (P) Ltd in technical collaboration with Pronear, a company of Spain. Engineers from Spain came to set up the power plant which took five months to complete the project. Entire power generated through solar cells had been fed into 11 KV grid of WESCO at Bamra, he added.
“If after verification of the land documents, the papers would be found authentic, then we would allow the plant to function,” said the sub-collector.
Bimlagarh-Talcher link gets paltry Rs 30 Crore
New Indian Express reports
ROURKELA: There’s nothing to cheer about in the Rail Budget with only Rs 30 crore being reportedly assigned for the Bimlagarh-Talcher rail link proposed to boost industrialisation in Sundargarh and adjoining districts.
BJD’s rail development steering committee convenor Sailendra Marothia said it would cost around Rs 825 crore to lay nearly 154 km of fresh tracks between Bimlagarh and Talcher. Spadework is underway over 25 km from Talcher, he added.
Visibly disappointed, Rourkela unit BJD president AC Mohanty said, so far Rs 80 crore has been allocated for the project since 2004-05 and that too in instalments varying from Rs 1 to 30 crore. Under the prevailing circumstances, they were unsure about the fate of the project, he added.
Former president of Rourkela Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) Subrata Patnaik said the new rail corridor, which would be the shortest link between Paradip port and mineral-rich districts, would boost industrial growth. The four-decade-old project covers around 325 km from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela via Sundargarh, Deogarh, Dhenkanal and Angul districts.
The CPM organised a token demonstration at the Rourkela station on Thursday protesting the indifferent attitude of the Railway Ministry.
The budget includes introduction of four weekly trains, Bilaspur-Patna, Asansol-Chennai, Shalimar-Bhuj and Malda Town-Surat express trains along with Secunderabad-Dharbhanga Express via Rourkela.
The Jharsuguda-Bhubaneswar Rajya Rani Express has been extended to Rourkela.
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
Overview of Sundargarh in the Railway Budget 2012-2013
Ambikapur to Jharsuguda to connect it with Delhi mainline.
Ambikapur to Jharsuguda via Batuali Sitapur, Pathalgaon, Kotba.
Extension of rail link from Roxy siding to Basnpani via Koira
Kiriburu to Barbil
DOUBLING WORKS TO BE COMPLETED IN 2011-2012
Dumetra-Champajharan
DOUBLING PROJECTS TO BE SANCTIONED IN 2012-2013
Manoharpur – Bandamuda(Bondamunda) 3rd Line
NEW TRAIN SERVICES
Secunderabad-Darbhanga Express (Bi-weekly) via Ballarshah, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Ranchi, Jhajha
Bilaspur-Patna Express (Weekly) via Asansol, Jhajha
Shalimar-Bhuj Express(Weekly) via Bilaspur,Katni,Bhopal
Asansol-Chennai Express (Weekly) via Purulia, Sambalpur,Vizianagaram
Malda Town-Surat Express ( Weekly) via Rampur Hat, Asansol, Nagpur
EXTENSION OF TRAINS
18417/18418 Bhubaneswar-Jharsuguda Rajya Rani Express to Rourkela
18005/18006 Howrah-Koraput Express to Jagdalpur
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Thousands throng Shaivite shrines
New Indian Express reports
ROURKELA: A mammoth gathering was seen at Vedvyas temple complex, located on the banks of confluence of the rivers Sankh and Koel as thousands of devotees thronged to offer prayers to Lord Shiva.
As the day progressed, devotees were seen jostling for space in the temple complex. The ‘Mahadeep’ was raised at the Chandrasekhar temple in the complex at 3.30 am on Tuesday.
Devotees believe that the holy water fetched from the southward flowing Brahmani river, formed of the Sankh and the Koel confluence, pleases Lord Shiva.
The auspicious occasion also marked the beginning of the 14-day Vedvyas Mela which draws crowds from adjacent Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Vedvyas Trust Board (VTB) secretary Anupam Ray said this year the Mela entered the 107th year, and is scheduled to attract over five lakh devotees. Over 650 vendors from across the country have set up kiosks. Given the religious tourism potential of the place, the Tourism Department has invested ` 1.5 crore on infrastructure development.
The police and the district administration had a trying time to manage the milling crowds even as elaborate arrangements were put in place to facilitate communication to devotees and prevent any untoward incident.
NAYAGARH: Lakhs of devotees thronged the Shaivite shrine at Sarankul, 8 km from here, to offer prayers to Lord Ladukeswar.
The 15th century shrine, popularly known as Ladu Baba, is famous for housing both Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiva) due to which devotees offer both ‘Tulasi’ and ‘Bael’ leaves to the deity. One of the most frequented shrines in the State, the temple is also considered unique as it does not have any doors.
Devotees broke their day-long fast after the ‘Mahadeep’ was raised at 11 pm. A Bhajan Samaroh was organised and a large number of police personnel deployed to avert any untoward situation.
Maha Shivaratri was also observed in other Shiva temples dotting the district. The prominent being the 8th century Gatiswara temple at Malisahi. The Shiva Linga in Gatiswara remains under water throughout the year except when it is taken out for Shivaratri.
JEYPORE: Notwithstanding Maoist threat, around a lakh devotees from the State, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh thronged the Gupteswar shrine. Tribals of Darua, Kondh, Bhotra, Gadava, Gond and Shaura also visited the shrine to offer prayers.
Security was beefed up following intelligence reports of Maoist presence in the shrine.
DHENKANAL: Lakhs of devotees celebrated Maha Shivaratri at different shrines in the district. Serpentine queues were witnessed outside the Kapilas shrine since early morning. Nine platoons of police force were deployed to avert any untoward situation.
The Chinmaya Mission temple administration conducted ‘Maharudravisekh’ puja in which, as many as 102 couples participated.
Sunday, 19 February 2012
RSP to unveil country’s biggest blast furnace
New Indian Express reports
BHUBANESWAR: The country’s biggest blast furnace would be made operational at the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) by end-July, SAIL Chairman Chandra Sekhar Verma said here on Saturday.
Verma met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here and told him that RSP’s massive expansion and modernisation work will be completed much before the schedule. The SAIL has taken up the expansion and modernisation work in the RSP with an investment of 12,000 crore, he said.
The capacity of the RSP would be increased from 2.5 million tonne per annum (mtpa) to 4.5 mtpa and subsequently to 5 mtpa, Verma said.
The country’s biggest blast furnace having 4,060-metre cube would be operational at the RSP in June-July, he added.
Lauding the State Government for its active cooperation, Verma said SAIL’s iron ore mine at Bolani in Sundargarh district would continue operation. “Bolani mine is the lifeline of the RSP. It will continue without any doubt,” he said.
The Bolani iron ore mine’s Forest clearance lapsed recently and, therefore, the mine faced closure. However, Verma said the State Government had already taken up the matter with the Centre for extension of Forest clearance.
Stating that the matter has been delayed due to holidays, Verma hoped that it would be sorted out very soon.
He said public sector undertakings (PSUs) should get priority in the matter of raw material as they have social obligations besides commercial objectives.
Verma was also optimistic about SAIL’s proposed joint venture with the South Korean steel behemoth Posco for setting up a steel plant at Bokaro.
“You will get good news about SAIL’s joint venture with Posco very soon,” Verma said to a question on the fate of the proposed 3 mtpa steel plant. Stating that consensus has been reached with Posco on different issues, Verma said negotiations with the firm have been “very positive”.
Friday, 10 February 2012
No voting rights for slum-dwellers
New indian Express reports
ROURKELA: Caught in ‘no man’s land’, a sizeable population here have no voting rights. For 17 years, the Government has failed to identify them either as rural or as urban dwellers. As a result, they are not registered as residents.
Though they figure in the electoral rolls for the Assembly and the Parliament elections, they are not registered for participating in panchayat and municipal polls!
The ‘unlucky population’ comprises over 30,000 people of unauthorised slums of Sonaparbat, Gopabandhunagar, Britannia Colony, Utkalnagar, Nav Krushna Nagar, Tangarpali and other small pockets on the southern tip of Rourkela city.
Sources said these unauthorised slums have mushroomed in and around Fertilizer Township on Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) lands. It became the responsibility of the RSP to develop the areas after that are listed under ‘Industrial Township’ of RSP in April 1995.
The RSP, however, has been reluctant to develop the areas due to illegal occupations.
Former chairman of Rourkela Municipality and Congress councillor Ramesh Bal said a fresh resolution to this effect was adopted by the civic body and the government has to take a final call.
Bal claimed RSP is willing to forgo land ownership on these areas and the Government must pave way for their inclusion in the municipal limits. However, sources said the civic body is unwilling to do so since these areas have little revenue generation potential.
Thursday, 9 February 2012
NIT-R team designs wonder on wheels
Expressbuzz reports
ROURKELA: Innovation is the buzz word at the National Institute of Technology-Rourkela (NIT-R). A group of budding technocrats of the premier institute has prepared an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) as a research track initiative. The one-seater compact car with an engine of 10 HP has been designed and fabricated to take part in the prestigious national car designing competition. The third edition of the BAJA Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) India is scheduled from February 14 to 17 at Pitampur, Indore. About 100 teams would be participating. Captain of the 25-member NIT-R team Anshu Behera said several innovative features have been included in the car, including the differential breaking system with independent brakes to four wheels. Proximity sensor, temperature sensor and alcohol sensor are installed to shield the occupant from the hazards of getting hit, rash driving and fire mishaps. Moreover, the car has a special pump for automatic removal of mud from critical areas to ensure uninterrupted running, he said. NIT-R Director SK Sarangi said the ATV has the potential to bring out the creative best from young technocrats. Team advisor Prof. S Murugan hoped to find place among the five finalists, adding the petrol-driven car has all strong characters to pass the rigorous benchmarks of static, dynamic and endurance during the track event. The participants have to design their models in sync with the frameworks of the SAE India. The NIT-R team members this time are leaving nothing to chance and careful thought has gone into designing the model. Last year their participation ended in a disaster after their car developed technical snag midway to the competition run. In the first edition NIT-R team ranked 15th.
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