Coming home for different reasons
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Jamshedpur, May 15: Some raised their eyebrows, while some questioned loyalty. But a recent statement made by former Miss India and Bollywood actress Tanushree Dutta set one thinking about whether youngsters today find living in the state a viable option.
A random survey by The Telegraph among young and budding professionals in the city revealed that though they feel living in a metro would have been better for their careers, most harbour no regrets.
“The banking, insurance, hospitality and retail sectors in the city are booming. We have a lot of applicants staying outside who are willing to return,” said Sandeep, a city-based placement coordinator.
Amrita Sinha (name changed) does not regret moving here after travelling across the globe in her stint with a leading export house in Calcutta.
“I know I would have been placed high on the corporate ladder if I lived in the metros but family life is more important,” said Amrita.
Tariq Khan, in his thirties, moved here to work with a leading bank after staying in Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore to be close to his parents who stay in Rourkela.
While Anupam Ghosh, relationship manager with State Bank of India, moved here to cut down on living expenses, Nivedita Singh, a project manager with Tata Steel Family Initiative Foundation (TSFIF), had other reasons.
“During my stint with NGOs in Delhi, I realised there are many people to work for the underprivileged in Delhi. But there is a dire need of people in Jharkhand,” she said.
Tanushree, though, found her supporters.
“Prospects are good for people with commercial backgrounds. Anybody wanting to do something creative here hardly has any option. So, Tanushree’s statement is partly justified,” said Ryan D’Costa, a former student of St Xavier’s College, Mumbai.
Manipur eves retained Sr National football titleSource: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 14: Manipur's domination in women's football continues as the State eves retained the Senior Women national Football Championship with a 2-1 victory over arch rivals West Bengal in the final of the competition's 15th edition in Rourkela today.Despite conceding an early goal to their opponents, the champion eves rallied brilliantly in the second session to score both the goals within a span of five minutes.After Shakhitombi equalised with a 77th minute strike Ng Bala ensured the title triumph when she rattled the Bengal defence three seconds from end of the 80 minute normal period.Manipur and West Bengal have played against each other in the final of the championship 13 times out of which the latter had won only twice.The only time the traditional rivals had not met in the final was in the 2002 championship held at Calcutta when Manipur defeated Orissa.The 15th championship had begun on April 25 with Manipur participating from the quarter final league stage as defending champions.After trouncing Maharashtra 12-0 and Bihar 8-0 to storm into semi final Manipur sealed its final berth with a 5-0 drubbing of Goa.
Scared foresters seek arms
Statesman News Service BARIPADA, May 17: Distressed by the fact that as many as three forest officials had been killed by Maoists in recent times, the All Orissa Non-gazette Forest Service Association (AONFSA), Mayurbhanj unit, iterated its long pending demand for proper training, arms and modern equipment. Mr Niranjan Pratihari, secretary of the AONFSA, said that forest officials working at the field level were like sitting ducks for the ultras and repeated plea for arms and communication equipment had fallen on deaf ears. Two foresters were killed in Dhenkanal district, while another unarmed forest official was the victim of radicals in Mayrbhanj district, he said. In another incident last week at the Chadahipahadi grama panchayat area of Sergada section in the Simlipal forest, Maoists triggered a land-mine blast. “We want sophisticated weapons, insurance and police powers to perform our duties,” he stated. “Forest employees are working in the dense forests in totally adverse situations braving all odds. But the presence of Maoists in the forests and latest killings have panicked us as also our family members,” Mr Pratihari said. The AONFSA has been demanding that the state government should offer at least three-government jobs to the unmarried daughters of Rabindra Nath Patra (victim of Maoist attack) because of their poor economic condition.
Naveen’s talks offer rebuffed
Press Trust of IndiaBhubaneswar, May 17: The Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), a CPI-backed body opposing Posco’s proposed 12 MTPA greenfield steel project near Paradip, today cold shouldered chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik’s willingness to have direct talks with the people. “Talks will only be fruitful if Mr Patnaik comes with an open mind. If he is determined not to change the proposed site, there is no point in talking to him,” PPSS president Mr Abhay Sahu said. Mr Patnaik had said yesterday that “if they want to meet me they are welcome.” The PPSS, which had earlier appealed to the government to hold a political dialogue on the Posco issue, now felt that there was no need to talk to the state leadership as Mr Patnaik was “not inclined to change site of the proposed plant”. “Since the CM has already decided to set up the plant here before talking to local people, he should find a way to acquire land here,” Mr Sahu said. Replying to a query on whether the agitators would meet Posco-India’s CMD Mr Soung-Sik Cho, who too did not have any objection in talking to the agitators, the PPSS leader said the people did not need the Posco-India company. Mr Cho had earlier said that there was no need to avoid the agitators if they wanted to discuss the project.
Kathantara for German film festival
Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, May 17: Kadambinee Media’s maiden venture Kathantara, a feature film in Oriya, has been selected to be screened in the fourth annual Indian film festival (Bollywood and Beyond) at Stuttgart in Germany. The festival will be held from 11 to 15 July. Besides Bollywood and Beyond Film festival, Kathantara has also been screened and appreciated at the 5th Asian Film Festival, Mumbai, 11th International Film Festival, Kerala, 12th Kolkata Film Festival, 4th Cine India International Film Festival, Noida and 1st Hyderabad International Film Festival. Directed by Himansu Khatua, the film is a sensitive study on the trials and tribulations of 1999 cyclone survivors with particular emphasis on immigrants of East-Bengal refugees. Protagonist Kalpana’s destiny is followed from different perspective and a tale of human predicament is woven around her. It is produced by Ms Iti Samanta and presented by Achyuta Samanta.
Tension after lock-up death
ROURKELA, May 17: An alleged custodial death here has again brought the ugly side of policing in the state. It is alleged that one Chunilal Kissan (35) was brought to the Brahmanitaranga police station yesterday in connection with a theft case. He was detained in the cell of the police station and left alone. However, later in the evening, Kissan was found dead hanging inside the bathroom of the police station. He was found to be hanging with the towel, which he was using, wrapped around his neck and one end of it, tied to the railing of the bathroom. As soon as the news of his death spread tension rose in the area and people gathered around the police station. His wife Mali Kissan alleged that her husband was killed by police. n SNS.
Posco-India faces another hurdle
Rourkela, May 17: While the government is facing difficulty to acquire land for Posco’s proposed steel plant near Paradip, the ongoing agitation against the project has spread to Sundargarh with the local people opposing any move to hand over Khandadhar iron ore mines to the company. People from nearly 40 villages spread over five gram panchayats have launched an anti-Posco agitation under the banner of ‘Khandadhar Surakhya Samiti’ backed by local BJP leaders, BJP Rourkela district president and an advisor to the samiti Mr Khagendranath Pradhan said. Khandadhar is a popular tourist place in the state with two huge natural and attractive waterfalls. The newly formed organisation has vowed not to allow the South Korean company undertake mining activities in Khandadhar area, which, it feared, would lose its natural beauty. BJP national vice-president and MP Mr Jual Oram had opposed the move to hand over the 62 square km mines to the steel giant. The state government had recommended to the Centre to provide prospecting licence to Posco for the mines in December. But it led to a row with state-run Kudremukh Iron Ore Company (KIOC) opposing the move and approaching Orissa High Court. The HC had recently asked the Centre to decide the matter within three months. Posco-India CMD Mr Soung-Sik Cho had said the company planned to turn Khandadhar into a tourist spot and not to interfere with the streams. n PTI.
Rourkela Natyotsava
ROURKELA, May 17: Adding a new hue to the cultural canvas of the steel city, Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) is going to organise Rourkela Natyotsava ~ a ten-day long mega drama festival at Civic Centre from 20 to 29 May. Ten major drama troupes of the steel city will participate in the festival. All the reputed artistes of the steel city have geared up to showcase their finest histrionic talents during the occasion. Swasti Jhankar will present the drama Kavya Purusha on the inaugural day, while Pratidhwani will stage the drama Bapa. Naira Thikana will be presented by Sankalpa on the third day which will be followed by Sambhabami Yuge Yuge of Mahumachi. Spandan will stage Indraprasthara Gali, while Sampark will enact Stimita Godhuli. The Ame Natua will stage the Dhulghara, which will be followed by Nusganta by Kalinga Kala Parishada. Subhadrara Swarupa will be staged by Panchama Veda and on the concluding day, Ranga Mancha will present Suna Parikhya Dandadhari. All the plays will begin sharp at 7 PM. n SNS.
Briefs
Accident KEONJHAR, May 17: In a road accident at Judiaghati, 5 km from here, one was killed and five others were injured today at 3 pm. A Commander jeep ~ carrying passengers and cement bags ~ going to Kanjipani collided with a Tata 207 when both the vehicles were negotiating a curve. The deceased is Lalit Barik of Dhaladihi village in Bansapal block, who was the helper of the Commander. The injured were admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital. They are Saraswati Behera (30), Suryakanta Barik (17), Indramani Parida (38), Sabi Parida (35) and Basant Parida. n SNSPUCL BHUBANESWAR, May 17: Civil rights activists today condemned the arrest of PUCL leader Dr Binayak Sen by Chhattisgarh police recently and demanded his immediate release. Reacting to the arrest, Mr Biswapriya Kanungo, head of the Committee for Concerned Citizens and Mr Srimanta Mohanty of Samrajyavad Birodhi Manch alleged that the arrest was an act of vengeance as Sen had mobilised opinion against police oppression through its Salva Judum operation. His arrest on 14 May was done on the charge that Dr Sen had met Maoists in the jail, obtained letters which were later circulated. When Dr Sen met the alleged Maoists he had sought due permission of the authorities concerned and had done so in the presence of police and jail officials. Hence, there was no way letters could be exchanged, noted Mr Kanungo. n SNSGanja seized JAJPUR, May 17: Dharmasala police seized around 14.5 KG of ganja from the house of one Akshaya Jena at Bhubanpur village under Gadamadhupur grama panchayat in Jajpur district. After being instructed by the Jajpur superintendent of police Mr DS Kutte, a team raided the house of Jena and seized the narcotics from his possession. Akshaya has been arrested and forwarded to the court. Later, he has been remanded in judicial custody after his bail plea was rejected. n SNSBIG 92.7 FM BHUBANESWAR, May 17: BIG 92.7 FM, the radio initiative from Adlabs Films Ltd, today announced the launch of its station here. In the first phase of its launches, BIG 92.7 FM set up stations in the cities of New Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Mumbai, Jammu, Srinagar and Aligarh. n SNS.
Paddy price up, courtesy FCI
Statesman News Service SAMBALPUR, May 17: Distress sale and under rate of paddy in the entire Hirakud command area were normal affairs years back. There was a lot of hue and cry and even law-and-order problem in the region over the sale of paddy. But these are now things of past. During the current procurement season, paddy is sold at a Rs 30-40 ~ more than the minimum support price (MSP) per bag (75 kg) in the market yards of the district. Monopoly of the millers has almost vanished. “And it is undoubtedly Food Corporation of India (FCI) that has played a role in bringing the price up,” said Mr P Muthumaran, the district manager of the FCI. When FCI first entered the paddy market four years back, it came with the promise to purchase paddy from the farmers. And there began the competition. Millers felt FCI’s presence as a challenge. Because FCI came as an alternative before the farmers, millers didn’t dare to go for down payment under the plea of quality. Hence, the minimum support price of paddy was ensured thanks to the FCI, Mr Muthumaran said. “But now the scenario has changed and farmers are getting more price than the MSP,” admitted Mr Dayanidhi Sahu and other farmers seen in the market yards. When price of paddy per bag (75 kg) as per the MSP is fixed at Rs 447.75, practically farmers are getting Rs 480-490, the farmers admitted. It is another fact that small farmers of the region were yet to get the benefit of the over rate since they hand over their product to the middlemen at a lower price and using the farmers identity card (FIC), the middleman sells the same in the market yards. When under rate is abolished, trading through middlemen reaches its peak in the command area and the real benefit remains away from the farmers. This happens because pani panchayats remained away from the process of paddy procurement due to the conspiracy of an influential group close to the district administration.
Grand design by MNCs to reach out to masses
Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, May 17: Multinational companies are leaving no stone unturned to try and win the hearts of villagers near their proposed plant sites and overcome resistance to land acquisition by conducting medical camps, vocational training and hosting local festivals and cultural programs and ever soccer. If Posco-India has been trying to get a foothold at its proposed site by medical camps, vocational training for women, funding street lighting etc, Tata Steel, which has a track record of hosting innumerable activities in Jajpur district for its Kalinga Nagar Steel plant project, now wants to bring its famed Tata Football Academy to the place. The TFA will scout for talent amongst the youths of Kalinga Nagar and Jajpur district. Apart from the talent hunt, country’s ace football academy would also coach the budding talents of the locality to prepare them to step in to an illustrated sporting career, said a release of the company issued here today. The talent hunt camp will be organised from 28 May to 3 June at Duburi in Kalinga Nagar. During this period, the TFA will be coaching nearly 100 budding footballers of the area. The TFA will be providing all necessary equipment and facilities to these budding footballers of the locality. Company sources said that the TFA did hold coaching camps and organises tournaments in different parts of the country, wherein new talents are discovered and youngsters, particularly in the rural areas, are encouraged for the game. The release noted that TFA’s association with Orissa is quiet old and even in the past year, it had picked 20 youths from Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Khurda for a coaching camp. Prior to this, in August 2005, the academy held a coaching camp for Orissa boys at TFA and another training-cum-coaching camp in Bhubaneswar in which 20 boys and 18 boys from different parts of the state attended respectively.
Sour time for farmers
Statesman News Service PARALAKHEMINDI, May 17: Sugarcane farmers of Gajapati are now at the mercy of the purchasers, thanks to lack of proper initiative or any incentive by the agriculture department in trying to do anything for them. At present, only 450 hectors of land are under sugarcane cultivation, a vast decline from the 3,000 hectares in the 80s and early 90s. In 1978, a sugar processing factory was inaugurated on cooperative basis at Uppalada village in Gosani block. The motivation for this factory was the soil and climatic conditions suitable for sugarcane farming. The then government had also lured in farmers with several incentives. Lack of proper management and the falling price of the sugar , mainly due to government price control, led to the closure of this factory and subsequently, the Singhania Group propped up another factory at B Sitapur village installing sophisticated machines. Surprisingly, this private factory also failed to make much headway as most of the farmers had changed to other variety of crops, and every effort to encourage the farmers to go in for sugarcane cultivation did not result in encouraging results. After the closure the sugar factory at B Sitapur village, taking advantage of the sugarcane available in this area, industries from across the border located at Rajam, Vizinagaram and Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh contacted the local farmers and asked them to carry on their cultivation with an assurance that they would purchase their produces. In lieu, the farmers were promised financial assistance and seedlings with a rider that the crop should be sold to them only. Many of the gullible farmers fell for this and received the financial assistance which is now forcing them to harvest one crop at least annually in order to clear off their dues. Many farmers who had agreed to the conditions laid by the sugar barons are therefore forced to go in for sugarcane production after the annual paddy cultivation. “My father had received an amount of Rs 40,000 from one of the sugar industries along with seedlings worth Rs 20,000. Though my father has passed away and I cannot clear off the amount at one go, I have to grow one crop annually and sell it to them in order to avoid legal complications,” said Mr Ramesh Barada. The sugar industries have set up a mandi at the Melliyaputti village in Andhra Pradesh (just across the border) and ask the farmers to come with their crop at their own cost and the rate is fixed as per the prevalent market rates. As there is no government rates fixed in Gajapati for the sugarcane growers, the local farmers have to sell the produce at the rate quoted by the Andhra buyers. The district agriculture office located at Paralakhemundi has no data on the number of areas covered by the crop nor the number of farmers growing sugarcane. But there is a silver linen for the sugarcane growers as noted industrialist Mr Tripati Panigrahi, who coincidentally hails from Paralakhemundi, has shown interest to start a mega sugar industry in Gajapati. He has already made a survey for a site that could come up either in the Gosani block or Kasinagar block, and if this materialises, it could be again happy times for the sugarcane growers of Gajapati.
HC takes exception to MP charge-sheet
Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, May 17: The High Court took exception to the charge-sheet filed against Mr Dilip Ray, MP, by the vigilance department and iterated that its earlier order prohibiting such action was very clear. Justice BP Das posted the matter for hearing on 22 June. Mr Sanjit Mohanty, counsel for Mr Ray, said the vigilance FIR in connection with a disproportionate asset and forest case against Mr Ray had been challenged in the High Court earlier. The court had prohibited the vigilance from further action. But yesterday, the vigilance had filed charge-sheets prompting Mr Ray to raise the matter in court today. The High Court took note of it and said its earlier orders were very clear. It called for serving of the charge sheet and posted the matter for 22 June.
Orissa equipped to generate 20,000 MW of powerPTI[ TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2007 04:50:13 NEW DELHI: Orissa, where power plants receive 25 MT of coal that is sufficient to generate 5,000 MW, is all set to produce 20,000 MW in the near future with the Coal Ministry granting new linkages and sanctioning coal blocks for generating the additional power. At a meeting here today, Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayana Rao informed Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik that long-term coal linkages have been sanctioned for 3,000 MW capacity and coal blocks were sanctioned for supporting 7,200 MW capacity, a top Coal Ministry official told PTI. He said allocation of more blocks is under consideration to support generation of another 4,000 MW of power. Patnaik requested Rao for help so that his state could generate 20,000 MW to meet the growing demand of power in the context of the massive industrialisation drive taken up in the state, the official said. Rao said that Coal Ministry is already supplying about 25 MT of coal per year to the power plants of OPGENCO and NTPC in the state, which can produce 5,000 MW of power. All the existing linkages and those sanctioned recently, including the blocks, can support power generation of 18,600 MW. Rao assured the Chief Minister that government would do the needful as and when the state required. On Patnaik's request for allocation of coal blocks to Independent Power Producers (IPPs), the Coal Minister said, these will be considered by the screening committee when it takes up allocation of 15 coal blocks for captive mining. The Ministry has recently sanctioned coal linkages for the 2,000 MW power plant to be set up by the Neyveli Lignite Corporation in Orissa and to three IPPs who will generate another 1,000 MW. These IPPs are KVK Nilachal Power Private Limited, (250 MW), Jindal Foto Limited (250 MW) and NPPL (500 MW).
Stir against Vedanta's Orissa plant from June 16
STATE BUREAU
Posted online: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 0023 hours ISTBHUBANESWAR, MAY 15: Activists of the Green Kalahandi, an orgnisation led by Congress leader and former Union railway minister Bhakta Charan Das, will start a 'jail bharo' from June 16 protesting against the alumina refinery plant of Vedanta Resources. Activists will put up barricades and prevent the vehicles of Vedanta from enterting into Kalahandi district. The organisation has also threatened to launch an indefinite 'satyagraha'.
Das on Monday told reporters that Vedanta refinery would bring misery to farmers and destroy the ecology of Kalhandi, Bolangir, and Phulbani districts. He said Vedanta would not be allowed to operate its plant in the district.The Green Kalahandi has the support of the Opposition parties in the state. Das, who addressed the press conference along with state Congress president Jayadev Jena, CPI (M) state secretariat member Santosh Das and CPI assistant secretary Ashish Kanungo, demanded a CBI inquiry into the deal alleging that there was an unholy alliance between VAL chief Anil Agarwal and chief minister Naveen Patnaik.
Tree weds tree in Orissa village,Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 10:37
Updated Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 10:46
Balasore: It's an auspicious occasion at Balia village in Balasore district of Orissa. The priest, the guests and many other small details needed for an elaborate ceremony are in place. But this is no ordinary event. These are invitees to a wedding where the groom is a banyan tree and the bride a peepal tree.
“The Banyan and the Peepal tree are considered to be Lord Narayan and Goddess Laxmi respectively by us. And by getting them married we gain peace, prosperity and happiness,” said Upendra Nath Pati, Priest.
An age-old tradition, this wedding was organised by the village committee, along with a few plantation volunteers. Locals say such events foster love for trees.
“Such marriages encourage our regards for trees and helps in spreading awareness on plantation. It is a perfect platform to blend tradition with awareness on environment,” said Pushpanjali Jena, plantation volunteer.
Once the ceremonies and the feast are over, the tree becomes a subject of worship for villagers. At a time when the world is debating global warming and climate change, it is perhaps such ceremonies that one cannot afford to ignore.
Nearly a dozen border disputes within India alone!
New Delhi, May 16: There are nearly a dozen inter-state disputes over borders within India alone, a government statement has said while replying to a petition under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra's borders were specified in the State Reorganisation Act of 1956. But Karnataka and Maharashtra disagree, with the latter wanting Marathi-speaking border areas. Karnataka and Kerala have a dispute over Kasargod district in Kerala. Efforts by the one-man Mahajan Commission of Justice Meher Chand Mahajan in 1967 were inconclusive, with Maharashtra not accepting its recommendations. In a reply made under the RTI Act to Harikumar P of Kasargod, the ministry of home affairs has acknowledged that a number of other disputes existed. The inter-state boundary between Bihar and Uttar Pradesh continued to fluctuate due to the frequent change in the course of rivers, 'giving rise to problems in the field of revenue administration and law and order', the government said. Despite an arbitrator looking into this issue in the 1960s and a law, disputes between private parties have continued. Likewise, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh's fluctuating boundary was sought to be solved in the 1970s. But some private parties have been approaching the courts over cases pertaining to tenancy disputes. Between Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, the boundary dispute relates to 63 villages falling presently in Orissa. But neither government has asked for Central intervention. Similarly, Orissa and Jharkhand have a boundary dispute relating to seven villages of Mayurbhang and Keonjhar districts. Orissa has claimed territories in the former princely states of Seraikela and Kharsuan, now in Jharkhand. Orissa is locked with Chhattisgarh over three villages of Naupada district. Orissa and West Bengal are also stalemated over five villages of Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts of Orissa. In the northwest, Punjab and Haryana are locked over the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, and part of Fazilka sub-district of Punjab to Haryana. Three commissions have been named so far to decide which specific Hindi-speaking areas of Punjab should go to Haryana in lieu of Chandigarh. Himachal Pradesh is contesting Uttarakhand over six places of Dehradun district, adjoining its Shimla district. Arunachal Pradesh claims territory in Assam on the basis of history. In September 2006, the Supreme Court appointed a local commission headed by retired judge S.N. Variava to identify the boundary there. Assam and Meghalaya don't have a major boundary dispute, the reply said. But Nagaland claims 5,000 sq miles of territory in Assam 'on historical grounds'. Assam filed a case in the Supreme Court and Justice Variava was named to decide on the issue.
Now Budhia to walk from Orissa to Kolkata16 May, 2007 l 1332 hrs ISTlIANS
BHUBANESWAR: Five-year-old Budhia Singh of Orissa, who shot to fame for his ability to run long distances, is now set to walk from Bhubaneswar to West Bengal capital Kolkata, covering 500 km. "Budhia is to walk for 11 days to cover this distance starting June 6," his coach Biranchi Das said. "The aim of this walk is to create awareness among Indian youth about sports and inspire them to achieve victory in the next Olympic Games, said Das, managing trustee of the Budhia Singh Trust, which is organising the event to groom the 'wonder kid' for the Olympics. "We want to send the message that rigorous practice can fetch India medals in the world's greatest sporting event," he said. To avoid the summer heat, Budhia will walk only during mornings and evenings. An ambulance, a team of doctors, a water tanker and a mobile toilet would follow him, he said. Over a dozen kids of Budhia's age group and nearly 100 older children will accompany him during the walkathon. Besides, over 1,000 people of various age groups will also join Budhia, said Das. "At least Rs 1.2 million is required to organise this event and we are still looking for sponsors," he added. Budhia had earlier been sold by his indigent mother for a paltry sum of Rs 800 to Das and his wife who adopted him and helped him become a running sensation. The boy became a celebrity after his non-stop 65-km run from Puri to Bhubaneswar in 2005. The Limca Book of Records also recorded his feat on May 2, 2006. The boy, who runs at least 20 km every day, is now a kindergarten student of the Boxi Jagabandhu (BJB) English Medium School here.
Port, iron mines to make Orissa steel plant competitive: Posco
The new captive port is proposed to be located at Jatadhari, about 12 km south of the Paradip port By PTI
Bhubaneswar:Captive port and iron ore mines are prerequisites for Posco’s proposed 12 mtpa steel plant in Orissa, without which the company could lose its competitive edge in the global market.
“The port and captive mines are needed if such a large project is to have a competitive edge. These are basic needs without which one cannot survive in global business”, Posco India chairman and managing director Soung-sik Cho said.
On concerns from several quarters that a new port could harm the existing Paradip port, he said the company is taking measures for protection against erosion of the coast and an impact, if at all, would be restricted to 3 km of the new port, which falls within Posco India’s project site.
The new captive port is proposed to be located at Jatadhari, about 12 km south of the Paradip port. “Those who are raising questions about the port planned at Jatadhari are doing so because of ignorance,” Cho said.
Small steel plants, Cho said, could do without captive port by channelising their cargo through the existing port nearby. “But we will require the port as we will be handling about 30 million tonne of cargo annually”, he said.
10 detained for aiding Maoists in Orissa
Bhubaneswar, May 16 : At least 10 people have been detained by police in Orissa's Mayurbhanj district for allegedly aiding Maoist rebels in the region, a police official said Wednesday.Raids were carried out in various places in the past two days and people have been detained for questioning, district police chief Sanjay Singh told IANS.On May 9, Maoist rebels had set ablaze a forest post and killed Rabindranath Patra, a forest official at Sadagada village in Mayurbhanj, around 300 km from here."We have nabbed the 10 people for questioning to help us nab the culprits," the official said."They are suspected to be helping the Maoists. We will interrogate them to find out whether they are directly involved in the murder of the forest official," he said.
Posco plant to come up in Orissa: Patnaik 16 May 2007New Delhi: Orissa Chief Minister Navin Patnaik today expressed his confidence that Korean steel giant Posco would set up the 12-million tonne steel plant in the state.
Patnaik said that Posco was the biggest ever foreign direct investment in India the state government was working hard to facilitate it in its establishment. "We are trying to ensure land availability for the project," Patnaik added.
He said the project would definitely fructify in due course of time. He, however, refused to spell out as to how fast would the hurdles be removed to enable the Korean steel giant set up the mega integrated steel project.
Patnaik, who was in New Delhi, also met steel minister Ram Vilas Paswan to discuss the mining leases of SAIL, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) and National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC).
Paswan asked Patnaik to consider the eight existing mining lease applications besides four others, a steel ministry official said.
Patnaik also sought Paswan's help for setting up a petrochemical and petroleum investment region (PCPIR) near port city of Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district of the state.
Orissa seeks coal blocks for OHPC
STATE BUREAU
Posted online: Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 0000 hours IST
BHUBANESWAR, MAY 16 : The Orissa government has urged the Centre to allocate coal blocks to state-owned power generation company Orissa Hydro Power Corp (OHPC) even as the Union coal ministry on Tuesday allotted four coal blocks and supply linkages to thermal power plants coming up in the state to facilitate generation of additional power to the tune of 10,200mw.
One block has been allotted for the proposed 3200mw Darlipalli thermal plant of NTPC Ltd. Three other blocks-- Meenakshi, Dipside of Meenakshi and MeenakshiB-- have been alloted for 4000mw Orissa ultra-mega power project to be developed in the private sector through tariff bidding process by the Centre, sources said.
The ministry has also sanctioned long-term coal supply linkages for a few new projects in Orissa. These are: 2000mw coal-fired thermal project of Neyvali Lignite Corp (NLC), 500-mw project of Navabharat Power Pvt Ltd, proposed 2000-mw plant of KVK Nilachal Power Pvt Ltd, and 250-mw project of Jindal Photo Ltd.
The decision to allot coal blocks and linkages was taken at a meeting between Orissa chief minister Navin Patnaik and the minister of state for coal, Dasari Narayana Rao, in New Delhi on Tuesday, government sources said.
Patnaik also discussed the issue of slow progress of the Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutkaran Yojana (RGGVY) in Orissa with Union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. While the Orissa government has submitted detailed project reports for all the 30 districts to the power ministry, in-principle sanction for eight districts has been received. Besides, projects have been sanctioned for five districts and funds have been released for two.
Orissa CM requested Shinde to sanction more projects and expedite release of funds for districts where projects have already been sanctioned.
Naveen also raised the issue of relaxation of the population norms under the RGGVY. According to the revised guidelines, villages with a population of more than 300 are eligible for funding under the scheme. Since Orissa has a number of small villages with population of less than 300, they would not be eligible for funding.
Shinde told Patnaik that the primary objective of the Centre was to cover all villages having population of more than 300. Villages with smaller population would be considered later.
Tidal waves lash Orissa district
Kendrapara, May 17 (PTI): Huge tidal waves battered the coastline in Kendrapara district inundating agricultural land in three different points since yesterday, official sources said.
The sea turned violent on the new moon's day yesterday and kept smashing against the saline embankments even as heavy rains lashed Mahakalapada block accompanied by strong wind causing panic in villages of the area.
The sources said over 700 hectares of agricultural land under Suniti gram panchayat had been inundated by the leaping tidal waves which spilled over the embankments at Atharabanki, Gabajidiha and Jagatjori.
Similar saline ingress was also reported from Chakada, Gogua and Tantiapala villages.
There, however, was no report of any loss of life or property, the sources said.
Frequent batterings by the sea had partially eaten up Satbhaya village in the area over the last few years forcing the people to shift inland.
A 32-km saline embankment had been constructed in the 1970s to protect the coastal villages in the aftermath of the severe cyclone that hit the Mahakalapada and Rajnagar blocks of the district, located slightly north of the Paradip port killing around 10,000 people in 1971.
The super cyclone of 1999 hit the Ersama block of neighbouring Jagatsinghpur district, little south of Paradip, with disastrous effect. The sea had surged into the mainland several kilometers on both occasions.
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