Kidnap and rape of minor: Youth sentenced to 7-yrs RITuesday May 29 2007 12:25 IST
ROURKELA: A 22-year-old youth Sunil Sharma was on Monday sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 2,000 after being held guilty in the kidnap and rape of a minor.The Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Niranjan Sahu handing over the judgment said the convicted person would have to undergo another jail term of three months on failing to pay the fine.Sharma of Gobardhanpara under Lathikata police limits was initially accused of kidnapping the minor of his locality on November 5, 2005. Both the accused and the girl were recovered nine days later from Thateiposh under Bisra police limits.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Orissa's green woman fights environmental blues - from thatched hut
Other people begin the day with a walk or a prayer to the gods, but not Orissa's doughty Urmila Behera who starts off each morning by planting at least 10 trees in and around her village.
The 48-year-old woman from Kothapada village in Balasore district has been doing so for the last 15 years - planting more than 100,000 trees in at least 60 villages without taking any financial assistance from the government or anyone else.
Operating from her thatched hut, Behera is not a rich philanthropist with time and money to spare, nor is she an academic debating the nuances of global warming in seminar rooms across the world. She is simply a woman deeply committed to the environment.
Fondly called 'Gachha Maa' (tree mother) in the area, Behera has even sold her agricultural land for the purpose.
Her mission plantation has seen her planting trees on riverbanks, in campuses of various educational institutions and myriad other places.
Behera, who has transformed the area with all kinds of trees - neem, coconut, palm, mango, jamun, sal, teak, date palm, peepal and banyan -- doesn't stop with just planting the tree. She also takes care of them till they attain a standard height.
'I started my mission in 1992. I have never looked back since. Earlier I was focussing on my own courtyard and the roadsides of my village. Now I have expanded my vistas,' Behera told IANS.
'I have no son. I love the trees as my sons. In fact, I had started on this work only to overcome the sorrows of not having a son. But it later became a routine. Every morning, I plant at least 10 trees - on special occasions it touches hundreds,' said the mother of two proudly.
Her social work is deeply personal.
Behera actually observes the birthday of a tree by cutting a symbolic cake. Her morning routine begins by putting kajal and turmeric on a tree and showering it with water.
Her husband and daughters are with her.
'A man with blood and flesh may turn anti-social, but not the trees. I feel those who don't do anything for the society are not human beings. We will continue the mission till our death,' said her husband Pitambar Das, 62.
The couple's daughters and other girls in the village tie rakhis to trees every year.
Inspired by the Beheras' passion, president of the village development committee Ashok Behera said: 'We have decided to join hands with the mission and help her in any way we can.'
Behera has a dedicated team of supporters in her mammoth task.
One of those is Dinabandhu Mohapatra of a neighbouring village who has spent a life term in jail and is described by Behera as a 'transformed man'.
Mohapatra said the acceptance of their work hasn't come easily.
'One day, for instance, villagers didn't allow us to plant trees on the roadside. But we did the work in the night when everybody was sleeping. Nobody harmed the trees in the morning,' he recalled.
Combating the environmental blues, the woman with the green fingers has many lessons to teach from her corner of the world. We just need to learn.


Oriental Trimex acquires rights for mining decorative stone in Orissa
Oriental Trimex Ltd has announced that the Company has acquired rights from the Department of Mines, Government of Orissa, for mining of decorative stone (minor minerals) at village Potteru in Malkangiri district of Orissa through a prospecting license dated April 13, 2007 executed between the Company and Deputy Director of Mines, Koraput Circle Koraput, Government of Orissa. The decorative stone quarry is spread over an area of 10.279 hectares / 25.40 Acres. The deposits in this quarry is of black colour granite stone.The Company is in the process of complying with the terms and conditions of the prospecting lease.The stock was trading at Rs.25.45, up by Rs.0.15 or 0.59%. The stock hit an intraday high of Rs.25.80 and low of Rs.25.25. The total traded quantity was 9530 compared to 2 week average of 879127.
Source: Equity Bulls

Rajasthan police fail to locate BB Mohanty
Sampad Mahapatra/PS Thakur
Wednesday, May 30, 2007 (Bhubaneswar)
Even after a two day search in Cuttack, the police team from Rajasthan failed to locate the DGP rank Orissa IPS officer BB Mohanty, who is on leave on medical grounds since Monday. The team was in Cuttack to arrest the officer on charges of helping his son and rape convict Bitti Mohanty to jump parole from a Jaipur jail. The team has looked for him at his residence and in a number of local hospitals but without any luck.There is no information about BB Mohanty's whereabouts but a source close to him revealed that he would have been available to the Rajasthan police had they not threatened to arrest him on non-bailable charges and take him to Jaipur. Incidentally, the Orissa police have made it clear that as per law Mohanty will be produced before a local magistrate and not handed over to the Rajasthan team after being arrested.The Rajasthan police say they are not getting enough support from the local police, but the Orissa Home secretary told NDTV that he is prepared to extend all necessary assistance provided the team specifies the kind of help they need.''We expect much more help from the local police. We have been trying to get to DGP BB Mohanty but so far they have not been able to help us with any helpful input or information in this regard,'' said Mukund Behari, DSP, Rajasthan Police. The Rajasthan police may find it hard to even to locate Mohanty whose leave application addressed to the Home Secretary says he may have to leave Cuttack for better treatment.''I should expect that he should be in Cuttack receiving medical treatment there. I have had no intimation or information that he has left Cuttack. Rajasthan police will be given all the support and assistance if they come to me and ask for any specific kind of help,'' said Tarun Kanti Mishra, Home Secretary, Orissa.Mohanty, it seems, is avoiding any direct contact with the local police and the team from Rajasthan till the Rajasthan High Court hears his bail plea.

Meet Subashini, the Nightingale of OrissaWednesday May 30 2007 12:15 IST
BHUBANESWAR: While Orissa has been hogging the limelight in healthcare for all the wrong reasons, an auxiliary nurse and midwife (ANM) from Nuapada district has made the State proud with her recent achievement.And her reward - Florence Nightingale National Award - which she received from President A P J Abdul Kalam - speaks with in no uncertain terms.Subashini Jena began her journey in 1990 with a mission to serve the people in inaccessible 40 villages under Biswanathpur PHC in Kalahandi district.Walking more than 20 km a day, she used to cover five villages to meet people’s health-care needs.Later, she was transferred to Beltukuri PHC on Orissa-Chhattisgarh border under Khariar Road Community Health Centre (CHC) in Nuapada district, but continued her good work. For the past 14 years, she has been a Good Samaritan for the locals.Felicitating her at the State Institute of Health here on Tuesday, Health Minister Duryodhan Majhi, also Nuapada MLA, said the award recognised the services of 6,000 ANMs working across the State and showed how sheer determination and willpower can usher in change.Principal Secretary, Health, Chinmay Basu said the services rendered by Subashini, fighting all odds in Beltukuri, would serve as an inspiration for other grass-root health workers and young doctors working in inaccessible areas of the State.Subashini got a cash award of Rs 50,000 and a citation from the President on May 12 at a special ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan. In her response, she narrated how she met the challenge of helping people in need with courage.ANM workers do a lot of work at grass-roots and are involved in postnatal and infant care, institutional delivery, cold-chain maintenance for immunization, blindness eradication programmed besides maintaining 22 registers for statistics and disease surveillance, informed Basu.On compensation to ANM workers, he said the Government had granted Rs 24 crore during past two years for constructing residence-cum-sub centres for them.They have now at their disposal instruments for institutional delivery and got the sanction to spend Rs 10,000 a year in consultation with the local sarpanch, he added.

Orissa's green woman fights environmental blues - from thatched hut
By Hemant Kumar Rout May 30, 2007, 10:50 GMT
Bhubaneswar, May 30 (IANS) Other people begin the day with a walk or a prayer to the gods, but not Orissa's doughty Urmila Behera who starts off each morning by planting at least 10 trees in and around her village.
The 48-year-old woman from Kothapada village in Balasore district has been doing so for the last 15 years - planting more than 100,000 trees in at least 60 villages without taking any financial assistance from the government or anyone else.
Operating from her thatched hut, Behera is not a rich philanthropist with time and money to spare, nor is she an academic debating the nuances of global warming in seminar rooms across the world. She is simply a woman deeply committed to the environment.
Fondly called 'Gachha Maa' (tree mother) in the area, Behera has even sold her agricultural land for the purpose.
Her mission plantation has seen her planting trees on riverbanks, in campuses of various educational institutions and myriad other places.
Behera, who has transformed the area with all kinds of trees - neem, coconut, palm, mango, jamun, sal, teak, date palm, peepal and banyan -- doesn't stop with just planting the tree. She also takes care of them till they attain a standard height.
'I started my mission in 1992. I have never looked back since. Earlier I was focussing on my own courtyard and the roadsides of my village. Now I have expanded my vistas,' Behera told IANS.
'I have no son. I love the trees as my sons. In fact, I had started on this work only to overcome the sorrows of not having a son. But it later became a routine. Every morning, I plant at least 10 trees - on special occasions it touches hundreds,' said the mother of two proudly.
Her social work is deeply personal.
Behera actually observes the birthday of a tree by cutting a symbolic cake. Her morning routine begins by putting kajal and turmeric on a tree and showering it with water.
Her husband and daughters are with her.
'A man with blood and flesh may turn anti-social, but not the trees. I feel those who don't do anything for the society are not human beings. We will continue the mission till our death,' said her husband Pitambar Das, 62.
The couple's daughters and other girls in the village tie rakhis to trees every year.
Inspired by the Beheras' passion, president of the village development committee Ashok Behera said: 'We have decided to join hands with the mission and help her in any way we can.'
Behera has a dedicated team of supporters in her mammoth task.
One of those is Dinabandhu Mohapatra of a neighbouring village who has spent a life term in jail and is described by Behera as a 'transformed man'.
Mohapatra said the acceptance of their work hasn't come easily.
'One day, for instance, villagers didn't allow us to plant trees on the roadside. But we did the work in the night when everybody was sleeping. Nobody harmed the trees in the morning,' he recalled.
Combating the environmental blues, the woman with the green fingers has many lessons to teach from her corner of the world. We just need to learn.

Posco to use self-developed technology for Orissa plant30 May, 2007 l 1833 hrs
ISTlIANS
BHUBANESWAR: South Korean steel major Posco on Wednesday said that it will adopt its self-developed FINEX technology for its proposed $12 billion Greenfield integrated steel project in Orissa, coming up under the largest foreign direct investment in India. "This technology will make Posco-India steel work most competitive in Indian steel sector," Posco-India CMD Soung-Sik Cho said. It is the innovative, future generation of steel-making technologies as replacement of the blast furnace method, which so far has been evaluated as most competitive among steel making technologies in the world, the company said. FINEX eliminates the first step in the steel-making process of sintering and coking and allows the direct use of low-cost ore fines and coal, bringing down overall plant installation and operational costs. The new technology also reduces pollution, producing significantly less sulphur and nitrogen oxide than current furnaces. The Indian plant will be the world's first steel mill of the company outside South Korea to use FINEX on a large scale, Posco said. Moreover, FINEX can better utilise the Indian iron ore which contains high alumina as compared to the blast-furnace technology, and thus is expected to substantially reduce the proposed amount of swapping of iron ore required for the project. Posco, one of the world's biggest steel makers, signed a deal with the Orissa government in June 2005 to set up a plant near the port town of Paradeep, some 120 km from the state capital, by 2016. The firm started working on the development of the new technology in 1992. It celebrated the successful completion of a plant commercialising FINEX in Pohang steelworks on May 30, in the presence of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and more than 1,000 dignitaries from all over the world including a team of officials from the Orissa government. Its total investment into R&D in order to develop and commercialise FINEX process was approximately $596 million.

Orissa cops shielding Mohanty
Posted Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 21:39
Cuttack (Orissa): For the last three days, a Rajasthan Police team has been literally hanging around in Cuttack, waiting to arrest Orissa top cop B B Mohanty.
But Mohanty has disappered again, after his office told the Rajasthan Police team that he has gone on medical leave. He's accused of helping his rape convict son Biti Mohanty jump parole.
The Rajasthan Police team met the Home Secretary and Director General of Police asking for help in arresting Mohanty. However, in a clear sign of protecting B B Mohanty, the Orissa Home Department now wants a formal request from the Rajasthan Police for his arrest.
Says Orissa DG police, Amarananda Patnaik, "We can only help in the arrest after we see the court's order. We have not seen the court's order so far. They have not sought any help relating to his arrest. They have only sought help for police security and support and that we are extending."
The Rajasthan Police team has searched for Mohanty at his office, residence and even in hospitals.
If they find him, Mohanty will be arrested under a non-bailable clause as an escaped prisoner, and flown back to Rajasthan to be produced in court. Mohanty's lawyers say its a debatable clause and he has to be produced before a local court. But the Rajasthan police seem determined.
Says Deputy Superintendent of Police, Jaipur, Mukund Bihari, "We will take him with us, but the Orissa Police should provide us with information on his whereabouts."
Mohanty has applied for anticipatory bail, which will be heard on June 1.
After Biti Mohanty it seems his top cop father B B Mohanty is on the run. And the weak stand of the Orissa Police in the matter is only making the situation more complicated.


Kerala to build Rs 4,000-cr thermal station in Orissa
ECONOMY BUREAU
Posted online: Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 0000 hours IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MAY 30: The Kerala government is gearing up to set up Rs 4,000-crore coal-based thermal station in Orissa. The first set of allocations for this outside-state project is ready, according to KSEB sources.
Union minister of state for coal Dasari Narayana Rao has informed Kerala government of Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) getting allotment of coal for captive power generation from the Baitarani coal block in Orissa. KSEB had applied for the allotment as early as in 2003.The allocation means that Kerala goverment may soon sign MoU with Coal India Ltd and Orissa government for the new venture. The proposal is for generating 1,000 mw power annually for 25 years. KSEB will have to cough up the coal mining costs near Baitarani river basin and land price to Orissa government, besides bearing the resettlement package for those displaced from the project site. Orissa is to get 12% of the power produced in the proposed thermal station.
“Considering the coal transportation costs and environmental burden, it was thought feasible to locate the KSEB power station at Orissa,” Kerala power minister AK Balan said.
PowerGrid Corporation of India’s East-South Interconnector-II HVDC Bipole Transmission System (from Talcher in Orissa to Kolar in Karnataka) will be harnessed for transmitting the power to Kerala grid.
However, KSEB sources said that it will take at least 10 years to have Kerala’s Orissa project commissioned.
Kerala is now substantially reliant on hydel resources for its power requirement. This works out to about 90 paise per unit in production costs. However, because of monsoon vagaries and environmental ire, hydel power dependency is pointed out as myopic planning. The new project is considered as a costly alternative, which Kerala government cannot brush aside as the power requirements escalate.

Orissa targets Rs 6,000cr revenue
By Our Correspondent
Bhubaneswar, May 30: The Orissa government has set an ambitious target to collect Rs 6,000 crore revenue during the year 2007-08. If successful, it would mean an increase of Rs 1,542 crores over the previous year.
Finance minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadei said on Wednesday that prudent fiscal management, administrative reforms and stress on tax collection had resulted in steady rise in the revenue collection.
"The revenue earning which stood at Rs 1,168 crores in 1999-2000, has improved a lot in the past seven years. In the year 2006-07, the state government earned Rs 4,458 crores. This year, we expect to touch the Rs 6,000-crore mark," Mr Ghadei said, adding that Orissa had metamorphosed from a revenue deficit state to a revenue surplus state in the process. Stating that around 75 per cent businessmen were not filing their returns, Mr Ghedei said state finance officials should strive to ensure that more business people understood the benefit of filing IT returns.
The minister said, "We are planning to conduct regular computer training programme for the commercial tax officers to enhance their work efficiency and streamline the entire tax collection process. Besides, each commercial officer will be required to spend at least one year in a check-gate or at similar places before his getting transfer," he said.
He pointed that if the last year’s 12 per cent growth in industry is maintained, the state would soon emerge as the most prosperous land in the eastern region.

Road accident kills four in Orissa
Posted May 30th, 2007 by Tarique
Bhubaneswar : At least four people including three of a family died and three others sustained injuries Wednesday after a car carrying them collided with a speeding truck near Kujanga town in Orissa's Jagatsingpur district, police said.
The deceased were identified as Lipa Swain, her father Dasarathi Swain, mother Pabitra Swain and their neighbour Dhruba Charana Nayak, police said, adding two people died on the spot whereas two others succumbed to their injuries on way to a hospital in Cuttack.
The injured people, said to be in a serious condition, were admitted to the same hospital.

SAIL clears Rourkela expansion
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Jamshedpur, May 23: The Steel Authority of India Ltd has approved the Rs 9,869-crore expansion plan of the Rourkela Steel Plant.
The annual hot metal capacity of the plant will be raised to 4.5 million tonnes.
A technology upgradation exercise will be undertaken to increase the production of crude steel and value-added steel, improve product quality and reduce energy consumption.
Under the modernisation programme, a fifth blast furnace will be set up with a working volume of 4,060 cubic metres and productivity of 2.3 tonnes per metre cube per day.
Besides, blast furnace No.1 in the plant will be reconstructed and upgraded to 1,250 metre volume with high pressure and coal dust injection facilities.
The coal dust injection facility will also be incorporated in blast furnace No. 4, which will double the present hot metal capacity of the plant.
The package also envisages a seven-metre-tall coke-oven battery and a new sinter plant with 3.69mt capacity.
To augment production capacity, the Rourkela plant will install a new 150-tonne converter and a caster to produce clean steel such as ultra-low carbon steel.
Two new matching ladle heating furnaces will also be installed, raising the number of such furnaces to three. One of the existing casters will also be upgraded.
The expansion will raise the total crude steel capacity of the Rourkela plant to 4.2mt.
In view of the increasing demand for high-end products, the Rourkela plant will set up a new plate mill with 1.8mt capacity that will roll out up to 4,200 mm wide plates.


Sail board nod for RSP makeover package
BS Reporter / Bhubaneswar May 23, 2007
The board of directors of Steel Authority of India (Sail) has given an in principle approval to Rs 9,869 crore modernization and capacity expansion plan of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP).The proposal envisages to more than double the hot metal production capacity of RSP from 2 million tonne per annum (MTPA) now to 4.5 MTPA.Similarly, the proposed modernisation program includes setting up of a fifth blast furnace with working volume of 4,060 cubic metres and productivity of 2.3 tonne per cubic metre per day.This apart, blast furnace - 1 of the steel plant will be reconstructed and upgraded to 1,250 cubic metres useful volume with high top pressure and coal dust injection facilities. In blast furnace - 4, coal dust injection system will be incorporated."With the approval of the modernisation and expansion plan RSP is all set to enter a new era of productivity, profitability and quality," BN Singh, managing director, RSP said."The objectives of expansion include increase in production of crude steel through state-of-the-art technology in order to meet the productivity level of international standards, improvement in quality of products, production of more value added products, reduction in energy consumption, improvement of environment, cut in cost of production and thereby increase in net sales realization."The package also envisages the setting up of a new 7 metre tall coke oven battery and a new sinter plant with 3.69 MTPA capacity. In order to augment the steel producing capacity, RSP is going to install a new 150 tonne converter and a new caster in its steel melting shop (SMS)-II. New RH-OB unit will be introduced in SMS-II to produce clean steel such as ultra low carbon steels.Two new matching ladle heating furnaces (LHFs) are also on the cards which will take the number of LHFs to three. One of the existing casters will also be upgraded. These augmentation measures will take the total crude steel capacity of RSP to the level of 4.2 MTPA.In view of the increasing demand for high end products, RSP proposes to install a new plate mill with a capacity of 1.8 MTPA that will roll out different grades of plates up to the width of 4,200 mm, meeting the stringent specific customer requirements.In order to further improve the quality of hot rolled strips the finishing mill train of hot strip mill (HSM) will be modernized to meet the customers' requirement and to improve the operation and quality of downstream units.An entirely new mill to produce 1,80,000 tonne of cold rolled non-oriented (CRNO) steel will be coming up under the package taking the total capacity of the superior grade steel to 2.55 lakh tonne per annum.To improve the quality of cold rolled (CR) products a new hydrochloric (HCL) pickiling line of 7 lakhs tonne per annum capacity, a new 6 high reversing mill along with downstream facilities for thinner gauges are being added in the cold rolling complex. As a result of these augmentation measures the total saleable steel production will reach the level of 3.9 MTPA.

Sail approves Rs 9,869 cr RSP expansion plan
Rourkela, May 23: Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) has accorded its in-principle approval to the expansion plan of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) at a cost of Rs 9,869 crore, the sources said. If the project is implemented, hot metal production capacity of the plant would increase to 4.5 million tonnes per annum, the sources said. The objectives of the expansion plan include technology up-gradation to increase the production of crude steel, improvement in quality of products, production of more value added products and reduction in energy consumption, they added. The modernisation programme includes setting up of a fifth blast furnace with working volume of 4,060 cubic metres and productivity of 2.3 tonnes per metre cube per day. Besides, the blast furnace number one in the plant would be reconstructed and upgraded to 1,250 metre volume with high pressure and coal dust injection facilities. The coal dust injection facility would also be incorporated in blast furnace number four, which would double the present hot metal capacity of the plant, the sources said. Bureau Report

Man held for car-liftingSunday May 27 2007 11:29 IST
ROURKELA: One Harish Yadav, who was arrested by Haryana police from here, was taken to Haryana on Saturday on transit remand.Yadav is suspected be a member of a car-lifting gang and his arrest led to recovery of two Sedan cars.An eight-member Haryana police team arrived here on Friday and arrested Yadav from his rented accommodation at Civil Township under Raghunathpali police limits.He was produced in the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate court, Panposh and then taken to Haryana.

Rapist marries victim in Orissa jail (May 30, 2007)
Bhubaneswar, May 26: In what may be a case of repentance or an easy way to get out of jail, a man in an Orissa prison has tied the knot with the young woman he raped.
Naukunj Sandha, 23, who has been in jail since the March 23 rape, married Munnu Bhuyan inside the Jharsuguda sub jail Wednesday, a police officer said. The families of both the bride and groom attended.
The marriage was solemnised by an official, A.B. Khatei, in the presence of jail superintendent P.N. Bag and P. Nageswari, lawyer for the accused.
"What I did was wrong," a lawyer quoted Naukunj as saying after the ceremony. "Now I am happy to get a chance to make amends."
Bhuyan, who looked happy, said she was ready to forgive her tormentor.
"For the time of rape I hated him. I wanted to tear him to pieces. But I have a different feeling now. I have forgiven him because he has chosen me as his wife," she said.
On March 23, Naukunj, who was a crane operator in Easter Power and Steel Ltd at Lehendapur, was visiting Kantapali to attend a marriage where he raped the 21-year-old.
Later, Naukunj's relatives and his advocate approached the girl with a proposal to marry him. With help from legal counselors, the two agreed to marry.
"The marriage was solemnized inside the jail and attended by parents of the boy and girl. While the bride left for her in-laws' house, the groom remained in the jail," said Nageswari.
A prison official said: "All this is part of our policies of reforms and rehabilitation." Following the marriage, a bail petition has been moved to free Naukunj.
IANS

Four killed in Orissa summer storm (26 May 2007)
BHUBANESWAR — A summer storm wreaked havoc in north Orissa yesterday killing four people, besides injuring two others and causing widespread damage to houses, shops, vehicles and communication network, police said.
According to police, Ramesh Dalei of Chhadchhadia village, Sukanti Barik (Angula), Jaga Khatual (Mulising) and Paresh Das (Routraypur) in Balasore district, nearly 200km from Bhubaneswar, were killed when a lightning struck them.
The tragedy occurred in the afternoon when the deceased were working in a paddy field. The two injured were admitted to a local hospital in critical condition," a senior police official from Balasore said.
Strong winds accompanied by hailstorm threw life out of gear disrupting traffic movement in many places of the district.
"Roofs of several thatched houses and government establishments were flown away due to the high-speed winds. Supply of electricity and telecommunication facilities to rural pockets also were disrupted for many hours," said Anup Kumar Das, a villager.

Security up for two Orissa ministers
Bhubaneswar, May 26 : Security has been beefed up for two Orissa ministers following intelligence reports that they face renewed death threats from Maoist guerrillas. More guards have been provided to Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadai and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Minister Chaitanya Prasad Majhi, a police official said."The intelligence wing gathered information about the threat a month ago when some extremists arrested in the state were being interrogated," a police officer told IANS Saturday.Majhi admitted he had been asked to take precaution while traveling in his constituency in Mayurbhanj district, where Maoists last month murdered a forest official and burnt his office.
--- IANS

Marijuana worth Rs.700,000 seized in Orissa, 3 held
Posted May 26th, 2007 by Tarique
Bhubaneswar : Three people were arrested Friday on charges of possessing marijuana worth Rs.700,000 in Orissa's Malkangiri district, an excise official said.
The accused - Prakash Debangan of Madhya Pradesh, Adu Matam of Nakamagodi and Sadhu Khila of Malkangiri, nearly 620 km from Bhubaneswar, were caught by excise officials in the evening.
"Acting on a tip-off we raided a house in Tarlakota-C colony under Orkel police station while the men were about to leave with the marijuana. While three of them were nabbed, two others fled before we could reach the spot," excise sub-inspector Ashok Kumar Seth said.
A case has been registered under section 20 (B) of the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
"They (accused) are being interrogated in the police station and will be produced in the court on Saturday. We are verifying whether they have links with other gangs operating in the locality," Seth added.

Two die of anthrax in Orissa
Posted May 26th, 2007 by Tarique
Bhubaneswar : Two people have died of anthrax in Orissa's tribal dominated Koraput district, while five have contracted the deadly disease in the last two days, health officials said Friday.
Bisu Sisa, 45, of Phulba village and Nanda Jani, 35, of Padiguda village under Semliguda block in Koraput, nearly 500 km from Bhubaneswar, fell to the disease reportedly after consuming cattle meat.
K.H. Reddy, chief district medical officer (CDMO) of Koraput headquarters hospital confirmed the deaths and the anthrax infection.
"The two were brought dead. Those who have contracted the infection are undergoing treatment in hospital and their condition is said to be stable," Reddy said.
The state government has sent a team of doctors to the two villages to treat villagers and create awareness among them about the disease.
"The team will camp in the villages to monitor the situation. They have also destroyed cattle meat preserved in some houses there," the official said.
"As a precautionary measure, another health task force has been deployed in these villages to prevent further infection," he added.
Villagers however alleged that no veterinary staff were present for the vaccination of animals.
Orissa has reported cases of anthrax infection in the past too, specially from Kalahandi, Koraput and Rayagada where tribals often consume infected meat.
Over 200 cattle and five people lost their lives to anthrax between 1994 and 2006. In 1998, as many as 43 cattle died in Niali area of Cuttack district due to the deadly disease.
"Though 18 of the 30 districts in Orissa have been identified as endemic to the deadly anthrax, the state government is yet to launch an Anthrax Control Programme (ACP)," Parshuram Pradhan, a human right activist, told IANS.

Orissa heat death toll rises to 11 Posted at Saturday, 26 May 2007 19:05 IST
Bhubaneswar, May 26: Three more persons have died in Orissa due to sunstroke, taking the toll in heat-related deaths this season to 11 as the temperature rose to a blistering 46 degrees Celsius at Sundargarh.Reports of one heat-related death each was received from Cuttack, Kendrapara and Nuapada districts, revenue department sources said today.The highest number of three heat stroke deaths had occurred in Ganjam district followed by Kendrapara, Nuapada (two each), Balasore, Kandhamal, Cuttack and Sundargarh (one each), they said.Coastal belt of the state is bearing the brunt as the high humidity level in the atmosphere, coupled with more than normal day temperature, is leading to cases of sunstroke.Revenue control room sources said though reports of 68 deaths, allegedly caused by the heat, had been received by the department 47 cases had been investigated.Thirtysix of these deaths had been caused due to other reasons while 11 were confirmed as sunstroke casualties.The other 21 cases were presently under investigation, the sources said.Meanwhile, the meteorological station here forecast that heat wave conditions would continue in several parts of the state over the next 48 hours.The met office sources said western Orissa was experiencing temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius for the last four days.Sundargarh was the hottest at 46 degrees Celsius, while the temperature at Hirakud was 43.7 degrees c, Titilagarh 43.6 degrees c, Angul 43.5 degrees c, Jharsuguda and Balangir 43.2 degrees c and Sambalpur 42 degrees c yesterday.

Sunday 27th of May 2007
Severe Heat Claims 11 Lives In Orissa
Sunday 27th of May 2007 :- Three more people have died in Orissa due to sunstroke, taking the toll in heat-related deaths to 11, official sources said Sunday.According to a state revenue department official, one death each was reported from Kendrapara, Cuttack and Nuapada districts.So far, three heatstroke-related deaths had occurred in Ganjam district followed by two each in Kendrapara and Nuapada. Balasore, Kandhamal, Cuttack and Sundargarh districts have reported one death each, the official added.The state's coastal belt is bearing the brunt as high humidity level in the atmosphere, coupled with soaring day temperature, is leading to cases of sunstroke, he said.The meteorological office here forecast that heat wave conditions would for two more days.On Saturday, Talcher, which recorded 47 degrees Celsius, was the hottest place in the state. Hirakud recorded 43.5 degrees while Jharsuguda was at 43.2 degrees. Similarly, Titlagarh, Jharsuguda, Bolangir and Angul were just above 43 degrees while Sambalpur registered 42.3 degrees Celsius.

Chikungunya scare in Orissa: 4 dieMay 27, 2007 - 1:30:38 PM
'We have found the aedes mosquitoes in the locality. The mosquito is the carrier of chikungunya and dengue. So from the symptoms of the disease the possible outbreak of chikungunya can't be ruled out,' B Nageswar Rao, chief of the specialist team, told IANS.


Rajasthan police team expected here to arrest
Bhubaneswar, May 27: A Rajasthan police team is expected to be here by tomorrow possibly to arrest senior Orissa police officer B B Mohanti who is accused of helping his son convicted of rape. Mohanti had said yesterday that he would extend all cooperation to the police team from Rajasthan. The Rajasthan police team left for Cuttack to bring the Orissa DGP (Fire Services) after Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Rajendra Bansal rejected the Rajasthan police plea to issue a non bailable warrant against the Orissa home guard DGP but said Rajasthan police was free to arrest Mohanty. "No police team from Rajasthan has met me so far nor have I any information about their arrival in Orissa", state Director General of Police Amarananda Pattanayak said today. Pattanayak had earlier said that the Orissa police would extend all cooperation to their counterparts from Rajasthan as provided under law. Mohanti said he was not expecting the Rajasthan team to visit him after a Jaipur court had rejected their petition for issue of a non-bailable warrant against his name. "I hope they will work according to the provisions of the law". Mohanti in the meanwhile has moved the Rajasthan High Court seeking quashing of the charges against him. Mohanti had been accused of helping his son Brit Mohanty to go missing after being released on parole from a Jaipur jail on November 20 last year. He had been charged under Section 120 (criminal conspiracy), 216 (harbouring an offender who has escaped from custody) and 225 (resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension of another person) of IPC. All the charges, however, are bailable. Bureau Report

Mohanty trail: No news of Rajasthan cops in Orissa(28 May, 2007 l 0052 hrs IST)
BHUBANESWAR: Two days after they left for Orissa to arrest senior IPS officer B B Mohanty for helping his son Biti, convicted of rape, jump parole, the policemen from Rajasthan seem to have gone missing. Even as their Orissa counterparts waited, the five-member Rajasthan police team did not show up in Bhubaneswar or Cuttack on Sunday. Nor did they inform the Orissa cops of alternative plans. "We're on the way. We'll start acting only after reaching our destination," Virendra Jhakkar, in-charge of the Lal Kothi police station, Jaipur, told TOI. Jhakkar is part of the team that left Jaipur to arrest Mohanty Sr. However, sources said the Rajasthan cops had already reached the state and wanted to gauge the public mood before arresting the senior IPS officer. Orissa DGP Amarananda Pattanayak said, "Rajasthan Police are yet to inform us of their plans. We have absolutely no information on this front." He added that going by legal provisions, Rajasthan police could inform their Orissa counterparts or act on their own and produce an arrested person before a local magistrate. The Rajasthan government's counsel in Orissa HC, P K Parhi, had no knowledge about the team from his state. "They have not contacted me so far," he said.

Severe heat claims 11 lives in Orissa
Bhubaneswar, May 27: Three more people have died in Orissa due to sunstroke, taking the toll in heat-related deaths to 11, official sources said Sunday.According to a state revenue department official, one death each was reported from Kendrapara, Cuttack and Nuapada districts.So far, three heatstroke-related deaths had occurred in Ganjam district followed by two each in Kendrapara and Nuapada. Balasore, Kandhamal, Cuttack and Sundargarh districts have reported one death each, the official added.The state's coastal belt is bearing the brunt as high humidity level in the atmosphere, coupled with soaring day temperature, is leading to cases of sunstroke, he said.The meteorological office here forecast that heat wave conditions would for two more days.On Saturday, Talcher, which recorded 47 degrees Celsius, was the hottest place in the state. Hirakud recorded 43.5 degrees while Jharsuguda was at 43.2 degrees. Similarly, Titlagarh, Jharsuguda, Bolangir and Angul were just above 43 degrees while Sambalpur registered 42.3 degrees Celsius.
--- IANS

New speci of limbless lizard found in Orissa
Bhubaneswar, May 28 (PTI): A new speci of limbless lizard said to be new to science has been located by group of zoologists in Orissa.
"It is an important discovery and preliminary scientific study reveals that the lizard belongs to the genus sepsophis", Prof Sushil Kumar Dutta of the North Orissa University, Baripada, said.
Dutta, who led a research team of 'Vasundhara', a policy analysis, research and action group, on a field study to the Khandadhar hills in Sundargarh district found the limbless lizard during a survey recently.
The lizard, which belonged to the family 'scincidae', is new to science and is an important discovery from the biogeographic point of view, Dutta said.
Another speci of the same genus had been reported in 1870 from the golconda hills in Andhra Pradesh after which this is the first time that this limbless lizard had been found and it bears significance from the biodiversity point of view, Dutta said.
"The new speci will be scientifically described at a later stage after accumulation of more scientific data", Dutta said.
The other limbless lizards recorded from India were of the family 'dibamidae' which was found in South East Asia and Nicobar island, 'anguidae', recorded from North East India and South East India and the genus 'barkudia' (scincidae) discovered in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, he said.
The closest relatives of the new discovery are found in Sri Lanka and South Africa, Dutta said adding this finding was of bio-geographic importance as Sri Lanka and South Africa were also part of Gondwanaland like India.
The new-found 19 cm long lizard looks like a small snake and has lower eyelids, rudimentary ear opening and pectoral bone holes on its shoulders, he said.
It also had scales on both sides of the body, a prominent feature of lizards, he said.
The new speci was quite specialised and preferred to live in cool retreat, soft soil and below stones.
Like its relatives, it lived in forest zones with heavy canopy and could not live in degraded forests where the soil profile changed rapidly.
The Khandadhar hills, which is known to be rich with iron ore, is presently in a controversy as the Orissa Government proposed to lease it to South Korean steel company POSCO for its mega steel project at Paradip.
The 'Vasundhara' team also had come across several other species in recent months in the eastern ghats which were not recorded in Orissa earlier.
They included a new speci of cat snake (of bioga speci), the red-bellied vine snake (ahaetulla rhodogaster), known to occur in the North East, brown whip snake (ahaetulla pulverulentus), known in the western ghats and montane trinket snake (coelognathus monticollaris).
The newly found lizards in the state included the Golden Gecko (calodactylodes auerus), which is a schedule I speci. It was recorded from several forests in Kalahandi (Niyamgiri Hills), Koraput, Kandhamal and ganjam districts.
This speci lives in the crevices of large boulders near hill streams covered with tree canopy. Due to habitat loss, there was a shifting trend in the habitat of these rare geckos, Pratyush Mohapatra, a research scholar belonging to the team said.
A new speci of skink of the genus 'asymblepharus' had also been recorded from the Niyamgiri Hills and the closest relative of the speci lived in the forests of western ghat and himalayan foothills.
Also a second speci recorded from the similipal biosphere reserve was a new record for Orissa, he said.
The Termite Hill Gecko (hemidactylus subtriedrus) had also been recorded for the first time from Orissa while two species of turtles known to occur outside the state had also been recorded by the team.
The Tricarinate Turtle (melanochelys tricarinata) had been recorded for the first time from the Similipal biosphere reserve. It was previously found in Uttaranchal and Bihar.
Similarly, the Indian Roofed Turtle (pangshura tectum) had been recorded from the Subarnarekha and Budhabalanga river systems of North Orissa, Mohapatra said.

Monday 28th of May 2007
Maoists Trigger Blast In Orissa
A landmine exploded in Orissa's Malkangiri district Monday morning partially damaging a bus but leaving its passengers unhurt.According to police officials, Maoist guerrillas triggered the blast near Laxmanguda village, about 700 km from here, at about 7 a.m. This was just a few seconds after the bus with 20 passengers inside crossed the spot.The bus was returning from Motu town of the district to the state capital Bhubaneswar.

POSCO to raise output by 11 pct with new plantMay 30, 2007POHANG, South Korea (Reuters) - POSCO Co. Ltd,
the world's fourth-largest steel maker, said on Wednesday it aims to raise its crude steel output by 11 percent to 34 million tonnes in 2008, helped mostly by a new steelmaking technology.POSCO said the increased production would push the South Korean steel maker up two notches to the No. 2 spot in the global steel sector - still well behind Arcelor Mittal's 110 million tonnes.A new steel plant in the south eastern port city of Pohang, using a self-developed technology called Finex, has just started operations with an annual output of 1.5 million tonnes, the company said.The Finex plant can cut production costs by up to 15 percent and reduce pollution emissions by more than 95 percent, compared with conventional furnaces, the company said."The Finex plant will sharply enhance POSCO's competitiveness in the face of the consolidation wave in the global steel industry," POSCO Chief Executive Lee Ku-taek said in an opening ceremony for the plant.Faced with soaring prices and raw material supply shortages, POSCO has been keen to develop cheaper steelmaking methods, investing 1.06 trillion won ($1.14 billion) over the past three years.Current blast furnace methods have been used to produce steel for almost 100 years but thigh capital and environmental costs have led steel makers to seek new technologies.POSCO said Finex eliminates the first step in the steelmaking process of sintering and coking and allows the direct use of low-cost ore fines and coal, bearing down on costs.Another advantage of Finex is the reduction of pollution, producing significantly less sulphur and nitrogen oxide than current furnaces.POSCO expected to convert its blast furnaces step by step, starting with the furnace in Pohang. POSCO has 10 furnaces in its Pohang and Gwangyang steelworks.POSCO also plans to adopt the Finex method in a $12 billion Indian project, building two Finex furnaces by 2010, each capable of producing two million tonnes of crude steel annually.Shares in POSCO fell 1.38 percent to 429,500 won by 0229 GMT, underperforming a 0.51 percent fall in the broader market.

Orissa Home Guards DGP Mohanty goes on medical leave to avoid arrestFrom our ANI Correspondent
Cuttack, May 28: Orissa Home Guard DGP B B Mohanty went on medical leave on Monday to evade arrest by a Rajasthan Police team. Mohanty is accused of helping his son Biti Mohanty, convicted of raping a German scholar in Alwar, jump parole. A day after Rajasthan Police were rapped by a Jaipur court, the state government decided to send a police team to Cuttack to bring Mohanty to Jaipur for interrogation. Last Thursday, the court in Jaipur had rejected Rajasthan Police's excuse of not having a court warrant to arrest Mohanty, saying that police had the means to proceed with an arrest without a warrant.Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Rajendra Bansal also rejected Rajasthan Police's plea to issue a non-bailable warrant against Mohanty, saying the latter was free to arrest Mohanty."We have come here to arrest B B Mohanty as per the court directions. We will take him to Rajasthan," said Deputy Superintendent of Police, Jaipur, Mumkund Bihari.For almost six months now, this case has been an embarrassment for the Rajasthan Government. Not only did Biti, convicted by a fast-track court for rape, jump bail and disappear, the senior Mohanty also sees the Jaipur court's order as a breather.Meanwhile, Mohanty's lawyer has filed anticipatory bail plea in the Jaipur sessions court. The hearing is scheduled for May 30.Earlier, Orissa DGP Amranand Patnaik said that he has discussed the issue with his Rajasthan counterpart MS Gill. Asked why the Orissa cops were not cooperating with their Rajasthan counterparts in the case, Patnaik said his force would extend all possible help within the law to interrogate Mohanty.

Baosteel may invest in ferro chrome unit in Orissa: Srcs
2007-05-28 18:24:06
Chinese steel company Baoshan Iron & Steel company or Baosteel is set to invest in a ferro chrome unit in Kalinganagar in Orissa, reports CNBC-TV18
The likely capacity of the unit is expected to be 1,00,000 tonnes per annum. Sources say that the joint venture agreement is being finalized. The ferro chrome unit is likely to cost Rs 150-200 crore.

Visa Steel's 50,000 tpa ferro chrome unit in Kalinganagar is to be commissioned in June. Baosteel is likely to own 35% in the new unit and Visa Steel may own the balance 65%. Visa Steel has 525 acres in Kalinganagar and has applied to the Orissa government for an additional 675 acres.

Vishambhar Saran, Chairman, Visa Steel, said, “Discussions have been going on (with Baosteel) from time to time on various possibilities. I don't want to speak about something for which we do not have a definitive agreement."

Qian Weifeng, Baosteel's India representative, said, “We at Baosteel do not comment on anything for which we do not have an agreement."

New species of limbless lizard found in Orissa
Agencies Monday, May 28, 2007 22:13 IST

BHUBANESWAR: A species of limbless lizard said to be new to science has been located by group of zoologists in Orissa.
“It is an important discovery and preliminary scientific study reveals that the lizard belongs to the genus sepsophis”, Prof Sushil Kumar Dutta of the North Orissa University, Baripada, said.
Dutta, who led a research team of ‘Vasundhara’, a policy analysis, research and action group, on a field study to the Khandadhar hills in Sundargarh district found the limbless lizard during a survey recently.
The lizard, which belonged to the family ‘scincidae’, is new to science and is an important discovery from the biogeographic point of view, Dutta said.
Another species of the same genus had been reported in 1870 from the golconda hills in Andhra Pradesh after which this is the first time that this limbless lizard had been found and it bears significance from the biodiversity point of view, Dutta said.
“The new species will be scientifically described at a later stage after accumulation of more scientific data”, Dutta said. The other limbless lizards recorded from India were of the family ‘dibamidae’ which was found in South East Asia and Nicobar island, ‘anguidae’, recorded from North East India and South East India and the genus ‘barkudia’ (scincidae) discovered in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, he said.

Tuesday 29th of May 2007
Rs.20 Mn Ransom For Abducted Orissa
Businessman
Tuesday 29th of May 2007 :- An Orissa businessman has been abducted and his family has received a ransom demand of Rs.20 million, police here said Tuesday.Rashmi Ranjan Mohapatra alias Chinna Barik, 34, from Keonjhar, about 200 km from here, came to Bhubaneswar Monday for work. In the evening his family got a phone call from a man demanding Rs.20 million for his release, district police chief Amitav Thakur told IANS. Mohapatra owns trucks, crushers and is involved in other businesses too.

Tuesday 29th of May 2007
Orissa High School Exam Topper Wants To Become Scientist
Tuesday 29th of May 2007 :-The girl who topped this year's Orissa high school certificate examination said she wanted to be a scientist like President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.Priyanka Das, 15, a student of district government high school at Balasore, some 200 kilometers from the state capital Bhubaneswar, topped the Class 10 examination conducted by the Orissa Board of Secondary Examination (BSE) by securing 727 marks out of 750. The results were declared Tuesday. 'Although I knew that the result will be good, I never thought I will stand first in the state,' Priyanka said.She studied for about 12 to 14 hours every day to prepare for the examination. 'I want to study in the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and want to become a scientist like President Kalam,' she told IANS. 'She has been always a good student,' Priyanka's father Saktaranjan Das said.Saktaranjan is a tax consultant while Priyanka's mother Urvashi works as a zoology lecturer in a local college. 'She got a scholarship in Class three, Class five and again in Class seven. We are proud of her,' said Urvashi Das.This year about 400,000 students from 7133 state high schools had appeared for the Class 10 examination, which had been conducted simultaneously in 1713 centres across the state between March 7 and March 16, Orissa Board of Secondary Examination secretary Minaketan Pani told IANS.

Orissa cop Mohanty foxes Raj cops
Posted Tuesday , May 29, 2007 at 17:40
Updated Tuesday , May 29, 2007 at 19:36
Bhubaneswar/Jaipur: The Rajasthan Police on Tuesday yet again failed to find B B Mohanty, a senior police officer in Orissa whose son has jumped bail in a rape case.
A Rajasthan Police team searched Mohanty’s office and a hospital in Cuttack after arriving in Orissa on Monday. Mohanty’s son, Bitti, jumped parole in November 2006 days after he was found guilty of raping a German woman in Alwar.
Mohanty , a Director General of Police, has denied allegations that he is shielding Bitti. The Rajasthan Police again alleged on Tuesday that the Orissa Police are not helping it to find the officer.
"We are totally dependent on the Orissa Police to find Mohanty but they are not giving us information on his whereabouts. We only hope they will pass on this information to us soon,” said Rajasthan Police team leader Mukund Bihari.
Amarananda Patnaik, the Director General of Orissa Police, said his force would help but he couldn’t force Mohanty . "We will pass on the information on him to Rajasthan police, provided we have it. But he is an independent DG and does not have to report me,” he said.
Mohanty went on a four-day medical leave on May 27 and is supposed to be taking treatment for blood dysentery.
A PTI report said the Rajasthan team studied the records of a hospital in Buxi Bazaar, Cuttack, which had referred Mohanty to the government SCB Medical College Hospital for treatment.
The PTI report said authorities of SCB Hospital have told the Rajasthan Police clear Mohanty has not come to them for treatment.

Rare lizard found in Orissa forests
NDTV Correspondent
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 (Bubaneshwar)
A limbless lizard of an extremely rare breed was discovered by zoologists in the forests of Orissa on Tuesday. The last sighting of a limbless lizard but a different species was way back in 1870 in the Golkonda Hills of Andhra Pradesh.Professor Sushil Dutta whose team spotted the lizard says it is a find of great significance.''It is very important from the bio-geographic point of view because the closest relatives of this lizard live in South Africa and Sri Lanka,'' says Dutta of the North Orissa University. ''This is a new species to be included in a new genus and which is also a discovery after more than 130 years.''The lizard is a little longer than a palm and has all the prominent features of its family such as lower eyelids and scales. It prefers to live in cool spots under the soft soil and in shaded forests. But scientists fear that its current habitat a patch of evergreen rainforest at Khandadhar is under threat due to mining activities in this iron-ore rich belt.''From conservation point of view this occupies a heavy debt.This is an example of existence of small patches of rain forests due to degradation of forest, due to erosion of top soil perhaps most of these animals are vanishing,'' says professor Dutta.

Orissa high school exam topper wants to become scientist
Posted May 29th, 2007 by Tarique
Balasore : The girl who topped this year's Orissa high school certificate examination said she wanted to be a scientist like President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Priyanka Das, 15, a student of district government high school at Balasore, some 200 kilometers from the state capital Bhubaneswar, topped the Class 10 examination conducted by the Orissa Board of Secondary Examination (BSE) by securing 727 marks out of 750. The results were declared Tuesday.
"Although I knew that the result will be good, I never thought I will stand first in the state," Priyanka said.
She studied for about 12 to 14 hours every day to prepare for the examination.
"I want to study in the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and want to become a scientist like President Kalam," she told IANS.
"She has been always a good student," Priyanka's father Saktaranjan Das said.
Saktaranjan is a tax consultant while Priyanka's mother Urvashi works as a zoology lecturer in a local college.
"She got a scholarship in Class three, Class five and again in Class seven. We are proud of her," said Urvashi Das.
This year about 400,000 students from 7133 state high schools had appeared for the Class 10 examination, which had been conducted simultaneously in 1713 centres across the state between March 7 and March 16, Orissa Board of Secondary Examination secretary Minaketan Pani told IANS.

Orissa makes changes in APMC ActPTI[ TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2007 10:55:49 PM]
NEW DELHI: Orissa has made necessary amendments in Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee Act to facilitate contract farming in private sector, state chief minister Naveen Patnaik said on Tuesday.
"Orissa has made necessary amendments in the APMC Act to permit setting up of rural market and contract farming in the private sector. The rules under the amended APMC Act are in process," he said at the National Development Council meeting.
He said the NDC sub-committee's observation not to encourage any legal provision for handing over of land for cultivation and management as it could make the farmer a mere rent collector or a labourer "is a well thought out safety measure to protect the interest of the farmers".
He sought adequate support from the Centre for resource poor states like Orissa for developing their own models of risk management in agriculture.
Patnaik suggested that a focused approach was needed for agriculture in the 11th Plan to ensure remunerative prices for the farm produce, timely agricultural credit linked to risk management besides availability of quality inputs.
He also sought increased funding under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP).
The chief minister appreciated the NDC sub-committee for suggesting that for upscaling public investment both the central and state governments should invest in an equitable manner.

Child dies after consuming prasad in Orissa
Bhubaneswar, May 25: A child died while over 50 people, mostly women and children, fell sick in an Orissa village after consuming prasad, a health official said Thursday.
As many as 30 people were admitted to the Dharmasala hospital and one of them, Chandan Mallick, 8, died in the afternoon.
Residents of Sarei village in Jajpur district, about 130 km from here, had taken Sirini - a religious offering made of rice, milk, coconut, and sugar - during a village festival Tuesday.
After 48 hours many of them complained of giddiness and acute stomachache. Many vomited and complained of diarrhoea, a medical officer of the hospital said.

Friday, May 25, 2007
Rapist marries victim in Orissa jail
In what may be a case of repentance or an easy way to get out of jail, a man in an Orissa prison has tied the knot with the young woman he raped.
Naukunj Sandha, 23, who has been in jail since the March 23 rape, married Munnu Bhuyan inside the Jharsuguda sub jail Wednesday, a police officer said. The families of both the bride and groom attended.
The marriage was solemnised by an official, A.B. Khatei, in the presence of jail superintendent P.N. Bag and P. Nageswari, lawyer for the accused.
'What I did was wrong,' a lawyer quoted Naukunj as saying after the ceremony. 'Now I am happy to get a chance to make amends.'
Bhuyan, who looked happy, said she was ready to forgive her tormentor.
'For the time of rape I hated him. I wanted to tear him to pieces. But I have a different feeling now. I have forgiven him because he has chosen me as his wife,' she said.
On March 23, Naukunj, who was a crane operator in Easter Power and Steel Ltd at Lehendapur, was visiting Kantapali to attend a marriage where he raped the 21-year-old.
Later, Naukunj's relatives and his advocate approached the girl with a proposal to marry him. With help from legal counselors, the two agreed to marry.
'The marriage was solemnized inside the jail and attended by parents of the boy and girl. While the bride left for her in-laws' house, the groom remained in the jail,' said Nageswari.
A prison official said: 'All this is part of our policies of reforms and rehabilitation.' Following the marriage, a bail petition has been moved to free Naukunj.

WB to provide Rs 1,406 cr for Orissa roads
AGENCIES
Posted online: Friday, May 25, 2007 at 1316 hours IST
BHUBANESWAR, MAY 25: The World Bank has agreed to provide Rs 1,406 crore as assistance for implementation of Rs 2,121 crore Orissa State Roads Project (OSRP), official sources said.
Under the project 200 km of road would be constructed within the current fiscal, sources added.
Of the total amount, Rs 415 crore would be invested during the current financial year to build the 68 km Bhawanipatna- Khariar road, 95 km stretch of Chandbali- Bhadrak-Anandapur road and 41 km Berhampur-Taptapani road.
About 700 km of roads would be constructed during the next fiscal.
The matter was discussed at a meeting between the state's Works Minister A U Singh Deo and a World Bank team comprising B Raja and A K Swaminathan here yesterday, the sources said.
A proposal was also mooted to set up a construction academy in Orissa modelled after the one present at Hyderabad to contribute towards capacity building of contractors and workers by imparting training in modern construction technique, they said.
Steps would also be taken to develop a core road network system for undertaking urgent repair works. The Sambalpur-Rourkela, Joda-Bambri and Koira-Tensa-Rajamunda roads were being taken up for expansion and widening under the public-private-partnership mode, the sources said.

Robbers flee with Rs.250,000 in Orissa
Bhubaneswar, May 24: Robbers looted a total of Rs.250,000 in two separate incidents in western Orissa, police said Thursday.Three masked men decamped with Rs.133,000 after threatening an insurance firm employee at gunpoint at Mangalbazar in Jharsuguda town."Dileswar Bag, an employee of National Insurance, had gone to a bank to deposit the money. When he parked his bike in front of the bank, three youths accosted him and snatched the bag carrying money," said a police officer from Jharsuguda."The trio fled away on a motorcycle. This was the fourth such incident in the town in two months."In another incident, a phone booth owner was robbed of Rs.117,000 by unknown miscreants in the Sambalpur Court premises, 320 km from here.Mangtu Ram Agarwal had withdrawn the money to buy a piece of land at Badbazar and had gone to the court for its registration."Keeping the money in the side-box of his bike, he went to buy stamp papers for documentation. On his return, he found the side box broken and the bag containing the money missing," police said.Police launched investigations to nab the culprits.

Friday, May 25, 2007
Couple commits suicide in Orissa
From correspondents in India, 03:30 PM IST
Driven to desperation by acute poverty and family tensions, a couple allegedly committed suicide in their village home here.
Santosh Jena, 28, and his wife Laxmipriya Jena, 24, allegedly consumed poison Thursday evening in their home in Chaitana village, about 80 km from Bhubaneshwar.
Jitendra Dalasi, officer-in-charge of the Naugaon police station, said the couple were in dire straits after their marriage and many times did not have enough money to purchase daily rations and clothes, even though Santosh worked as a daily labourer.
The couple got married after many years of a steady relationship in July 2006 and were living separately from Santosh's parents and brother.
'Both husband and wife committed suicide owing to acute poverty. Even the district administration and panchayat representative didn't pay heed towards them. They were grossly neglected,' states the first information report (FIR) in the case.
A police official said poverty was not the sole cause: 'They must have family problems and altercations with other family members.'

Orissa team studies welfare schemes
Search for More News
Chennai, May 25: A five-member delegation from Orissa, led by Information and Public Relations Minister Debasis Nayak, today studied various welfare schemes being implemented by the Tamil Nadu government for journalists.
The team held talks with Tamil Nadu Information Minister Parithi Ilamvazhuthi and department officials with regard to provisions laid down for journalist pension scheme in the state.
Besides studying the structure and functions of the state Press Academy, the delegations also looked into procedures like identification of journalists eligible for pension scheme, contribution to the pension fund, investment of the fund and disbursement of the pension.
The team comprised Information and Public Relations Commissioner-cum-Secretary Digambar Mohanty and three journalists from Orissa, an official press release said. (Our Correspondent)
Published: Friday, May 25, 2007

Two Die Of Anthrax In Orissa
Friday 25th of May 2007 :- Two people have died of anthrax in Orissa's tribal dominated Koraput district, while five have contracted the deadly disease in the last two days, health officials said Friday.Bisu Sisa, 45, of Phulba village and Nanda Jani, 35, of Padiguda village under Semliguda block in Koraput, nearly 500 km from Bhubaneswar, fell to the disease reportedly after consuming cattle meat.K.H. Reddy, chief district medical officer (CDMO) of Koraput headquarters hospital confirmed the deaths and the anthrax infection. 'The two were brought dead. Those who have contracted the infection are undergoing treatment in hospital and their condition is said to be stable,' Reddy said.The state government has sent a team of doctors to the two villages to treat villagers and create awareness among them about the disease.'The team will camp in the villages to monitor the situation. They have also destroyed cattle meat preserved in some houses there,' the official said.'As a precautionary measure, another health task force has been deployed in these villages to prevent further infection,' he added.Villagers however alleged that no veterinary staff were present for the vaccination of animals.Orissa has reported cases of anthrax infection in the past too, specially from Kalahandi, Koraput and Rayagada where tribals often consume infected meat.Over 200 cattle and five people lost their lives to anthrax between 1994 and 2006. In 1998, as many as 43 cattle died in Niali area of Cuttack district due to the deadly disease.'Though 18 of the 30 districts in Orissa have been identified as endemic to the deadly anthrax, the state government is yet to launch an Anthrax Control Programme (ACP),' Parshuram Pradhan, a human right activist, told IANS.

Friday, May 25, 2007
Summer storm leaves four dead in Orissa
A summer storm wreaked havoc in north Orissa Friday killing four people, besides injuring two others and causing widespread damage to houses, shops, vehicles and communication network, police said.
According to police, Ramesh Dalei of Chhadchhadia village, Sukanti Barik (Angula), Jaga Khatual (Mulising) and Paresh Das (Routraypur) in Balasore district, nearly 200 km from Bhubaneswar, were killed when a lightning struck them.
The tragedy occurred in the afternoon when the deceased were working in a paddy field. The two injured were admitted to a local hospital in critical condition,' a senior police official from Balasore said.
Strong winds accompanied by hailstorm threw life out of gear disrupting traffic movement in many places of the district.
'Roofs of several thatched houses and government establishments were flown away due to the high-speed winds. Supply of electricity and telecommunication facilities to rural pockets also were disrupted for many hours,' said Anup Kumar Das, a villager.
Balasore Collector A.C. Padhiary confirmed the deaths, adding, 'besides, some thatched houses agricultural establishments have been damaged. But the actual loss is yet to be ascertained.'

Orissa cop gets reprieve from Rajasthan court
Posted May 24th, 2007 by Tarique
Jaipur : B.B. Mohanty, a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from Orissa whose rape-convict son has escaped from a jail, got a reprieve from a court here Thursday as it refused to issue a non-bailable warrant against him.
The court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate said that the Rajasthan Government's plea for a non-bailable warrant against Mohanty cannot be entertained as police should arrest him in the normal course.
"It seems that police were seeking non-bailable warrant against Mohanty without making any efforts to arrest him," the court observed.
"Mohanty is a senior police officer. He has not absconded fearing his arrest and is attending his office regularly," it said.
"Under such circumstances when the person in question has not absconded or shown any inclination to avert his arrest there is no need to grant a non-bailable warrant against him."
A police official said: "We are examining the judgement and we my approach a higher court with our plea."
The Rajasthan government had approached the court Tuesday against Mohanty in connection with a case registered at the Lal Kothi police station on Jan 10 for allegedly helping his son Bitti Hotra jump parole.
Mohanty had been directed by the Supreme Court to surrender before a Jaipur court.
Bitti was convicted of raping a 26-year-old German tourist in Alwar in March 2006. An Alwar court sentenced him to seven years in jail. On Nov 20, 2006, He was allowed a 15-day parole to meet his ailing mother but he jumped parole and has not returned.
The Rajasthan police after a probe into the incident filed a case against the convict's father for allegedly helping and abetting his son escape and harbouring him since then.

Saturday, May 26, 2007 : 0300 Hrs
Minor re-shuffle in Orissa police administration
Bhubaneswar, May 26 (PTI): In a minor re-shuffle in the top police administration, the Orissa government has transferred Anup Patnaik, additional director general of police (ADG), human rights protection cell, as ADG, vigilance.
As per the notification issued here last night, S.S. Hansda, inspector general of police, intelligence-cum- operations, has been posted as IGP (operations).
While Arun Kumar Ray, DIG of police (south), Berhampur, was promoted and posted as additional director cum IGP (intelligence), S.K.Upadhyay, DIG of police (central), Cuttack has been promoted and posted as IGP (central) at Cuttack.
S.K.Nath, DIG of police, south-western range, Sunabeda had been given additional charge of southern range.
A.Bothra, superintendent of police, Koraput, has been transferred as commandant, special operation group (SOG) at Bhubaneswar. He would also hold the post of superintendent of police, Special Intelligence Wing (SIW), Bhubaneswar.
U.R.Rao, additional SP, Rayagada, has been posted as SP, Koraput.

(Saturday, May 26, 2007)
Orissa plans Rs 1000cr rural electrification
By Our Correspondent, Bhubaneswar, May 25:
In a rebuff to the Union government’s apathetic attitude towards Orissa, chief minister Navin Patnaik on Wednesday announced a Rs 1,000-crore Biju Gramya Jyoti Yojana (BGJY) for rural electrification in the state.
Under the scheme, at least 10,000 villages with a minimum population of 300 will be supplied electricity in next five years. The money for the programme will be allocated in the coming budget.
The programme was announced after a high level meeting held here at the state secretariat.
While announcing the programme, the chief minister told the media that although the state government had been asking the Centre for release funds for rural electrification in the state, the Centre was not paying any heed to it.
As per the direction of the Centre, the state government had submitted electrification plans for all villages in the 30 districts of the state under RGGVY programme.

Saturday, May 26, 2007
Marijuana worth Rs 700,000 seized in Orissa, 3 held
First Published: 23:49 IST(25/5/2007)Last Updated: 23:51 IST(25/5/2007)
Three people were arrested on Friday on charges of possessing marijuana worth Rs 700,000 in Orissa's Malkangiri district, an excise official said.
The accused - Prakash Debangan of Madhya Pradesh, Adu Matam of Nakamagodi and Sadhu Khila of Malkangiri, nearly 620 kms from Bhubaneswar, were caught by excise officials in the evening.
"Acting on a tip-off we raided a house in Tarlakota-C colony under Orkel police station while the men were about to leave with the marijuana. While three of them were nabbed, two others fled before we could reach the spot," excise sub-inspector Ashok Kumar Seth said.
A case has been registered under section 20 (B) of the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
"They (accused) are being interrogated in the police station and will be produced in the court on Saturday. We are verifying whether they have links with other gangs operating in the locality," Seth added.

Saturday, May 26, 2007 : 0300 Hrs
World Bank to provide assistance for Orissa roads
Bhubaneswar, May 26 (PTI): The World Bank has agreed to provide Rs 1,406 crore as assistance for implementation of Rs 2,121 crore Orissa State Roads Project (OSRP), official sources said on Friday here.
Under the project 200 km of road would be constructed within the current fiscal, sources added. Of the total amount, Rs 415 crore would be invested during the current financial year to build the 68 km Bhawanipatna- Khariar road, 95 km stretch of Chandbali- Bhadrak-Anandapur road and 41 km Berhampur-Taptapani road.
About 700 km of roads would be constructed during the next fiscal.
The matter was discussed at a meeting between the state's Works Minister A U Singh Deo and a World Bank team comprising B Raja and A K Swaminathan here on Thursday, the sources said.
A proposal was also mooted to set up a construction academy in Orissa modelled after the one present at Hyderabad to contribute towards capacity building of contractors and workers by imparting training in modern construction technique, they said.
Steps would also be taken to develop a core road network system for undertaking urgent repair works. The Sambalpur-Rourkela, Joda-Bambri and Koira-Tensa-Rajamunda roads were being taken up for expansion and widening under the public-private-partnership mode, the sources said.

BOC India board recommends 25% dividend
The board of directors of BOC (Q, N,C,F)* India recommended a dividend of 25% for the financial year ended Mar. 31, 2007. The above decision was taken in the board meeting held on May 18, 2007.
In February 2007, the company inked a 10 year long term agreement with Adhunik Metaliks for setting up and operating 100 tons a day air separation unit at their steel works at Rourkela, Orissa for supply of oxygen, nitrogen and argon to them. BOC India is a member of the BOC Group, the second largest industrial gases company in the world. The company supplies about 20,000 gases and mixtures in three broad categories: industrial, medical and special gases. The UK parent, the BOC Group, owns 54.8% equity stake in the company.
Shares of the company were last trading up Rs 0.25, or 0.18%, at Rs 138.50. Total volume of shares traded at the BSE was 17,346 (3 p.m, Friday).

Worker falls from height, dies(Wednesday May 23 2007 12:03 IST )
JHARSUGUDA: A contractual worker of SPS Steel and Power Ltd at Barmal, Ganesh Majhi, died after falling from a height on Monday on the plant premises.Although, he was immediately shifted to Ispat General Hospital, Rourkela, he succumbed at around 10.30 p m on Monday.Following the incident, Congress supporters led by their leaders Tarun Pandey and Girish Panda staged a demonstration in front of the SPS plant and also detained SPS duty buses.However, the agitation was called off on Tuesday after general manager of the plant S P Sanyal announced a compensation of Rs 5.51 lakh besides employment to the kin of the deceased.Earlier, apprehending trouble, two platoons of police forces were deployed at the spot. A case has been registered.


SAIL Rourkela plant to get Rs 9869 cr facelift
BS Reporter / Bhubaneswar May 24, 2007
The Steel Authority of India (SAIL) board has in principle given approval to Rs 9869-crore modernisation and capacity expansion plan of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP).
The proposal envisages to more than double the hot metal production capacity of RSP from 2 million tonnes to 4.5 million tonnes a year (MTPA). The project is expected to be completed by 2010 .
The proposed modernisation programme also includes setting up of a blast furnace with working volume of 4060 cubic metres and productivity of 2.3 tonne a metre cube daily.
Besides, blast furnace- I of the steel plant will be reconstructed and upgraded to 1250 metre cube useful volume with high top pressure and coal dust injection facilities, while in blast furnace-4, coal dust injection system will be incorporated.

Orissa cop's rapist son in UP?
Posted Thursday , May 24, 2007 at 00:53
Updated Thursday , May 24, 2007 at 01:21
Bhubaneswar: Despite Rajasthan government saying they would arrest Orissa to cop BB Mohanty - accused of helping his son escape the law - there was no arrest on Wednesday.
While the police are none the wiser about the whereabouts of Mohanty’s son Biti convicted of rape, CNN-IBN has learnt from sources that rape convict Biti Mohanty is somewhere in Uttar Pradesh.
While some police sources say he is still in Orissa, it’s even speculated that Biti might have fled the country.
While father Mohanty is capable of answering these questions, he continues to maintain a syoic silence.
"I do not want to answer about his whereabouts. I do not know where he is otherwise my mother would not have suffered. I am ready to cooperate with the law to catch him," he says.
If Biti - who was convicted for raping a German scholar in Rajasthan last year is in Orissa - he cannot be traced, unless Orissa police cooperates.
But the Orissa police seem to be adopting a passive role.
"We will search him only if we get the court's order to find Biti or Rajasthan police come here and seek our help in the matter," says Orissa Home Secretary Tarun Kanti Mishra.
Rajasthan police say Biti can be traced once Mohanty is arrested. But Orissa government claims Rajasthan has not communicated with them.
"I think if the Rajasthan government need any help from us in this regard they should communicate," said Orissa CM Naveen Patnaik.
B B Mohanty has said that his rape convict son Biti Mohanty had seen the appeal made by him to surrender three months back on CNN-IBN. But as he was in the process of doing so he was stopped by his friends. Mohanty says he was never in touch with this son again after that.


CM power plan tribute to papa (DEBABRATA MOHANTY)
Bhubaneswar, May 23: With an eye on the forthcoming Assembly polls, now rumoured to be scheduled in late 2008, chief minister Naveen Patnaik today planned a rural electrification scheme naming it after his father and former chief minister Biju Patnaik, under which 10,000 villages would be electrified in next five years.
Raising the bogey of step-motherly treatment of Orissa at the Centre’s hands, Patnaik on Sunday had indicated that his government would try to electrify all villages across Orissa with the state’s money.
After sitting through a meeting of senior officials and ministers, Patnaik gave a name to the scheme: Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana.
Under the scheme Rs 1,000 crore would be spent during the next five years in electrifying 10,000 villages vis-à-vis 18,000 un-electrified ones.
Energy minister Suryo Patro, who attended the meeting, said the scheme would target villages that can’t be covered by the central scheme.
The Biju Yojana would specifically focus on villages that have a population of less than 300.
BJD insiders believe that the rural electrification drive is a step in enlisting popular support in case early polls are called in 2008 and not March 2009, when state Assembly election is due.
Patro added that the villages electrified under the new programme would sport an emblem showing that they have met the parameters of electrification.
He further added that the newly-formed power transmission utility, Orissa Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL), will be given Rs 550 crore bank guarantee to shore up the transmission infrastructure.
Transmission lines such as the Ib-Meramunduli 400 KVA line and the Bargarh-Bolangir 220 KVA line would be built by the OPTCL. Patro further added that the funds for the Biju rural electrification scheme would be made available in the State Budget.
The Budget session of the Orissa Assembly starts next month.
The energy minister said the government is trying to bring down the transmission and distribution loss from a whopping 40-42 per cent.
The department will alsp set up 34 energy police stations to check incidences of power theft. Besides an IG-ranked police officer would be appointed to oversee the functioning of the police stations.

Essar's Orissa plans face heat (TIMES NEWS NETWORK
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2007 02:10:58 AM]
MUMBAI: The Essar group’s plans of entering the aluminium sector is facing hurdles of a different kind, religious and mythological. The Ruia-controlled group, along with Canada’s Balaton Power, has planned to set up a fully-integrated aluminium project in Orissa which will need an investment of over Rs 4,500 crore. The two companies have also planned to team up with Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) to develop the Gandhamardan mines, which contain India’s second-largest bauxite reserves with 230MT. However, the companies have been facing various challenges. One of them being convincing the local population who are sensitive to the “mythical value” of the Gandhamardan mountains. It is believed that in Ramayana, Hanuman got herbs for Lakshman from these mountains. “Because of this, the local population is yet to give its support for the project, for which Balaton had earlier formed a JV with the Kolkata-based VISA Steel,” sources close to the development told ET. The delay in the project seems to have prompted Balaton to search for other partners. Other than Essar, Balaton is believed to have also approached Australian major BHP Billiton. The mining major, however, declined. Unhappy with the latest development, VISA has sent an arbitration notice to the Balaton Power. The Kolkata company has alleged that it had signed a similar agreement with Balaton’s subsidiary Continental Resources (CRL) in April 2005, but was not informed by the Canadian firm’s intention to join hands with Essar. VISA has also sent a notification to the Essar group. VISA Steel’s Chairman Vishambhar Saran confirmed the development. “But Balaton is yet to respond to the arbitration notice. So we have approached the Supreme Court to appoint an independent arbitrator in the case. We have been working on the project, but looks like someone has instigated Balaton,” he said. Incidentally, Balaton Power in a statement said, “Essar is the ideal partner for this venture given its local knowledge, expertise and track record.” An Essar spokesperson, confirming the initiative, added, “This is part of the Group’s exploratory activities and we are talking to various parties. Everything depends on the realisation of various conditions.” Balaton’s subsidiary CRL had signed “an agreement in principle” with Essar Aluminium Orissa earlier this month. One of the conditions, according to sources, could include Balaton sorting out the issues with VISA Steel.

Court rejects police plea seeking NBW against Orissa DGP24 May, 2007 l 1405 hrs ISTlPTI
JAIPUR: A local court on Thursday rejected Rajasthan Police's petition seeking a non-bailable warrant against Orissa DGP B B Mohanty, who has been accused of helping his son Biti, convict of rape, jump parole. Turning down the request after two days of arguments, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Rajendra Bansal asked the police to make serious efforts to arrest Mohanty as the Supreme Court's stay his favour ended on May 21. "It is quite possible that DGP Mohanty be on duty in Orissa and Rajasthan Police should make attempts to arrest him instead of procuring the non-bailable warrant," said Virendra Jhakhar, a police official associated with the investigation, quoting the order.

Man shot dead in Orissa24 May, 2007 l 1306 hrs ISTlPTI
SAMBALPUR (Orissa): A 32-year-old was killed when he was allegedly fired at by another person in the busy Khetrajpur area of this city on Wednesday night, police said. Charan Das had an altercation with another man who whipped out a country made pistol and chased the former and fired twice. Seriously injured, Das was first taken to the headquarter hospital for treatment and latter shifted to the VSS Medical College Hospital where he was declared dead. Tension gripped the area following the incident as about 50 persons gathered from Charan's basti to look out for the attacker. However, police reached the spot in time to defuse the tension in the locality. But shops and business establishments in the area, the city's biggest business area, remained closed on Thursday. The body was sent for post-mortem on Thursday. The person who fired the shots was yet to be arrested. "We are looking for the man," police said.

Orissa man gunned down by assailants
Bhubaneswar, May 24: Unidentified assailants shot dead a 32-year-old man in Orissa's Sambalpur district over alleged enmity, police said Thursday.The deceased has been identified as Charan Das alias Mundu of Khetrajpur area on the outskirts of Sambalpur town. The miscreants fired two rounds of bullets at him at Khetrajpur vegetable market, a senior police officer of Sambalpur police station said."Though he was rushed to the VSS Medical College Hospital doctors declared him brought dead," the police officer said. Charan had an altercation with a man whose associates whipped out a locally made pistol and chased him, he added.The incident occurred at the town's biggest business area and tension prevailed as hundreds of local villagers congregated at the hospital demanding action against the attackers.The police have registered a case and investigations are on to nab the criminals.


Jaipur court rejects plea seeking NBW against Orissa DGP (Friday, May 25, 2007 )
Jaipur, May 24: A local court on Thursday refused to issue a non-bailable warrant against a defiant Orissa DGP B B Mohanty accused of helping his son convicted of rape jump parole but said the Rajasthan police was free to arrest the top cop. Rejecting the Rajasthan police`s petition for a NBW after two days of arguments, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Rajendra Bansal said the police can arrest Mohanty as the Supreme Court`s six-week deadline for the top cop to surrender before the Chief Judicial Magistrate`s court had ended on May 21. The Apex court had also ordered that Mohanty be not arrested till that date. "It is quite possible that DGP Mohanty is on duty in Orissa and Rajasthan Police should make attempts to arrest him instead of procuring the non-bailable warrant," said Virendra Jhakhar, a police official associated with the investigation, quoting the order. Reacting to the court order, Mohanty said he did not want to comment on the plan of action of Rajasthan police but said any move to arrest him would be beyond its legitimate powers. The court had yesterday postponed the proceedings till today after the police sought a fresh warrant saying it was studying all documents including the proceedings in the Orissa High Court and Supreme Court proceedings related to the case. A team of Rajasthan police is ready to proceed to Orissa to arrest the DGP and bring him here in connection with a case registered at Lal Kothi police station on January 10 for allegedly sheltering and helping his son Biti, who is convicted for raping a German tourist, an official said. On March 20 last year, a German woman had alleged that she was raped in a hotel in Alwar by Biti Mohanty, an MBA student. On March 21, he was arrested and a fast track court convicted Mohanty on April 11. However, since December 4 he has jumped the parole, granted to meet his ailing mother, and went missing. Early this year, Rajasthan police filed a case against the Orissa DGP on the charge of sheltering his son and help him jump the parole. The senior Mohanty was, however, granted bail by Orissa High Court. On April 9, the Supreme Court, however, quashed senior Mohanty`s bail and gave him six weeks to surrender before the chief judicial magistrate`s court in Jaipur and ordered that he be not arrested till then. Court verdict has re-established my faith in judiciary: MohantyOrissa`s DGP (Home Guards)today said the verdict of a Jaipur court which rejected the Rajasthan police petition seeking NBW against him has re-established his faith on the judiciary.The judgment has been fair and judicious, Mohanty told reporters after he came to know that the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Jaipur had turned down the plea of the Rajasthan police for issuing a non-bailable warrant against his name.Mohanty, who has moved the Rajasthan High Court seeking quashing of charges against him made by the police, hoped that Rajastahn police would also uphold the court`s verdict. They should now understand that the allegations against me were not accepted by the court of law, Mohanty said. Bureau Report

Heat wave warning in parts of Orissa
Bhubaneswar, May 24 (PTI): With day temperatures rising in most places, the Meteorological office here today issued a heat wave warning for several parts of Orissa.
"Heat wave conditions are likely to prevail in some parts of Orissa during the next 48 hours," the Met office bulletin said.
This is the second such warning from the weather office during this summer.
Sizzling heat has prevailed in the western and southern districts with maximum temperatures soaring beyond 40 degree Celsius.
While Malkangiri recorded the highest temperature of 44.5 degrees C yesterday, it was 42.6 in Balangir, 41.2 in Titilagarh, 41.8 in Sambalpur, 41.1 in Sundargarh, 41 in Bhawanipatna and 40 degree C in Jharsuguda.
Hirakud, which is located next to the massive Hirakud reservoir, recorded 42.1 degrees C.
The capital city registered 40 degrees Celsius during the day while neighbouring Cuttack recorded 40.5 degrees C, the weather office said.

Orissa Man Gunned Down By Assailants
Thursday 24th of May 2007:- Unidentified assailants shot dead a 32-year-old man in Orissa's Sambalpur district over alleged enmity, police said Thursday.The deceased has been identified as Charan Das alias Mundu of Khetrajpur area on the outskirts of Sambalpur town. The miscreants fired two rounds of bullets at him at Khetrajpur vegetable market, a senior police officer of Sambalpur police station said.'Though he was rushed to the VSS Medical College Hospital doctors declared him brought dead,' the police officer said. Charan had an altercation with a man whose associates whipped out a locally made pistol and chased him, he added.The incident occurred at the town's biggest business area and tension prevailed as hundreds of local villagers congregated at the hospital demanding action against the attackers.The police have registered a case and investigations are on to nab the criminals.

Thursday, May 24, 2007
Court refuses arrest warrant against Orissa DGP
Jaipur, PTI: Police can arrest Mohanty as the Supreme Court's six-week deadline for the top cop to surrender before the Chief Judicial Magistrate's court had ended on May 21, says Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Rajendra Bansal.
A local court today refused to issue a non-bailable warrant against a defiant Orissa DGP B B Mohanty accused of helping his son convicted of rape jump parole but said the Rajasthan police was free to arrest the top cop.Rejecting the Rajasthan police's petition for a NBW after two days of arguments, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Rajendra Bansal said the police can arrest Mohanty as the Supreme Court's six-week deadline for the top cop to surrender before the Chief Judicial Magistrate's court had ended on May 21. The Apex court had also ordered that Mohanty be not arrested till that date."It is quite possible that DGP Mohanty is on duty in Orissa and Rajasthan Police should make attempts to arrest him instead of procuring the non-bailable warrant," said Virendra Jhakhar, a police official associated with the investigation, quoting the order.
Reacting to the court order, Mohanty said he did not want to comment on the plan of action of Rajasthan police but said any move to arrest him would be beyond its legitimate powers.The court had yesterday postponed the proceedings till today after the police sought a fresh warrant saying it was studying all documents including the proceedings in the Orissa High Court and Supreme Court proceedings related to the case.A team of Rajasthan police is ready to proceed to Orissa to arrest the DGP and bring him here in connection with a case registered at Lal Kothi police station on January 10 for allegedly sheltering and helping his son Biti, who is convicted for raping a German tourist, an official said. On March 20 last year, a German woman had alleged that she was raped in a hotel in Alwar by Biti Mohanty, an MBA student. On March 21, he was arrested and a fast track court convicted Mohanty on April 11. However, since December 4 he has jumped the parole, granted to meet his ailing mother, and went missing.Early this year, Rajasthan police filed a case against the Orissa DGP on the charge of sheltering his son and help him jump the parole. The senior Mohanty was, however, granted bail by Orissa High Court.On April 9, the Supreme Court, however, quashed senior Mohanty's bail and gave him six weeks to surrender before the chief judicial magistrate's court in Jaipur and ordered that he be not arrested till then.

Orissa employee suspended for polygamy
Bhubaneswar, May 24: An Orissa government employee has been suspended for polygamy, an official said Thursday, adding he could even be sacked.Manas Rout, 32, of Gayasapur village in Kendrapada district, about 100 km from here, was employed as a surveyor in 1999.He married the first time in 2000 and fathered two children. In 2003, he married another girl of Jajpur district and stayed in a rented house, police said.His first wife filed a case in the family court in Cuttack. While the case was being heard, he again married on May 5 by claiming himself as a bachelor, Patita Paban Choudhury of Dharmasala police station told IANS Thursday.Rout was suspended following an official enquiry.Tehsildar Harischandra Nayak conducted an inquiry and pressed for Manas under suspension. "After an inquiry I found the allegations to be true. I have produced my inquiry report before the district collector besides urging him to terminate Manas from his service," Nayak said.Police said Manas is absconding and efforts are on to nab him.

Child dies after consuming prasad in Orissa
Indo-Asian News Service
Bhubaneswar, May 24, 2007
A child died while over 50 people, mostly women and children, fell sick in an Orissa village after consuming prasad, a health official said on Thursday.
As many as 30 people were admitted to the Dharmasala hospital and one of them, Chandan Mallick, 8, died in the afternoon.
Residents of Sarei village in Jajpur district, about 130 kms from Bhubaneswar, had taken Sirini - a religious offering made of rice, milk, coconut, and sugar - during a village festival on Tuesday.
After 48 hours many of them complained of giddiness and acute stomachache. Many vomited and complained of diarrhoea, a medical officer of the hospital said.

Rourkela steel plant set to enter new era
Statesman News Service ROURKELA, May 24: Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) is all set to enter a new era of productivity, profitability and quality as the Board of Steel Authority of India Limited (Sail) has formally given approval in principle to a proposal for its modernisation and capacity expansion at an indicative cost of Rs 9,869 crore. The objectives of expansion include increase in production of crude steel through state-of-the-art technology in order to meet the productivity level of international standards, improvement in quality of products, production of more value-added products, reduction in energy consumption, improvement of environment, cut in cost of production and thereby increase in net sales realisation. As per the approval, the hot metal production capacity of the steel plant will soar to 4.5 million tons per annum (MTPA). The massive modernisation programme of RSP includes setting up of a fifth blast furnace with working volume of 4,060 cubic meters and productivity of 2.3 tons per meter cube per day. This apart, blast furnace-1 will be reconstructed and upgraded to 1,250 meter cube useful volume with high top pressure and coal dust injection facilities, while in blast furnace-4, coal dust injection system will be incorporated, thereby more than doubling the present hot metal capacity of the plant. The package also envisages the setting up of a new seven m tall coke oven battery and a new sinter plant with 3.69 MTPA capacities. In order to augment the steel producing capacity, RSP is going to install a new 150 ton converter and a new caster in its SMS-II. New RH-OB unit will be introduced in SMS-II to produce clean steel such as ultra low carbon steels. Two new matching ladle heating furnaces (LHF) are also on the cards, which will take the number of LHFs to three. One of the existing casters will also be upgraded. These augmentation measures will take the total crude steel capacity of RSP to the level of 4.2 MTPA. In view of the increasing demand for high end products, the RSP will be going in for a new plate mill with a capacity of 1.8 MTPA that will roll out different grades of plates up to the width of 4,200 MM meeting the stringent specific customer requirements. In order to further improve the quality of hot rolled strips, the finishing mill train of HSM will be modernised to meet the customers’ requirement and to improve the operation and quality of downstream units. An entirely new mill to produce 1,80,000 tons of CRNO steel will be coming up under this modernisation package, taking the total capacity of this superior grade steel to 2.55 lakh tons per annum.

A case dusted off after 30 yrs
Statesman News Service BHADRAK, May 24: Believe it or not. A poor man had left home two months back leaving his family members behind when he came to know that the Chandabali police would arrest him for an alleged crime he had committed 30 years ago. He is Rabindra Nayak (46) of Pratappur village under Chandabali police station jurisdiction. The Bhadrak SDJM had issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Rabindra on 21 March. To execute the NBW, Chandabali police had conducted raid on Rabindra’s house. At first, the illiterate Rabindra could not know why the police conducted raid on his house. Fearing police, he had left the village. Then, he came to know that he had been victimised in a theft that had taken place 30 years back. Rabindra met with some media persons here and said: “I was eking a livelihood on tending cows when I was 16. One Bidyadhar Bal of my village had given a hen while I was herding cows near my village. But after Bal’s departure, some villagers came in and took me to police station alleging that the hen I had was stolen by Bidyadhar from Gayadhar Rout’s house. Police released me after enquiry, seized the stolen hen and also arrested Bidyadhar Bal, the real culprit. A case was registered by police on 16 April 1977. After that, I had forgotten the incident.”When contacted, Mr Sriballav Sahoo, OIC, Chandabali police station, said that as per criminal proceedings, a man would be treated as a criminal if he possessed stolen articles. However, It s not a non-bailable case. But as he had not appeared in the court after repeated summons, the judge directed cops to execute the NBW and ordered to produce him. On the other hand, the complaint of the case, Gayadhar Rout, had died two years back. The son of the complaint, Mr Natabar, said that the case should be dropped and the police should not arrest Rabindra.

‘Enough iron ore for Posco’
NEW DELHI, May 23: With foreign steel giants making a beeline for the mineral-rich states of the country, steel minister Mr Ram Vilas Paswan today said there was no dearth of iron ore for Pohang Steel Company (Posco) to set up its 12 million ton steel plant in Orissa. Mr Paswan pointed out that these steel companies could also explore the possibility of setting up their projects outside the iron ore rich states. n PTI

WB fund for road works
Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, May 24: Orissa is all set for massive investment in the road sector and the World Bank has agreed to assist by providing Rs 1,406 crore for various road projects. It has also agreed to help establish a Construction Academy on lines of the one existing in Hyderabad, said works minister Mr AU Singhdeo. Mr Singhdeo, who had detailed discussions with a World Bank delegation comprising Mr B Raja and Mr AK Swaminathan , said the state was looking forward to invest Rs 2,121 crore on state roads over the next five years and the World Bank would provide Rs 1,406 crore. This year, 204 KM of road length with an investment of Rs 415 crore will be taken up. The Bhawanipatna-Kharia, Chandbali-Bhadrak-Anandpur, Berhampur-Taptapani stretch will be taken up. Of the total project cost in this first phase, at least 80 per cent will be by way of WB assistance, said Mr Singhdeo. The minister pointed out that Orissa was witness to a massive development spree on different fronts and the road sector was the most visible of the development process that was taking place. Mr Raja appreciated the minister’s stress on this crucial infrastructure and also concurred with the idea of establishing a Construction Academy where contractors as well as unskilled workers could be trained and exposed to latest technology. The PPP mode is also making headway as far as the road section between Sambalpur-Rourkela, Joda, Koira-Rajamunda widening was concerned, observed those present during the discussions. Mr Singhdeo impressed upon the WB team that repair and maintainance of roads were critical aspects of the sector and some special arrangement needed to be done for this purpose. Mr Swaminathan suggested developing a core road network with special systemic arrangements to undertake repair of busy roads.

Coal mining digs Talcher into a hot spot
Statesman News ServiceTALCHER, May 24: With northwesterly winds blowing since Monday the temperature in Talcher industrial belt touched 46 degree Celsius today, the highest so far this summer, bringing fears of a heat wave similar to 2005. After midday the excessive heat and humidity forced most people to stay indoors giving streets a deserted look. Temperatures hit 45 degrees on Tuesday and 44 degrees on Wednesday according to the local sub-collector’s office. As the temperature is always measured in the shade, it can be expected to be two to three degrees above 46 degrees in the sun. According to mining officials the heat inside the coal mines has remained more than 50 degrees. Northwesterly winds are always a matter of concern for local residents as all the operating open cast coal mines are situated either to the west or north of residential areas. The heat, dust and smoke from the mines begin to blow towards the inhabited areas causing temperatures to rise. The exposed coal bed of the mines, spread over several kilometres, absorbs the heat in the daytime and emits heat during the night. There are other contributing factors for the abnormal temperature in Talcher. Angul, nearby, for example, always remains two to three degrees lower. For one thing, forest cover has almost been depleted in Talcher due to coal mining and no effort has been made to reforest the area. Although hundreds of crores of rupees have been deposited with state forest department for compulsory afforestation they have yet to do anything. Mounds of earth resembling hills, created by coal mining excavation in the area, are barren. There are about 20 of these earth dumps. In addition, around 80,000 tons of coal are burnt everyday for the boilers of the power plants and sponge units about 30 km away from the town, also increasing the overall temperature. The 2000 coal transporting heavy vehicles also add to the problem. In the past, apart from Talcher achieving the status of being one of the 14 most polluted spots in the country, it has also had the distinction of being the one of the hottest spots.

Halt to mining
Statesman News Service TALCHER, May 24: Coal production and dispatch in three mega mines here came to a grinding halt today following the indefinite agitation by some land oustees of Danara village which is affected by Balaram mine. At least 30 agitating people of the village blocked the coal output and transportation of Balaram, Bharatapur and Hingula mines since Thursday morning demanding job in MCL in lieu of their land acquired for first two mines in 1990. They demand 26 jobs before they withdraw their stir. The three mines together produce about 80000 tons per day. Coal transportation in and outside the mines were also paralysed due to the stir. Local administrative and police officers have rushed to the spot to persuade the striking villagers to call off their agitation.

Budhia mom challenges govt ban
Press Trust of India BHUBANESWAR, May 24: Wonder kid Budhia Singh’s mother Miss Sukanti Singh today challenged the Khurda District Child Welfare Committee’s (CWC) decision to restrict the little boy’s proposed walkathon from Bhubaneswar to Kolkata. Miss Sukanti’s statement came amidst the controversy as to whether the kid should be allowed to undertake a marathon walk covering 500 km during the peak summer or not. She questioned the CWC’s authority to put such a restriction on the event planned by the Budhia Singh Trust (BST). “Who is the CWC to ban Budhia’s marathon walk? The Orissa government had never come to our rescue when Budhia and two of my daughters were starving,” she told reporters here. She said she had put ten questions to the government through RTI (Right to Information) Act. She submitted her questionnaire with the women and child development department asking how much money the CWC or the government had spent on the welfare of her son. “If they have not spent a single pie for the child, how can the government or the CWC put restriction without consulting me,” she asked. “Budhia is my only son and I hope that the boy would bring laurel for the nation by sticking to long distance running. As a mother, I have no objection to his running or walking long distances. I do not understand why the government puts so many hurdles to the child’s growth,” she said. Ms Sukanti Singh, presently working in a private educational institution, said she was contemplating moving court if the government did not stop “meddling” in the activities of Budhia and his mentor Ms Biranchi Das. “I will take a decision after getting reply to my ten questions,” she said. Replying to a query, Ms Sukanti said she did not feel that her son was either being “used” or “exploited” by the BST members. Budhia would undertake walk only during the early morning and evening hours when the atmosphere was cool, she said. Biranchi Das, managing trustee of the BST, said there would be no change in the boy’s schedule in the face of the CWC ban. It would commence from here on 6 June and culminate in Kolkata on 16 June covering 22 towns en route. Mr Das, however, said that of the total 500 KM walk programme, Budhia would walk only in urban areas which would be nearly 100 km in all. Most of the roads would be covered by cars and other vehicles. BST’s lawyer Mr BP Tripathy, who was present at the news conference, argued that the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act did not apply in the Budhia case. “Budhia does not come under the purview of the Act because none of his conditions suits to the provisions therein.” Meanwhile, the CWC, Khurda, has asked the BST to appear before its sitting tomorrow to explain why the interim restriction on the child’s walking would not be absolute.

Rourkela steel plant set to enter new era
Statesman News Service ROURKELA, May 24: Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) is all set to enter a new era of productivity, profitability and quality as the Board of Steel Authority of India Limited (Sail) has formally given approval in principle to a proposal for its modernisation and capacity expansion at an indicative cost of Rs 9,869 crore. The objectives of expansion include increase in production of crude steel through state-of-the-art technology in order to meet the productivity level of international standards, improvement in quality of products, production of more value-added products, reduction in energy consumption, improvement of environment, cut in cost of production and thereby increase in net sales realisation. As per the approval, the hot metal production capacity of the steel plant will soar to 4.5 million tons per annum (MTPA). The massive modernisation programme of RSP includes setting up of a fifth blast furnace with working volume of 4,060 cubic meters and productivity of 2.3 tons per meter cube per day. This apart, blast furnace-1 will be reconstructed and upgraded to 1,250 meter cube useful volume with high top pressure and coal dust injection facilities, while in blast furnace-4, coal dust injection system will be incorporated, thereby more than doubling the present hot metal capacity of the plant. The package also envisages the setting up of a new seven m tall coke oven battery and a new sinter plant with 3.69 MTPA capacities. In order to augment the steel producing capacity, RSP is going to install a new 150 ton converter and a new caster in its SMS-II. New RH-OB unit will be introduced in SMS-II to produce clean steel such as ultra low carbon steels. Two new matching ladle heating furnaces (LHF) are also on the cards, which will take the number of LHFs to three. One of the existing casters will also be upgraded. These augmentation measures will take the total crude steel capacity of RSP to the level of 4.2 MTPA. In view of the increasing demand for high end products, the RSP will be going in for a new plate mill with a capacity of 1.8 MTPA that will roll out different grades of plates up to the width of 4,200 MM meeting the stringent specific customer requirements. In order to further improve the quality of hot rolled strips, the finishing mill train of HSM will be modernised to meet the customers’ requirement and to improve the operation and quality of downstream units. An entirely new mill to produce 1,80,000 tons of CRNO steel will be coming up under this modernisation package, taking the total capacity of this superior grade steel to 2.55 lakh tons per annum.

Demand for a separate Dalit state too!
BALASORE, May 24: In an apparent gimmick to woo the voters of particular sections of the society, the former Union minister and president of Mukti Morcha, Mr Bhajaman Behera, has demanded a separate state for Dalits in order to implement the justice delivery system effectively as enshrined in the Constitution. Talking to reporters here yesterday, Mr Behera said that exploitations in various forms were occurring across the state, despite provisions in the Constitution and law to prevent them. He also quoted some of the instances of atrocities on and harassment of the underprivileged, admitting that some Dalit leaders were exploiting their own community and some were working for vested interest. The former MLA, Mr Sura Sethi and former MP Mr Anchala Das were among others present with him.

Briefs
Man shot SAMBALPUR, May 24: A 32-year-old man was killed when he was allegedly fired at by another person in the busy Khetrajpur area of this city last night, police said. Charan Das had an altercation with another man who whipped out a country-made pistol and chased the former and fired twice. Seriously injured, Das was first taken to the District Headquarters Hospital for treatment and later shifted to the VSS Medical College and Hospital where he was declared dead. Tension gripped the area following the incident as about 50 persons gathered from Charan’s basti to look out for the attacker. However, police reached the spot on time to defuse the tension in the locality. But shops and business establishments in the area, the city’s biggest business area, remained closed today. The body of Das was sent for postmortem today. The person who fired the shots was yet to be arrested. “We are looking for the man,”’ police said. PTI Coal stirANGUL, May 24: Protesting against their “illegal” transfer from the closed Deulbera colliery to Ib Valley Coalfields, 18 employees under the banner of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) have been on an indefinite hunger-strike in front of the Talcher area general manager’s office for the past three days.SNS

Balasore Cong charts out agitations
Statesman News Service BALASORE, May 24: Buoyed by the success of the centenary celebration of Satyagraha, which was attended by AICC leaders such as Mr Digvijay Singh and Mr V Narayanswami, the district Congress here is now gearing up for a series of agitations against the ruling BJD-BJP combine. Demonstrations are planned across all blocks and district headquarters from next month on various issues. This was disclosed by the DCC president, Mr Jaynarayan Mohanty, here. The law-and-order has deteriorated alarmingly, police have failed to arrest criminals, especially robbers who strike frequently. Government officers have become the agents of ruling party. There are irregularities in the allotment of IAY and flaws in public distribution system for BPL families, Mr Mohanty alleged. Alleging that local industries, mainly of medium and large scale, are not offering employment to the local people, Mr Mohanty said that there would be agitations in front of some industries in near future. Alleging that local representatives of ruling coalition were toothless, he asked why they were not raising the demand for the establishment of a government medical college before the chief minister when agitations were held by various groups for that cause. Expressing concern over the failure of police to arrest the crime, Mr Mohanty alleged that hike in the umber of robberies was mainly due to patrolling police personnel whose main duty was to collect bribes.

DGP: Plea for NBW rejected
Press Trust of India JAIPUR, May 24: A local court today refused to issue a non-bailable warrant against a defiant Orissa DGP Mr BB Mohanty accused of helping his son convicted of rape jump parole but said the Rajasthan police was free to arrest the top cop. Rejecting the Rajasthan police’s petition for a NBW after two days of arguments, additional chief judicial magistrate Mr Rajendra Bansal said the police could arrest Mr Mohanty as the Supreme Court’s six-week deadline for the top cop to surrender before the chief judicial magistrate’s court had ended on 21 May. The Supreme Court had also ordered that Mr Mohanty be not arrested till that date. “It is quite possible that DGP Mr Mohanty is on duty in Orissa and Rajasthan police should make attempts to arrest him instead of procuring the non-bailable warrant,” said Mr Virendra Jhakhar, a police officer associated with the investigation, quoting the order. Reacting to the court order, Mr Mohanty said he did not want to comment on the plan of action of Rajasthan police but said any move to arrest him would be beyond its legitimate powers. The court had yesterday postponed the proceedings till today after the police sought a fresh warrant saying it was studying all documents, including the proceedings in the Orissa High Court and Supreme Court proceedings related to the case. A team of Rajasthan police is ready to proceed to Orissa to arrest the DGP and bring him here in connection with a case registered at Lal Kothi police station on 10 January for allegedly sheltering and helping his son Biti, who is convicted for raping a German tourist, an official said. On 20 March last year, a German woman had alleged that she was raped in a hotel in Alwar by Biti Mohanty, an MBA student. On 21 March, he was arrested and a fast track court convicted Mohanty on 11 April. However, since December 4 he has jumped the parole, granted to meet his ailing mother, and went missing.

SAIL chief says steel prices have hit a ceiling
Jyoti Mukul Tuesday, May 22, 2007 06:36 IST

NEW DELHI: India's second largest steel producer Steel Authority of India (SAIL) sees no scope for further increase in steel prices. Its chairman and managing director S K Roongta, however, foresees a robust demand in the domestic market. The steel major plans to ramp up its capacity to 24 million tonnes from the present 12.6 million tonnes by 2021.
With India's GDP growing at 9%, demand for steel will accelerate, said Roongta, adding that the steel sector is likely to witness a growth rate of 12-13%.
Roongta said steel prices were 16-20% higher this year than last year. "I think prices are at a firmed up level. I don't see any scope for further rise. It is healthy for the industry and consumers if prices stabilise at this level," he said.
Strong demand, market-driven product mix, higher value-added special steel production have helped SAIL achieve a 72% increase in profit after tax at Rs 1,902 crore for the January-March 2006-07 quarter compared to same period the previous year. Announcing the highest-ever turnover and profit before tax, Roongta said the company has set in motion the process for preparing a perspective plan beyond 2021.
"Upgradation schemes for Rourkela and Durgapur will be considered shortly," he said.
SAIL's annual turnover rose 21% to Rs 39,189 crore during 2006-07 and PAT rose 55% to Rs 6,202 crore. With this, the board has recommended 31% dividend amounting to over Rs 1,280 crore including a 16% interim dividend announced in March 2007.


Orissa DGP fails to appear before court, may face arrest
Jaipur, May 22: Orissa DGP B B Mohanthy, who has been accused of helping his son convicted of rape jump the parole, failed to appear in a court here as per the deadline set by the Supreme Court and may face arrest. Superintendent of Police (East) V K Singh said the DGP did not turn up in the court on Monday. "We will be getting fresh arrest warrants against him tommorow from the local court since the timeframe of not to arrest him upto six weeks since April 9 by the Supreme Court directive ended today," he said. A battery of mediapersons, policemen and others thronged the chief judicial magistrate court here amidst speculation that the Orissa DGP would surrender. But there was no sign of the DGP till the closing hours of the court or at the police station where a case was registered against him by Rajasthan police early this year for allegedly sheltering his son Beeti Hotra Mohanty and helping his son jump the parole, Singh said. On March 20 last year, a German lady had alleged that she was raped in a hotel in Alwar by B H Mohanty, an MBA student. On March 21, the son was arrested and a fast track court convicted Mohanty on April 11. However, since December 4 he has jumped the parole, granted to meet her ailing mother, and went missing. Early this year, Rajasthan police filed a case against the Orissa DGP on the charge of sheltering his son and help him jump the parole. The senior Mohanty was, however, granted bail by Orissa High Court. On April 9, the Supreme Court, however, quashed senior Mohanty's bail and gave him six weeks to surrender before the chief judicial magistrate's court in Jaipur and ordered that he be not arrested till then. The deadline expired on Monday. (Bureau Report )

Coach prepares Budhia for long walk
Posted May 22nd, 2007 by Tarique
Sports By IANS
Bhubaneswar : Orissa's boy marathon runner Budhia Singh is being trained by his coach for a 500 km walk despite a ban on his running by the state government.
Budhia shot to fame last year for his ability to run long distances and is planning to embark on a long walk to Kolkata on June 6.
The Khurda district child welfare committee, a semi-judicial juvenile welfare body of the state, took notice of the plan after newspapers reported it. The committee summoned the boy's coach and adoptive father Biranchi Das Monday to appear before it on May 25.
The panel also served him and members of the Budhia Trust, which is organizing the event, a warning notice alleging that the committee will take action against them if they "misuse" the boy.
The five-member panel led by Rabisankar Mishra declared that it was illegal to make the five-year-old boy go on such a long walk for the purpose of gaining fame as it violates the child's basic rights as enshrined in the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child.
"The boy will walk from June 6 to 16 and he will have to walk at least 50 km daily on foot to complete the journey. This is an act of subjecting the child to unnecessary suffering," Mishra told IANS.
"This event will not be cancelled. Budhia will walk as per schedule and we are preparing for it," Biranchi Das told IANS.
Heading towards a confrontation with the committee, he said, "Nobody can stop us. We are ready to face any consequences. Let them do whatever they want to do"
Das and his wife adopted Budhia after paying Rs.800 to his impoverished mother, who lives in a slum.
The boy became a celebrity last year after he earned a place in the Limca Book of World Records for his 60 km run between Puri and Bhubaneswar. Budhia runs 45 km twice a week and 20 km on other days.
"I am talking to legal counsel for further course of action on the notice and summon," Das said.
"The boy will walk only during morning to avoid the summer heat, while an ambulance, a team of doctors, a water tanker and a mobile toilet would follow him. The purpose of the walk is to create awareness among the youth about sports," he added.


Law ministry to decide Posco mine fateSUBHASH NARAYANTIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2007 01:37:31 AM]
NEW DELHI: The law ministry is now set to take a final call on the fate of the captive mine for Posco’s proposed 12-million-tonne Orissa project. The ministry of mines has sought legal opinion from the law ministry on whether the Orissa government could use discretionary powers available to it under Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act to offer mines to Posco disregarding claims of other applicants over the same block. Section 11(5) of the MMDR Act envisages that a state government may for any “special reasons” grant mining rights to an applicant whose application was received later, in preference to other applicants whose applications came earlier. However, in doing so the state has to justify in writing why a particular applicant was allowed to jump the queue overriding the principle of first-come-first-serve. “The Orissa government feels that Posco is a more deserving candidate for the iron ore mining block as it would not only pump in huge investment and create jobs, but would also undertake value addition of the iron ore into steel. This is not the case with other applicants for Khandadhar iron ore block, including Kudremukh Iron Ore Company (KIOCL), which wants to mine ore for sales without any further value-addition,” a government source said. However, the law ministry’s opinion has been sought as the state government wants to avoid its decision being challenged in court by other applicants for the same mining block. KIOCL has already taken the matter to court. But being a government company, it is understood that the Centre is using its influence to get KIOCL withdraw its case in favour of Posco. Earlier, the Centre had asked the Orissa government to consider Posco India’s mining proposal in light of existing provisions of the MMDR Act that permits clubbing together all applications for a notified mining block, irrespective of their date of receipt. However, sources said the state is not sure whether the entire area of Khandadhar mines is notified or not. This is because the power to club together all applications can be used only in case of notified mining areas, which means some sort of geological survey would have had to be carried out earlier by a government agency. Even if a portion remains outside the notified area, this could get embroiled in litigation. So the state is now exploring the legality of invoking its powers under Section 11(5). The Orissa government has thrown open an area of 83.65 square kilometre (Khandadhar mines) for iron ore mining in 1991. Since then about 252 applications have been received for the block that has reserves of about 180 million tonne. Posco India’s application, which was filed in September 2005, is among the last for this block.

Over 50 crocodile nesting sites spotted in Orissa
Kendrapada (Orissa), May 23 : At least 53 crocodile nesting sites have been found in Orissa's Bhitarkanika national park, home to the largest population of giant salt water crocodiles in India.Officials made the discovery in the past week near the creeks and canals in the park in Kendrapada district. "At least 50-60 eggs were found in each nest," A. Mishra, a park official, told IANS. The government has imposed a five-month ban, from May 15 to July 31, on entry of tourists to the park, about 170 km from Bhubaneswar, during the nesting and breeding season of the reptiles."We have deployed around 25 forest guards to protect the crocodiles and their eggs," Mishra said."We will collect some eggs that will hatch. The hatchlings will be released in to the wild," he explained.The reptiles become more violent during the mating and nesting periods and may even attack humans, he noted. After mating on the surface of the water, the female crocodiles lay eggs in forest areas near rivers and creeks. They guard the eggs from jackals, fishing cats, wild dogs and vultures. The crocodiles also cover the eggs with leaves to prevent harm from rain.The animals make their nests with twigs and leaves on high ground to prevent floodwaters from entering them during the rainy season.According to this year's reptile census report, 1,482 estuarine crocodiles were found in Bhitarakanika. Last year, the Guinness Book on World Record said a 23-feet-long salt-water crocodile living in the Bhitarkanika park was the world's largest crocodile. The national park is also the only place in India where white albino crocodiles are found though their population is very small, Mishra said.


Orissa govt to take neutral stand on Mohanti
Bhubaneswar, May 23: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has asked the state home department to maintain a neutral stand on Director General (Home Guard) B B Mohanti who has been accused of helping his son, convicted of raping a German national at Bikaner last year, jump parole. Senior officials in the department were closely watching the developments taking place in the cases involving Mohanti, official sources said. State Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy told reporters here that the state government has nothing to do with the cases involving the senior police official. State Home Secretary T K Mishra also said the government has no role in the controversy surrounding Mohanti. ''We have not received any communication either from any court or from Rajasthan government in Mohanti's case.'' Sources, however, said a palpable tension was seen among the police fraternity at the police headquarters in Cuttack after the media reported that the Rajasthan Police would arrive here soon to arrest Mohanti. ''It would be a shame for the Orissa Police if junior police officers from Rajasthan manage to arrest a top policeman here,'' a senior IPS officer said on condition of anonymity. Rajasthan Police could not obtain the non-bailable arrest warrant from the additional chief judicial magistrate court in Jaipur as it was going through documents. The NBW is expected to be issued on Wednesday. Bureau Report

POSCO says to start Orissa project as scheduled
Wed May 23, 2007 1:12 PM IST
SEOUL (Reuters) - POSCO, the world's third-largest steel maker, said on Wednesday it will start building a steel complex project in India in October as scheduled despite encountering local opposition.
"We expect to solve the problem soon in securing land and start construction in October," Lee Dong-hee, POSCO's chief financial officer, told Reuters.
In 2005, POSCO signed a contract to build a $12 billion integrated steel complex in Orissa, the largest single foreign investment in India. But the project has been hampered by local protests.
Lee also expected global steel product prices to remain strong during the remainder of 2007, backed by healthy demand.
He declined to comment on a possible bid for Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co.
POSCO supplies 40-50 percent of Daewoo's steel needs. State-run Korea Development Bank and restructuring agency Kamco jointly own half the shipbuilder, a former unit of the bankrupt Daewoo Group with a market value of $5.7 billion.
Shares in POSCO rose 0.70 percent to 429,500 won, outperforming a 0.23 percent gain in the broader market.

Orissa DG B B Mohanti clarifiesWednesday, May 23, 2007 02:42:36 pm
Orissa DG (Home Guards) B B Mohanti is accused of helping his son convicted of rape to jump parole and the Rajasthan police is contemplating to seek an arrest warrant against him. However, Mohanti is not a worried man. Speaking to TIMES NOW, he says there are only two bailable offences against him now. "The hearing will come up before the Supreme Court after the summer vacations. The Rajasthan govt in an affidavit to the SC has deleted section 130 of IPC from the original FIR. Now, there are only two bailable offences," he says. "The Rajasthan police have registered a case and already interrogated me. The rule of law clearly says equality before the law and equal protection of the law. I'm committed to upholding the rule of law." In the gaze of 1,000 eyes B B Mohanti has constantly been under the media's watchful eye ever since his son Bitti Mohanti, convicted of raping a German tourist, jumped parole. But Mohanti says that the media is only doing its job and he’s more concerned about the way in which his son was treated after being arrested. "The media is not hounding me; it's feeding the news hungry people of our country. I'm more concerned with the sense of justice. My son, who was studying in Delhi, was not taking orders from me. I had no knowledge of his whereabouts. When he went to Alwar, did the Rajasthan police intimate me? He was lodged in jail without his parents being intimated. Did a lawyer go defend him? No. Here, the basic rights of an ordinary citizen were violated. He was not even given a reasonable opportunity to be heard," he says. “Bitti accountable for his actions” As far as his son is concerned, B B Mohanti feels that as an adult he is responsible for his own actions. "Why Bitti, anyone who has jumped parole has committed an offence. That's a separate story. Let the law take its own course and punish the accused. We don't object to that. What we are trying to say is how is the father responsible for an alleged offence committed by his adult son, who was staying so far away," he says. Meanwhile in Jaipur, order on an arrest warrant against DG B B Mohanti has been held by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate till tomorrow.

HCL to set up 100 Career Development Centres in India
Bhubaneswar, May 23: HCL Infosystems Ltd today announced to establish 100 HCL Career Development Centres across the country to fill the severe dearth of skilled IT engineers.Speaking at the launch of the HCL CDC Bhubaneswar Centre here, HCL Infosystem Ltd Vice-President Ranjendra Kumar said while there will be an estimated annual demand of two lakh networking professional, the supply would only cater to 60 per cent of the demand.He said that since the deficit of the IT professionals would further grow at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate(CAGR) of 28 per cent till 2010, the HCL Infosystem had taken the latest initiative to create highly skilled IT professionals to meet the increasing demand.Mr Kumar said the HCL CDS would provide specially designed courses in high-end software, hardware and networking integration to groom students into industry-ready professionals.Inaugurating the HCL CDC, state Information and Technology Minister S N Patra said the country would require nearly two to three million IT professionals in the next three years both in the software and BPO sectors.He said Orissa, which occupied the fifth position in the country in the export of softwares, planned to set up 5,000 IT kiosks under the Public Private Partnership(PPP) mode and set up Rural Knowledge Information Centre in every village in the state.Mr Patra said with the all major IT companies establishing their development centres, Orissa would produce nearly 15,000 young trained IT professional in the next three years.''Keeping in view the interest shown by various IT companies to have their centre in Orissa, the state government has decided to set up a second Info City on the outskirt of the capital city spread over an area of 670 acres'' he added.HCL CDC Career Development Centre Head STM Eswar said ''our mission would be to transform students into industry-ready professionals, who would be able to take on enterprise wide IT deployment and integration assignments.He further said the HCL would offer a three months and a full time one-year course titled HCL Certified Network Engineers(HCNE) and announced that three more CDC would soon be set up in Orissa, one each in Berhampur, Rourkela and Balasore.Orissa Information Technology Director Vishal Dev export of software from Orissa had registered a 58 per cent growth as against national average growth of 28 per cent.He hoped that the export in IT sector from Orissa which stood at Rs 732 crores this year would touch Rs 4,500 crores by the end of 2012.


State Pulse: ORISSA: Channels blocked-II (Thursday May 24, 2007 )
Orissa pani panchayat bedevilled by bureaucracy - report of Ranjan K Panda
"The collector asked us to form a small committee for close interaction between pani panchayats and the administration," said Pattanaik. "But even after we formed it, the collector has twice asked us to form small committees. We failed to understand him," said Govindu. "Can there be a smaller committee for a project as big as Hirakud?" Actually they were not required to form a small committee.
Under the provisions of the Act there should be an executive committee for every distributary committee, not exceeding nine members. Similarly, the general body of the project committee should elect an executive committee of nine or less. The state committee is supposed to consist of "such numbers of Presidents of the Project Committees as may be considered necessary, but not exceeding ten".
Despite these grey areas, the government claims the Orissa model is the most successful. Dipak K Das of the Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI), Aurangabad, says the Orissa model is an "in-between process", better than the "big bang top-to-down approach of pani panchayat formation in states like Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh" and the "bottom-up approach adopted by Maharashtra and Gujarat". "In the implementation of participatory irrigation management for a certain period, a bottom-up approach with motivational strategy was adopted. Later on, when the movement attained a certain momentum, the state adopted a somewhat top-down strategy by enacting the Orissa Pani Panchayat Act, 2002," says Das.
WALMI had been pursuing a participatory approach in Orissa since the 1980s, first through the USAID-assisted Water Resources Management and Training Project, which failed Later, pani panchayats were pushed as the most important item on the policy agenda under the World Bank-sponsored Orissa Water Resources Consolidation Project, through limited legislation. When this did not work, the government gave legal recognition to the panchayats. walmi is at the forefront of implementing this initiative. Other agencies, too, were earlier involved. The European Commission had initiated pani panchayats in 56 minor irrigation projects, 20 of them have been handed over full responsibility and exempted from water taxes. WUAS were also central to the Asian Development Bank-assisted Orissa Integrated Irrigated Agriculture and Water Management Project and projects supported by the UK's Department for International Development. The Orissa Water Policy, 2007, too supports WUAS.
Das's claims were, however, contested. Farmers have a long list of complaints. "We are not informed of the time and quantity of water that is being released into the canal," said Panda. "That's why we are hardening our stance against the government," added Pattanaik. The pani panchayats have started a movement against the government, with a four-point agenda: power transfer to panchayats; consultation while deciding on water allocation from the Hirakud reservoir and other irrigation sources; no contract farming; and respeect for pani panchayats. Pani panchayat members were enraged that the chief engineer of the Mahanadi Basin did not even offer a chair to distributary committee presidents when they had gone to invite him to a meeting. Instead he questioned the authority of pani panchayats to discuss issues with him.
Pani panchayats in Orissa drew mixed lessons from Sason. "We don't think the government will recognise such efforts, since officials consider us as threats to their corrupt practices," said Govindu. "When I became president of our pani panchayat in 2004, I was asked to sign bills by the departmental engineer. I found there were bills for painting gates though our canal did not have any," said Shyam Sundar Pradhan, secretary of VSS panchayat, Parmanpur. "The officials warned they would stop grants to our pani panchayat. In fact, we are yet to receive any." "We will harden further," were Govindu's final, ominous words.


Posco likely to get iron ore mining permit by August
Bloomberg / Mumbai May 24, 2007
South Korea’s Posco may get an iron ore mining licence by August for the $12 billion plant in India, three years after it agreed to invest in the South Asian nation.

“We had asked the Orissa state for some clarifications and we hope the licence will be granted in three months,’’ said J P Singh, secretary at the ministry of mines, in an interview in New Delhi yesterday. “The process is on.”

Construction on the 12 million tonnes plant, the country’s largest foreign direct investment, would start in October, six months later than planned, because of delays in allocating land and mining permits, Posco said on May 15. Three officials at the steelmaker’s India unit were detained by activists on May 11, demanding the plant be moved to another location.

Posco said last June it would scrap the Indian investment unless it’s granted exclusive access to an iron ore mine. The project would proceed “only if we are given a captive mine,’’ Jeong Tae Hyun, former deputy managing director of the India unit, said on June 22.

The Orissa government in December agreed to give Posco a 30-year lease to mine 600 million tonnes of iron ore, the state’s Steel Minister Padmanabha Behera said. Additional approval has yet to come from the central government, Behera said. The state holds a quarter of the country’s iron ore reserves.

India may grant companies exclusive mining rights — so-called captive mines — after a government review panel submits its suggestions to revamp the nation’s 50-year-old mining law. The panel is scheduled to meet May 28, Singh said.

“On that day, we will have a clearer idea as to when the mining policy will be announced,’’ Singh said.

Meantime, Posco received environmental clearance from the government to build a port in Orissa, the company said May 20.

The steelmaker in July 2005 agreed to invest $900 million to build a port in Jatadhari in Orissa. The $12 billion includes the cost of developing an iron ore mine, building a railway line and securing water supplies.

Woman Arrested For Killing Her Newborn In Orissa
Monday 21st of May 2007 :-
Police arrested a woman from Orissa's Nuapada district Monday for allegedly killing her newborn baby in the hospital where she gave birth to a healthy girl child, police said.The 18-year-old woman Kanaka Rana, a resident of Pandelbahal was admitted at the government maternity at Komna, some 570 kilometers from the state capital early Sunday morning. She gave birth to a healthy girl child, assistant sub-inspector of the local police station, Trilochan Das told IANS. However, less than an hour after the delivery, staff and doctors at the hospital found the baby dead. The child was bleeding from the nose and mouth, said Das.The woman was arrested after the hospital doctor Pabitra Mohan Rout lodged a complaint with the police alleging that the newborn child was killed by some one when he was away from the labour room along with the staff, Das added.The woman, who was married last March, was said to have had the child from a pre-marital relationship. The woman allegedly killed her baby in the hospital, fearing ostracism from the villagers.

BIG 92.7 FM enters Bhubaneswar
Friday - May 18, 2007
Televisionpoint.com Correspondent
Within a fortnight, Bhubaneswar got the taste of second private FM channel. Big 92.7 FM, the initiative of Adlabs Films, launched its Orissa operation by formally airing programmes from its Bhubaneswar station.Bhubaneswar is the ninth station to become operational of the 17 places in the country for which Big FM has got licence's in the first round of bidding. The radio station has come up with a 19-hour non-stop programmes, which are blend of information and entertainment. Besides music, the station will keep listeners updated with city traffic positions, weather and health tips."The programming mix of station has been put together after much research and understanding of our listeners' requirements. It is our aim to create content that is relevant, credible and has an aspirational value to the listeners," Sudden Dutta, Associate Vice-President, East Region said.Though trial run was going on since April 14, the company formally launched the channel presenting its radio jockeys before media. Dutta also informed that Big FM's second station in Orissa will come up by September at Rourkela.Earlier on May 3, city-based Eastern Media Limited had launched its channel, Radio Choklate, first private FM channel in the State of Orissa.

Man gets death sentence for killing wife, son
Bhubaneswar, May 19: A court in Orissa Saturday awarded death sentence to a man for killing his wife and their one-year-old son in the steel city of Rourkela last year over a family quarrel.The judge of a Rourkela fast track court, Sobhan Kumar Das, handed down the sentence to Mohan Mohant, a tribal, for killing his wife and their son at their residence in Rourkela, 470 km from here, on Jan 12 last year.Mohant was arrested July 23 and charge-sheeted after he confessed to have committed the crime. At least 21 witnesses were tried in the court.

Death sentence for killing wife, son(IANS)20 May 2007
BHUBANESWAR — A court in Orissa yesterday awarded death sentence to a man for killing his wife and their one-year-old son in the steel city of Rourkela last year over a family quarrel.
The judge of a Rourkela fast track court, Sobhan Kumar Das, handed down the sentence to Mohan Mohant, a tribal, for killing his wife and their son at their residence in Rourkela, 470km from here, on January 12 last year. Mohant was arrested on July 23 and charge-sheeted after he confessed to have committed the crime. At least 21 witnesses were tried in the court.


Gallows for killings
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Bhubaneswar, May 19: A fast-track court in Rourkela today ordered that a man be hanged to death for killing his wife and one-year old son on the night of January 12, 2006.
The judge also fined Mohan Mahanta (36), the convict, to pay a fine of Rs 5,000.
Bishra police said Mohan Mahanta (36), a construction worker and vegetable trader hailing from Teterkela, lived in a rented house in Bishra daily market.
Mohan had married Muni — it was his second wedding — and had a son, Babu, out of the relationship.
On the midnight of January 12 last year, Mohan slit the throat of his wife with a sharp weapon and strangled his son using a handkerchief before fleeing the spot.
R.K. Chauhan, a home guard and a neighbour of Mohan had heard screams coming from the house of the killer and went to investigate, but Mohan had escaped after committing the murders.
He remained at large for about seven months and was arrested on July 30, 2006.
After hearing of as many as 10 witnesses, ad-hoc additional sessions judge (fast-track) Sobhan Kumar Das today awarded capital punishment and the fine.
Assistant public prosecutor Chandramani Jena, who represented the state, said: “Circumstantial evidence collected by the police as well as the testimonies given by the witnesses proved it beyond doubt that Mahanta committed the crime.”
But Mohan’s lawyer P.C. Das said: “Mahanta’s presence at his home on the fateful night has not been conclusively proved.
He will appeal in the high court against today’s judgment.”
Though Mohan did not react when the sentence was read out, he later broke down and protested against the sentence.

Orissa High Court strikes down Act
Cuttack, PTI:
The Orissa Professional Educational Institution (regulation of admission and fixation of fee) Act, 2007, aims to regulate the admission, prohibition of capitation fee and course fee structure in privately-run educational institutions.
In a setback to the state government, the Orissa High Court has struck down the Orissa Professional Educational Institution (regulation of admission and fixation of fee) Act, 2007, which aimed to regulate the admission, prohibition of capitation fee and course fee structure in privately-run educational institutions.A bench comprising Chief Justice A K Ganguly and Justice Nityananda Prusty said in their order yesterday that the act was unconstitutional, inoperative, invalid and not binding on the petitioners."The state government does not have the legislative competence to promulgate such an act," the bench said.The act had already received Orissa government's assent in March after the bill was passed in the Assembly.It was, however, challenged by four different bodies under the umbrella organisation of association of private management colleges, engineering colleges and medical colleges in the high court.The association had said in four separate writ petitions that "the state government lacks the legislative competence to enforce such an Act."

JK Paper-World Bank deal on emission reduction
Statesman News ServiceRayagada, May 18:
JK Paper Limited signed an Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA) with the World Bank in New Delhi on 8 May. Mr AK Sharda, vice-president of the JK Paper Limited, signed the ERPA on behalf of the company and Mr Shekhar Shah, acting as the country director of the World Bank, Ms Saima Qadir, bio-carbon fund deal manager from Washington DC also attended the signing ceremony.The project will enable small and marginal farmers in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh to earn additional revenues through carbon credits by afforesting their severely degraded lands. Under the agreement, the Bio CF will purchase 276,000 t CO2e (tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) between 2008 and 2017, with an option for an additional purchase of 370,200 tCO2e. The project is the first of its kind in India, said Mr Sharda. It is India’s first LULUCF (land use and land use change and forestry) project to sell emission reductions (ERs) earned through carbon sequestration in newly established agro-forestry plantations. This will not only create additional income for resource-poor farmers, but will also contribute to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). In the first phase, the project will cover 3500 hectares of severely degraded lands mainly owned by small and marginal farmers in three districts of Rayagada, Klahandi and Koraput in Orissa and three district Vizainagram, Viskhapatnam and Srikakulam in Andhra Prasesh. In this project, company will provide quality saplings, buy-back guarantee and technical guidance to farmers, if requires some farmers will get loan from Regional Rural Banks to take up plantation.

Jindal plant workers attacked
Statesman News Service JAJPUR, May 18: Tension gripped Kalinga Nagar steel hub after labourers working with Jindal Stainless were attacked today allegedly by some members of the Jindal Stainless Workers’ Union, an unregistered labourer forum. Many labourers of the plant, who were on the way to the plant for duty, were chased away by the self-styled union leaders. Erection of a power plant being carried out by eight companies, including L & T, Bhel and Volta, for the Jindal Stainless was partly disrupted as workers did not turn up following the attack. According to sources, the miscreants attacked a team of labourers near railway level-crossing at Manapur, just few yards from the Jindal Stainless Ltd. Fearing attack, the labourers were passing through the alternative passage to the plant for reporting duty. They were chased away by the miscreants, armed with lethal weapons, sources added. Kalinga Nagar police station inspector-in-charge Mr Sarat Kumar Mahapatra said one Sangram Biswal was engaged through contractor SR Brothers for construction works of a power plant by the L&T Company. L&T authorities had suspended Sangram for dereliction of duty. Later, Sangram petitioned the authorities concerned seeking the revoking of the suspension. After his plea was turned down, Sangram, along with some of his aides, chased away the labourers on their way to the plant and even attacked them. Jindal Stainless Ltd general manager Mr MD Burma said that works on the power plant were affected following the clash between labourer unions. “If the situation continues, we will be forced to stop the work of the Rs 300 crore power plant,” he said. A handful of labourers and their so called leaders had threatened the senior officials of the plant with dire consequence, he added.

Power projects modified
Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, May 18: The high power project clearance committee which met here today approved modification of three existing MoUs and another new project. Tata Power had applied for revision of its MoU as it wanted to add another 1000 MW to its proposed 1000 MW power plant at Naraj. The project cost has been revised and the second phase entails an investment of Rs 4,866 crore, Significantly, the state will get 450 MW from the plant. Similarly, Adhunik Metalic, which signed an MoU in 2003 for a 0.15 MT steel plant, will increase it to 0. 26 MT, the KVK Nilachal Power will no be a 1200 MW power plant and not a 600 MW one as envisaged earlier. The project cost is revised to Rs 5,000 crore and the state will get 270 MW power. Monet Ispat Energy Ltd will sign an MoU for a 1000 MW power plant at Angul. The project will entail an investment of Rs 4107 crore and the state is assured of 225 MW of power. The MoUs will also have clauses relating to fly ash use and downstream industries in terms of use of fly ash. Certain construction activity near the plant region will be listed out for use of fly ash bricks.

HC quashes college Act
Statesman News Service CUTTACK, May 18: The Orissa High Court today quashed the Orissa Professional Education Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Fixation of Fee) Act, 2007. The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice AK Ganguly and Justice N Prusty declared the Act “invalid” on grounds of “legislative competence.” The Act enforced recently had empowered the state government to regulate admission, fixation of fee, prohibition of capitation, reservation in admission and for other measures to ensure equity and excellence in professional educational institutions. The Orissa Management Colleges Association (OMCA), Orissa Private Engineering Colleges Association (OPECA), Orissa Private Medical Colleges Association (OPMCA) and others had challenged the constitutional validity of the Act. The petitions had stated that the Act was “Draconian,” “oppressive” in nature, “transgressed all its limit” and tends to become “a leviathan.” OMCA counsel Mr Gangadhar Rath contended that the legislature lacked competence in framing law on coordination and determination of standards in institutions for higher education or research and scientific technical institutions. “The state does not have the legislative competence to promulgate such an Act,” the High Court observed while disposing off the petitions. The state government, in its bid, to regulate such private institutions had promulgated an Ordinance and then enacted the law in Assembly.

More coaches to trains
Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, May 17: For the convenience of traveling public and keeping in view of the demands of passengers, East Coast Railway has decided to augment additional four coaches each on Puri-Patna Baidyanathdham Express and Puri-Jodhpur Express permanently from 21 and 23 May respectively. After permanent augmentation of four coaches ~ that is ~ one sleeper class coach, two general second class coaches and one composite coach of both AC-2 and AC-3 tier ~ 8449/8450 Puri-Patna-Puri Baidyanathdham Express will run with 17 coaches instead of earlier 13 coaches from 21 May from Bhubaneswar and from 23 May from Patna. The revised composition of Puri-Patna and Puri Baidyanathdham Express will be one AC-2 and AC-3 tier composite coach, one AC-3 tier, nine sleeper classes, four general second classes coaches and two guard-cum-luggage vans. Similarly, Puri-Jodhpur-Puri Express will be augmented permanently with one sleeper class coach, two general second class coaches and one composite coach on 26 May from Jodhpur. Railway Board has also decided to increase the frequency of 850918510 Visakhapatnm-Nizambad-Visakhapatnam from bi-weekly to tri-weekly from 3 July from Visakhapatnam and 4 July from Nizamabad. This train will leave Visakhapatnam on every Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, in the return direction; this train will leave Nizamabad on every Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Postmortem rules out lock-up murder
SNS & PTI ROURKELA, May 18: The cloud of custodial death that was hovering over Sundergarh police has probably been erased after the autopsy report of the deceased. According to the postmortem conducted at the Panposh morgue, the deceased, Chnuilal, who was found dead in the bathroom of the female lock-up at the Brahmanitaranga police station here, had all the marks of suicide. Meanwhile, government has asked the State Human Rights Cell to inquire into the death of a 30-year-old man while in police custody and suspended three police personnel for “negligence and dereliction of duty” in connection with the incident. According to sources, assistant sub-inspector of police Mr Natabar Samal and two constables, including two women, had been placed under suspension in this connection. “My office was yet to receive any official communique in this regard. However, three persons have been placed under suspension,” DIG Mr Pranabindu Acharya said. The postmortem, which was carried out in the presence of the magistrate and the officials of the district administration, established the fact that Chunilal had hung himself inside the bathroom of the female lock-up. The postmortem conducted yesterday established that there was no sign of any torture. Chunilal had a case against him pending since 2004. He was wanted in connection with robbery. Chunilal’s all other accomplishes were, however, acquitted, while he was absconding. His wife, Mali, alleged that some five months back, he was caught by the same police, but managed to give them a slip. And for this reason, he was brought to the police station, tortured and killed, his wife alleged. The body of Chunilal was handed over to his family after the postmortem. There was a large contingent of police at the Brahamanitaranga station apprehending public unrest. Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik had sanctioned Rs 50,000 from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the next of kin of the deceased. A sum of Rs 5,000 was given from the Red Cross fund to the deceased’s wife for performing the last rites.

Kathantara best movie
BHUBANESWAR, May 18: Ms Iti Samant’s maiden production Kathantara and Basanta Sahu’s Sasu Ghara Chali Jibe cornered as many as eight awards each in the 18th Orissa State Film Awards which were announced today. The award ceremony will be held on 30 May. Announcing the award winners for 2005, culture minister Mr SN Patra said Kathantara was adjudged the best Oriya film, while Sidhanta Mohapatra was declared best actor for his performance in Sasu Ghara Chali Jibe. The best actress award was bagged by Anu Choudhury for her role in the same film. The best director, story, music, supporting actor and supporting actress awards were all bagged by the star cast of Kathantara. The special jury award will be given to Basant Sahu for Sasu Ghara Chali Jibe. The Jayadev Award, the highest award for lifetime achievements and contributions to Oriya films, was, however, held back as the jury did not find any suitable candidature and decided to undertake a re-look. It will be given along with the awards for 2006, said the minister. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has been invited as chief guest for the awards function on 30 May, he added. n SNS

Congress blames all on govt
Statesman News Service BALASORE, May 18: Armed with statistics on the poverty index and unemployment and other parameters which put Orissa at the bottom, Congress leaders hammered home their charge that in the seven-year Naveen Patnaik regime, the state had slipped to ignominious depths. The government has miserably failed to address the basic needs of the poor, distressed and underprivileged, while the state has been pushed down to the poorest in the country, they charged. Not a single megawatt of power has been added and industries have come up only on pen and paper, while the unemployment rate is going up, they said. AICC leader Mr Digvijay Singh, Mr V Narayanswami, Mr JB Patnaik, Mr Jayadev Jena, Mr Sarat Patnaik, Mr Sarat Kar, Mr Lulu Mohapatra and a host of others, including OGP MLA Mr Arun Dey, lambasted the government. They were addressing a gathering at the Gandhi Smrithi Bhavan on the occasion of centenary celebrations of satyagraha movement here. The Congress leaders also referred to the Kalinga Nagar incident where 13 tribals were gunned down by the police to facilitate industrialisation. MNCs are funding the BJD and elections are fought with money bags, they said while pointing out huge expenditure incurred by ruling party candidates during the recent panchayat elections. The speakers, who wanted the government to be dethroned at any cost, urged the party workers to start movement like satyagraha across all the districts to bring the Congress back to power. The leader of the Opposition and former chief minister, Mr JB Patnaik, said that he had no lust for power and position and had only one mission ~ ouster of the BJD-BJP government. He added that the moment for change had begun from Balasore with magnificent result in the last panchayat election. Earlier in the day, the delegates held meetings at Inchudi and Sunduri, where satyagraha was held in the district, and, accompanied by Seva Dal persons, paid tributes to those who had associated with the salt moment. Later, a rally of over 7,000 workers was held from Gadagadia to the venue where satyagraha celebration was held.

Orissa IG suspended for ‘misconduct’
Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, May 18: Mr Naveen Patnaik today suspended top IPS officer Mr Sanjiv Marik, IG, following a probe report on allegations that the officer had helped certain people from Jharkhand meet the accused persons in Bhadrak jail. It is for the first time that such an action was taken against an officer of the rank of IG. In fact, Mr Marik was due for promotion to the rank of additional director general within a couple of months. Mr Patnaik refused to elaborate on the charges or the findings of the inquiry conducted by DGP Mr Amarananda Patnaik. He merely repeated disciplinary action has been taken and Mr Marik has been suspended. The DGP on his part refused to share his findings with the media and said he had submitted his report to the government. “It was for the government to take necessary action. I am yet to receive the official order of suspension,” he said. A visibly shocked Mr Marik said that he was not aware of the action. He, however, maintained that he was innocent. “I was not asked or questioned about the allegation after the government had ordered the probe,” he said. Reliable sources said an explanation had been sought from Mr Marik on 16 April, much before the government ordered a probe. The explanation was regarding the visit of three persons from Patna to Mr Marik’s house in Bhubaneswar. Mr Marik had provided them with an escort as they wanted to meet those w ho had been arrested in connection with a robbery case. The four persons were intercepted by Bhadrak police and arrested. Mr Marik had sent his explanation to the DGP. The matter had died down till the media picked it up and raised questions prompting the government to order an inquiry. DGP Mr Patnaik conducted the inquiry and interrogated the jailed persons in connection with the matter. He submitted his report to the government today. However, the fact that no such action had been taken by the same Naveen Patnaik government in certain other cases, including the infamous police constable recruitment scam, raised eyebrows on today’s suspension. Moreover, reliable sources said the inquiry did not find any criminal nexus or liability or conspiracy involving the IG. At best, it was a case of being indiscreet and conduct unbecoming for a highly placed officer. Misconduct was all that had been made out, said the sources while noting that it did not warrant suspension. It found that Mr Marik had been contacted by the three who had come from Patna and he had deputed an escort for them to go to Bhadrak. Police are yet to establish any criminal record of the visitors from Patna. Viewed in this context, the fact that some people wanted to meet those jailed in the robbery case per se cannot be treated as an offence. With no criminal record or intent being established as yet, Mr Marik’s suspension on grounds of his having been contacted by the persons concerned is being interpreted as harsh and demoralising for the police force.

Briefs
Lynch Dhenkanal, May 18: One Antarjami Nayak (33), alleged to be an anti-social, was beaten to death by a group of people at Karmul village under Gondia police station jurisdiction today. According to police, Nayak was terrorising locals who expressed resentment against him. Some people alleged that the incident occurred due to political rivalry. Nayak had created panic in recent cooperative election. Police said when Nayak had threatened some locals and terrorised them today locals beat him to death. n SNSStorm Bhawanipatna, May 18: A hoarding erected over a two-storied building near Ghodaghat was uprooted from its base and fell over a house below, killing a 14-year-old boy Md Kalam on the spot during a storm in Bhawanipatna and neighbouring areas last night. The midnight storm affected many places and paralysed normal life. Trees were uprooted in several places and power supply and water supply disrupted. By Saturday, power supply may be restored, the Wesco officials said. n SNSLandless BHUBANESWAR, May 18: The State Human Rights Commission had asked the government to provide homestead land to the green card holders who did not have land. But, the president of the state green card holders’ development council, Mr Dev Raj Nayak, has told the Press that due to the non-cooperation of the state government, the landless families had not got homestead land from the government. He also added that the state government should devise some programmes for the landless couples who had undergone vasectomy. They should be provided with health and education by the government. Such plans and programmes are necessary in a poverty-stricken state like Orissa. But due to lack of cooperation from the government side, the slum dwellers are still waiting for the implementation of the programmes. n SNS

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.

Jindal Stainless plans Orissa steel plant
Thu May 17, 2007 8:33 PM IST
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Jindal Stainless Ltd. said on Thursday it plans to set up a 1.6-million tonne integrated stainless steel plant in Orissa in phases, and will invest 56 billion rupees for the first 0.8 million tonnes.
The company is already implementing one round of expansion, which includes setting up a 150,000 tonne ferro alloy unit and 250 megawatt power plant.
The new investment would mark the second phase and there would also be a third phase involving the balance 0.8 million tonnes of steel capacity and another 250 MW of power capacity.
"Most of the equipment for the entire 1.6 million tonne would come in this phase," Director N.C. Mathur told Reuters.
The company would fund the second phase investment mostly through debt, an official said.
Jindal Stainless also said it was increasing the capacity of its Hisar plant to 0.9 million tonnes from 0.6 million tonnes.
Shares in the company ended 0.4 percent lower at 153.65 rupees in the Mumbai market.

Source: IRIS NEWS DIGEST (18 May 2007)Jindal Stainless to set up Rs 56 bn plant in Orissa Jindal Stainless plans to set up a 1.6-million ton integrated stainless steel plant in Orissa state with an investment of Rs 56 billion, reports Economic Times. This project will include a 500 megawatt power plant.The company is also planning to increase the capacity of its Hisar plant to 0.9 million tons from the current capacity of 0.6 million tons.
In January, 2007, the company announced that it is planning to invest an additional Rs 50 billion in its Orissa plant to double its production capacity to 1.5 million tons annually. The company operates through its three plants in Hisar, Visakhapatnam and Jaipur.Shares of the company closed up Rs 0.65, or 0.42%, at Rs 153.65. The total volume of share traded was 84,556 at the BSE (Thursday).

Centre okays proposal for IIHT in OrissaFriday May 18 2007 11:38 IST
BERHAMPUR: Even as the proposal for establishment of an IIT in Orissa was scrapped leading to protests throughout the State, the Centre has decided to establish the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT) at Bargarh.According to Union Minister of State for Rural Development Chandrasekhar Sahu, IIHT would materialise during the next visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Orissa.Sahu had detailed talks with Union Textile Minister Sankar Singh Vaghela in Delhi on Tuesday regarding the developments needed for Orissa.A release issued by Sahu‘s office stated that Sahu had also proposed to the Textile Minister for a National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) centre at Bhubaneswar.The proposal was accepted by Vaghela who promised to open the centre.


Big FM enters Orissa
STATE BUREAU (Posted online: Friday, May 18, 2007 at 0000 hours IST)
BHUBANESWAR, MAY 17: Big 92.3 FM, the initiative of Reliance's Adlabs Films Ltd, launched its Orissa operation on Thursday by formally airing programmes from its Bhubaneswar station.
Bhubaneswar is the ninth station to become operational of the 17 places in the country for which Big FM has got licences in the first round of bidding. The Bhubaneswar station will be heard over a radius of 60km, covering most parts of the central districts of Puri, Khorda, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Dhenkanal and Angul.
Besides music, the station will keep listeners updated with city traffic positions, weather and health tips.
Sudev Datta, associate vice-president, east, told reporters that Big FM is soon going to spread all over the country with an investment of about Rs 40 crore.
In nine months, the station has started airing programmes from nine stations including Bhubaneswar.
Datta said Big FM is expecting licences for some more places in the next round of bidding.
He said Big FM's second station in Orissa will come up by September at Rourkela.

Coach: 5-year-old Indian boy to walk 500km
BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhuanet) -- The five-year-old Indian marathon runner Budhia Singh whose running last year sparked an outcry from rights activists is planning to walk 500 kilometers, according to his coach quoted by media reports Friday.
"I have spoken to West Bengal DG police, Mamata Banerjee, Mithun Chakraborty and lot many IAS and IPS officers in West Bengal. They have all encouraged Budhia for this walk and are ready to give me permission," said Biranchi Das, Budhia's coach.
Budhia will begin in Bhubaneswar in the eastern state of Orissa and finish in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal state. The walk is to begin on June 6 and should take about 10 days, said Das.
While Das argued that the boy's walk would serve as an inspiration to other young athletes, child rights advocates decried the news.
The Women and Child Development Minister has categorically denied permission, and has declared strict action against those who will make Budhia walk such a long distance.
"Orissa High Court has given us full power to take decision for the welfare of Budhia and by no means will we allow Budhia to walk such long distance," said Pramilla Mallick, the minister.
Last year, he attempted to run a 70-kilometre marathon, but doctors stopped him after 65 kilometres when he showed signs of extreme exhaustion.
Afterward, doctors found the boy to be undernourished, anemic and under cardiac stress, and the Orissa state government banned him from running until he is older.
But Das insisted he is looking after the best interests of the boy, whose father died when he was seven months old.
His mother, unable to support him, was about to sell him to another villager for Rs800 (18 U.S. dollars) when the family met Das two years ago.
"I have raised him as my son and I introduced him into running after observing his endurance," Das said, adding that he is an inspiration to other children.
"The aim is to make our children and children all over the world to know that if they start now they can qualify for the 2016 Olympics," he said.

Friday, May 18, 2007
Orissa suspends top cop for alleged criminal links
The Orissa government Friday suspended Inspector General of Police Sanjeev Marik for alleged links with criminals in Bihar, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters here.
Marik, who is also director of the Orissa Police Academy, has been accused of helping a gang of criminals allegedly involved in several bank robberies in the state. This includes a Rs.2.3 million robbery from the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) office in Bhadrak district on Feb 23.
The state government had ordered Director General of Police Amarananda Patnaik to probe the allegations. He submitted his report Thursday.
Marik has been suspended on the basis of Amarananda Patnaik's report, the chief minister said.

Friday, May 18, 2007
Top Orissa cop suspended for alleged criminal links
Inspector General of Police Sanjeev Marik was Friday suspended by the Orissa government for his alleged links with criminals in Bihar, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters here.
Marik has been accused of helping a gang of criminals allegedly involved in several bank robberies in Orissa. This includes a Rs.2.3 million robbery from the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) office at Bhadrak town, 140 km from here, on Feb 23.
Marik, 52, is also director of the Biju Patnaik State Police Academy.
The suspension order was issued after Director General of Police Amarananda Patnaik submitted report of a probe into the allegations against Marik Thursday night.
Marik has been suspended on the basis of Patnaik's report, the chief minister said.
'No police case has been registered against Marik in this connection,' Amarananda told IANS.
Marik, who had earlier refuted the allegations, was not available for comment. His office staff said he had not come in for work.

Top Orissa cop suspended for alleged criminal links
Bhubaneswar, May 18: Inspector General of Police Sanjeev Marik was Friday suspended by the Orissa government for his alleged links with criminals in Bihar, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters here. Marik has been accused of helping a gang of criminals allegedly involved in several bank robberies in Orissa. This includes a Rs.2.3 million robbery from the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) office at Bhadrak town, 140 km from here, on Feb 23.Marik, 52, is also director of the Biju Patnaik State Police Academy.The suspension order was issued after Director General of Police Amarananda Patnaik submitted report of a probe into the allegations against Marik Thursday night.Marik has been suspended on the basis of Patnaik's report, the chief minister said."No police case has been registered against Marik in this connection," Amarananda told IANS. Marik, who had earlier refuted the allegations, was not available for comment. His office staff said he had not come in for work.

Orissa IGP suspended for alleged links with criminalsPosted at Friday, 18 May 2007 18:05 IST
Bhubaneswar, May 18: Orissa's Inspector General of Police Sanjeev Marik was today suspended for alleged links with criminals from Bihar in the first such disciplinary action against any top officer of the state.The decision to suspend Marik, a 1981 batch IPS officer, was taken after Home Secretary Tarun Kanti Mishra and Director General of Police (DGP) Amarananda Pattanayak met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the state secretariat."I have passed orders to start departmental disciplinary proceedings. He has been suspended from service today," Patnaik told newsmen later.The Chief Minister declined to comment on the charges against the police officer. But police sources said one of the charges was that Marik had helped four persons from Bihar who wanted to meet their relatives in Bhadrak jail.The suspension came after the government asked the DGP to inquire and submit a report within seven days.Pattanayak had also visited the jail at Bhadrak to interrogate persons arrested in connection with the IGP's alleged links with criminals and submitted his report to the government last night.Pattanayak had also interrogated Marik on Wednesday during which he reportedly admitted some of the charges levelled against him.Marik had come into the spotlight after a robbery at Bhadrak in February. The robbers opened fire killing two persons while looting over Rs. 20 lakh from two bank employees.In investigations that followed it came to light that some of the criminals had contact with the IPS officer.

Orissa IG suspended for alleged criminals linksFrom our ANI CorrespondentBhubaneswar,
May 18:
Sanjeev Marik, Inspector General of Police, Orissa was today suspended for having alleged links with criminals.
The decision was taken after Home Secretary Tarun Kanti Mishra and Director General of Police Amarananda Pattanayak met and briefed Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat about the issue.Patnaik told media persons that he had ordered disciplinary action against Marik and suspended him from service.Patnaik declined to comment on the charges against the Marik, who is a 1981 batch police officer.Marik's name surfaced after a robbery in Orissa's Bhadrak District in February. Over 20 lakh rupees were looted from two bank employees in the theft.Investigations that followed revealed that some criminals had contact with Marik.


Orissa nod to projects worth Rs 7,225 crore
BS Reporter / Bhubaneswar May 19, 2007
The Orissa government has approved four projects in the steel and power sector involving investment worth Rs 7,225 crore.
The decision was taken in the meeting of the high level clearance authority (HLCA), chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here today.
The projects approved include the second-phase expansion of Adhunik Metalics, capacity expansion of KVK Nilachal Power Ltd, setting up of a power plant by Monet Ispat and Energy Ltd and capacity expansion of Tata Power Company Ltd.
While a fresh memorandum of understanding (MoU) would be required for Monet Ispat to set up the power plant, for others, the existing MoUs would be modified, said Industry Secretary Ashok Dalwai.
Dalwai said Adhunik Metalics had signed the MoU with the state government to set up a steel plant with 0.15 million tonne a year capacity at Kuanarmunda, near Rourkela.
The company has proposed a second-phase expansion which will take the production capacity to 0.26 million tonne a year. Post-expansion, the total project cost will go up to Rs 437 crore from Rs 197 earlier.
For steel production, the company will shift to a mini blast furnace route from the present sponge iron route, post-expansion, he said.
KVK Nilachal Power’s proposal seeks expansion of capacity from the existing 600 Mw to 1,200 Mw. This will take the total cost of the project to Rs 5,000 crore from Rs 2,580 crore earlier.
The state is likely to get Rs 180 crore in the form of taxes and other levies. That apart, Orissa can purchase 270 Mw power at the rate decided by the power regulator. About 1,320 persons will be employed in the project.

Bar on walking
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Bhubaneswar, May 18: Marathon runner Budhia Singh’s forthcoming padyatra from Bhubaneswar to Calcutta may be stalled if Orissa women and child welfare minister Pramila Mallick decides to have her way.
Budhia’s coach Biranchi Das had announced that the child would not run, but “walk” all the way to Calcutta, covering a distance of 500 km in a huge padyatra. Sulabh International, the lavatory chain, had pledged its support to the padyatra.
However, today Mallick said the Khurda child welfare committee, which has challenged Budhia’s coach’s decision of a marathon in high court, has the authority to decide whether Budhia may be permitted to undertake such an arduous task. “They would decide if the little boy can be allowed to undertake such a long journey by foot,” she emphasised.
Mallick, who has long been engaged in a bitter war of words with Budhia’s coach Biranchi, said the committee will shortly take a decision on the matter. The Orissa High Court has already ruled on January 25 that the CWC has authority to summon Biranchi Das for probing alleged cruelty to the child.
But Das seems unperturbed and says the padyatra will go on as per schedule. He says he has already faxed a letter to the West Bengal DGP seeking his permission. And that leaders of Trinamool Congress have expressed their interest in felicitating the child in Calcutta.
Das said the boy has already started practising for the big day on June 6.
The 10-day-long padyatra will terminate at Dharamtala in Calcutta.

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).

Orissa to have an IIT: Navin Patnaik 16 May, 2007 l 0127 hrs ISTlPTI NEW DELHI: Orissa Chief Minister Navin Patnaik on Wednesday asked the Centre to set up an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the state as it did not have a single institution of national excellence. "I met Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh and demanded setting up of an IIT in Orissa as it was a long standing demand of the people of the state," Patnaik said. He said he had asked Singh to consider setting up an IIT in the coastal state during the 11th Plan period. The HRD Minister has assured that the demand of the state would be considered while finalising the proposals of his ministry for the current Five Year Plan, he said.

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.

Manipur wins title , Sunday, May 13, 2007
Rourkela: Manipur came from behind to defeat Bengal 2-1 in the final and lift the 15th senior National women's football championship at the Ispat Stadium here on Saturday.
Bengal striker Sujata Kar found the net in the second minute of the match.
Despite Manipur setting a scorching pace, it could not draw level as Bengal led 1-0 at half-time.
Shots from striker Bem Bem Devi twice hit the woodwork as Manipur's frustration continued.
Eventually, substitute Sakhtombi Devi restored parity with just a minute to go for the final whistle when she placed the ball in after Bengal goalkeeper Ranjita Khan failed to grip a cross from the right by Gitarani Chanu.
N.G. Bala Devi, who was adjudged the player of the tournament, headed home the winner in injury time after Chanu gave a cross again from the left.
Kar had opened the scoring virtually straight from the kick-off as she scored following a solo attempt getting past the Manipur defence. — PTI

Manipur claim national women`s football title
The Imphal Free PressIMPHAL, May 12: Manipur claimed another championship when they claimed the top honours in the 13th edition of the senior national women`s football tournament at Rourkela in Orissa today.Manipur has been champions in the senior national football 11 times including this year. Manipur lost to West Bengal twice in previous finals. In today`s final match, during the first half West Bengal led by a solitary goal. However, the Manipur team put in hard work and with a changed game plan made many attacks resulting in the equaliser in the last three minutes scored by Shakhitombi.the winning goal for Manipur came in the 79th minute through Ng Bala only three seconds to the final whistle.

Nine killed in Orissa accidentTuesday May 15 2007 00:43 IST
IANS, BHUBANESWAR: At least nine people were killed and 12 critically injured after a jeep carrying them had a head-on collision with a mini-truck in Orissa's Jharsauguda district on Monday, police said.The jeep was going from Jharsuguda town to the steel city of Rourkela and met with the accident at 6 p.m. on the outskirts of Jharsuguda town, 374 km from here, a senior district police official told IANS over phone.While five died on the spot, four succumbed to injuries at the district government hospital, he said. The 12 injured were undergoing treatment.

Orissa protestors release Posco officials
Posted May 12th, 2007 by Tarique
By IANS,Bhubaneswar : The employees of South Korean steel major Posco, who were taken hostage by villagers protesting the construction of a steel plant in Orissa, were released early Saturday after they gave in writing that they would not enter the region again.
"We released them at about 1.45 a.m. Saturday after the officials - Pranab Das, a public relation officer of the firm and Debesh Swain, a senior executive - gave in writing that they will never come to the area again," said Abhaya Sahu, president of the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), which is campaigning against POSCO's steel plant.
At least four officials, including a driver and a woman employee, of the steel major had gone to Nuagaon village in Jagatsinghpur district Friday to talk to villagers about land acquisition for a $12 billion steel plant in the area.
However, hundreds of villagers opposed to the project obstructed them, damaged their vehicle and took them hostage. The driver and the woman employee were released immediately while the other two were taken away to Patana village, some 100 km from here, and held hostage for over 10 hours.
"A top official of the company also called me and assured that they will not send any of its officials to the region where people are opposing the proposed project," Sahu told IANS.
Posco, one of the world's biggest steel makers, signed a deal with the state government in June 2005 to set up the plant near the port town of Paradeep in the coastal district of Jagatsinghpur by 2016.
There has been no significant progress on the project since then due to local opposition.
Over 20,000 people from around 15 nearby villages including Dhinkia, Gada Kujanga and Nuagaon are protesting the project saying it will displace them and ruin their betel leaf farming.
Posco says the plant would affect only 500 families but it would create thousands of jobs.

Patnaik writes to PM, wants IIT in Orissa
May 12, 2007
Bhubaneswar: Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding that a greenfield Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) be set up in Orissa during the 11th Five Year Plan.
The move for setting up the premier institute was initiated during the National Democratic Alliance government. Minister of State for Human Resource Development M.M. Fatmi had announced in Patna last year that Orissa had been included in the proposed three greenfield IITs in the 11th plan.
But on Wednesday, Minister of State for Human Resources D. Purandeshwari told parliament that the government had no IIT plans for Orissa.
"It is indeed painful that the decision has now been reversed," Patnaik said in his letter to the prime minister late Thursday.
It appears the proposal to open a branch of IIT, Kharagpur, at Bhubaneswar, for which the state government had promised 300 acres of land, has also been turned down, the chief minister added.
Over 300 activists of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged demonstrations in front of the governor's residence here Thursday over Orissa not getting an IIT. Hundreds of students and political activists also joined in the protests.
Students of Rupalli Vidyapitha, a residential school in the city, launched a signature campaign to press for the establishment of the premier educational institute.
Orissa does not have any institute of national repute like the IIT or the Indian Institute of Management (IIM). The government did not keep its promise of setting up an IIT here, said BJP leader Samir Mohanty.
Members of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and BJP had staged a demonstration outside the parliament after the Centre made clear that there was no proposal for an IIT in Orissa.
"We will continue our fight against the step-motherly attitude of the central government towards Orissa," BJP MP Jual Oram told IANS.
India currently has seven IITs located at Kharagpur, Mumbai, Chennai, Kanpur, Delhi, Guwahati, and Roorkee. (IANS) .

3 Posco officials freed as Orissa hostage drama ends
First Published: 03:18 IST(12/5/2007)
Last Updated: 10:54 IST(12/5/2007)
The Orissa government heaved a sigh of relief after the three Posco officials who were taken hostage earlier on Friday were released at around midnight.
The hostages were handed over to the Jagasinghpur district police officials who visited Gobindpur after holding hectic parleys with the leaders of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) for the safe return of the Posco officials. The three Posco officials – Rojalin Parida, Debasis Swain and Paramananda Das — who spent nearly seven hours in captivity were safe and did not sustain any injuries.
The hostage drama began at around 4.40 pm when the vehicle carrying the three Posco officials was stopped in Gobindpur village for a routine check. District police officials of Jagatsinghpur district claimed that the Posco officials did not take their prior permission before entering into the Dhinkia panchayat in Jagatsignhpur district.
Dhinkia has emerged as the nerve centre of anti-Posco activists.
After the three Posco officials were taken captive, PPSS leaders had demanded a written guarantee from the South Korean steel company not to send any staff to enter into the project site again so that the captives could be released.
Abhaya Sahu, chairman of PPSS told Hindustan Times, "They entered into our area despite our opposition. The three persons, one lady and two others, have been taken hostage. They will only be released after Posco gives us a written guarantee that no representative of the South Korean company will enter again into the Dhinkia, Gadakujang and Nuagaon panchayats of Jagatsinghpur district". These are the three panchayats where 4004 acres of land has been earmarked for the $12 billion steel project, which is the biggest FDI in India.
Posco-India has been asked by the state government to start direct negotiations with the project-affected people for the acquisition of private land in the area and the visit of the three officials formed part of the process to start negotiations with the people.
Sources said the visits had begun in the last couple of days without any police protection. Suresh Mohapatra, central range revenue divisional commissioner told HT, "We are still ascertaining the details. But the district administration was probably not informed about this visit".
Posco officials are making a final attempt to mend fences with the PPSS who have put up road blockades in Dhinkia panchayat.
Earlier a Posco spokesperson had told HT the company would go for alternative options if they cannot prevail upon the people in Dhinkia to accept rehabilitation and resettlement packages and leave the land voluntarily for the steel project. This visit aimed at explaining the people in Dhinkia about the R&R packages.

Three Orissa policemen get jail for misappropriation
Indo-Asian News Service
Bhubaneswar, May 12, 2007
A court in Orissa sentenced three policemen, including a senior officer, to one year rigorous imprisonment each for misappropriating funds meant to buy radio signal equipment for the Chandipur missile test range, an official said on Saturday.
Additional Judicial Magistrate (Special) at Cuttack, Suresh Kumar Patnaik, passed the jail sentence on former superintendent of police (Signal) Tapan Kumar Behera, accountant Bhaskar Chandra Diabagh and head clerk Kailash Chandra Mohanty, after they failed to justify how they had utilised Rs 36,000 of government money.
Behera, of the state police service cadre, is superintendent of police (Computer) in the state crime records bureau in Bhubaneswar. He had received in 1989-1990 from then district collector of Balasore Rs 47,430 to purchase radio signal equipments for the Integrated Test Range of Chandipur in Balasore, according to public prosecutor Hemanta Kumar Jena.
The money was also supposed to be spent to alert people to vacate villages near the test range during missile testing, Jena said.
But Behera failed to provide a certificate to show how the money was spent despite repeated requests from the district administration, which had given the money in two bank drafts.
The Balasore additional district magistrate had filed a case with the local police station in 1992 seeking a probe into the whereabouts of the money.
Police had filed a charge sheet against four people including Behera. The case against one official was dropped when he died in 1995.
The court on Friday also imposed a fine of Rs 3,000 each, the non payment of which would invoke a rigorous imprisonment of three months, the lawyer said.

Three Orissa policemen get jail for misappropriation
May 12, 2007, 9:30 GMT
Bhubaneswar, May 12 (IANS) A court in Orissa sentenced three policemen, including a senior officer, to one year rigorous imprisonment each for misappropriating funds meant to buy radio signal equipment for the Chandipur missile test range, an official said Saturday.
Additional Judicial Magistrate (Special) at Cuttack, Suresh Kumar Patnaik, passed the jail sentence on former superintendent of police (Signal) Tapan Kumar Behera, accountant Bhaskar Chandra Diabagh and head clerk Kailash Chandra Mohanty, after they failed to justify how they had utilised Rs.36,000 of government money.
Behera, of the state police service cadre, is superintendent of police (Computer) in the state crime records bureau in Bhubaneswar. He had received in 1989-1990 from then district collector of Balasore Rs.47,430 to purchase radio signal equipments for the Integrated Test Range of Chandipur in Balasore, according to public prosecutor Hemanta Kumar Jena.
The money was also supposed to be spent to alert people to vacate villages near the test range during missile testing, Jena told IANS.
But Behera failed to provide a certificate to show how the money was spent despite repeated requests from the district administration, which had given the money in two bank drafts.
The Balasore additional district magistrate had filed a case with the local police station in 1992 seeking a probe into the whereabouts of the money.
Police had filed a charge sheet against four people including Behera. The case against one official was dropped when he died in 1995.
The court Friday also imposed a fine of Rs.3,000 each, the non payment of which would invoke a rigorous imprisonment of three months, the lawyer said.

Captive POSCO officials released in OrissaFrom our ANI CorrespondentParadeep (Orissa), May 12:
Two officials of the Korean steel giant, POSCO, who were detained by villagers opposing POSCO's proposed project near Paradeep, were released early this morning after taking an undertaking that they would never enter the villages.
The POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti led by Abhay Sahu is spearheading the agitation against the project.Sahu claimed that Y K Kim, senior POSCO official, had requested him to release company officials.Four officials of the steel giant, including a driver and a woman employee, had gone to the Nuagaon Village in Jagatsinghpur District on Friday to talk about land acquisition for the 12 billion-dollar steel plant to be established in the area. However, villagers opposed to the project, obstructed them, damaged their vehicles, and took them captive. The driver and the woman employee Rosalyn Parida were released immediately while the other two- Debasish Swain, a senior executive and Pranabananda Das, a public relations officer -were taken away to Patana village and held hostage for over 10 hours. POSCO had signed a deal with the Orissa Government in June 2005 to set up the plant in the coastal district of Jagatsinghpur near Paradeep by 2016. Since its inception, villagers have opposed the project and over 20,000 people from around 15 nearby villages, including Dhinkia, Gada Kujanga and Nuagaon are protesting against the project, fearing displacement and loss of their betel leaf farming land. However, POSCO says the project would create thousands of jobs and affect only 500 families.

Angry villagers in Orissa put heat on Korea's POSCO
Sat May 12, 2007 8:12 PM IST
BHUBANESWAR, India (Reuters) - Two Indian executives from South Korean steelmaker POSCO were released on Saturday by Orissa villagers protesting against a planned $12-billion project, police said, after the firm agreed to look elsewhere for land.
Hundreds of angry villagers, some armed with iron bars and sticks had surrounded the officials on Friday when they went to Govindpur village in Dhinkia area to persuade farmers to sell the company land to build a steel plant.
The planned plant would be India's single largest foreign investment project.
The villagers freed the two officials unharmed following an assurance by POSCO that its staff would not visit the area again. Another official was released on Friday after a few hours.
"They are safe and unharmed and consequent to the incident we will proceed with caution from now," POSCO spokesman Shashanka Pattnaik told Reuters from Bhubaneswar.
POSCO said the company was ready to "forego" land in volatile areas of Orissa and look for alternate sites.
"It is now up to the district administration to provide us alternative land for the project which is very much on," Pattnaik said.
The state government said it was still serious about pushing the POSCO project, but would consider the South Korean firm's decision not to acquire land disputed by local villagers.
"If POSCO gives us a proposal to remove Dhinkia from its project, the government will consider it," said Orissa industries minister Biswabhusan Harichandan.


Agitators take Posco executives hostage in Orissa
PTI, FE BUREAU
Posted online: Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 0027 hours IST
BHUBANESWAR, MAY 11 : Three Posco executives, including a woman who had gone to the Gobindapur village for direct talks with villagers on land acquisition, were taken hostage by agitators opposing the South Korean company’s plans to set up a Rs 52,000-crore steel plant in the area.
Posco sources said some activists of the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, a body set up by the agitating villagers, took the three hostage this afternoon, but later released the woman executive identified as Rosalyn Parida.
The other two were identified as Debasish Swain, senior executive, and Pranabananda Das, public relations officer of Posco-India Ltd.
The three executives were detained when they visited Gobindapur village to negotiate with the people. Their car was also seized by the villagers. Deputy Inspector General of Police SK Upadhyay confirmed the executives were being held by villagers.
The anti-Posco activists have put up barricades, disallowing outsiders from entering the three panchyats —Gadakujanga, Dhinkia and Nuagoan—the proposed site of Posco's Rs 51,000 crore mega steel project near the port town of Paradip.
Inhabitants of three panchayats—Dhinkia, Gadakujanga and Nuagan—have been opposing the location of the 12-mtpa steel project at the chosen site as they claim it will displace about 22,000 people.

Published: 13/05/2007 12:00 AM (UAE)
Officials from steel company released by Orissa villagers
AP ,Kolkata: Two Indian officials were released unharmed early yesterday after being held hostage for 10 hours by activists who oppose expansion plans by the South Korean steel company they work for, police said.
The officials, who work for the South Korean based-Posco, the world's third largest steel-maker, were kidnapped on Friday by villagers concerned that the company's plan to build a steel plant in the eastern state of Orissa would displace thousands of people.
"They were released hours after midnight," said Deputy Superintendent of Police S. K. Upadhaya.
"No harm has come to them, but they are being examined by doctors," said Upadhaya.
Three Posco officials had travelled to the village of Gobindapur to meet with farmers about acquiring land when they were kidnapped. One of the three officials, a woman, was released soon after being taken hostage, but the two others were kept for 10 hours.
Abhay Sahu, the president of an activist group dedicated to fighting the Posco project, had said the hostages would not be released until the company pledged not to develop the site, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.
Assurances
But they were released after the villagers received assurances from Posco that the company's staff would not enter their village, Sahu was quoted as saying.
Posco officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Posco's steel plant - which would be the largest single foreign investment in India - was approved by the Indian government last year as a special economic zone.

Posco's troubles in Orissa are far from overMay 13, 2007 - 11:41:25 AM
'Similarly, the local administration is not able to provide protection to the people who have been supporting Posco,' he said.
Paradeep -, May 13 - Trouble continues to dog South Korean major Posco's proposed mega steel plant in Orissa, the largest foreign direct investment in India. The abduction of four of its officials was the latest form of protest by the anti-Posco groups who allege the proposed plant will take away the land they have been tilling for years.The four officials, who were confined by protestors in a village in Jagatsinghpur district, where the plant is to come up, were released after several hours of captivity.But that does not indicate that the problem is over. The situation continues to be tense in the area with villagers showing up in strength to oppose the project, to come up near the port town of Paradeep in Jagatsinghpur. The people have dug up the roads in several places leading to their villages so that company officials are not able to visit to discuss land acquisition for the plant.The villagers have also built wooden gates in at least nine places and are keeping guard to prevent government officials from entering the area.Posco, one of the world's biggest steel makers, signed a deal with the state government in June 2005 to set up a $12 billion steel plant near Paradeep by 2016.It wants over 4,000 acres of land for the project. While 430 acres is private land, the rest belongs to the government. The state government recently provided 1,500 acres to the company on paper. However, the company has yet to get the land in its possession. The real problem is that local residents have encroached upon the government land since decades and do not want to vacate. The state government, which had earlier assured the company it would provide all the land, has remained silent in view of the public opposition. It has asked the company to negotiate with locals. The company has, in the meanwhile, offered the affected villagers market price for the land.But it did not help.Over 20,000 people from around 15 nearby villages, including Dhinkia, Gada Kujanga and Nuagaon are protesting the project, saying it will not only displace them but also ruin their betel leaf farming, a permanent source of livelihood.Posco says the plant would affect only 500 families, but help create thousands of jobs. But villagers say more families would be uprooted by the project.While the company officials hope things would become normal in a few days and they will be able to motivate the villagers to sell their land, many locals say it would be difficult.'We will not allow any Posco official to enter our villages,' said Abhaya Sahu, president of the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti -, which is campaigning against the steel plant. 'If they enter they will face the consequences,' he warned.However, Posco-India public relations officer Sasanka Patnaik told IANS: 'The anti Posco activists have presence in only one of three affected panchayats -. They are not allowing officials to enter only Dhinkia panchayat whereas Posco officials are freely entering the other two panchayats - Badakijanga and Nuagaon.'A senior district police official told IANS: 'The anti-Posco group has become so strong that police are afraid of visiting any affected villages.'On Friday, the police did not even visit the village where the anti-Posco activists had kept two company officials. It is the protestors who themselves released the officials on their own, said the official on condition of anonymity. 'Similarly, the local administration is not able to provide protection to the people who have been supporting Posco,' he said.There have been numerous clashes between those for and against Posco in the past but police have not arrested a single person from either side, he said.

Posco's troubles in Orissa are far from over
Posted May 13th, 2007 by Tarique
By Jatindra Dash
IANS
Paradeep (Orissa) : Trouble continues to dog South Korean major Posco's proposed mega steel plant in Orissa, the largest foreign direct investment in India. The abduction of four of its officials was the latest form of protest by the anti-Posco groups who allege the proposed plant will take away the land they have been tilling for years.
The four officials, who were confined by protestors in a village in Jagatsinghpur district, where the plant is to come up, were released after several hours of captivity.
But that does not indicate that the problem is over. The situation continues to be tense in the area with villagers showing up in strength to oppose the project, to come up near the port town of Paradeep in Jagatsinghpur. The people have dug up the roads in several places leading to their villages so that company officials are not able to visit to discuss land acquisition for the plant.
The villagers have also built wooden gates in at least nine places and are keeping guard to prevent government officials from entering the area.
Posco, one of the world's biggest steel makers, signed a deal with the state government in June 2005 to set up a $12 billion steel plant near Paradeep by 2016.
It wants over 4,000 acres of land for the project. While 430 acres is private land, the rest belongs to the government. The state government recently provided 1,500 acres to the company on paper. However, the company has yet to get the land in its possession.
The real problem is that local residents have encroached upon the government land since decades and do not want to vacate. The state government, which had earlier assured the company it would provide all the land, has remained silent in view of the public opposition. It has asked the company to negotiate with locals. The company has, in the meanwhile, offered the affected villagers market price for the land.
But it did not help.
Over 20,000 people from around 15 nearby villages, including Dhinkia, Gada Kujanga and Nuagaon are protesting the project, saying it will not only displace them but also ruin their betel leaf farming, a permanent source of livelihood.
Posco says the plant would affect only 500 families, but help create thousands of jobs. But villagers say more families would be uprooted by the project.
While the company officials hope things would become normal in a few days and they will be able to motivate the villagers to sell their land, many locals say it would be difficult.
"We will not allow any Posco official to enter our villages," said Abhaya Sahu, president of the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), which is campaigning against the steel plant. "If they enter they will face the consequences," he warned.
However, Posco-India public relations officer Sasanka Patnaik told IANS: "The anti Posco activists have presence in only one of three affected panchayats (village councils). They are not allowing officials to enter only Dhinkia panchayat whereas Posco officials are freely entering the other two panchayats - Badakijanga and Nuagaon."
A senior district police official told IANS: "The anti-Posco group has become so strong that police are afraid of visiting any affected villages."
On Friday, the police did not even visit the village where the anti-Posco activists had kept two company officials. It is the protestors who themselves released the officials on their own, said the official on condition of anonymity.
"Similarly, the local administration is not able to provide protection to the people who have been supporting Posco," he said.
There have been numerous clashes between those for and against Posco in the past but police have not arrested a single person from either side, he said.


Naveen needs to spruce up own backyard while seeking IIT
DILIP BISOI
Posted online: Monday, May 14, 2007 at 0000 hours IST
BHUBANESWAR: Orissa politicians seem adept at making an issue of nothing. The latest is the demand for setting up of an IIT (Indian Institute of Technology). Last week, MPs of the Biju Janta Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party sat on dharna in front of the Lok Sabha protesting against the Centre's rejection of Orissa's demand for establishment of a new IIT in the state.
The Centre has decided to set up three IITs in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan during the Eleventh Plan period. Orissa politicians believe the Centre has shifted one IIT that had originally been allotted to Orissa to Andhra Pradesh. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, some time in January 2007, had demanded a greenfield IIT in the state.
"The vibrant growth in industrial and technical education sectors provides enormous potential for industry and institutional linkages. Establishment of an IIT in Orissa will greatly facilitate in intensifying this process. Orissa is playing host to the biggest ever FDI projects in the country, Posco and Arcelor-Mittal steel project. Presence of such strong industrial players will definitely provide required synergy for an IIT-level institution to realize its full potential", Patnaik had written.The CM also urged the PM and the Union human resources development minister to facilitate the setting up of an extension campus of IIT, Kharagpur, in the state. The board of directors of IIT, Kharagpur, has approved an off-campus in Bhubaneswar and the state government has assured allotment of 300 acre free of cost. But the off-campus is not coming up as the required clearance has not coming from the Union HRD ministry. "Shocking", rues Patnaik. "The Centre has done a great injustice to the state by ignoring its rightful demand", he says.
Earlier, state politicians had made an issue out of the location of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). On popular belief that the IISc was shifted to West Bengal soon after the UPA came to power, BJD-BJP leaders made noises alleging the Centre's negligence. Finally, the PM had to announce the establishment of a National Institute of Science Education and Research in the state.
Meanwhile, Orissa has lined up three universities in the private sector. While Vedanta Resources has signed an MoU with the state government to establish a world class university over an area of 8,000 acre with an investment of Rs 15,000 crore, spiritual guru Ravi Shankar and the Hyderabad-based Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India have proposed two separate universities. The ICFAI university will come up over 75 acre, with an investment of Rs 150 crore.
There are five universities in the government sector in the state. KIIT, a private degree engineering college has been accorded deemed university status. Orissa has 40 engineering degree colleges with an intake capacity of 12,000 students. As many as 19 colleges are providing MBA courses. Hence, the chief minister, while demanding an IIT, should first make a serious endeavour to improve the quality of education in existing engineering colleges. For, a lone IIT will not be able to meet the demand from scores of industries he has lined up in recent years.

Now, fixing controversy hits women's footballSANDEEP MISHRATIMES NEWS
NETWORK
BHUBANESWAR, May 13: So you thought match-fixing exists only in cricket? Ever thought of women's football? The Orissa Football Association feels the Orissa women's team's 0-4 loss to neighbouring West Bengal in the semi-final of the just-concluded National championships at Rourkela could have been fixed, and has ordered an inquiry into the same. Even the state sports department has decided to conduct a probe into the charges. "We fear that the team deliberately played badly and lost. How else can you accept that a team that scored 49 goals in five matches could so tamely surrender to Bengal?", said Orissa Football Association (OFA) president Ashirvad Behera. According to him, the apprehensions stem from the fact that a number of Orissa players (around six) play in the Bengal league and are quite close with the Bengal players. "We believe our players intentionally tanked the match to please Bengal football bosses." Orissa has a strong presence in women's football with around five players finding place in the national team. Orissa captain Shradhanjali Samantray has also led the country. "A team with so many stars losing so miserably has obviously led to doubts. Therefore, the decision to probe the charges," said sports and youth services minister Debashish Nayak. "We will work out the modalities of the inquiry and, if need be, have a joint probe with the OFA (which also looks after women's football)," Nayak added. Behera, the strongman of Orissa sports, told ToI: "We do not think that any money would have exchanged hands. But three of the national women's football selectors are from Bengal and some of our players could have tried to please them by playing badly." He added that a four-member panel had been constituted, led by Rourkela MLA and OFA office-bearer Sharda Nayak. "All those who saw the match last week were curious about the nature of the team's capitulation. We have decided to ban Orissa players from playing in the Bengal league."

Orissa not to have a premier IIT institute: state government calls it unfortunate
By Deepak Kumar Mohanty
Views:80, Delhi, May 11:
The people of Orissa have expressed the central government’s decision for not setting up an Indian Institute of Technology IIT in the state as unfortunate. In the parliamentary session, on Tuesday, the Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development, D.Purandeshwari, confirmed that the centre had no plan to set up an IIT in Orissa. From a long time the people of Orissa have demanded a premier institute but the present UPA government has undermined the state government’s demand and also the will of the people, which can be realized as against democratic set up. Though the UPA government has approved to set up three new IIT institutes at Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar but it has sideline the same for Orissa state. The fact that despite the state attracting huge amount of foreign investments for its mineral resources has not been helped with proper infrastructure is really unfortunate. Orissa is going to have India’s highest FDI with Korean steel maker POSCO and apart from it Mital Steel has also signed an agreement with the state government. Under these developments, the demand for IIT is unavoidable. Earlier the state government informed the centre to provide 300 acres land and forwarded a proposal to set up an IIT in the state. Even IIT-Kharagpur has made a proposal for setting up an extensive campus in Bhubaneswar. The centre did earlier approve the proposal but the present government has ruled it out. The BJD-BJP coalition government in the state and the people of Orissa see it as ignorance on the part of central government. The BJD and BJP MPs have already shown their dissatisfaction inside and outside parliament. Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, has also written a letter to the Prime Minister in this regard. The Biju Janata Dal in the state is trying to provide for the positive results in future as far as vote bank is concerned. The Congress Party’s position is really worse in the state; and such ignorance can further weaken its position in the state.

Orissa protesters hold Posco officials hostage
May 11, 2007, 16:00 GMT
Bhubaneswar, May 11 (IANS) Hundreds of villagers protesting South Korean steel major Posco\'s plan to set up a plant in Orissa Friday held two officials of the company hostage and damaged their vehicle, police said.At least four officials including a driver and a woman employee of the steel major had gone in a four-wheeler to Nuagaon village in Jagatsinghpur district to talk to villagers for land acquisition for the $12 billion steel plant, coming up under the largest foreign direct investment in India.However, hundreds of villagers opposed to the project obstructed them in the afternoon, damaged their vehicle and took them hostage, a senior district police official told IANS.They later released the driver and the woman while the other two were in still confinement, he said late in the evening.The two officials under confinement at Patana village, some 100 km from here, were identified as Pranab Das and Debesh Swain. While Das works as a local public relation officer for the firm, Swain is a senior executive at the local level.The villagers demanded a written consent from the company and the administration that no land for the project will be acquired from their village.Posco, one of the world\'s biggest steel makers, signed a deal with the state government in June 2005 to set up the plant near the port town of Paradeep in the coastal district of Jagatsinghpur by 2016. There has been no significant progress on the project since then, due to local opposition.More than 20,000 people from about 15 nearby villages including Dhinkia, Gada Kujanga and Nuagaon are opposing the project saying it will displace them and ruin their betel leaf farming.Posco says the plant would affect only 500 families but it would create thousands of jobs.© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service';
Bhubaneswar, May 11 (IANS) Hundreds of villagers protesting South Korean steel major Posco's plan to set up a plant in Orissa Friday held two officials of the company hostage and damaged their vehicle, police said.
At least four officials including a driver and a woman employee of the steel major had gone in a four-wheeler to Nuagaon village in Jagatsinghpur district to talk to villagers for land acquisition for the $12 billion steel plant, coming up under the largest foreign direct investment in India.
However, hundreds of villagers opposed to the project obstructed them in the afternoon, damaged their vehicle and took them hostage, a senior district police official told IANS.
They later released the driver and the woman while the other two were in still confinement, he said late in the evening.
The two officials under confinement at Patana village, some 100 km from here, were identified as Pranab Das and Debesh Swain. While Das works as a local public relation officer for the firm, Swain is a senior executive at the local level.
The villagers demanded a written consent from the company and the administration that no land for the project will be acquired from their village.
Posco, one of the world's biggest steel makers, signed a deal with the state government in June 2005 to set up the plant near the port town of Paradeep in the coastal district of Jagatsinghpur by 2016.
There has been no significant progress on the project since then, due to local opposition.
More than 20,000 people from about 15 nearby villages including Dhinkia, Gada Kujanga and Nuagaon are opposing the project saying it will displace them and ruin their betel leaf farming.
Posco says the plant would affect only 500 families but it would create thousands of jobs.

India : Orissa Govt proposes facilitation centre for export promotionMay 11, 2007
Anita Agnihotri, Secretary of Textiles and Handloom of Orissa Government attended a workshop on ‘Export promotion of handicrafts from Orissa’ on May 9, at Bhubaneswar organized by city based voluntary organisation Samay.Anita proposed to set up a facilitation centre at the Directorate of Handicrafts in Bhubaneswar, so that queries of handicraft exporters can be solved.The facilitation centre would meet buyer-seller requirement, assist in organizing visits for exporters and guarantee their participation in trade fairs.Subjects of export pricing, procedures, documentation and incentives in handicrafts for export promotions were discussed during the workshop.The Textile Secretary also invited state industrialists to invest and establish production base here for development and promotion of artisan clusters.

Orissa villagers detain POSCO executives over steel plant
Sat May 12, 2007 1:05 AM IST
BHUBANESWAR, India (Reuters) - Two Indian executives of South Korean steelmaker POSCO were detained on Friday by Orissa villagers angry at plans for a $12 billion project on their farmland, police and officials said.
Hundreds of villagers confronted the officials when they went to Govindpur village to try to persuade farmers to sell their land in Orissa.
Police identified the detained as senior executive Debasis Swain and public relations officer Pranabananda Das. Another executive was released after a few hours.
"They were detained this evening," Y.K. Jethwa, police chief of Jagatsinghpur district where the village is located, told Reuters. "However, the protesters allowed the woman executive to go back. The other two have been detained."
Police hope for a peaceful settlement to the stand-off. POSCO spokesman Shashank Patnaik said negotiations were in progress.
Abhay Sahu, president of an anti-POSCO front, said: "We will ask them (the executives) to give an undertaking that they will not come here again."
The project - India's single largest foreign investment - has faced stiff opposition from some villagers who say thousands would be displaced. Other villagers support the project and clashes between the two groups injured 50 people in March.
Activists say the POSCO project could displace around 20,000 people and there are also environmental concerns.
The government says the plant would affect only 500 families and create thousands of jobs. Orissa's government says its rehabilitation package is among the best, offering cash and a job for at least one member of each family losing its land.
POSCO has also promised to help find plots for displaced landowners.

Preparatory work for private port in Orissa on schedule
Bhubaneswar, May 12 (PTI): Preparatory work on the proposed Rs 2,400-crore major port in the private sector at Kirtania in Orissa's Balasore district is going on as scheduled, official sources said.
The promoter of the project, Chennai-based Creative Port Development Pvt Ltd, had completed the Detailed Project Report (DPR) on March 14 last and had appointed the public-sector RITES for preparing the draft concession agreement by next month.
The location of the port as also the 30-km long railway corridor for the project had also been identified.
The company has already signed an MoU with the State Government for the purpose and work was expected to commence after the concession agreement was signed with the government.
The progress of the project was reviewed at a meeting here on Thursday chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and attended by the private company's Joint Managing Director Ramani Ramaswami who made a presentation about the same.
The company would require over 1,000 acres for the project on the banks of Subarnarekha river, most of which was without any human habitation, the spruces said.
The project would be taken up under the build, own, operate, share and transfer (BOOST) route in three phases with the first phase expected to be commissioned by 2010.
Two other private companies are now engaged in setting up a greenfield port at Dhamra in Bhadrak district and expanding the Gopalpur port into an all-weather port in Ganjam district.

Rural beats urban in Bihar on spend
Asit Ranjan Mishra / New Delhi May 12, 2007
Rural Bihar appears to be doing much better than urban areas in the state, if one goes by a recent National Sample Survey Organisation report.

The consumption expenditure of a household in urban Bihar is the least in the country. However, rural households in the state spend more than the average rural consumer.

The national average of urban consumption expenditure stands at Rs 1,052 per month, as against Rs 699 per month for Bihar. The consumption expenditure of rural Bihar stands at Rs 699 per month, higher than the national average of rural consumption expenditure, which is Rs 559 per month.

Angry Orissa villagers release POSCO executives
Sat May 12, 2007 10:32 AM IST
BHUBANESWAR, India (Reuters) - Two Indian executives of South Korean steelmaker POSCO were released on Saturday by villagers protesting against a proposed $12-billion project, police said.
Hundreds of angry villagers, some armed with iron rods and sticks, had surrounded the officials on Friday when they went to Govindpur village to persuade farmers to sell their land for the planned POSCO steel plant in Orissa.
The villagers freed the two officials following an assurance by POSCO its staff would not visit the area again.
"They are safe and unharmed and consequent to the incident we will proceed with caution from now," POSCO spokesman Shashanka Pattnaik told Reuters from Bhubaneswar.
Another company official was released on Friday after being held for a few hours.
"We have taught them a lesson and they have promised they will never come back," Abhay Sahu, president of an anti-POSCO group in the state, said.
The POSCO project -- India's single largest foreign investment -- has sparked fears among villagers that their farmland and livelihood would be taken from them.
Some villagers support the project and clashes between both groups have left dozens injured since March.
The issue of acquiring farmland for industry in India -- whose economy has been growing rapidly in the past few years -- has become explosive, with farmers protesting against planned projects that would require agricultural land.
In West Bengal, which neighbours Orissa, 14 farmers were killed in clashes with police while protesting against a planned chemical hub in March.
POSCO officials said the company was ready to "forego" land in volatile areas of Orissa and look for alternate sites.
"It is now upto the district administration to provide us alternative land for the project which is very much on," spokesman Pattnaik said.
Activists say the POSCO project could displace around 20,000 people. The government says the plant will affect only 500 families and create thousands of jobs.

33 killed in accidents in Bihar and Orissa(Reuters, IANS)12 May 2007
PATNA — At least 33 people were killed and several injured in two separate road accidents in eastern India yesterday, officials said.
A bus carrying 38 passengers skidded off a bridge and fell into the Ganges riverbed in the state of Bihar, killing 22 people, an official said. Most of the passengers were asleep when the accident occurred near the state capital, Patna. The accident took place near the Gandhi Setu bridge
“As the bus fell into a dry area of the river, we could manage to save lives but everyone has serious injuries,” Virendra Kumar Sinha, a state official, said.
"The casualties may rise because the condition of some of the injured people was serious," a police official said.
The bus was coming from Raxaul in East Champaran district bordering Nepal — and heading to Patna — when it plunged more than 80 feet to fall on the dry riverbed near pillar number seven, 18 km from here, when the driver lost control and the vehicle crashed through the railing of the bridge, officials said.
The bus belongs to the state-owned Bihar State Road Transport Corporation.
In neighbouring Orissa, at least 11 people were killed and five injured when their jeep collided with an oil tanker in Orissa's Mayurbhanj district early yesterday.
The accident took place near Chadeigol village, 130km from the district headquarters of Baripada and 380 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, a senior police official told IANS over the phone. The passengers were going from Katinapada village to Bargaon village in the same district to attend a family function, he said.


CPDL, Orissa pact in June to develop Kirtania port
STATE BUREAU, Posted online: Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 0000 hours IST
BHUBANESWAR, MAY 11: Chennai-based Creative Port Development Private Ltd (CPDL) and the Orissa government are expected to sign a concession agreement in June 2007 for the development of the Kirtania port project on the mouth of the River Subarnarekha in the Balasore district.
“The concession agreement for the Kirtania port is expected to be signed some time next month,” said state transport and commerce minister Jayanarayan Mishra.

India News
Patnaik writes to PM, wants IIT in Orissa
May 11, 2007, 8:00 GMT
Bhubaneswar, May 11 (IANS) Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding that a greenfield Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) be set up in Orissa during the 11th Five Year Plan.
The move for setting up the premier institute was initiated during the National Democratic Alliance government. Minister of State for Human Resource Development M.M. Fatmi had announced in Patna last year that Orissa had been included in the proposed three greenfield IITs in the 11th plan.
But on Wednesday, Minister of State for Human Resources D. Purandeshwari told parliament that the government had no IIT plans for Orissa.
'It is indeed painful that the decision has now been reversed,' Patnaik said in his letter to the prime minister late Thursday.
It appears the proposal to open a branch of IIT, Kharagpur, at Bhubaneswar, for which the state government had promised 300 acres of land, has also been turned down, the chief minister added.
Over 300 activists of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged demonstrations in front of the governor's residence here Thursday over Orissa not getting an IIT. Hundreds of students and political activists also joined in the protests.
Students of Rupalli Vidyapitha, a residential school in the city, launched a signature campaign to press for the establishment of the premier educational institute.
Orissa does not have any institute of national repute like the IIT or the Indian Institute of Management (IIM). The government did not keep its promise of setting up an IIT here, said BJP leader Samir Mohanty.
Members of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and BJP had staged a demonstration outside the parliament after the Centre made clear that there was no proposal for an IIT in Orissa.
'We will continue our fight against the step-motherly attitude of the central government towards Orissa,' BJP MP Jual Oram told IANS.
India currently has seven IITs located at Kharagpur, Mumbai, Chennai, Kanpur, Delhi, Guwahati, and Roorkee.

Road accident kills 10 in Orissa
Indo-Asian News Service (Bhubaneswar , May 11, 2007)
At least 10 people were killed and five injured when their jeep collided with an oil tanker in Orissa's Mayurbhanj district early on Friday.
The accident took place near Chadeigol village, 130 km from the district headquarters of Baripada and 380 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, a senior police official said.
The passengers were going from Katinapada village to Bargaon village in the same district to attend a family function, he said.
After the accident, hundreds of local residents blocked the local road, demanding adequate compensation for the victims.

Orissa villagers face criminal case for blocking roadMay 10, 2007 - 10:59:48 PM
Normal movement of traffic was restored after the blockade was cleared, he said.
By IANS, [RxPG] Jajpur -, May 10 - Police have registered criminal cases against over 200 people for causing inconvenience to local people by blocking a road in Orissa's Jajpur district in protest against the death of a minor in a road mishap, official said Thursday.On Monday, hundreds of residents of Chandama and Kanheipur villages including students of a local school staged road blockade at Kanheipur on the national highway-215 on which the boy was run over by a speeding truck.Debasish Samal, a resident of Kanheipur village, was a student of the school.As the news of his death spread, local people blocked the road and demanded immediate ban on plying of trucks during daytime. Thousands of iron ore-laden trucks were seen stranded along the road following the blockade, a district police official said.The blockade caused inconvenience to public for over six hours as traffic movement on the highway came to a grinding halt, he added.Normal movement of traffic was restored after the blockade was cleared, he said.We have registered a criminal cases against 200 people under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, an official of the Jajpur road police station said.

Friday, May 11, 2007
Manipur in final
Rourkela: Reigning champions Manipur entered the final of the 15th senior National women's football championship demolishing Goa 5-0 in a one-sided semifinal at the Ispat Stadium here on Thursday.
Manipur, which led 3-0 at half-time, will clash with Bengal in the final on Saturday. Bengal had emerged easy winner against host Orissa 4-0 in the other semifinal on Wednesday.
A hat-trick by striker N.G. Bala Devi, who scored four of the five goals, was the highlight of the semifinal in which the Goans virtually presented no threat to the rival goal.
Bala Devi opened the scoring in the sixth minute and fired in two more goals in the 32nd and 40th minutes to complete her hat-trick.
Striker Gitarani Chanu fired home the fourth goal in the 47th minute, while Bala Devi found the net again a minute before the final hooter. — PTI

Thursday, May 10, 2007
Political activists, students demand IIT for Orissa
Hundreds of students and political activists Thursday demanded the central government set up an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Orissa, a day after the government said it had no such plan.
Over 300 activists of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged demonstration in front of the Raj Bhaban here, the official residence of Governor Rameshwar Thakur.
Students of Rupalli Vidyapitha, a residential school in the city, also launched a signature campaign to press the demand for setting up the premier engineering institute.
Orissa does not have any institute of national repute like the IITs, Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) or Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Samir Mohanty said.
The central government had earlier promised to set up an IIT but it did not keep its promise, he alleged.
On Wednesday, Minister of State for Human Resource Development D. Purandeshwari categorically said in parliament that the central government had no plan to set up an IIT in Orissa.
The minister said this replying to call attention notices given by some Biju Janata Dal (BJD) members.
BJD and BJP MPs of Orissa had staged a protest at the main gate of the Parliament House Wednesday demanding an IIT in the state and denouncing the apathetic attitude of the HRD ministry.
'We will continue our fight against the step motherly attitude of the central government towards Orissa,' state BJP MP Jual Oram told IANS.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has described the central government's rejection of setting up an IIT in Orissa as 'unfortunate' and said BJD-BJP combine will take the issue to the streets.

Thursday, May 10, 2007
Five hurt in Maoist landmine blast in Orissa
At least five policemen were injured, three critically, in a landmine blast triggered by Maoists in Orissa's Mayurbhanj district Thursday afternoon.
The incident took place near Sadagada village, about 100 km from district headquarters of Baripada, a day after Maoists set ablaze a forest building and killed an official, district collector S.K. Bashishth told IANS over phone.
The details of the latest incident are not known, he said, adding he was going to the area to assess the situation.
On Wednesday, around 50 Maoists had descended on Sadagada village and surrounded the forest house situated in the middle of the village. They asked forest official Rabindranath Patra, 55, who was resting inside, to come out. When the official came out they set the building ablaze and killed him, Bashishth said.


Coast clear for Orissa plant
Press Trust Of India / New Delhi May 11, 2007
The Orissa government has cleared the decks for setting up the Ib Valley Ultra Mega Power Plant by withdrawing its demand for free power. Orissa and Chhattisgarh wanted power from the respective Ib Valley and Akaltara UMPPs either free or at variable cost.

But with the Centre rejecting this demand, Orissa has extended its support without any pre-condition.Four other states are yet to give the necessary clearances for other projects.

“The earlier proposition by Orissa was contrary to the spirit of tariff-based bidding. However, recently the Orissa government has extended its support to the project without this pre-conditionality,” power ministry sources said.

A team appointed by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has already visited the state and site details are being finalised.

While the government is yet to take a decision on whether to go for a re-bid for Sasan project in Madhya Pradesh, the Mundra project in Gujarat has been handed over to Tata Power.

Of the seven other proposed sites, bidding has started only for Krishnapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and Tilliaya (Jharkhand), officials said.

The Akaltara UMPP is not making headway due to the lack of response from the Chhattisgarh government. Girye and Tadri coastal projects in Maharashtra and Karnataka respectively are on hold for want of necessary clearances from the state governments.

“The ministry has written to the states for expediting clearances or suggesting alternate sites,” they said.

The Tamil Nadu government has not agreed to locate the plant at Cheyur and has suggested Nagapatnam as an alternative. The ministry has asked the state to confirm port availability at Cheyur at first instance, the officials said.

Friday, May 11, 2007
Orissa villagers face criminal case for blocking road
Police have registered criminal cases against over 200 people for causing inconvenience to local people by blocking a road in Orissa's Jajpur district in protest against the death of a minor in a road mishap, official said Thursday.
On Monday, hundreds of residents of Chandama and Kanheipur villages including students of a local school staged road blockade at Kanheipur on the national highway-215 on which the boy was run over by a speeding truck.
Debasish Samal, a resident of Kanheipur village, was a student of the school.
As the news of his death spread, local people blocked the road and demanded immediate ban on plying of trucks during daytime.
Thousands of iron ore-laden trucks were seen stranded along the road following the blockade, a district police official said.
The blockade caused inconvenience to public for over six hours as traffic movement on the highway came to a grinding halt, he added.
Normal movement of traffic was restored after the blockade was cleared, he said.
We have registered a criminal cases against 200 people under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, an official of the Jajpur road police station said.


It cannot get worse
Reform the PDS network or axe it

Posted online: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 0000 hours IST
If you insist on evidence of the sparse reach of India’s public distribution system (PDS) and its irrelevance in the poorest states, look at the latest figures on consumption brought out by the National Sample Survey Organisation. For the country as a whole, the share of the rural population served by the PDS network is less than a quarter: 24.4% in the case of rice, 15.9% for sugar and just 11% for wheat. And the urban scenario is even worse, with the coverage just 13.1% for rice, 11.5% for sugar and 5.8% for wheat. Given the disproportionately low distribution of ration cards among rural residents and migrant labour, it would be a surprise if the PDS network reaches even half the country’s poor.
The figures are even more appalling when it comes to the poorest states, with less than 5% of the population using the PDS network in most cases. In Uttar Pradesh, which has the highest number of poor (59 million), the share of the rural population getting PDS supplies is 5.8% in the case of rice, 5.6% in the case of wheat and 1.6% in the case of sugar. In urban UP, the share drops to 2.1%, 2.6% and 1.3%, respectively. The scenario is no better in Orissa, where close to half the population is still below the poverty line. In rural Orissa, just about one-fifth of the population gets delivery of PDS rice, while less than 2% gets wheat and sugar. The urban story is worse, in keeping with the pattern elsewhere. All that these numbers do is put a big question mark on India’s not insubstantial Rs 25,696 crore allocation for food subsidies. It is common knowledge that almost the entire sum goes to the Food Corporation of India to make up for the gargantuan gap between the amount it spends on procurement (including money spent on its supposedly security-assuring buffer stock) and the amount recovered on the standard issue of grains distributed through the PDS network. The latter sum is much lower than the aggregate prices that people actually pay for the food. The system is an unmitigated shame. It does next to nothing for the country’s poor, and fattens plenty of inbetweens who need no subsidies.

Orissa supports IB Valley plant, others yet to respond
Press Trust of India NEW DELHI, May 10: Orissa government has cleared the way for setting up of the Ib Valley Ultra Mega Power Plant (UMPP) by withdrawing demand for free power, but four states are yet to give necessary clearances for other projects. Orissa and Chhattisgarh earlier wanted a portion of power from the respective Ib Valley and Akaltara UMPPs either free or at variable cost. But with Centre rejecting this demand, Orissa has extended its support without any pre-conditions. “This proposition being contrary to the spirit of tariff-based bidding was not acceptable. However, Orissa government has recently extended its support to the project without this pre-condition,” power ministry sources said. A team appointed by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has already visited the state and site details are being finalised by its government, they added. While the government is yet to take a decision on whether to go for a re-bid for Sasan project in Madhya Pradesh, the Mundra project in Gujarat has been handed over to Tata Power. Of the seven other proposed sites, bidding has started only for Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Tilliaya (Jharkhand), the officials said. While the Akaltara UMPP is not making headway on lack of response from Chhattisgarh government, Girye and Tadri coastal projects in Maharashtra and Karantaka respectively are on hold for want of necessary clearances from the state governments. “The ministry has written to the states for expediting clearances or suggesting alternate sites,” they said. The Tamil Nadu government has not agreed for locating the plant at Cheyur and suggested Nagapatnam as an alternative. The ministry has asked the state for confirming the port availability at Cheyur at first instance, the officials said.

State to boost power transmission infrastructure
Press Trust of India BHUBANESWAR, May 10: Underlining the need to strengthen transmission infrastructure in the state, state government today said it had decided to borrow Rs 500 crore from the Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and other such agencies. “Though Orissa is capable of meeting electricity demands from different categories of consumers, including industries, it lacks requisite transmission infrastructure,” said energy minister Mr SN Patro. He said that the state would require at least 3,633 MW of power during 2009-10 because of the commissioning of some new industries here. Officials said that the state suffered nearly 50 per cent of transmission loss every year due to poor infrastructure in the power sector. The state’s revenue loss owing to transmission loss was calculated to be Rs 2,250 crore per annum. Most of the transformers operating in the state were in bad conditions, while the high tension lines were also weak to take the load thus causing severe power loss, the sources said. Mr Patro said that while Posco, Vedanta and Indian Oil Corporation would require 100 MW of power each in 2009-10, some other medium industries needed 200 MW. Overall, the industries would demand more than 500 MW of power during 2009-10, a study conducted by the government had revealed. Mr Patro said the government had also decided to undertake electrification in 10,000 villages under the rural electrification scheme during 2009-10. “Therefore, there is a need to strengthen the transmission system in order to meet the demand,” the minister added. He said that the state urgently needed to have at least three direct current (DC) line between Meramunduli-Duburi and Meramunduli-Chandikhol.

IIT ~ Naveen’s missive to PM
Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, May 10: “The recent reply of Union minister of state for human resource development on the floor of the Parliament regarding establishment of IITs in the country has come as a shock to us,” said chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik in his letter to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today. Carrying forward the protest of BJD-BJP MPs in New Delhi and their walkout over the issue in parliament, CM today wrote to the Prime Minister iterating the demand for an IIT in the state. The BJP, on its part, staged a protest dharna in front of Raj Bhavan here today and some of their leaders said they would continue to agitate till the demand was met. Union minister of state for HRD Mr MM Fatmi as recently as on 28 August 2006 had mentioned in Patna that Orissa was included in the proposal for three green field IITs in the 11th Five Year Plan. It is indeed painful that this has been reversed by the ministry of HRD for reasons not known to others, noted Mr Patnaik in his letter. Orissa does not have any institute of excellence in higher learning. There was a proposal to open a branch of IIT, Kharagpur, in Bhubaneswar for which government of Orissa had promised land of nearly 300 acres. It appears that even this proposal has been turned down. “When I met the honourable minister of HRD in this connection, he had indicated to me that the case of Orissa can be considered for a full-fledged green field IIT. The recent decision of government of India to locate the IITs in states which already have the benefit of many Central institutes indicates that objective criteria have not been followed in deciding the locations of the 3 IITs. Mr Patnaik implored the PM to include Orissa’s case in the 11th Five Year Plan.

Six injured in mine blast by Maoists
Statesman News Service BARIPADA, May 10: Six policemen, including sub-inspector Mr MK Deo, were injured when Maoists triggered a land-mine as the police vehicle was passing near Chadahipahadi grama panchayat area today. Two of the injured policemen were serious and rushed to SCB Medical College Hospital, Cuttack. Police said the mine was laid apparently to check intensified combing operations launched since yesterday following the killing of a forester by the ultras. Yesterday, armed Maoists had shot dead a forester and set a forest beat house ablaze. Since combing operations were stepped up and bordering areas of Jharkhand sealed, the radicals had in their usual style of operation laid mines to delay the chase. Following the blast, the Maoists had reportedly resorted to firing but police did not confirm the firing incident. SP Mr Sanjay Singh said the blast took place at 2 pm. Meanwhile, home secretary Mr TK Mishra and senior police officers took stock of the situation at a meeting in Bhubaneswar today. Mr Mishra said the state government was in constant touch with bordering Jharkahand and Chhattisgarh governments to adopt a coordinated model of tackling Maoists. “Our joint efforts with neighbouring Andhra Pradesh police has been successful and we want to adopt a similar model with Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh to combat extremists,” said Mr Mishra.

Police-dacoity charge to be probed
Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, May 10: The director general of police, Mr Amarananda Patnaik, will probe into allegations that certain persons from Jharkhand had contacted a senior police officer in connection with a case of dacoity. With a section of the media here reporting the matter today, the home secretary, Mr TK Mishra, said the DGP had been asked to inquiry and furnish a report within one week. Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik said appropriate action would be taken if anybody of found guilty. Apparently, a senior police officer had been requested by some persons of Jharkhand who wanted to meet the arrested accused in a dacoity case. These people were not criminals but friends and relatives of those arrested by the Bhadrak police. Six persons had been arrested from Jharkhand when they committed a dacoity in Bhadrak. The senior police officer is understood to have asked another youth to help the persons from Jharkhand meet the ones in jail.

‘Exploitation drove farmers to suicide’
Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, May 10: Lured by private companies and exploited by money lenders, distressed cotton farmers in the state have very little option but to commit suicide, observed peasant leaders and social activists who returned from Bolangir after conducting an inquiry into the death of Akrura Sahu and his two daughters. Scoffing at government claims of intervention in terms of lifting cotton from mandis at a decent price, the delegation of social activists said even a fleeting visit to cotton growing areas exposed this lie of the government. It is vicious circle ~ the middlemen, private money lender, BT cotton, low production all combine to virtually strangulate the cotton farmer, they charged. Mr Sahu and his daughters consumed poison and the version of family feud-related suicide is being dished out to cover up the facts, said Mr Prafulla Samantara, president of Lok Shakti Abhijan. He had incurred loan of Rs 25,000 from the cooperative bank, Rs 9000 from a money lender and even sold his daughters’ cycle, said Mr Chitta Mohanty, human rights activist, while Natabar Sarangi and other alleged that BT cotton as well as BT brinjal was given secretively. The farmers got a good yield in the first year but the second and third year production of cotton dropped resulting in distress conditions. They could not return to paddy cultivation as the soil condition had been destroyed due to excessive fertiliser and pesticide. Sahu for instance got only two quintals from one acre of land and the price of cotton was only Rs 2,000 per quintal. He had spent over Rs 7,000, said the fact finding time. But more than the sad demise of Sahu, the other facts revealed by the probe team was shocking .They alleged that during their visit to Bolangir district, they found that a private company had managed to fraudulently purchase land from scores of villagers. The company engaged a “baba” who went around telling distressed cotton farmers to perform puja. He then explained to them that they will prosper if they provide the land on lease. The private company entered with attractive offers of three-year lease, wages to work in the field and a bonus at the end of the lease period. Several illiterate villagers promptly put their thumb impression to what they presumed was a lease document. But most of these documents were sale deeds, said Mr Samantaray. Unless the government intervenes, Bolangir which is poorest and most backward district. of the state will witness a spate of suicides, he said.


Jindal Stainless to set up Rs 5,600-cr Orissa plant
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2007 02:14:03 AM]
NEW DELHI: In a major expansion drive, Jindal Stainless (JSL) plans to spend Rs 5,600 crore to set up a 0.8 million tonne (mt) per annum stainless steel plant at the Kalinga Nagar Industrial Complex, Orissa. The in-vestment is part of the second-phase expansion of the integrated stainless steel project. The company intends to reach a final capacity of 1.6 mt by 2012. “We are moving ahead on our greenfield project in Orissa at a fast pace. The first phase entailing an investment of Rs 2,250 crore would be completed by year end. Work on the second phase would start simultaneously so that we commission the 0.8 mt plant by December, 2009,” Jindal Stainless managing director and CEO VS Jain told ET. He said that technical detailing and agreement for all major machinery and equipment for the new plant have been concluded. JSL has signed the contract for steel melt shop with SMS Demag, Germany and for hot strip mill with Siemens-VAI, Austria. Once complete, Jindal hopes to become one of the cheapest producers of stainless steel since all the input linkages for the plant have already been assured.

Orissa siblings' plea for euthanasia
By Sarada Lahangir, Bhadrak (Orissa) May 9 : Three poor siblings in Orissa's Bhadrak District which is about 160 km from Bhubaneshwar have appealed to the President for granting them mercy deaths as they are suffering from a rare genetic disease. Raffimuddin, Hafimuddin and Mustaf, all in their early thirties, suffer from Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD), a genetic disorder that involves progressive muscle degeneration weakness and over a period of time.The Khan brothers and their old parents are extremely poor, and they claim that no government help has been forthcoming despite repeated requests. Therefore they have thought of this drastic step."We have sent a letter to the government...We do not want to live. We will anyway die like this," said Hafimuddin. The brothers are not educated and do not possess skills to take up any job. Hakimuddin, the distraught father of three, says he supports his sons' wishes as he is unable to do anything for them. "For the past 15 years they have been like this. They cannot go out. I am myself so poor, how will I take care of them?" he said. Authorities, however, claim the family has been provided with a handicap pension, but admit that the amount is insufficient. Brajeswari Devi, a senior state government official visited the family recently and assured them of all help. "I can see that they are suffering, but I cannot do anything. I will go and submit my report to collector. Whatever help they require will be given to them. I cannot say anything other than this," she said. India does not have a law on euthanasia. Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland have passed laws for allowing assisted euthanasia and though it is not legal in other countries, research shows it is not uncommon.However, the Parliament has passed the Transplantation of Human Organs Act a decade ago to allow organ transplants of "brain dead" patients.

Political activists, students demand IIT for Orissa
Bhubaneswar, May 10 : Hundreds of students and political activists Thursday demanded the central government set up an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Orissa, a day after the government said it had no such plan.Over 300 activists of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged demonstration in front of the Raj Bhaban here, the official residence of Governor Rameshwar Thakur.Students of Rupalli Vidyapitha, a residential school in the city, also launched a signature campaign to press the demand for setting up the premier engineering institute.Orissa does not have any institute of national repute like the IITs, Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) or Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Samir Mohanty said.The central government had earlier promised to set up an IIT but it did not keep its promise, he alleged.On Wednesday, Minister of State for Human Resource Development D. Purandeshwari categorically said in parliament that the central government had no plan to set up an IIT in Orissa.The minister said this replying to call attention notices given by some Biju Janata Dal (BJD) members.BJD and BJP MPs of Orissa had staged a protest at the main gate of the Parliament House Wednesday demanding an IIT in the state and denouncing the apathetic attitude of the HRD ministry."We will continue our fight against the step motherly attitude of the central government towards Orissa," state BJP MP Jual Oram told IANS.Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has described the central government's rejection of setting up an IIT in Orissa as "unfortunate" and said BJD-BJP combine will take the issue to the streets.

Five hurt in Maoist landmine blast in Orissa
Bhubaneswar, May 10: At least five policemen were injured, three critically, in a landmine blast triggered by Maoists in Orissa's Mayurbhanj district Thursday afternoon.The incident took place near Sadagada village, about 100 km from district headquarters of Baripada, a day after Maoists set ablaze a forest building and killed an official, district collector S.K. Bashishth told IANS over phone.The details of the latest incident are not known, he said, adding he was going to the area to assess the situation.On Wednesday, around 50 Maoists had descended on Sadagada village and surrounded the forest house situated in the middle of the village. They asked forest official Rabindranath Patra, 55, who was resting inside, to come out. When the official came out they set the building ablaze and killed him, Bashishth said.

Under-trials allege discrimination by Balasore jail officials
BALASORE, May 9: Under-trials at Balasore jail have alleged that prison authorities have been meting out preferential treatment to some of the inmates. The allegation has been leveled by under trials Mr.Animesh Ghosh, Mr. Daniel Das, Mr. Khasua Das and Mr. Dillip Mohanty who were in Balasore court on Tuesday. They also said that they are not treated in accordance with the jail-manual guidelines and those persons who are of status are often sent to medical institutions on the pretext of ill-health, whereas the real sufferers often languished behind bars. While narrating the ordeals of living in an over crowded jail, they added that the health and hygiene conditions were dismal as well. Since disinfectants and detergents in lavatories were rarely used, inmates often suffered from skin diseases as well, they urged. Other basic amenities such as drinking water, medical facilities and fresh utensils for new inmates were scarce too. The jail superintendent Mr Rabi Narayan Sethi refuted these allegations by saying that the jail has its own source of drinking water and medical service was regular, there are still some cases pending that need to be pursued.SNS

Water use: Priority for agriculture
Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, May 9: With high water consuming industries like steel, aluminium and other mineral-based units queuing up in the state, the perceived conflict between industrial and agricultural use of water came into focus at a workshop held by the ADB here evoking a firm statement that industrial water requirements should be addressed without affecting other water users. Water resource specialist of ADB Mr Kenichi Yokoyama confirmed that the issue was deliberated and the industries department officials had raised it. Mr A Behera, secretary of water resources department, however, reaffirmed that the state had committed priority to agriculture, ecology, drinking water whereas some of the other states like Maharashtra had accorded primacy to industries as far as water allocation was concerned. “We want to send a clear message through our water policy that the interest of agriculture should safeguarded. Orissa has abundance of water resources during monsoon but there is a scarcity during non-monsoon months. This makes it all the more imperative for industries to ensure roper storage during lean season. Mr Behera pointed out that besides a clear water policy, the state had a technical committee to examine the allotment of water to industries. A water management plan is mandatory for all those who sign an MoU for setting up an industry in the state and the committee needs to be convinced about the requirement. Certain allocations may be reviewed by the committee, he added. The ADB has agreed to provide $170 million for irrigation projects along the north Mahanadi river basin on Brahmani, Baitarani, Budhabalang and Subarnarekha. Other issues including participatory irrigation management and systems and strengthening of pani panchayats were also discussed at the workshop.

Verdict in forgery case
ROURKELA, May 9: A local court has sentenced a a retired employee of a fashion technology institute to one year’s imprisonment in connection with a forgery case. First Class Judicial Magistrate Mr Prabhakar Gantia convicted the retired clerk, Shyam Sundar Senapati, yesterday and also directed him to pay a fine of Rs 50,000 in addition to his borrowed amount of Rs 2 lakh. Senapati took Rs 2 lakh from one Manasi Parida, a retired employee of Rourkela Steel Plant, residing in civil township area in June 2005 with a promise to return it within six months.PTI

MPs’ protest over IIT issue
Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, May 9: BJD and BJP MPs of Orissa staged a protest at the main gate of Parliament House today demanding establishment of an IIT in the state and denouncing the apathetic attitude of the HRD ministry. Orissa does not have any institute of national repute ~ that is ~ IIT, IIM IIIT or ISI (Indian Statistical Institute), they said. Yesterday, the demand of these MPs had been rejected by the minister in Parliament and they had staged a walkout after raising the issue through call attention notices. Orissa is on the path of rapid industrialisation and an IIT would go a long way to help in its economic development by producing highly qualified technical and managerial personnel and also provide the much-needed research and development support, said the protesting MPs. Mr Pyarimohan Mohapatra, Mr Baijayant Panda, Dr Prasanna Patsani, Prasanna Acharya, Bhatruhari Mahatab, Arjun Sethi, Mohan Jena, Brahma Nanda Panda, Sugrib Singh, Braja Kishore Tripathy, Pramila Bohidar ( all BJD), R N Pani, P Majhi, Juel Oram, D Pradhan, S Lath and Bhagirathi Majhi (all BJP) staged the protest. Mr Sukhdev Singn Dhindsa of Siromani Akali Dal joined in support. Mr Baijayant Panda, leader of the BJD in Rajya Sabha, maintained that such step-motherly attitude of the Centre had upset the people of Orissa and they will continue to voice their demand. Significantly, none of the Congress MPs joined the protest, although the BJD-BJP combine had reportedly called upon all MP’s from Orissa, irrespective of party affiliations, to stage a joint protest. Meanwhile, chief minister Naveen Patnaik described the Centre’s rejection of Orissa’s demand for an IIT as “unfortunate,” while BJP leader Mr Biswabhusan Harichandan said his party would take to the streets on this issue. Interestingly, some of the Congress leaders at the state level felt that the state deserved to have a IIT.

1 more held in iron rod robbery case
Statesman News Service SAMBALPUR, May 9: After the arrest of MB Pyariraj and his manager MS Suresh in the iron rod robbery case from Charmal police station area, the Sambalpur police nabbed one Babu, alleged to be the mastermind of many such incidents. But police are yet to give details about Babu or breakthrough they achieved in the case since it involves a senior leader, though suspended, of the BJD. Police produced Pyariraj and his manager in the Rairakhol court. Though Pyariraj claimed that he was sick, after being checked by doctors, he was sent to jail, the Charmal police said. Right from the beginning, police suspected that many more persons were involved in this case and they were proved true after Babu had been arrested from Rajgangpur area in Sundargarh district. “Babu was involved in eight other robbery cases. After all, he is a notorious criminal and police are hopeful of getting more information related to other cases in the state from him,” a senior police officer said. Babu is a resident of Sambalpur town. But when police came to know his criminal activities, he moved to Kulabira in Jharsuguda district, the officer added. Few days back, Thelkuli police seized one Indica car of Babu. But Babu, along with his associates, overpowered police and took away the car. With Babu’s arrest, Sambalpur police can now heave a sigh of relief and expect to crack many old robbery cases. However, Charmal police, particularly Sambalpur SP, refused to give details of the case and asked reporters to wait.

Teething trouble for e-governance
Statesman News Service PARALAKHEMUNDI, May 9:The E-assistance Centre inaugurated amid much fanfare at the district collectorate has failed to achieve its purpose due to the lack of proper planning and coordination. The centre, set up at the initiative of the district collector Mr Dodda Venkata Swamy with the aim of helping the common man get their work done through the project, has now been reduced to a locked room in front of the ADM Office at Paralakhemundi. While none of the officers concerned with the maintaining of the E-Sahayata Centre wanted to discuss the issue, the closure of the centre is a setback to the much-publicised single window system. The E-Sahayta centres were meant to be like the successful E-Seva Centres in Andhra Pradesh where just by the touching the screen an individual could apply for his patta, reserve a ticket in a train or a bus, even get his driving license finalised. This multipurpose service project sponsored by the RSVY should have been set up at a public place easily where it would have been easily accessible to common people. But for security concern, the centre was set up at the collector’s office. Shortly after its inception, the doors of this centre were closed. “We cannot keep it open unless a security person or a watchman is appointed to take care of the machine”, says Mr Gopal Adhikary, a computer assistant in the NIC which have been assigned the software maintenance for the project. The hardware for this scheme has been procured from OCAC, a government of Orissa undertaking, and as per the resolutions taken by the committee for running the centre, an NGO was entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining the centre. The NGO should have appointed a boy with basic computer knowledge to run the centre and also extend other services like procurement of forms etc. But the NGO is dragging its feet over the matter. The setting up of a E-Sahayata Centre just adjacent to the NIC building serves no purpose as the services could be availed of at both the places and after much debate it has been decided that the centre will be constructed behind the collector’s office. Recently, the district collector, during a surprise visit to the centre, was bewildered to find the centre closed and had directed that it should be kept open. But when this correspondent visited the centre today, the room was locked.

Road fund lapsed for lack of land
Statesman News ServiceANGUL, May 9: A Rs 1.67 crore fund set aside to replace an old, unsafe bridge and widen a stretch of road on the increasingly busy Angul-Chhendipada road has not been used because the necessary land is not available. This problem is allegedly due to a lack of coordination between the Revenue and Works departments in the land acquisition process. Despite the project getting a green light from the Revenue Department last year, it turns out the land is owned by the company Monnet Ispat, which claims to have bought it for coal mining. In fact most of the 48km Angul-Chendipada road under the road and bridge department has been acquired on both sides by various industries, leaving no space for future expansion. According to an official source, the old Singada Bridge constructed 100 years ago on State Highway 63, which connects Angul to Chhendipada, was declared unsafe in 2005. The bridge is situated on a narrow curved road leading to Chhendipada, 40 kms away. The industrialisation of Chhendipada has brought heavy traffic on the road leading to doubts about the safety of the narrow bridge’s steel girders. The district administration and works department requested the Centre to provide funds for the realignment of the curved road and a replacement bridge. Funds duly came in and the works department completed the tendering process last November. However, construction could not be started because of objections by Monnet Ispat. The original plan was to make a wide straight road instead of the existing narrow curved one and build a new widened bridge on the new road to cope with the increasingly heavy traffic pressure. The works department authority is now considering simply building a new bridge in the place of the old one. A district revenue officer told a solution to the problem would be chalked out soon.

Maoists kill forest officer
Statesman News Service BARIPADA, May 9: Maoists operating in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Dhenkanal districts struck late last night at Sarbada section of Rairongpur range killing a forester, Rabindra Nath Patra, and setting fire to the beat house as well as his motorcycle. It is for the second time in the state that Maoists are targeting forest department officials. The first such instance had taken place in Dhenkanal district triggering panic amongst forest staff and rangers who feel totally helpless in bordering jungle areas which are infested with armed Maoists. Yesterday, a group of at least 50 armed Maoists, including three women cadres ~ few of whom were in fatigues ~ knocked on the door of Patra. They gagged him and took him away. On their way out, they set fire to the forest beat house and Patra’s bike. At a distance of one km from the spot, the Maoists tied up Patra and shot him from point blank range. They left behind innumerable leaflets written in Hindi and Oriya warning forest officials against exploiting the tribals. The leaflets also alleged that people were not getting minimum wages. It is, however, suspected that the Maoists were training their guns on forest officers ever since road laying work was taken up in a big way near the jungles of Dhenkanal, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj. The radicals are apprehensive of improved police movement once these roads are laid, noted police officers. Two teams of Special Operation Group, along with Orissa state armed police, have sealed the Jharkhand border which is barely five km from the place of attack. Superintendent of police Mr Sanjay Singh said the Maoist group appeared to be the one operating in Keonjhar, Jajpur and Dhenkanal districts. He said that steps were being taken to beef up security in the concerned belt and increase the staff strength of the police. The entire belt is critical to Orissa’s tribal and mining belt hub of the state. The field director cum conservator Dr. Debabrata Swain and forest officials visited the spot. Locals, who were mortally scared after the attack, had a different version to the ghastly sequence of events. Patra had been to a wedding feast last night and returned. Villagers suspect that the armed Maoists too had managed to sneak into the gathering and enjoyed the feast. They appeared to have followed Patra and then knocked on his door as soon as he had returned. In Bhubaneswar, chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the family of forester Patra who was shot dead by Maoists. The state government has also offered a job to the next of kin of Patra.

SC stays grant of new mining leases
Press Trust of India NEW DELHI, May 9: The Supreme Court has directed the Centre not to grant any fresh mining leases for allotment of coal blocks for captive power projects in Orissa. A Bench, headed by Mr Justice Arijit Pasayat, also issued notices to 11 parties, including the Centre, Orissa government, Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd, Bhushan Steel and Strips Ltd, Orissa Sponge Iron Ltd and Visa Steel, to respond to the allegations leveled by Adhunik Metaliks. Adhunik Metaliks had challenged the coal ministry’s decision to curtail its earlier allotment of 42 MMTs of extractable reserves in Patrapara block and allocate the same share to Bhushan Steel and Strips Ltd. Counsels Mr Ashok Desai and Mr Samitha Mankoti, appearing for Adhunik Metaliks, said the government had reduced its 42 million metric ton (MMT) of reserves to 31 MMT and decided to allot the block to a consortium led by Bhushan Steel. Mr Desai said Adhunik, along with six other companies, had formed a joint venture and they should be allotted the Patrapara block, while a separate block should be given to Bhushan Steel whose requirement was much larger. In view of large requirement of Bhushan Steel, the Central government in its screening committee meeting had decided to expand the boundaries of the coal block, which had reserves of only 210 MMTs as against the requirement of 326 MMTs of Bhushan Steel, the petition said. The granting of mining lease to Bhushan Steel would give it a free hand to do mining, Adhunik said, adding it had already invested more than Rs 250 crores to set up a sponge iron plant.

Illegal mining of sand alleged
Statesman News Service BALASORE, May 9: The people of Kathasangada and adjacent villages under Remuna block alleged that illegal sand lifting was taking place in the quarries at the confluence the Sono and Budhabalanga rivers. They alleged the sand mining Mafia are having a free run of the quarries as the officials assigned to curb such illegal activity are hindered by influential people from taking action against the offenders. Despite their resistance and repeated complaints lodged with the district administration, the illegal activities went unabated, they alleged. A group of nearly 50 persons, including women, yesterday informed the Sadar tehsiladr of the matter and demanded necessary steps be taken to stop the illegal sand mining. Finding their complaints did not yield desired results, they today approached the sub-collector, Mr Himnasu Narayan Patnaik. Though the quarries in areas under the mouza have been leased out, the racket is smuggling sand from neighbouring areas. As a result, the state exchequer is losing lakhs of rupees as revenue. The illegal mining is also posing danger to the farm lands, habitation and embankments. While the threat of farmland being inundated has risen due to the sand mining, embankments are also caving in owing to load of hundreds of trucks and tractors engaged in transporting sand from the place. According to one of the complainants, Mr Rajib Khatua, the quarry in the confluence of the rivers is spread across an area of 75 acres, comprising Kathsangada - I and Kathsangada - II. Since 2003, the leasing out of 45.95 acres of quarry has been stopped following a stay order of High Court. After identifying the patch of 3.54 acres as Kathsangada-III, the same has been auctioned in the fiscal year of 2007-08 with Rs 41,600 on 30 March. Demanding action against the errant, the villagers threatened agitation in case the district administration failed to stop the illegal activities. They said several incidents of violence had taken place including the last one which took place during the Holi. “We will take necessary steps after verifying the allegations”, said Mr Pattnaik, the sub collector of Balasore.

Fake gold pawned for loans
DHENKANAL, May 9: Loans sanctioned by two branches of Dhenkanal Gramya Bank that were allegedly made against fake gold ornaments are under investigation. A group of bank officials, an appraiser and members of the public with vested interests are allegedly involved in what the bank suspects was an organised racket. Under its rules DGB bank allows individuals to take out loans against gold left as a deposit. During the sanction of loans an appraiser, or goldsmith, is engaged on contract to certify the gold ornaments are genuine. According to police and official loans totalling Rs 10.25 lakh were issued to number of people at the Pingua branch, while Rs 3.87 lakh was handed over at the Kabera branch over the last two years. In both the branches Mahendra Sahoo, from Khankar village, is the authorised appraiser who certified the loans. DGB’s head office recently unearthed the scam during periodic inspections. The bank authorities lodged an FIR against the appraiser at Gondia police station on Tuesday and have launched an inquiry. Bank officials are also suspected of being involved. Pingua branch manager Iswar Chandra Parida said inquiries have begun “at a proper level” but declined to give any more details of the incident. However DGB chairman D Mishra said they suspect there is a racket behind the scam. After the findings they plan to start similar inspections at other branches.SNS

Manipur women trounce Bihar 8-0
The Imphal Free PressIMPHAL, May 8: Manipur women entered the semifinal defeating Bihar by 8-0 goals in the ongoing 15th Senior Women`s National Football Championship 2007 at Rourkela.Today in the last league match of the quarter final round, Manipur`s eight goals were scored by Ng Bala, two goals in the 2nd and 38th minute, Thoi, three goals in 4th, 12th and 40th minute, Geetarani scored two goals in the 32nd and 46th minute and Malemnganbi in the 64th minute of the play.Ng Bala striker of Manipur was declared the best player of the match. Manipur will meet Goa in the semifinal match on May 10th 2007.

Spurned ‘lover’ sets girl on fire
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Bhubaneswar, May 8: A stalker from Angul today set fire to five people, including the girl he was in love with, seriously scalding all of them.
“Five persons have sustained critical burn injuries,” said Angul SP Prateek Mohanty. Reports state that all five have sustained more than 80 per cent burns and had to be admitted to a hospital in Angul. Three of them were later shifted to Rourkela IGH Hospital.
Mohanty said a married Manoj alias Muna Tulasi was in love with one Chhabirani Sethi, his tenant. The girl, however, had spurned his advances and had a heated exchange when accused by Manoj’s wife. After another argument with her husband, the wife left home yesterday. This morning Manoj trailed Chhabirani with a sharp weapon and assaulted her. The terrified women ran into a room and bolted the door. A screaming Manoj then brought a jar filled with petrol, lit it and threw it inside the house through the window. Chhabirani and four others in that house were rescued when police broke open the door.

Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Manipur, Goa in last four
Rourkela: Reigning champion Manipur and Goa sealed the remaining two semifinal spots in the 15th senior National women's football championship here by topping their respective quarterfinal groups.
Manipur trounced Bihar 7-0 in Group-A while Goa blanked Tripura 3-0 in Group-D.
The dominance of Manipur on the field was evident as the north eastern girls pumped in three goals within the 13th minute of play. N G Baladevi, Thoi Devi and Gitarani scored two goals each while Malemmganbi accounted for the last goal of the match.
For Goa, Laura Estberro, Snehal Morojkar and Domiana scored. — PTI

Maoists kill official, set ablaze office in Orissa
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
A group of armed Maoists set ablaze a forest beat house and killed a forest official in Orissa's tribal populated Mayurbhanj district, official said Wednesday.
Around 50 Maoists congregated at Sadagada village, about 100 km from the district headquarters of Baripada, late Tuesday night and gheraoed the forest beat house situated in the middle of the village, district collector S.K. Bashishth said.
They asked forest official Rabindranath Patra, 55, who was resting inside the house, to come out. When the official came out they set ablaze the beat house and killed him, Bashishth said.
Patra's body was brought Wednesday to the sub-divisional government hospital at Raiprangpur for post-mortem, the district collector said. It was the first killing of a government official by Maoists in the district, he added.

Posco to forego 200 acres of land in Orissa
Bhubaneswar, May 09, 2007
Posco India is making a tactical retreat. In the face of continuing local resistance to its proposed $12 billion (Rs 49,200 crore) steel project at Jagatsinghpur, Orissa, the company is ready to forego 200 of the 4004 acres of land it needs.
Soung Sik-Cho, Posco's Chairman and Managing Director, has conveyed this to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at a meeting on Tuesday.
According to Shashanka Pattnaik, Posco-India's Senior Public Relations Manager, "these 200 acres lie in the Dhinkia panchayat in Jagatsinghpur district, the nerve centre of opposition to the Posco project." In Dhinkia, the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) has been running a parallel administration for months. No stranger can cross the road blocks that have been put up without proper identification.
Sixteen platoons of state police are still deployed at a distance of 17-km from Dhinkia. But sources in the government revealed that Soung was told at his meeting with the chief minister that the government would not use force in clearing the blockade at Dhinkia. They said the clashes at Nandigram in neighbouring West Bengal had led the chief minister to rule out any strong arm action.
Of the 4004 acres needed, 3566 acres is being provided by the Orissa government. Only the remaining 438 acres needs to be acquired from private sources. "The 200 acres in Dhinkia, will displace 120 families," said Shashanka Pattnaik. "We will try to persuade them and explain the relief and rehabilitation package to them. But in spite of that, if they don't change their minds, we will think of alternative options. Our project at Jagatsinghpur is very much on and we are pursuing it with all seriousness".
The company is likely to start construction of the plant in the rest of the area at the earliest. "We have taken steps to start direct negotiations with the people to be displaced from the private lands," Soung said later. "We requested the state government to create the right atmosphere so that a meaningful dialogue with the project affected people can continue". Posco has also expressed its willingness to compensate the affected people at the prevailing market rates of their land prices.
Negotiations are already on with the affected people in Nuagaon, Gadakujanga and Dhinkia panchayats of Jagatsinghpur district where land for the project has been earmarked. Sources said the efforts have yielded some positive results, though not in Dhinkia.


Indiscriminate water allotment to Orissa industries irks ADB
STATE BUREAU
Posted online: Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 0010 hours IST
BHUBANESWAR, MAY 9: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has cautioned the Orissa government against indiscriminate allotment of water to industries.
"We should keep in mind the interest of other water users, particularly farmers, while allotting water to industries," the senior water resources expert of the ADB, Kenechi Yokayama, told reporters here on Wednesday.
Yakayama, along with ADB country director Tadashi Kondo, was here to attend a two-day workshop on river water management in Orissa.
The ADB has assured an aid of $170 million to implement the Integrated Irrigation Agriculture and Water Management Report, jointly prepared by the bank and the Orissa government, for water management in the Mahanandi.
Allotment of water to industries in Orissa has become a controversial issue with farmers expressing concern that farm land would be deprived of adequate water in coming years. The Orissa government, which has signed as many as 60 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) for setting up steel, aluminium and thermal power projects in the state, is indiscriminately allotting water to industries.
State water resources principal secretary Arabinda Behera admitted that there would be some conflict between the needs of industries and those of agriculture. He, however, added that the state government, in its water policy, has given utmost priority to agriculture. "This is to send a message that the interest of agriculture will not be compromised", he asserted.
Behera said the state government has made water management plans mandatory for signing of the MoUs with industries. Apart from that, a technical committee was looking into the need of water of industries in the state, he added.
Behera said industries would have to take steps to store water for use in the lean seasons.


Indiscriminate water allotment to Orissa industries irks ADB
STATE BUREAU
Posted online: Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 0010 hours IST
BHUBANESWAR, MAY 9: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has cautioned the Orissa government against indiscriminate allotment of water to industries.
"We should keep in mind the interest of other water users, particularly farmers, while allotting water to industries," the senior water resources expert of the ADB, Kenechi Yokayama, told reporters here on Wednesday.
Yakayama, along with ADB country director Tadashi Kondo, was here to attend a two-day workshop on river water management in Orissa.
The ADB has assured an aid of $170 million to implement the Integrated Irrigation Agriculture and Water Management Report, jointly prepared by the bank and the Orissa government, for water management in the Mahanandi.
Allotment of water to industries in Orissa has become a controversial issue with farmers expressing concern that farm land would be deprived of adequate water in coming years. The Orissa government, which has signed as many as 60 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) for setting up steel, aluminium and thermal power projects in the state, is indiscriminately allotting water to industries.
State water resources principal secretary Arabinda Behera admitted that there would be some conflict between the needs of industries and those of agriculture. He, however, added that the state government, in its water policy, has given utmost priority to agriculture. "This is to send a message that the interest of agriculture will not be compromised", he asserted.
Behera said the state government has made water management plans mandatory for signing of the MoUs with industries. Apart from that, a technical committee was looking into the need of water of industries in the state, he added.
Behera said industries would have to take steps to store water for use in the lean seasons.

Wipro plans training centre in Orissa
Updated: 05-07-2007 By
IT major Wipro Technologies proposes to set up a Global Training Centre in Bhubaneswar, Orissa. The new centre would be in the lines of the company's existing Global Training Centre located at Mysore.
The company has given a proposal to the Orissa government in this regard.
The proposed centre will be located on the Puri-Konark marine drive and it will have facility to train about 3000 persons.

Orissa's poster campaign against Maoist menace(Monday, May 07, 2007 )
From correspondents in Orissa, India, 11:01 AM IST
Police in an Orissa district have stepped up their fight against Maoist insurgency with a poster campaign that highlights the latter's atrocities and details a government package for surrendered guerrillas.
'Hundreds of such posters have been displayed at various places in the tribal town of Malkanagiri,' a police official told IANS.
The district police have erected two giant hoardings at the DNK junction. While one hoarding reflects the state government's package for Maoists who surrender, the other describes their massacres.
According to the hoardings, if a Maoists opts to join mainstream society, he or she will be given Rs.10,000 as preliminary financial aid, followed by a small plot for house construction and a Rs.25,000 bank loan, besides Rs.15,000 for marriage and Rs.200,000 for self-employment and financial rehabilitation.
'If any Maoist surrenders with arms and ammunitions, he or she will be given Rs.20,000 as financial assistance immediately,' the hoarding reads.
It also mentions that the guerrilla will be paid Rs.15,000 if he surrenders with a rocket launcher, Rs.10,000 for an AK-47 or AK-57 or INSAS or SLR, Rs.5,000 for 303 rifle or pistol or revolver and Rs.5,000 for a wireless set.
'We believe that the awareness campaign will yield positive results,' the official added.

Mindtree Plans Big In Orissa
Mindtree is the fifth biggest IT player to have zeroed in on Bhubaneswar after Infosys, Satyam, TCS and Wipro.
Thursday, May 03, 2007: Bhubaneswar/Kolkata: By the end of 2008, Mindtree Consulting Pvt Ltd, a Bengaluru-based IT company, will have a software development centre in Bhubaneswar. Mindtree is manager of computer networks for customers including Pfizer Inc. and Sony Corporation. Subroto Bagchi, COO, said, “Construction work on the development centre will start within 4-6 months. The campus will be futuristic and environment friendly.”

Another Orissa farmer seeks president's nod to die
India World News Home
Bhubaneswar, May 7 Even as help wings to an Orissa farmer who wrote to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for permission to end his own and his physically challenged sons' lives, another impoverished farmer with a sick son has penned a similar plea to the president.Driven by acute poverty, a starving family in Orissa's Bolangir district has petitioned the president to permit them to commit suicide.Bhima Kumbhar, 60, lives with his wife Parbati, 55, and physically disabled son Kumar, 22, in Odiapali village. Although the couple used to be labourers, old age and the deteriorating condition of their son are growing hindrances to earning a livelihood, says Oriya daily Dharitri.They have four acres of land, but a majority of the land is under mortgage for a sum of Rs.7,000. Their physically challenged son gets a Rs.200 pension from the government. This pension money is the only source of income for the family, the newspaper said.'Without any support, we now feel that we don't have any choice but to die,' the couple was quoted as saying by the daily.'Please give us food or allow us to commit suicide,' the couple wrote in the letter to Kalam.When asked about the farmer's letter, a district administrative official told IANS: 'It has come to our notice and we are taking steps how best we can help them.'Earlier, 70-year-old Hakimuddin and his three physically challenged sons of Bhadrak district were promised help after the impoverished man wrote to the president seeking permission to end their lives.His three sons, Raffiuddin, 35, Mayiuddin, 33, and Mustaffa, 30, suffer from a rare genetic disease that weakens the limbs since they were 15-years-old. They have no money to seek treatment.His sons have now been given shelter by a voluntary organisation and will undergo preliminary treatment.

Monday, 7. May 2007
Wipro Plans Training Centre in Orissa
Wipro is planning on an Global Training Centre in Bhubaneswar.
This new facility will be similar to the existing Global Training Centre located at Mysore.The company has given a proposal to the Orissa government in this regard.IT minister, Surya Narayan Patro said, the state government is willing to provide 100 acres to the company to build the Centre. The centre will be able to house 3000 persons, he said."Wipro has proposed to set up a global training centre with a capacity to train 3,000 IT professionals toeing the line of the company’s centre at Mysore in Karnataka. The state government would provide about 100 acres of land along the Puri-Konark marine drive", Patro said.Thinking on the same lines, Aricent, a communications software provider, also wants to set up a Global Training Centre in Bhubaneswar.The government is thinking of providing 30 acres for the centre. This centre aims to house 1500 people.

Orissa comedian dies
From correspondents in India, 05:00 PM IST
Eminent theatre artiste Uttam Pal, who has acted as a comedian in hundreds of stage shows, has died following a cardiac arrest, family sources said Monday. He was 80.
Pal, who passed away Sunday night in his home at Dedsardeuli village in Jagatsinghpur district, is survived by his wife and three sons.
Shops and business establishments in the area closed after news of his death came in.
Pal began his career when he was only 15. He later formed his own group, Radhang opera, and organised shows across the state

Manipur eves trounce Maharastra 12-0
The Imphal Free PressIMPHAL, May 4:
Manipur beat Maharastra by 12-0 goals in the quarter final league match of the ongoing 15th Senior National Women Football Championship 2007 at Rourkela this morning.Ng Bala scored four goals in the 12th, 34th, 39th and 58th minute, Th Tababi three in the 13th, 14th and 20th minute, N Geetarani also scored three goals in the 28th, 30th and 66th minute while A Romi and O Bembem scored one each in the 16th minute and 62nd minute respectively. Ng Bala, who scored a hattrick was adjudged the best player of the match. Manipur now meets Bihar on May 8th 2007.

Govt plans exclusive workers' universityAkshaya Mukul[7 May, 2007 l 0022 hrs ISTlTIMES NEWS NETWORK]
NEW DELHI: For a government refusing to bring unorganised workers, comprising more than 90% of the workforce, into the social security net, education for them and their children along with other workers in an exclusive Workers University does not seem to be a bad idea. More than a year after it was set up, a committee headed by Indian National Trade Union Congress president G Sanjeeva Reddy has spelt out the broad contours of the proposed Workers University. The panel wants it to be headquartered in Hyderabad, which would provide education both in formal and informal streams to more than two lakh workers and their children. With Left-affiliated trade union leaders not being represented in the committee, it remains to be seen if the recommendations are accepted by powerful unions like CPM’s Centre of Indian Trade Union, CPI’s All India Trade Union Congress and RSS-aligned Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh. If it comes through, this will be the first exclusive workers university in the country. However, the concept is not new — in the erstwhile USSR, Petrograd Zinoviev University came up for workers immediately after the revolution while a college was established solely for workers in Oxford University and a Workers University in Geneva is still functional. In its report, the committee has suggested that 60% of seats in the proposed university be reserved for industrial workers, 15% for rural unorganised workers, landless and marginal farmers, 10% for rural artisans and 15% for other categories. Asked if the university would follow government’s reservation policy, Reddy said that since bulk of industrial and agricultural workers come from marginal social groups, reservations would not leave them out. The university will also target children of workers in both organised and unorganised sector, besides the workers themselves. It will identify skill gap, demand for such skills and come up with tailor-made courses to fill that gap. Stress would be on informal education and skill upgradation of rural artisans. In the formal stream, the university will offer three-year degree courses, diploma, post-graduate, MBA and MCA courses for children of workers. It will also have provision for distance as well as vocational education. In the formal stream, the committee has recommended 3,120 seats every year. For part-time courses, there will be 20,280 seats while 72,000 would be the intake in the distance education mode. Also, 48,000 workers can take up part-time professional courses in management and technical streams. An additional 30,000 seats will be available for vocational education for workers’ children. Initially, there will be three regional centres which will be later upgraded to 13 centres in places like Delhi, Kolkata, Nashik, Ranchi, Rourkela, Chennai, Kochi and other known industrial hubs. Finances for the university, Reddy said, would be contributed by the Central government, industry, trade unions and grants from ILO.

Orissa workers get May Day gift Posted at Wednesday, 02 May 2007 09:05 IST
Bhubaneswar, May 2:
This year's May Day became a memorable one for Orissa workers as a revised minimum wages for all categories of workers came into force in the state on Tuesday, media sources said. According to the sources, the minimum wage for unskilled workers had been raised from Rs. 50 to Rs. 70 per day while that of semi-skilled workers had been hiked from Rs. 60 to Rs. 80 per day.An announcement to this effect was made by Labour and Employment Minister Jayanarayan Mishra. For skilled workers, the wage had been revised from Rs.70 to Rs. 90 per day and for highly skilled the remuneration would be Rs. 100 per day instead of the earlier Rs. 80. A notification in this regard had been published by the Government, the Minister said. The revised wage structure would be applicable to 1,42,76,439 work force in the State of whom 95,89,269 are in the organised sector. The last revision of minimum wage was undertaken in 2002, Mishra said adding the revision was necessary every five years. But the minimum wage advisory committee can also recommend hike in the wages keeping in view the market prices and inflation, he said.

Heat wave in Orissa, 36 dead
Jajati Karan, CNN-IBN
Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2007 at 14:19
Updated Wednesday, May 02, 2007 at 14:32
Bhubaneshwar: The heat wave in Orissa has claimed the lives of 36 people though official figures put the toll at six. With temperature rising over 43 degrees Celsius particularly in western part of the state, there is no respite in sight for the people of Orissa.
For 44-year-old Birendra Mahasuara, a priest at the Kedar Gouri temple in Bhubaneswar, an early morning bath in the temple pond is a daily ritual. But with temperatures crossing 43 degrees Celsius, it is not a ritual any more but a compulsion.
"I am a priest; I cannot afford AC in my house. So by bathing at least four times in a day I try to keep my body cool," says Birendra Mahasuara.
The state government has already initiated some measures to combat the heat like changing the working hours for labourers and school timing for children.
Even the Meteorological department in Bhubaneswar says the heat wave will not abate soon.
"There is some sea breeze in coastal Orissa but that does not reach western Orissa due to North westerly hot winds flowing there. So it's becoming very hot out there," Director of Meteorological department (Bhubaneswar) SC Sahoo says.
So far in Orissa the highest temperature has been 50.1 degree Celsius recorded at Titlagarh in 2003. The people in Orissa have already experienced such extreme weather in the past and that is why they have also learnt the art of beating the heat.

Cricket matches rescheduled in Orissa due to heat wave
Bhubaneswar, May 2 (PTI):
The prevaling heat wave conditions in parts of the state has forced the Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) to reschedule some of its tournaments.
According to OCA Secretary Ashirbad Behera, the Association has postponed the under-19 inter district cricket tournament to the winter. "The U-19 inter-district cricket championship from where young players are picked up for the State team, would now be held in second week of September," Behera said, adding that the matches were earlier scheduled this month.
The OCA functionaries recently held a meeting which resolved that adequate precautions would be taken to avoid scorching heat during some matches.
According to the new decision, the State-level inter-school cricket tournament would be held in morning hours. The tournament is scheduled to begin on May 10.
"We have also decided to hold State-level inter-school tournament in December or January every year to avoid the heat and examination schedules of students," Behera said.
Similarly, OCA has also announced to make the State level-inter club cricket tournament a 25-over affair because of the heat. "Every match under this category would be played over two days," he said.
Among others, the inter-district women's cricket tournament and inter-college tournaments would now be held in September and October respectively.


Naxal shadow on $50 bn metal sector in Chhattisgarh, Orissa
PTI Wednesday, May 02, 2007 16:38 IST
MUMBAI:
The country's metal sector, which is estimated to attract investments of about $50 billion over the next 10 years, could be affected by Naxal-related violence in mineral-rich states like Chhattisgarh and Orissa.
Many proposed projects in steel, mining and other industries in these states are facing stiff opposition from locals and this resistance could have been fanned by support from Naxals, police sources said.
Naxalites have spread their area of influence in Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, parts of Bihar, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh, raising concerns among not only the state governments, but also the Centre.
The sources said naxals could be tapping the resentment among farmers against land acquisition for mega projects and special economic zones by helping those facing eviction.
A number of projects such as South Korean firm Posco's steel plant in Orissa and Essar's upcoming steel plant in Maoist-stronghold of Dantewada, Chhattisgarh are among those facing resistance by locals and likely to be delayed.
More worrying is fact that most of the country's precious reserve of coal as well as ores of iron, aluminium, nickel, chromium, manganese and uranium are located in these states.
Most of the mineral reserves are located either in forested zones or in tribal areas, which are controlled by the Maoists.
According to Secretary General, Federation of Indian Mineral Industries RK Sharma, if companies take tribals and local population into confidence and tell them about the benefits of these projects, there should not be any problem.
The difficulty arises when these companies go out all of a sudden and start acquiring land he added.

India, Germany to sign pact to push economic ties
May 2, 2007, 11:45 GMT
New Delhi, May 2 (IANS)
India and Germany will sign a pact Thursday to enhance technical and financial cooperation, essentially in infrastructure, even as they discuss new projects to be funded by Berlin this year.
The talks to push economic ties will be held under the aegis of the annual Indo-Germany Consultation Meeting here where the two sides are proposed to tie up the committed German assistance to India worth $325 million, officials said.
The meeting, the officials said, comes in the backdrop of two-way trade between the two countries crossing the $10 billion mark in 2006, four years ahead of target.
German Ambassador to India Bernd Mutzelburg will lead his country's side at the talks, while Kumar Sanjay Krishna, joint secretary in the finance ministry, will head the Indian delegation.
The two sides identified the priority areas for cooperation in 2005 with a focus on energy, though they also included environment protection, sustainable use of natural resources and economic reforms in banking and finance.
'The bilateral development cooperation with the Federal Republic of Germany has been an example of excellent bilateral cooperation, innovation and alignment of development priorities,' a finance ministry statement said.
'The German experience of efficient management of their natural resources is an important source of technical assistance for India under the natural resources management umbrella project launched in 2005.'
Historically, the cooperation started with German support to the Rourkela Steel Plant in 1958 and now covers a variety of areas such as health, infrastructure, rural development, consumer protection, environment and small industries.
In the 1990s, annual commitments by Germany were in the range of $80-100 million and were enhanced to $475 million in 2005 and $325 million in 2006.

Mizoram hold Goa 1-1
Sports
HERALD SPORTS REPORTERPANJIM, MAY 4 –
Goa rallied from a goal deficit to hold Mizoram 1-1 in the Senior National Women’s Football Championship, at Rourkela, Orissa.
Mizoram took the lead in the 19th minute through Ramthang Puia, but the Goans fought back and equalized two minutes later through the boots of Laura Estibeiro.Goa had numerous chances to kill the match, but the strikers ran out of ideas once inside the danger zone.Goa’s Candice Fernandes was declared the player of the match.The Goa team is as follows:Luara Estibeiro, Arcanjela Cabral, Vandana D’Cruz, Dakshata Shirodkar, Venorica Coutinho, Guillu Fernandes, Lancy Peixoto, Ida Ferrao, Jovita Maura, Snehal Morajkar, Domiana Gomendes, Janisa Rodrigues, Candice Fernandes, Pracy Faria, Remediana Noronha, Velency D’silva, Michel Casthana, Jocelyn Souza, Blanka Barreto. Coach – M Muttawali.Earlier, Manipur defeated Maharashtra 12-0 in a group match, at Ispat Stadium, Rourkela.Manipur led 9-0 at the breather.NG Bala Devi (4), Tababi Devi (3), N Geeta Rani Chanu (3),Aromi Devi and Bembem Devi were the goal-scorers for the defending champions.

DU students transform mining land into green belt
PTI Friday, May 04, 2007 14:50 IST
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NEW DELHI: In Purnapani, a small village 40 km off Rourkela, a vast barren stretch of land previously filled with mining waste is now layered by a mosaic of green grass, bamboo plantation and orchards, thanks to the efforts of a Delhi University environment management team.
No one had ever imagined that a piece of land covered with dumps could be of some productive use until Delhi University's Professor CR Babu and his team gave Purnapani's limestone mine the much needed Midas touch by reviving its lost ecological productivity.
The 2,500 acres of land in Purnapani limestone quarry, about 40 kilometres from Rourkela until last year was a barren stretch with piles of waste produced by mining activities is now layered by mosaic of green grass, bamboo plantation andorchards.
"It is first of its kind of multi-dimensional sustainable development programme under taken together by the Delhi University's Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE) and the Steel Authority of India Limited(SAIL) where efforts were made to restore ecological value of land that is no longer used for mining, Prof Babu said.
"This way the abandoned land would be utilized for societal benefit," he says.
He says the belief that every land possesses some ecological value helped his team obtain financial aid of roughly around Rs1 crore from SAIL and rest Rs2 crore came the Department of Biotechnology of the University.
The team which started work in December 2005 included experts like a geologist, molecular biologist, research economist and an ecologist.
"Our aim was to restore fertility of the land that had been dug up to about 50 to 80 metres deep. It was indeed a challenging job. We used different ecological restoration technologies to enrich he soil," says Babu who is concerned about the thousands of hectares of land that are degraded by mining alone.


NEW DELHI: In Purnapani, a small village 40 km off Rourkela, a vast barren stretch of land previously filled with mining waste is now layered by a mosaic of green grass, bamboo plantation and orchards, thanks to the efforts of a Delhi University environment management team.
No one had ever imagined that a piece of land covered with dumps could be of some productive use until Delhi University's Professor CR Babu and his team gave Purnapani's limestone mine the much needed Midas touch by reviving its lost ecological productivity.
The 2,500 acres of land in Purnapani limestone quarry, about 40 kilometres from Rourkela until last year was a barren stretch with piles of waste produced by mining activities is now layered by mosaic of green grass, bamboo plantation andorchards.
"It is first of its kind of multi-dimensional sustainable development programme under taken together by the Delhi University's Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE) and the Steel Authority of India Limited(SAIL) where efforts were made to restore ecological value of land that is no longer used for mining, Prof Babu said.
"This way the abandoned land would be utilized for societal benefit," he says.
He says the belief that every land possesses some ecological value helped his team obtain financial aid of roughly around Rs1 crore from SAIL and rest Rs2 crore came the Department of Biotechnology of the University.
The team which started work in December 2005 included experts like a geologist, molecular biologist, research economist and an ecologist.
"Our aim was to restore fertility of the land that had been dug up to about 50 to 80 metres deep. It was indeed a challenging job. We used different ecological restoration technologies to enrich he soil," says Babu who is concerned about the thousands of hectares of land that are degraded by mining alone.

Indian govt may ask state-owned co to give up claim on mine for Posco - report05.03.07, 3:18 AM ET

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - The Indian government may ask state-owned Kudremukh Iron Ore Company (KIOCL) to give up its claim on the Kandadhar mine in Orissa in favour of steel giant Posco, India's Economic Times reported.
Posco, which had identified the mine for its 12 mln tonne steel plant, has been assured by the Prime Minister's office that it would soon be given access to one of the three mining sites short-listed by the state government, the report said, citing official sources.
The report quoted the official as saying: 'Since KIOCL is the only public sector company contesting Posco's claims on the mining sites at Kandadhar in Orissa, the centre could only ask it to compromise.'
The other contestants are Tata Steel and Bhushan Steel, the paper said.

BPUT moves cause flutter in Rourkela
Statesman News Service ROURKELA, April 30: The proposed shifting of the distribution of questions and answer sheets from here to Bhubaneswar by the BPUT authorities has left many fuming here. According to a recent notification by the BPUT, the distribution of question papers and answer sheets will be shifted to Bhubaneswar. And this decision has created a flutter here with everybody as the university has become quite an emotive issue here. According to the university, the reason behind such a move was due to complaint of some of the constituent colleges that they were facing problems to come to Rourkela to collect the materials. Over the past four years, ever since the President laid the foundation stone, the issue has remained close to heart case for most here. So, any tampering with the functioning of the university has caused enough resentment from time to time. Even the the construction of the boundary wall and other amenities here has caused much chagrin here. Finally, when the construction of the boundary wall started with Mr Sarada Nayak took all the initiative for the completion of the boundary wall. The construction of the wall was essential as the urban planning of the university was remaining incomplete without it. However, this proposed shifting has again provided the much needed fuel to the already existing fire. There has been angry protest from all corners of the society here. Different organisations and political parties are threatening of mass movement in case this is not stopped. When contacted, Mr Sarada Nayak, MLA of Rourkela and also a member of the governing council of the university, said: “There is nothing serious in it as others are trying to politicise it. At this moment, I am more concerned about the construction of the administrative building and other infrastructure of the university.” In fact, he said that within a week, a team of officials from Hudco and the architects will come for the soil testing before going for the urban development on the 150 acres of plot. And after that, the university construction will start. The bottlenecks in the construction of the infrastructure have certainly delayed many projects planned to be undertaken by the university. Mr Omkar Natha Mohanty, VC of BPUT, replying to questions via e-mail on 1 December, 2005 had answered that government had approved 25 faculty positions (five at the level of professors ) to begin with, in the above five areas of BPUT in Rourkela. The advertisement and interview should be over in the next seven-eight weeks. These faculties shall be engaged in research and PG. And so far, some faculties have been appointed and posted to UCE Burla, one of the constituent colleges of the university. Besides, the setting up of electronics and telecommunication, Computer Science, Mechanical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering and Biotechnology the five areas of excellence proposed to be started and pursued at Rourkela are also lagging by two years.

Formulate policy on homestead land’
Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, April 30: The State Human Rights Commission has recommended that the government formulate a scheme for urban green card holders enabling them to get a plot of homestead land within close proximity of the area of their residence. The order was made while disposing a petition filed by Laxmipriya Lenka and 175 others who contended that under the green card holder scheme they ought to be given a plot of land which had till date been denied to them. The commission had served notices to the general administration department, health and family welfare department as well as the revenue department. Reliable sources said that while the GA department pleaded complete ignorance over such a scheme or provision, the revenue department maintained that it was applicable to rural areas. Mr Lenka and others contended that since they were living in Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation area where land was allotted to all right from elected representatives to other categories they should also be provided land free of cost on the basis of being green card holders.

OMC expects increased turnover
Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, April 30: The Orissa Mining Corporation Ltd expects to exceed Rs 1,080 crore turnover during 2006-07, said corporation sources while underlining the point that it was well on way to set performance records in all spheres. The increased turnover will be 59 per cent more than the previous year. Similarly, the provisional operational profit is likely to reach a record high of Rs 540 crore as against Rs 324 crore during 2005-06. OMC has had an excellent track record and has won the Golden Peacock Award for Innovation jointly given by the Institute of Directors, New Delhi and the World Council for Corporate Governance, UK. The OMC also got Mines Safety Awards for achieving longest accident free periods in its mines. The production of chrome ore, which was 6.46 lakh MT during 2005-06, increased by 78 per cent and became as high as 11.50 lakh MT during 2006-07. Similarly, iron ore production which stood at 34.19 lakh MT during 2005-06 is likely to touch 43 lakh MT during 2006-07 representing an increase of 26 per cent over the previous year. The sale of iron ore, chrome ore, chrome concentrate and manganese ore have also increased considerably during the year 2006-07. OMC has not only implemented the high end E-governance initiative ~ Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), but also introduced Quality Management System in operating chrome ore mines in Sukinda Valley, Vishakhapatnam, Kaliapani, South Kaliapani and Sukrangi, which have been ISO 9001-2000 certified. The corporation is the only mining company which has been contributing 5 per cent of its net profit to periphery development. The expenditure on peripheral development which stood at Rs 35.37 lakh during 2004-05 has gone up to Rs 14.56 crore during 2006-07, said the sources.

NHRC takes note of Ratnagiri monastery displacement
Statesman News Service KENDRAPARA, April 30: The alleged displacement of 162 families residing in and around the hillock of famous Ratnagiri Buddhist monastery has come under the scrutiny of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with the rights panel directing the state government to comply a report on the measures to resettle the affected families. It should be recalled here that these families had illegally settled in and around the protected archaeological site since long. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had taken strong note of the encroachment of the protected land and had maintained that the encroached territories are replete with unexplored historical treasures. Besides it’s a penal offence to take private possession of protected sites from archaeological point of view. The Jajpur district administration later responding to ASI’s strong objection had initiated measures to evict the encroachers. Mr T Duryodhan Reddy, a conservationist, had sought the NHRC to intervene in the matter, as the measure to rehabilitate the displaced families was conspicuous by its absence. The affected families are being rendered homeless dispossessed of an inch of land to resettle again. Protection of this internationally-acclaimed archaeological site is no doubt of paramount importance. But at the same time, the poor settlers occupying ASI land should have been rehabilitated first before they were displaced, the petition maintained. The NHRC taking note of the petition recently asked the state government to comply with an action-taken report on the rehabilitation measures initiated for the displaced families.

Minister’s complaint
BARIPADA, April 30: The SC/ST welfare minister, Mr CP Majhi, has lodged a complaint with the police against Raghunath Mohanty and Bibhudutta Das charging that they had misbehaved with him and made defamatory statements. The IIC of town police station, Mr Sudhakar Jena, confirmed the receipt of the complaint and added that the matter was being investigated.SNS

Tribals vow ‘no’ to Tata plant
Statesman News Service JAJPUR, April 30: The Visapan Virodhi Jan Manch (VVJM), leading the tribals’ agitation against displacement due to industry, has announced to intensify its stir against the proposed Tata Steel plant in Kalinga Nager. Another confrontation seems imminent in the industrial complex with the VVJM, deciding to lay a siege to the proposed construction activities of the Tata Steel and daring Naveen Patanaik government to face the agitating tribals. The Janmanch organised a meeting with various organisations which are extending their support to it at Ambagadia, the unofficial headquarters of the group where hundreds tribals, including women and children, participated with their traditional weapons in their hands to decide their future course of action yesterday night. The crucial meeting continued about three hours and everything related to agitation and displacement were discussed thoroughly. The meeting vowed to fight against land acquisition. The Jan Manch had also admitted that labourers working at Tata Steel’s rehabilitation colony were attacked by its activists on Thursday and said that the opposition against the Tata Steel project would continue. The government should prevent anyone from the company from entering the proposed site of the project till the crisis was fully resolved, it threatened. Jan Manch convener Mr Chakradhar Haiburu (Junior) said: “We will seize further construction of the Tata Steel. We have not forgotten that 14 of our people were gunned down and had laid down their lives for the struggle. If the situation requires so, we would not be afraid of shedding our blood again.” He said during past 16 months, Tata Steel authorities have not been able to enter the area and forget construction of the project, Mr Haiburu added. Another diehard activist of the Janmanch, Mr Nati Angarai, said: “Does the police have bullets left in their guns after the Kalinga Nagar massacre last year? I think it is a big ‘no’. Mr Angarai said after the road blockade lifted from Kalinga Nagar with the intervention of the Orissa High Court, the state government has been making tall claims and giving an impression that all matters had been resolved. “But we categorically state that the issues are yet to be resolved and we will oppose the proposed plant.” The Jan Manch was formed following the death of 14 tribals, including a school student, in police firing on 2 January, 2006, when the tribals clashed with the police.

MV-79 village market remains closed
Press Trust of IndiaMalkangiri, April 30: The market at MV-79 village near here, the scene of the bloody encounter between Maoists and security personnel yesterday, remained closed today.CRPF and Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel swarmed the area with policemen as the body of the CRPF havildar Dilip Chand, who was killed in the gun battle, was brought here for its onward journey to his village in Himachal Pradesh.Chand was killed in the rebel attack while four other CRPF jawans and two civilians were injured. The securitymen, however, succeeded in gunning down two ultras, including a woman, during the combing operation that followed the exchange of fire.It was a virtual curfew like situation as very few people were seen on the streets. Cycles and footwears were seen scattered in the market area.The road linking Kalimela and Malkangiri was also bereft of any traffic as fear appeared to lurk everywhere."This has become a dangerous place to live. Such things are happening every now and then", said a resident at MV-79 shocked at the broad day light attack of the maoists on security personnel.Securitymen retrieved a live grenade lying in the market today. Three landmines were also detected on the main road. Police officials said combing operation in the area had been continuing since yesterday.Meanwhile, arrangements were being made to send the body of Dilip Chand to Himachal Pradesh. Chand was set to retire from service in a few months, sources said.

Bandh in Mayurbhanj on 3 May
Statesman News Service BARIPADA, April 30: Bhanja Sena, a Mayurbhanj district-based youth outfit, has decided to organise a bandh on 3 May demanding establishment of a government medical college and hospital in the district. The Bhanja Sena activists said the bandh would be peaceful and they had already informed the district administration about it. The activists appealed to all section of people to cooperate and observe the bandh for the greater interest of the district.

Esma to tackle oil stir
BHUBANESWAR, April 30: The state government today invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act to ban strike in the petroleum goods transport and supply sector. A notification to this effect was issued today. The government felt that the transporters engaged in supply of LPG/Petrol and diesel ought to be barred from going on strike since it would disrupt the supply chain. It is in public interest that ESMA has been invoked for a period of six months on this sector, according to official sources.SNS

Briefs
Lightning DHENKANAL April 30: Lightening killed two persons, Prakash Ku Sethy and Kumari Dehury, yesterday night. Prakash belongs to Mahidharpur village and Dehury is from Sogarpasi. The incident occurred when Prakash was collecting mangoes in his village mango groves ,while Dehury died when she was tethering cows to trees. n SNS Inauguration DHENKANAL April 30: Dhenkanal MP Mr Tathagat Satpathy inaugurated an additional kitchen and dinning building of Kathagada Residential Sevaashram school yesterday. Department of SC/ST department had sanctioned Rs 4.30 lakh as reported by officials. Gandia MLA Mr Saroj Ku Samal, Sadar block development officer Rudra Prasana Sahoo and district welfare officer Mr Lingaraj Behera and school teachers were present. n SNS

May Day bonanza for workers
Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, April 30: The state government today notified a revision of minimum wages as a May Day announcement and said it would be effective from tomorrow. The wages of unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled workers have been revised at Rs 70, Rs 80, Rs 90 and Rs 100 respectively. The last revision had taken place in 2002 and the wages were fixed between Rs 50 and Rs 80 for these categories. Making the announcement today, labor minister Mr Jayanarayan Mishra said it was as per recommendations of the Minimum Wages Advisory Committee. Replying to questions, he said the government was also examining the issue of imposing cess on projects under construction for the benefit of construction workers. Details are being worked out, he added. So far, the government has identified 57,700 construction workers. With regards to child labor, the minister said efforts were on to rehabilitate such children and ensure that they were admitted to schools. He explained that enumeration of the entire workforce was difficult. The figures of those working in the unorganised sector remains to be ascertained while some figures of people engaged under various schemes of the panchayati raj and other departments give only an indication or rough estimate. There are at least 95 lakh workers in the organised sector, he informed. Meanwhile, the state capital today witnessed several rallies and meetings on the issues of child labor and right to education.