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Following are excerpts from a Sambada report.

Hindustan Times has a report on this. Following are some excerpts.

All 2,000 residents of Gop village in Kendrapada district, some 150 km from Bhubaneswar, in eastern India have been protecting the birds that fly in to nest from July to October. This has been going on for five years.

“Earlier, their eggs would be stolen and children would stone the birds for fun. Even locals ate some of them. Now the villagers are protecting them, seeing them as assets,” Mahendra Dash, a farmer, told IANS.

“We are protecting them because we have realised that the birds add colour to our hectic lives and make our village a rare place in the state.

“Every year we form a bird protection committee. It takes care of the birds,” he said.

“If anybody knowingly or unknowingly kills a bird or damages the nests or eggs, we summon him and impose a fine on him,” said another villager, Premanada Pradhan.

Officials are full of praise for the villagers.

“About 5,000 birds have landed on the three banyan trees in the village near the national highway for nesting this season,” said divisional forest officer Ajaya Kumar Jena. “They started their nesting activities in the last week of July.

“I recently visited the village. I was happy to see the care the villagers are taking to protect the birds.

“Watching these birds make and mend nests, collect green branches for building and repairing the nests, lay, incubate, hatch eggs, feed fledglings, guard them from predators, cover them with outspread wings to protect them from scorching sunrays and heavy downpour is a sight to behold,” Jena added.

According to him, thousands of egrets, herons, storks, cormorants, darters, spoonbills and ibises are now breeding on the trees in the village and nearby areas.

Not an inch of space is available on the trees. “Any fresh bird trying to nest has to wait,” one villager said.

Following are excerpts from a New Kerala report on this.

Three power distribution companies have made a project outlay of Rs 50 crore to upgrade their infrastructure to supply quality power … to their customers.

The companies– Wesco, Nesco and Southco had submitted a detail plan of expenditure to the Electricity Regulatory Commission in this regard.

According to sources, the companies have geared up their machinery to supply uninterrupted power to high tension and extra high tension consumers.

A team comprising members from Grid Corporation of Orissa, the three distribution companies and OPTCL had been chalking out plans to provide power to upcoming industries and new consumers on demand.

A plan to reduce the transmission and distribution loss by 15 per cent was being finalised and would soon be submitted to the GRIDCO, sources said.

The companies also urged the power ministry to complete the existing projects under the Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme.

A Statesman report, gives additional context to this. Following are some excerpts.

… three private distribution companies run by Reliance Energy has finally detailed its proposed funding and achievements.

In a situation where tariff has remained stagnant over 7 years , the company has maintained the system infrastructure with minimum spending. It has provided uninterrupted power and electricity to 1500 villages. The three distribution companies- Wesco, Southco and Nesco have also been regular in paying bulk supply bills to Gridco, salaries to employees etc noted Reliance Energy.

It is important to note that the energy minister, … had expressed his dissatisfaction with the company due to their lack of investment and the litigation over payment of dues. The chief minister had directed the energy department to prepare a detailed note and call the top brass of Reliance Energy for discussions.

Apparently jolted to action, the Reliance Energy has circulated a release stating that it has taken up up-rating and upgradation of the distribution infrastructure with an immediate outlay of Rs 50 crore.

It also claimed that in view of the growing ancillary, medium and large industries that were coming up in the state, a multidisciplinary team with members from Gridco, the three distribution companies and the power trading corporation has been formed to work out a strategy for quality power supply to such units. The distribution companies are also persuading the Ministry of Power to complete the existing APDRP works while the state government has also initiated a process to obtain a sanction of Rs 800 crore for the second phase, under APDRP, for the companies.

The distribution companies are also implementing the Biju Gramin Jyoti Yojana , while also finalizing their performance targets and Action Plan that will help reduce the transmission and distribution loss to the extent of 15 per cent as envisaged earlier.

Following is Odisha.com’s report on this.

Samaja has the following beautiful analysis which enumerates how because Orissa does not have the industries whose products will be used in making the new industrial plants in Orissa, Orissa loses out on lots of additional benefits that go to the already industrialized states. Hence, Orissa not only needs to set up these plants quickly, but also needs to go after the ancillaries with full force.

Following are excerpts on this from a report in Pioneer.

The Centre has allocated coal blocks to three companies of the State. These three companies include Orissa Power Generation Corporation (OPGC), Orissa Hydo Power Corporation (OHPC) and Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC). …

In Baitarani West Coal block, Centre has given the rights of exploration to OHPC, State Electricity Board of Kerala and Power Corporation of Gujurat. All of them have been allotted coal blocks to the tune of 200 million tonne. OPGC has got two coal blocks. It has got the Manoharpur and Manoharpur deep side coal block. It has got 532 million tonne of coals.

In the Utkal D- Coal block site, OMC has got 120 million tonne. It has also got 350 million tonne of coal blocks in the Telisahi coal block of Nuagaon.

Andhra Pradesh has also got the 350 million tonne of coal from this site. Mandakini Coal block has been distributed among the four States. Meghalaya and Assam are the important beneficiaries.

New York Times Travel Section of Sept 22, 1991 had a nice article titled “The great temples of Bhubaneswar.” Thanks to Deba Nayak for pointing it out.

Hindu has a short report and a nice picture of the road near Fortune towers. (Thanks to Deba Nayak for the pointer.)

Following up on our earlier post on Orissa cuisine here are some more links to Orissa cuisine courtesey a posting by Deba Nayak in calnet.

1. Healthy Orissa Cuisine: Book by Bijoylaxmi Hota, Kabita Pattanaik 107 Pages (Year: 2007) Rupa ~ ISBN: 8129111187 http://www.indiaclub.com/shop/SearchResults.asp?ProdStock=22387
2. A great Blog entry on Orissa Cuisine: http://foodieshope.blogspot.com/2007/08/oriya-cuisine.html
3. Another great blog entry on Orissa cuisine based temple food. http://neivedyam.blogspot.com/2007/08/oriya-thali.htm (Thanks to Divyajeevan Sahoo for this link.)

Following is Dharitri’s report on this.

Following is an excerpt from Dharitri’s report on it.

Regional Museum of Natural History (RMNH), Bhubaneswar ( See bottom part of page 4; National museum and other 2 regional museums) was established in 2004. This is the third regional museum of natural history in India, besides the national one in Delhi; the other two regional ones are in Mysore and Bhopal. Following is the special program of RMNH Bhubaneswar for celebrating its 3rd annual day.

The project will use water from the Ib river. Following is Samaja’s article on this.

Following is Samaja’s report on this plan and what Orissa is asking in return.

Following is Dharitri’s report on this.

Orissa government has announced higher salaries for doctors who are willing to go to hinterlands, especially the KBK region. Various news papers report on this. Following is an excerpt from Statesman.

… the state government today went on an overdrive announcing a revised incentive package for doctors working in KBK region and also enhancing the pay package to retired doctors who have availed contractual appointments in the same region.

Contractual appointments were given to the retired doctors/private doctors/fresh medical graduates at a consolidated remuneration of Rs.10,000/- per month in Non-KBK and Rs.12,000/- per month in KBK districts.

These appointments are given against the vacant posts of Asst. Surgeons only at periphery hospitals in the state. The government today decide that contractual doctors posted against vacant posts of Asst. Surgeons in the KBK districts and in the districts of Boudh, Kandhamal & Gajapati will henceforth get Rs.18,000/- per month.

The remuneration of doctors posted against the vacant posts of Assistant Surgeons on contractual basis in Non-KBK districts has been hiked to Rs.12,000/- per month.

Remuneration of retired doctors/private doctors having Post Graduate qualification to be appointed on contract basis against the vacant posts of Specialists at District Headquarter Hospitals & Sub Divisional Hospitals in KBK & Boudh, Kandhamal & Gajapati districts will be Rs.20,000/- per month.

The retired/private doctors having P.G. qualification appointed against the vacant posts of Specialists in the periphery hospitals in KBK region will get Rs.25,000/- per month while those in the same category but posted in non-KBK districts will get Rs.15,000/- pm.

… the government also announced several incentives to regular government doctors posted in KBK districts.

It enhanced the existing financial incentives to various levels of doctors which include regular Asst. Surgeons and Specialists of all categories (Class-II, Jr. Class-I and Sr. Class-I) and Medical Officers holding administrative posts (Jr. Class-I and Sr. Class-I) working in Koraput, Malkangiri, Nowrangpur, Rayagada, Bolangir, Sonepur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Boudh, Kandhamal and Gajapati districts.

Assistant Surgeons & Specialists of all categories (Class-II, Jr. Class-I and Sr. Class-I) and Medical Officers holding the administrative posts (Jr. Class-I and Sr. Class-I) working at the District Headquarter Hospitals/Sub-Divisional Hospitals of Koraput, Malkangiri, Nowrangpur, Rayagada, Bolangir, Sonepur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Boudh, Kandhamal & Gajapati districts are granted an additional incentives of Rs.4,000/- (Rupees four thousand) per month.

For the same category working in peripheral hospitals of these districts, the revised incentive was Rs 8000 pm.

The incentive will however not be admissible if the doctor is absent for more than four days or avail of any leave other than casual leave.

All the incentives are for a period of one year …

Following is Dharitri’s article on this.

Pioneer reports on some ambitious and expensive plans in this regard. Following are some excerpts.

… the Government is working on a proposal to construct the longest flyover of the State to overcome the increasing traffic jam.

The project named as Integrated Solution For All Junctions (ISFAJ) envisages building a flyover from Master Canteen Square to Sishu Bhawan Square – an estimated length of 1,100 metre.

Under the ISFAJ project, five major junctions such as Master Canteen Square, Raj Mahal Square, Kalpana Square, Sishu Bhawan Square and Airport Square will have integrated management to control traffic.

According to official sources, the detailed project report would be completed within four months. The PWD has estimated Rs 120 crore for the project, which would be completed within three years.

As per the proposal, Kalpana Square and Airport Square would have large rotary shape traffic points, which would provide commuters tension-free time to drive around. Moreover, the total road network between all the five junctions would have features such as parking space, cycle tracks and footpath.

The Works Department would also embark on converting the road stretch from Airport Square to Damna Square to six-lane road for which Rs 80 crore had been earmarked.

The Khandagiri road connecting Chandaka road would be closed for archeological reasons and periphery road development programme around the Khandagiri hill as an alternative arrangement for blocking of road.

Besides, construction of three more flyovers on railway junctions besides an ongoing project Poonama Gate.

Following are excerpts from a New Indian express report on this.

As an active member of the movement, the 59- year-old woman now earns a comfortable living by making exquisite handicraft items from dried golden grass, locally known as “kainsha”.

… I get great satisfaction from making several household handicraft items from the golden grass, says Sumalata.

More than 4,000 women from 18 villages of Kamagarh, Garh Madhupur, Antia and Jenapur gram panchayats are engaged in making handicrafts from golden grass. Raw material is supplied by handicrafts society. All these women owe their economic independence to 79- year-old Pranakrushna Mohanty, the brain behind the movement in the district.

To help women of the economically backward sections become self-reliant, Mohanty and a friend, Bhikari Patnaik struck upon training them in golden grass handicrafts, which is available in plenty in the district. …

Each handicraft item takes anywhere between a day and a month to complete, and costs between Rs 10 and Rs 1,000. But these women get only a fraction of that amount as middlemen play spoilsport here too.

Following are excerpts from a moneycontrol report on this.

CNBC-TV18 has learnt that Suryachakra Power is in talks with the Orissa government for a 1,200 MW thermal power project.

The company may set up the Orissa plant in four phases, added sources. The first phase of the Orissa plant will cost USD 300 million.

The company will buy coal from Tata Power Trading Company and sell power to Tata Power. They are likely to form special purpose vehicle, or SPV, to fund the Orissa project. …

Following are the main objections raised by the states Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh, Rajasthan, and Karnataka, as reported in various news papers. We give excerpts from the Economic Times report.

(i) The main objection of mineral-rich states pertains to control and use of iron ore resources. The state governments want it should be within their rights to offer minerals to companies that propose to set up steel industry within the states.

(ii) The final draft of the National Mineral Policy has said while states could have a system of preference for grant of mineral licences, they could not deny movement of minerals outside the states. “The amendments in Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act) should clarify this position,” a Orissa government source said.

(iii) The states are also against the provision in the policy that aims to curb their powers in case there is a delay in the grant of mineral lease to an applicant. It has also been suggested that existing provisions of the MMDR Act, which give states special powers in grant of mining leases, should be retained.

(iv) The states have also objected to continuation of iron ore exports and said there was no point in giving captive iron ore mines to companies having steel plants located in other states. The policy has said captive mines would be offered to steel companies on the basis of their existing capacities as in July 2006.

It has been reported that when the chief ministers of these states went to meet the GOM head Mr. Patil, he did not even show them the draft. This is contrary to the earlier report which mentioned that Mr. Patil would discuss the draft and get the consent from the chief ministers. How can one get a consent from a group on a draft without even showing the group what the draft contains?

Business Standard reports about various companies that have shown interest in PPP deal with Orissa government. Following are some excerpts from that report.

Internationally famed consultancy firm Ernst & Young and Kolkata based SREI are among a host of companies that have evinced interest to provide consultancy services for developing projects under Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) in Orissa.

These companies proposed to develop a shelf of projects to be taken up in PPP mode and have sought empanelment with the Orissa government. However, the government is yet to take a final decision on these proposals. Sources said, if it does not find any of the proposals suitable for its needs, the government may go in for an open bidding for selection of consultants.

… on the proposals of Ernst and Young and SREI.

Both the firms proposed to develop concepts to make the PPP projects attractive and investor friendly for the bidders.

Orissa had earlier entered into an arrangement with IL&FS as per which both shared the cost of developing the project up to the viability stage equally among them selves. This cost is later recovered from the successful bidders. Ernst & Young and SREI, however, have proposed not to charge anything for rendering consultancy service at the initial stage. They will only collect 1 percent of the project cost as their fee from the successful bidders of projects which actually get implemented.

This proposal is viewed favourably as the government does not have to bear any cost for failed projects as the expenditure incurred for these projects is borne by the consultants. The proposals are considered significant as in most cases, the potential investors are unwilling to take up projects in sectors like roads, ports, bridges citing their unviability as a major cause of concern.

Return on investment is the predominant factor in assessing the viability of the projects under PPP. Though there is a central scheme for viability gap funding up to 20 percent of the project cost from the Union government and the state government can also contribute some funds towards bridging the gap, in most of the cases the gap is too wide to be bridged.

Economics Times reports on such an effort. I hope Orissa government is aware of this and is making pitches for one of the locations in Orissa. Following are excerpts from the Economic Times report.

THE government is planning to build 6-7 new IT townships, called knowledge townships, close to major urban centres and international airports. The residential townships will be based on the walk-to-work concept. This means the professionals working there will be encouraged to live close to the workplace.

The companies setting up units in the townships may be extended tax sops under either the software technology park (STP) or special economic zone (SEZ) scheme. Each township would have a minimum 10-hectare (1 hectare = 2.471 acres) built-up area to make it compliant with FDI rules relating to investment in real estate. Each township is likely to entail an investment of Rs 500-650 crore, depending on the area.

A committee comprising members from the PMO, ministry of IT & telecom, urban development, civil aviation, Dipp along with Nasscom has identified several areas for setting up the knowledge hubs.

Sources in the committee said that these proposed townships will be extension of satellite towns like Gurgaon (to be called Gurgaon Plus). Similarly the township near Mohali will be called Mohali Plus. The first of these new townships is expected to come up by 2012 and the rest by 2015.

… services like IT and BPO will be encouraged in these units.

Many domestic and foreign real estate players have expressed interest in owning land and build such townships.

“We want each township to be FDI compliant so that they can attract foreign expertise,” a senior DIPP official said. Every township would be a special purpose vehicle where states and developers would have stakes.

Urban development secretary M Ramachandran said that his ministry would advise the committee on facilities like water, electricity, drainage and other civic facilities. “We will also help in developing the structures,” he said.

“The townships may also have an IIT/IIM or such academic institutions to build an ecosystem. For tax sops, we are pushing for extension of STP scheme else the companies can also opt for SEZ status,” said Nasscom president Kiran Karnik. The townships will come complete with educational, recreational/amusement and healthcare infrastructure.

“The basic reason for proposing such townships is the existing saturation in real estate and infrastructure amongst existing IT hubs,” Mr Karnik added.

Gurgaon real estate rentals have shot up meteorically in the recent past while Bangalore doesn’t have any real estate. …

Currently, Mohali, Mysore, Noida and Gurgaon have come up as satellite townships to major state capitals, most of which have international airports.

… SEZs offer a five-year 100% tax exemption with two subsequent five-year exemptions of 70% and 50% to units.