Archive for the 'ADMINISTRATION & REPs' Category

Decision making style in current Orissa government – for Orissa to progress this must change

ADMINISTRATION & REPs, Elections 2009 Comments Off on Decision making style in current Orissa government – for Orissa to progress this must change

A researcher in one state government institution in Orissa recently received an invitation to spend a month in a top US university with all expenses paid by the US university. She/He requested permission from the head of his/her institution to take leave and make the trip. The head sent the request (WHY?) to the overseeing department in the secretariat. When the whereabouts of the file was inquired the secretary in charge of that department said that she has just put up the file to the Chief Minister’s office (WHY?). Now the file will probably sit among hundreds of files in the CMO’s office that are waiting for his attention.

This is an example of how even simple stuff are not being decided at lower levels and are being sent all the way up to the CM’s office. In this case, the head of the institution should have just made the decision.

The current Orissa government is at fault for directly or indirectly allowing/encouraging such passing the buck and/or for not empowering decision making at lower levels. Regardless of who wins the election this must change and the new government should encourage and empower decision making at lower levels.

Orissa Lok Sabha constituencies and their 2009 contestants

ADMINISTRATION & REPs, Elections 2009 Comments Off on Orissa Lok Sabha constituencies and their 2009 contestants

 

BJD and alies [1,2] (CPI,CPI-M,NCP)

Congress

[1,2]

BJP [1,2] Samruddha Orissa Others
Bhubaneswar Prasanna Patsani

Santosh Mohanty

Archana Nayak    
Cuttack Bhartruhari Mahtab Bibhuti Mishra Anadi Sahu    
Puri Pinaki Mishra

Prasad Harichandan

Pinaki Mishra

Debendranath Mansingh

Braja Tripathy   Krishna Nayak (SP)
Balasore Arun Dey (NCP)

Srikant Jena

Rabindra Jena

Kharabela Swain
[1,2]
   
Jajpur Mohan Jena Amiya Mallik

Ashok Das

Parameshwar Sethi

 Ajit Jena  
Mayurbhanj Laxman Tudu Priyabrata Majhi Draupadi Murmu   Laxmiswar Chamudia (SP)
Sambalpur Rohit Pujari

Sriballav Panigrahi

Amar Pradhan

Surendra Kumar Lath    
Sundergarh Salomi Minz (CPI-M) Hemananda Biswal Jual Oram    
Dhenkanal Tathagata Satpathy

KP Singhdeo or Suparno Satpathy

Chandrasekhar Tripathy

Rudra Narayan Pany   Abhinna Hota (SP)
Berhampur Siddhant Mohapatra Chandrasekhar Sahu Bharat Paik    
Koraput Jayaram Pangi Giridhar Gomang Upendra Majhi    
Bhadrakh Arjun Sethi Anant Prasad Sethi Panchanan Mandal    
Balangir Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo Narasingha Mishra Sangeeta Singhdeo   Arun Mishra (SP)
Bargarh Hamid Hussain Sanjay Bhoi Radharani Panda    
Keonjhar Jasobant Laguri Dhanurjay Sidhu Ananta Nayak    
Kendrapada Baijayant Panda Ranjib Biswal Jnanadev Beura    
Kalahandi Subas Nayak Bhakta Ch Das Bikram Keshari Deo  

Gurmit Singh (BSP)

Parameshwar Panda (SP)

Aska Nityanand Pradhan Rama chandra Ratha Shanti Devi    
Jagatsinghpur Bibhu Prasad Tarei (CPI) Rabindra Sethi Baidhar Mallik Akhaya Sethi Bibhuti Bhusan Majhi (BSP)
Nabarangpur Dambaru Majhi Pradeep Majhi Parsuram Majhi    
Kandhamal Rudramadhav Ray Sujit Padhi Ashok Sahu   Nakul Nayak (SP)

 

The outrage over voice vote

Elections 2009, Odisha Assembly Comments Off on The outrage over voice vote

After the BJD-BJP alliance broke BJP state legislators withdrew their support from the Orissa government.  That led to the Governor asking the party in power to seek a confidence motion in the Orissa Legislative Assembly. The party in power did that, but through a voice vote. This led to cries of "murder of democracy" by many opposition leaders. The Governor sought clarifications from the Chief Minister, sought other counsels and went to Delhi to give his report. In other words there was a big broughaha over this issue. The following report from an article in Pioneer lists other such incidences and calls this outrage phoney.

The phoney hullabaloo over voice vote is nothing but a made-up controversy in these election times. There are precedents to show that confidence motions have been passed and no-confidence motions have been rejected by voice vote in the various State Assemblies and the Lok Sabha in the past. Complying with the orders of the Rajasthan Governor to prove his majority, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot won a confidence motion by voice vote on the floor of the Assembly on 3rd January this year. If no-confidence motions can be defeated by voice vote, why can’t the confidence motions be won by voice votes? Four such no-confidence motions were defeated by voice vote in the Lok Sabha itself. A no-confidence motion against Andhra Pradesh’s Congress Government moved by the Telugu Desam party was defeated by voice vote in April 2008. In the same year, a no-confidence motion against the Speaker of the AP Assembly was defeated in a similar fashion. In 2007, a no-confidence motion against the Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly was defeated by voice vote too. In March 2003, a no-confidence motion against the UP Chief Minister Mayawati was also rejected by voice vote. Where is the recording of numbers that is being talked about? The cosmetic outrage over Naveen Patnaik winning the confidence motion by voice vote is being carried too far. As for the division of votes, let us see what happened to the no-confidence motion moved by Sonia Gandhi in August 2003 against the NDA Government of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. After the Speaker declared that the no-confidence motion has been defeated by voice vote, Congress pressed for a division. When the division took place, it was defeated by an overwhelming 126-vote margin. In our case, when the Speaker declared that the confidence motion has been passed by voice vote, Congress and the BJP had already left the House protesting against some of the Speaker’s rulings. Nobody from these parties was left in the House to demand a division.

Two MPs from Orissa among the top 5 opposition MPs (TOI)

Odisha MPs 1 Comment »

Following is an excerpt from that report in TOI.

Bhartruhari Mahtab, Cuttack

His almost self-effacing manner masks a diligent and perceptive mind. He is careful to back his claims by statistics and expert opinion. His reference to facts and detail indicate his reading and makes him a sharp critic of the government. He is an active member of the finance committee and has been one of the regular speakers in the House.

Kharabela Swain, Balasore


There is nothing subtle about his style, but he can be unsettling for the government. Blessed with boundless confidence, he does not shy of taking on ministers and is prepared to hold up reams of statistics and newspaper articles to back his arguments. Ministers are wary of the energetic MP with a bull terrier attitude.

Following is a nice article about Mr. Kharabela Swain from The Sunday Indian.

“No MP named Swain stays here,” the security guard said, stunning us when we asked for Kharabela Swain’s residence. “Actually, no one knows me in this locality. You have to ask for Kalpana Parida’s home to find me!” Swain later told us when we finally traced him. “Sometimes even security guards stop me from entering my wife’s house.” He never applied for a government accommodation, nor has he bought a house in Bhuvaneshwar. “Whenever I come to the capital, I stay in Kalpana’s flat. She is working with Doordarshan and lives here with our only son,” clarified Swain.

Named after Orissa’s legendary ancient king Mahameghabahana Aira Kharabela, Swain, a powerful BJP politician maintains a very low profile. And his entering politics says it all. In 1988, this 1980-batch Indian Allied Services Officer quit his cushy job to join politics. “I was fed-up with the corruption and opportunism of politicians. People feel that good and honest persons can’t survive in politics. I wanted to prove them wrong. I believe in that old economic aphorism – good money drives out bad money from the market. So will it be in politics.” Kharabela’s stature as a highly articulate and active parliamentarian cuts across party lines. He always takes centre-stage in all major national debates. He is exceptionally popular in his constituency. In the last election, Kharabela polled a massive 553,087 votes and defeated his rival by 236,955 votes. And why not? During the floods last year, the first man to reach the remotest areas was their MP, not any sort of government agency.

‘My capital is people’s affection, which is much more valuable than a bungalow, car or money. I could have achieved all that, but that is not my philosophy,” says he. And bribes ever offered? “Yes, but only in my initial days as a parliamentarian. Today, everybody knows what I do. Kalpana manages all our expenses. My son has got a job through campus selection. So for what will I pile up money?”

But then, how many politicians ask that question?

GFT Technology to be used to arrest sea erosin

Coastal highway - beach preservation, Odisha govt. action Comments Off on GFT Technology to be used to arrest sea erosin

Following is excerpted from a story in The Week.

The Orissa government for the first time would use the Geo Filter Tube (GFT) technology in construction of sea wall to save the Satbhaya village from constant threat of sea erosion.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to lay foundation stone of the much ambitious project, estimated to cost Rs 15 crore to the state exchequer, Aul Saline division executive engineer Rajkishore Ghadei said.

Official sources said a high-level scientist team from Chennai-based Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), which earlier visited the sea erosion prone Petha village under Rajnagar, had asked the district administration and the state government to erect a sea wall by using the Geo-Filter Tube technology.

Mr Ghadei … The erosion control measures, he said, would be easily solved by installation of the Geo-Filter Tube erosion barrier. Shoreline restoration is also easily achieved by the installation of the Geo- Filter Tube which acts as a natural sand filter to reduce the insecticides.

It is a low cost shoreline restoration system easy and fast to install with little or no impact on existing landscape at 25 per cent of the cost of the conventional bulkheads or sea walls.

According to Ghadei, the Geo-Filter Tube is constructed of a spun-bond polyester fabric sewn together to form a custom diameter tube. The tube is interconnected along the water-edge, then a small sand pump is used to fill the tube with the same sand and organic material that has been eroding into the lake or canal.

The final result is a long lasting fully contained sand filter barrier that would stabilise the bank from erosion and filter rainwater and irrigation run off.

The Geo-Filter Tube erosion barrier could be installed on any shoreline contour or stacked pyramid fashion to create a more substantial barrier to protect against soil erosion during heavy rains.

The Tubes are geo-textile encapsulated soils used to replace rock as conventional building blocks in marine Geo-tube wall to prevent sea erosion and hydraulic engineering structures,Ghadei.
 

Orissa plans to make its own thermal power plant

Angul, Odisha govt. action, OMC, Thermal Comments Off on Orissa plans to make its own thermal power plant

Following is  from a report in livemint.

Around 300 people would get directly absorbed in the proposed 2,000 mw thermal power plant in Orissa’s Angul district that is likely to be completed by 2014 at an investment of Rs8,000 crore, an official said Friday.

The project would be developed by the newly-formed Orissa Thermal Power Corp. Ltd (OTPCL), a joint venture of the state-owned Orissa Mining Corp. (OMC) and Orissa Hydro Power Corp. (OHPC), an official said Friday.

“Both OMC and OHPC will have equal share in equity for the Rs8,000 crore project,” said state energy minister S.N. Patro. Seventy percent of the funds would be met through loans, he said.

Both OMC and OHPC will provide Rs1,200 crore each to start the project making it the second state-owned thermal power unit.

The first thermal power plant at Ib valley was being operated in a joint venture between the Orissa Power Generation Corp. (OPGC) and the US-based Aes Powers.

Patro said the government had already identified land and “the water requirement of the proposed thermal power plant will be met by the reservoir at Rengali”, the exact location where the plant would come up in Angul.

The coal blocks posessed by OMC and OHPC would be utilised in the thermal power project, the minister added.

Business Standard reports the location to be near Rengali dam. Following are some excerpts.

The Orissa Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (OTPCL), a joint venture between the state owned Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) and the Orissa Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC), has decided to set up a 2000 Mw thermal power plant at Rengali in Angul district.

Estimated Rs 8000 crore is proposed to be invested in the project and it is likely to be commissioned by 2014.While OTPCL will have a 30 percent equity in this project and the remaining 70 percent will be mobilised as loans. This was decided at a high level meeting chaired by the state energy minister Surya Narayan Patro here today.

OHPC and OMC had started a joint survey for selecting a suitable location for the project since July 2008. Finally, Rengali in the Angul district was found suitable as 1000 acres of government land was available there. Besdies, the area is scarcely populated.

Increase in tax revenue for Orissa

Odisha govt. action, Taxes, VAT Comments Off on Increase in tax revenue for Orissa

Following is from a report in orissadiary.com.

… Sri Ghadai told the Media persons that During the Current financial year up to the month of December 3646.75 Crore has been collected. During the last year it was 3069.81 Crore. … The target of collection has been fixed to Rs. 5099.98 Crore up to the month of March. The Sales Tax officers should effort heartly to achieve the target.If it will be worked out it will be increased from 5500 to 5600 crore. The Sales Tax officers were instructed to discuss with the traders those are not filling returns. He said that the Collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) has been increased.Up to the month of December it has been collected 2745.51 Crore and it was 2226.39 during the last year . So it has been increased 23.32 percent.But this increase will reach at 25 percent. Similarly CST has been collected up to the month of December is 397.80 crore where as during the last year it was collected 368.35 crore .It shows increase of 7.99 percent.The entrance tsx has been collected 443.29 crore where as during the last year it was collected 421.50 crore.It shows increase of 5.17 percent.The profession Tax has been collected 58.57 crore as against 51.81 crore which is increase of 13.5 percent. 

Projects worth Rs 35,000 crores approved in power and steel sector

High Level Committee, Jindal, L & T, Odisha govt. action, Steel, Thermal Comments Off on Projects worth Rs 35,000 crores approved in power and steel sector

Following is excerpted from a report in Indopia.

The Orissa government today formally approved investment of about Rs 35,000 crore in the power and steel sectors of the state. The high-level clearance authority (HLCA) chaired by Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik gave green signals for the investment in five power projects and one steel unit.

… The HLCA approved investment in five proposals in the power sector and one steel project, Garg said adding that altogether the projects would provide direct employment to over 6,000 people.

The projects, which got HLCA nod were – Visaka Thermal Power Limited (1100 MW), Sahara India Private Limited (1,320 MW), L&T (1,680 MW), JSPL (1,320 MW) and Ind-Bharat Limited (700 MW).

The HLCA approved JSPL&aposs another proposal of further investment in its proposed 6mtpa steel mill at Bainda.

JSPL, which had earlier proposed to invest Rs 13,135 crore in its steel project could now invest Rs 22,420 crore.

Single window clearance for L&T’s power project in Dhamara and JSPL’s power project in Dhenkanal district

Bhadrakh, Business Standard, Dhamara- Chandbali- Bhitarakanika, Dhenkanal, Jindal, L & T, Single Window Clearance (SLSWCA), Thermal 1 Comment »

Following is from a report in Business Standard.

The State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) headed by Orissa chief secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy today approved 2 thermal power projects with combined investment of Rs 16,140 crore.

This includes 1680 Mw thermal power project proposed by L &T with an investment of Rs 10,200 crore near Dhamra in Bhadrakh district and 1000Mw thermal power plant proposed by Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) at Bainda in the Dhenkanal district with an investment of Rs 5940 crore.

SLSWCA, which considered 10 proposals in the power and steel sector today approved 2 proposals, rejected two proposals while deferring its decision on the remaining 6 proposals.

The two proposals which were rejected are Surya Chakra Power Company proposing to set up a thermal power plant at Balasore and Adhunik power proposing a thermal power plant at Banto in Bhadrakh district.

Talking to the media after the meeting, A K Meena, managing director, Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation Ltd.(Ipicol) said, due to the non availability of water in different locations some proposals have either been rejected or deferred.

He said, SLSWCA approved the proposal of the L&T Ltd. subject to the condition that the company will use sea water for its plant. Besides, it will have to withdraw the case filed against Orissa government regarding the iron ore lease. It has been suggested that the company will be allowed to sign the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government only after it meets the above two conditions. Similarly, SLSWCA recommended the proposal of the JSPL for setting up a thermal power plant subject to the participation of the company in the creation of water storage capacity in river Mahanadi. The proposals which were deferred are those of Tuff Energy, Tata Sponge Iron Ltd., JR Power Gen Ltd., Poysa Power Project Ltd., Jindal India Thermal Power (capacity expansion) and Lanco group (capacity expansion).

 

Centre NOT to intervene in disposing of a company’s application for mineral concessions in case the State does not take a decision in the prescribed time limit

Chief Minister's actions, MINES and MINERALS Comments Off on Centre NOT to intervene in disposing of a company’s application for mineral concessions in case the State does not take a decision in the prescribed time limit

Following is an excerpt from a report in Steelguru.

…the provision that allows the Centre to intervene in disposing of a company’s application for mineral concessions in case the State does not take a decision in the prescribed time limit is being done away with. This provision was one of the reform recommendations made by the high level committee set up under Mr Anwarul Hoda member of Planning Commission for the mining sector with the objective to woo big investments.

Officials in the Ministry of Mines said that the Indian government has not agreed to the Hoda Committee recommendation on this issue. Officials said that “Constitutionally, State Governments are the owners of all mineral resources in their region. Mineral rich States had opposed the proposal and the Centre has agreed with them.”

Chief Ministers of Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in December 2007 had submitted a joint memorandum to the Prime Minister opposing the power given to the Centre in the draft National Mineral Policy. The chief ministers said that “This approach is fundamentally flawed in so far as bulk minerals like iron ore, bauxite, chromite, limestone, dolomite and manganese are concerned.”

 

Nine projects approved by the Single Window Committee

Dhenkanal, Jindal, Keonjhar, New Indian Express, Indian Express, Financial express, Ore pelletisation, Puri, Single Window Clearance (SLSWCA), Steel, Thermal, Titanium Comments Off on Nine projects approved by the Single Window Committee

Following is an excerpt from a report in expressbuzz.com.

The State-level single window clearance authority (SWCA) today gave approval to nine project proposals worth over Rs 13,000 crore.

The Ashapura Minechem Limited, the largest multi-mineral solution provider in the country and the flagship of Ashapura Group, has evinced interest to set up mineral separation plant in Puri district with an investment of Rs 910 crore. The plant will separate minerals from beach sand and it will produce titanium dioxide, widely used in paints. The project will create employment opportunities for 300 persons, Industries Secretary Ashok Dalwai told mediapersons.

The other new proposal cleared by the SWCA was a 1.2 million tonnes iron ore beneficiation and pelletisation plant by Jaiswal Nicco Industries at Harmote near Barbil in Keonjhar district. The company planned to invest Rs 452 crore and the proposed project would generate employment opportunities to 500 persons.

The proposal of Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) for capacity addition to its existing steel plant from two million tonnes to six million tonne was also approved. The steel production of the plant will be 3 million tonne through DRI (sponge iron) route and another 3 million tonnes through blast furnace route. The company has also proposed to increase the capacity of its thermal power plant from 900 mega watt to 1080 MW. The total investment of the company will increase from Rs 13,135 crore to Rs 22,440 crore.

The authority also cleared the expansion plan of International Mineral Trading Company having a pelletisation plant at Barbil in Keonjhar district. The company proposed to set up an iron ore beneficiation plant of 1.5 million tonne capacity with an investment of Rs 175 crore.

The BRG Iron and Steel Company at Khurunti in Dhenkanal district proposed to increase its steel production capacity from 0.257 MTA to 1.2 MTA with an investment of Rs 960 crore. The project has received environmental clearance.

Shree Metallics also proposed to increase its steel plant capacity from 0.25 MTA to 0.98 MTA with an investment of Rs 709 crore. The other expansion projects include Grewal Associates sponge iron plant at Barbil to 0.25 MTA steel plant and a 15 MW power plant, Dinabandhu Steel and Power for a 0.26 MTA steel plant with 25 MW power plant and Ganesh Metallics for 0.25 MTA steel plant with 16 MW captive power plant.

List of MLAs of Orissa in the 13th assembly

Odisha Assembly Comments Off on List of MLAs of Orissa in the 13th assembly

The following list is from http://ws.ori.nic.in/ola/, click on Assembly Members, and then click on the appropriate assembly.

 

List of Members in the Thirteenth Assembly

 

SL.NO MEMBER NAME CONSTITUENCY NAME PARTY NAME
1 Shri Ajit Hembram    001-KARANJIA (ST) Biju Janata Dal  
2 Shri Shambhu Nath Naik    002-JASHIPUR (ST) Independent  
3 Shri Prahlad Purty    003-BAHALDA(ST) Jharkhand Mukti Morcha  
4 Smt. Droupadi Murmu    004-RAIRANGPUR(ST) Bharatiya Janata Party  
5 Shri Chaitanya Prasad Majhi    005-BANGRIPOSHI(ST) Biju Janata Dal  
6 Shri Sananda Marndi    006-KULIANA(ST) Bharatiya Janata Party  
7 Shri Bimal Lochan Das    007-BARIPADA Jharkhand Mukti Morcha  
8 Smt. Pramila Giri    008-BAISINGA(ST) Bharatiya Janata Party  
9 Shri Golak Bihari Naik    009-KHUNTA(ST) Bharatiya Janata Party  
10 Shri Bhaskar Madhei    010-UDALA(ST) Bharatiya Janata Party  
11 Shri Ananta Das    011-BHOGRAI Biju Janata Dal  
12 Shri Aswini Kumar Patra    012-JALESWAR Bharatiya Janata Party  
13 Shri Raghunath Mohanty    013-BASTA Biju Janata Dal  
14 Shri Arun Dey    014-BALASORE Orissa Gana Parisad  
15 Shri Kartik Mahapatra    015-SORO Indian National Congress  
16 Shri Padmalochan Panda    016-SIMULIA Indian National Congress  
17 Shri Pratap Chandra Sarangi    017-NILGIRI Bharatiya Janata Party  
18 Shri Ananta Sethi    018-BHANDARIPOKHARI(SC) Indian National Congress  
19 Shri Naren Pallai    019-BHADRAK Indian National Congress  
20 Shri Manmohan Samal    020-DHAMNAGAR Bharatiya Janata Party  
21 Shri Netrananda Mallick    021-CHANDBALI(SC) Indian National Congress  
22 Shri Bijayshree Routray    022-BASUDEVPUR Biju Janata Dal  
23 Shri Prafulla Chandra Ghadai    023-SUKINDA Biju Janata Dal  
24 Smt. Sanchita Mohanty    024-KORAI Bharatiya Janata Party  
25 Dr. Parameswar Sethi    025-JAJPUR(SC) Biju Janata Dal  
26 Shri Kalpataru Das    026-DHARAMSALA Biju Janata Dal  
27 Shri Sitakanta Mohapatra    027-BARCHANA Indian National Congress  
28 Shri Debasis Nayak    028-BARI-DERABISI Biju Janata Dal  
29 Smt. Pramila Mallik    029-BINJHARPUR(SC) Biju Janata Dal  
30 Shri Pratap Keshari Deb(Aul)    030-AUL Biju Janata Dal  
31 Shri Kishore Chandra Tarai    031-PATAMUNDAI(SC) Biju Janata Dal  
32 Shri Nalinikanta Mohanty    032-RAJNAGAR Indian National Congress  
33 Shri Utkal Keshari Parida    033-KENDRAPARA Orissa Gana Parisad  
34 Shri Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak    034-PATKURA Biju Janata Dal  
35 Shri Chiranjib Biswal    035-TIRTOL Indian National Congress  
36 Dr. Damodar Rout    036-ERSAMA Biju Janata Dal  
37 Shri Umesh Chandra Swain    037-BALIKUDA Indian National Congress  
38 Shri Bishnu Charan Das    038-JAGATSINGHPUR(SC) Biju Janata Dal  
39 Shri Pratap Jena    039-KISSANNAGAR Biju Janata Dal  
40 Shri Bikram Keshari Barma    040-MAHANGA Biju Janata Dal  
41 Shri Kalindi Behera    041-SALEPUR(SC) Biju Janata Dal  
42 Shri Rabindra Kumar Mallick    042-GOBINDPUR Indian National Congress  
43 Shri Pravat Ranjan Biswal    043-CUTTACK SADAR Independent  
44 Shri Samir Dey    044-CUTTACK CITY Bharatiya Janata Party  
45 Shri Dharmananda Behera    045-CHOUDWAR Biju Janata Dal  
46 Dr. Debasis Pattnaik    046-BANKI Indian National Congress  
47 Shri Ranendra Pratap Swain    047-ATHGARH Biju Janata Dal  
48 Shri Debi Prasad Mishra    048-BARAMBA Biju Janata Dal  
49 Shri Sashibhusan Behera    049-BALIPATANA(SC) Biju Janata Dal  
50 Shri Biswabhusan Harichandan    050-BHUBANESWAR Bharatiya Janata Party  
51 Shri Sarat Paikaray    051-JATNI Biju Janata Dal  
52 Shri Pradeep Maharathy    052-PIPLI Biju Janata Dal  
53 Shri Baidhar Mallick    053-NIMAPARA(SC) Bharatiya Janata Party  
54 Shri Surendra Nath Naik    054-KAKATPUR Biju Janata Dal  
55 Shri Ramaranjan Baliarsingh    055-SATYABADI Independent  
56 Shri Maheswar Mohanty    056-PURI Biju Janata Dal  
57 Shri Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra    057-BRAHMAGIRI Indian National Congress  
58 Dr. Bibhuti Bhusan Harichandan    058-CHILKA Bharatiya Janata Party  
59 Shri Jyotirindra Nath Mitra    059-KHURDA Biju Janata Dal  
60 Shri Janaki Ballav Patnaik    060-BEGUNIA Indian National Congress  
61 Smt. Surama Padhy    061-RANPUR Bharatiya Janata Party  
62 Shri Arun Kumar Sahoo    062-NAYAGARH Biju Janata Dal  
63 Smt. Bijayalaxmi Pattnaik    063-KHANDAPARA Independent  
64 Shri Rudra Madhab Ray    064-DASPALLA Independent  
65 Shri Madhaba Nanda Behera    065-JAGANATHPRASAD(SC) Biju Janata Dal  
66 Shri Bikram Keshari Arukha    066-BHANJANAGAR Biju Janata Dal  
67 Shri Kishore Chandra Singh Deo    067-SURUDA Bharatiya Janata Party  
68 Shri Saroj Kumar Padhi    068-ASKA Independent  
69 Shri Ladu Kishore Swain    069-KAVISURYANAGAR Biju Janata Dal  
70 Shri Niranjan Pradhan    070-KODALA Biju Janata Dal  
71 Smt. V. Sugnana Kumari Deo    071-KHALLIKOTE Biju Janata Dal  
72 Shri Nagireddi Narayan Reddy    072-CHATRAPUR Communist Party of India  
73 Shri Naveen Patnaik    073-HINJILI Biju Janata Dal  
74 Dr. Trinath Behera    074-GOPALPUR(SC) Indian National Congress  
75 Dr. Ramesh Chandra Chyau Patnaik    075-BERHAMPUR Biju Janata Dal  
76 Smt. Usha Devi    076-CHIKITI Biju Janata Dal  
77 Shri Surjya Narayana Patro    077-MOHANA Biju Janata Dal  
78 Shri Bharat Paik    078-RAMAGIRI (ST) Bharatiya Janata Party  
79 Shri Trinath Sahu    079-PARLAKHEMUNDI Indian National Congress  
80 Smt. Hema Gomang    080-GUNUPUR(ST) Indian National Congress  
81 Shri Dambarudhar Ulaka    081-BISSAM-CUTTACK(ST) Indian National Congress  
82 Shri Ulaka Rama Chandra    082-RAYAGADA(ST) Indian National Congress  
83 Late Anantaram Majhi (Expired on 25/11/2007)    083-LAKSHMIPUR(ST) Indian National Congress  
84 Shri Purna Chandra Majhi(Bye)    083-LAKSHMIPUR(ST) Indian National Congress  
85 Shri Jayaram Pangi    084-POTTANGI (ST) Biju Janata Dal  
86 Shri Tara Prasad Bahinipati    085-KORAPUT Indian National Congress  
87 Shri Nimai Chandra Sarkar    086-MALKANGIRI(SC) Indian National Congress  
88 Shri Prahlad Dora    087-CHITRAKONDA(ST) Bharatiya Janata Party  
89 Shri Basudev Majhi    088-KOTPAD(ST) Indian National Congress  
90 Shri Rabi Narayan Nanda    089-JEYPORE Biju Janata Dal  
91 Shri Habibulla Khan    090-NOWRANGPUR Indian National Congress  
92 Shri Sadan Nayak(Kodinga)    091-KODINGA(ST) Indian National Congress  
93 Shri Ramesh Chandra Majhi    092-DABUGAM(ST) Biju Janata Dal  
94 Shri Dharmu Gond    093-UMERKOTE(ST) Bharatiya Janata Party  
95 Shri Rajendra Dholkia    094-NAWAPARA Independent  
96 Shri Duryodhan Majhi    095-KHARIAR Biju Janata Dal  
97 Shri Bira Sipka    096-DHARAMGARH(SC) Biju Janata Dal  
98 Shri Puspendra Singh Deo    097-KOKSARA Biju Janata Dal  
99 Shri Himansu Sekhar Meher    098-JUNAGARH Bharatiya Janata Party  
100 Shri Pradipta Kumar Naik    099-BHAWANIPATNA(SC) Bharatiya Janata Party  
101 Shri Balabhadra Majhi    100-NARLA(ST) Biju Janata Dal  
102 Shri Dhaneswar Majhi    101-KESINGA Bharatiya Janata Party  
103 Shri Karendra Majhi    102-BALLIGUDA(ST) Bharatiya Janata Party  
104 Smt. Ajayanti Pradhan    103-UDAYAGIRI(ST) Indian National Congress  
105 Shri Padmanabha Behera    104-PHULBANI (SC) Biju Janata Dal  
106 Shri Pradip Kumar Amat    105-BOUDH Biju Janata Dal  
107 Shri Jogendra Behera    106-TITILAGARH(SC) Biju Janata Dal  
108 Haji. Md. Ayub Khan    107-KANTABANJI Independent  
109 Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo    108-PATNAGARH Bharatiya Janata Party  
110 Shri Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo    109-SAINTALA Biju Janata Dal  
111 Shri Narasingha Mishra(Loisingha)    110-LOISINGHA Indian National Congress  
112 Shri Ananga Udaya Singh Deo    111-BOLANGIR Biju Janata Dal  
113 Shri Binod Patra    112-SONEPUR(SC) Indian National Congress  
114 Shri Niranjan Pujari    113-BINKA Biju Janata Dal  
115 Shri Sanjeeb Kumar Sahoo    114-BIRMAHARAJPUR Biju Janata Dal  
116 Shri Nagendra Kumar Pradhan    115-ATHMALLIK Biju Janata Dal  
117 Shri Rajani Kant Singh    116-ANGUL Biju Janata Dal  
118 Smt. Anjali Behera    117-HINDOL (SC) Biju Janata Dal  
119 Shri Sudhir Kumar Samal    118-DHENKANAL Indian National Congress  
120 Shri Saroj Kumar Samal    119-GONDIA Biju Janata Dal  
121 Shri Prafulla Kumar Mallik    120-KAMAKHYANAGAR Biju Janata Dal  
122 Dr. Nrushingha Sahu    121-PALLAHARA Indian National Congress  
123 Shri Mahesh Sahoo    122-TALCHER(SC) Bharatiya Janata Party  
124 Shri Satya Bhusan Sahu    123-PADAMPUR Indian National Congress  
125 Mohammad Rafique    124-MELCHHAMUNDA Bharatiya Janata Party  
126 Shri Subal Sahu    125-BIJEPUR Indian National Congress  
127 Shri Bimbadhar Kuanr    126-BHATLI(SC) Bharatiya Janata Party  
128 Shri Ananda Acharya    127-BARGARH Biju Janata Dal  
129 Shri Jayanarayan Mishra    128-SAMBALPUR Bharatiya Janata Party  
130 Shri Anup Kumar Sai    129-BRAJARAJNAGAR Indian National Congress  
131 Shri Kishore Kumar Mohanty    130-JHARSUGUDA Biju Janata Dal  
132 Shri Brundaban Majhi    131-LAIKERA(ST) Bharatiya Janata Party  
133 Shri Rabinarayan Naik(Kuchinda)    132-KUCHINDA (ST) Bharatiya Janata Party  
134 Shri Sanatan Bisi    133-RAIRAKHOL (SC) Biju Janata Dal  
135 Shri Nitesh Ganga Deb    134-DEOGARH Indian National Congress  
136 Smt. Sushama Patel(Bye)    135-SUNDARGARH Bharatiya Janata Party  
137 Late Shankarsan Naik (Expired on 11/01/2005)    135-SUNDARGARH Bharatiya Janata Party  
138 Late Gajadhar Majhi (Expired on 20/05/2006)    136-TALSARA(ST) Indian National Congress  
139 Dr. Prafulla Majhi(Bye)    136-TALSARA(ST) Indian National Congress  
140 Shri Gregory Minz    137-RAJGANGPUR(ST) Indian National Congress  
141 Shri Nihar Surin    138-BIRAMITRAPUR(ST) Jharkhand Mukti Morcha  
142 Shri Sarada Prasad Nayak    139-ROURKELA Biju Janata Dal  
143 Shri Halu Mundari    140-RAGHUNATHPALI (ST) Jharkhand Mukti Morcha  
144 Shri Laxman Munda    141-BONAI(ST) Communist Party of India (Marxist)  
145 Shri Dhanurjaya Sidu    142-CHAMPUA(ST) Indian National Congress  
146 Shri Gourahari Naik    143-PATNA (ST) Bharatiya Janata Party  
147 Shri Mohan Charan Majhi    144-KEONJHAR(ST) Bharatiya Janata Party  
148 Shri Niladri Nayak    145-TELKOI (ST) Biju Janata Dal  
149 Shri Niranjan Patnaik    146-RAMACHANDRAPUR Indian National Congress  
150 Shri Jayadev Jena    147-ANANDAPUR(SC) Indian National Congress  

Factories will be required to hire 90% employees from Orissa: Samaja

INDUSTRY and INFRASTRUCTURE, Odisha govt. action 1 Comment »

HLCA clears more projects

Aluminium, Bhadrakh, Business Standard, Cuttack, Dhamara- Chandbali- Bhitarakanika, Dhenkanal, High Level Committee, Hydro, Solar and other renewable, Jajpur Rd- Vyasanagar- Duburi- Kalinganagar, Jharsugurha- Brajarajnagar- Belpahar, Keonjhar, NALCO, NTPC, Ore pelletisation, Puri, Sambalpur, Sambaplur- Burla- Bargarh- Chipilima, Steel, Thermal 1 Comment »

Following is from a report in Business standard:

The Orissa government today cleared projects worth Rs 1,27, 727 crore in steel, aluminium, power, downstream and ore beneficiation sectors.

The list includes 3 projects in the steel sector, 2 projects in the aluminium sector, 6 projects in the power sector, one downstream unit, and two beneficiation and pelletisation units.

… enhancement of the steel capacity of Jindal Stainless Limited (JSL) from 1.6 million tonne per annum (mtpa) to 3.2 mtpa at Kalinganagr Industrial Complex at an investment of Rs 16,266 crore and enhancement of capacity of Visa Steel in the same location from 0.35 mtpa to 1.5 mtpa at an investment of Rs 4995 crore were approved by HLCA.

The public sector aluminum major Nalco’s proposal to set up a 0.5 mtpa alumina smelter and 1260 mw power plant in two phases (840Mw + 420 Mw) at an investment of Rs 16,345.89 crore was also approved. Though the company preferred to set up the project at Brajarajnagar, the location might change. The company is seeking 275.30 hectares of land for the smelter and 575.7 hectares for the power plant.

Similarly, the proposal of the Navayuga Steels for setting up a 12 mtpa port based steel complex at Astaranga in Puri district at an investment of Rs 34,000 crore was cleared by the HLCA. The project will come up in 4 phases and the government will not commit any raw material linkage to it.

Though the company requires 4000 acres of land, the government will assess the land requirement as per the benchmarking report after the company submits the detailed project report (DPR), the minister added.

The public sector National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) was given the green signal to set up a 3200 Mw coal based mega power plant at an investment of Rs19,840 crore near the village Gajamara in Dhenkanal district. It requires about 3000 acres of land for the project and will source water from Mahanadi.

However, Jindal Stainless’ proposal to set up 1000 Mw Independent Power Producer (IPP) at an investment of Rs 4090 crore in the same location did not find favour with HLCA with the committee asking the company to change the site of the project.

Other projects which received the nod of HLCA are Rs 6800 crore investment proposal of RSB Metal-tech for setting up 1.4 mtpa alumina refinery, 0.35 mtpa aluminium smelter and 900 Mw CPP at an investment of Rs 6800 crore, Kalinga Energy’s 1000Mw thermal power project at an investment of Rs 4261 crore at Babuchakuli, Arati Steel’s 500Mw thermal power project at Ghantikhal in Cuttack district, Rs 4994 crore investment proposal of Chambal Infrastructures and Ventures Limited for setting up of 1200Mw thermal power plant at Siaria in Dhenkanal district.

Besides, Hyderabad based Lanco Solar’s 250 Mw fully integrated plant to manufacture crystalline silicon solar cells at an investment of Rs 2800 crore in Dhenkanal district, Bhushan Power and Steel Limited (BPSL)’s downstream and ancillary complex in Sambalpur district at an investment of Rs 1953.87 crore, JSW Steel’s proposal to set up 7 mtpa iron ore beneficiation plant and 5 mtpa pelletisation plant at Kamalang in Sundergarh district at an investment of Rs 1450 crore were through in today’s meeting.

Besides, the proposal of Welspun Orissa Steel to set up a 4.5 mtpa beneficiation plant at Nayagarh in Keonjhar district and 4.4 mtpa pellet plant at Dhamra in Bhadrakh district with an envisaged investment of Rs 1963 crore, the proposal of Astaranga Power Company to set up a 2460 Mw power plant at Astaranga at an estimated cost of Rs 11,200 crore were approved by the HLCA.

However, the decision on the 700 mw (Rs 1007crore) power plant proposal of Ind Bharat Energy, 1320 mw (Rs 5604 crore) power plant proposal of Sahara India Power Corporation and the 1100 Mw (Rs 4810 crore ) power plant proposal of Visaka Thermal were deferred.

Orissa seeks long term solution for Kandhamala problem: Hindu

Kandhamala, NH 217 (438 Kms: Chhattisgarh Border - Khariar Rd - Nuapada - Khariar - Titlagarh - Ramapur - Baligurha - Asika - Brahmapur - Gopalpur), Odisha govt. action 1 Comment »

Following is an from a PTI report in Hindu.

Orissa government has asked the Centre to adopt a long term plan for Kandhamal, prone to ethno-communal violence instead of seeking any quick solution, official sources said on Tuesday.

Orissa’s suggestion came after the high-level central team headed by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, which visited Kandhamal today, sought to know what assistance was needed in mitigating the problems there.

"The Centre wants to support Orissa in building confidence among all sections of the people in Kandhamal," Pawar told reporters after the team arrived here yesterday.

Identifying backwardness in education, lack of connectivity and poor livelihood means as the cause behind the ethno-communal violence in Kandhamal, Orissa government asked the Centre to set up a campus of the National Tribal University, Amarkantak at Phulbani, the district headquarter town.

"As scheduled tribes constitute 52 per cent of Kandhamal’s population, it is proposed to have one Ekalavya model residential school (EMRS) in each block to cater to the needs of tribal children," a report sbubmitted to the central team by the state government said.

This apart, the state government also asked for at least six schedule caste hostels to cater the children of SCs who comprise 17 per cent of the total population in the district .

Stating that connectivity was the main obstacle for the administration proper deployment of security force, it said NH 217 which passed through Kandhamal need to be double laned.

Orissa govt. should not violate its own policies in granting mining leases to Arcelor Mittal (or any one for that matter) in advance

Arcelor Mittal, Giving industries a bad name, Keonjhar, Odisha govt. action, State Bureaucrats (IAS, OAS, etc.) 1 Comment »

It is often mentioned that the Orissa government has a policy of not recommending mine prospective licenses to companies until they have invested certain percentage of their whole budget in ground. It seems both POSCO and Arcelor Mittal are pushing the Orissa government to overlook this policy. Orissa government should not do that. In particular, after reading the following, from expressbuzz.com I have a bad feeling towards Arcelor Mittal.  

BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to put pressure on the State Government for mines, Arcelor-Mittal, the largest steel maker of the world, Monday said the company will submit a detailed project report (DPR) for 12 million tonnes greenfield steel project in Keonjhar district only after it gets recommendation for prospecting licence.

‘We will submit the DPR if the Government recommends our name for mines,’ chief executive officer of the company’s greenfield projects Sanak Mishra told mediapersons after meeting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Official sources, however, said the company is yet to fulfil the procedural prerequisites for getting mines for the steel project.

A two-member delgation of the company comprising Mishra and Vijay Nagar CEO (India) Vijay Bhatnagar was explained the procedure to be followed before requesting for mines.

… Bhatnagar said raising finance for new projects has become difficult in view of the meltdown. On land acquisition, he said it depends on the cooperation of the people. Gram Sabha (village committee meeting) has been completed in three out of 15 revenue villages. A meeting with the people of the remaining villages will be held soon.

Sources said the company is facing opposition from the villagers who want land price to be decided before convening the gram sabha. The price quoted by the affected villagers is reportedly not acceptable to the company.

As per the MoU, the company requires 7,750 acres of land for the project. About 1,400 acres of the proposed site are forest land which requires conversion. Construction work for the project will start as and when a substantial protion of land is acquired, Bhatnagar said.

Bharat Biotech of Hyderabad selected to develop the Biotech-Pharma-IT Park in Bhubaneswar under PPP

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, BioTech, Pharma, IDCO, Investment Regions, IT, IT, Back office, BPO, Khordha, Odisha govt. action, Others, PPP 1 Comment »

Following is from a report in livemint.

… Bharat Biotech International Ltd, a producer of vaccines and biotherapeutics announced that the Orissa government has selected the company as the developer for its ‘Biotech-Pharma-IT Park’ project under public-private-partnership (PPP) mode.

The proposed industrial park is coming up on a 54.86 acre land located at Mouza-Andharua in Bhubaneswar.
BBIL will promote a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to undertake the integrated industrial park. The project is estimated to cost Rs100 crore and is slated to be complete in eight years, a press release issued here stated.

“Our task is to focus on rapid development of this park by developing core infrastructure and technology to enable establishment of new companies whereby new local entrepreneurs in the biotechnology field will be created,” BBIL Chairman and Managing Director Krishna Ella said in the release.

About 10 acre land, within the park, is earmarked for development of biotechnology incubation centre, which will be funded by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, for the equipment or instrumentation.

A formal lease-cum-development agreement will be signed between the SPV and Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO).

The Orissa government and IDCO, in principle, have agreed to provide all the external infrastructure facilities like power supply, water supply among others, the release added.

Kharabela Swain, MP from Orissa, has the guts to point out Lalu Yadav’s partiality

Odisha MPs, Railway network in Odisha, Railways 1 Comment »

Following is an excerpt from a the Lok Sabha transcript of 20th October 2008.

SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN (BALASORE): What he has done? He has taken one railway factory to his constituency, another factory to his wife’s constituency, and the third one to the UPA Chairperson’s constituency. … (Interruptions) We are nowhere.  Shall we be eligible to get any rail factory any time in life? … (Interruptions) People say that now-a-days jobs are being given in the Railways by taking land from them. … (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN: Please go to your seat. Let the Minister reply. I will give him time.

… (Interruptions)

SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN (BALASORE): Even now the Ministers in the Government are becoming Ministers by giving land in this country. … (Interruptions)

1707 hours

(At this stage, Shri Ram Kripal Yadav and some other hon. Members

 came and stood near the Table.)

… (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN: If you do not go, I have no other way but to adjourn the House. If you want me to adjourn the House, then I will adjourn it.

… (Interruptions)

SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN (BALASORE): It is because of this only. … (Interruptions) This is happening and nothing else. I strongly object to what is being done by the Railways. … (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN: Please go to your seats. If you do not go, I have no other way but to adjourn the House.

          The House stands adjourned to meet tomorrow, the 21st October, 2008 at 11 a.m.

One wonder if Lalu Yadav is the Minister of Railways for India or the Minister of Railways for UPA or the Minister of Railways for Bihar?

Thirteen projects cleared by Single Window Committee

Bhadrakh, Cement, Hydro, Solar and other renewable, Jharsugurha, Keonjhar, Ore pelletisation, POWER: generation, distribution, and management, Puri, Sambalpur, Single Window Clearance (SLSWCA), Steel, Sundergarh, Thermal Comments Off on Thirteen projects cleared by Single Window Committee

Following is an excerpt from a report in Financial Express.

Orissa government’s Single Window Committee on Thursday cleared 13 industrial projects involving a total investment of Rs 27,193 crore. It includes three power projects, one steel, two cement, five iron ore beneficiation and pelletisation, on photo cell and one brewery projects.

… The big-ticket projects recommended to HLCC are Visakha Thermal Power Plant, Hind Bharat Energy, Lanco Solar, JSW Steel, Bhusan Power & Steel Ltd, Astarang Power Company Ltd and Welspun Steel Ltd.

While Astarang Power Company Ltd is planning to set up a 2640 mw plant in Puri district with an investment of Rs 11,200 crore, Visakha is proposing to set up an 1100 mw plant in Bhadrak district entailing an investment of Rs 4800 crore. The Hind Bharat Energy is proposing to enhance the capacity of its power project at Jharsuguda to 700 mw from 250 mw investing Rs 3150 crore. Bhusan Power & Steel, on the other hand, is setting up steel facilities for cold rolling steel, wire, rod, galvanised steel besides cement at Sambalpur, with an investment of Rs 2000 crore.

Welspun has plans to set up a 4.5m tonne per annum (mtpa) iron ore beneficiation and pelletisation plant in Bhadrak district with an investment of Rs 1900 crore. Simultaneously, JSWA is proposing to set up a 7 mtpa iron ore beneficiation plants and a 5 mtpa pelletisation plant in Sundergarh district investing Rs 1450 crore.

Among the projects cleared by the panel, Bhusan Steel Ltd is going to put up facilities for 4 mtpa iron ore beneficiation and pelletisation in Keonjhar district with an investment of Rs 850 crore.

 

Tangarpada auction: Combining financial and technical bids to determine the winner (Sambada)

Chromite, Mine auction, Mining royalty, Odisha govt. action, Sambada (in Odia), Supreme Court, Value Addition Comments Off on Tangarpada auction: Combining financial and technical bids to determine the winner (Sambada)

In http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/archives/1616 we discussed a report regarding auctioning of minerals. The following article in Sambada illusrtates with numbers that the best way to go would be to decide the winner of the auction based on evaluating the financial and technical bid together and determining which one offers the state the maximum revenue. (Later when time permits I will translate the article into English.)

Auctioning of minerals is the way to go?

Chromite, Iron Ore, MINES and MINERALS, Odisha govt. action, OMC, Value Addition Comments Off on Auctioning of minerals is the way to go?

The following excerpts from a news item from tathya.in illustrates the difference between the state’s income due to only royalties and through auction.

In 2002 the IDCOL made an abortive attempt to give away the mines to Jindal Stainless at a throw away considerations ignoring higher bids by Tata Steel and Visa Industries.

The ill-conceived move by the bureaucrats was foiled by the Orissa High Court, which passed adverse comments regarding the Government of Orissa attempt to compromise public interest in the deal.

Both the State Government and IDCOL appealed before the apex court to get relief with considerable cost and time.

Supreme Court’s order for re-bidding how ever has now materialized.

To the amazement of every one Jindal Stainless which had offered a sum of Rs.38 per ton has now come up with a bid of Rs.3000 per ton for ore having 48 per cent chromium.

And on average they have offered per ton Rs.900.

Visa Industries has out bid Jindal Stainless with an offer of Rs.7000 per ton of chrome having 48 per cent of chromium content.

Even assuming the changes in the commodity prices which have taken place in last 5 years is too much than the price offered earlier.

The colossal loss to the flagship Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), IDCOL can be well imagined if the Jindal Stainless had succeeded in 2002.

Now with opening the financial bids of the participants, it underscores the point that the State Government’s Policy for leasing out the mineral resources of the state is faulty and not at all in the best interest of the state, said a financial analyst.

To take the advantage of high price in demand of metals and minerals in the international market, corporate giants and multinationals like POSCO, Arcelor- Mittal, Essar, Vedanta, Jindal, Bhusan and many others are flocking to Orissa to corner mining leases.

The State Government  … Yet they do not learn from the Tangarpada experience.

Under the MMDR Act, mines can be reserved for the PSUs and leased out to the State owned companies like IDCOL and OMC.

These PSU can auction the mines among the credible parties after floating world tender for value addition and derive bonanza.

Till date no body knows about the “Policy of Value Addition” of the Government of Orissa.

The Policy should come up immediately and it should be implemented in letter and spirit for the interest of the state.

The positive changes of Policy will not effect industrialization, but it will give substantially higher rate of revenue to the state exchequer as demonstrated in case of Tangarpada.

The state’s entire requirement of funds for eradicating poverty and developing the state can be generated with the policy change, said a former Union Minister.

However there is no effort in this direction.

…  Instead of Centre bashing the State Government should make efforts to maximize revenue from mineral resources through PSU mode, observed a former Secretary of the Government of India.

Definitely the state can earn much more on just the minerals by leasing it to state companies like OMC and IDCOL and then letting those companies auction the mineral. The possible negative of completely following that approach, especially with respect to iron ore, is that the winner of the auction can then take the ore and set up plants in other states. If that happens Orissa will lose out on the side developments associated with plants such as infrastructure building, jobs and the tax that the state can get from the companies.

What the state should do is to try for the best of both worlds. I.e., offer other facilities and enticements to keep the companies in the state but go the route of auction. What other facilities and enticements can the state offer?  Orissa being on the coast, availability of ports nearby is an important factor and it is good that the state is working on the development of many ports and railway lines to those ports. Easy availability of land for the companies will help. More thoughts need to be put in this direction.

There is a chance that some companies will not set up shop in Orissa under these conditions; but these days there seems to be a lot of companies who want to set shop. So perhaps the time has come for the state to change its approach of leasing mines to attract companies to auctioning minerals via IDCOL and OMC and using other methods to attract value addition companies.

Orissa in Transition: From Fiscal Turnaround to Rapid and Inclusive Growth (Forthcoming World Bank Study)

Best practices, CENTER & ODISHA, INDUSTRY and INFRASTRUCTURE, INVESTMENTS and INVESTMENT PLANS, Odisha govt. action, World Bank 1 Comment »

The following is from http://go.worldbank.org/F6WBERON80. See  also this Telegraph report.

Orissa in Transition

From Fiscal Turnaround to Rapid and Inclusive Growth 

Forthcoming World Bank Study

 

Overview: Orissa has transformed from a seriously lagging state to a state on the move

 

From being the poorest state of India in the mid 1990s, Orissa has become a state on the move.  The state’s economy has shifted gear and is on a higher growth trajectory.  Gross state domestic product (GSDP) has grown at 8.5 percent on average during the Tenth Plan period (2002-07), compared to 5.5 percent during the previous plan (1997-2002) and even slower in the past. 

 

Public investments in infrastructure have begun to rise, and private industrial investment is booming. The finances of the state have improved remarkably, creating fiscal space for expanding public investments. 

 

Private investment is booming: Indian and foreign mega investments in the steel and power sectors and aluminum and chrome products are dominating the private investment boom. Industry has grown at 20 percent annually in 2002-07, compared to only 6 percent in 1997-2002.  This is fuelled, in part, by the rise in world metal prices. Since 2004, Orissa has ranked as the country’s premier investment destination, according to the Center for Monitoring the Indian Economy (CMIE).

 

Private investments under implementation in Orissa now total about US$125 billion – which is about seven times the state’s annual gross domestic product (GSDP).  Many of these investments are at an advanced stage and expected to start production before 2012/13. This makes it likely that Orissa will enjoy high double digit growth, faster than the rest of India, for several years to come.

 

Early signs of economic diversification: There are also some, albeit early signs of economic diversification. In the services sector for instance, Indian IT companies are entering Orissa as traditionally favored destinations become increasingly saturated. The services sector is now growing at a rapid clip, almost touching 10 percent. Even agriculture, traditionally beset by drought and floods, grew at 3 percent per year during 2002-07, which is better than the rest of India.

 

As a result, Orissa’s per-capita income, which progressively fell behind the rest of the country during the past five decades, has begun to catch up. Inequalities within Orissa have also narrowed.   The latest National Sample Survey data show that rural families in the southern region of the state – one of the poorest parts of the country without the mineral deposits of the north – are now spending up to 25 percent more on basic necessities like food, clothing, and schooling for their children, compared to just five years ago.  Although average spending in rural Orissa is still low, it is moving up more rapidly than ever before.

 

A great deal still remains to be done

 

Second poorest state in the country: Despite recent progress, however, Orissa is still the second poorest state in the country with one of the lowest levels of urbanization. Over 45 percent of its people live in poverty with the scheduled tribes (STs) – who make up a sizeable 22 percent of the state’s population – lagging far behind the rest of the population. Most STs live in tiny villages or remote habitations in the hills where their geographical isolation underlies much of their poverty. Rural electrification is among the lowest in the country; some 18,000 villages and 5 million households have yet to get electricity. Learning levels in schools are low, and the burden of ill health too high.

 

Capacity constraints in infrastructure: Capacity constraints in rail are increasing congestion on roads, and limited port capacity is diverting cargo from Paradip in Orissa to Haldia in West Bengal, and Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The state has yet to capitalize on its large coastline facing South East Asia.

 

Undoubtedly, much remains to be done. Given the state’s recent growth, the time is now ripe to consolidate the gains of the past and devote public resources to building infrastructure, and reducing the gaps between the people – between rural and urban, between the interior and the coast, and between the scheduled tribes and the rest of the population.



Policies will need to unleash the full potential of agriculture, fisheries and forestry on which an overwhelming 85 percent of the state’s people depend. Education and health will need urgent attention if the people are to benefit from the growing opportunities provided by the new economy. Roads, railways and ports will need major upgrades if the benefits of growth are to be spread more equitably and the state’s natural resources effectively utilized. And, for all this to happen, the accountability of the government in the delivery of basic services must be increased.

 

While Orissa seeks to industrialize on the strength of its rich mineral wealth, it is important to ensure that those who live on mineral-rich land benefit adequately from the advent of large mineral-based industries. While the Orissa government has adopted a progressive rehabilitation and resettlement policy for the displaced, and legislated to ensure that a share of company profits are earmarked for development, the challenge ahead lies in   the effective implementation of these promising policies.

 

As Orissa strives to build for the future and surpass average Indian living standards by 2020, it can take productive lessons from its recent successes. The open and consultative process that has served it well in the past will be necessary to deal effectively with the complex issues that lie ahead on the road to modernization.

 

Reforms Spur Faster Economic Growth

 

Since 2001,Orissa has achieved a remarkable fiscal turnaround. The ratio of the state’s debt burden to annual GDP has fallen significantly, helping it transform from being one of the most fiscally-stressed states of the country in the late 1990s, with a primary (non-interest) fiscal deficit of 6 percent of GSDP, to a surplus of 3.4 percent.

 

The turnaround has been triggered by a number of factors. Policy reforms at the central and state level have spurred the arrival of industry, the state government’s strong resolve has helped to complete long pending infrastructure projects despite a resource crunch, and its consultative approach has enabled it to reduce expenditures:

National level reforms: The central government’s elimination of the freight equalization subsidy – that prevented Orissa from becoming an attractive location for mineral based manufacturing in the past – paved the way for arrival of the metal industry in the state.

State government efforts to improve the investment climate: This was followed by a wave of well-sequenced state level reforms. In the first instance, from 2000 to 2003, the government mainly concentrated on raising its revenues through tax reforms and improving the investment climate by simplifying the regulations.

 

Between 2004 and 2006, it undertook significant measures to contain unproductive public expenditures. Through a consultative and transparent process, the state government took the people on board in its efforts to rightsize the civil service, retrench employees of loss making public enterprises, and rationalize grants to non-government high schools and colleges. The growing private sector presence that had already begun to open up new job opportunities for the people, helped gain their acceptance for the government’s efforts to downsize the public sector.

Improved connectivity: Strong resolve and a focus on outcomes rather than outlays helped the government to complete long-pending construction projects – roads, bridges and irrigation canals – despite constrained budgets. As a result, the number of bridges completed rose from 19 in 2004 to over 100 in 2006.

 

CHALLENGES AHEAD:

Over 45 percent of Orissa’s people still live in poverty with almost half of them belonging to the Scheduled Tribes, most of whom live in remote villages with little migration to the cities. There are large gaps in the delivery of basic services. The state still has large untapped potential for economic growth.

 

Improved transport and power connectivity: Almost half the villages in Orissa are small and isolated – with less than 500 residents. As geographical isolation poses a big challenge for connectivity, adequate road, rail, and port infrastructure is essential for inclusive growth as well as to benefit from the state’s mineral endowments.

 

Urban infrastructure: Although Orissa has one of India‘s lowest levels of urbanization – 15% – its urban centers are growing rapidly. With the growing advent of industry, tourism and IT services, the demand for urban housing, water and power services is likely to increase many times over. Massive upgrading of urban infrastructure is therefore needed to attract and retain the skilled labor force demanded by modern industry and services.

 

Agricultural and forestry growth: While some 85% of the state’s population remains dependent on agriculture, fisheries and forestry, these sectors are beset by low yields, excessive middlemen, poor connectivity, and lack of storage facilities. The ban on land leasing has resulted in informal and illegal share-cropping arrangements that are harmful to cultivators. To improve the rates of return from farming, the state has amended the agricultural products marketing act to permit privately run mandis and contract farming. The computerization of land records is ongoing. Yet, reforms in land tenure and land administration are needed so that small farmers can access bank credit and make productive investments in the land. For the mostly tribal populations that are dependent on forest produce, joint forest management practices can be a promising route to higher incomes.

 

Education: While school enrollment has risen, learning levels remain very low. While the state government has launched bold measures to improve teacher accountability, strong educational fundamentals from the earliest years, supplemented by some public and mostly private efforts in training and skill development are needed.

 

Health: Despite dramatic improvements in overall infant mortality rates in the past 5–10 years, the predominantly tribal districts lag behind. They have the poorest immunization rates and least access to antenatal care. While the state government’s health sector plan for 2005 envisages a decentralized and participatory approach to service delivery, innovative and flexible approaches will be required to reach geographically isolated villages. Importantly, systems of accountability will need to be strengthened before budget allocations to education, healthcare, and anti-poverty programs are increased.

 

Small and Medium Enterprises: With the arrival of new mega projects, the demand for a wide range of goods and services will rise, generating opportunities for small investors as well as new avenues for employment. To capitalize on these opportunities, an improved regulatory climate for SMEs is called for.  

Environmental considerations while tapping mineral rich areas: Given that mineral-based industries impact the environment, there is need to strengthen environmental institutions. Ongoing plans and current efforts of the government toward strengthening public consultation mechanisms will play a crucial role in determining the sustainability of mineral sector investments in Orissa.

 

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

 

 

1. How many people have been brought out of poverty in recent years?

 

Between 1999/00 and 2004/05, based on NSS data estimates using ‘mixed reference period’, the proportion of people in poverty in rural Orissa declined by 8 percentage points compared to 5 percentage points in rural India as a whole. Despite this progress, however, the level of poverty in Orissa remains significantly higher than the rest of India.

 

According to the latest calculation based on official figures released recently by the Planning Commission, the number of poor in Orissa has come down by about 1.5 million between 1999/00 and 2004/05.  This figure will feature in the final Bank report.

 

 

2. By how much has Orissa’s economy grown in recent years?

 

The rate of economic growth depends on the period one considers. According to the latest data released by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Orissa, the state GDP grew at 10.5 percent annually on average during the most recent five years, that is 2003/04 to 2007/08.  During the Tenth Five-Year Plan period, that is 2002/03 to 2006/07, the average growth rate was 8.5 percent.  Clearly, Orissa, which grew much slower than the rest of India during the 1990s, has now caught up.  From about 2004 onwards, it has begun to overtake the national average.

 

3. What is the state’s current debt burden?

 

How the debt burden has moved can be appreciated by comparing not rupee figures but the ratio of the debt burden to annual GDP or annual revenue. As a proportion of revenue, Orissa’s debt has fallen from 343 percent in 2001/02 to 201 percent in 2007/08. As a proportion of GSDP, it has declined from 63 percent to 50 percent.  This is a major correction, and reflects responsible fiscal management to lift the state out of a crisis situation.

 

 

4. Has the government achieved a revenue surplus by curtailing capital expenditure and squeezing development expenditure?

 

The revenue surplus has been achieved as a result of 3 factors:  improved performance of the state’s own taxes, enhanced central transfers and external donor support, and curtailing of expenditure.  The capital budget was constrained during 2002-05, but still outcomes improved due to emphasis on project completion. As explained in the report, there was undoubtedly a lot of flab in the administrative machinery, and Orissa was more over-staffed than other states. The government undertook major surgery to trim the fat, and in the process some muscle also got cut, which needs to be rebuilt now.   The Government of Orissa has been hiring a large number of para-teachers, and the teacher-pupil ratio is 40 on average, ranging from 31 in the best served district to 60 in the worst.  This is far better than the situation in Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

 

 

5. Has the signing of MOUs been interpreted as industrial growth?

 

The reported industrial growth in recent years is based on actual and officially estimated GSDP figures, not on MOUs.  Assessment of future prospects has been informed by CMIE’s projections using detailed information on the status of each investment project under implementation, and its likely date of completion based on historical experience and informed judgment in exceptional cases.

 

 

6. What is the evidence of crop diversification?

 

The report cites some signs of crop diversification.   For instance, the output of maize and cotton has increased in some areas; this is reflected in official agricultural crop statistics. 

ADB grant for irrigation

Irrigation, Loans, Odisha govt. action, River linking Comments Off on ADB grant for irrigation

Following is from a report in Pragativadi.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to give 188 US million dollar as loan for the improvement in the irrigation sector of Orissa. The funds would be spent under the Orissa Irrigated Agriculture and Water Management programme. Under this project, Budhabalanga, Baitarani, Subarnarekeha and Chitrotpala basin will be inter-linked.  Besides, six major irrigation projects, nine medium and 1,400 lift irrigation points would be set up that would facilitate irrigation in 2.24 lakh hectare of lands. A tripartite agreement was signed in New Delhi by the Centre, the ADB and the Orissa government. As per the agreement, ADB will provide 47 US million dollar in the first phase. The state government will repay the money at a five per cent interest in a period of 25 years.