___________

I hope the boat house looks better once it is constructed and its capacity is scientifically calculated and enforced.

From their descriptions these outlets sound similar to the Home Depot, Lowes kind of stores in the US. Following is an excerpt from a report in Economic Times.

Eyeing the fast growing construction market, leading cement company Ultratech is planning to open 400 new unique retail outlets across the country, including many more in Orissa soon.

…  Ultratech Cement Ltd (UCL), a part of India’s global conglomerate Aditya Birla group, has opened five UBS retail outlets in Orissa’s Bhubaneswar, Puri and Cuttack.

This was the first ever entry of UBS retail outlets in the growing construction markets of Orissa and the company plans to open many more such outlets in the state.

Its 89 existing outlets are currently operational in states like Gujarat, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra and plans are afoot to add six more states due to the success obtained in the existing ones, according to UCL’s chief marketing officer O P Puranmalka.

As many as 400 such outlets are planned to be opened across the country in 2009 offering a wide spectrum of end-to-end home-building solutions, high quality construction materials and allied value-added services, he said.

Describing UBS as a unique concept, he said in a release it was being launched in a big way in Orissa, a fast growing construction market in the eastern region.

Advocating our ‘plan, build and support’ philosophy, it seeks to enhance the shopping experience of the customers as well as to strengthen existing trade partnership by upgrading the service proposition, he said.

At UBS outlets, visitors can get reputed brands of all construction materials including cement, aggregates, bricks, tiles, sanitary fittings, paints, water-proofing compounds and white cement, the release said.

The outlets also provide value added services including mobile concrete testing vans for conducting quality tests as well as architects, contractors, vaastu consultants and other construction personne.

They have technical teams which train masons and contractors besides offering advice on legal formalities and plan approval procedures.

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.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Telegraph.

A major initiative to support and mobilise Orissa’s filigree artisans is on the cards.

The initiative, involving both the central and the state governments, would be launched under the Union government’s circuit development scheme. The project would be linked with the tourism sector in the state as plans are afoot to set up a “Silver Filigree Centre” at Mundasahi on the banks of Mahanadi river near here under the aegis of the Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC).

Official sources said the project was conceived to identify the filigree potential in Cuttack and to ensure that artisans were not quitting their profession. An official survey had revealed that most of the silver filigree artisans wanted to sustain their skills provided it offers them benefit.

“The idea of setting up the Silver Filigree Centre at Mundasahi has been planned to link Tarkashi or silver filigree and tourism. The filigree centre will allow the tourists to go to a place showcasing the artisans’ work,” Cuttack collector Kishore Kumar Mohanty told The Telegraph.

“Funds to the tune of Rs 1 crore from the Union government under its Circuit Development Scheme will be used to make the project a reality,” the Cuttack collector said, adding that the district administration had demarcated a three acre plot for the project. “The allotment of the land for it is under process,” he said.

Sources in OTDC said the initiative to give a fillip to the Cuttack Tarkashi art form involves identification of traditional artisans, bringing them under one roof and setting up infrastructure for live demonstration of the intricate method involved in the silver filigree work with a product sale facility. The proposed centre also envisages food, recreational facility and amusement park for children.

Update: It was also passed in the Rajya sabha on 24th October 2008.

Following is from the Lok sabha Synopsis of 23rd Ocvtober 2008.

NATIONAL WATERWAY (TALCHAR-DHARMA STRETCH OF RIVERS, GEONKHALI-CHARBATIA STRETCH OF EAST COAST CANAL, CHARBATIA-DHAMRA STRETCH OF MATAI RIVER AND MAHANADI DELTA RIVERS) BILL-2006
AND

NATIONAL WATERWAY (KAKINADA-PONDICHERRY STRETCH OF CANALS AND THE KALUVELLY TANK, BHADRACHALAM-RAJAHMUNDRY STRETCH OF RIVER GODAVARI AND WAZIRABAD-VAJAYAWADA STRETCH OF RIVER KRISHNA) BILL-2006

THE MINISTER OF SHIPPING, ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI T.R. BAALU) moving the motion for consideration of Bills, said:  From time immemorial, inland water transport has served as a cheap and economic means of transport in India.  With the advent of faster means of transport, i.e., rail, road and air, inland water transport has got neglected.  Inland water transport has, however, maintained its edge over the other modes of transport in certain areas where it enjoys natural advantages.  Its energy efficiency, low pollution and potential for employment generation are universally accepted.  Since independence, the Government is seized of the need for developing inland water transport infrastructure to restore its rightful place in the overall transport scenario of the country.  The subject of inland water transport finds place in all the three Lists of the 7th Schedule to the Constitution of India.  The role of the Union is, however, limited to regulating shipping and navigation on the national waterways declared, as such, by Parliament.  The responsibility and executive authority for development and maintenance of all waterways other than national waterways rest with the State Governments.  Keeping in view the slow pace of the development of inland water transport in our country, several Committees were constituted by the Government of India which have recommended declaration of certain important inland waterways as national waterways.  The Government of India has constituted Inland Waterways Authority of India for development, maintenance and regulation of national waterways for shipping and navigation.  The infrastructure facilities on the existing three national waterways are being created by it to make them fully functional.  Most of the State Government do not have resources to develop their waterways for shipping and navigation due to which most of the waterways remained totally neglected and unexploited for navigation.
 Before a waterway can be considered for being declared as a national waterway, it is essential to undertake techno-economic feasibility study including hydrographic survey and traffic studies of such waterways to assess the extent of improvement works required for their development and their financial implications.  Based on this study and the potential of improvements in inland water transportation, it is now proposed to declare some waterways mentioned in the Bills as national waterways.

 SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN:  Infrastructural development is very important for economic development of our country.  Though, delayed, but then it is appreciable that a proper thinking regarding waterways in the country is taking shape.  Three waterways of Orissa have been mentioned.  I would like to mention Talwer.  It will become an important waterway. About 60 million tonne of coal is produced in this area.  Though, coal is mined, it is arduous to transport it.  It will be really a beneficial step to form a waterway for this purpose.  A water route has been formed by linking the tributaries of Mahanadi and Brahmani.  This is a matter of challenge.  We must have water in Brahmani river if at all we have to run it for the year along.  If there is a scheme through which Mahanadi water enters into Brahmani, it will keep Brahmani perennial. It shall be really very much beneficial if the Government of India, the Planning Commission and the Minister of Water Resources deliberate in this regard.

…
 SHRI LAKSHMAN SETH:  We have so many modes of transportation like airlines, railways and roads but waterways is also an important mode of transportation of our cargo and commodities.  This is very much neglected in our country.  Transportation through water is always cheaper, eco-friendly and environment-friendly so waterways should be developed.  Our experience is not so much satisfactory because already long before, one waterway, i.e. Allahabad and Haldia waterway, has been declared as a national waterway.  But, I think, infrastructure development has not taken place so far.  Terminal has not been done adequately and dredging has not been taken up to the considerable limit.  That is why, this important national waterway has not been used properly.

 Our nation is facing a severe crisis in fuel.  So fuel would be saved.  At the same time, environment will be certainly cleaned.  That is why there should be a law enforcing the public sector to use this mode of transportation in inland waterways so that the inland water becomes useful and at the same time the nation will also save huge money on account of fuel.

 The declaration of these two important waterways as a national waterway will help immensely irrigation and transportation of various types of cargoes and commodities.  At the same time, I am requesting the hon. Minister to declare the waterways from Haldia to Sundarban as a national waterway.  Another issue which I would like to bring to the notice of the hon. Minister is that in Bangladesh, there is an anchorage on the river Ashuganj.  If the Government of India can manage to have this anchorage then the distance between Halida, Kolkata and the North-Eastern States will be reduced remarkably and fuel will also be saved.   I congratulate the hon. Minister for bringing this Bill but at the same time I would request him to arrange adequate fund for implementation of the various infrastructural facilities.  Further, I would request you to look into the interest of the farmers.

            SHRI GANESH PRASAD SINGH:  The responsibility for the management of rivers lies with the State Governments but they do not have sufficient resources to shoulder this responsibility.  The travel by waterways is economical and time saving also.  This Bill envisages an Authority for the development of national waterways and sufficient amount of money has also been proposed to earmark for this purpose.   So this Bill is a welcome step.

 SHRI B. MAHTAB:  It is said that the total length of navigational waterways in India is about 14,500 kilometres.  Of this, 5,700 kilometres is navigable by mechanically propelled vessels.  At present, the inland traffic is estimated at about 1,000 billion tonne kilometers and the inland water transport accounts for barely 0.17 per cent.   The House should know that IWT is not only environment-friendly, it is also less capital intensive.  Lack of infrastructure, absence of fixed scheduled services, poor navigational aids, lack of connectivity, longer river distances and thin flow of private investment are the major factors that have stifled the development of this mode of transportation. Now we are considering the East Coast canal integrated with the Brahmani River along with Mahanadi Delta Rivers.  It is said that around 18.07 million tones of inland water transport traffic is expected to be carried out on the proposed waterway after it is fully development in eight years time.  I would like to suggest that the Government should prepare a roadmap for an Integrated Transport Policy for enabling better inter-connectivity amongst the multiple modes of transport.  There have to be provisions for an institutional framework for development of inland water transport sector.  There is a need to increase cost recovery and also to commercialise IWT industries.  An Action Plan should be in place to address the growing demand of repair and service facilities of IWT vessels.  I hope, the proposed national waterways will boost the rural economy and help decongestion of roads and rails.  I hope it will provide port-hinterland connectivity, especially between Talcher to Dhamra.  It will generate employment and also increase tourism activities in that region. I am sure that the Government must have appointed a consultant for undertaking techno-feasibility study and preparation of detailed project report for this waterway.  I hope that the interest of Orissa will not be compromised due to development of this proposed national waterway.  Lastly, I must say that regular dredging of riverbeds would be necessary.  The infrastructure currently available on this waterway is not adequate for safe, convenient and sustained shipping and navigation purposes. Once it is developed, there is ample scope to have substantial quantum of inland water transport traffic, but first the parameters are to be met and that too, within a specific time frame.

 SHRI M. SREENIVASULU REDDY:  I rise to support this Bill.  All of us know that there are different modes of transport.  Waterway is the cheapest, though slow.  I am happy that Buckingham Canal-which flows through Ongole, which is my Parliamentary Constituency, has been included in this Bill for the development.  There has been a lot of pressure from people living in between Buckingham Canal and Bay of Bengal for construction of bridges to enable them to cross the canal. I request that the bridges at the required spots may be constructed immediately. The area covered between Kakinada and Chnnai along with rivers Godavari and Krishna as Waterway is 970 kms.   There are 14 terminals that are being planned in this Bill.  Out of these 14 terminals, in my Parliamentary Constituency there is only one terminal, which has been stipulated in this Bill.  I will request the hon. Minister to include two more terminals namely, at Karedur or Ramayapatnam and Thummalapantawar near Kavali. There is one more important point that waterways do not provide door-to-door service independently.  Therefore, it is necessary that these are connected with rail or road modes for total transport linkages.  In my Ongole Parliamentary Constituency there is lot of potential in Granite/tobacco/Garments, food grains, firewood, etc. and providing of connected mode of transport to Buckingham Canal will help a lot.   The Inland Waterways Authority of India could make the National Waterways functional fully subject to availability of funds. Any delay will only add to the miseries in the field of transport. Hence, I again impress upon both the Central and the State Governments for an urgent action in this regard.

 DR. BABU RAO MEDIYAM:  Supporting this Bill, I wish to say that the delta region around Krishna Godavari Rivers was developed almost 160 years ago during the British times.  The present canal system is being used only for irrigation purposes.  These canals are now under the control of the Irrigation Department, and the irrigation canals are being maintained and regulated by the Water Users Associations in our State.  Now, these canals are going to be used for navigational purposes and there is a lot to be done in this case.  I would request the Minister to take necessary action in this regard, especially on the stretch between Bhadrachalam and Rajahmundry.  There is a proposal for a great barrage of Polavaram.  This has to be linked to the existing canals.  The Irrigation Department is not spending even a pie on these canals.  If these canals come under the National Waterways Authority, then what would be the allocation?  What is the role of the Water Users Associations?   Moreover, the existing terminals on the banks of the River Godavari should be taken care.  If ever this Polavaram Dam project comes up, then most of these present terminals would be submerged.  To regulate everything, you have to explore this Bhadrachalam-Rajahmundry stretch of canal.  A lot needs to be done on the legal and financial front also.  Anyhow, I strongly support this Bill and I request this to be amended.

 SHRI ALOK KUMAR MEHTA:  I support this Bill.  I want to impress upon the authorities that, in 1985, the waterway from Allahabad to Haldia had been declared as the National Waterway.  One point of this waterway falls in Patna also.  Haldia Port is very near to this point.   In the beginning, points and ports had been constructed but lot of problems have cropped up, for want of proper dredging.  This waterway needs to be cleared.
Similarly, inland waterways system can be given a nod in view of the heavy traffic density in Patna.  The UPA Government would indeed do a great job if it declares it a National Waterway and undertake its maintenance and total infrastructure cost as it is beyond the capacity of any State Government alone.  However, if they undertake dredging the menace of flood can be averted to some extent along with the development of national waterways.

SHRI S.K. KHARVENTHAN: Inland water transport is an economical, fuel-efficient and employment-oriented transport.  The present waterways in the above ways are unsuitable for shipping and navigation.  Hence it is necessary to develop the infrastructure in river and canal portions by deepening and widening the bed for safe and convenient shipping operations.  The proposed infrastructural developments are planned to be completed within few years period in a phased manner.  I request the hon. Minister to take steps for completing the work as early as possible.
With the policy of economic liberalization Government of India has allowed private sectors for port development.  Hence, I request the hon. Minister to allow private participation in shipping in these stretches.  It will increase the service as well as employment opportunities for unemployed youths.  Another important aspect is regarding oil pollution in the above stretches.  Government has to take steps to establish Pollution Prevention Equipment in all terminals to protect and safeguard the river environment.  The Ministry also must take steps to provide all necessary facilities for day and night navigation.  Furthermore, the Government of India has to provide all assistance to states to develop other waterways in various States.

Inland Water Transport is one of the oldest and cheapest modes of transport.  But unfortunately, we have failed to develop it.  If the Ministry of shipping is taking a serious view on this subject, then it should and must come forward to allow Joint Venture of Private sector participation in this field.  The Standing Committee has also recommended Joint venture participation.  The Government should also concentrate on providing proper repair and regular servicing facilities for operating vessels in these waterways.

SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN: I thank the hon. Minister for introducing such a Bill.  However, I would like to emphasis upon the hon. Minister that nowadays most parts of the East Coast Canal passing through the district of Balasore have been encroached by various people.  In some places, there is virtually no sign of any canal because of the shrimp farming.  I shall appeal to the hon. Minister that he should see to it that the land which have been encroached by the land mafia should be recovered by the State Government.  Let the State Government take very stringent action with regard to this.  Then I come to the repair of the embankment.   In most places, there is no existence of any embankment now.  Those places should be developed.  If both sides of the embankment could be developed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, it will also provide very quick communication facilities for the people.  This will also provide an embankment for the prevention of floods.  Further, in many places, the farmers have put cross bunds.  They have raised many other obstacles.  Thus there is no drainage water facilities available.  Hence if a canal is dug, it could be drained and a proper drainage water facility could be provided there.  That would also save a lot of people and a lot of property being destroyed every year due to flood.  While dredging this canal, he should also provide for some small bridges across the canal in regular intervals because cattle will cross, because people will be going to their paddy fields for cultivation along with their cattle, bullocks and cows.  So, all these things should be provided now in a planned manner.

 The hon. Minister is also requested to go for sluice gates in order to prevent the salty water of the sea entering into the paddy fields.  I will appeal to the hon. Minister that he should set a time frame for the completion of these projects.  Otherwise, for eternity they will remain on paper and they will not be implemented at all.

 SHRI ADHIR CHOWDHURY: India has already three National Waterways and we are going to have two more National Waterways.  But we have to have some introspection whether just declaring some waterways as National Waterways will serve the desired purpose.  India is a country which has been endowed by the nature of so many rivers.  In spite of the huge potentiality that we have in our country we are able to exploit a very negligible portion of our waterways.  In our multi-mode transport system, inland water is so negligible that inland water transport system enjoys less than one per cent.  The fact is that in spite of plenty of potentiality in so far as inland water transport system is concerned, we have grievously failed to exploit the enormous potentiality and the enormous advantages in terms of fuel efficiency, in terms of eco-friendliness.
 So, first of all, what I propose to the Government is that we should offer some lucrative incentive to the private sector so that they could be drawn to the inland water transport system.  Only by the endeavour of the Government, we cannot attain our desired goal and to draw the attention of the private sector.  Our nature has itself done the engineering work for the inland water transport.  Therefore, we have the enormous leverage in this sector. The cost of development inland waterways is 5 to 10 per cent of the cost of developing an equivalent rail way or a four-lane expressway.  Insofar as maintenance cost is concerned, the maintenance cost of an inland waterway is only 20 per cent of the maintenance cost of an equivalent roadway.  However, we have failed to exploit the potentiality.

 We know that the entire State of Assam is prone to flood.  The highest river route is available in Assam so, if we are able to develop an appropriate inland waterway system in the Assam Region, I think it will be a great benefactor to the entire North-Eastern Region.  Furthermore, it will add a new dimension to our Look East Policy also.  We can cover the North-East and West Bengal by the inland water transport system and the entire route could be shortened.  It will also entail the growth of trade and commerce.  The three national waterways are there. I would like to know whether we have achieved the target, the goal before commissioning of the other three national waterways.  It will indicate whether the further declaration of national waterways will be lip service or will be a real objective of our country.
 I have a little confusion.  I would lime to know from the hon. Minister whether this amount of Rs.1,526 crore is the consolidated amount for both the national waterways or this amount pertains only to Geonkhali-Charbatia Stretch of East Coast Canal and the other amount of Rs.542 crore pertains to Kakinada-Pondicherry Stretch of Canal.  I once again appreciate our Government for bringing this Bill because when trade and commerce in our country is increasing, naturally we are facing a severe constraint in our existing modes of transport.  So, we need other avenues of transport and in this regard, inland waterways could be an ideal mode of transport in our country.

SHRI BHANU PRATAP SINGH VERMA:  Transportation of goods by roads is costly.  Whenever we have to send food articles to Kolkata, we do not get railway boggies as a result of which these articles of Bundelkhand and nearby areas do not reach Kolkata and other parts of the country.  Therefore, we want that inland waterway on the Yamuna river be restored and a port should be constructed at Kalpi Nagar so that unemployed youth of the above area could also get employment there.  Moreover, the waterways are also the cheapest means of transportation.

 SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU:  In fact, for a long-long time, the entire merchandise, the entire trade routes were passing through the great rivers of India.  Therefore, the waterways are not something new that we are innovating now.  Unfortunately, we neglected it and we are paying a price for it.  But I am very happy that now we are going back to the basics and we are now trying to create waterways for the country.  It will be cost-effective.  There several Ministries dealing with water.  The ministry of Shipping is now going to deal with one aspect of that.  So, when we are developing waterways.  I only hope and wish and really expect that the Ministry of Shipping will take into account the overall needs of the water sector in the country as a whole while planning this.  Floods have become common phenomena in India.  At the same time, some other parts of the country are constantly facing drought.  This is a golden opportunity; when the Minister is trying to create waterways for the country, why not also he integrates the drought and famine phenomena which happens all the time?

 SHRI GIRIDHAR GAMANG:  I support both these two bills because they would lead to economic development of the country and they would give new life to Indian inland waterways network.  There should be integration between your Department and the Department of the concerned State Government.  These two Departments will have to be integrated, not financially, but in respect of there aspects the Central Government will have to take the support of the State Government.

SHRI BIKRAM KESHARI DEO:  I completely support the Bill and welcome it because this will integrate the entire rivers with one another, and it will be direct link.  As the States do not have resources to develop inland waterways, it is high time that the Centre is now concentrating on developing these waterways.  Economically it is a very viable project.  You can use the flow of water for transportation of goods.   There has been a long standing demand in the State of Orissa that an Inland Waterways Regional Office should be opened because Mahanadi delta is a massive delta.  This will also enhance export and import activities.  Besides that, as Orissa is prone to natural disasters, this East Coast Canal, which we are developing now, will have a deterrent effect on storms and Tsunamis, and it will be a mode of transport to the entire interior Orissa.  After Independence, so many big water bodies, infrastructures and big dams have come up.  It is because of the formation of these dams and impounding of water, thousands of villages are on the other side of the reservoir thereby creating problems for the people to deliver the goods like PDS, health related activities, development activities, and transportation of people.  For example, in my constituency, Upper Indravati project is there.  It is a huge inland water reservoir covering 110 square kilometers.  It has with four dams and eight dykes.  There are about 72 villages on the other side of the reservoir.  So, to reach those 6-7 villages, we have to take a detour of nearly 100 kilometres.  But if the waterway is there, it will be about within 25 to 30 kimometres.  So, I request the hon. Minister, that the Inland Authority should be created for these big reservoirs for movement of PDS and for taking up other Government related activities.

 KUNWAR MANVENDRA SINGH (MATHURA):  I feel for the first time that after independence such a good bill has been introduced in the Parliament that is a welcome step as it would be beneficial.  Before Independence when the East India Company came to India it started inland waterway from East to West.  But gradually not much importance was given to it.  So its losses are before us today.  But today the need of the hour is that we should also gradually undertake such projects for other rivers of the country also.  Rs. 1000 crore were provided for cleansing the Yamuna river.  But we see that even after spending so much of money, sewer water and industrial waste are still being discharged into Yamuna which is really a cause of grave concern.

A project for the cleaning of the Rivers was undertaken during the regime of Late Rajiv Gandhiji, however, no special attention has been paid to this project.   River Yamuna is in a very bad condition today.  But we can develop it for waterways  which could include passenger transport as well.  If we can start waterways for passenger transport from Delhi to Agra, lakhs of tourists would travel thereby, thus developing it as a good mode of transport.  Besides, we can clean and beautify river Yamuna.  At the same time, rivers of the country need to be linked, as it would increase the flow of water in the river.  We would be able to ward off the damage caused by the floods and save crores of rupees and many lives. If we construct dams on the river, we would be able to generate hydro-power and provide irrigation facilities thereby curbing the menace of floods.  Likewise, a pollution free environment would be created and cheap mode of transport will be in place reducing the pressure on the roads.  It would help to set up new industries along the rivers in the remote areas. It would generate employment and develop the rural areas.  I would like to suggest that we need to formulate a comprehensive scheme for the rivers of the country.  Hon’ble Minister has taken a good initiative and I hope in the time to come, we will be able to develop a viable system and clean environment through our rivers in the country.

SHRI LAKSHMAN SINGH: Hon’ble Minister deserves to be congratulated for the Authority, which is sought to be set up.  However, we hope that the potential for the development through the rivers need to be properly addressed and considered.  We hope him to work with the national perspective.  We have a great potential in the North India. Likewise, there is a major river, Chambal, which flows perennially.   It has been included in the linking project too.  This river passes through three states i.e. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.  If a waterway is developed through this river connecting these states, the problem of dacoity would be addressed to a great extent.  Besides, this mode of transport would be fairly cheaper and economical.

           SHRI T. R. BAALU replying said:  First of all, I would like to thank all the hon. Members who have deliberated in this discussion.  Definitely, all the deliberations that have been made by them are a matter of great guidance for me.  Since time immemorial, inland waterways transport has served as cheap and economic means of transport.  People are using this waterway transport as they are conscious of the issue of environment.  As you know, Allahabad-Haldia is Waterway No. 1, Sadiya-Dhubri is Waterway No. 2, and Kollam-Kottappuram is Waterway No. 3.  However, in all these three waterways, we could not achieve much success.  1985 onwards the Governments have not given the necessary attention towards this waterway system. The waterway transport has not developed to the extent other countries have developed it.  I would like to draw the attention of the august House to what we have done to develop inland waterways during the UPA period. A revised action plan for making the existing three national waterways fully operational has been drawn and it will be functional from 2010 onwards.  Funds have been provided to the extent of Rs. 961.64 crore. Investment of approximately Rs. 415 crore has been made between 2004 and 2009.  Seven terminals on National Waterway No. 3 at a cost of Rs. 10.32 crore have been constructed and commissioned. Low level jetty of a new fixed terminal capable of handling containers was constructed at Patna and high level jetty at Patna has been sanctioned.  Low level jetty at Pandu, Guwahati, on National Waterway No. 2 is nearing completion, and a high level jetty at Pandu on National Waterway No. 2 is under construction along with container handling cranes.  At various floating terminals, floating cranes and shore cranes have been provided.  Night navigation facilities have been installed in about 364 kilometres on National Waterway-1; 255 kilometres on National Waterway-2; and 100 kilometres on National Waterway-3.  Projects for providing state of the art 24-hour navigational aids on three National Waterways have been sanctioned and are under implementation.  Acquisition of six cutter section bridges, six watch boats, and six accommodation boats for carrying out dredging operations on National Waterway-1 and National Waterway-2 have been sanctioned.  Approval for setting up of six joint venture projects is on the anvil.  In response to suggestions and views expressed by the hon’ble Members, I would like to say that they would be duly considered .  In river Brahmani, accumulation of water will be ensured by constructing five barrages in that particular area. Environmental studies will be made.  Irrigation would not be affected.  We will definitely ensure that nobody staying nearby would be disturbed.  On irrigation and interests of the people living along the waterways, we will definitely consult the State Governments and do the needful.  As far as implementation plans are concerned, they have already been drawn and clearance have been obtained from the Planning Commission and the Finance Ministry.  Local irrigation interests will be taken care of.  We are giving priority to inland waterways transport.  We have already done the Techno-Economic Feasibility Study: DPRs are being prepared.  The DPRs which are under preparation would take care of terminal construction etc.  The social problems will be handled only after providing alternative arrangements. Definitely, we would come forward with an Integrated Water Transport Policy in consultation with all the Departments. After the addition of two national waterways, total length of waterways would become 4,460.   By 2020 the share of inland waterways traffic would be not less than two per cent.
 

An amount of Rs.1525 crore is identified for Talcher-Dhamra waterways and an amount of Rs.542 crore is identified for Kakinada-Pondicherry waterways.  An Hon. Member has said that we should encourage Inland Waterways Authority of India to function better by opening a regional office in Orissa.  It is proposed to open an office in Orisa; presently, it is planned at Dhamra-Charbatia.  We should see that whatever waterways that have already been declared, should be made functional; that is more important.

The Bill, as amended, was passed.

Following is  from a report in New Indian Express.

The State Government will lease out unused land of Orissa State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) at Cuttack, Baripada and here to the Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) for commercial purpose.

The OSRTC has prime land at Master Canteen, Pala Mandap in Cuttack and Baripada town. The corporation will lease out the Master Canteen land to RIL for 33 years for Rs 20 crore. Reliance has proposed to open retail outlets and has agreed to pay a monthly rental of Rs 15 lakh.

The company has reportedly deposited Rs 6 crore with the Government for the OSRTC land at Baripada town. However, OSRTC will collect monthly rent from RIL for all the leased out plots. Rent will be revised every five years.

The proceeds from leased out land will be invested for procurement of more buses and modernisation of the Government bus stands.

In the first phase, five bus stands at Angul, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal and Sambalpur will be modernised under the public-private partnership.

While the bus stands of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Sambalpur will be renovated, two new bus stands will be developed at Angul and Dhenkanal.

The public utility has 230 on road buses and plans are afoot to add another 50 to its fleet. The corporation has submitted a proposal to the Government for pay revision of the employees, official sources said.

Following is an excerpt from a report in sify.com. (This report is reasonable; the tall claims about making Naraj like Jamshedpur is reported in Sambada, which is given at the end of the excerpt.)

Optimistic about completion of land acquisition for its 1,000 MW power plant near Cuttack in five months, Tata Power has allayed fears that it may cause air, water and noise pollution and said the thermal unit would adopt latest environmental safety technology.

"We expect the whole process of land acquisition for the Naraj Marthapur coal-based power project to be completed by October, this year," Project Director (eastern region) of Tata Power, Praveer Sinha said.

Maintaining that the company was for fair and just compensation for land, structures and trees, Sinha, who visited the proposed plant site with other company officials, said price for land would be settled through ‘direct win-win negotiations with sellers’.

Rates offered would be higher than benchmark rates fixed by Orissa government, Sinha and other company officials pointed out, adding most advanced technologies would be used in the Rs 5,000-crore project to minimise plant emission.

… Ruling out any adverse impact on the air quality of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar due to the plant, he said water spraying would be undertaken in coal yard area to suppress the dust, while high efficiency electrostatic precipitator would be installed for removal of fly as from the flue gas.

"All these measures would keep emission of ash and coal dust to well below the statutory norms," a senior official at Tata Power’s Jamshedpur plant said, adding flue gas would be released through 275 metre tall stack, three times taller than Qutub Minar.

Explaining the steps to check water pollution, Sinha said fly ash generated from the plant would be stored within the plant premises and it would not be dumped into Mahanadi river or Puri canal.

Fly ash, said another senior executive, would be directly utilised by the cement industry, brick manufacturing, road and pavement construction, fertilisers and for bund preparation in farms. "Therefore, the quality of water in Puri canal or Mahanadi river or Puri canal will not be affected and will not impact marine life at all," he said.

Similarly, he said waste water generated from the plant would be reused within the plant and discharge, if any, was likely to take place only during rainy season when excess water is available.

"Such water will be discharged only after treatment of effluents and its quality will comply with the applicable effluents standards," he said.

Sinha said steps would be taken to ensure that no pollutant material is discharged into the river. Ash would not pollute ground water due to impervious lining of the ash pond into which the ash would be disposed.

Ruling out noise pollution due to the power unit, company officials also made it clear that the machinery and equipment would meet all the national standards of noise limits.

Further, thick green belt would be developed around the project site to minimise the impacts of noise created by transport of coal by railways. Around two lakh trees would be planted in the green belt to absorb dust and noise.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Financial Express.

An 11-member team comprising industrialists from Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh is on a three-day visit to Orissa to explore possibilities of investments in ancillary industries. The team on Wednesday visited the Kalinga Nagar Industrial Complex at Dubri in Jajpur district.

Orissa is now focusing on ancillary units of mega projects that are coming up in the state with a view to further value addition and employment generation.

While the proposed Jindal Stainless Steel Downstream Park (SEZ) at Kalinga Nagar is the focus, the government is also promoting the Choudwar Industrial estate to the visitors. Orissa is keen to have ancillary industries in Rourkela, Sambalpur, Paradip and Dhamra regions in addition to the Somnathpur Industrial Estate in Balasore.

The steel SEZ (JSSL) is to come up on 300 acres near the 1.6 mtpa steel plant project of Jindal Stainless, and will house industries to move up the value chain by churning out specific products for different sectors. Investment in the SEZ is envisaged to be to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore.

A study conducted by JSSL and international consultancy firm CB Richard Elis has pointed out that the precision cold rolling, pipes and tubes, auto components, engineering products, kitchenware and lifestyle products hold much promise.

"Advantages of setting up projects in Orissa are manifold as it is at the core of emerging Markets in eastern India comprising West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and north east", the director industries, Hemanta Sharma, told the visiting industries. It is also the gateway to the Southeast Asian countries in terms of exports, he added.

The state government had lined up a comprehensive package including incentives and concessions to promote ancillary enterprises, Sharma said.

Asserting profitability of the ventures here, CEO of Jindal Stainless SS Virdi said applications of steel are growing faster compared with any metals as per capita consumption (PCC) is on the rise. In India, the PCC is only 1.1 kg compared with 15-20 kg in developed countries.

Following is an excerpt from a report in New Indian Express.

The ambitious second railway bridge project over river Mahanadi near Cuttack is complete.

About Rs 124 crore was invested in putting up the gigantic structure, the length of which spans over 2.1 km.

… With its completion, the doubling of the Talcher-Cuttack-Paradip railway track has also come to an end.

Sources said, the completion of the project and the doubling of rail tracks will help the railways run more coal-laden wagons from Talcher and Paradip to the thermal power stations in South India. Besides, the new infrastructure will allow smooth movement of passenger trains and reduce delays.

According to Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, the project was completed a few months ahead of the scheduled period of three years. In all two firms were involved in putting up the second bridge. While Mumbai-based Gammon India laid the foundation and the sub-structure of the bridge, Kolkata-based Braithwaite Burn and Jessop Construction gave shape to the super-structure.

The structure consumed 8,200 tonne of structural steel. No date was, however, announced about its commissioning. Laying of the rail tracks to the end point of the bridge from Cuttack station-end and Kendrapara road station-end was yet to be completed.

Do it Online!

Following is from  http://nandankanan.org/adopt-an-animal.asp.

Ever feel like bringing home an animal or bird you are charmed by when you visit the Nandankanan Zoo? Now, you can bring one home in your heart when you contribute to the ‘Adopt an Animal’ programme. Your adopted animal or Bird will remain at the Nandankanan Zoo in the care of Zoo professionals and as a Zoo Parent; you will have the pride of knowing your gift helps to extend better care and welfare to the animal. You will be pleased to know these wonderful animals will be here to stay for many years to come.

Adopt-An-Animal is a great way to add a fascinating animal or bird species to your family! Your new "wild child" won’t really be coming to live with you, though. Instead, you will become a foster parent of sorts. When you adopt an animal, or bird your contribution goes to the animals at the Nandankanan Zoological Park for care, feeding and enclosure enrichment and renovation.

The Adopt a Species program is launched to support the Zoo’s world-class care and services for all inhabitants by providing quality food to meet their nutritional requirements, medical care, equipment, up gradation of the enclosure and enrichments. The Adopt-An-Animal program would benefits the animals directly with all proceeds going toward the care and feeding of the animals at the Nandankanan Zoo!

All the captive animals and Birds at the Nandankanan Zoo would be available for adoption. The Adopt-An-Animal Program would be an annual support program and all adoptions would be for a period of one year or multiple of one month. The animal adopted would remain at the Nandankanan Zoo, receiving proper care and housing.

Be a part of our mission: You may adopt our charming animals and bird species starting at Rupees 500 and up. For your generosity, you’ll receive a "Thank You" in the form of a printable Adoption Certificate, plus exclusive incentives depending on your giving level .

Habitat loss, human encroachment and poaching are just some of the challenges facing endangered animals today. Your support would go a long way for wildlife conservation efforts and would help us provide exemplary care to many endangered species. You can make a difference and your gesture would help to save a species from the brink of extinction. As an Adoptive Parent your contribution would help us to ensure a brighter future for these species.

This would help not only in raising funds, but would also ensure participation of the individuals, corporate bodies and others in the management of the Zoo. Opening the adoption scheme to the public, corporate bodies and institutions would bring them closer to the zoo and heighten their love and passion for the captive animals and birds. By doing this, there will be some involvement of the communities and people towards the zoo. Therefore the Zoo would like to invite philanthropists, institutions and industrial houses and individuals to lend a helping hand by donating liberally to the zoo.

It is proposed to make available all the captive animals and Birds at the Nandankanan Zoo would for adoption. The adopter (Zoo Parent) would pay the amount fixed for each species he would like to adopt. The proceeds would be utilized to support the care and services for all the zoo inmates by providing food, health care, equipment, up gradation of the enclosures and enrichments. The Adopt-An-Animal Program would be an annual support program and all adoptions would be for a period of one year or multiple of one month. No adopters would be allowed to take the animals home. All the adopted animals would remain in the care and custody of the Zoo, and no ownership rights would be conferred. In case of the adopted animal is removed from the collection of the Zoo under exchange programme, the sponsorship will be applied to another animal for the rest of the year of the same species and the adopter would be duely informed. Some popular animals may be allowed concurrent adoptions.

It is proposed to open the animal adoption scheme to the;

• Corporate bodies
• Business houses
• Institutions
• Individuals(Indians,NRIs and Foreigners)
• Families
• School ,Colleges and Universities
• Clubs
• Animal lovers
• NGOs

Animal adopters would receive

• A customised adoption certificate.
• One free entry ticket (to admit maximum 5) for each animal adopted.
• The adopters name would be displayed at the special board at the entry gate.
• Special mention in the Annual Report of the Zoo.

How can you adopt

Please download the adoption form, choose the animal of your choice and fill it up and mail it along with the A/C Payee, Cheque /Demand draft drawn in favour of Director Nandankanan payable at Bhubaneswar in the following address.

Registration Form (257 KB)

Online Registration

Director, Nandankanan Zoological Park
Mayur Bhawan, Saheed Nagar
Bhubaneswar-7, Orissa
Tel : 0674-2547850(0)
Fax: 0674-2547840

You will receive the adoption certificate and the acknowledgment.

The following list is from www.orissatourism.gov.in/new/Identified_Tourist_Centre_of_Orissa_261207.pdf.

Following is excerpted from a report in tathya.in. The various projects that were cleared are:

• A 12 MTPA Greenfield steel mill at Astaranga in Puri district by Navayug Steels Limited with an investment of Rs.34,000 crore. Linkage for iron ore has not been covered in the proposed mega project. The Navayug Group is setting up a port in Astaranga with an investment of Rs.6000 crore and a 2640 mw mega thermal power plant with an investment of Rs.11200 crore in Astaranga.
• Bhusan Steels Limited (BSL), which is setting up a 3.10 MTPA steel mill in Meramundali in Dhenkanal was allowed to expand it’s capacity to produce 9 mtpa with an additional investment of Rs.20,804 crore.
• Reliable Sponge’s proposal to set up a 0.25 MTPA steel plant along with a 24 mw captive power plant having a total investment of Rs.227.13 crore was cleared by the Authority.
• Emami Paper Mills Limited (EPML) proposal for a 1.32 lakh ton per annum Newsprint unit along with a co-generation power plant for an investment of Rs.500 crore was cleared.  EPML has established a paper mill at Balasore in 1982 and the new plant will come up in the same area. 
• Purvi Bharat Paper & Power (PBPP) has proposed for a 33,000 TPA writing & printing paper mill at Choudwar in Cuttack district with an investment of Rs.90.50 crore.
• The proposal to set up 5 mw solar park near Bhubaneswar with an investment of Rs.125 crore by Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) received clearance of the Authority.
• In total, the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) on 17 March cleared the proposed investment of Rs.55,650 crore in 6 projects.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Hindu. (See also http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/?p=526, http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/?p=480  and http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/?p=319 )

Construction companies eyeing the access controlled, six-lane expressway projects of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are likely to get investment opportunities for at least four such projects spread over 495 km over the next few months.

They are Chandikhol-Jagatpur-Bhubaneswar (70 kilometre length, estimated cost Rs 761 crore), Delhi-Hapur (47 km, Rs 474 crore), the 198-km stretch of Vijayawada-Elluru-Rajamundri (Rs 1,602 crore) and the 180-km stretch on Delhi-Agra highway (Rs 1,918 crore). The feasibility reports for these projects are already completed and the work is likely to be awarded in about six months, said NHAI officials. Toll collection

These projects are for widening the current four-lane highways into six lanes and operating them for certain durations.

Companies would have to bid competitively for these projects on a revenue-sharing basis. Thus companies would have to bid on the extent of toll revenue that they are ready to share with the Government if they are allowed to operate the roads.

Since these highways are already four-lane stretches, the road operators can start toll collection even during the project construction phase from an ‘appointed date’ (within six months of winning the project), mutually decided by NHAI and the road operator. The toll revenues will be routed to an escrow account.

… From the NHAI perspective, these projects have emerged as money-spinners, with companies willing to foot the entire construction cost and part with two per cent to 48.06 per cent of their revenues in the initial leg of the project.

At the end of the concession period, which is about 12 to 15 years duration, the winning firms have agreed to part with 12 per cent to 59 per cent share of toll revenues.

See http://oceanworldwaterpark.com.

They are located between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar and their Physical address is:

Some land acquisition numbers:

• Total: 61,769.527 acres
• Coastal: 15,536.153 acres
  • Ganjam: 3229.815 acres (top)
  • Baleswar: 347.643 acres (bottom)
• Naupada: 11,816.27 acres since 2000 (top)
• Kalahandi: 6,163.77 acres (2nd)
• Mayurbhanj: 6113.78 acres (3rd)
• Malkangiri: 3.65 acres (bottom)
• IDCO indsutrial land acquistion in last 3 years for 58 industries
  • 4778 acres govt. land
  • 6532 acres private land