Archive for the 'Cuttack' Category

Satkosia Gorge: second largest sanctuary of Orissa and a tiger reserve

Angul, Bouda, Cuttack, National Parks and Sanctuaries, Nayagarha, New Indian Express, Indian Express, Financial express, Satkosia gorge and tiger reserve 3 Comments »

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

Satkosia gorge sanctuary located in the heart of the State is unique in more than one way. River Mahanadi has cut right across the Eastern ghats endowing the gorge with all its beauty.

The 22 km long gorge divides the area into two distinct parts accessible from Angul and Nayagarh or Boudh. It covers four districts of Angul, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Boudh and is the second largest sanctuary of Orissa.

The areas support moist deciduous forest, dry deciduous forests and moist peninsular sal forests and a largely bamboo species.

Wild animals like the Royal Bengal Tiger, Leopard, elephant, four horned antelope, giant squirrel, wild dogs, nilgai, sloth bear, mouse deer, spotted deer etc are the pride of the sanctury.

A huge variety of resident and migratory birds and reptile species (gharial, mugger, crocodile, fresh water turtle, poisonous and non poisonous snakes etc) are also a part of the sanctuary.

The sanctuary is home to 400 plant species, 38 mammals, 31 reptiles in the sanctuary. Satkosia gorge was declared a sanctuary in 1976 AD by the State Government under Section 18 of Wildlife (protection) Act 1972. Its area is 795.52 sq km.

The sanctuary is managed by two wildlife divisions, south part by Mahanadi Wildlife Division at Nayagarh and north by Satkosia Wildlife Division at Angul. Both Satkosia Gorge and Baisipalli sanctuary area of 1038 sq.km were declared elephant reserves in 2002 by the State Government. Satkosia also enjoys the status of a Tiger Reserve after being the title in December 2007 after an approval of the Central Tiger Conservation Authority as per Wildlife Protection Act (amendment 2006).

Now, request would also be put forth to declare it a bio-sphere reserve for its biodiversity and abundant natural resources. Former Central Environment amd Forest Minister Kamalnath initiated to declare as Bio-sphere reserve.

About 133 villages in the sanctuary, including three forest villages and 10 hamlets. In The buffer zone as many as 128 villages are located.

The village people mostly depended on forest for their livelihood but the ban enforced by the Government on forest work and collection of NTFP and forest produces as per direction of Supreme Court and Wildlife Protection Act.

No developmental work is being done inside the sanctuary for a long time. The recent declaration of Satkosia as the second tiger reserve was long over due. It would not only go a long way in protecting the tiger population but also take care of other rare animals on the verge of extinction.

State government should spare no time in implementation of the reserve process by making an action plan and constituting an authority as required. Now in the Tiger Reserve 18 Royal Bengal Tiger, 34 Leopard and 194 elephants.

Aquarium and moated Elephant enclosure opens in Nandan Kanan

Aquarium, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Cuttack, Nandan Kanan, New Indian Express, Indian Express, Financial express Comments Off on Aquarium and moated Elephant enclosure opens in Nandan Kanan

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

In all, there are 14 aquariums spread over 0.8 acre. Among them four house marine species and the rest freshwater species equipped with titanium chiller.

All the aquariums are equipped with `insitu’ filtration and recycling mechanism. In fact, two large size aquariums measure 3.5 meters in length and 0.9 meter in width. Attractions include well-researched education materials on aquaria, said zoo director Ajit Patnaik, adding, the materials are displayed on trans-slides boards.

One of the key objectives of the endeavour is to educate visitors about the rising pollution and the resultant impact on the aquatic life. About Rs 10 lakh alone has been invested on education materials.

There is also a special section which depicts the uniqueness of the marine ecosystem of the State. One of the freshwater aquariums represents fish fauna of the adjoining Kanjia lake.

The `moated’ enclosure has been developed over an area of five acres to provide a near-natural ambience to the elephants. The enclosure encompasses components like natural vegetation, water hole and adequate space for the movement of the animals.

The enclosure would stimulate their natural behaviour. Further, they will provide adequate opportunity to the visitors to watch the elephants literally in wild, Patnaik said. An elevation point has been put up to ensure better viewing.

Single Window Clearance of various projects

Air separation, Balasore, Bhubaneswar-Dhenkanal- Anugul, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Jharsugurha, Samaja (in Odia), Sambalpur, Single Window Clearance (SLSWCA), Sundergarh, Thermal Comments Off on Single Window Clearance of various projects

Following is culled from various sources, including Samaja and Pioneer. The 11 projects that have been cleared or partially cleared are:

  1. National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd’s proposed power plant in Sundargarh. An investment of Rs 18,000 crore has been made for the project which will produce 3,200 megawatt of power.
  2. Proposed Air Separation unit factory by British Oxygen which will come up at Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur district. It will produce 1800 tons of oxygen daily. It will need 15 acres of land and will invest 838 crores.
  3. Jindal Stainless Ltd’s Rs 4,090 crore proposed power plant. The project will come up at Gajamara in Dhenkanal. The power plant will produce 1,000 megawatt.
  4. Aarti Steel’s Rs 2,065 crore power plant at Ghantakhal in Athagarha
  5. Salivahan Green Energy Ltd’s power project at Nimidha in Dhenkanal
  6. Hind Metal and Industries Pvt Ltd (HMIL) Rs 237.10 crore plant at Meramunduli in Dhenkanal
  7. Kalinga Energy and Power Ltd’s Rs 4261.27 crore project at Babuchakuli in Sambalpur
  8. JSW Energy Ltd’s Rs9189.7 crore project at Chiplima in Sambalpur
  9. Chambal Infrastructures and Ventures Ltd’s Rs 4993.98 crore project at Siaria in Dhenkanal
  10. Ind Barath Energy Ltd (IBEL)’s Rs1007.69 crore power plant at Banaharpali in Jharsuguda.
  11. Expansion of Balasore alloys.

Demand to make Barang-Tikarpada a state road: Samaja

Cuttack, State highways Comments Off on Demand to make Barang-Tikarpada a state road: Samaja

More MOUs in steel and other discussed proposals

Angul, Bhadrakh, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Ore pelletisation, Pragativadi, Samaja (in Odia), Steel, Steel ancilaries, TOI, Economic Times Comments Off on More MOUs in steel and other discussed proposals

Following is an excerpt from a report in Times of India

… the state government signing three fresh MoUs for setting up units, taking the total proposed capacity of output to 75.66 mtpa, involving a total investment of nearly Rs 2,00,000 crore, official sources said.

With this, the number of MoUs for establishment of steel units touched 49, including 11 for mega projects. Besides MoUs with the largest steel maker in the world Arcelor-Mittal and South Korean gaint Posco, the government had signed agreements with domestic firms such as Jindal, Tata Steel and others for mega projects.

All the MoUs were signed during the last six years, they said, adding 26 steel projects had already become partially operational while the mega ones were facing land acquisition problem.

The production capacity so far achieved by these companies was 3.96 mtpa in sponge iron, 0.45 mtpa of pig iron and 3.32 mtpa of steel, besides 308 mw captive power plant.

said the three companies would produce one million tonne of steel per annum.

The companies which signed MoUs are Pradhan Steel and Power Private Limited, Atha Mines Private Limited and Tecton Ispat Private Limited.

While Pradhan Steel proposes to set up a 0.50 mtpa steel plant in over 460 acre land with an investment of Rs 606 crore at Dhurusia in Cuttack district, Atha Mines would set up a 0.25 mtpa capacity unit at an investment of Rs 291.60 crore at Tarkabeda in Dhenkanal district. Tecton Ispat would set up a 0.25 mtpa steel unit over 150 acre of land at an investment of Rs 227.13 crore at Tarkebeda in Dhenkanal district.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Pragativadi.

The meeting …accepted two out of the eight project proposals.

The meeting decided that the state government would seek necessary environmental clearance from the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) before giving the nod to any proposal for new thermal plants in the Angul-Talcher belt.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, industry secretary Ashok Dalwai said that state government had asked the IBM to make a detailed study on the environmental sustainability of the Angul-Talcher areas.

He said that the meeting, while discussing about the setting up of a number of thermal plants in the state also took note of the searing heat in this industrial belt during summer.

The Committee gave its nod to Jindal Photo Ltd’s proposal to enhance its power production capacity from 1,000 MT to 1,200 MT in its proposed plant at Angul.

The SLSWCC also approved the Well Spun Power and Steel Ltd’s proposal to set up its ore beneficiation and pelletisation plant at Dhamra.

The company aims to produce ductile iron and spiral iron from this plant, for which Rs 1,830 crore would be invested.

The company has asked the state government to arrange 2,000 acres of land.

The state government will scrutinise the land requirement proposal. The company had earlier inked an MoU with the state government to set up a 3-MT plant at Angul.

The following is from Samaja:

 

Plans for various ancillary industrial parks: Dharitri

Aluminium, Angul, Anugul- Talcher - Saranga- Nalconagar, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Cuttack, Dharitri (in Odia) Comments Off on Plans for various ancillary industrial parks: Dharitri

Plans for a maritime museum in Jobra and Brindavan Garden like parks in Naraj and Hirakud: Samaja

Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Cuttack, Khordha, Samaja (in Odia), Sambalpur, Tourist promotion Comments Off on Plans for a maritime museum in Jobra and Brindavan Garden like parks in Naraj and Hirakud: Samaja

 

Capital ring road and other PPP infrastructure plans

Berhampur- Gopalpur- Chhatrapur, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Bhubaneswar-Paradip, BioTech, Pharma, Cuttack, Daily Pioneer, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Khordha, PPP Comments Off on Capital ring road and other PPP infrastructure plans

Following is an excerpt from a report in Pioneer.

Under the PPT mode, the State Government has decided to build a Capital Region Ring Road. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the Empowered Committee on Infrastructure (ECI) chaired by the Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy on Tuesday.

The proposed ring road will constructed with an aim to lessen pressure on the vehicular traffic movement on Bhubaneswar-Cuttack road. The road will start from Khurda and pass through Bhubaneswar via bypass and touch Nirgundi near Cuttack. The survey work for the project will commence soon.

Keeping the growing industrialisation in view, another road under PPT will be built connecting directly Bhubaneswar to Paradip. It will also help the smooth movement of traffic from Capital to Port City. ILFS will do the necessary survey work.

In order to strengthen the PPT mode, Government has constituted seven cells in different departments like Fisheries and Animal Development, Energy, Panchayat Raj and Information and Technology.

The committee approved five proposals under PPT. In a bid to develop the infrastructure of Berhampur city, Government has decided to build an integrated commercial and residential complex under the banner Gajapati Plaza. Rs 10 crore will be spent to build this project. Government will provide five acre of land for this purpose. All the modern amenities including swimming poll facilities will also be available in the complex. The project work would be entrusted to Forum Project Private Limited. Work on the project would commence in the next 15 days. The ECI also gave its nod to set up a bio-tech farm in an area of 64.86 acres of land near Andharua on the outskirt of Bhubaneswar city. A bio-tech incubation centre will be set up in another 10 acres of land in Andharua also. Five major state-of-the-art infrastructure in the form of modular laboratories, loaded wet laboratories, common equipment facilities and amenities, pilot plant facilities and training centre would be provided in the park.

These facilities in the Biotechnology Research Platform will help to multiply the number of users on free-for -use basis. Selected private developers will be allowed to operate, manage, maintain and market the park in Bio-Tech Pharma and Bio-Informatics -IT related issues.

Baazar Kolkata opens stores in various Orissa locations

Berhampur- Gopalpur- Chhatrapur, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Cuttack, Ganjam, Khordha, Malls, Puri, Samaja (in Odia) 2 Comments »

Baazar Kolkata has already opened and is in the process of opening stores in various Orissa locations: 2 in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Berhampur. Following is a news item on this in Samaja. (Note: Baazar Kolkata is different from the Big Bazar Chain.)

 

6.41 crore plan for Anshupa lake

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Cuttack, Drainage development, Lakes, Water harvesting, Watersheds 1 Comment »

Following is an excerpt from a news report in Pioneer.

Ansupa, Orissa’s largest fresh water lake, 70 km from here, is set to be revived at a cost of Rs 6.41 crore. The Finance Commission is funding the first phase of the project, during which the lake’s silt load is being removed.

… Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy said the State Government aimed at bringing back both aquatic life and tourists to Ansupa. An existing channel would be revived to facilitate entry of water and trees would be planted on the banks of the lake to check soil erosion, he said, adding that development of ecotourism was an integral part of the project.

The lake previously used to boast of a picture perfect setting between Saranda and Bishnupur hills on the outskirts of the sub-divisional town of Athgarh and was home to migratory birds in winter. It, however, suffered a slow death due to severe erosion around its catchment area, silting and proliferation of algae and hyacinth plants. The lake’s depth has now been reduced to 10 feet from the original 40 feet.

The revival project, being implemented by the District Rural Development Agency, Cuttack, under the Ansupa Area Development Scheme, aims at reopening of the Kabulanala channel on the lake’s south-east side, which used to link it with the Mahanadi till an embankment was constructed on the river a decade back. The floodwaters used to enter the lake from the south-eastern side through the channel and flush out the weeds through a stream, Hulhullanala, which runs into the Mahanadi on the south-western side.

The proposed opening of the channel would revive the natural process of de-weeding as the embankment stalled this natural process and the water entering into the lake could not get released. The heavy silting had set in due to the soil erosion from Saranda hill on the lake’s western side and Bishnupur hill on its north-eastern side due to deforestation. Besides, conversion of the silted area into paddy fields worsened the situation.

The origin of Orissa State Museum: article from Samaja

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Cuttack, Khordha, Museums Comments Off on The origin of Orissa State Museum: article from Samaja

Dataquest on the IT Scenario in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Cuttack, HRD-n-EDUCATION (details at orissalinks.com), IT, Khordha, SEZs 2 Comments »

Following are some excerpts from that article.

… Bhubaneswar already ranks very high on the software exports frontwith Rs 732 crore completed in 2006-07, Bhubaneswar was 9th in the pecking order among Indian cities. Says Vishal Dev, director, IT, government of Orissa, “Till last year, we were the largest city in the whole of Eastern India on software exports, before being overtaken by Kolkata.” And, now have ambitious plans to reach $1,000 mn in software exports by 2012.

t is also one of the few cities in the country that boasts of the presence of the Big Four of Indian software exports. While Infosys and Satyam have been present in the city for quite some time and have 3,000 and 1,000 people respectively, TCS, after starting last year, has recruited 300 people. Wipro, too, has started campus construction. Add to this, Genpact, IBM Daksh, and ICICI, which are starting their eastern region BPO hubs, and it becomes obvious why Bhubaneswar today commands respect as an IT/BPO destination. The picture would not be complete without mentioning the arrival of MindTree Consulting, Aricent, Contiloe Films as well as Perfectus, which plan a 5,000 seater IT/BPO unit.

The arrival of these leading players also indicates how Bhubaneswar has come of age on both infrastructure as well as manpower fronts. The city today boasts of four SEZs: the earliest one, the 350 acre Infocity is already full; the first phase of the DLF Infopark work is in progress, work is starting on an integrated IT park, known as Knowledge Park, while sanction has been given to the Mancheswara Industrial Estate (29 acres).

Manpower
Such little details prove that while the IT juggernaut is in motion, Bhubaneswar is totally conscious of the need to develop a social infrastructure conducive to fostering IT. That explains why the state ranks high in terms of providing manpower supply; that with forty-five engineering colleges and forty-three MCA colleges, it could do so, is a no-brainer. But, while earlier this supply was mainly migrating elsewhere, it is now getting populated in Bhubaneswar itself.

That fact that technical education is a major priority of the state government has definitely helped. While engineering colleges affiliated to nine of the universities in the state were earlier brought and standardized under the aegis of the Biju Patnaik University, the government is now setting up an IIIT, where it will start with an M Tech program in order to create a crop of new qualified faculty. Also on the anvil are plans to start NISER and a campus of IIT Kharagpur. The Vedanta Group and Sri Sri Ravishankara Vidya Mandir Trust are also setting up technical colleges in the city.

Others in the Game
While the larger companies in the city registered an overall growth of 58% in 2006-07, SMEs like JSS witnessed 120% growth. JSS Consultancy is a domestic BPO playerit handles Citibank for the entire eastern region, as well as other major clients like Tata Indicom, HSBC, Citi Financial, HDFC Standard Life, and Centurion Bank for Orissa.

Its not only about the local SMEs; domestic IT consumption is also on the rise in the city. Reasons are not too far to locate: while Orissa today boasts of steel plants like Jindal, Bhushan, and Neelachal, very soon it will also have Posco, Arcelor-Mittal, and Tata Steel, making it probably the global steel hub. Add to this, power plants like the Jindals and aluminum plants like NALCO, Hindalco, and Sterlite. Paradip Port and the airport in Bhubaneswar are being modernized while the East Coast HQ is finally coming up next month.

Rajesh Dora, MD, Printlink, one of Bhubaneswars largest resellers and SIs, agrees to this. He also informs that other than the steel sector, even the engineering colleges and institutions like OUAT and Institute of Physics are significant consumers of IT.

The Future Sunrise

The experts, too, have endorsed a bright future for Bhubaneswar. According to McKinsey, Orissas economy is poised to grow at 7.1% over the next 10-12 years, the highest in Eastern India. Morgan Stanley comments that Orissa shall emerge as a center for metals business in India and attract investments of up to $3040 bn over the next five years. Even if these predictions are partially met, the impact of IT would be enough to create waves in the Bay of Bengal. The CMIEs forecast that Orissa accounted for 15% of total investments in hand in the country in 2006, and the World Bank ranking Bhubaneswar 5th among cities in ease of doing business within India further endorses the seal of approval. An oft-neglected, but very crucial role in this IT growth of the city has been played by the government. While on the e-Governance front, the state has won awards for two consecutive years (for the Shishu locator program and the OCAC website), a proactive government with an urbane and suave CM at the helm has created a conducive environment for IT. The stability of the political regime too has helped. A confident Naveen Patnaik proudly proclaims, “Bhubaneswar, indeed, is the future sunrise of the IT industry.”

Vegetable mandis in Cuttack (Naraj), Sambalpur and Berhampur: Dharitri

Berhampur- Gopalpur- Chhatrapur, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Cuttack, Ganjam, Mandi, Sambalpur, Sambaplur- Burla- Bargarh- Chipilima, Vegetables Comments Off on Vegetable mandis in Cuttack (Naraj), Sambalpur and Berhampur: Dharitri

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Firecracker cottage industry in Padampur, Cuttack

Cottage industry and Handlooms, Cuttack Comments Off on Firecracker cottage industry in Padampur, Cuttack

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

In Padmapur its largely unorganised labour which manufactures fire crackers. Though called the Sivakasi of Orissa, this cottage industry is yet to get recognition here as this year only four to five families were issued fireworks making permit. This despite the fact that almost every household in the village has been into the business for several years.

The dedication to manufacture reflects in the fact that every member of the family, including children contribute their mite.

About 2500 unorganised labourers of more than 500 families belonging to both Hindu and Muslim communities of Padmapur and its adjacent Trilochanpur, Mahajanpur, Purbakachha, Madhyakachha, Campati, Hatikana, Bahadalpatana and Jagannathpatana manufactured crackers to earn their share of profits.

Being a seasonal occupation most of the children of these village bunk classes from Ganesh puja to help their family members and add to the family income.

Progress on ecotourism in Chandaka

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Chandaka, Cuttack, Khordha, Nature spots 2 Comments »

We earlier wrote about this in http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/?p=92  and http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/?p=69. Following is from a news report in New Indian Express.

As part of its major activity on the silver jubilee year, Chandaka Dampara Sancturay authorities have geared up on the eco-tourism front with more community involvement plans.

The sanctuary has seven tourist routes through which the nature lovers can have a glimpse of some of the 600 plant species, conduct floristic studies and watch the animals including elephants and leopards. The tourist routes of 20 and 30 km length are permitted with vehicles and guides so that the visitors can discover the charm of the wild world.

The routes touch places like Godibari, Kumarkhunti, Kheluachua, Mahuriabadi, Pitagadia, Deras, Ambilo, Saurabila, Mantu hilltop, Chandinimundia, Kuasara and Bhimakhal. But plans are on to develop five ‘nature trails’ in the sanctuary involving Deras bamboo hut-Chandinimundia and back, Deras- Gadhari-Jhumka and back, Jumka- Kheluachua-Dantaria foothills and back, Jhumka-Gadhari and Deras along the reservoir and Chulimundia-Bhimakhal-Kuasara and back, says DFO Akshaya Pattanaik. The trekking inside the sanctuary, including eco-walk, cycling and nature education trips for schoolchildren, would be taken up commercially this year. Also the WWF-India will help in getting literature on select species of flora and fauna of the sanctuary which would be supplied to the children free of cost, he added.

Watch towers with two suits each would be arranged at Kumarkhunti and Ambilo for the trekkers who want to stay put in the sanctuary to enjoy nature from close quarters. The watch towers at Kochilaberena, Mantu hilltop and Pitagadia are also being spruced up for the purpose, the DFO said.

All the eco-development activities are being executed with the active support of ‘‘Bhagabatipur- Manee Sahi Eco-Development Committee’’ at Deras. The ecodevelopment committee is also involved in keeping the environment of the sanctuary clean, especially at tourist spots and it would also get a share of the money earned through these eco-development activities so that the members can continue their good work, Pattnaik adds.

Besides, there are three revamped picnic points near Deras forest rest house which can be used for recreation, amusement and relaxation along with the nature education and to ease off stress in the lap of nature.

Proposed world class station in Barang to have 40 platforms: Samaja

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Cuttack, ECOR Comments Off on Proposed world class station in Barang to have 40 platforms: Samaja

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Cuttack to be added to JNNURM: JB in the assembly

Cuttack, Cuttack, NURM, JNNURM Comments Off on Cuttack to be added to JNNURM: JB in the assembly

If this is true then it is great news. Following is an excerpt on this from Pioneer.

Cuttack has been included in the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, and a notification to this effect would be published soon by the Central Government, said Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, JB Patnaik on Thursday.

Initially, the scheme included Bhubaneswar and Puri among a total 63 cities across the country for their overall development, and the Prime Minister had been requested to include Cuttack in the list, which has been acceded to, said Patnaik.

Sources said that Cuttack would get Rs 2,000 crore for its development under the scheme out of which the Central Government would bear 80 per cent whereas the State Government and the Cuttack Municipal Corporation would meet the remaining 10 per cent each.

Development plans for various cities in Orissa in offing; starting with the Bhubaneswar metropolitan area

Angul, Anugul- Talcher - Saranga- Nalconagar, Berhampur- Gopalpur- Chhatrapur, Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Cuttack, Cuttack, Ganjam, Jajpur, Jajpur Rd- Vyasanagar- Duburi- Kalinganagar, Jharsugurha, Jharsugurha- Brajarajnagar- Belpahar, Khordha, NURM, JNNURM, Paradip - Jatadhari - Kujanga, Puri, Puri, Rourkela- Kansbahal, Sambalpur, Sambaplur- Burla- Bargarh- Chipilima, Sundergarh, URBAN DEV. & RENEWAL Comments Off on Development plans for various cities in Orissa in offing; starting with the Bhubaneswar metropolitan area

Following is an excerpt from a report in Telegraph.

Bhubaneswar-Cuttack and neighbouring towns will be developed into a greater urban complex of international standards catering to the needs of 42 lakh people by 2030.

The final perspective plan to this effect was presented to chief minister Naveen Patnaik here today by a team from IIT, Kharagpur. B.K. Sengupta, heading the team, said the comprehensive development plan for Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Choudwar, Khurda and Jatni would be ready by August 2008.

Subsequently, development plans would be prepared for places like Rourkela, Puri, Sambalpur, Berhampur, Talcher-Angul, Kalinga Nagar and Jharsuguda industrial complex, said state urban development minister K.V. Singhdeo.

The final perspective plan has envisaged comprehensive development of a greater urban complex comprising twin cities of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack and three adjoining towns spread over 721sqkm at an estimated cost of Rs 34,000 crore.

The required funds would be mobilised through public-private partnership, central government and state government and community contribution, said the urban development minister.

While 11 special zones have been earmarked for extensive development, four have been identified for intensive development and three places (Old Bhubaneswar, Choudwar and Old Cuttack) having heritage value have been set aside for restricted development. Seven sensitive pockets have also been identified.

A patch of farmland on the east of the Kuakhai flowing near Bhubaneswar has also been earmarked for agriculture. The final perspective plan has dwelt on various aspects like transport, traffic decongestion, upgrade of road system, slum development and drainage. Construction of overhead bridges and bypass and the upgrade of road systems have also been planned.

Drainage and sewerage development has also been planned in the twin cities.

A solid waste management plant has been proposed in Bhubaneswar. Bhubaneswar-Cuttack would be made slum-free. The shanties would be removed and the dwellers would be resettled in planned rehabilitation colonies to be built by private builders on the Dharavi model in Mumbai.

Monnet Ispat to increase steel making capacity and build a power plant

Cuttack, Steel, Thermal Comments Off on Monnet Ispat to increase steel making capacity and build a power plant

Following are excerpts from an Economic Times report on this.

Monnet Ispat and Energy Limited on Friday said it plans to enhance capacity of its proposed steel unit from 0.3 MTPA to 2.5 MTPA and apprised the state government of the same.

The company’s managing director Sandeep Jajodia, who met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here, told reporters an integrated power project and a small steel unit in Orissa would be set up with an investment of Rs 4,200 crore.

The company had already acquired 450 acre out of its total requirement of nearly 1200 acre at Mangalapur, nearly 30 km from Cuttack, Jajodia said.

He said that the company’s proposed 1,000 MW thermal power plant was expected to be commissioned within three years.

“We have already acquired land for the purpose. Construction work for the project would start within 12 months after getting some more land,” Jajodia said, adding that the company would sign another MoU with the state government relating to capacity enhancement of its steel unit.

He said the company would first go for the power unit before starting the steel project. …

Reecent Steel, Aluminium and Power projects: From Team Orissa’s September 2007 newsletter

Aluminium, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Koraput, Steel, Sundergarh, Team Odisha, Thermal Comments Off on Reecent Steel, Aluminium and Power projects: From Team Orissa’s September 2007 newsletter

Following is from Team Orissa‘s September 2007 newsletter.

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Orissa government prepares proposal for NFSM (National Food Security Mission)

AGRICULTURE & FARMING, Balangir, Bargarh, Cuttack, Ganjam, Kalahandi, Keonjhar, National Food ... (NFSM), Nayagarha, NFSM (National Food ...), Odisha govt. action, Puri, Rayagada Comments Off on Orissa government prepares proposal for NFSM (National Food Security Mission)

Following are excerpts from a report in New Indian Express.

The State Government has prepared a Rs 850-crore draft project proposal under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) for placing before the Centre for funding. The objective of the mission is to increase production and productivity of rice and pulses in 21 of 30 districts of the State in a sustainable manner.

The other objectives are to enhance farm level economy, restore confidence among farmers and create employment opportunities.

While 15 districts will be covered under NFSM for rice, 10 districts have been chosen for increased production of pulses. While Balangir, Kalahandi, Keonjhar and Nayagarh will be covered under the mission both in rice and pulses, the districts covered under NFSM in pulses include Bargarh, Cuttack, Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Rayagada.

The project, to be implemented during the 11th Plan period , is expected to cover 20 lakh hectares for rice cultivation and 13.57 lakh hectares for pulses. The State has planned to increase yield of rice from 1,690 kg per hectare in 2007-08 to 2,095 kg per hectare by 2011-12 in the mission districts.

The estimated production of rice in the mission districts will increase from 33 lakh tonnes to 42 lakh tonnes. It has projected to enhance the productivity of pulses from 478 kg per hectare in 2007-08 to 594 kg per hectare in 2011-12. The low yield of rice in the State is due to several factors.

While more cultivable areas are under rainfed conditions, the kharif and rabi crops are totally dependent on monsoon rains. Lack of farm mechanisation, improved technology, training of farmers, soil management, pest management and non-availability of quality seeds are the other factors for low productivity.

The Centre will provide full financial assistance and the fund will be utilised for introduction of hybrid seeds, scientific management of problematic soil, pest management, farm mechanisation, training of farmers, Agriculture Director Arabinda Padhee said. The Government has projected to spend Rs 650 crore for rice production and Rs 200 crore for improved farming of pulses.

Sewerage system in Cuttack

Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Cuttack, Integrated Sewerage, NURM, JNNURM, URBAN DEV. & RENEWAL Comments Off on Sewerage system in Cuttack

While the centrally funded JNNURM program will take care of most of the sewerage system in Bhubaneswar, the same for Cuttack needs to be done through other resources. Following are excerpts from a report in Pioneer elaborating on where the money for Cuttack will come from.

The State Government will invest Rs 945.17 crore for the restoration of drainage and improvement of sewerage system in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

Talking to reporters, Urban Development Minister KV Singh Deo said Rs 757.44 crore would be invested for the improvement of the sewerage system and renovation of drainage in Cuttack City alone.

Out of this, Japan’s JBIC Bank will give a loan assistance of Rs 624.65 crore and the rest money amounting to Rs 132.79 crore would be given by the State Government.

The loan amount would be repaid in 40 years time at a rate of 0.75 percentage. The moratorium period would be of 10 years.

The project will be implemented between 2007 and 2012. To this effect, the Government of India and Japan had signed a MoU on March 3, 2007. “The money would be released soon,” said Singh Deo.

He further said that draft request for the proposal for project management consultancy service has been prepared and furnished to JBIC and compliance to the comments of the JBIC is under process.

Under the plan, 231 km under ground pipeline will be laid and 10 pump stations will be installed.

Orissa government’s ad in Samaja on their infrastructural achievements

Balangir, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Khordha, Nayagarha, Odisha govt. ads, Roads, highways and Bus stands Comments Off on Orissa government’s ad in Samaja on their infrastructural achievements

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