___________

Following is an excerpt from a report in Pioneer.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOL)’s Chairman S. Beuria called on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday at Orissa Bhawan in New Delhi and appraised him about the progress on 15 MMTPA Paradip- refinery -cum- aromatic complex.

He indicated that approximately Rs 1,254 crore had already been spent on the project.

“Due to cost and time overruns, the project cost is likely to go up to Rs 46,000 crore and the project will take 42 months to get completed,” he said.

He further indicated that they have already received environmental clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest. Construction of water and power supply system has also been completed. The work of dredging and reclamation of land is under progress.

Beuria informed Patnaik that the seven year- holiday available under Section 51-B will be withdrawn effective from April 1, 2009 It would affect the viability of the project.

… Patnaik asked the Beuria to take up the peripheral development works for the benefit of the project affected people of Jagatsinghpur district.

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

Sparsh Hospital is planning to come up with a 250-bed set up in the City. The new project would house all super speciality facility under one roof.

Currently, Sparsh is an 80-bed hospital with a modern OTS, ICU, dialysis unit, casualty, pathology and radiology units.

Promoted by a team of young professionals and cancer specialist Dr Ghanashyam Biswas, the hospital has tied up with a number of corporate houses and is running a series of programmes like free health check-up camps.

The top ten according to Gap Adventures, as mentioned in a Travel Bite, UK, article, is:

• The Indian state of Orissa holds a Chariot festival in July and sees hundreds of thousands of devotees of Jagannath – the lord of the universe – gather to perform a colourful and noisy ritual.

  In the town of Puri gigantic chariots hauled through the main street and the air is filled with the rhythmic clang of metal gongs, the blowing of conch shells and trumpets, and the chanting of holy men.

• A combination of livestock trading and religious festivities provides a truly spectacular experience at the Pushkar camel festival in the Indian state of Rajasthan each November.

  Around 50,000 camels are sold, decorated, shaved and raced during the festival, followed by religious rituals which culminate in thousands of devotees bathing in the holy lake on the full moon.

• Across the border in Pakistan, thousands travel to Shandur in the far north of the country for the world’s highest polo tournament.

  These polo games are not like the modern variety, applying 800-year-old rules that are cut-throat to say the least.

• In Guatemala every March the Semana Santa festival draws thousands to celebrate the rebirth of Christ in a typically Central American combination of Catholic symbolism and Mayan tradition.

  For a whole week the people eat, drink and dance for a fruitful harvest, culminating in a sleepless three-day march of holy statues through the streets.

• One of Mexico’s most macabre and memorable festivals takes place in the beautiful colonial city of Oaxaca – the Day of the Dead.

  This joyful honouring of the lives of deceased family members is on All Hallow’s Eve, when people decorate the graves of their loved ones with flowers, candles and even food.

  The whole community gathers with food, music and mescal (think tequila with a nasty kick) all part of the fun.

• Inti Raymi, or the Festival of the Sun, is Peru’s most famous festival and the week-long event sees huge crowds watching ceremonial processions through the flower-draped streets of Cuzco.

  The ceremony itself takes place on June 24th, when a person representing the Sapa Inca (the emperor) calls for blessings from the sun amid a heady mix of music, prayers and dancing.

• One of the most important festivals in Tibet is the new year celebration of Losar, held over three days in February.

  This colourful, traditional and exotic Buddhist festival features symbolic rituals performed by the yellow-hatted Tibetan lamas, followed by massive parades and fireworks meant to chase off the devils of the old year.

• Mongolia’s Naadam festival echoes the country’s warrior past and the ‘manly games’ involve displays of the three major traditional sports in Mongolia: wrestling, horse racing and archery.

  The festival begins with a big parade down the main street of Ulaan Baatar and travellers can take the opportunity to compete in the events and stay with the nomadic herders in their tent-like ‘gers’.

• Thousands of people gather in Kyoto each May in the hope of witnessing a rarely-seen performance of the geisha dancers of the Pontocho district.

  The Kama-gawa Odori festival has been held since 1872 on the banks of the Kamo-gawa river and is one of Japan’s most celebrated spring geisha dances.

• For something completely different attend the world famous Calgary Stempede in Canada in July, celebrating rhinestone, country music and wide-open spaces.

  The rodeo competition, stage shows, concerts, chuckwagon races and pancake breakfasts held all over the city during Stampede Week offer fun for all.

Following is an excerpt from a news report in Pioneer.

Vedanta Aluminium Limited signed an MoU with the Apollo Health & Life Style Limited on Tuesday to open two units of The Apollo Clinics at Lanjigarh and Jharsuguda.

The MoU was signed at the Vedanta office in Bhubaneswar by M Siddiqi, Director and CEO, Aluminium Sector, Vedanta Group, and Ratan Jalan, CEO, Apollo Health & Life Style Ltd, in the presence of Vedanta Aluminium CFO Virendra Agrawal, GM and Head, PR & CSR, Prashanta Hota and other officials form both sides.

The MoU deals with the establishment and management of the two well-equipped Apollo Clinics, which would be fully supported by Vedanta Aluminium. Funded fully by Vedanta, the two units have accepted the responsibility of recruiting doctors, providing all kinds of diagnostic facilities, specialist treatment, extending other modern healthcare facilities and running the clinics at both locations.

Involving a total investment of about Rs 5 crore, the day-to-day operations would also be fully funded by Vedanta.

Besides rendering quality healthcare services to the project-impacted people and employees of Vedanta Aluminium and their dependents, the clinics would be running a Sick Bay Unit in the plant premises and regularly conduct Outreach Programmes in the periphery villages.

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.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Thaiindian.

Around 850 families in Orissa’s Keonjhar District alone earn their livelihood from Badi making. Traditionally, the Badis have been prepared by grinding the Udad pulse (split black gram Dal) on a sil-stone. But to produce it for commercial purposes, today machines are used to grind the pulse for the Badi paste.

Today, the Badis prepared in Keonjhar District gaining popularity all over the country and in different parts of the world.

“We are supplying Badis to foreign countries too. The women in the old town of Keonjhar prepare these Badis. These Badis are made of Udad Dal (split black gram Dal) and various types of spices are mixed in it,” says shopkeeper Pradumna Patnaik.

Most of the Badis are marketed by Orissa Rural Marketing Services (ORMS) which also facilitates getting advance from banks to the women entreprenuers.

“Every house of Keonjhar district is preparing Badis. It is a part of their culture. For a few years, the people of Keonjhar are commercially preparing the Badis and they are also making it and it helps in their livelihood and promotional activities,” said Anant Charan Sahoo, the Chief Executive of, ORMAS in Keonjhar.

“We are also giving them training to value addition of making Badis in Keonjhar District. More than 200 groups are now engaged in Badi activities. Some parts of Keonjhar like Ghatna, Harichandanpur and Sadar block, the groups are engaged in this activity and they are even getting more money out of that Badi activity,” he added.

Many varieties Badis that are prepared by mixing Udad dal, pumpkin, almond, cauliflower and various other items and condiments. Badi added to enhance the taste of dishes.

“The Badis are very famous in Keonjhar. Badi is such a food item that tastes very good when it is fried with onion and garlic and being eaten with even overnight cooked rice. It also tastes good if it is made with vegetables. The Badis are also used in the marriages and fasts. The food doesn’t taste well without Badis. It is such a food item which can be eaten with rice even by roasting it in fire,” said Harekrishna Patnaik, a buyer.

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.

The following is from http://rc.orissa.gov.in/index3.asp?linkid=30&sublinkid=411.

PRESS RELEASE

DT.20.03.2008

GOVERNMENT OF ORISSA PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi March 20, 2008

Shri Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister, Orissa met Smt. Ambika Soni, Union Minister, Tourism & Culture today and discussed about various tourism projects of the State. The Chief Minister demanded for an early sanction of Rs.50 crore for development of tourism infrastructure and facilities in the famous tourism circuit of Bhubaneswar-Konark-Puri-Chilika under the Mega Circuit Scheme. The Union Minister agreed to include the circuit of Bhubaneswar-Konark-Puri-Chilika under the Mega Circuit Scheme and extend all necessary assistance under the scheme for its integrated development. She also agreed to consider release of 50% of the funds immediately.

The Chief Minister asked for a direct flight and a thematic tourist train to connect Varanasi and Bodhigaya with the Buddhist sites of Orissa. This would provide a great boost to employment and tourism in the State. The Union Minister intimated that the Government of India will extend all support for the connectivity of the Buddist sites. She also agreed to take up the matter with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Ministry of Railways soon. She also intimated that the matter of rail connectivity of Bhubaneswar, Banaras and Gaya will be discussed with the Planning Commission and Ministry of Railways soon.

The Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to take up the project of sound and light show for Konark, which is a world heritage site and also for the historic Barabati Fort at Cuttack. The Union Minister was also requested for expeditious completion of the sound and light show at Khandagiri. The Chief Minister also demanded for better maintenance of the historical monuments, Buddhist sites, temples and other protected monuments by the Archeological Survey of India.

Following is from a report in New Indian Express.

The State Government has decided to revive the Gopalpur-Digha coastal highway proposal. Announcing this on Monday during question hour, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Raghunath Mohanty said the proposal would be submitted to the Centre for approval after completion of the feasibility report.

Mohanty, who was replying on behalf of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, said that the length of the highway will be 573 km. Of this, the Astaranga-Dhamra patch will be 245 km while the length of Astaranga-Gopalpur will be 180 km. The patch of highway from Dhamra to Subarnarekha will be 148 km.

The State Government had earlier submitted a proposal to the Centre and requested that it should be included in a Central scheme. However, the proposal was rejected as it did not confirm to the guidelines of the Planning Commission.

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 ndtvprofit.com.

Stainless steel could shine brighter in India as in their scramble for market share the steel makers want to locate users of steel next to their factories in special economic zones.

Jindal Stainless and Steel Authority of India have plans to capture customers right next to their stainless steel plants.

"We are setting up an SEZ next to our Orissa plant on a 300 acre land which will have shops, which use our steel for making products," pointed out Ratan Jindal, VC & MD, Jindal Stainless.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Business Standard.

The bulk of this investment will be made in the phase-II development of its stainless steel plant in Jajpur, Orissa.

"We will spend about Rs 5,600 crore for setting up capacity of 8 lakh tonnes (0.8 million tonnes) per annum of steel in Jajpur. The plant will be commissioned by 2012," Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Ratan Jindal told journalists.

The company will borrow Rs 3,200 crore from Indian and foreign banks for the project, while Rs 1,000 crore would be raised through external commercial borrowings. Another Rs 1,200 crore would be invested through internal accruals. "The promoters will infuse equity of the balance amount of Rs 200 crore," Jindal said.

The company has already spent Rs 2,250 crore for 0.8 million tonnes capacity in phase-I at Jajpur.

Following is from http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=36341.

As part of the on-going process of development, it is planned to construct Deep Draught Iron Ore Berth and Deep Draught Coal Berth at Paradip Port at a total estimated cost of Rs.892.60 crore. The projects are at tendering stage. Plan for Development of Southern Dock Complex at the Port is also at preliminary stage.

Following is an excerpt from a report in the Economic Times.

Railways may seek Chinese help in developing railway stations at Bhubaneswar and Bypanahalli in Bangalore.

A high-level Chinese delegation is visiting India from tomorrow to understand the Indian Railway system in a better way as part of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between both the countries.

The 13-member delegation headed by Wu Wei, Director of Sino-India Railway Cooperation Working Group will visit Agra, Bhubaneswar, Mumbai and Bangalore during their 12-day visit.

… The two countries’ cooperation in rail sector is envisaged in the MoU signed on January 14 during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Beijing. The agreement, valid for three years, envisages development of rail-related programmes of mutual interest.

… The team would visit railway station at Bhubaneswar and Bypanahalli to explore the possibility of developing these stations at the international level. "After visiting these places, the team would share their views with us about the way to go ahead with the project, said the official.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Pioneer.

All most all the artistes said that they were not able to arrange a square meals for them before the Bhubaneswar Municipal Commissioner assigned them the task of wall painting. "Now we are flooded with offers from Mumbai, Delhi and Private Individuals to do wall paintings for their concerned organisations," said the team leader Simanchal Mallick.

Sharing the dais with the BMC Commissioner, Mallick said he was bit nervous before the Press. "Though I am a qualified artist, I wasn’t able to arrange even Rs 30 a day for my sustenance before this assignment," he said, adding that he even had left the profession and engaged in other profession.

… Thanks to the initiatives of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Commissioner. Things have started changing.

Simanchal continued in the last three months, they have been so far able to earn Rs 11 lakh by painting walls in different parts of the city. Bhubaneswar Municipal Commissioner has promised to give more works in the near future. "We do use weather coats and other modern technology to give it a permanent look.

The paintings would last for five to seven years," he said.

Giving a detailed plan, Commissioner Sarangi said that 13 more walls would be painted "We just decide upon the wall that comes under public eyes. If any individual wishes to paint a wall he must enter into an agreement with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Commissioner.

… She further continued that Bhubaneswar Municipal Commissioner wants to project Bhubaneswar as the face of the entire Orissa. All the paints relating to the composite culture of Orissa will be painted in the city walls.

Following is from the PIB http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=36250.

The Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Praful Patel informed the Parliament today the target date for completion of modernization process of the 35 non-metro airports by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), is March 2010.

New Terminal Buildings expandable on modular basis are being constructed at Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Aurangabad, Agatti, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Goa, Jaipur, Lucknow, Indore, Khajuraho, Madurai, Mangalore, Port Blair, Ranchi, Raipur, Rajkot, Trivandrum, Trichy, Udaipur, Varanasi and Vishakhapatnam airports. Modification/expansion of existing Terminal Buildings is being undertaken at airports in Agra, Agartala, Coimbatore, Dimapur, Guwahati, Imphal, Jammu, Nagpur, Patna, Pune and Vadodara.

Airside works including expansion and strengthening of runway for wide bodied aircraft operations, extension/new construction of Apron for more parking of aircrafts, link taxiways and parallel taxi tracks are being taken up at these airports as per requirement. At 24 of these airports, cityside development through Public Private Partnership is being undertaken. Bids for pre-qualification have been received for Amritsar and Udaipur airports.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Hindustan Times.

In percentage terms, Tier 2 cities like Hyderabad, Pune and Bhubaneswar are creating more white-collar jobs than the old employment hubs of Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, says a new survey. In percentage terms in fact, for every job Delhi has created this year, Hyderabad has created nearly two.

The cyber city has seen the fastest growth among all cities: from 46,605 new jobs in 2006-07, it is projected to jump to 60,427 new jobs in 2007-08, a rise of 30 per cent. (The projection is based on actual figures till December 2007). Pune comes second, projected to create 28 per cent more new jobs in 2007-08 as compared to 2006-07. Bhubaneswar sees a growth of 22.1 per cent, though its base is smaller than both Hyderabad and Pune.

By contrast, in Delhi, new jobs are projected to grow by 17.4 per cent. It does better than Mumbai, however, which is projected to reach only 11.4 per cent growth. Chennai, at 9.5 per cent, fares even worse.