Sindol on BJP’s mind
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BHUBANESWAR: The BJP on Tuesday decided to oppose the Sindol hydro-electricity projects in the Monsoon Session of the Assembly commencing from Wednesday.
While the proposed projects are facing stiff opposition from people of four districts of Boudh, Sonepur, Sambalpur and Bargarh, the BJP Legislature Party slammed the Government for not taking the people and the Council of Ministers into confidence before announcing the projects.
“The Government should have taken up the approval of State Cabinet before signing an agreement with the National Hydro Power Corporation and the Orissa Hydro Power Corporation,” said Deputy Leader of the party in the Assembly Jayanarayan Mishra.
Facing Opposition from within the BJD, the Government will have a tough time to explain to the Opposition and ruling benches as well on the hurried manner in which the MoU was signed, he said.
With drought looming large in several districts due to erratic monsoon, the BJPLP slammed the Government for not having any contingency plan for the affected farmers.
The BJP will press for waiver of farm loan and supply of seeds and other agricultural inputs for rabi crop as an alternative measure, Mishra said.
The BJP is planning to corner the Government on the deteriorating law and order situation and the failing health services in the State.
The legislature party discussed the increasing Maoists activities in Balangir district and the Government failure to tackle the problem.
The meeting expressed concern over the threat call from a Maoist activist to the party leader in the Assembly KV Singhdeo and the murder of a BJD functionary by the Left wing extremists. Six legislators, including BJP supported Pratap Sarangi (Ind), attended the meeting. Bonai MLA Bhimsen Choudhury who was suspended from the party was absent.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Govari river swallows templehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Indian express Express News Service , The New Indian Express
Posted on Aug 15, 2011 at 11:37am IST
KENDRAPARA: A temple built in 1949 to commemorate the death of Mahatma Gandhi, at Barimula village in the district stares at an uncertain future. On the verge of being swallowed by the Govari river, the temple, with a statue of Gandhi, is a prime example of maladministration.
The district administration has remained indifferent to the issue, locals allege.
“A few locals had tried to restrict the advancing water with stone embankment.
However, the move was opposed by villagers from the opposite bank and the temple was left to perish,” rued president of Orissa Freedom Fighter’s Association of Kendrapara, Purusotama Nayak.
Earlier, a large tract of land was earmarked for expansion of the temple. However, it remains unrealised as the river water has slowly engulfed the land. However, the temple has not lost its sheen and is still revered by locals. It is decked up to mark the Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti and is frequented by people from all walks of life.
Indian express Express News Service , The New Indian Express
Posted on Aug 15, 2011 at 11:37am IST
KENDRAPARA: A temple built in 1949 to commemorate the death of Mahatma Gandhi, at Barimula village in the district stares at an uncertain future. On the verge of being swallowed by the Govari river, the temple, with a statue of Gandhi, is a prime example of maladministration.
The district administration has remained indifferent to the issue, locals allege.
“A few locals had tried to restrict the advancing water with stone embankment.
However, the move was opposed by villagers from the opposite bank and the temple was left to perish,” rued president of Orissa Freedom Fighter’s Association of Kendrapara, Purusotama Nayak.
Earlier, a large tract of land was earmarked for expansion of the temple. However, it remains unrealised as the river water has slowly engulfed the land. However, the temple has not lost its sheen and is still revered by locals. It is decked up to mark the Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti and is frequented by people from all walks of life.
Pollution in Ganga claims more lives than bomb blasts: L K Advani
NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader L K Advani today expressed concerns over the increasing level of pollution in the river Ganga, saying it was claiming more lives than those caused by bomb blasts.
In his latest blog posting, Advani quoted Swami Chidananda Saraswati of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, to argue that the pollution in Ganga was a serious matter.
"Today most people do not realize that nearly a million people living along the banks of the Ganga die each year due to illnesses caused by its polluted water...,"
"A few dozen people dying in bomb blasts in India becomes big news worldwide, and rightly so. But the tragic deaths of many people, who are dependent on the Ganga, goes unnoticed even in India. We must change this," he said, quoting Swami Chidanand.
"Ganga is languishing in such polluted state that people hesitate to bathe in her waters even in Kashi. This is caused by reckless and ill-planned industrialization and urbanization, made worse by lack of elementary civic facilities in towns and villages along it," Advani observed.
In the upper reaches of the river, hydro-electric projects have caused considerable damage to the Ganga and its natural ecology, leading to drying up of long stretches of the river-bed and depriving the nearby villagers of their main source of water, he said.
Suggesting measures to clean the river, the BJP leader quoted Swami Chidanand, "We must launch a mission, which I call the 3-T Mission -- toilet in every home, tap in every home bringing clean water, and tree-plantation on a massive scale in every village and town."
"Millions of Indians abroad would be inspired if India takes up this comprehensive Ganga Mission. They would even be willing to make generous contribution to this project," Advani said on his blog, quoting Swami Chidanand.
NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader L K Advani today expressed concerns over the increasing level of pollution in the river Ganga, saying it was claiming more lives than those caused by bomb blasts.
In his latest blog posting, Advani quoted Swami Chidananda Saraswati of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, to argue that the pollution in Ganga was a serious matter.
"Today most people do not realize that nearly a million people living along the banks of the Ganga die each year due to illnesses caused by its polluted water...,"
"A few dozen people dying in bomb blasts in India becomes big news worldwide, and rightly so. But the tragic deaths of many people, who are dependent on the Ganga, goes unnoticed even in India. We must change this," he said, quoting Swami Chidanand.
"Ganga is languishing in such polluted state that people hesitate to bathe in her waters even in Kashi. This is caused by reckless and ill-planned industrialization and urbanization, made worse by lack of elementary civic facilities in towns and villages along it," Advani observed.
In the upper reaches of the river, hydro-electric projects have caused considerable damage to the Ganga and its natural ecology, leading to drying up of long stretches of the river-bed and depriving the nearby villagers of their main source of water, he said.
Suggesting measures to clean the river, the BJP leader quoted Swami Chidanand, "We must launch a mission, which I call the 3-T Mission -- toilet in every home, tap in every home bringing clean water, and tree-plantation on a massive scale in every village and town."
"Millions of Indians abroad would be inspired if India takes up this comprehensive Ganga Mission. They would even be willing to make generous contribution to this project," Advani said on his blog, quoting Swami Chidanand.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Sindol
Sindol project: Government assures water to farmhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to pacify the growing discontentment over the decision to go ahead with the Sindol power project, the State Government on Wednesday announced setting up of mega lift irrigation points on both sides of the barrage. Farmers of three Western Orissa districts -Boudh, Sonepur and Sambalpur- are strongly opposed to the National Hydro Power Corporation’s (NHPC) Rs 3,000-crore hydro power project. The Sindol project was scrapped several times in the past because of strong opposition from the locals who fear submergence of large tracts of agricultural land and several villages. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had said that the project will not be implemented while campaigning for Rairakhol bypoll in 2003, which the Biju Janata Dal eventually won. But the Government has again revived the project sparking off large-scale opposition. The Government maintained that the farmers of Boudh, Sonepur and Sambalpur will benefit from the proposed lift irrigation points to be set up on both sides of the project. The decision was taken at a high level meeting at the secretariat here presided over by Naveen. The Government clarified that there would be no submergence of villages or paddy fields as it has been decided to reduce the height of the barrages. The three units of the project would together generate 320 MW after completion of Sindol-I, II and III. Softening its earlier stand, the Congress maintained that the party will study the situation and announce its decision, if there will be no submergence and displacement due to the project. The Congress has asked the Government to clarify how many villages will be submerged and the families to be displaced by the project. The BJP has opposed the project. The party had even passed a resolution against the project in the recently held State executive and threatened to launch an agitation if it was not scrapped.
BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to pacify the growing discontentment over the decision to go ahead with the Sindol power project, the State Government on Wednesday announced setting up of mega lift irrigation points on both sides of the barrage. Farmers of three Western Orissa districts -Boudh, Sonepur and Sambalpur- are strongly opposed to the National Hydro Power Corporation’s (NHPC) Rs 3,000-crore hydro power project. The Sindol project was scrapped several times in the past because of strong opposition from the locals who fear submergence of large tracts of agricultural land and several villages. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had said that the project will not be implemented while campaigning for Rairakhol bypoll in 2003, which the Biju Janata Dal eventually won. But the Government has again revived the project sparking off large-scale opposition. The Government maintained that the farmers of Boudh, Sonepur and Sambalpur will benefit from the proposed lift irrigation points to be set up on both sides of the project. The decision was taken at a high level meeting at the secretariat here presided over by Naveen. The Government clarified that there would be no submergence of villages or paddy fields as it has been decided to reduce the height of the barrages. The three units of the project would together generate 320 MW after completion of Sindol-I, II and III. Softening its earlier stand, the Congress maintained that the party will study the situation and announce its decision, if there will be no submergence and displacement due to the project. The Congress has asked the Government to clarify how many villages will be submerged and the families to be displaced by the project. The BJP has opposed the project. The party had even passed a resolution against the project in the recently held State executive and threatened to launch an agitation if it was not scrapped.
Sindhol
Public hearing before Sindol project: Min
Source : Press Trust of India
published on : 8/3/2011 9:18:23 PM
Bhubaneswar: With resentment brewing in three districts of western Orissa over NHPC's Sindol project, the state government on Wednesday said it would conduct public hearings before implementing Rs 2,600 crore hydel project.
"We will take views of the local people before going ahead with the project," state energy minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak told reporters here.
Though the state government had been claiming that no one would be displaced or no agricultural land be submerged due to Sindol project, to be implemented in a joint venture between the public sector NHPC and the state-owned OHPC, the local people did not accept it.
According the MoU signed between NHPC and OHPC in presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on July 21, Sindol project would have three different hydro-power generation stations with installed capacity of 320 MW. The hydel power generation stations would be located in Sambalpur, Sonepur and Boudh districts.
The people in Sonepur on Wednesday observed a 12-hour bandh at the district headquarters opposing Sindol project.
The controversy over the Sindol project had meanwhile taken political turn with opposition Congress and BJP demanding clarification from the state government. The ruling BJD MLAs from the three districts have also expressed their concern over the state government's action of signing MoU for Sindol project without reading public mind.
Health minister Prasanna Acharya, food and supplies minister Niranjan Pujari and former minister and sitting Birmaharajpur MLA Padmanav Behera, have meanwhile expressed their displeasure over the state government's action of going ahead with the controversial Sindol project without consulting the people's representatives.
Source : Press Trust of India
published on : 8/3/2011 9:18:23 PM
Bhubaneswar: With resentment brewing in three districts of western Orissa over NHPC's Sindol project, the state government on Wednesday said it would conduct public hearings before implementing Rs 2,600 crore hydel project.
"We will take views of the local people before going ahead with the project," state energy minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak told reporters here.
Though the state government had been claiming that no one would be displaced or no agricultural land be submerged due to Sindol project, to be implemented in a joint venture between the public sector NHPC and the state-owned OHPC, the local people did not accept it.
According the MoU signed between NHPC and OHPC in presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on July 21, Sindol project would have three different hydro-power generation stations with installed capacity of 320 MW. The hydel power generation stations would be located in Sambalpur, Sonepur and Boudh districts.
The people in Sonepur on Wednesday observed a 12-hour bandh at the district headquarters opposing Sindol project.
The controversy over the Sindol project had meanwhile taken political turn with opposition Congress and BJP demanding clarification from the state government. The ruling BJD MLAs from the three districts have also expressed their concern over the state government's action of signing MoU for Sindol project without reading public mind.
Health minister Prasanna Acharya, food and supplies minister Niranjan Pujari and former minister and sitting Birmaharajpur MLA Padmanav Behera, have meanwhile expressed their displeasure over the state government's action of going ahead with the controversial Sindol project without consulting the people's representatives.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Mahanadi
Collector assures Inquiry into crop damage
Indian Express 25th July 2011
Sambalpur: Enraged farmers met Sambapur Collector Mrinalini Darswal here on Monday demanding adequate compensation for paddy crop damaged due to emission from the smelter plant of Hindalco at Hirakud. They were led by Sambapur Zilla Krushak Surakhya Sanghatan (SZKSS) president Murari Prasad Purohit.
Darswal assured the farmers to visit damaged farms and take up the issue with Hindalco management. On 23rd July farmers from Nua Jamda, dengimocha and Mohmadpur villages in the vicinity of the smelter plant of Hindalco found their paddy sapling damaged due to release of Suspended particulate matter (SPM) from the plant. Paddy sapling in over 25 acres of land across in three villages were destroyed while standing crop on about 15 acres in Nua Jamda village were damaged.
Later the villagers informed the deputy director of agriculture Ashok Mohanty who dispatched a team of scientists to the spot. The team confirmed damage to the crops.
Indian Express 25th July 2011
Sambalpur: Enraged farmers met Sambapur Collector Mrinalini Darswal here on Monday demanding adequate compensation for paddy crop damaged due to emission from the smelter plant of Hindalco at Hirakud. They were led by Sambapur Zilla Krushak Surakhya Sanghatan (SZKSS) president Murari Prasad Purohit.
Darswal assured the farmers to visit damaged farms and take up the issue with Hindalco management. On 23rd July farmers from Nua Jamda, dengimocha and Mohmadpur villages in the vicinity of the smelter plant of Hindalco found their paddy sapling damaged due to release of Suspended particulate matter (SPM) from the plant. Paddy sapling in over 25 acres of land across in three villages were destroyed while standing crop on about 15 acres in Nua Jamda village were damaged.
Later the villagers informed the deputy director of agriculture Ashok Mohanty who dispatched a team of scientists to the spot. The team confirmed damage to the crops.
Sindhol Updates
Shutdown in Orissa against power plantshttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Bhubaneswar, Aug 9 (IANS) Normal life was affected in two Orissa districts Tuesday with people blocking roads and carrying out marches to protest proposed power plants in the area.
Vehicles went off the road in several places of Sambalpur and Boudh districts due to the daylong shutdown called by Kosal Kranti Dal and Sambalpur Lawyers Association.
Shops, business establishments, schools and colleges were also found closed in leading towns in both the districts, a senior police officer from the region told IANS.
Train services were also affected as protestors squatted on rail tracks at places like Rairakhol and Sambalpur, he said.
The state-run NHPC Ltd last month signed a pact with the state government to set up hydropower plants in Subarnapur (100 MW), Sambalpur (100 MW) and Boudh (120 MW) districts across Mahanadi river in western Orissa.
The government said there will be no displacement due to these projects. It said public hearings will be held in the project area in view of opposition.
However, residents are not buying the arguments.
"The government should scrap the project. Why does the government want to conduct public hearings when the projects are already facing opposition," P.K. Rath, a protest leader, told IANS.
The hydropower generating company will build the plants in five years' time in a joint venture with the Orissa state-run Hydro Power Corporation with a combined investment of Rs.2,600 crore to generate 320 MW power.
Protestors said the projects would hit at least 118 villages wholly or partially and would bring untold miseries and devastation to people of the area.
People also fear the plants will submerge several temples, including the world famous Huma Temple in Sambalpur district.
"People had stoutly opposed this project in the past, why is the government pursuing it again and again," another protestor asked.
Bhubaneswar, Aug 9 (IANS) Normal life was affected in two Orissa districts Tuesday with people blocking roads and carrying out marches to protest proposed power plants in the area.
Vehicles went off the road in several places of Sambalpur and Boudh districts due to the daylong shutdown called by Kosal Kranti Dal and Sambalpur Lawyers Association.
Shops, business establishments, schools and colleges were also found closed in leading towns in both the districts, a senior police officer from the region told IANS.
Train services were also affected as protestors squatted on rail tracks at places like Rairakhol and Sambalpur, he said.
The state-run NHPC Ltd last month signed a pact with the state government to set up hydropower plants in Subarnapur (100 MW), Sambalpur (100 MW) and Boudh (120 MW) districts across Mahanadi river in western Orissa.
The government said there will be no displacement due to these projects. It said public hearings will be held in the project area in view of opposition.
However, residents are not buying the arguments.
"The government should scrap the project. Why does the government want to conduct public hearings when the projects are already facing opposition," P.K. Rath, a protest leader, told IANS.
The hydropower generating company will build the plants in five years' time in a joint venture with the Orissa state-run Hydro Power Corporation with a combined investment of Rs.2,600 crore to generate 320 MW power.
Protestors said the projects would hit at least 118 villages wholly or partially and would bring untold miseries and devastation to people of the area.
People also fear the plants will submerge several temples, including the world famous Huma Temple in Sambalpur district.
"People had stoutly opposed this project in the past, why is the government pursuing it again and again," another protestor asked.
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