Monthly Archives: August 2012

Four criminals arrested in Sambalpur

 After change of guard, criminals are facing bad weather in Sambalpur town. Few criminal, who kept the Badabazar and Durgapli area overwhelmed for sometime, were arrested by the Khetrarajpur police on Tuesday night.  Sub-inspector Bandana Patra and a team of police officers swooped on them in their houses and arrested them. The police also seized

Regional Level Consultation in Koraput

A two days Regional level Consultation on “the Implementation of Forest Rights Act, 2006” was organized by Bhumiadhikar Sangathan, Koraput  affiliated to the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), Odisha on 24th  and 25th August 2012 at the Tribal Museum Koraput. The consultation was inaugurated by  Mrs. Malati Nayak, the Sarpanch of the Ramgiri G.P

PIL seeks damage for train mishap victims

 Raising the issue of lack of railway safety in the backdrop of the death of 14 persons at an unmanned level-crossing at Khairapalli near Sambalpur last week, social activist and advocate Prabir Kumar Das on Tuesday filed a PIL in the Odisha High Court seeking at least Rs 10-lakh compensation to the family of each

Centre identifies 789 habitations for ultra small branches

The department of financial services under Union finance ministry has identified 789 habitations in 14 Naxal affected districts of Odisha covered under Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for establishment of ultra small branches (USBs). The 14 districts are Deogarh, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nayagarh, Rayagada, Sambalpur and Sundergarh. The establishment of

Prison department “unprepared” for international seminar

The state prison department has missed the August 25 deadline set by the Union home ministry to submit presentation reports on correctional measures initiated in jails. Sources said the Centre had sent the directive to all the states ahead of a six-day international seminar on prison reforms at Darussalam in Brunei from October 7. The

Demands for manning of all level crossings in the state

The chief minister Naveen Patnaik asked Union railway minister Mukul Roy to man all level crossings in the state. There are more than 600 unmanned railway level crossing gates in the East Coast Railway’s jurisdiction. “As these gates have become potential death-traps, immediate steps should be taken by the Railways to either convert them into

Rs 2 crore booty seized from ‘dacoit’

Police in Odisha’s Bargarh district on Saturday arrested the kingpin of inter-state gang of dacoits and recovered booty worth over Rs 2 crore including Rs 4.2 kg gold. Chhattisgarh police had recently arrested seven members of the gang involved in the looting of jewelry worth Rs 3 crore from a shop at Baramkela in Chhattisgarh,

Tragedy sparked tension in the area, Sambalpur

Yesterday, 24th august 2012, thirteen persons were killed and six injured when the Rourkela-Bhubaneswar Intercity rammed into a three-wheeler at an unmanned level crossing at Khairpali, about 15 km from Sambalpur. Local people blocked the tracks on demanding the immediate construction of gates at the level crossing and suitable compensation to the victims’ families. “We have repeatedly

13 killed as train hits vehicle in Sambalpur

Thirteen people were killed and six others critically injured when a train rammed into a vehicle at an unmanned railway crossing in Sambalpur district on Friday. The mishap took place at Khairpali between Sambalpur City and Maneswar railway stations when the vehicle was hit by Rourkela-Bhubaneswar Inter-City Express while it was trying to cross the

Pollution Control Board didn’t act against Hindalco in time: NGO

Water Initiative Odisha (WIO) has accused the state pollution control board (PCB) of not taking proper action against Hindalco in spite of being well aware about the company’s faulty ash management. “The PCB was aware of it since 2010, but instead of initiating any action against the company, the board washed its hands of the

Firing at roadside dhaba creates flutter in Sambalpur

The firing incident that took place in Sambalpur’s Sarlakani area on Tuesday afternoon has created panic in the town. This was second such case here in five days and the sixth in last two months. Police sources said the victim, identified as Md Sonnu, was at a road side dhaba along with his two friends

OSPCB team to probe Shyam Metaliks ash pond leak

The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has sent a team to inspect ash pond leak of the power unit of Shyam Metaliks and Energy in Sambalpur district, after receiving allegations to this effect. “We have sent a team to inspect the matter there. We will take action against the company after receiving the report,”

Integrated Action Plan

The Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for Selected Tribal and backward Districts was approved on 25.11.2010 for 60 districts with 15 districts in Odisha including Kendujhar/Keonjhar. Subsequently, IAP was expanded and now includes 18 districts of Odisha, namely, Balangir, Debagarh, Gajapati, Jaipur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Sonapur and Sundargarh. An amount of Rs. 915 crore has

Downpour improves rainfall deficit in state

The last few days’ downpour has drastically improved the state’s rain deficit. As of now, the state has received 816.5 mm rainfall which is one per cent above the average normal rain of 809.4 mm. This is the first time that the state has received excess rainfall this season, meteorology department officials said on Tuesday.