Gram Sabhas from July 18

Times of India, July 4, 2013

BHUBANESWAR/ KORAPUT/ BHAWANIPATNA: Despite Union tribal affairs minister V Kishore Chandra Deo's objections to holding of gram sabhas in 12 villages to decide mining at Niyamgiri, the state government has started finalizing the dates.

While Rayagada has decided to conduct gram sabhas in seven villages between July 18 and August 19, Kalahandi is expected to soon identify dates for five villages. "We will shortly notify the villagers about conduct of gram sabhas," said nodal officer (Kalahandi) Ramesh Behera.

On April 18, the Supreme Court order asked the state government to hold gram sabhas to decide the fate of Vedanta's plan to mine Niyamgiri.

Official sources said the process will begin at Serkapadi village under Siba Padar panchayat of Muniguda block on July 18, followed by Keskapadi (July 22), Batudi (July 27), Khambesi (August 13) and Karapar on August 19. In Kalyansinghpur block's Lamba and Lakhpadar villages, gram sabhas will be conducted on August 1 and 8 respectively.

"We need at least 50% attendance to conduct a gram sabha. One-third of them should be women. If quorum is not achieved, the gram sabha will be cancelled and conducted later," said collector (Rayagada) Sashi Bhusan Padhi.

Gram sabhas in five villages, Tadijhola, Palberi, Phuldumer, Ijurpa and Kunakado, of Kalahandi are also expected by August-end. Secretary, ST and SC development Santosh Sarangi said: "The orientation programme was held in the villages of Kalahandi and those have been photographed and videographed. We would go-ahead in conducting the gram sabhas," he told TOI.

Official sources said the law department has backed the ST, SC development department's decision, but considering the Centre's criticism of the decision to limit gram sabhas to 12 villages the state government has referred the matter to the advocate general. "If the Centre is against our decision, why does it not move Supreme Court against it?" asked an officer.

Small projects prove big support for Kalahandi farmers

By Uma Shankar Kar - BHAWANIPATNA | 02nd July 2013 12:49 PM

Small and innovative irrigation projects have proved a boon for the farmers in the hilly terrains of Kalahandi where big projects cannot be implemented.

In 1970s and ’80s, a tribal Karji Majhi of Malijubang under Lanjigarh block in Kalahandi district applying indigenous knowledge and common sense had constructed more than 20 small irrigation structures by diverting and channelising hilly streams. He diverted stream water by digging small channels and putting wooden boat like structures to facilitate water passage from one elevation to another. With this arrangement, he was able to provide irrigation facilities to the farmers of the area at a very low cost. For his activities and talent, Majhi was popularly known as illiterate tribal engineer and in 1997 he was also honoured in the Kalahandi Utsav. He is no longer alive now but his deeds are remembered. On Friday, late Karji Majhi was remembered as a hydraulic pressured diversion irrigation project constructed at a cost of ` four lakh by Sevjagat, an NGO, was inaugurated at Bengaon in Lanjigarh block.

From a height of 50 metres, the stream water has been diverted with PVC pipes and after one km, three outlets with switches have been set up. The best part of the system is that it will provide water for irrigation throughout the year to about 30 acres of land without any displacement of people or submergence of land.

Satya Pattnaik, the head of Sevajagat, said, “Such small projects are economical and eco-friendly. In Kalahandi’s  hilly region particularly Thuamul Rampur, Lanjigarh and Madanpur Rampur blocks, such small projects are feasible.” During last one year, another similar project at Karengili of Lanjigarh block and two at Sulesur and Khaliamunda in Madanpur Rampur block have been implemented by the organisation. On an average, each of these projects is capable of irrigating 30 to 50 acres of land. Pattnaik said construction of six more such projects has been proposed in Lanjigarh and Madanpur Rampur blocks. The survey for the projects has already been completed. Funds from philanthropic organisations are awaited to begin the works, he added.

Should Odisha remain poor for ever !!!

http://shubhransumishra.blogspot.in/2012/09/disaster-for-mineral-sector-in-odisha.html

Attractions of Lanjigarh

Vedanta Aluminium Limited has set up a world class Alumina refinery at Lanjigarh which is the largest industry of the district. Once it starts producing 6 MTPA of Alumina, it will be the single largest Alumina refinery of the world.

This employs around 1000 people, mostly from the local areas directly and more than 12,000 people indirectly  through various partners, contractors in the plant. More than 20,000 people are indirectly employed through various means.

After the closure of the plant since December 2012, the no. of employees working in the plant have drastically reduced  to around 450 direct employees & around 500 contract employees, which has affected the livelihood of the locals.

Who is responsible for this?? Shall Lanjigarh & Kalahandi remain poor forever?? Shall the tribals loose the opportunity to come out of the forests and join the main stream???

Case Study : Rourkela – Steel city of Orissa

Rourkela is known for its Steel Plant & Fertilizer Plant. This is the biggest city of north western Orissa. Can you imagine what was it before independence?

Rourkela was under the administrative boundaries of the NAGARA sub-division under Ex- princely state of Gangapur state during British rule. In the year 1945 the Head quarter of Nagara sub-division was established at Panposh by the then ruler Raja Udit Pratap Shekhar Deo.

According to the census report of 20011 & 2001, the population of Rourkela is 5,52,970 & 4,84,292 respectively. But the number of population as per the census record of 1921 was only 382. The then railway station of Rourkela was within the revenue village of Mahulpali. There was a very small village near Mahulpali called Rourkela. The literary meaning of ‘Rourkela’ according to the language of ‘Sadri’ is your home. It is also learnt that a tribal community called ‘Raulia’ had been living at the village.

The B.N.R. Company (Bengal-Nagpur Railway Company) constructed the Howrah Nagpur railways, which ran through Rourkela and some merchants, started settling at Rourkela with business motives, around the village Rourkela and the Railway station was named after the village Rourkela. The erstwhile revenue village of Rourkela is now popularly known as old Rourkela. The habituated area around the railway station of  Rourkela was declared as an urban town in the year 1931. The census report of 1931 reveals that the number of population was 493. By the time a primary school, an office of the forester, a sub-post office, some tea stalls, restaurants some shops of liquor and opium were there around the station area.

There was another station at the village Panposh which is about 10 Kilometres away from Rourkela. The population of Panposh by 1931 was 2,252 almost five times than that of Rourkela.

There was a village called Durgapur in between Rourkela and Panposh stations. The construction of the sub-divisional court building was started in 1945 at the village Durgapur, the present Uditnagar.

Survey for the steel plant at Rourkela was started in 1952. A Germany private undertaking called KRUPP and DEMAG Co. came forward to provide financial and technical help for the proposed steel plant at Rourkela. In accordance with the notification the Govt. of Orissa acquired an area of about 80 square miles around Rourkela for the purpose of Steel Plant. A further area of 32 square kilometres was acquired out of thirty-one revenue villages. Later further 11,000 acres of land was acquired out of thirty-one revenue villages for the construction of Mandira Dam. Construction of Bondamunda Railway junction required further acquisition of land.

So, few small tribal villages saw the sea change in few decades and few lakh of people who proudly inhibit Rourkela have all facilities of infrastructure, education, health, livelihood and everything that one can aspire for. This is what industrialization can bring.

People of Rourkela are proud of :

Rourkela Steel Plant by SAIL – 2 million ton capacity, employs around 20,000 people

National Institute of Technology – premier engineering college of the country

Biju Pattnaik University of Technology – Technical university of Orissa

Ispat General Hospital – World class hospital for all

Apart from this it has big malls, business centers, markets, gardens, parks, stadiums etc.

 

 

Last King of Lanjigarh "Maheswari Prasad Singh Deo"

LaNjIgArH DeMaNd FoR VeDaNtA