Railway Budget 2010 highlights for Orissa and Angul District>>

New train lines in Orissa: Puri-Konark, Nabarangpur-Jeypore, Gunpur-Theruballi, Phulbani-Berhampur, Raipur-Jharsuguda. Jeypore-Malkangiri.

Survey work for new train line:  Talcher-Phulbani-Lanjigarh, Junagarh-Jeypore-Malkangiri-Bhadrachal.

New train lines: Puri-Ahemedabad-Kolkata-Ganganagar Bharat Teerth train, Guwahati-Mumbai via Jharsuguda Karmabhoomi train.

Duranto Express: Pune-BBSR, Puri-Howrah.

Double track lines: Delang-Puri, Talcher-Sambalpur.

New Express trains: Sambalpur-Howrah, Puri-Digha, Puducheery Express via BBSR.

Multi-Disciplinary Training Centre at Cuttack

Adarsh Stations: Angul, Belpahar, Jakhopura, Jharsuguda, Lanjigarh Road, Meramandali, Rengali, Titlagarh Jn.,

Extension of trains :  209/210 Puri-Dhenkanal Passenger to Talcher Road (Daily) 

Angul Govt. ITI (Polytechnic) >>

                The Central Government, Ministry of Human Resource Development and Department of Higher Education have sanctioned financial assistance to the State to set up 22 new Government Polytechnics in un-served districts. The new polytechnics are to be set up by the State Government in Gajapati, Boudh, Sambalpur, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Jajpur, Nayagarh, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sonepur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Deogarh, Angul, Bargarh, Balangir, Balasore, Bhadrak, Koraput, Kandhamal and Mayurbhanj. The Central Government has sanctioned Rs 12.30 crore per polytechnic to be released in installments on the performance under Coordinated Action for Skill Development.

                The Industries Department has agreed in principle for establishment of the polytechnics. A single patch of land measuring 10 acres has been identified by the State Government in each district for setting up of a new polytechnics during the academic session 2010-11. Out of Rs 12.30 crore, Rs 8 crore will be spent on civil works and rest will be spent on machinery, furniture and learning resources material.

Video Conference held at NIC Angul VC Studio >>

                       A Video Conference was held  on 16/02/2010 to review the performance of Forest Rights Act by Secretary, Welfare Department, Govt. of Odisha. The DWO and other officials from District Welfare office attended the VC Session at NIC VC Studio, Angul.

RPDAC Meeting held at Angul >>

                        Emphasis was given at the meeting of the Rehabilitation and Periphery Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC)  to extend all possible cooperation, including maintaining law and order, for establishment of the proposed Jindal India Thermal Power Ltd (JITPL) at Kaniha of Talcher to meet the power requirement of the State. The much-awaited RPDAC meeting was held under the chairmanship of RDC, Northern Division, Sri J.A.Khan, IAS here. People's representatives attending the meeting,  laid stress on a better rehabilitation package to the JITPL project-affected people. On the issue of the massive pollution in the MCL area, the RPDAC constituted a sub-committee under the chairmanship of the Collector of Angul to visit and review the plantation work undertaken by the MCL. The RPDAC also emphasized proper rehabilitation to the people affected by joint-venture company MJSJ, which has been allocated 2534.24 acres of land for its coal project at Talcher. A committee was also formed under the chairmanship of the Collector to expedite the work on the MCL-proposed medical college at Talcher. Among others, the meeting was attended by Sambalpur MP Sri Amar Pradhan, Dhenkanal MP Sri Tathagata Satpathy, DIG Sri Lalit Das, IPS and other senior officials.

Divisional Level Meeting of  Collectors on Industry & other Sectors held at Angul>>

                        The Divisional Level Meeting of Collectors of  Northern Revenue Division was held on 28/01/2009 at Angul. The Collectors & other District level Officers from 10 districts of Northern Revenue Division attended the meeting at AUCCB (Angul United Central Co-op. Bank)  Conference Hall, Angul.

Janaseva Kendra (Common Service Centre) launching vehicle flagged off>>

               Janaseva Kendra (Common Service Centre) launching vehicle was flagged off by Shri D.Senapati, OAS(I), ADM at Collectorate Angul. Shri Sudarsan Parida, OAS(I), Sub Collector, Angul, Shri S.K.Chatterjee, District Informatics Officer (DIO), National Informatics Centre (NIC) and many other officials were present during this occasion. Under National e-Governance Plan, Janaseva Kendra will be established at Panchayat, Block & Tahasil headquarters to provide various e- Governance services. Zoom Developers Pvt. Ltd. has been identified as the Service provider for Janaseva Kendra in the Angul District by Govt. of Odisha.

Angul Zilla Mahotsava - Tarang 2009 >>

   Angul Zilla Mahotsav - Tarang 2009 was held from 20th to 24th November, 2009. The various cultural groups from the district, state and outside state had performed their programmes on each day of the Mahotsav. Pallishree mela and Yoga Sibir were also organized during the Mahotsav.

For details to know about Tarang-2009, please click here

Aluminium park to come up at Angul>>

                       An Aluminum Park would be set up at Angul with an investment of Rs 75 crore. The proposed project would be a joint venture of the Orissa Industrial Development Corporation (IDCO) and the National Aluminum Company Ltd (Nalco). A Memorandum of Understanding to this effect was signed to this effect between the state government and Nalco at the State Secretariat recently.Chief minister Shri Naveen Patnaik, Industry and Steel and Mines minister Shri Raghunath Mohanty, CMD Nalco Shri C.R.Pradhan, Chief Secretary Shri Tarunkanti Mishra, Development Commissioner Shri Satya Prakash Nanda and other senior officials were present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, the industry minister said that as per the Industrial Policy-2007 and MSME Policy-2009, the state government is giving highest priority for development of ancillary and downstream industries in MSME sector for greater value addition of steel and aluminum products in Orissa. State Agencies like IPICOL and Directorate of Industries will be closely associated in the planning and marketing of the park. The ancillary and downstream units identified to be set up in the proposed industrial park in the Alumina/Aluminum sectors will be Caustic Soda, Calcined Petroleum coke, coal tar pitch, aluminum fluoride, aluminum conductors, aluminum extrusions, aluminum castings, slugs and circles and aluminum power.        

NALCO holds meet with village heads>>

                         As part of its periphery development programme, the smelter and power complex of National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) organised a meeting of village heads (Sarpanch) here recently. The aim of the meet was to learn the views and opinions of the public representatives on how to expedite various development projects undertaken by the PSU. The company since its inception has so far earmarked Rs 56 crore for various developmental activities in the 39 peripheral villages of Angul. At present, there are 485 works under execution, for which the company has sanctioned about Rs 16 crore. Of these, 256 works are being executed through government agencies and 229 works are being executed by the executants nominated by the BDOs and supervised by NALCO.

                     NALCO had acquired 4,103 acres of land for its smelter and power project, out of which 3,496 acres was private land. Subsequently, Nalco has given employment to 1,635 land affected people (LAPs), which is about 36 per cent of company’s permanent employee strength at Angul. Besides, the company has, so far, sponsored 831 LAPs for ITI training in seven batches, at a cost of Rs 2.05 crore, including a stipend of Rs 1,000 per month. While the revised rehabilitation and resettlement policy of the state provides for one time cash assistance to families in lieu of employment ranging from Rs1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, Nalco has offered one time cash-assistance package in lieu of employment ranging from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs15 lakh to substantially affected persons (SAPs), who are not eligible for employment or opt for cash assistance. Till date, Nalco has paid Rs 3.65 crore to 63 SAPs or their legal heirs, NALCO sources informed the meet. The presence of Nalco in Angul has also created indirect employment opportunities among the denizens, the sources added maintaining that of 243 contractors presently working in Nalco, 122 are locals. Similarly, of the 9,502 contract workers engaged by Nalco contractors, 7142 (about 75 per cent) are from the contiguous areas.

                     Under the aegis of Nalco, two mobile medical vans with doctors and paramedical staff are conducting health camps for 25 days in a month and providing free medicines to the villagers. Besides, people living in the vicinity, take advantage of NLACO Hospital and the two schools run by the company. NALCO has also given user rights over 60 acres of its land to about 1,700 tribals and other contract labourers who had settled in smelter and power plant area. Besides, NALCO is spending Rs 2 crore for them towards infrastructure development and other basic amenities

                    MCL is going to implement e-Procurement on the website http://mcltenders.gov.in developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC), Govt. of India for all Civil, E&M, Extraction of Coal, Transportation and loading tenders etc. valuing Rs.10.00 lakhs & above very shortly  It is an initiative of MCL to use the leverage of web based technology in compliance with the guidelines of Central Vigilance Commission to ensure transparency in Tendering process. In this system, bids will be received on-line from the bidders having Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) and the evaluation of bids will also be done on-line. To participate in e-Tenders the Bidders are required to obtain DSC from any of the agencies authorized by Controller of Certifying Authority (CCA), Govt. of India. This on-line auto evaluation system is a unique system of its kind and being done first time in CIL. A training programme was held recently at Angul  by NIC for the successful implementation of e-procurement at MCL.

MCL to set up medical college at Talcher>>

             Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) will set up a 500-bed medical college and hospital at Talcher in Angul district. It will also upgrade its Nehru Satabdi hospital to a super speciality hospital. This was informed at the meeting between the State Health and Family Welfare Minister, Mr Prasanna Acharya, and MCL CMD Mr SR Upadhaya. While the company had earlier proposed the medical college and hospital, the State Government recently gave its no-objection certificate for this hospital. The medical college would be set up on a 60 acre patch of land along the same lines as Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow. Mr Upadhaya further informed that the State Health and Family Secretary would be the Chairman of the medical college’s governing body, while the company CMD or senior director will act as the co-chairman. Minister Mr Acharya suggested the MCL delegation abide by the MCI guidelines while setting up the college, and stressed the importance of keeping it pollution-free.  

Angul to have India's largest integrated steel plant>>

                   Notwithstanding the current worldwide economic slow down, Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) has made much headway in setting up the nations’ largest integrated Rs. 15000 crore steel plant in Angul district. JSPL authorities are trying hard to commission the three million tonne plant by the end of 2010. The second phase three MTPA plant will go on steam in a year after. About 5,000 tonne of equipment from Italy, UK, Germany and China and other countries have already arrived at the plant site and another 10,000 tonne equipment are lying at various national and international ports. The progress have been made in the field of direct reduced iron (DRI), coal gratification, steel melting shop, plate mill and power plant construction activities.

Tikarpada now beckons eco-tourists >>

       

                Satkosia Sanctuary authorities had launched eco-tourism in Tikarpara to boost tourism potential of the area.  Ten tents have been built on the banks of the Mahanadi at Tikarpara, with all the modern amenities like toilets, kitchen, solar light & fencing around the camp etc. and tourist can enjoy the exotic nature there.

                  Eco-Tourism at Satkosia sanctuary, this year, is expected to yield thrice the revenue of last year to the local community, which manages the nature camps. Nature camps were launched at Satkosia on November 7 this year and this facility would continue till March-end. The revenue so far has been nearly Rs 1.2 lakh in the form of bookings in just 24 days. Eco-tourism has been being organized since 2006 at Tikarpara of Satkosia forest region. As part of this, 10 spacious tents called nature camps are set up on the banks of the Mahanadi at Tikarapra. Each tent has double beds with lavatory and water. Catering is also provided to the visitors. For a 24-hour stay in the camp beginning 11 AM, an adult is required to pay Rs 550. While children up to the age five are not charged, five to 12-year-old children are charged Rs 330 a day. Though the booking is made by the Forest Department authorities, the management of these camps is entrusted to Tikarpara Paribesh Paryatana Samiti. All the money goes to the samiti and 35 per cent of it goes for maintenance. Tourists are taken for boat cruise, nature walk and elephant ride in the forest areas during their stay. This is the only community based camp in our State.              

NH-42 to be four lane soon to streamline traffic>>

                    National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has prepared a feasibility report with an outlay of Rs 700 crore to convert NH-42 into a four lane driveway for streamlining of traffic. In the first phase 107 km stretch of this highway from Panchamahala to Manguli will be taken up as this section runs through the highly industrialized Angul-Dhenkanal industrial zone.  Heavy steel plants like Bhushan Steels , Jindal Steel and Power Limited(JSPL), Rungta , BRG Steel, Nav Bharat Chrome, Aarati steel and a number of ancillary industries have come up in the region which has resulted in four fold increase in vehicular traffic, mostly heavy vehicles. A survey conducted by the NHAI recently has revealed that over 26000 vehicles ply between Gudiakateni(Dhenkanal) and Banarpal(Angul) regularly and this figure is expected to increase further in days to come as the Angul-Talcher-Dhenkanal belt has been attracting a number of steel and power tycoons all over India owing to cheap availability of coal, water and other good infrastructures. In order to ease traffic at busy places, the NHAI has also decided to construct fly over at Bhushan Steels at Narendrapur. Movement of traffic will also be streamlined at PTC Chhak, Buddhi Thakurani Square,  Nalco Smelter and CPP square by installation of  high-tech electronic gadgets and traffic islands.

Rs 150-Cr. road project in Angul >>

                   With an aim to develop the infrastructure of Angul-Chendipada road in view of the rapid industrialization and mining, the State Government has mooted a Rs. 150 crore road project. The plan envisages doubling the single narrow road from Angul to Budhapal. The cost would be shared by industries including the public sector company Mahanadi Coalfields Limited. This was decided at a high level meeting chaired by Works Minister recently. Besides the road, there would be a by pass around Angul town to link the proposed road with NH-42 for smooth movement of traffic. As per the proposal, eight industries will contribute funds for the construction of 23 km long Angul-Kosala double road while Mahanadi Coalfields Limited will bear the cost of next the 17 km road from Kosala to Chhendipada. The next patch of the road will be taken up by a group of industries to be operative beyond Chhendipda areas of the Angul.     

Satkosia notified as a tiger reserve >>

                     The state government has notified Satkosia as a Tiger Reserve after the central steering committee cleared Satkosia to be State’s second tiger Reserve. Satkosia Tiger Reserve consists of Satkosia and Baisipalli wild life sanctuary covering the districts of Angul, Cuttack, Boudh and Nayagarh, according to the notification issued by State Government. As per the census in 2004 and monitoring held in 2006 there were 18 Royal Bengal Tigers and 32 leopards’ in the Satkosia Tiger Reserve. The total area of the new Tiger Reserve is 963 sq km while the core area remains within 532 sq km, according to the notification.  This sanctuary was established in 1976. The forest type of Satkosia sanctuary is one of mixed deciduous forest with predominant species of sal, mahua and bahera. The forest was at one time the habitat of tigers and leopards, but at present these faunal species are rarely found. About 10 km south of the gorge at Purnakote and Labangi, Gharials had made their home in the Mahanadi river and this sanctuary was established primarily to protect the crocodile, an endangered species.

Manjore project got clearance from Centre >>                 

              Manjore Medium Irrigation Project, Athamallik in Angul District got clearance from Water Resources Ministry, Govt. of India. This project will help to provide irrigation facilities in Athamallik Sub Division.

Central Tourism Ministry adds Deulajhari (Athamallik) in Village tourism list >>

                The Tourism Ministry, Govt. of India has decided to include Deulajhari Village near Athamallik in "Village Tourism List". Deulajhari is the ancient citadel of Saivism.  The Shiva temple has been consecrated amidst dense indigenous-jasmine forest (locally known as Kiabana) that stand as the high walls. To the south of the temple flows the sacred river Chitrotpala, and in the north stands the towering hills of Panchadhara. The uniqueness of the place lies in its hot springs that surround the temple. As per the ancient records there are eighty-four such springs.  But many of them have been overshadowed in the jasmine forest. Now twenty-four springs are alive. A large number of tourists visited this place every year.