The pact was signed between senior officials of both the state government and the company at the state secretariate in the presence of senior officials and state steel and mines minister Raghunath Mohanty.

JSPL has proposed to set up the park over an area of 1,400 acres at Parjang in the district Angul, at about 161 kms from here at an investment of Rs.500 crore, he told Odisha.in.

This Industrial Park will provide a unique opportunity to the entrepreneurs of the state to set up their industrial units in the shortest possible time.

The park is expected to become operational from 2013-14, Rajesh Jha, executive director of the JSPL’s Odisha project told odisha.in

It will focus on select target recovery based industries and other medium and small-scale downstream units that would both add value and result in increased industrial activity, he said.The new project will create direct and indirect employment for approximately 32,000 people.

JSPL also seeks to meet the power requirements of industrial units coming up in the industrial park by supply of power from its captive power plant and independent power project coming up in the near by area. The company proposes to take a distribution license for supply of power to the industrial Park, he said.

JSPL is currently setting up a six million tonne per annum integrated steel plant, a coal gasification unit and 80,000 barrels per day capacity coal to liquid (CTL) project few kms away from the site where it wants to set up the park.

The first phase of the steel plant (2million tonne per annum is expected to be commissioned by June 2012. The company has already invested Rs 12,000 crores in the steel project so far, he said.

JSPL has earlier successfully implemented an industrial park at Punjipathra in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh, fuelling development and growth in the state.

Spread across 750 acres, and at an investment of Rs.265 crores, the Jindal Industrial Park at Raigarh has been strategically designed to fulfill the company’s objective of developing the backward areas of that state and create job opportunities for the large number of underprivileged people.

The company provides infrastructural assistance by providing land, roads and drains along with consistent supply of power at a competitive rate to the units established in the park, he said.

Till date, 30 such units are flourishing and 70 more are in the pipeline.The company is holding a distribution license for supplying power to the units in the Industrial Park at Raigarh, he added.

The Industrial Park in Chhattisgarh has created direct and indirect employment to about 7,120 persons, he said.

odisha.in

The 14th largest fast moving consumer goods company of the country said it recorded a sales turn over of Rs.1790 crore in 2010 growing 27 per cent over the previous calendar year (Jan-Dec).

“This is the third successive year that we have registered growths upwards of 25 per cent” Amway India managing director and chief executive officer William S Pinckney here told reporters.

“Our focus over the past 3-4 years on improving consumer awareness and access has paid off handsomely essentially as the quality of the Amway pick up centres has undergone a sea change and are more experimental for our consumer” he said.

Pinckney was here to inaugurate its 12th brand assessment centre, the first in Orissa.

In 2010, he said the company set up 14 new Amway touch points and 5 new brand experience centres.  It also expanded product portfolio coupled with foray into category advertising with the launch of nutrition and well ness category advertisement.

“We will be expanding our infrastructure to about 250 touch points and set up another 25 such brand experience centres in the country over the next 2-3 years supported by a robust product launch plan, education to our business owners” he said.

Describing the contribution in helping people to improve their socio economic conditions, he said it has already created over 550,000 active distributors in the country and the number is growing.

In 2010, around Rs 494 crores paid out as commissions to Amway distributors vis-à-vis Rs. 375 crores in 2009, he said.

Amway which is offering 127 products in various categories in India excluding seasonal officering has also planned to invest about Rs.250 crore to set up a manufacturing plant in the country by 2013, he said.

Almost 90 per cent of the products sold by Amway India are now manufactured within the country through seven third party contract manufacturers. One of them is located at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh, he said.

The company has recently invested Rs 55 crore at Baddi for expanding production to fuel growth.

 The new plant the company has planned will be the second biggest after Baddi plant, he said adding the site for the plant has however not yet been finalised.

Odisha.in

However its alumina production has slumped to 15.56 lakh tonnes from previous year’s 15.92 lakh tones.

The alumina production felled because of the delay of its refinery expansion at Damanjodi in Koraput district. a senior company official told ‘Odisha.in’.

The delay was mainly due to the Maoists attack on its mines in the nearby areas two years ago. After the attack the contractors and contract labourers engaged in the refinery expansion  had left the place and did join work for quite a long period.

The commissioning of expansion was slated for January delayed up to March, he said. The company could not add the extra capacity and produced less alumina, he said.

Nalco has however achieved the highest-ever aluminium production of 443,597 tonnes in 2010/11, the official said.

Besides, Nalco’s Alumina Refinery has achieved 98.8 per cent capacity utilization, while its Bauxite Mines has produced 48.24 lakh tonnes with a capacity utilization of 100.5 per cent, he said.

Moreover, Nalco’s captive power plant has also recorded the highest-ever net power generation of 6,608 million units, against the previous best of 6,293 million units achieved in 2009-10.

On the sales front too, it has achieved the highest-ever metal sale of 438,952 tonnes, against the previous best of 435,979 tonnes in 2009-10.

The company said it was possible due to considerable rise in demand for aluminium and improvement in company’s share in the domestic market.

The company also recorded the highest-ever domestic metal sale of 340,752 tonnes in 2010-11, surpassing the previous highest of 289,032 tonnes in the previous fiscal, he said. 

Nalco also achieved a record sale of 20,022 tonnes of rolled products in the domestic market in 2010-11, against the previous best of 14,419 tonnes in 2009-10. This year the company has also added aluminium T-Ingots to its product range, which is first of its kind in Indian aluminium industry, he said.

Nalco had resumed its billet exports in 2009-10, after a gap of a decade and in 2010-11, the company exported 4614 tonnes of billets.

More production and sale of rolled products and billets have increased the proportion of value added products in the company’s operations. Besides, Nalco has also widened its international customer base by adding new overseas clients during the year, the company official said.

 Odisha.in

 Speaking here on the occasion of ‘World Water Day’ Ranjan Panda, convenor, of ‘Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO)’ said in the last 2-3 years, the state government has signed as many as 27 pacts for generation of thermal power to the tune of 35000 MW.

“The capacity will increase to about 58,000 MW in seven-eight years. To produce the thermal power, the thermal plants would require a minimum of 2297 million cubic meter of water per year” he told 'Odisha.in'.

“This is enough to meet the domestic water requirement of close to 210 million people.  It means about six states of the size of the state’s domestic water requirement” he said. “The rivers, surface water bodies and ground water of the state will be under severe stress if this plan comes to realization” he said.

Orissa is boasting of two digit growth rate.  To maintain that more industrialization, through all water guzzling industries like steel, sponge iron, cement, thermal power and mining, will be pushed through with much vigour” he said.

“That means the water demand of the state will surpass the supply much sooner than expected” he said.

“We have argued upon the government to refrain from going for thermal power plant, rather it should invest more on non conventional energy sources” he said.

“We have been also demanding the government to release a white paper on water availability in the state at present as well as in the future taking into account all the sectors” he said.

“If the government does not change its plans, we are surely waiting for a doomed future within a decade or so” he said.

 Odisha.in

SP Nanda who is currently working as the state development commissioner has been posted as member board of revenue. Agriculture Production Commissioner R.N. Senapati will hold additional charge of development commissioner.

S.P.Thakur at present working as the secretary of the science and technology department has been transferred and posted as the secretary of the state labour and employment department.

State energy department secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena will hold additional charge of secretary of the science and technology department/

G mathivathnan who is currently working as the private secretary to the chief minister has been promoted and posted as special secretary to the chief minister.

Odisha.in

“Sowing has been completed in about fifty per cent of the area. The rest of the area likely to be covered in a fortnight” state agriculture director Arabinda Padhee told Odisha.in adding that the government has made elaborate contingency plan to make situation favorable for farmers.

There has been no rain in most part of the state past four days and water in the firm lands has begun receding. The paddy sowing has picked up across the state and covered about fifty per cent of total 3.8 million hectors meant for kharif crop, he said.

The number of deaths due to flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains and depression over the Bay of Bengal over past two weeks has in the meanwhile rose to 43 even as farmers complain hundreds of hectares of crop fields still remained submerged in low laying areas.

“The flash floods death toll so far reported by today stand at 43”Birendra Karkara, an officer at state revenue control room told Odisha.in.

Odisha.in

The government has filed counter affidavit in response to the first judicial intervention into the matter in a Public Interest Litigation filed by pioneer human right group Committee for Legal Aid to Poor (CLAP) of state just after the occurrence of the incidence.

The CLAP filed its petition seeking a status quo in developing the industry until final resolution of the demands of the indigenous people in 9th January 2006 in a writ petition in the High Court. TATA Steel Limited, which is an essential Party, is yet to file its reply.

The counter affidavit filed by Special Secretary to Govt. in November 2007 reveals half hidden truths relating to the claim of the govt. that adequate steps have been taken to resolve the matter.

Even it is clear now that only two persons out of 14 tribal who succumbed to the police firing have been given the ex-gratia of 10 lakhs whereas 12 persons did not accept the offer.

Similarly the declaration of the Govt. for compensation to the tune of 50,000.00 to person sustained injury could not be given to 17 persons because of paucity of fund with the district administration.

 If the Govt. resolution is to be believed then these compensation is a benevolent support rather than the rights of indigenous people who were victims of a state sponsored crime, said Shyama Sundar Das the president of CLAP. 

The PIL of CLAP raised a vital legal question that the situation could have been averted had there been due diligence in time on the recommendation of the Special Rapporteur of National Human Right Commission which was given much prior to the occurrence of the incidence.

 The counter affidavit filed by the government reveals that steps like payment of assistance to the tune of 25,000.00 for each person who lost land and 50,000.00 for house building assistance had been announced, however in a much delayed stage in May 2006 after the incidence had already occurred.

The petitioner Shyam Sundar Das, the President of CLAP observes that the administrative short sightedness in taking the recommendation of NHRC seriously contributed the occurrence of the massacre.

 Das further said that the NHRC recommendation was a clear indication for the administration that the situation was not within the control and instead of taking precautionary measure like imposing 144 under Criminal Procedure Code or even for that matter curfew deployment of a small section of police is not an indication of an efficient administration.

Therefore, Das said, the argument of the Govt. that when people overpowered police then only the Executive Magistrate ordered for firing is not logical and unfounded. No preventive measures were taken before giving the order for firing to avoid occurrence of the incidence, which was a procedural defect.

Meanwhile by virtue of a decision of the apex court in I.A. No. 6/2007 in University of Kerala vs. Council, Principals' Colleges, Kerala and others, the Judicial Commission headed by Justice A.S. Naidu was dissolved.

After almost a year, it is still under consideration of the Govt. whether to constitute a Commission or not.  The counter affidavit suggests that Govt. considers this aspect.

The PIL of CLAP inter allia demanded that a Policy for Rehabilitation and Resettlement be made which seems to have received the attention of the Govt. as the counter affidavit reveals that the Govt. has contemplated Orissa Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy 2006 which was notified in the Gazette in 14th May 2006, after the notice in the PIL was issued by the High Court.

Odisha.in

Prafulla Chandra Ghadai ,Orissa  Minister for Finance inaugurated the Grameen Shakti, the micro insurance product  at Itipur  village on the bank of historic river Daya in the outskirts of Bhubaneswar at an impressive meeting attended by over 2500 Women  SHGs from all over the state.

 The launching ceremony was graced by among others Dr.Mona Sharmaa, Commissioner-Cum-Secretary, Women and Child Development Department,Orissam Udaya Shankar Roy   Managing Director and CEO, SBI Life, Anup Banaerji, Deputy Managing Direcetor SBI, M.N.Rao, Chief General manager  SBI, Bhubaneswar Circle.

 Grameen Shakti aims at providing insurance cover of Rs.25,000 to economically weaker sections of the society through an affordable premium of Rs.301 per annum, said Udaya Shankar Roy, MD and CEO, SBI Life.

 The product is a pure term insurance product with provision for 50 per cent return of premium on maturity, he said adding that the term of the policy shall be for five years .

 "It is an unique product and provides the family members protection and survival benefits to the policy holders of the SHG", he said.

 Talking to newsmen, Roy announcing SBI life's entry into micro insurance with launching of Grameen Shakti, in Orissa being the pilot state in the Country ,said on the death of the Group member, the nominee would receive the sum assured.

 He exuded that SBI's extensive net work would enable SBI life to offer protection to the segment that would benefit significantly from the policy.

Stating that the micro insurance products  will be marketed through SBI's baranch net wrok in the state of Orissa, Roy said that SBI life   took the initiative to launch the products in Orissa as it has one of the largest base of the economically weaker population particularly in the rural areas.

More importantly, SBI life would get 1.30 lakh SBI credit linked SHG's out of the total 3 lakh registered SHG;s in the state , he said informing that at one go, it would cover record 13 lakh Life .

"We have a target of covering at least 2 lakh live insurance of the SHG's within next one and half months.", he said.

 Responding to a suggestion of Orissa Finance Minister to increase the sum assured upto Rs.50,000 ,  the SBI life MD , Roy  assured that it would be well taken care of   considering the insurance penetration trend .

Stating that the first life insurer  in the country to receive the highest financial strength rating of AAA from CRISIL for the superior financial security, Roy said, SBI life is the

Largest private life insurer in the country with 89.9 lakh lives insured during 2006-07 Financial year.

 Highlighting the key milestones during last fiscal, he said while new Business premium grew by 210 per cent  to Rs.2,566 crores  and ranked 3 amongst the private insurer in terms of new business premium income,  the net profit of SBI life Insurance had risen by  88 per cent.       

Odisha.in

He demanded that the South Korean steel producer should not be allowed to establish a mega steel plant,captive port and enjoy SEZ facilities near the proposed site.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Ray warned both the Manmohan Singh Government at the Centre and Naveen Patnaik  government in Orissa  not to allow  establishment of the steel project of the South Korean steel giant near Paradeep.

 "Allowing POSCO to establish a steel plant with SEZ status would amount to allowing the coming up of a foreign territory within the country," the former Lok Sabha Speaker remarked.

Ray extend his support to the POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti move against government's efforts to acquire land in the gram panchayats of Dhinkia, Nuagaon and Gadakujang in Erasama Block of Jagatsinghpur district for the steel project.

Ray  also condemned the attack on peaceful demonstrators at Balitutha on November 27 by hired anti-socials who had hurled bombs in presence of police. This was a clear instance of State sponsored terrorism to create panic among the villagers and facilitate land acquisition for POSCO.

" The police and POSCO goons have joined hands to deprive the farmers and agricultural labourers of their only source of livelihood – agriculture," the former Lok Sabha Speaker alleged.

He also condemned the alleged attack on group of Satyagrahis led by prominent writer Sailej Rabi and disrespect to Mahatma Gandhi's photograph by the POSCO goons at the instigation of police in the project area a few days ago.

Ray demanded that the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should apologise for the insult meted out to Gandhiji by the police personnel posted there.

The former Lok Sabha Speaker said , "I hope and trust that the Government would see the writing on the wall and fulfill all the demands of the people, which are genuine."

Prafulla Samantara, president of the Orissa unit of Lok Shakti Abhijan  who was also present at the media conference along with Ray, demanded that there should be end to the State sponsored terrorism and police should be withdrawn from the area, who were creating panic among the common men.

He alleged that the villagers in the area were harassed by the police in the pretext of blocking roads for entry of Maoists in the area, as a result they are unable to go out for marketing and treatment.

Samantara alleged that the Orissa Government is following the Nandigram pattern of suppressing people and terrorizing them with help of hired hoodlums who are no way concerned with the area.

Odisha.in

This was announced by B.B.Choudhury, chief of IOC, Eastern Zone at the
Banker's Committee meeting on rising of energy plantation and Bio-Diesel production being organised jointly by OREDA and Science and Technology Department, Orissa.

Choudhury said that IOC had plans to support all necessary infrastructures for sustainable and qualitative production of Bio-Diesel.

He said that IOC would set up the proposed Bio-fuel processing unit in a centrally located area and urged the state government to help supply high yielding non-edible Jatropha or Karanja seeds of at least 2 lakh Metric tones annually to make the unit viable.

IOC has decided to blend Petrol and Diesel with ethanol content in rational level ,he said .presiding over the meeting Orissa Chief Secretary, Ajit Tripathy announced that a Bio-Diesel Park would be set up at Deras , in the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.

Assuring that steps would be taken to provide required 2 lakh tones of Jatropha , Karanja  and Pangal seeds to proposed IOC unit, the Chief Secretary said that a task force would be constituted under the science and Technology department to initiate the process.

He informed that a team comprising of representatives of bankers, OREDA would visit the Chhatisgarh to gather experience on Bio diesel production.

The representatives from various banks like UBI, UCO Bank, SBI, Indian bank, Overseas Bank, Central Bank, Cooperative Banks, representatives from NABARD, who participated the meeting evinced their interest to provide loan assistance as per the guidelines of the Orissa Bio-Diesel Policy to the interested farmers to raise Jatropha , Karanaja plantation.

Odisha.in

The NCP which also condemned the huge deployment of police force in the Dhinkia and Nuagaon area, the hot bed of anti-POSCO movement, in a clandestine manner, demanded immediate pull out of the police from the area and to lift the prohibited order promulgated under section 144 there.

Addressing a press conference, the senior party leaders- Asok Das and Arun Dey alleged that state government had let loose rein of terror in the area through the police and the pro-Posco supporters.

Alleging that the state government particularly the Chief Minister Naveen
Patnaik has been acting as the paid agents of POSCO, lamented that the state was bending itself for the benefit of the private South Korean steel company, they said.

Das warned that "if the state government would try to effect forceful eviction of  Dhinkia and Nuagaon  people under the Kujanga Tahasil areas, there would be another Kalinga Nagar and Nandigram".

Das who did not spare the Congress party and the UPA government at the Cenetre for the present problems in the Kujanga area, alleged that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Orissa Chief Minister had nexus to ensure the establishment of the POSCO steel mill by uprooting the people from their homes and agricultural land.

And both the UPA government and the state government is violating the R&R Policy and Water policy in case of the private company. In the same vein, the NCP leaders criticized the NDA and BJP  particularly L.K.Advani for pursuing double standard in case of POSCO .

"While Advani is raising his voice against the Left Government on Nandigram issue, he is totally silent on the "state sponsored violence" on the anti-Posco people, he said.

Odisha.in

 
The VVJM, the forum leading the tribals’ agitation against displacement due to industry in the area since January 2, 2006 after 14 tribal persons including three women and a 12-year-old boy were gunned down by the police while they opposed land acquisition for Tata’s proposed steel plant in Kalinga Nager.

Even though the villagers of Maniapatana had taken the help of local police to construct the boundary wall of the hospital but they had to receive the jolt when the VVJ supporters including local Chandia and Belhuri villagers destroyed the entire newly constructed boundary wall.

On Wednesday some villagers of Belhuri had attacked three labourers who were busy in constructing the boundary wall of the hospital, which will be set up at a cost of Rs 10 crore.

Following information Collector Sanjay Singh and SP DS Kuttey reached at the spot and brought the situation under control.

"As the situation is tensed we have deployed eight platoons of police forces to avoid any untoward incident. We are closely monitoring the situation," said the Jajpur SP.

There was an altercation between the villagers of Maniapatana and Belhuri over the construction work of boundary wall since long.

Police sources said that a private agency was awarded the construction work of the proposed hospital by the Tata steel in the industrial area.

 But the agency handed over the boundary wall construction work of the proposed hospital to the local Maniapatana people supposed to be the pro Tata people anticipating trouble by the activists of the Vistapan Virodhi Janmanch.

"The violent people were planning to attack the Maniapatana villagers, but it was averted," the SP added.

While after the incident the irate tribal people gathered at Belhuri village for a meeting, police have registered a case against them.

The Janamanch president Chakradhar Haiburu (senior) said that the opposition against the Tata Steel project would continue in Kalinga Nagar.

"The Government should prevent any construction activities of the proposed project till the crisis was fully resolved," he added.

Odisha.in

They were detained by the anti-POSCO villagers on Thursday evening while all the seven workers were trying to start dredging work after entering the Jatadhari river mouth under Dhinkia Gram Panchayat under Kujang block in  Jagatasinghpur district of Orissa, said Anil Mishra the Officer-in-Charge of Kujang police station. 

All the seven workers Bhupendra Sharma, E.V.R. Raja, E.S. Oswal, K. Dhanjay, Rajesh Barik, Saroj Prusti and Bhupendra Singh of (DDCL) were engaged by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to start dredging works near the Jatadhari River mouth about 15 kilometers from the port town Paradeep. 

They were lodged in a cyclone center on Thursday night after anti-POSCO villagers took then hostages in the village Dhinkia as anti-POSCO villagers suspected them as the employees of South Korean steel company POSCO.

 Later on Friday morning they were released after giving a written undertaking not to enter the areas again, added the police officer.

Anti-POSCO villagers have also assaulted a priest of the Mahaver temple in village Nuagaon on Thursday as the priest, Raju Baba allowed all the seven workers of (DDCL) to offer a coconut in the temple as a good omen to start the dredging work.

Five villagers’ sustained injuries as anti-POSCO villagers assaulted them after they were trying to prevent the anti-POSCO villagers to attack the priest. 

All the injured persons have been identified as Ramesh Swain (25) , Smitaranjan Swain (24), Prasanta Swain(27)  and Banamali Nayak(26) of Nuagaon village. Two injured persons, Smruti Ranjan Swain and Ramesh Swain were shifted to SCB medical college and hospital at Cuttack after their conditions became serious, said the police officer.

"We directed the contractor of the DDCL to file an FIR against the villagers who kept them as hostages. We have also informed the police of Kujang police station about the incident", said an official of IOCL in Paradeep to this paper.

 Last month, ten workers of the Rural Development department had been kidnapped by the anti-POSCO villagers at Balitutha village while they were carrying wood logs in a truck to build the bridge. 
"We released all the seven workers  after they gave us an undertaking not to enter the three Gram  Panchayats of Dhinkia,  Gobindapur  and Gadakujang at any point of time. We treated them well while they were in our custody. ", said Abhaya Sahoo an anti-POSCO leader of Dhinkia.

"It was a nightmare for us to spend a night in the village Dhinkia. We  have no idea about the war among the South Korean POSCO steel company and the villagers. Anti-POSCO villagers provided food and water to us. We will never enter these areas in future for any work", said Rajesh Barik one of the released workers.

"My family members were worried over our detention in the village Dhinkia", said Prasanta Swain another worker who was also detained by the anti-POSCO villagers.

Last month, anti-POSCO villagers had also kidnapped four engineers including three South Korean when they were doing survey works near the Jatadhari river mouth.

"Police had registered as many as 40 cases under sections- 147, 148, 323, 294,341,342,427, 365, 395 and 506 of Indian Penal Code against Abhaya Sahoo an anti-POSCO leader of Dhinkia and others within two years. But, they were not arrested by the police in any case. ",   said the police officer.

Odisha.in

"We are not averse to the POSCO project or the FDI , but would fight against granting of Captive port  and Captive Mines in favour of the  POSCO India ", said Ajaya Makan , the union Minister and the AICC General Secretary  in charge of Orissa Tuesday .

Makan who was here on a two day visit in connection with the extended executive meeting of Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee put pre-conditionality for putting up Industries.

"Congress wanted a complete, ban on export of minerals, according captive mines and captive Port to any industry", he clarified.

"No industry should be allowed to put up their plants on the fertile, irrigated and agricultural and forest land and no diversion of water meant for farmers to Industries", he said.

On being asked ,While the Prime Minister himself  wanted the POSCO project and  Sonia Gandhi has her blessings, is it not a double standard being maintained by Congress, for Orissa Project, Makan said," this is the stand of Congress for the interest of  the country and people ".

Makan said, Orissa government is pursuing reckless industrialization at the cost of environment. "Orissa is in the brink of environmental disaster with dwindling down of forest cover every day ", he warned.

Though Makan disapproved the move of the Orissa government to divert water from Hirakud reservoir meant for farmers to Industries, and announced to start "Naveen hatao, Orissa Bachao" campaign at Sambalpur on the water issue on December 2 next , he said," the BJD-BJP alliance government should think of supplying surplus water to Industries after meeting the farmers requirements".

Odisha.in

According to the MoU, the three state sector Companies would set up a joint venture company under the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) route for the development of the BW Coal Block with an estimated reserve of 602 Million tonnes.

The Coal Block situated in Orissa was allotted to the three state Public enterprises by the Union Coal Ministry in July last to enable them to use the coal on equal share basis for generating thermal powers, official sources said.

U.P.Singh, Chairman of  Orissa Hydro-Power Corporaton  (OHPC),  Vijay Laxmi Joshi Chairman and Managing Director, Gujurat Poer Corporation Ltd and T, N.Manoharan, Chairman, Keral State Electricity Board signed the MoU at Orissa Secretariat in presence of state Chief Secretary, Ajit Tripathy and Development Commissioner, R.N.Bohidar.

Of the three state units, only Gujrat has the facility to use the coal at it's Thermal Poer station - "Urja Vikas Nigam" to generate Power of its own, the two other state Enterprises have no such Hydro power Units.

The other two state units will have to arrange coal linkage to the agreed thermal power station, which will provide them power in return.

According to Energy Department sources, OHPC has plans to set up a mega thermal plant in the state soon in joint collaboration with another state Mineral giant- Orissa Mining Corporation.

The three parties have agreed to float a Joint venture Company soon and deposit a bank guarantee of Rs.75 crore with the Union Coal Ministry to operationalise the Coal block, which has already been prospected by the Central Mines
Planning and Design Institute, sources said.

Odisha.in

This was informed by the authorities of the Panchayati  Raj department at the Sitting of Assembly Standing Committee relating to the Panchayati Raj department   held recently.

"The standing committee headed by Narasimha Mishra had received allegations that these people were not provided job under the scheme.

Admitting that the allegations found to be correct and for failing to provide wage employment, the authorities informed the Standing Committee that the job seekers would be compensated with 22 days unemployment allowance, which is first of kind in the state", Mishra said.

The basic objective of the scheme is to enhance livelihood security to rural areas by providing 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household, whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

Its objectives among others- generating productive assets, protecting the environment, empowering rural women, reducing rural –urban migration and fostering social equity.

The scheme has been launched in 19 districts of the state during the year 2006-7.

Similarly the panel while taking stock of the implementation of the Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) now being implemented in 19 districts of the state has also recommended that no work under the scheme should be taken up on the recommendation of the elected representatives.

And all the projects with estimated value of Rs.1 lakh or above should be taken up only after floating tenders.

Odisha.in

“Department of Economic Affairs have already cleared 23 out of the 200 PPP projects", said  Khullar in the side lines of  a Workshop for States on PPPs  jointly organized  here by her department and the Orissa unit of Confederation of Indian Industries .

"The total approved projects for VGF funding include 22 state high-way projects and the Navi Mumbai Meetro Railway Projects", she informed.

The objective of the workshop was to sensitise the states about the frame work for PPP projects.

Stating that central government wants as many bankable infrastructure development projects big or small under the PPP route, Khullar said ,"  it is the unavoidable option to close the glaring infrastructural deficit across the states with the economy growing so fast".

"To make the infrastructural projects in PPP mode commercially viable, the
VGF provides fiancial support grants one time or deferred and the funding shall not exceed 20 per cent of the total project cost", she said.

Parag Gupta, the Special Secretary, in-Charge of PPP cell, Orissa said that there had been good response from Private parties to set up infrastructural projects  after the formulation of PPP policy by the state.

So far 32 number of  projects have been listed under the PPP mode.  Bhubaneswar-Paradeep Road project and Dhamra Port project are the few success stories under the PPP policy, he said.

Odisha.in

In spite of demonstration by anti Posco activists and non cooperation of ruling BJD leaders, Rout conducted first ever pro Posco meeting at Balitutha successfully.

It was the first big meeting in support of the company since it signed deal with the Orissa government two and half years ago.

Addressing to gathering, Rout requested the villagers of Dhinikia not to be biased and inspired by anti Posco leader Abhaya Shaoo.

He said that Shaoo who was living in poverty is now a rich man. He affirmed that no forces and power could stop Posco project.

He expressed that people are realizing the benefits of Posco steel project as it would not only develop this areas but will bring good name for the state.

Farmers have faced heavy loss in agriculture and betel business due to under sale of paddy and betel crops. The rate of fish production has gradually decreased so the time has come to welcome to Posco project.

 He informed that thousands of people this locality has migrated to other states in search of jobs and have been tortured their and it is time to bring them back and give employment here.

He said that job cards and identity cards will be given to land losers for getting employment and rehabilitation facilities in Posco project. He informed that only 365 acres of land will be acquired for the project and the government is taking all steps to give the land loses all opportunity.

Pro Posco leader Chandan Mohanty of Patana village who has been ostracized by anti Posco activist with 42 other families expressed how they have sacrifice for the proposed project.

He explained the inhumane and violence activities of anti Posco activists in Posco areas. He said that today's meeting has given inspiration and strength to fight against them.

He expected that the project supporters' strength has increased to 90 per cent of the population of the area against 10 per cent who oppose it.

Former Zilla Parishad president Sabita Mohapatra, zilla parishad member Prakash Parida and other BJD leader Nimain Swain, Kishoer Parida also delivered speeches and needed the co operation and support from people.

They urged the government to expedite rehabilitation and resettlement activities to create confidence among those supporting the project.

They have also demanded to arrest anti Posco activists who have terrorized in Posco site. They blamed police for not taking actions against anti Posco activities even if more than 75 cases are pending against them at Kujang police station.

  BJD leader Mr Anadi Rout presided over the meeting that witnessed more than 5000 people.

Earlier district superintendent of police R.K.Sharama who recently joined and sub collector Debendra Kumar Singh were humiliated by anti Posco activists while they attempted to enter into Posco areas Nuagaon and Gadakujang panchyats.

 More than 1500 PPSS activists conducted demonstration with lathi, arrows, brooms and swords at Balitutha Bridge protesting Mr Rout's meeting. They did not allow SP and sub collector to Posco site.

  Pro Posco meeting was a party meeting of the ruling BJD, anti Posco leader Mr Abhaya Shaoo said.

Out of 15000 populations, only 700 to1000 people of Posco areas participated while others are BJD workers from different panchyat, he said.

Odisha.in

In spite of demonstration by anti Posco activists and non cooperation of ruling BJD leaders, Rout conducted first ever pro Posco meeting at Balitutha successfully.

It was the first big meeting in support of the company since it signed deal with the Orissa government two and half years ago.

Addressing to gathering, Rout requested the villagers of Dhinikia not to be biased and inspired by anti Posco leader Abhaya Shaoo.

He said that Shaoo who was living in poverty is now a rich man. He affirmed that no forces and power could stop Posco project.

He expressed that people are realizing the benefits of Posco steel project as it would not only develop this areas but will bring good name for the state.

Farmers have faced heavy loss in agriculture and betel business due to under sale of paddy and betel crops. The rate of fish production has gradually decreased so the time has come to welcome to Posco project.

 He informed that thousands of people this locality has migrated to other states in search of jobs and have been tortured their and it is time to bring them back and give employment here.

He said that job cards and identity cards will be given to land losers for getting employment and rehabilitation facilities in Posco project. He informed that only 365 acres of land will be acquired for the project and the government is taking all steps to give the land loses all opportunity.

Pro Posco leader Chandan Mohanty of Patana village who has been ostracized by anti Posco activist with 42 other families expressed how they have sacrifice for the proposed project.

He explained the inhumane and violence activities of anti Posco activists in Posco areas. He said that today's meeting has given inspiration and strength to fight against them.

He expected that the project supporters' strength has increased to 90 per cent of the population of the area against 10 per cent who oppose it.

Former Zilla Parishad president Sabita Mohapatra, zilla parishad member Prakash Parida and other BJD leader Nimain Swain, Kishoer Parida also delivered speeches and needed the co operation and support from people.

They urged the government to expedite rehabilitation and resettlement activities to create confidence among those supporting the project.

They have also demanded to arrest anti Posco activists who have terrorized in Posco site. They blamed police for not taking actions against anti Posco activities even if more than 75 cases are pending against them at Kujang police station.

  BJD leader Mr Anadi Rout presided over the meeting that witnessed more than 5000 people.

Earlier district superintendent of police R.K.Sharama who recently joined and sub collector Debendra Kumar Singh were humiliated by anti Posco activists while they attempted to enter into Posco areas Nuagaon and Gadakujang panchyats.

 More than 1500 PPSS activists conducted demonstration with lathi, arrows, brooms and swords at Balitutha Bridge protesting Mr Rout's meeting. They did not allow SP and sub collector to Posco site.

  Pro Posco meeting was a party meeting of the ruling BJD, anti Posco leader Mr Abhaya Shaoo said.

Out of 15000 populations, only 700 to1000 people of Posco areas participated while others are BJD workers from different panchyat, he said.

Odisha.in

"The proposed institute would help particularly the first generation entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurs in general to upgrade them technologically with industrial management and marketing in the face of competition and inherent sickness syndrome", Commissioner-Cum Secretary Industries, Asok Dalwai told Odisha.in.

"The Ahemedabad based Entrepreneur Development Institute has evinced interest to set up the institute of excellence in joint venture with the Orissa government and the detailed Project Report for the proposed advanced center would be finalised very soon". He said.

He said with the submission of the DPR; state government would allot ten Acres of land for the construction of the institute.

Stating that the sickness in the small and medium industries sector in Orissa Is higher than the national average, Dalwai said as per the last census of 2003, 57 per cent of the total 22500 small and medium industries in the state were sick against the national average of 50 per cent.

Since the small and Medium sector is considered as the highest provider of  employment with low investment than that of the major industries, state government has formed a state-level committee to record the reasons of large scale sickness and to recommend how to address the problem.

Stating that a fresh census of micro, small and medium industries would be undertaken in the state from November next, he said by the end of March 2006, an estimated 37408 small and medium industries have been registered in the state with an investment of Rs.1.25 lakh crores and provide employment to 2.69 lakh persons.

However, he said that though sickness of small and medium industries is a
National Phenomena, it's primarily due to use of obsolete Technology.

He said that state Industries department, in association with the Micro, small and Medium enterprises Development Institute, Cuttack under the Union ministry of Micro, small and Medium enterprises, NSIC, KVIC, Coir Board and Small scale Industries Association would organize  Expo-Orissa ,2007 – a National level Industry and Trade fair

In Bhubaneswar at Unit-III Exhibition ground  from 2nd to 6th November 2007 to provide a platform to micro, small and medium enterprises for exploring market for their Products and also to identify suitable vendors for large industries.

The Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to inaugurate the five day Expo-Orissa, the third in the series, on 2nd November, he said

The special features of Expo-Orissa 2007 will be an exhibition of products where the exhibitors of different PSUs, big houses and Micro, small amd medium enterprises will

Exhibit and focus on the items of outsourcing and marketing facilities. A good number of large industries like, MCL, NALCO, TATAs , SBI, union bank of India and other nationalized banks and financial and insurance organization would also participate in

Trade fair, he said adding there would be seminars on Industry related issued during the occasion.

Odisha.in

"All types of security required by POSCO will be provided during the period of the construction of the Steel plant , being the biggest ever FDI project in the country and governmetn wants to see that it comes up on schedule ", asserted the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unfazed by the rejection of his officer for direct dilogue for a negotiated solution of the road block, by the ant-Posco agitators.

However, Chief Minister did not rule out the possibility of using force against the anti-POSCO agitators fighting land alienation.

After a detailed discussion with the ten member POSCO Board of Directors At the state Secretariat, Patnaik reiterated that state government's doors are open for direct dialogue with anti-POSCO brigade to bring a "peaceful and practical solution" for the greater interest of the people of the area and state on the whole.

"As committed by the POSCO Chief Chief Executive officer(CEO) Ku Taek Lee , the construction work of the proposed steel plant will begin on schedule with the ground breaking ceremony on April 1,2008,that is the Orissa Day", the Chief Minister said.

Not taking any cognizance on the reports of possible shifting of the steel plant from the earmarked site at Paradeep., the Chief Minister categorically said," there was no proposal to shift the project site from Jagatsinghpur district" on the face of opposition from a section of the people of Dhinkia , Nuagaan and Gada Kujanga adding  "even POSCO has not given any such proposal yet".

POSCO is very positive about the Paradeep project for the locational advantage , he Said.

Meanwhile the POSCO-India Spokesman, Sashank Patnaik said that the Company is committed for the Paradeep Project and will make it happen with the support of the people.

However, the POSCO Pratirodha Sangraam Samiti, spearheading the stir against the steel project led by Abhaya sahoo outrightly rejected the olive branch offered by the Chief Minister and annunced that the agitation will continue till POSCO goes back.

The South Korean steel majors India project at Paradeep, the MOU for which was signed in June 2005 , has not progressed aan inch in the earmarked site following the protest by the local people of  Dhinkia, Nuagaan and Gadakujang .

Odisha.in

The labourers under the banner of 'Oriplast Mazdoor Sabha' were demanding implementation of the agreement signed between the company officials and labourers regarding their salary and at least 20 percent bonus for the contract labourers.

The contract labourers led by Arun Swain, general secretary of Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) also staged a demonstration and protest meeting in front of the company gate besides opposing the entry of officials and other company workers.

"The labourers got agitated after the company declared 20 percent bonus for the company labourers and 8.33 percent for contract laourers," claimed Swain.

"With the same labour the company labourers get more salary then the contract labourers. But the bonus amount should be the same for both the category. It is unjust on the part of company authorities as they always neglect the contract laourers," he alleged.

Meanwhile, the company high-ups were discussing with agitating labourers to come for a settlement.

When contacted, S Patnaik, President (Works) of Oriplast, said, "How can the company labourers be compared with the contract labourers. However, we are trying to convince them and hope the problem will be resolved soon."

Odisha.in

"They should not take law into their own hands", said the Chief Minister
Naveen Patnaik reacting to the recent abduction of fourteen people including four senior executives of POSCO and ten labourers by the anti-Posco activists in Jagatsinghpur district.

"Government would continue to support the Mega Industrial projects including POSCO ", the Chief Minister said Monday.

Patnaik said," our government is taking steps for maintaining law and order in the proposed industrial project areas thereby creating an investment friendly climate in the state".

The chief Minister's reaction came when; the media persons drew his attention to the questions raised by the POSCO authorities over the state government's inaction against a group of people who have become law onto themselves.

Meanwhile the abductors have released the ten workers deployed by the Rural Development Department for construction of a wooden bridge in Dhinkia village on Monday. Earlier, on Saturday the anti Posco group had released the four POSCO officials whom they had held hostages .

Odisha.in

Chief Minister Patnaik lauded the utility of swadeshi products and hoped that the mela would serve as a better platform to showcase indigenous products in the State.

As many as 500 stalls have been set up, in which farmers and traders from across the country have joined and displayed their natural products. Law and Industry Minister, Bishwa Bhusan Harichandan, while attending the Mela said that even despite the flow of multi-national companies, swadeshi products still maintain its quality in the market.

 In the face of domination of MNC products to the detriment of rural economy and artisans, the mela would create awareness about innovative and quality products from small and cottage enterprises and instill the 'Swadeshi thought', Harichandan said.

"CBMD is of the view that indiscriminate globalisation of the Indian economy initiated in 1991 lacked adequate foresight", SJM national convener P Murlidhar Rao said.

He further maintained that rural producers in the country have great potential and they always need right direction to improve their productivity. Speaking on this occasion RSS All India Boudhika Pramukha Dattatreya Hoswale hoped the mela will helpful to all rural producers.

Meanwhile, the artists of Satabadira Kalakara staged Biplabi Krutibash, a play written by late Parsuram Harichandan and directed by Minister Harichandan on the opening day.

Urban Development Minister KV Singh Deo, SJM national co-convener Saroj Mitra, BMC deputy Mayor Urmila Mohapatra, Khadi and Village Industry Board chairman Sameer Mohanty, Mela coordinator Golak Prasad Mohapatra were among those present. The Mela will continue October 17.

Odisha.in