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Speculation rife for Deputy Speaker post

Admin — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:06:59 +0000

Bhubaneswar: While the monsoon session of the state legislative Assembly is all set to get prepared to commence next week, speculation is now rife about the next Deputy Speaker election, which will be held on August 17, the very first day of session.
It is stated here that, the post has fallen vacant after Lalbihari Himirika was sworn in as a Cabinet minister in the May, 2011 reshuffle.
Having the three-fourths majority in the House of 147, it will be not difficult for the ruling party to get the post, says, political experts adding that it remains to be seen whether the Opposition parties will field any candidate.
But the main opposition force Congress is yet to name anybody to contest for the post of the Deputy speaker, sources said. But so far as the present political equation is concerned, the BJP may not support the Congress.
According to the sources, the party leaderships may prefer, Sarojini Hembrum, the first- timer, from Bangiriposhi constituency for this crucial post.. “Though she is a new face in the party but she is deeply appreciated not only in her constituency but in the party too,” observed experts also adding that her organizational capacity, sense of involvement in the party affairs draws everybody’s attention.
On the other hand, another tribal leader Sananda Marandi, a second time MLA from Kuliana constituency of the same district also is in the race. But sources said that he is discarded by a handful of party members. “As he worked with BJP earlier and also won from the BJP ticket and joined BJD later so that many senior members do not prefer him for this constitutional post,” observed experts.
Political experts observed that the party leadership may prefer Sarojini Hembrum for the post than the second time MLA Sananda Marandi for her sincere and dedicated involvement in the organizational matter. But it is quite obvious that the post may assign to a tribal leader.
Sources also maintained that, Dr. Sipra Mallick, V Sugyna Kumari Deo and Pramilla Malick are also aspiring for the post. “The party leadership may also prefer a woman for the post to maintain balance to their so called women reservation,” experts stated.

Union minister Srikant Jena seeks CBI probe into Orissa mining scam

Admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 04:07:26 +0000

Bhubaneswar, July 24: Union minister and senior Congress leader
Srikant Jena on Sunday said the Orissa government should immediately
order CBI probe into the multi-crore mining scam in the state to probe
its “honesty.”

The minister also pleaded for cancellation of the controversial Orissa
Mining Corporation (OMC)-Vedanta contract for supply of bauxite from
eco-sensitive Niyamgiri hills and resolution of raw material issues
for the Posco project.

“I have a written a letter to the Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik
to take due cognizance of the large-scale illegal mining, which not
only impacts the ecology but also leads to colossal loss of state
revenue through a series of tax evasions in the whole value chain of
the mined mineral. I have suggested him to recommend for CBI inquiry
to bring the culprits to book,” Mr Jena told this newspaper.

“Further, till the state control on major minerals is put in place,
revenue of the state can be enhanced by levying of cess over and above
the royalty on all major mined minerals in the state,” Mr Jena said in
the letter.

“The trend needs to be reversed. The long term supply contracts like
the one between the OMC and the Vedanta for bauxite supplies need to
be reviewed and cancelled forthwith in larger interest of the state.
The raw material supplies should be made available to industry only at
market linked price. In the long run, steps are required to be taken
for state control of mining resources, which will not only rectify
above anomaly but will also prevent and protect environment by way of
proper mining and planned industrialization,” Mr Jena contended.

Citing the recent rejection of Vedanta Aluminium Limited’s Lanjigarh
refinery expansion plan by the Orissa High Court for lack of proper
environment clearance, the minister said judgment established the need
for eco-friendly sustainable development.
In the letter sent to the chief minister on Friday, the minister said
the current level of royalty results in approximately 5 per cent of
annual mineral wealth coming to state in the form of royalty while the
rest 95 per cent is enjoyed by the lessee – be a trader, an
industrialist or a company. The annual royalty receipts in Orissa are
meager as compared to the enormous mining industry in Orissa.

In an earlier letter to the chief minister, the Union minister had
advocated for state control of minerals for optimal utilisation of the
resources.

Akai Launches power house Mobile

odisha-newspaper — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 07:44:11 +0000

The country’s leading mobile manufacturer AKAI launched it’s power house mobile phones. These are now readily available in the market for sale. This is a dual a dual SIM(Subscriber Identity Module), dual stand by and dual talk phone. It can take charge up to 15 hours in a single charge. It has to be charged only three times a month. This also contains MP3 and MP4 players, 1.3 MP(Mega Pixel) camera, 5.1 inch screen, 3.5 mm audio jack, GPRS and FM radio. The memory can be extended up to 8 GB. This costs only Rs.2600. These are available in two colors i.e. Golden and Black. Guru charan Panda launched the mobile in a channel meet. He said that this would be the best phone for premium segment users and youth.

Engineering Admission From August First Week

odisha-newspaper — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 07:12:49 +0000

OJEE committee has announced firmly that all the arrangements have been accomplished regarding the e-Counseling of OJEE. The software for web counseling has already been developed. Some procedural changes has been made keeping a eye on the irregularities arised during the counseling process in previous year. The candidates have to lock their choices at the nodal centers. This year 18 nodal centers will be working in the counseling process. Out of these six in the capital, two in the silver city, two in Rourkela, two in Berhampur and one each in Baripada, Balasore, Jaipur, Burla, Sarang and Bhabanipatna.As per the prediction most of the students will be from Rourkela and Bhubaneswar. As per the information regarding the counseling process the online registration starts from 3rd July to 15th July. After that choice locking, document verification and deposition of counseling fee will start from 18th July to 29th July.The fee is set at Rs.450.Different dates are assigned to different trade. In August first week the first phase counseling will be held.The second phase starts from 10th August.The central counseling for medical, pharmacy, lateral entry students, architecture will start from 18th July in Bhubaneswar.The classes will start from September first week, as decided in the mmet. T.Ramachandru and Director of OJEE Prof. L.N. Panda were present at the meet.

VAT Off on LPG

odisha-newspaper — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 06:52:31 +0000

The VAT(Value Added Tax) is off on LPG(Liquefied petroleum gas) and Kerosene in PDS(Public Distribution System) from the government. The CM(Chief Minister) Sri Naveen Patnaik declared this firmly. He also added that the middle class people had suffered a lot with the hike in the petroleum products by the government. So the government removed VAT on LPG and PDS kerosine. The government also did a decrement of 18% VAT in Diesel. The poor state like Odisha was unable to decrease it further. Due to this decision the government to bear a revenue loss of Rs. 40 crore. As per the information the kerosine hiked by Rs. 2 and that of LPG by Rs. 50. Due to this decision taken the LPG rate comes down straight from Rs.423.65 to Rs.407.65 and that of kerosine from Rs.14.50 to Rs.14.

SCB to Start up Battery Car Service

odisha-newspaper — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 06:39:40 +0000

Shri Ramachandra Bhanj Medical college Hospital to launch battery car service. It is only meant for the transportation of patients from one ward to other. Many times the SCB medical college Hospital is being alleged for lacking in developed quality stretures. The patient has to either go by the attendants or by their own feet. The tender processing has been finished and the car was also trialed successfully. It is to start from July end. The traffic is to be appointed at the two gates of the Hospital for the incessant transportation. It is to being decided to make a committee with the staffs of Cardiology, Neurology, Medicine ward, Orthopedic of emergency ward. This committee will keep their eye on the service of the emergency ward. An in house vigilance committee has also been constructed to keep harmonic relation among all the departments. The CMC(Cuttack Municipal Corporation) is also requested to develop the drainage system in the Shri Ramachandra Bhanj Medical college Hospital. Dr. Dhirendranath Moharana, Prabhat ranjan Das, Advocate Guruprasad Mohanty, Kedarnath Jena, Tarananda Patnaik, Dr. P.K. Pradhan along with JEs of CESU, GED, PHD and other staffs of SCB were present at the meet.

OJEE e-Counseling to Begin from 3rd July

odisha-newspaper — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 11:49:31 +0000

The OJEE counseling for this year begins from 3rd July. This will take 30 to 35 days for completion.18 nodal centers has been identified for the counseling process.Mock counseling will be introduced newly in this year.Students will be benefited regarding the probable colleges for their admission. The rank cards will be sent to the rank holders within 1-2 days. Some procedural changes has been made in the counseling process as some irregularities had been observed in the previous year e-counseling. Students are allowed to register through online from 3rd July. They are asked to create their own password to register in the JEE website. Mock counseling to be held during the first 10 days of counseling. By this students who will register according to their ranks can know the probable colleges in which they can take admission. The students were completely unaware of this knowledge in the previous year. The nodal centers has been increased from 16 to 18 in numbers for this year. The 18 nodal centers are in 11 places including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Balasore, Baripada, Sarang, Rourkela, Jaipur, Sambalpur, Berahampur, Bhabanipatna, Keunjhar. After registration the students are required to fill up the choice box.The will be given certain date and time. On the given date and time they can verify their certificates in any of the 18 nodal centers and thereby lock the choice. After that they have submit the printout to the nodal officer.The printout must contain the signature of both candidate and nodal officer. Out of the two copies one will be submitted at the center and the other will be taken by the candidate. The candidate are required to pay a DD of Rs. 450 for this entire process. The candidates will be then given a bank account no. and they are required to deposit the necessary fees in this account. Rs 16000 for government colleges and Rs. 30000 for private colleges. The candidates will be straightly discarded who will be unwilling to deposit the amount. In the second allotment the candidates are asked to report in the required colleges. No fees or original documents will be given by the candidates at the time of reporting. They have to deposit the xerox copies of their documents. After that all the colleges inform about their seats and vacancies. Then 3rd allotment take place .After all this process the final admission will be carried out.The candidates can shift their colleges. Candidates can get information regarding the seats by SMS service. Nodal centers will be open 3 days before the counseling. The candidates could clarify their doubts regarding the process at there, told by Sitaram Mohapatra.

Satyagrah ; It’s now in Odisha for Posco

odisha-newspaper — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:28:58 +0000

Now it’s time for Odisha.A satyagrah will be held from 5th July to 7th July at CM’s Naveen Nivas in Bhubaneswar.More than two hundred social activists including swami Agnibesh and Medha Patekar are to be planned to join in this nonviolence war against Posco.If it was not done then Jailbharo would be adopted, as declared by the National Youth Association in a press meet.They have planned to prevail the norms over the state.Swami Agnivesh and Medha patekar after completing the visit over the Posco areas, the National Youth Association has taken the decision. More than 200 supporters along with 25 national level leaders are to be participated in the Satyagrah at Naveen Nivas. They are to object regarding the loot of national resources by the national and international industries. The government was hurting the innocent citizens by allowing them to loot the natural resources. Dr. Banwarilal Sharma, Amarnath Bhai, Bivekananda Madhne, Ashok Bharat, Dr. Biswajit and Ramakant Mandal were present at the meet.

Who is Swami Nigamananda; Perhaps We get it after his Death …. !!!!

odisha-newspaper — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:53:19 +0000

The media has covered successfully about the protest of social activist Anna Hazare and yoga guru Baba Ramdev. The newspapers have also done their work by publishing everyday at the front. The whole country also support them firmly. At the same time we are unaware of a person, who had been protesting not for one or two days but for long four months. He was completely under shadow. The media knows him after his death, newspapers are also publishing his death news. But the whole country was totally unaware of his protest at the time of protesting. The 34 year old Swami Nigamananda was protesting for the illegal mining at the bank of holy Ganga river. He had started his journey from 19th Feb. at Hardwar and was admitted on 27th April due to his deterioration in health condition. But instead of overcome, he was in coma. At last he had been treated in Himalayan Hospital and he passed away yesterday. As per the information Baba Ramdev was also admitted in that Hospital too. Ramdev was solicited by politicians and spiritual leaders, but Swami Nigamananda was just waiting for his death to come at that time. He took his last breath when Ramdev was there in the Hospital. Congress blamed the Uttarakhand government for this. It alleged that the government ignored him and a tlast killed him.

Ramdev Quits his Fast; Not against Corruption

odisha-newspaper — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:18:20 +0000

At last Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev quit his 9days hunger-strike against corruption.He has broken it by having fruit juice at Dehradun Hospital. Many spiritual leaders were present at that time.He said that he just quit the fast not the Satyagrah against corruption. As per the information he ended it as per the request of spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar. But he will be at the Hospital for 2 or 3 days for his weakness. On the other hand his aide Acharya Balkrishna said that he had ended the fast by respecting the requests of his fellow beings. He also quit his fast. Sri Sri Ravishankar also pleased up on Ramdev as he stood up on his request. Acharya Balkrishna also thanked the media for it’s support. Answering to a question he said that who won or who lost that did not matter. The main aim was to awake the Indians up against corruption. According to the medical authority he will be fine soon.