विसकेओ बुलेटिन-फरवरी-2009

Orissa news
‘Kui’ replaced by ‘Kui Kandha’, KSSS
rejects Govt’s move
BHUBANESWAR : Naveen Patnaik always plays safe. So in an election year the Orissa Chief Minister adopted the middle path and neither here nor there.
While the ST SC Development department favored to delete ‘Kui’ from the Presidential order of Orissa Scheduled list, Patnaik agreed to substitute ‘Kui’ with ‘Kui Kandha’.
Former Chief Minister and sitting Congress Lok Sabha MP from Koraput, Giridhar Gamang also favored the idea and the Chief Minister also accepted the same.
The Tribes Advisory Council (TAC) held its meeting here on January 9, 2009 to discuss the contentious issue of ‘Kui’. Madhu Sudan Padhi, Special Administrator Kandhamal Affairs briefed in a clear cut manner about the ‘Kui’ and cleared many apprehensions from the mind of the leaders.
Though ‘Kui’ is a language, but ‘Kui’ speaking non-tribals are allegedly misusing the facility. And this issue has turned out to be major problem in Kandhamal district. ‘Kui’ speaking non-tribals are also asking the status of tribals, leaving the State Government in a jam.
So the SC ST Development department proposed to delete the ‘Kui’ from the list. However Dr.Gamang opposed the same, saying this will irk Kandhas residing all over the state.
He favored the idea of replacing ‘Kui’ in favor of ‘Kui Kandha’. Sensing the mood Chief Minister rejected the proposal of the department and adopted the idea of Dr Gamang.
And TAC adopted it. So now the State Government will approach the Centre to replace ‘Kui’ in favor of ‘Kui Kandha’.
Meanwhile, Kui Samaj Samanoya Samiti, a tribal body fighting in riot hit Kandhamal, however rejected the move of the State Government and announced to oppose it.
Ban cow slaughter; declare it as national animal, demands Seer
BHUBANESWAR: Shankaracharya of Gokarna Pitha, Karanataka Swami Jagadaguru Raghaveshwar Bharati on January 6 asked Congress led UPA Government at Centre as well as respective States Government to impose a complete ban on cow slaughtering.
The firebrand Hindu Seer, while addressing a Press Conference here, further demanded that the Government should declare cow as national animal and ensure protection.
"We would conduct a 108 days Rath Yatra to high light the issue. The Rath Yatra, which will spread the message of ‘save cow and save village’ will be flagged off on September 28, 2009, on Vijaya Dashami Day at Kurukhetra in Hariyana and calumniated at Nagpur in 2010 on Makar Sankranti Day," the Shankaracharya said. The Yatra would traverse some 20,000 kilometers, he added.
Apart, from the main Rath, 15,000 smaller Rath to traverse some 10 lakh kilometers during in 108 days, he added. The Seer further said that meetings will be held at 400 places across the country and signature of 50 crore people will be collected and submitted to the President of India seeking complete ban on cow slaughter, he added.
The Seer said that main Rath would stay in Orissa for three days. Coming down heavily on Church and Islamic terrorists, the Seer claimed that Hindus are in danger due to faulty policies of the political class.
The urgent call for the protection and preservation of Indian Cow Breed has been his primary activity in the very recent years. Of total 70 breeds recognised in India, only around 35 breeds exist now and all of them can be found in Seer’s Matt in Karnataka. He started the Kamaduga yogana, to concentrate on the work. Projects are on to start 108 goshalas, of which few are already started in Karnataka, Maharastra, Kerala, Tamilnadu.
The Seer, who came into prominence after organising the "Go Yatre" in 2004 and the "Go Sansat" in 2006 has said that this move to focus attention on the need to protect and promote Indian cow breeds many of which are believed to be on the verge of extinction.
Swamiji who had taken up protection of the pure Indian cow breeds as his mission through a programme "Kamadugha" will lead the 108 days Yatra, sources added. Shankar Lal ji, Joint-Coordinator Biswa Mangal Go Gram Yatra Samiti and AS Panigrahi of the State unit were among those present at the Press meet.
RSS observes Makar Sankranti
BHUBANESWAR(VISAKEO): The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on January 14 observed Makar Sankranti while appealing people to maintain the spirit of cultural nationalism. Sangh workers hosted several functions in the city to mark the occasion.
RSS Khetra Pracharak(East) Sunilpada Goswami attend a function hosted here at Bhimatangi Saraswati Sishu Mandir. Similar function was hosted in the premises of Utkal Biparna Sahayata Samiti, where Prata Boudhika Pramukha Anil Mishra, Pranta Sanghchalak Ashok Das, Pranta Karyabaha Gopal Mohapatra attended.
Another function hosted at Budheswari UP School, Bhubaneswar Saha Zilla Sanghchalak BN Sahu, Prant Prachar Pramukha Simanchal Khatua, Puri Bibhaga Karyabaha BB Samantasinghar attended. Functions were also hosted at BJB College, Sundarpada, Unit-8 Saraswati Sishu Mandir, Barmunda, Rental Colony, Mahavir Slum, Chandrasekharpur, OUAT Campus, Niladri Vihar, Patia, Nehru Park, Dharma Vihar, IDCO Colony, Forest Park, Unit-1, Rasulgarh, Naharkanta, Balipatna, Nuapada and FR Colony.
Orissa police files chargesheet against Australian doctor
PURI(VISAKEO): Orissa police has filed a charge-sheet against the 65-year-old Australian doctor who was arrested for alleged sexual assault on some boy inmates of an orphanage here.
The eye surgeon, Alan Herbert Rose alias Paul Allen, was arrested on November 12 on charges of paedophilia. Mary Ellen Gerber, the French founder of the orphanage, helped police arrest the doctor by filing a complaint against him.
"We submitted a charge-sheet against Rose before Puri sub divisional judicial magistrate on January 10 ," inspector-in-charge (Puri Sadar police station) Debi Prasad Dash said. The police action has set the stage for the beginning of the trial into the sensational case.
Dash said the doctor has been charged under various sections including sexually assaulting a minor, criminal intimidation and violating the Foreigners’ Act.
The arrest had been followed with a startling survey by some NGOs that claimed paedophilia in Puri was highest in comparison with other sacred destinations in the country.
The Australian doctor, who is in Puri district jail, has approached the Orissa High Court for bail, sources said. "We will appeal to the court not to grant him bail until the trial is over. We have gathered all evidence against the Australian doctor to substantiate the sexual harassment charge against him. Even the foreigner did not furnish his personal details despite a directive by the Australian High Commission," the inspector said. "If convicted, the Australian National may face imprisonment for life or imprisonment for 10 years and fine," the cop added.
This was the third such incident, which surfaced in Puri in the last 10 years. The other two paedophilia cases had occurred in 1999 and 2000. In both the cases, the accused (both British citizens) had got clean chits by courts here.
Writ on Kandhamal allowed to be withdrawn by HC
CUTTACK (VISAKEO): The Orissa High Court on January 15 allowed a petitioner to withdraw her writ pertaining to the situation in Kandhamal district observing that the Supreme Court was already seized of the matter.
Petitioner Kesamati Pradhan of Raikia area in Kandhamal, which was rocked by violence following the killing of VHP leader Laxamananda Saraswati on August 23 last year, had filed a petition last week alleging that the state government, without bothering to improve the situation in the district, was forcing those sheltered in relief camps to leave.
The bench of Chief Justice B S Chouhan and Justice Indrajit Mohanty refused to pass any ruling on the writ by Pradhan, who described herself as a social activist, observing that the Supreme Court was already monitoring a similar petition.
‘The writ is permitted to be withdrawn as we do not want to multiply the court proceedings,’ the bench observed. It advised those who were affected to approach the high court directly and not through via media.
1984 anti-Sikh riot victims to get more compensation
BHUBANESWAR (VISAKEO): twenty-five years after they were affected by the anti-Sikh riot in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination, Orissa government has been formulating a formula to compansate the victims’ families.
‘We have set up a committee under the special secretary, home to verify the riot beneficiaries,’ Home Secretary A P Padhi said on January 15.
The government had to verify the FIR filed during and after the 1984 riot, he said.The beneficiaries would be given more compensation according to the new scheme decalred by the Centre in 2006.
Though there was not much impact of the riot in the state, a total of three persons were killed and 25 injured in the vi some houses and shops belonging to Sikh community were damaged in the riot.
Two persons were killed in Sundargarh district and one in Khurda district.While the family members of the deceased persons had received Rs 3.5 lakh as ex-gratia according to the central policy, 2006, the injured persons were yet to get additional compensation as per the new policy.
The persons whose houses and shops were damaged in the riot did not get additional benefits. ‘The persons who have received compensation earlier, will again be offered financial assistance according to the 2006 policy,’ a senior official said adding that the state finance department had already sanctioned Rs 44 lakh for the purpose.
Pachauri rings Mahanadi alarm
BHUBANESWAR (VISAKEO): Thanks to the effects of climate change, Orissa is among one of the ecologically vulnerable states in the country, while the Mahanadi delta faces the threat.
This grim revelation came from none other than Nobel laureate and Climate Change Expert Rajendra Kumar Pachauri here on January 6.
The coastal states could be affected by the loss of glacial mass and the subsequent rise in sea levels. This can lead to coastal erosion and inundation of coastal lowlands," he said, speaking at the NALCO Foundation Day Lecture here.
The state might also have to contend with rising salinity in groundwater, lower number of rainy days and droughts in the delta region.
Dr. Pachauri the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Director-General of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) advised the State Government to take up a comprehensive Climate Change Study on Orissa.
Reminding the state, he said in 1999, Orissa faced devastating Super Cyclone, which took a toll of 10,000 people. Repeated drought and floods in the state signifies the Climate Change effects, said he.
Ajit Kumar Tripathy, Chief Secretary chaired the meeting. Chitta Ranjan Pradhan, Chairman & Managing Director, NALCO gave out details of the various Annual Lectures held in the company, where luminaries have enlightened the audience.
Joy Verghese, Director Personnel & Administration, NALCO said after listening to Dr.Pachauri, he has decided to cut off his meat consumption.
Dr.Pachauri’s prescription for less meat consumption has created debate all over the world and Mayor of London is critical about the approach of the Nobel Laureate.
Kandhamal turmeric market on the decline
PHULABANI (VISAKEO): International market for the traditional Kandhamal turmeric is on the wane due to the diminishing cur cumin content of the crop, State Agriculture Department sources said.
The cur cumin content has a bearing on the market potential of turmeric, cultivated widely in Orissa’s Kandhamal district, both within and outside the country, mainly in the US, UK and Japan.
In international market there is high demand for turmeric with cur cumin content of over five per cent. But the produce from Kandhamal has a content of only two to three per cent, the sources said.
An analysis conducted at the quality control laboratory of Spices Board of India, Cochin in 2006 found that the cur cumin content at harvest decreased to an alarming 2.14 per cent against 6.12 per cent at the time of planting.
The reasons for depletion of cur cumin content was the admixture of seed materials with wild and other species of turmeric, developmental physiology, pest and micro organism infestation, inadequate soil nutrition, improper time of sowing/harvesting and processing and unhygienic method of processing, development of poisonous substance and impurities, the sources said.
Over 28,9000 tonnes of turmeric and 2,700 tonnes of ginger are produced in traditional and unscientific method in the district, whose 52 per cent population cultivate turmeric in about 16,00 hectares annually as a cash crop.
In view of the massive production of turmeric and ginger, Kandhamal district has been declared as an agri export zone (AEZ).
Brain mapping on 4 accused in Swamiji murder case
CUTTACK(VISAKEO): With Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s assurance to Swami Laxmananda Saraswati Sradhanjali Samiti to wind up the murder case of Swamiji within a month, Crime Branch of the State Police is missing not a single stone unturned in this regard.
In an attempt to track down more clues, the Crime Branch has decided to conduct brain-mapping test on four of the seven accused persons arrested in connection with the killing of Swami Laxamananda Saraswati and four others. Patnaik made this assurance basing on , which the Samiti withdrew its proposed Orissa bandh on December 25.
The Hindu seer and four of his disciples were shot dead by armed killers at Jalespata Ashram in Tumulibandha police limits of riot hit southern districts of Kandhamal on August 23 this year.
"We are planning to send the four accused persons for brain mapping at Bangalore", a CB official said. The four were arrested on December 14 during a search operation in Kandhamal-Rayagada district border.
Though the CB had already conducted DNA test on the accused persons arrested in the alleged nun rape case, this was for the first time that four nabbed in Saraswati murder case would be subjected to brain mapping test.
Meanwhile, investigating officials were still interrogating nearly a dozen people before arresting them in connection with the murder case.
Orissa Govt betrays sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik
PURI( VISAKEO): Call it ridiculous or taking things easy, Orissa Government has cross all limits in betraying rare talents of the State. From wonder kids to young talents, the Government continues to play with their future.
Now, globally acclaimed sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik is running from pillar to post to set up a sand sculpture park in State Capital, which will be first of its kind in the world.
"I have requested the Orissa government for a job as well as a piece of land since sand art is unique art. It requires fund. My requests have been overlooked," Pattnaik rued on Saturday adding that he had no patience to pursue the matter anymore.
Pattnaik said he had approached several State governments and other country heads, including Barack Obama, the newly elected president of America, for facilitating necessary resources to realise his dream.
"I have been practising this unique art form for the last 20 years in India. I have also represented my country in more than 38 International Sand Sculpture competitions and recently won the world champion title at USF World sand sculpture," Pattnaik mentioned in his letter to the US president-elect.
He requested Obama to donate a piece of land near to the sea beach in America to create a sand sculpture park. Before that, the renowned sand artist had sent request letters to governments of Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala and Goa.
"I have got initial response from these Governments," Pattnaik said. The sand artist has become desperate due to continuous negligence of State government to request for allotment of a piece of land along sea beach in Puri district. Pattnaik has been running from pillar to the post approaching everybody those matters in government for last few years.
Yatra faces onslaught from TV serials in Orissa
KENDRAPARA (VISAKEO): Hit hard by spurt in Odia entertainment television serials, Yatra, popular form of entertainment in rural areas, is experiencing a meltdown of a different kind.
Noted playwright and convener of All Orissa Yatra Artists’ Association Ananta Charan Ojha told reporters here on January 7 that overdose of entertainment programmes being aired from television channels is distracting the audience from the Yatra pandals.
First of all, the strict enforcement of sound pollution control act affected this form of entertainment industry. The shows were to be rescheduled to meet with 10 pm deadline. Now the primetime TV entertainment programmes has led to the diminishing of audiences into the Yatra grounds.
Today there was a congregation of Yatra artists, playwrights, music composers and lyricists in Kendrapara town under the banner of ‘Antaranga Kalakara’. The emerging crisis that Yatra industry is face to face with came under intense debate.
The bulk of revenue was being generated from rural audiences. With 24-hour Oriya entertainment channels gaining popularity, the audiences that Yatra target have begun preferring to TV entertainment in homely comfort. The mythological serials and family drama, often the forte of Yatra, are aired in abundance through TV medium, he said.
"The onslaught from the Oriya private TV channels is quite severe. Unless the Yatra owners and managers evolve the way to tide over the crisis, future does not augur well."
CPI (Maoist) leader Sabyasachi Panda expelled
BHUBANESWAR(VISAKEO): A Maoist press release announcing the expulsion of one of Orissa’s most wanted left-wing rebels published in states regional dailes has created flutter in the state.
The infamous Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda alias Sunil was expelled from the CPI (Maoist) for anti-party activities. The CPI (Maoist) Central Committee has come up with a press release stating Sabyasachi’s expulsion for illegal activities and bringing disrepute to the Maoist Organization.
Sabysachi was accused of spreading misinformation, by posing as the General Secretary of CPI (Maoist) Central Committee and a member of Central Military Committee of CPI (Maoist). He was also accused of adopting a luxurious lifestyle by giving up the original Maoist ideology. The CPI (Maoist) alleged that Sabyasachi Panda collected a huge amount of money using his Maoist clout and distributed it among his family and relatives.
The press release termed Sabyasachi Panda as a liar and power-hungry person and has demanded that he must return all money he has collected so far or else face dire consequences for his ‘anti-people activities’.
This apart, the CPI (Maoist) has condemned the role of Sabyasachi Panda in the killing of Swami Laxamanananda Saraswati in Kandhamal district on August 23 and held him responsible for the communal riots that followed aftermath of Swamiji’s killing. The committee blamed Sabyasachi Panda’s personal ego for the precarious problem in Kandhamal.
A senior state police official said he had doubts about the authenticity of the press release. ‘The Maoists in the state are divided on religious lines after the communal violence and it may have been the handiwork of a rival group,’ he said on condition of anonymity.
Panda, 39, who is one of the most wanted Maoist rebels, said on television October last year that his group killed Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four others in Kandhamal district.
The district, about 200 km from here, witnessed violence after the murder of Saraswati and his four aides Aug 23 in Jalespata Ashram.
Father Thomas Chelan fails to identify nun’s ‘rapists’
CUTTACK(VISAKEO): Father Thomas Chelan, the lone witness to the alleged rape of the nun in Orissa’s Kandhamal district, has failed to identify any of the accused . The victim recognised two persons, police sources admitted on Tuesday.
"Father Chelan could not identify any of the accused during the Test Identification Parade held at Chaudwar Central Jail in Cuttack on January 5," a senior Crime Branch official said.The police officer added that Fr Chelan was the only person from the community who was with the 29-year-old Catholic nun when she was allegedly raped by a mob during the Orissa bandh on August 25.
The nun, in her FIR lodged at Baliguda police station in Kandhamal, had stated that Father Thomas Chelan was being beaten up by the miscreants on the road when she was dragged into a near by building where they allegedly raped her.
While the nun had filed a complaint with the police, Fr Chelan had filed two separate FIRs alleging that he was physically assaulted by the mob.
The mob also attacked Divyajyoti Pastor Training Centre, Fr Chelan stated in his complaint. Though Fr Chelan was the only witness to the assault on the nun, his silence had created difficulties for investigating agency, the officers said, adding the priest had earlier said he would not assist the probe by the Orissa police.
After prolonged persuasion, Father Chelan agreed to come from Kerala to attend the Test Identification Parade at Choudwar jail near Cuttack.
State level training camp for School students from Jan 16
CUTTACK(VISAKEO): Sikshya Bikash Samiti, the State unit of RSS backed Bidya Bharati will host a State level Ghosa Sibir(training camp on band music) at Barabati Stadium in which, more than 1,500 students from 735 Saraswati Sishu Mandirs across the State are expected to attend.
During the three-day long camp, students will be imparted training on music and song related issues and a special training would be given on military band music, said Samiti State spokesman Simanchal Khatua on Thursday.
He said that students have been divided into 13 Zones basing on their locations while 600 from outside and 900 from the host Cuttack, will be attend. 150 trainers and officials will assist the participants.
A rallies will be carried in Cuttack city from all Saraswati Sishu Mandirs. Swami Asimananda Saraswati will light the lamp on January 16 while Bidyabharati Organising secretary (East) Bijay Ganesh Kulkarni will join as Chief Guest and Sikshya Bikash Samiti State secretary Dr Bijay Kumar Swain as guest of honour.
On the concluding day on January 18, State Higher Education Minister Sameer Dey, Excise Commissioner Sudarshan Nayak, Saha Pranta Sanghachalak Bipin Bihari Nanda, Bidyabharati national joint-organising secretary Prakash Chandraji and Samiti president Dr Prafulla C Mohapatra will join, Khatua added.
Probe against RK Nayak, Sugrib Singh, tribal tells Judicial Panel
CUTTACK (VISAKEO) : Some startling revelations came up before the Justice Basudev Panigrahi Commission constituted under the Commission of Enquiry act to probe the incidents that led to Kandhamal violence on January 21 at the Circuit House here.
These revelations came from none other than general secretary of Kui Kula Samiti of Baliguda, Gobardhan Mallick. Appearing before the Commission, he said that they were agitating against obtaining forged caste certificates by Pana Christians although these people no longer belonged to Scheduled Tribe as enshrined in our Constitution.
He specifically leveled allegation against Congress Rajya Sabha member Radhakant Nayak and BJD MP Sugrib Singh, who by forgery have obtained caste certificates of being Kandha tribal. Besides he also said that lands of scheduled tribes are being illegally and forcibly being grabbed by Pana Christians.
He put forth his demand to the Government before the Commission, to declare Kui Jana Kalyan Sangha functioning at Bhubaneswar as non- ST organisation because it is being operated by Pana Christians. As to the controversy whether Kui is a caste or not he made it clear that Kui is not caste but a language of Kandhas one of the primitive tribes of the State.
Former MP, Sribatsha Digal (Janata.Dal,1977-80) during his cross examination on January 19 before the Commission, submitted documents relating to damage and loss of his own house and properties during Kandhamal riots, which he said, to have arisen due to political rivalry masterminded by his opponents.
On January 21, another vital witness, general secretary Kandhamal Zilla Kui Coordination Committee Lambodar Kuanar appeared before the Commission but his examination was deferred due to adjournment sought by Government Counsel JP Das. Advocate Ajit Pattnaik appeared for Simanchal Patra, a social activist of the Kandhamal district. The next hearing will take place at any designated place of Kandhamal district.


IAS officer Hrushikesh Panda dares political bosses in Orissa
BHUBANESWAR (VISAKEO): The shifting of senior bureaucrat Hrusikesh Panda from the post of Chairman and Chief Managing Director of Orissa Milk Producers’ Federation (OMFED) to Officer on Special Duty in the General Administration Department has gone not well with many in Orissa. The State Government on December 16, 2008 transferred Panda from this post.
Transfers have become a routine affair for 1979 batch IAS officer Panda - 27 times since joining the office. Panda was an All India topper in Civil Service as his transfer has kicked up controversy with dairy farmers protesting against the move
Panda has often been at the centre of a storm for his struggle against corruption and standing up to politicians since he joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1979 after topping the entrance examination.
The latest transfer is just like the other 27 times he has been shifted during his career. However, thousands of dairy farmers in the State fear their interests will now be sacrificed.
As Milk Federation Chairman, Panda increased the milk price on November 1 by Rs 4 a litre—a move that he claimed was intended to benefit the federation’s half a million members who were finding it difficult to make ends meet due to the rising prices of food items in the last one year.
However, the decision was opposed by the government, which the same day asked Panda to withdraw the hike, and set up a panel to examine if a hike in milk prices was really required and if so, to determine the amount. The panel was to submit its report by November 28.
As the panel did not submit a report by the deadline, the OMFED’s programming committee, which is authorised to fix prices, decided to go ahead with the hike. Panda, who chairs the committee, announced on December 14 that OMFED will increase the price of the milk from Rs 20 to Rs 24 per litre from December 21.
The government transferred Panda after he made the announcement. However, his removal was protested by dairy farmers, who said the milk federation had stagnated for a decade, with procurement about 100,000 litres a day until 2003 when he took over.
In the next five years, Panda increased the procurement four fold, reaching out all over the state. Even in insurgency-affected areas, the milk cooperatives have been running to the satisfaction of the farmers.
After the roll back of prices in November 2008, procurement has halved and is currently 250,000 litres only.
"We are shocked that Panda was transferred," Rukmini Dang, a milk producer from Bargarh said. After he was shifted, Panda argued that he was not sorry for the hike in price and rued that the viewpoint of farmers was not reflected in the media reports.
His short stints in various posts recently have been due to his decision to enforce pollution control on high profile industries, resisting moves to hand over fishing harbours to big ports, refusal to be bullied by builder lobbies, and enforcement of strict labour laws.
Gopalpur Beach Fest lure tourists
GOPALPUR (VISAKEO): Thousands of visitors including guests from Europe, America and Russia are thronging to the serene environment of Gopalpur-on-Sea.
Apart form the immense sailing opportunities they are enjoying loads of fun and frolic, cultural extravaganza and charged atmosphere of Gopalpur Beach Festival.The annual festival of dance, music and exposure of brilliants artists from all over Orissa is a real treat presented to the tourists.
The Beach Festival, recently revived, thanks to the initiative of Satyabrat Sahu kicked off since 24 December has been a great crowd puller.The Revenue Divisional Commissioner of Southern Division worked overtime to lure the tourists in general and foreign guests in particular to one of the most pristine beaches of Orissa- Gopalpur on Sea.
Located at a mere distance of 16 kilometer from Berhampur, this is a real retreat to the sea worshippers.
The beach offers peaceful ambience conducive to introspection and conviviality. Ideal for both sailing and surfing, the beach is fairly isolated and remains undisturbed by the day trippers.
Avid beach combers have time and again declared the beach as one of the finest ones at the Eastern Coast.
The pleasures of the beach with her backwaters continue to spread its aquatic magic!And the Beach Festival is an added attraction for the unspoilt beach, said Rishikant Banerjee, a nature lover.
The Beach Festival was started by the Ganjam District Hotel Association in 1996 to promote tourism in the district and performing arts of the area.
It became an annual event till 1999 as the Super cyclone struck the Orissa Coast.Though it was revived in 2002, due to lack of initiative the Festival had not held since 2005. With Sahu leading the front, the five day long Festival that took place in the last week of December ,2008 has been a grand success, said Uma S Panigrahi, Convener of the annual event.
Cultural program included performance of Jodi Sankha, Sambalpuri Dance, Animal Mask Dance, Ghumura, Bajasal, Danda nata, Dandia, Ghanta Mrudanga, Ghoda Nacha, Gotipua, Dandia, Ranapa, Chhou and Kuchipudi artists, said Mr.Panigrahi.
The annual extravaganza came to an end on 28 December,2008 was really an event not to be missed by thrill seekers and nature lovers, said Debi Prasad Mishra, Minister Tourism. He said the Southern zone will be developed as a "Tourist Circuit"
Phased withdrawal of central forces from Kandhamal begins
BHUBANESWAR(VISAKEO) Twelve companies of central para-military forces, including seven from Kandhamal, were withdrawn on January 15 with the Orissa government saying it will not affect law and order in the riot-hit district.
"Withdrawal of central forces from Kandhamal in a phased manner will in no way affect law and order situation in the riot-hit district," Home Secretary A P Padhi said.
According to Director General of Police, Manmohan Praharaj, the first phase of force withdrawal would not have any impact on security in Kandhamal because forces had been mobilised there from other places "As many as 33 of the 53 companies of central force will be withdrawn from Orissa by the end of March, leaving about 20 companies till the elections," the DGP said.
Fifty three companies (over 5300 personnel) of central forces were deployed in seven districts of the state, including 40 in Kandhamal, following largescale violence after VHP leader Laxamananda Saraswati’s killing on August 23 last year.
Besides Kandhamal, central forces were also deployed in Ganjam, Gajapati, Bhubaneswar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Sambalpur and Baragarh districts.
The second phase of withdrawal comprising five companies will start from January 23 and another five will leave next month.
Earlier, Chief Minister Navin Patnaik had demanded deployment of 2000 personnel in Kandhamal till the end of the general elections.