Odisha Tourism bagged 'Best Pilgrimage Tourism Destination Award' 2013

Major religious destinations of the State Puri, Konark, Bhubaneswar, Maa Tara Tarini near Berhampur in Ganjam, Maa Tarini Temple in Keonjhar, Sabara Shrrekhetra in Koraput

Odisha Tourism has bagged ‘Best Pilgrimage Tourism Destination Award’ 2013. Acclaimed tourism magazine 'Today's Traveller' conferred this award to Odisha Tourism in a glittering ceremony at The Taj Hotel in New Delhi on Aug 30, 2013. 

Odisha Tourism, Director, Manoranjan Patnaik has received the award on behalf of Odisha Tourism from  Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Oscar Fernandes. After receiving the award Odisha Tourism, Director, Manoranjan Patnaik said to media that Odisha received this prestigious award following its initiatives to promote tourism at various religious places and preserving culture and history and raising the quality of tourism services.

Preservation of the state’s historical, cultural and religious centers includes the holy pilgrimage cities like Puri, Konark, Bhubaneswar, as well as the other destination like Maa Tarini Temple in Keonjhar, Maa Tara Tarini in Ganjam, Sabara Shrrekhetra in Koraput.

It may be noted that the award conferred on the principles on fair tourism, ethical tourism and safety standards and historic preservation of cultural sites. The Today’s Traveller Awards were instituted in 2007 as an annual affair to recognise the outstanding efforts of the companies in the travel, tourism, hospitality and aviation industry. Each year the awards felicitate certain corporate companies for their achievements as well.

The awards are presented at a star-studded gala awards’ ceremony and a distinguished guest list at a five-star hotel in New Delhi. The Minister for Tourism, Government of India gives out the awards. - See more at: http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=43644#sthash.Dl760Ixc.clKFIZ0i.dpuf

Source: Odisha Diary 

High Court bench in South Odisha: Ganjam Bar Association members block roads in Berhampur

Members of the Ganjam Bar Association blocked the roads in front of the Berhampur court on August 30 as part of their continuing agitation for the demand of establishment of a permanent bench of the Odisha High Court in the city. They also handed over a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the office of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division.

Through the memorandum, they urged the Chief Minister to immediately request the Central government for establishment of a permanent bench of the Odisha High Court in Berhampur. The lawyers of the Ganjam Bar Association also requested the CM to hold a meeting with the representatives of the bar association over the issue.

During their road blockade and demonstration, the agitating lawyers shouted slogans against the Justice C.R.Pal Commission calling for its withdrawal.

This single member judicial commission had been set up by the Odisha government through a notification made in March 2008 to enquire and investigate into the demands for permanent benches of Odisha High Court in South and Western Odisha.

It was to furnish its report in six months but till now it has not come up with any interim report also.

The agitating lawyers alleged that in the name of this commission the decision on the demand for establishment of permanent bench of Odisha High Court for south Odisha in Berhampur was being delayed. President of the Ganjam Bar Association Kapileswar Patnaik Sadi said that they were planning to intensify their democratic agitation with support of people, which would also include road blockade and bandh calls.

A senior lawyer of Ganjam Bar Association, P.J.Padhi said hearing by a bench of Odisha High Court in Berhampur had occurred during the British era. According to him on January 4, 1937, then justice of High Court had held circuit court in Berhampur, which hinted that this city was considered suitable for a bench of the High Court for south Odisha even during the British era. Agitating lawyers shout slogans against Justice C.R. Pal Commission. Source: The Hindu 

Berhampur Varsity set to tie-up with National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) for research, technology transfer

The Berhampur University is all set sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD), one of the premier national level institutes for development, research and transfer of technology soon.

The MoU would be signed between the university and the NIRD at a brief function to be held on August 17, for which NIRD Director General Dr MV Rao has been invited.

With this MoU knowledge in research, training and sharing of technical knowhow in the five principal domains, namely, livelihood, fisheries, innovative education, women empowerment and tribal development can be exchanged, said, Prof. Behera, BU vice-chancellor.

After the signing of the MoU, the university is contemplating to hold an awareness programme in the evening through SIG groups for deliberation and exchange of ideas between faculty members and researchers working in the above five principal domains in order to associate the various postgraduate departments and explore technical expertise of the NIRD for development and empowerment of the rural areas in this region, Prof Behera added.

According to sources, the Vice-Chancellor is contemplating to urge the NIRD Director to take over the management of the famous deer park located in the university campus as the university has no fund for its maintenance. The university is currently spending Rs. 5 lakh per year towards maintenance of the deer park. Source: Odishatoday

500 crocodile eggs hatched in Bhitarkanika national park in Kendrapara

Wildlife lovers are jubilant as babies of estuarine crocodiles have emerged out of the eggshells in and around the crocodile research farm in Bhitarkanika national park in Kendrapara district.

Over 500 crocodile hatchlings have so far broken out of the eggshells to make their way into waterbodies and waterinlets of Bhitarkanika national park. The rare natural phenomenon which is still in progress was watched by a few ground-level forest staff. Forest personnel maintained safe distance from the nets as human interference turns the reptiles violent and aggressive.

Fiftysix crocodile nests were sighted in the wild this year by enumerators. Emergence of fledgling crocodiles sans mothers was a visual treat, said Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Division, Manoj Kumar Mahapatra.

Female crocodiles lay 50 to 60 eggs and the hatchlings usually emerge from the nets after 70 to 80 days of incubation period.

The annual captive breeding of crocodiles’ eggs was suspended this year as the enclosure where ‘rear and release’ programme of these endangered species, takes place is being repaired. The eggs collected from the wild are hatched here artificially, said DFO Mahapatra.

Rear and release of these hatched reptiles has been going on since 1975, funded by United National Development Programme and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The conservation project in Bhitarkanika tasted success while a similar UNDP-funded ‘gharial croc’ conservation project launched simultaneously in Tikarpada Sanctuary was a failure. Forest officials said due care was taken by wildlife staff to prevent crocodiles’ eggs from being devoured by predators like snakes, jackals and dogs, found in the reserve.

Adequate conservation measures by the state forest department have led to a systematic rise in the number of these reptiles over the years, claimed officials. The number of salt water crocodiles, not found in any other river system in Odisha, stood at 1649 as per latest census in Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary. PTI

Airports Authority of India (AAI) team visits sites for Berhampur Airport

Source: The Sambad

A four-member team of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) arrived in the state to carry out a feasibility study for the proposed low-cost airport in Berhampur.  The team surveyed Rangeilunda and Ramchandrapur on the Berhampur-Gopalpur road to understand the local conditions for the possible air traffic movement.

The AAI team first visited the existing Rangeilunda airstrip on Berhampur University campus. It may be noted that the airstrip is active since past several decades. The airstrip spread over 40 acres of land was built during the British era during the World War II. It is now maintained by the State Public Works Department. At Rangeilunda airstrip, the AAI team held discussion with Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy, executive engineer of public works department and other district officials. They studied whether the Rangeilunda airstrip could be developed into the proposed low-cost airport by adding up extra land to its south and west directions, said Mr. Panigrahy. The Gopalpur MLA said once the AAI finalises the site, the State government would provide all possible assistance for establishment of the airport near Berhampur. 

Later, the team reached Ramchandrapur to inspect around 300 acres of land that has been earmarked for the proposed low-cost airport. Speaking to newsmen, members of the AAI team said they would assess the cost-benefit ratio as well as feasibility of both sites and send their report to their authorities for the final decision.

“We have studied every detail of the situation at both the places, including the existing Rangeilunda airstrip and Ramchandrapur village, nearby. We will submit our feasibility report to the AAI for a final decision,” said the joint general manager (planning) of AAI P.K. Mahapatra, who led the team.

The PWD executive engineer, who is in-charge of the Rangeilunda airstrip, said: “The length of the present runway is 895 meters, which is insufficient for take-off and landing of commercial aircraft. The AAI is insisting on 3,500m long and 500m wide runway. There are now 150 acres of land at Rangeilunda airstrip. We can acquire another 200 acres in the nearby areas as required by the AAI for opening a small airport.’’

It may be noted that the Central government has taken a decision for setting up 51 low-cost airports in Tier-II and Tier-III cities in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. Three of them will be set up in the State in places like Berhampur, Rourkela, and Keonjhar. The four-member AAI team will also visit the two other sites for the proposed low-cost airports in the State. Sources: The Hindu, The Pioneer & The Telegraph

Source: ORISSA POST

Ray of hope for lighthouses in Odisha

Gopalpur-on-Sea (Berhampur)

If you love spending time on the beach, wait for a spate of exciting activities in the near future. The directorate of Lighthouses and Lightships, Mumbai, has decided to include three heritage lighthouses of Odisha to make them more attractive with beautiful landscape designs, conservation work, development of amenities and cafeterias. Three lighthouses at Gopalpur, Chandrabhaga and Paradip port will be developed as tourist destinations and have additional recreational avenues for which Union tourism ministry will be spending money. The shipping ministry has decided to develop 15 such heritage lighthouses across the coast of India.

Gopalpur, the famous beachfront town near Berhampur city in Ganjam district of Odisha is also a well-known tourist destination. “In the past, we have climbed on the top of the lighthouse, and seen the beautiful Bay of Bengal and the shadow of it on the beach. With the proposal from the shipping ministry to make it more attractive, a lot of tourists will definitely avail the opportunity to explore the British-era wonder,’’ said Manas Panigrahi of Berhampur city, which is also known for its silk saris.

Gopalpur lighthouse came into existence in 1871 for assisting coastal shipping between Rangoon and Coromandal coast ports. The steamer service to Rangoon also touched Gopalpur port in the past. Local residents said due to erosion of the coast in 1943, the lighthouse got heavily damaged and stopped functioning. Later, it remained unused due to World War II. In 1948, a new gas light inside a 500mm lantern was established on a hillock about 1km north from the coast. The present lighthouse was constructed on December 15, 1967.

Tour operator Srikant Mishra from Bhubaneswar is happy that the Centre has considered the renovation and development of the heritage lighthouse. “We often get tourists who want to take beach tourism very seriously and also explore the lighthouses, but there is no amenities for them. The project will help them to spend quality time there. The destinations will be helpful for the niche tourists,” he added.

Some of the major lighthouses included in the programme are the ones at Kanhoji Angre in Mumbai, Kanyakumari, Rameswaram, Mahabalipuram, Chennai, Vishakhapatnam, Aguado, Dwarka and Minicoy. Source: The Telegraph

Rare Egyptian vultures sighted in Chikiti forests near Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: Forest officials will carry out a survey on the rare Egyptian vultures, after a number of them were spotted near Laxmipur in Ganjam district's Chikiti forest range. A bird-watcher recently sighted 13 such birds and reported it to the divisional forest officer (DFO), Berhampur. "A survey should be conducted and their nesting site located," said honorary wildlife warden of Khurda Pityush P Mohapatra. Supporting Mohapatra's view, DFO (Berhampur) S S Mishra said, "The sight of vultures indicates a healthy and rich biodiversity of the area. We will soon launch a survey."

Berhampur forest division has planned to submit a proposal to the wildlife wing of the forest department to take up a project to conserve the endangered species. The action plan will be prepared after conducting a detailed survey, said Mishra. Locals have sighted these vultures at different places in the rainy season and feel these have come to eat the fish or other small animals. The number of vultures in south Asia, mainly in India and Nepal, has declined drastically over the last few years. Residues of poisonous veterinary drug in the animal carcasses are a major reason behind the trend, said Swaparna Rani Das, a zoologist. The government has already banned the drug, she added.

Source: Economic Times