Air pollution in Bhubaneswar alarming

The air you breathe in the city may invite respiratory complications if the recent report of Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) is any indication. According to the board, the air quality here was found to be bad.

At present, the city is recording an alarming level of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in air. According to prescribed standard, the SPM shouldn't exceed 100 micro gram per metre cube, but samples taken by pollution board show SPM between 180 and 200 micro gram per metre cube.

"We take weekly data of ambient air quality from five places, where we have installed devices. By collating the data taken from five places in last one month, we found an increased SPM level in air," said OSPCB regional officer (Bhubaneswar) Hadibandhu Panigrahi.

He said unlike winter, the SPM in the air in summer is usually not found above the limit. "We need to find the reasons as to why the city is recording high SPM in summer. In winter, air quality remains continuously bad as the low temperature keeps the air particle at a low level," he said.

Panigrahi attributed vehicle pollution and construction activities to increasing SPM level in air. "Road and flyover expansion works and transportation of construction materials are perhaps responsible for higher SPM. However, a scientific study will help to find the other factors responsible for it," he added.

Capital Hospital director B B Patnaik said everyday about 30-40 adult patients and same number of children with respiratory disorders are coming to the hospital. "Bad air quality can cause tuberculosis, bronchitis and dry cough," said the director.

Senior environment scientist with OSPCB D K Behera said, "We have been asking the civic body, works department and National Highways Authority of India to sprinkle water on the roads on a regular basis. We are planning to install one more air quality reading device in the city."

-TNN | Apr 22, 2015

No takers for Netaji light & sound show in Cuttack

The light and sound show at Netaji Birthplace Museum here is waiting for audience. The museum authorities are running the show only twice a week due to thin attendance.

Only 10 turn up for the show, though arrangements for 50 people have been made.

The 25-minute programme on childhood and early life of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was introduced in the museum on January 23, 2013, at a cost of Rs 30 lakh. The authorities had hoped that the addition would increase footfall and the popularity of the museum.

The museum records revealed that only 1136 visitors, mostly locals, watched the show in the last two years. It attracts over 38,000 visitors annually.

Locals attributed the sorry state of affairs to the government's apathy. "The approach road to the museum from Dargha Bazaar is not properly lit. The street lights on the stretch hardly function, so tourists are not inclined to visit the museum in the evening hours for the light and sound show," said Rabindra Sahoo, a resident of Odia bazaar.

The light and sound show starts at 6.45 pm. Visitors have to pay Rs 15 each for the show. "The government had planned to landscape the areas adjacent to the museum. It had also announced to introduce boating facility and construct amusement parks. But the projects are gathering dust for last four years," said Dibyashankar Sen, a resident of Dargha Bazaar.

The beautification project would have helped to attract more tourists, he added.

There has been a long-standing demand for dubbing the script of the show in Hindi and English so that tourists from outside Odisha can understand and enjoy it. The show is currently being run in Odia only.

The authorities admitted to the problems and claimed measures are being taken to resolve them. "We have decided to dub the script in Bengali and Hindi. Besides an interpretation centre will be set up near the museum. After completion of these projects, things will definitely improve," said deputy director of culture department B P Ray.

TNN | Apr 23, 2015

Orissa CM's nod for university status to Khallikote, RD colleges

The state government on Thursday approved the proposals to upgrade Khallikote Autonomous College, Berhampur and, RD Autonomous Women's College, Bhubaneswar to universities.

Higher education minister Pradeep Panigrahy told the media that the universities would function from 2015-16 academic year. RD will become a women's university. Around 50 women's colleges, which are under Utkal University, will be affiliated to it. The exact shape of the university and its affiliated colleges will be decided soon. Besides the existing 25-acre campus, the government will look for another 25 acre for its second campus, the minister said.

Khallikote will be part of a cluster university, comprising five nearby colleges. The other four are S D Women's College and Binayak Acharya College in Berhampur, besides colleges at Chhatrapur and Gopalpur, the minister said.

The government will spend Rs 55 crore each on infrastructure development of the two universities. The funds will be drawn from Rashtriya Uchhatar Shiksha Abhiyan, a central-sponsored programme for higher education.

-TNN | Apr 24, 2015

B-school shuts down in Bhubaneswar for 'want of students'

The International School of Business Management (ISBM) deciding to close down from coming academic year has evoked different responses from experts. While some attributed it to poor response to management courses, others said it is an isolated case.

Around 95 institutions, including 11 government-run, offer management courses in Odisha. Of them, 85 offer MBA while 10 offer postgraduate diploma in management (PGDM). Government sources said over 50% seats remained vacant in 2014-15. Altogether 2,548 students took admissions in various courses against an intake capacity of 5,455. "It is a struggle for survival for most institutions," said a senior management functionary of another institute.

Official sources said ISBM, an autonomous institution located at Gangapada on the outskirts of the city, has applied to the All India Council for Technical Education, seeking its nod to down shutters. The institute offers two-year PGDM course.

Confirming the development, ISBM chairman A B Singh said the management was forced to take the decision because it is not getting enough students. "Probably because of poor job prospects, a few students have been taking admission," he said. Against an intake capacity of 50 seats, the institute attracted eight students in 2013-14 and two students in 2014-15, he said.

Run by the Orissa Charitable Trust, the institute established in 2007 is located on an 11-acre Wi-Fi campus, having administrative block, academic block, separate hostels for boys and girls, indoor and outdoor recreational facilities, library and gymnasium.

The Odisha Management College Association (OMCA), a body of private management colleges, said the situation is improving and admissions would be far better in 2015-16. "Closure of an institute may be an isolated example. Students' response to upcoming entrance examinations for admissions has been far better this time," said OMCA secretary Saroj Kumar Sahoo.

Around 7,700 students have applied for MBA through Odisha joint entrance examination (OJEE). The number is over 2,000 more compared to that last year. "The last year's admission too was around 20% better compared to that in 2013," Sahoo said. "This year's very good placement records and rebound in economy would attract significantly higher number of students this time," he said.

Famous Thakurani Yatra extended by 11 days in Berhampur

In view of popular demand, the district administration in Ganjam has extended the famous Thakurani Yatra on April 19, 2015 in Berhampur by 11 days. The biennial festival, which started on March 28, will continue till April 27, officals said today.

Initially, the district administration had allowed the festival committee to hold the yatra for 20 days even though the latter had sought permission for 31 days.

"Several people approached the district administration requesting for extension of the festival", said Sub-Collector (Berhampur) Nikhil Pawan Kalyan.

The festival is attracting huge crowd from different places and hundreds of the people are thronging the Silk City to witness the famous Yatra. Locals dressed like mythological characters are seen moving around the city and so are chariots in different shapes like boita (ship) and doli (swing).