Odisha Chief Minister reiterates his demand for new airports in the State at Gopalpur, Jeypore and Jharsuguda

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik raised the issue of development of new airports in the State at Gopalpur, Jharsuguda and Jeypore during his meeting with the Union Civil Aviation Secretary K N Srivastava on Wednesday. 

Srivastava during his meeting with the Chief Minister informed about the impending up-gradation of the Biju Patnaik Airport at Bhubaneswar to international standard. Srivastava said the work for new terminal of the airport will be completed by December second week. The new terminal will become operational by January, 2013, he said. Srivastava said the proposal to accord international status to Biju Patnaik Airport here will be brought before the Union Cabinet in April next year after completion of all necessary work.

Naveen, who had met Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh in New Delhi in September, had raised the issue of infrastructure inadequacy in the aviation sector for air connectivity within the State. Singh had suggested during discussions that Odisha should explore the possibility of developing Jharsuguda airport in public private partnership (PPP) mode. On development of airports at Gopalpur and Jeypore, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is expected to take up feasibility studies.

Solar power for Jagannath Temple

The Century Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, will be illuminated by solar power by the end of the year. A Kolkata-based solar modules manufacturing firm has been asked by the Odisha Renewal Energy Development Authority (OREDA) to install solar panels to supply additional power of 30 KW to light up the temple. “The temple consumes 90 KW daily. With the installation of the solar panels, one-third of its energy needs will be taken care of,” said Samujjal Ganguly, a senior official of Vikram Solar that has been entrusted the job.

“This project of OREDA is aimed at reducing dependence on Gridco (Grid Corporation of Odisha). Once the solar panels are installed the problem of load shedding will be solved in the temple premises,” said Deo Ranjan Singh, CMD, Gridco.

“We will be responsible for providing all the necessary equipment for the installation process, and will ensure that the process of setting up the solar panels does not inconvenience visitors to the temple,” said Mr. Ganguly.

Talking about the tricky part of the project he said: “The difficult part of the project is to install the solar panels in such a manner that the temple doesn’t lose its ancient charms. We need 15 days to install the panels but because of the old structure we are creating a blue print so that it will be easy to fix the panels without damaging the monuments.” Source: The Hindu 

Non-Hindu students evicted from Puri Jagannath temple

BHUBANESWAR: Around 120 school students from Jamshedpur were on Sunday evicted from the Jagannath Temple in Puri after it was known that they were non-Hindus.

The 12th century shrine is off limits to non-Hindus. The students and their teachers, who were ignorant of the temple rule, faced humiliation near the baisi pahanch (twenty-two steps) after a group of priests questioned their religion.

They came to Puri on study tour, sources said. "Though all the students were Indians, many of them were non-Hindus. We immediately intervened and politely asked them to vacate the shrine precinct," temple's public relations officer Laxmidhar Pujapanda told TOI.

He denied the students and teachers were insulted by priests. The incident rekindled memories of unpalatable incidents, involving non-Hindus facing wrath from some uncouth priests in the past. While foreigners were beaten up and thrown outside the shrine, an American woman last year cried inconsolably after being jeered by a few priests. High drama unfolded in front of the Puri Jagannath temple on December 10, 2011 after a group of foreign tourists staged a symbolic protest demanding entry into the shrine.

The visitors, many of whom were ISKCON pilgrims, claimed to be converted-Hindus and insisted the temple authorities to let them enter the shrine. Earlier on December 23, 2010, a tourist from New Zealand demonstrated in front of the shrine demanding entry.

Source: TOI

Tata Steel initiates massive plantation drive at Tara Tarini Hill Shrine

• The project is unique of its kind in the country where a Shrine Board has taken up issues of environment on a massive scale
• Tata Steel has come forward to support the plantation drive in and around the hill shrine
• More than half-million fruit bearing tress are to be planted over a period of five years under the project
• TTDB has already taken a number of such initiatives in the past to improve the green cover and to protect the environment of the area
• Recently it announced to introduce Solar lighting system in the Hill Shrine with assistance from the Central Government.

In continuation of its social initiatives, The Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) started a massive afforestation drive in collaboration with the Tata Steel, in and around the holy Tara Tarini Hill Shrine near Berhampur city in Odisha. The Tata Steel has come forward to support the afforestation programme in the hill shrine and has offered to plant around half-million fruit bearing tress over a period of five years around the hill shrine area besides taking care of the trees. This initiative has been welcomed by the people for being a first of its kind initiative taken by a Shrine Board in collaboration with a private sector company.

The Chairman TTDB and Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) Southern Division Odisha Shri LN Nayak and Tata Steel Odisha Chief Resident Executive Shri Sushanta Kumar Mishra jointly started this programme on 17 July by planting trees in the foothill area of the Shrine. Tata Steel Gopalpur plant heads Shri AK Mohapatra and Shri SK Singh, Senior Manager Tata Steel Shri SS Routray, Secretary TTDB Shri Pramod Kumar Panda, office bearers of Tara Tarini Development Board and senior officials of Government of Odisha and district administration were also present on this occasion.

Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) has taken a number of such initiatives in recent times to improve the green cover and protect the environment of the holy shrine. Recently introduction of Solar lighting system in the entire Hill Shrine area has been taken up by TTDB with assistance from the Central Government.

Following the afforestation programme, a meeting of the office bearers of the Development Board was held under the Chairmanship of Shri LN Nayak, Chairman TTDB. On this occasion, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Smt. Renubala Pradhan announced to contribute required fund from her MPLAD to construct a rest-shed to accommodate large number of visitors and a market complex on the Hilltop. To protect the Hill top area, it was also decided to construct embankments on both the north and south side of the Hilltop. The Rural Development Department, Government of Odisha, agreed to prepare the master plan for it. To protect the natural beauty of the Hilltop, architect Prabir Dash gave a number of proposals on this occasion. Similarly, Shri Durga Prasad tabled a master plan to execute the various developmental projects proposed by the TTDB, and it was sent to the Technical Committee of TTDB to further examine the master plan.

Tara Tarini to have more green cover

TTDB, Tata Steel take up a project

A massive plantation drive has been taken up jointly by the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) and Tata Steel at the hill shrine to increase the green cover on the hill and its adjoining areas.

According to TTDB authorities, it is an effort to create awareness regarding importance of plantation and protection of vegetation cover in the minds of devotees who throng the hill shrine. TTDB secretary Pramod Panda thanked the Tata Steel authorities for their assistance towards enhancement of environment of the hill shrine.

The plantation project will continue for five years. During the period, saplings will be planted in different locations in a phased manner.

All the saplings will be provided by the company which will also assist for their maintenance and safekeeping, according to Mr Panda.

Initially, 5,000 saplings will be planted during the current rainy season. Saplings of fruit-bearing plants, flowering plants, and medicinal plants will be planted under the project.

These will be of great help for sustenance of wild animals like varieties of monkeys living in the area. Initially these plants are being planted by the side of all roads leading to the hill shrine and to the hill top.................................................. (Source: The Hindu)

Massive plantation drive begins at Tara Tarini shrine

The Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) has started a massive afforestation drive in collaboration with the Tata Steel in and around the holy Tara Tarini hill shrine near Berhampur city. The Tata Steel has offered to plant around half a million fruit-bearing tress over a period of five years around the temple area besides taking care of the trees.

TTDB chairman and RDC (Southern) LN Nayak and Tata Steel Odisha Chief Resident Executive Sushanta Kumar Mishra jointly started the programme on July 17 by planting saplings in the foothill area of the shrine. ................................. (Source: The Pioneer)

TTDB and Tata Steel initiate massive plantation drive at Tara Tarini Hill Shrine

Report by OD bureau; Berhampur: In continuation of its social initiatives, The Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) started a massive afforestation drive in collaboration with the Tata Steel, in and around the holy Tara Tarini Hill Shrine near Berhampur city in Odisha. .................(Source: Odishadiary.com)

TTDB and Tata Steel initiate massive plantation

In continuation of its social initiatives, The Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) started a massive afforestation drive in collaboration with the Tata Steel, in and around the holy Tara Tarini Hill Shrine near Berhampur city in Odisha.

The Tata Steel has come forward to support the afforestation programme in the hill shrine and has offered to plant around half-million fruit bearing tress over a period of five years around the hill shrine area besides taking care of the trees...................................... (Source: Odishabartha)