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Archive for July, 2014

Odisha govt and AAI sign agreement to develop Jharsuguda airport

The Odisha government on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for developing an airport at Jharsuguda in western Odisha at a cost of Rs 210 crore.

Currently, AAI operates an airstrip at Jharsuguda, used by a few chartered aircraft. Odisha has just one full-fledged airport — the Biju Patnaik International Airport.

Of the overall estimated project cost, the state government will provide Rs 75 crore. AAI has 909.22 acres in Jharsuguda.

To upgrade the airstrip to a full-fledged airport, the state government has agreed to provide 296.5 acres free; 118.75 acres will be handed over immediately. “We can construct the airport within a period of two years from the date of physical possession of land,” said AAI Chairman Alok Sinha.

The length of the runway at the Jharsuguda airstrip will be increased from 6,500 ft to 7,800 ft, making it possible for A-320 Airbus planes to land and take-off. Apart from extension of the runaway, the upgrade will include the construction of a terminal building, an isolation bay, a new technical block, a control tower and a fire station and the installation of improved navigational and visual aids and ground-lighting facilities.

While signing the MoU, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, “Jharsuguda has a marked concentration of industries and urban population because of its proximity to valuable natural resources. The Jharsuguda airport will acquire a key position in the aviation map of the country, paving the way to faster development of the state and the nation as a whole.”
A full-fledged airport at Jharsuguda is also expected to boost industrial units in the region. It is expected the airport’s business will primarily be driven by corporate travellers. Two Vedanta Group firms — Sterlite Energy (an independent power plant with a 2,400-Mw coal-fired plant) and Sesa Sterlite (a 1.75-million-tonne aluminium smelter) —are located in Jharsuguda. Besides, there are a number of sponge iron units in the Jharsuguda-Rourkela belt. The Ib valley region in Jharsuguda district is known for its coal deposits, as well as the operating mines of Mahanadi Coalfields.

July 31, 2014 at 3:11 am sanjibkarmee Leave a comment

Odisha MPs push for Khordha Balangir rail line project

Following is a report from the Pioneer:
Rly Min agrees to meet Odisha MPs to discuss issues

BJD MPs earlier this week met Railway Minister V Sadananda Gowda in New Delhi and submitted a memorandum to him seeking many new railway projects for Odisha and national status to the ongoing Khordha-Balangir line project.

The State Government has promised to provide free land, including private land for the Daspalla-Balangir railway stretch, and to share 50 per cent of expenditure for the project, the memorandum said.

The other demands included extension of dedicated freight corridor from Dankuni to Brahmapur, East-West and East-South rail corridor in Angul-Talcher belt’s Basundhara Area, Nayagarh-Bansapani rail corridor, construction of Bhadrachalam Road-Talcher rail link via Malkangiri-Jeypore and Lanjigarh, Sambalpur –Brahmapur link via Bhishmgiri, speed execution of the Talcher-Bimalgarh line, commencement of the Bargarh Nuapada via Padampur and elevation of Bhubaneswar and Puri stations to the world class level.

The MPs also demanded sanctions for the Talcher-Sambalpur-Jharsguda broad gauge link, Sambalpur-Titiligarh line and Koraput-Rayagada line. Besides, it also demanded that a wagon factory each at Ganjam, Kalahandi and at the Railway industry at Kantabanji.

Notably, the Centre, in its Railway Budget, has made a provision of `1,420 crore for various projects against Odisha’s demand of `3,160 crore.

“We, all BJD Members, met Railway Minister V Sadananda Gowda on July 15 and submitted a detailed list of Odisha’s demands, including national status to the Khordha-Balangir Railway line national status,” BJD MP Kalikesh Narayn Singh Deo told The Pioneer.

Singh Deo also informed that the Railway Minister announced in Parliament that he would convene a meeting with Odisha MPs soon.

July 23, 2014 at 1:00 am sanjibkarmee Leave a comment

Centre says no to 100 MBBS seats at Kalahandi’s Sardar Raja medical college

Following is a report from http://odishasuntimes.com/71710/centre-withdraws-approval-100-mbbs-seats-odishas-sr-medical-college/:

Reported by Chinmaya Dehury
Bhubaneswar, July 15:

The Central government has disapproved of the renewal of 100 medical seats at Sardar Raja medical college in Kalahandi -along with 3820 MBBS seats across the country- for the academic session 2014-15.

The decision follows the recommendation of Medical Council of India (MCI), which had recommended against renewal of permission for admission in 3820 MBBS seats across 45 medical colleges in the country for for the academic session 2014-15, said a release of PIB today.

” MCI had recommended for disapproval of 118 medical colleges for renewal of permission for admission in 8567 MBBS seats for the academic session 2014-15. The Ministry has forwarded the compliance reports submitted by the concerned medical colleges to MCI for review and the same were placed before the Executive Committee of the Council at the meeting held on 08.07.2014 and 12.07.2014. Subsequently, MCI has recommended for renewal of permission for 73 cases with 4747 MBBS seats. The MCI has recommended for disapproval of renewal of permission for 45 medical colleges with 3820 MBBS seats for the year 2014-15,” the release said.

The assessment reports of all medical colleges by the assessor appointed by MCI, were placed before the Executive Committee of the Council.

This Committee recommends the grant of approval to those institutions which meet the requirements and provisions as per MSR/provisions/regulations of the Council.

The Executive Committee found deficiencies in 45 medical colleges which, according to the assessment reports, failed to meet the requirements prescribed by the MCI as per Minimum Standard Requirements Regulation. That explains why the Committee decided to recommend to the Central Government against grant of permission for 3820 seats in these medical colleges.

MCI has recommended for renewal of permission to 73 medical colleges to conduct admissions for 4747 MBBS seats.

However, MCI has recommended for establishment of 16 new medical colleges with intake capacity of 2050 MBBS seats and also recommended for the increase of 600 MBBS seats in 10 existing medical colleges for the academic year 2014-15.

The Union Health Minister stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today, the PIB release said.

July 22, 2014 at 12:04 am sanjibkarmee Leave a comment

Demand for proposed IIM in Balangir town

Following is a report from the TNIE:

July 15, 2014 at 6:08 am sanjibkarmee 2 comments

BJD tweets about meeting of Naveen babu with members of the Koshali language action committee

Following is a screenshot of the tweet:

July 14, 2014 at 2:07 am sanjibkarmee Leave a comment

Khordha-Balangir rail line: MP seeks Rs 400 cr from centre

Following report is from Odisha Sun Times:

Odisha MP from Bolangir Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo has urged the Centre for allocation of at least Rs 400 crore for the construction of Khordha-Balangir rail line.

Singhdeo has also demanded the opening of a railway wagon factory at Kantabanji for economic development in the locality and employment opportunities for the local youths.

He has also demanded a direct train from Bolangir to Delhi, extension of the Ispat Express train to Kantabanji and a direct express train to Allahabad from Bolangir, installation of coach indicators and upgradation of Bolangir railway station.