A TOP GRADE MAOIST ALONG WITH THREE ASSOCIATES ARRESTED IN SAMBALPUR 14/12/2011
SAMBALPUR:-
In Odisha’s Sambalpur district, a hardcore Maoist from Jharkhand involved in arms training to Maoists in Saranda forest and his three local associates /sympathizers were arrested last night. Sambalpur SP Nikhil Kanodia said Ranbir Jharna alias Mangala, was arrested when he was in Sambalpur to buy materials for Maoist activities. Jharna, along with his accomplices, Mangalu Munda, Basant Harenz and Durga Topno, was staying in a rented house at Deheripalli locality.
The Hardcore Maoists claimed themselves as daily wage labourer.
“Ranbeer, along with Basant and Durga, was in Sambalpur to purchase materials for a Maoist camp being run in the nearby forests. They were staying in the house of Manglu Oram, a mason by profession,” said police. Sambalpur superintendent of police Nikhil Kanodia said the police had also seized a motorbike, a hand-written note and some cash from the rebels.
“Ranbir Jharna alias Mangla who hailed from Anka Gurubeda under Khumti district of Jharkhand has been associated with the Maoist outfit for the last one-and-a-half years. He had been actively involved in rebel activities in Sambalpur for the past four months. He was also involved in Maoist activities in Jharkhand,” Kanodia said.
In a major setback to Maoists, the Orissa police on Tuesday night recovered a massive arms and ammunition dump including 15 landmines, 17 detonators and 6 pressure bombs from the deep jungles of Rayagada district.
Apart from the landmines, five high-explosive grenades, 14 country-made guns, 17 detonators, six bundles of wire, six country-made bullets, six pressure bombs with keys, two remote keys, 50 empty detonator cases, a battery, 18 empty tiffin carriers and six gun barrels were also seized from the spot. The police suspected that the Maoists had stockpiled the arms in the forest as they wanted to conduct a training camp in the area for their newly recruited cadres.
Due to the growing Maoist activity the local people at Sambalpur are living a life of shock and terror.
How to "eliminate the "internal pests" and then any external links"-more aggressively and quickly, because "all this security threats from within India and forging of relationships with external enemies by internal insurgent various groups"-is seriously going to hamper India's attempt to generate long term peace, security and stability environment for "business investments, and foreign investments in this country's future”. Indian army itself needs to double up its recruits, expediate all its various operations, and launch unrelenting charge against all India's internal enemies. The future of this nation is at stake, if various insurgents don’t get wiped out.
SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS,
ODISHA
December 13, 2011
MAOIST LEADER ALONG WITH THREE ASSOCIATES ARRESTED IN ODISHA
MAOIST LEADER ALONG WITH THREE ASSOCIATES ARRESTED IN ODISHA 13/12/2011
A hardcore Maoist and his three associates were arrested and a huge cache of explosives and arms were seized in separate operations in ODISHA's Sambalpur and Rayagada districts.
The major arms haul was made in Maoist-hit Chandrapur block of Rayagada district where securitymen swung into action on the basis of information given by a surrendered ultra, the police said today.
During a special operation in the dense Sitagudi forest in Chandrapur block on the night of December 11-12, security personnel stumbled upon the explosives including 15 powerful landmines weighing five kg each, they said.
The seizures also included five high-explosive grenades, 14 country-made guns, 17 detonators, six bundles of wire, six country-made bullets, six pressure bombs with keys, two remote key, 50 empty detonator case besides live cartridges, a battery, 18 empty tiffin carriers and six gun barrel, they said.
In Sambalpur district, a hardcore Maoist from neighbouring Jharkhand involved in imparting arms training to rebel cadre in Saranda forest and his three associates were arrested last night, Sambalpur Superintendent of Police Nikhil Kanodia said.
On a tip-off, the ultra identified as Ranbir Jharna alias Mangala, who hailed from Anka Gurubeda under Khumti district of Jharkhand, was nabbed by a police team when he was in the town for purchasing materials for carrying out Maoist activities, he said.
Jharna alongwith his accomplices - Mangalu Munda, Basant Harenz and Durga Topno - was staying in a rented house at Deheripalli locality here, police said adding the house was being used as a transit centre by the red rebels.
The three associates of Jharna, involved in offences like torching of a construction company plant, were being used for logistic support and similar works.
SOURCE –PTI
SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS,
ODISHA
A hardcore Maoist and his three associates were arrested and a huge cache of explosives and arms were seized in separate operations in ODISHA's Sambalpur and Rayagada districts.
The major arms haul was made in Maoist-hit Chandrapur block of Rayagada district where securitymen swung into action on the basis of information given by a surrendered ultra, the police said today.
During a special operation in the dense Sitagudi forest in Chandrapur block on the night of December 11-12, security personnel stumbled upon the explosives including 15 powerful landmines weighing five kg each, they said.
The seizures also included five high-explosive grenades, 14 country-made guns, 17 detonators, six bundles of wire, six country-made bullets, six pressure bombs with keys, two remote key, 50 empty detonator case besides live cartridges, a battery, 18 empty tiffin carriers and six gun barrel, they said.
In Sambalpur district, a hardcore Maoist from neighbouring Jharkhand involved in imparting arms training to rebel cadre in Saranda forest and his three associates were arrested last night, Sambalpur Superintendent of Police Nikhil Kanodia said.
On a tip-off, the ultra identified as Ranbir Jharna alias Mangala, who hailed from Anka Gurubeda under Khumti district of Jharkhand, was nabbed by a police team when he was in the town for purchasing materials for carrying out Maoist activities, he said.
Jharna alongwith his accomplices - Mangalu Munda, Basant Harenz and Durga Topno - was staying in a rented house at Deheripalli locality here, police said adding the house was being used as a transit centre by the red rebels.
The three associates of Jharna, involved in offences like torching of a construction company plant, were being used for logistic support and similar works.
SOURCE –PTI
SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS,
ODISHA
A SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET OF RS 4,724.62 PRESENTED IN THE ODISHA ASSEMBLY
A SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET OF RS 4,724.62 CRORE PRESENTED IN THE ODISHA ASSEMBLY 13/12/2011
Bhubaneswar: Finance minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadei on Monday presented the highest-ever Supplementary Budget to the tune of Rs 4,724.62 crore for 2011-12, in the State Assembly.
This budget is Rs 1,817.92 crore more than the Supplementary Budget for 2010-11.
The budget has focused more on village development.
The state government regularised the services of 17,232 para teachers working under the Zilla Parishads by providing Rs 186 crore in the budget.
While Rs 202 crore has been provided to extend the loan repayment period of the farmers affected by the un-seasonal rains, Rs 70 crore has been earmarked for pregnant women under the Mamata scheme.
Besides, there is provision of Rs 100 crore for construction of Anganwadi Centre buildings, Rs 23 crore for the Indira Awas Yojana and Rs 197.76 crore for old age pension.
While Rs 2,377.81 crore has been provided as non-plan expenditure, Rs 1,801 crore has been provided for State plan expenditure.
For Central plan and Centrally-sponsored schemes Rs 127.03 crore and Rs 418.52 crore respectively has been provided in the budget.
There would be no problem in mobilising the additional resources for the Supplementary Budget, Ghadei said, adding that the government will get an additional Rs 450 crore from its own tax and non-tax revenue.
The own tax and non-tax revenue collection by the end of October this year has touched Rs 9,819 crore while the target for the current fiscal ending March 2012 is Rs 16,104 crore.
The collection is 61 percent during the first half of the fiscal, the minister informed the House.
He said that the state would get an additional Rs 792 crore towards its share from the Central taxes as against the budget estimate of Rs 11,429 crore for the year 2011-12.
By the end of October, Rs 6,305 crore, which is about 55 percent of the year’s expectation, has been received by the state, he said, further adding that in addition to this, the state would have Rs 700 crore National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and Rs 804 crore surrendered fund by the various departments.
Outlining the provision of funds for various heads, the minister said that for providing relief to the affected farmers, the state government has allocated Rs 150 crore towards conversion of short-term loans to medium-term loans in drought-and unseasonal rain-affected areas.
Similarly, Rs 52.52 crore has been provided in the Supplementary Budget for interest subsidy over loan conversion.
While Rs 42.77 crore has been allocated for implementation of Mid-Day Meal as the state’s share under State Plan scheme, Rs 700 crore has been provided towards expenditure to be met from NDRF on account of natural calamities like drought and floods and 2011 Rs 6.20 crore for creation of fair price shops in gram panchayat headquarters.
With the provision of Rs 4724.62 crore in the Supplementary Budget, the total budget amount for the 2011-12 financial year has gone up to Rs 50,772.37 crore.
The highest Rs 1,454.35 crore has been earmarked for the revenue and disaster management department, followed by Rs 375.75 crore for planning and coordination, Rs 788.10 crore for women and child development, Rs 288.08 crore for cooperative and Rs 271.35 crore for finance department.
SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS,
ODISHA
Bhubaneswar: Finance minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadei on Monday presented the highest-ever Supplementary Budget to the tune of Rs 4,724.62 crore for 2011-12, in the State Assembly.
This budget is Rs 1,817.92 crore more than the Supplementary Budget for 2010-11.
The budget has focused more on village development.
The state government regularised the services of 17,232 para teachers working under the Zilla Parishads by providing Rs 186 crore in the budget.
While Rs 202 crore has been provided to extend the loan repayment period of the farmers affected by the un-seasonal rains, Rs 70 crore has been earmarked for pregnant women under the Mamata scheme.
Besides, there is provision of Rs 100 crore for construction of Anganwadi Centre buildings, Rs 23 crore for the Indira Awas Yojana and Rs 197.76 crore for old age pension.
While Rs 2,377.81 crore has been provided as non-plan expenditure, Rs 1,801 crore has been provided for State plan expenditure.
For Central plan and Centrally-sponsored schemes Rs 127.03 crore and Rs 418.52 crore respectively has been provided in the budget.
There would be no problem in mobilising the additional resources for the Supplementary Budget, Ghadei said, adding that the government will get an additional Rs 450 crore from its own tax and non-tax revenue.
The own tax and non-tax revenue collection by the end of October this year has touched Rs 9,819 crore while the target for the current fiscal ending March 2012 is Rs 16,104 crore.
The collection is 61 percent during the first half of the fiscal, the minister informed the House.
He said that the state would get an additional Rs 792 crore towards its share from the Central taxes as against the budget estimate of Rs 11,429 crore for the year 2011-12.
By the end of October, Rs 6,305 crore, which is about 55 percent of the year’s expectation, has been received by the state, he said, further adding that in addition to this, the state would have Rs 700 crore National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and Rs 804 crore surrendered fund by the various departments.
Outlining the provision of funds for various heads, the minister said that for providing relief to the affected farmers, the state government has allocated Rs 150 crore towards conversion of short-term loans to medium-term loans in drought-and unseasonal rain-affected areas.
Similarly, Rs 52.52 crore has been provided in the Supplementary Budget for interest subsidy over loan conversion.
While Rs 42.77 crore has been allocated for implementation of Mid-Day Meal as the state’s share under State Plan scheme, Rs 700 crore has been provided towards expenditure to be met from NDRF on account of natural calamities like drought and floods and 2011 Rs 6.20 crore for creation of fair price shops in gram panchayat headquarters.
With the provision of Rs 4724.62 crore in the Supplementary Budget, the total budget amount for the 2011-12 financial year has gone up to Rs 50,772.37 crore.
The highest Rs 1,454.35 crore has been earmarked for the revenue and disaster management department, followed by Rs 375.75 crore for planning and coordination, Rs 788.10 crore for women and child development, Rs 288.08 crore for cooperative and Rs 271.35 crore for finance department.
SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS,
ODISHA
December 12, 2011
A GIRL WHO DECLARED HER DEATH IN SOCIAL NETWORKING
A GIRL WHO DECLARED HER DEATH IN SOCIAL NETWORKING 12/12/2011
A 12-year-old girl who was shot by her mother during a standoff inside a Texas food stamp office died of her wounds late Wednesday night, officials said Thursday.
Ramie Grimmer had posted a Facebook message on Monday "may die today" after her mother, Rachelle Grimmer, 38, took a supervisor hostage in the Texas Department of Human Services office in the Rio Grande city of Laredo in a dispute over her denial of food stamp benefits.
Rachelle Grimmer released the supervisor, but after a seven hour standoff, police say she shot Ramie and her ten-year-old son Timothy Grimmer, and then killed herself.
Timothy remains in very critical condition in a San Antonio hospital, according to Mary Walker, spokeswoman for Child Protective Services.
State and local officials said Rachelle Grimmer was a troubled woman wandering with her children from residence to residence after moving to Texas from Zanesville Ohio in March.
At one point, the three lived in a tent on the beach near Corpus Christi. Neighbors in Laredo said the children were often seen begging for food while living in a crumbling recreational vehicle which didn't have a place to cook food.
Officials said Texas Child Protective Services had been asked to look into the status of the children while they were living on the beach, but determined there were no signs of abuse or neglect and closed the case.
Laredo police said the Grimmers lived in at least four different places during their brief time in the city.
Officials are trying to determine how a family with such obvious need was able to fall through the cracks of society's safety net, said Stephanie Goodman, spokeswoman for the Department of Human Services.
"Is there anything we could have done differently?" she asked. "Maybe we need to do a better job of public awareness, of doing a better job communicating. Don't just assume that everybody knows how desperate your situation is."
She said Grimmer first applied for food stamp benefits in July, but state officials were unable to reach her, and the case was eventually closed for lack of enough information. Goodman said to her knowledge, the Grimmers never received any benefits from the state, despite their precarious situation.
Private charities in the Laredo area said the Grimmers never requested assistance, even though there are a number of religious and civic aid organizations in the border city of 236,000, which is among the poorest in the nation.
Walker said the surviving child, Timothy, will remain in the hospital for some time, and then is expected to be released into the care of relatives. She does not anticipate the state taking custody of the child.
(COURTESY – WASHINTON POST)
SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS,
ODISHA
A 12-year-old girl who was shot by her mother during a standoff inside a Texas food stamp office died of her wounds late Wednesday night, officials said Thursday.
Ramie Grimmer had posted a Facebook message on Monday "may die today" after her mother, Rachelle Grimmer, 38, took a supervisor hostage in the Texas Department of Human Services office in the Rio Grande city of Laredo in a dispute over her denial of food stamp benefits.
Rachelle Grimmer released the supervisor, but after a seven hour standoff, police say she shot Ramie and her ten-year-old son Timothy Grimmer, and then killed herself.
Timothy remains in very critical condition in a San Antonio hospital, according to Mary Walker, spokeswoman for Child Protective Services.
State and local officials said Rachelle Grimmer was a troubled woman wandering with her children from residence to residence after moving to Texas from Zanesville Ohio in March.
At one point, the three lived in a tent on the beach near Corpus Christi. Neighbors in Laredo said the children were often seen begging for food while living in a crumbling recreational vehicle which didn't have a place to cook food.
Officials said Texas Child Protective Services had been asked to look into the status of the children while they were living on the beach, but determined there were no signs of abuse or neglect and closed the case.
Laredo police said the Grimmers lived in at least four different places during their brief time in the city.
Officials are trying to determine how a family with such obvious need was able to fall through the cracks of society's safety net, said Stephanie Goodman, spokeswoman for the Department of Human Services.
"Is there anything we could have done differently?" she asked. "Maybe we need to do a better job of public awareness, of doing a better job communicating. Don't just assume that everybody knows how desperate your situation is."
She said Grimmer first applied for food stamp benefits in July, but state officials were unable to reach her, and the case was eventually closed for lack of enough information. Goodman said to her knowledge, the Grimmers never received any benefits from the state, despite their precarious situation.
Private charities in the Laredo area said the Grimmers never requested assistance, even though there are a number of religious and civic aid organizations in the border city of 236,000, which is among the poorest in the nation.
Walker said the surviving child, Timothy, will remain in the hospital for some time, and then is expected to be released into the care of relatives. She does not anticipate the state taking custody of the child.
(COURTESY – WASHINTON POST)
SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS,
ODISHA
STRINGENT MEASURES TO BE TAKEN IN ILLEGAL MINING
STRINGENT MEASURES TO BE TAKEN IN ILLEGAL MINING : M B SHAH 12/12/2011
ODISHA NEWS: Justice MB Shah on Sunday warned that anyone indulging in illegal mining would be severely dealt with.
The Commission led by Justice Shah, during its four-day state tour, visited 10 mines in the Joda Mining Circle in Keonjhar district.
Justice Shah's impression towards most of the mines owners was evident when he snubbed one of them who pleaded that they are trying to do good for the people.
You have polluted the environment, damaged roads and are reluctant to spend for the local community, Justice Shah said, criticizing the mines owners taking shelter of the court when the government frames any rules for development of the community.
He also went on targeting the mines owners, saying, ‘You are buying helicopters and unable to develop roads!’
The Commission, during its visit, took an impression about how the mindless mining activities have affected the local people, ecology, economy and, above all, the adverse effect on the country's precious mineral wealth.
More than 300 people related their grievances and submitted written petitions during the public hearing.
Social activist Padmashri Tulasi Munda, along with many other citizens and labour union leaders, described the economic condition of the district and labour unemployment caused by closure of mines.
They urged the Commission to ensure reopening of that closed mines and allowing legal mining operations and demanded that action be initiated against those responsible for the mining scam.
If illegal mining continued for years, then the departmental authorities in charge of regulating mining operations were culprits too.
So let the Commission also find out the names of official bureaucrats and politicians who promoted the mining scam, argued president of Progressive Citizens' Forum Dhirendra Rout.
Some also drew the attention of the Commission to the gross illegalities in the government-operated mines.
Finally the state government had to close the mines when the mining scam inquiry was conducted by the State Vigilance.
It is a pity that government mines, instead of being an example for private operators, indulged in illegal mining too, said local lawyer Debashis Pati.
Generally, most of the petitioners urged the Commission to come out with solutions how to regularise mining since the state and district administration have already started taking strong steps to check illegal mining.
Most of the mines have been closed and huge seizure of illegally-raised ores has been made besides arrest of at least 800 found involved in theft, DV Swamy, Keonjhar collector said.
The action initiated by the state government to check illegal mining is satisfactory and the information provided by the administration has been very useful, a member of the Commission observed.
We will come back to visit the Koida Mining Circle and continue with the pending inquiry, the Commission told reporters before leaving for the state capital.
About a thousand retrenched mine labourers belonging to the AITUC unions demonstrated outside the meeting hall demanding reopening of mines.
Echoing the sentiments of the Odisha government, the Justice M B Shah Commission on Sunday took a dig at the mine owners for not taking steps for peripheral development in the mineral rich Keonjhar district and took a dig at their lavish life style.
You are earning millions of rupees, even having helicopters. Then why should you not provide medical aid in this state, in this district, Justice Shah asked the mine owners during the Commission’s interaction with various stake holders of the mining industry in Keonjhar on the third day of their field probe about illegal mining in the area.
The principle of economy is when you are earning sufficiently, there is some share of labour also, he said, while justifying his demand for profit sharing.
The Commission also favoured the idea of collecting special mining royalty for the mineral rich districts, in line with the state government demand to levy mineral resource rent tax for the betterment of the mining areas.
The eight-member team led by retired Supreme Court judge M B Shah also held the miners responsible for damaging the environment of the mining area.
Conditions which are required (to get mining lease), specifically provides that you shall not pollute the air, you shall not pollute the water and you shall provide better infrastructure and roads. We have seen a number of places, where pollution has affected the entire area including the trees at both sides of the road, he said.
The Commission on Saturday had visited four mines in the area which included Sarada Mines, Joda (east) mines of Tata Steel, Kasia iron ore and dolomite mines of Essel Mining & Industries and Mideast Integrated Steel's (Mesco) Barbil mines.
The probe panel grilled these four lessees on various aspects including violation of Mineral Concession Rules-1960, whether the miners have raised excess ore during 2001-10 and if the same has been ratified by the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) and whether they have obtained the due forest clearance from the ministry of environment & forests (MoEF).
The national level illegal mining investigating agency expressed its displeasure against Essel Mining for absence of statutory clearances and on Sarada Mines for excess lifting of ores.
It also questioned the lax attitude shown by the IBM regarding enforcement of mining rules and laws.
The team had to skip its visit to Koida in Sundargarh district on Saturday as about 3,000 mining labourers blocked NH 215 demanding operation of mines without any hindrance.
Shah Commission members said that they are not against the mines which are following the rules.
We have never said legal mining should stop. We only inspected the mines that violated the environmental and mining laws, Justice Shah said at the interaction meeting on Sunday.
On Friday, the commission had inspected five mines- Unchabali iron ore & manganese ore mines of Indrani Patnaik, Patnaik Minerals Pvt Ltd under Joda circle, Jajang mines of the Rungtas, Mala Ray mines and B D Patnaik's Kalapahad mine.
The Shah Commission's probe will culminate with the meeting with chief secretary at the State Secretariat here on Monday morning in the presence of the secretaries of steel and mines, commerce & transport and revenue and disaster management departments.
SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS,
ODISHA
ODISHA NEWS: Justice MB Shah on Sunday warned that anyone indulging in illegal mining would be severely dealt with.
The Commission led by Justice Shah, during its four-day state tour, visited 10 mines in the Joda Mining Circle in Keonjhar district.
Justice Shah's impression towards most of the mines owners was evident when he snubbed one of them who pleaded that they are trying to do good for the people.
You have polluted the environment, damaged roads and are reluctant to spend for the local community, Justice Shah said, criticizing the mines owners taking shelter of the court when the government frames any rules for development of the community.
He also went on targeting the mines owners, saying, ‘You are buying helicopters and unable to develop roads!’
The Commission, during its visit, took an impression about how the mindless mining activities have affected the local people, ecology, economy and, above all, the adverse effect on the country's precious mineral wealth.
More than 300 people related their grievances and submitted written petitions during the public hearing.
Social activist Padmashri Tulasi Munda, along with many other citizens and labour union leaders, described the economic condition of the district and labour unemployment caused by closure of mines.
They urged the Commission to ensure reopening of that closed mines and allowing legal mining operations and demanded that action be initiated against those responsible for the mining scam.
If illegal mining continued for years, then the departmental authorities in charge of regulating mining operations were culprits too.
So let the Commission also find out the names of official bureaucrats and politicians who promoted the mining scam, argued president of Progressive Citizens' Forum Dhirendra Rout.
Some also drew the attention of the Commission to the gross illegalities in the government-operated mines.
Finally the state government had to close the mines when the mining scam inquiry was conducted by the State Vigilance.
It is a pity that government mines, instead of being an example for private operators, indulged in illegal mining too, said local lawyer Debashis Pati.
Generally, most of the petitioners urged the Commission to come out with solutions how to regularise mining since the state and district administration have already started taking strong steps to check illegal mining.
Most of the mines have been closed and huge seizure of illegally-raised ores has been made besides arrest of at least 800 found involved in theft, DV Swamy, Keonjhar collector said.
The action initiated by the state government to check illegal mining is satisfactory and the information provided by the administration has been very useful, a member of the Commission observed.
We will come back to visit the Koida Mining Circle and continue with the pending inquiry, the Commission told reporters before leaving for the state capital.
About a thousand retrenched mine labourers belonging to the AITUC unions demonstrated outside the meeting hall demanding reopening of mines.
Echoing the sentiments of the Odisha government, the Justice M B Shah Commission on Sunday took a dig at the mine owners for not taking steps for peripheral development in the mineral rich Keonjhar district and took a dig at their lavish life style.
You are earning millions of rupees, even having helicopters. Then why should you not provide medical aid in this state, in this district, Justice Shah asked the mine owners during the Commission’s interaction with various stake holders of the mining industry in Keonjhar on the third day of their field probe about illegal mining in the area.
The principle of economy is when you are earning sufficiently, there is some share of labour also, he said, while justifying his demand for profit sharing.
The Commission also favoured the idea of collecting special mining royalty for the mineral rich districts, in line with the state government demand to levy mineral resource rent tax for the betterment of the mining areas.
The eight-member team led by retired Supreme Court judge M B Shah also held the miners responsible for damaging the environment of the mining area.
Conditions which are required (to get mining lease), specifically provides that you shall not pollute the air, you shall not pollute the water and you shall provide better infrastructure and roads. We have seen a number of places, where pollution has affected the entire area including the trees at both sides of the road, he said.
The Commission on Saturday had visited four mines in the area which included Sarada Mines, Joda (east) mines of Tata Steel, Kasia iron ore and dolomite mines of Essel Mining & Industries and Mideast Integrated Steel's (Mesco) Barbil mines.
The probe panel grilled these four lessees on various aspects including violation of Mineral Concession Rules-1960, whether the miners have raised excess ore during 2001-10 and if the same has been ratified by the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) and whether they have obtained the due forest clearance from the ministry of environment & forests (MoEF).
The national level illegal mining investigating agency expressed its displeasure against Essel Mining for absence of statutory clearances and on Sarada Mines for excess lifting of ores.
It also questioned the lax attitude shown by the IBM regarding enforcement of mining rules and laws.
The team had to skip its visit to Koida in Sundargarh district on Saturday as about 3,000 mining labourers blocked NH 215 demanding operation of mines without any hindrance.
Shah Commission members said that they are not against the mines which are following the rules.
We have never said legal mining should stop. We only inspected the mines that violated the environmental and mining laws, Justice Shah said at the interaction meeting on Sunday.
On Friday, the commission had inspected five mines- Unchabali iron ore & manganese ore mines of Indrani Patnaik, Patnaik Minerals Pvt Ltd under Joda circle, Jajang mines of the Rungtas, Mala Ray mines and B D Patnaik's Kalapahad mine.
The Shah Commission's probe will culminate with the meeting with chief secretary at the State Secretariat here on Monday morning in the presence of the secretaries of steel and mines, commerce & transport and revenue and disaster management departments.
SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS,
ODISHA
December 10, 2011
AMRI'S EXPANSION PLAN IN ODISHA IS A MATTER OF CONCERN
AMRI’S EXPANSION PLAN IN ODISHA IS A MATTER OF CONCERN 11/12/2011
ODISHA NEWS: Close on the heels of the devastating fire at the Advanced Medical Research Institute Hospital in Kolkata on Friday claiming 92 lives, the Odisha government has taken note of a number of hospitals have already come up in the state capital and adjoining areas without proper fire safety measures.
The AMRI Hospital was also planning to set up a super-specialty hospital in Bhubaneswar.
It is very likely that the state government will take steps to blacklist AMRI after the death of over 90 people in West Bengal, a senior ruling BJD MLA said on Saturday.
The West Bengal government has already cancelled the licence of the AMRI super-specialty hospital in Kolkata.
Six board members of the hospital have also been arrested on charges of negligence.
The AMRI hospitals unveiled its ambitious expansion plans to set up four state-of-the-art hospitals in Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, Raipur and Patna about a year ago.
Each of these proposed hospitals would be set up with an initial investment of over Rs 110 crore with room for future expansion.
The AMRI group claimed to have earmarked Rs 450 crore for the expansion.
The AMRI Hospitals is a joint venture between Emami and Shrachi Group of industries.
According to the plan, an AMRI hospital would come up at the Khandagiri Square, a prime location in Bhubaneswar, with 300 beds initially.
It will come up on five acres of land. Initially, it will be a five-storied affair, but we have plans and enough room for further expansion, a senior member of the group had told reporters after announcing the company's plan in Bhubaneswar.
Our hospital in Bhubaneswar will have emergency and outdoor facilities. We will deploy most sophisticated equipments and staff, including doctors. It will also have state-of-the-art ICCU, ITU and NITU and life-support systems, a director of the group had informed at that point of time.
The hospital in Bhubaneswar would initially have some 1,000 employees, including medical, paramedical and non-medical staff.
The first preference would obviously be to recruit local people, it was told on behalf of the group.
SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA, BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS, ODISHA
ODISHA NEWS: Close on the heels of the devastating fire at the Advanced Medical Research Institute Hospital in Kolkata on Friday claiming 92 lives, the Odisha government has taken note of a number of hospitals have already come up in the state capital and adjoining areas without proper fire safety measures.
The AMRI Hospital was also planning to set up a super-specialty hospital in Bhubaneswar.
It is very likely that the state government will take steps to blacklist AMRI after the death of over 90 people in West Bengal, a senior ruling BJD MLA said on Saturday.
The West Bengal government has already cancelled the licence of the AMRI super-specialty hospital in Kolkata.
Six board members of the hospital have also been arrested on charges of negligence.
The AMRI hospitals unveiled its ambitious expansion plans to set up four state-of-the-art hospitals in Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, Raipur and Patna about a year ago.
Each of these proposed hospitals would be set up with an initial investment of over Rs 110 crore with room for future expansion.
The AMRI group claimed to have earmarked Rs 450 crore for the expansion.
The AMRI Hospitals is a joint venture between Emami and Shrachi Group of industries.
According to the plan, an AMRI hospital would come up at the Khandagiri Square, a prime location in Bhubaneswar, with 300 beds initially.
It will come up on five acres of land. Initially, it will be a five-storied affair, but we have plans and enough room for further expansion, a senior member of the group had told reporters after announcing the company's plan in Bhubaneswar.
Our hospital in Bhubaneswar will have emergency and outdoor facilities. We will deploy most sophisticated equipments and staff, including doctors. It will also have state-of-the-art ICCU, ITU and NITU and life-support systems, a director of the group had informed at that point of time.
The hospital in Bhubaneswar would initially have some 1,000 employees, including medical, paramedical and non-medical staff.
The first preference would obviously be to recruit local people, it was told on behalf of the group.
SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA, BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS, ODISHA
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR MINORITIES IS SCEPTICAL ABOUT HIGH ACUITTAL RATE DURING KHANDAMAL RIOTS
NATIONAL COMMISSI0N FOR MINORITIES IS SCEPTICAL ABOUT HIGH AQUITTAL RATE DURING KHANDHAMAL RIOTS 10/11/2011
ODISHA NEWS: The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) sought to know the cause behind high rate of acquittal of accused persons in the communal riots of Kandhamal in 2008 even as it expressed satisfaction over the rehabilitation measures taken by Odisha government.
The Commission wanted to know the reason behind large acquittal of accused persons charge-sheeted in riot cases, chief secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik told reporters after having a video conferencing with the members of NCM.
Though the state government claimed that it had given due care for prosecution and proceeding of criminal cases, the NCM was not fully satisfied over the high acquittal rate.
Of the 827 criminal cases registered in Kandhamal, 512 cases have been charge-sheeted, the chief secretary said, adding 361 people in 65 cases have been convicted so far.
The remaining 321 cases are under trial, he said.
The NCM members, on their part pointed out that while 361 people were convicted, 2246 people have been acquitted due to lack of proper evidence against them.
In an effort to book the culprits, the chief secretary said that the state government has appointed two judicial commissions under separate retired judges of the Odisha High Court to examine all the details of cases.
Special Prosecutors have also been engaged by the government to deal with cases, Patnaik claimed adding the Commission has expressed satisfaction over the rehabilitative measures.
SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS,
ODISHA
ODISHA NEWS: The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) sought to know the cause behind high rate of acquittal of accused persons in the communal riots of Kandhamal in 2008 even as it expressed satisfaction over the rehabilitation measures taken by Odisha government.
The Commission wanted to know the reason behind large acquittal of accused persons charge-sheeted in riot cases, chief secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik told reporters after having a video conferencing with the members of NCM.
Though the state government claimed that it had given due care for prosecution and proceeding of criminal cases, the NCM was not fully satisfied over the high acquittal rate.
Of the 827 criminal cases registered in Kandhamal, 512 cases have been charge-sheeted, the chief secretary said, adding 361 people in 65 cases have been convicted so far.
The remaining 321 cases are under trial, he said.
The NCM members, on their part pointed out that while 361 people were convicted, 2246 people have been acquitted due to lack of proper evidence against them.
In an effort to book the culprits, the chief secretary said that the state government has appointed two judicial commissions under separate retired judges of the Odisha High Court to examine all the details of cases.
Special Prosecutors have also been engaged by the government to deal with cases, Patnaik claimed adding the Commission has expressed satisfaction over the rehabilitative measures.
SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS,
ODISHA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)