Development news of orissa and India

By Rajesh Kumar Behera in Kendrapara, Orissa

The Archaeology Survey of India celebrated World Heritage week from 19^th November to 25^th November at the Buddhist monastery site of  Udayagiri ,50 km from here .On  Wednesday, a valedictory meeting was organized by ASI officials in order to commemorate the World Heritage week . The Superintendent of  Archaeology Survey of India ,Bhubaneswar  circle ,Ashok Kumar Patel ,presided the meeting .whereas Dr. Sadasiba Pradhan, the professor of Post Graduate Department of Ancient Indian History ,Culture and Archaeology ,Utkal university was the chief guest in the closing ceremony function. Other dignitaries ,who attended in the closing ceremony meeting ,were Dr.Arundhati Devi, the Principal of  Udayagiri-based Sobhaniya Sikhyashram  , Dr.Subash Khamari, Deputy Superintending Archaeologist, Excavation Branch-IV , Dr. Jeeban Kumar Patnaik, Assistant Superintending Archaeologist, Ratnagiri Archaeological museum and Bebarta Ajaya Kumar Das, a renowned social activist and Buddhist scholar .

Addressing the gatherings, the chief Guest ,Dr.Sadasiba Pradhan demanded before the state government to take steps for making the  Buddhist monasteries of Lalitagiri  -Udayagiri-Ratnagiri as Diamond Triangle as earlier declared by the state government in this regard. Steps  should be taken by the ASI and the state government  in order to attract more tourists to throng to the Buddhist diamond triangle .

While , Arundhati Devi, chief speaker of the closing ceremony , expressed her displeasure and demanded before the ASI to undertake more  spade  work at Simhaprasta Mahavihara and Madhavpura Mahavihar at  Udayagiri in order to unearth more findings related to Buddhism .She also demanded before the ASI officials  to build a museum at Lalitagiri to place the relics ,which were  unearthed  by ASI during 1985 and . was kept in the strong room of Archeological Survey of India (ASI) office at Bhuaneswar since last 25 years, in Lalitagiri at the very site of its recovery The relics were kept like a Chinese   puzzle box in four  caskets, one inside the other, forming a unique unity. The  caskets   were discovered from among the ruins of Stupa of Lalitagiri. But the rare and precious  relics is the centrepiece of the findings in the famous Buddhist site of Lalitagiri.

She informed that    there was a demand time and again  by the locals before the Minister of Culture and Tourism, New Delhi  to place the relics in Lalitagiri at the very site of its recovery .

Buddhism originated in Orissa quite a long time back. Buddhist trail and sites of Orissa bear witness to this fact. Within the state a number of important sites like Kapilavastu, Bodhgaya and Saranath in Orissa have developed that is closely associated with the life of Lord Buddha.

Orissa has a vista of ancient scriptures of Buddha, scattered everywhere in the state. Rich tradition is enhanced by the legends popular amongst the people. These legends talk about the tooth relic of Buddha that is enshrined in the heart of Orissa. Pali texts that are found here refer to the connection of Buddha with two businessmen from Orissa. They are called Tapasu and Bhallika. Buddhist trails and sites of Orissa also have another aspect. The literacy references, myths, and historical data all bear proof of flourish of this religion in its most accepted form. The aftermath of the famous Kalinga war, held in 261 B.C. was a path breaking one. It proved to be a landmark since it discerned the growth of Buddhism when emperor Ashoka metamorphosed into an ardent Buddhist believer. He was transformed into a benevolent king discarding all his cruelty and bloodshed. Under the initiative of Ashoka propagation activities spread to other countries as well. Christian missionaries were sent to far East and also to a number of South Asian countries. From the accounts of the famous traveller from China, Hiuen Tsang, one also can get acquainted with valid facts highlighting the growth of Buddhism in Orissa. It talks of the beautiful stupas made by Ashoka and later rulers, bell capitals and copper plates. Discovery of Buddhist figures and images also depict the exact scenario of the growth of Buddhism in the state, informed the dignitaries to the gatherings.

By Rajesh Kumar Behera in Kendrapara, Orissa

The Union Minister for Shipping, Thiru G.K. Vasan, on Thursday visited Paradip Port to  inaugurate the Jetty for Coast Guard and Indian Oil Corporation Vessels, RO-RO Jetty at Paradip Port and laid the Foundation Stone for Construction of Oil Berth.He also  visited the Mechanized Coal Handling Plant of the Port.

IOC have already commissioned one Single Point Mooring for pumping crude oil to their Refinery at Barunei and Haladia through pipeline. For this purpose IOC desires to operate their vessels from Paradip and they need a Jetty.

Keeping in mind the present security scenario, a separate berth is the need of the hour  for Coast Guard Vessels for quick berthing and sailing off. The Jetty for Coast Guard and Indian Oil Corporation Vessels, was inaugurated today  and it has a length of 243 Meters, which can accommodate both Coast Guard and IOCL vessels at a time and can be operated as two separate jetties.

Paradip Port has been handling considerable quantity of Project Cargo in the last two to three years. These Project Cargoes are handled at the existing berths. The need of a separate Jetty for handling Project Cargo to reduce the waiting time was long felt. The RO-RO Jetty, which has been inaugurated by the Union Minister today will meet these needs thereby facilitating the other berths for handling of general Cargoes,informed PPT official sources .

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. has planned to commission their Refinery Project by 2012. The existing Oil Berth is of 6 MTPA and it will not be adequate to cater to their needs. To meet the additional demand of handling of Crude Oil and POL products of IOCL, a second Oil Berth is required. The Union Minister on Thursday laid the foundation stone of this Oil Berth today. This is a Project costing Rs. 172.97 Crores and the capacity addition to the port will be 10 Million Tonnes Per Annum.

In Later , Thiru .G.K.Vasan , the Union Minister for shipping on Thursday afternoon also reviewed the Developmental Projects of the Port and security measures of the Port in a meeting with the Chairman of the PPT , K. Raghuramaiah, and all the Senior Officers of Paradip Port Trust. He also reviewed the measures taken for welfare of the Officers, Workers and Staff of the Port such as health and schooling facilities available for them. Chairman of  PPT , K. Raghuramaiah, appraised the Union Minister for Shipping by a Power Point presentation about the growth of traffic of the Port, the recently completed projects, status of ongoing projects and future plans of the Port.

The Chairman appraised the  Minister that the signing of concession agreements with the BOT Operators for development of Iron Ore Berth as well as Coal Berth have already been over. It was informed to the Minister that on completion of the ongoing projects, the port capacity will be increased to 134 Million Tonnes Per Annum by March 2012 and that the Port will be in a position to meet the future demands and would handle 100 Million Tonnes of traffic per Annum. Chairman also appraised   Minister the steps  taken by PPT in rescuing the crew as well as combating oil pollution arising out of sunken ship BLACK ROSE that sank on 09.09.2009 at Paradip anchorage and retrieval of fuel oil stored in its tanks. The Union Shipping Minister expressed his happiness at the Port’s performance and appreciated the timely action taken by the Port in handling  the situation arising out of  sunken ship Black Rose which prevented oil spill disaster in the sea which posed threat to Marine live and pollution of environment.