Cuttack: The much-hyped proposal of light-and-sound show at the Netaji Subhash Birthplace National Museum here is unlikely to be in place even during the legendary leader’s 115th birth anniversary on January 23 next.
The proposal for the project was mooted in 2008 when former Union steel and mines minister Ramvilash Paswan, sanctioned an amount of Rs 30 lakh from the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) for the project.
The SAIL even released Rs 10 lakh as the first instalment of the sanctioned amount in 2009, and a State-based cultural organisation started the groundwork of the project.
Scripts were written, edited and recorded for the project with purchase of some equipments.
However, for reasons best known to the SAIL, the balance amount of the project did not come through, and the project is in limbo for the past two years.
When the SAIL and the steel and mines ministry did not show any enthusiasm for the project, the state’s culture department decided to finance the project.
The state government has already sanctioned an amount of Rs 30 lakh for completion of the project. But the project bidder has not yet shown any urgency to complete the work before the Netaji Jayanti next month, said museum in-charge JP Das.
The project envisages a first-of-its-kind state-of-the-art light and sound show in the State which was tipped to be regular feature in the evening to attract visitors.
Sources said that the project was for an hour-long programme to highlight Netaji’s childhood days in Cuttack city.
Since the work for the show has not yet restarted, there is apprehension that the project may not see the light during the 115th birth anniversary of Netaji.
The museum authorities are also in a despondent state this year as no new facets are going to be added to the national museum this time.
Neither have we any more space left in the 125-year-old building to open new galleries nor have we collected any fresh artifacts related to Netaji for display in the museum this year, Das said, adding that the number of visitors coming to the museum is also getting thinner year after year.
The museum now has 15 galleries displaying books, periodicals, rare photographs, artifacts, the legendary leader’s household articles, letters written to his father and other relatives and articles relating to his childhood days and INA (Indian National Army) days are on display in the museum.
It has also a media centre showing a 45-minute-documentary on Netaji.
Light & Sound show unlikely at Netaji museum this year
December 29, 2011 — IMCOdisha CM favours strong Lokpal
December 29, 2011 — IMCBhubaneswar: Advocating a strong Lokpal in the country, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said that his government was committed to amending the existing law to make an effective Lokayukta in the state.
We are in favour of a strong Lokpal, and also an effective Lokayukta at the state level and shall take steps to amend the present law after the panchayat elections, Patnaik told reporters here.
Stating that the BJD’s stand on the Lokpal Bill had been made clear in the Lok Sabha yesterday, he said that as far as CBI is concerned, the anti-corruption wing of the agency should come under the Lokpal.
On allegation by opposition Congress that the BJD government was suppressing the state Lokayukta’s reports on Vedanta University, Patnaik claimed that a number of pending special reports had so far been cleared in the state cabinet.
We’ll bring rest of the Lokpal’s special reports to the cabinet shortly and then place them before the assembly as per procedure, he said.
Stating that he was very concerned over the health of Anna Hazare, the chief minister hoped early recovery of the Gandhian leader.
Odisha floods: Centre sanctions Rs 918 cr
December 29, 2011 — IMCBhubaneswar: The Centre on Wednesday sanctioned Rs 918.30 crore as flood assistance to Odisha besides agreeing to bear the expenses incurred towards air-dropping of food materials during relief operations in the state.
However, chief minister Naveen Patnaik smelt a rat from the point of timing of the announcement.
Though the Centre has provided the highest-ever amount as flood assistance, it will certainly help in the reconstruction activities in the flood-affected areas which the state government has already began, he said.
However, he was critical over the timing of release of the funds, stating that there is a smell of panchayat elections.
On the other hand, the Congress came down heavily on the chief minister for not expressing his thanks to the Centre for releasing the highest-ever flood assistance to Odisha.
Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Bhupinder Singh asked the chief minister to see that the funds were not used as BJD election expenditure, while urging the people to remain vigilant.
Instead of remaining obliged for the assistance, the chief minister saw motive behind the release of funds, Singh said while describing the former’s statement as unfortunate.
He lamented that the state government had been criticising the Centre for not releasing the flood assistance early and now when the funds were released, the chief minister was smelling a rat.
Meanwhile, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Mohapatra said that the state government has received a letter from the Centre confirming sanction of Rs 908.30 crore from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and Rs 10 crore from National Rural Drinking Water Scheme.
Stating that the state government had sought an assistance of Rs 3,265 crore from the Centre for relief, rescue and restoration activities in the flood affected districts, the SRC said that at least 21 of the 30 districts of the state were affected in the calamity.
The Centre has also agreed to bear the expenses of air-dropping of food materials. At least 82 sorties were made during the relief operation the cost of which could be Rs 3.1 crore, the SRC told reporters here, adding that the total assistance towards flood would be around Rs 921.40 crore.
The state had witnessed two spells of floods due to depression induced heavy rainfall at upper catchment areas of river Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani and other major rivers of the state in the first week of September and middle of that month.
Besides a large number of live stocks, at least 87 persons were killed in the calamity and a large number of houses were damaged in the twin floods.
No waiver of tax on illegally used water: Govt
December 28, 2011 — IMC
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday clarified that there is no question of waiver of water tax to any industrial establishments, which have drawn water illegally for their consumption from the water sources in the state.
Briefing newsmen here, water resources secretary Suresh Mohaptra rejected the allegation that a process has been initiated to waive dues towards water cess from any company, particularly Vedanta Alumina in Jharsuguda.
Admitting that there have been complaints against Vedanta for illegally drawing water for its Jharsuguda plants from the Hirakud reservoir, Mohapatra said that there is no question of the state government allowing Vedanta waiver of Rs 9 crore worth water tax and fine for drawing water illegally.
Stating that there is no undue sympathy shown to Vedanta or any other company, he said that steps would be taken to collect the huge amount of water cess from the company soon.
Earlier, during the just-concluded winter session of the State Assembly the issue of waiver of water cess to Vedanta was raised by the Opposition with documentary evidence.
They said that the executive engineer of Burla Main Division had recommended the additional secretary water resources for waiver of tax around Rs 9 crore.
They had alleged that while the state government was collecting water tax regularly from the farmers and collecting fines, Vedanta was shown favour despite the fact that company had drawn water without the legal authority from the government for its Jharsuguda plant.
Vedanta should have been charged with fines six times higher. However, the state government was clandestinely, trying to waive the fine and also the water tax to the company.
HIV+ patients on rise in Kalahandi
December 27, 2011 — IMCBy Akhand in Bhubaneswar:
The number of HIV+ patients is on the rise in Kalahandi district of Odisha.
As per the available information, 356 patients with AIDS are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the district while an unofficial assessment puts the figure at over 1,000.
Most of the patients are found in 13 blocks and three urban towns of the district.
Basically, migrating labourers from outside the state are bringing the virus.
The number of migrating labourers in the district has risen up to 1,500.
As per a health department report, out of 356 AIDS affected patients, 35 have already died and now seven women and 10 children are undergoing treatment at the district headquarters hospital. For detection of AIDS and preventive health measure, integrated AIDS examination centres have been opened at Bhawanipatna, Kesinga and Dharamgarh.
Sources informed from 2006 to 2011, 14,208 AIDS patients have been detected in the district and given counselling.
Out of them, the blood samples of 10,988 patients had been examined at Bhawanipatna district headquarters hospital and 236 patients were found as HIV positive.
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