Royal Bengal Tigers In Peril

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

A disturbing report has surfaced that over 100 Royal Bengal Tigers(RBTs) have either been poached or died due to ailments in different wildlife sanctuaries in India last year.

According to data available by Wildlife Protection Society Of India a good percentage of RBTs perished due to poaching, but it stressed that death of majority of the big cats were natural. The report said Madhya Pradesh has incurred the bad name by registering deaths of as many as 32 RBTs last year.

In the case of Odisha, although the agency has not given any adverse report on casualty status of RBTs, the recent disappearance of the only tigress from Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary in Angul district has not gone down well with nature lovers and environmentalists alike. As the surveillance cameras fitted inside the sanctuary could not capture the footage of the tigress since three months ago, nature lovers are apprehensive that the big cat is no more.

However, Saroj Panda, DFO, Angul Wildlife Division, is hopeful that the tigress has not gone anywhere nor missing and it is premature to come to a conclusion that the animal has died or killed.

Recent reports suggest that poachers are active in Similipal National Park in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. The Special Task Force team have seized hide of leopard from two poachers who admitted that they have been killing the animal for selling their skins at lucrative prices for quite some time.

According to National Tiger Conservation Agency (NTCA), the poachers have resorted to killing of leopards as the number of tigers are dwindling. The report said as many as 23 hides were seized in Odisha in the past nine months. The NTCA report further said that during 2012-2020 as many as 857 RBTs died due to several factors including poaching. 

Hidisingh Irrigation Project In Limbo As BJD Leaders Indulge In Panchayat Poll Gimmick

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

As the Panchayat election is drawing near, several leaders of the ruling Biju Janata Dal(BJD) have embarked upon laying foundation stones of various projects in Angul district to send a message to the electorate that they are the leaders who are concerned with their wellbeing, although the reality is different.

Media reports said Deputy Speaker of Odisha Assembly and Angul MLA Rajanikanta Singh laid the foundation stone of different projects at Baragaunia, Badakantalkul, Nuakheta, New Raiguda and other places under Bantala police station in Angul Sub-Division recently to woo voters in the upcoming Panchayat poll.

Singh laid the foundation stones for two bridges to be built over Nuaghai Nala and Aandhari Nala at Nuakheta-Badakantakul and some development projects at New Raiguda. He also attended two programmes at Bargaunia and Badakantakul under Odisha government's most ambitious Mo School project for transformation of educational institutions.

It is a fact that several irrigation projects in Bantala region in Angul district are in limbo due to lack of political will of the representatives they have chosen to deliver the goods. None of the leaders of the ruling clique seemed to be little worried over the matter, but as the panchayat poll is drawing near, they are out to prevail upon the voters to get their support for their aspiring cronies who are likely to be fielded.

Hidisingh Medium Irrigation Project(MIP) was conceived over decades ago, yet there is no headway due to lack of political will. The file, sources said, is gathering dust due to lack of environmental clearance. It was decided that the loss of forest due to the irrigation project will be compensated by adequate afforestation in Angul, Deogarh and Dhenkanal forest divisions. Yet, it is alleged that the work for the project is going at a snail's pace.

The irony is that the leaders themselves vie with each other to rake up Hidisingh MIP issue at the hustings when casting of ballots comes near, be it in assembly or parliament. But, they tend to forget the issue altogether as soon as the poll heat is over.

Reports said Talcher MLA Braja Kishore Pradhan and Pallahara MLA Mukesh Pal are on a spree to inaugurate Community Halls and other utilities at different panchayats keeping an eye on the ensuing panchayat election.

Dhenkanal MP Mahesh Sahoo has also not left himself behind in the race in view of the upcoming panchayat poll. Sahoo attended a function for upgradation of the vegetable market at NTPC in Kaniha possibly with the intention of earning the goodwill of small time traders and farmers of Kaniha region who hail from different panchayats. Poll analysts maintained that their goodwill can be converted into votes for his candidates who will be in the fray.

Bantala Panchayat Poll Scenario: Aspirants Woo Voters With Life-size Posters

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

The New Year has provided much needed opportunities for aspirants of the ensuing Panchayat polls in Angul district, particularly in Bantala region, by putting up posters and banners to greet voters.

They have resorted to the tactic to woo gullible voters in the villages to cast their ballot in their favour, political observers maintained.

The village squares and important intersections of semi-urban and rural localities in the district are virtually bedecked with large posters. Although the election commission is still undecided on the possible dates for the Panchayat polls in the State, sources close to the poll body have indicated that the schedule might be announced in the second week of January.

However, uncertainty still looms large over the announcement of the poll dates due to rising cases of Omicron in Odisha.

Political observers have maintained that the prevailing pre-poll scenario can be described as 'Poster War' among the aspiring candidates. Such practice among the aspirants has given rise to ill feelings which has resulted in defacing and tearing of banners and posters displayed at prime locations in the gram panchayats all over the district.

The observers said poll violence has already set in the relatively calm village surroundings. They advised the district authorities, particularly the police, to deploy reinforcements to contain such violent activities so that the ensuing poll scenario is not vitiated.

    

Meanwhile, the fresh list of reservation for urban body polls has been published. The list has been published after doing away with the reservation for Other Backward castes (OBCs). The industrial district of Angul has two municipalities i.e Angul and Talcher and Athamallik has the status of Notified Area Council (NAC).

Inordinate Delay In NH 55 Four Lane Work Becomes A Curse For Angul People

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

The four lane work of Cuttack-Sambalpur NH-55 has been continuing for the past three years since 2018, yet there seems to be no end to it due to sheer negligence of National Highway and Transport ministry.

Although the deadline for completion of the work was slated for 2020, nearly half of the four lane work has been completed till date. The NH 55 has now become a misnomer being interspersed with ditches  causing a number of accidents in the past three years. The motorists as well as the commuters face a lot of hardship while negotiating the worst ever road in their life.

Sources said the construction agency engaged by the NH authorities on contractual assignment has stopped the work alleging nonpayment following resources crunch due to several factors including the pandemic.

Protesting against the lackadaisical attitude of the highway authorities, Angul-Dhenkanal Bus Owners had discontinued bus services between Angul-Dhenkanal-Cuttack and Bhubaneswar in the last week of December 2021 as a mark of protest against the inhuman act. They have warned that they will carry on the strike for indefinite period if the authorities did not relent.

Dhenkanal MP Mahesh Sahoo had met the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in December to urge him to take immediate action on the matter. Gadkari, it is believed, that he has directed the officials concerned to expedite the four lane work of NH 55. But, the miseries of commuters are yet to be over. Earlier, Deputy Speaker of Odisha Assembly and Angul MLA Rajanikanta Singh had urged the administration to speed up the four lane work, but little progress has been made so far.

Meanwhile, the PWD authorities have not shown their interest to take up rebuilding of Panchamahala-Banarpal stretch of the NH 55 in Angul district which is in ramshackle condition. The 15-km stretch of the highway is unfit for even walking, let alone driving bikes, cars and other vehicles. Numerous ditches and potholes on the highway are responsible for taking precious lives following fatal accidents. Most bikers and pedestrians have lost their lives during rainy season as most parts of the 15-km stretch of the highway get submerged in water.

The construction of Banarpal-Panchamahala bypass route is going on at a snail's pace for years. The flyovers are yet to be ready nor the bypass road, further delaying the purpose for which this has been proposed.         

Lone Tigress Goes Missing In Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary?

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

The whereabouts of the lone tigress in Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary in Angul district is shrouded in mystery after it could not be traced in cameras fitted in the jungle since over two months.

Although wildlife officials of Angul forest division did not seemed to be worried over its disappearance, local animal lovers are apprehensive that as the big cat is not spotted in high resolution cameras for quite some time, this might result in the end of the tiger population in the sanctuary.

The disappearance of the tigress comes to the fore at a time when a decomposed carcass of a bison was found at Tulka forest region in Purunakote range recently. The wildlife officials are tightlipped what led to the death of the bison which is listed as endangered species. They, however, maintained that the post mortem report might throw light on the death of the animal.

Social activists and environmentalists associated with different nature lover institutions in Angul said the Satkosia Wildlife sanctuary which was once bustling with Royal Bengal Tigers(RBTs) and other extinct species, is almost bereft of the big cats. They said there were efforts in the past to increase the number of RBTs in the sanctuary, but the wildlife officials had failed miserably in their endeavour.

Wildlife officials in the past had tried their best to bring in a pair of RBTs from Madhya Pradesh. But, their effort came to nought after one tiger was killed by poachers and the other one was sent back to the parent jungle after it turned man eater.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Saroj Panda told the media that it is premature to say that the tigress has disappeared from its habitat. He said as the whole of sanctuary is not under camera surveillance, there is a possibility that the movement of the tigress could not be snapped. 'We have started investigation into the matter and our teams are fanning out to different locations to locate the tigress. The prevailing biting cold wave condition in the jungle region might have prevented the old tigress to move frequently', Panda added.

Local animal lovers and environmentalist alleged that the wildlife sanctuary has been witnessing death of several endangered species like antelopes, bison, wild boars and reptiles in the past and Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary is no longer a safe habitat for the species.

Series of deaths of wildlife species in Satkosia region have given rise to speculations that adequate measures for protection and conservation of animals in the sanctuary have not been initiated.  

Sources alleged that the wildlife officials are little concerned over foolproof management of the issue. It is further alleged that poachers are on the prowl in Satkosia region and the biosphere. The sources alleged that booby traps are used for killing animals for their horns and skins as these are of medicinal value and sold at high prices. The horns of antelopes and bison are used for preparing medicines. Therefore, these are in  great demand both at home and abroad.

The sources said that in most cases, the Wildlife Institute of India(WII) were kept in dark and added that detailed probes were never taken up.

  

Industrial Behemoths Contaminate Brahmani, Tikira Rivers In Angul District

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

Brahmani, the second largest river of Odisha, and Tikira considered as the lifelines for the denizens of Kaniha block in Angul district, have become contaminated due to discharge of industrial effluents.

Locals alleged that mostly the industrial waste is discharged from the power behemoth National Thermal Power Corporation(NTPC) that contains radioactive ingredients and other lethal chemicals. Fly ash slurry of NTPC Captive Power Plant(CPP) and turbine oil of Regali hydel project flow into the Brahmani river causing immense damage to water quality making it unfit for human consumption.

Villagers of Baruan, Tolakbeda, Bijigola, Burubahal and Samal alleged that they are affected with skin diseases and other ailments as they take bath and use river water for their daily needs. A large number of dead fish are seen floating on river waters and this a regular sight, the villagers said. Dwindling supply of fish has affected fishermen community who lost their avocation due to contamination of water.  

The district administration, the villagers alleged, has turned a deaf ear to their complaints. 'No action has been taken against the erring industrial concerns for violating environmental norms. The officials of  Regional Pollution Control Board at Angul are hand in glove with the polluters. They refrain from taking exemplary action against them', the villagers further alleged.

They alleged that pipe water projects in the above mentioned villages have become useless as the industrial authorities supply contaminated water from river Brahmani. 

Athamallik:Will Sanjib Sahu's Joining BJP Damage BJD Prospects In Panchayat Polls?

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

As the Panchayat elections are drawing near, all eyes are riveted on the political scenario of Athamallik region from which the former Biju Janata Dal(BJD) legislator Sanjib Sahu who has recently joined Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) along with his bandwagon.

Sahu had remained disgruntled over the years for allegedly being sidelined by top BJD leaders including the party supremo and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. It was alleged that Sahu was among the leaders who were responsible for carrying out the midnight drama in the State Capital Bhubaneswar to oust Chief Minister some years ago while he was on a tour abroad.

Political analysts said it is premature to say if Sanjib Sahu could lead the saffron party to win Athamallik seat, but added that this would be definitely be a prestige issue for the seasoned leader who had successfully led BJD in the region for years.

Top brasses of BJP in the meanwhile, has indicated that the party will fight polls in Athamallik assembly constituency under the leadership of Sanjib Sahu in the upcoming Panchayat and Urban polls. If media reports are to believed, then Sahu has even hinted that the saffron party has reposed faith on him in this aspect and he is given a free hand to go in for permutations and combinations to hit the jackpot. He has even declared that his party will win five out of seven zones in the upcoming Panchayat elections under his leadership.

Political analysts maintained that by exiting BJD and joining BJP, Sanjib Sahu and his supporters have successfully made a dent in the electoral prospects of his erstwhile party, but it is still premature to conclude that he will downcast the image of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who is popular to the core.