Rakala Shiva Temple Of Undivided Dhenkanal District Remains Neglected Over Years

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

The Shiva temple at Rakala near Talmul village is one of the most visited places of worship in the undivided Dhenkanal district of Odisha, yet it has remained neglected over the years.

Devotees alleged that the connecting road to the temple from the main road has worsened. The road is too narrow and interspersed with potholes causing accidents most often during Mondays and other occasions when devotees from all over the district throng the temple.

The approach road is too narrow to handle even few auto rickshaws during peak hours in festivities, let alone other modes of transport like cars and buses.

The interiors of the temple are poorly maintained. Devotees further alleged that the Covid pandemic has cast its impact on generation of fund for proper maintenance of this famous temple. They, however, maintained that the endowment authorities should take early measures for proper upkeep of this famous place of worship.

Renovation of the sacred pond of Rakala temple has not been done over the years. Shoals of fish of different varieties regale devotees as they throw eatables on water. The pond is a home to big fish weighing several kilograms. Siltation has reduced the depth of the pond to several metres and the day is not far off when it will go dry leaving the rare varieties of fish extinct.

     

The pujas and other rituals of the temple are done under strict Covid restrictions and nobody knows how long such guidelines will remain in force as the Omicron variant of Covid has already erupted in a number of European countries and Africa.         

Attack On Angul Scribes Condemned, Memorandum To Odisha Governor

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

Media organizations, political parties as well as social wings have demanded action against the culprits who attacked journalists in Angul headquarters town recently.

The scribes were attacked and their camera and other equipments were damaged on the premises of district headquarters hospital recently during a visit by Kayakalp team. The Kayakalp team has been formed by the Union Health Ministry to monitor cleanliness in government hospitals and improve quality of health services.

One reporter and a photo journalist of Odisha's leading language dailies were allegedly brutally attacked by a security guard while they had gone to cover the visit of Kayakalp team of Union Government. They were allegedly denied entry, asked to go back and attacked following wordy duel.

Meanwhile, Talcher journalists have presented a memorandum to Odisha Governor urging him to take stringent against the culprits involved in the crime of gagging the press. The Angul district unit of Congress Party has presented a memorandum to the District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain demanding action against the security personnel and initiate a through probe to ascertain other elements responsible for such crime. District Congress president Biplab Jena headed the delegation to present the memorandum to District Collector.

Former Dhenkanal MP Rudra Narayan Pany has condemned the attack on journalists saying this act is inimical to democratic values. He demanded early action against the perpetrator.

Members of district journalist association have clarified that the District Administration was not involved in the matter and the hospital authorities are solely responsible for the crime.

Angul Sweet Potato Growers Demand Processing Units in Satkosia Wildlife Region

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

Sweet Potato growers belonging to Tainsi, Kothabhuin, Antulia situated in Satkosia wildlife sanctuary in Angul and Kantapada, Paiksahi Maimura,Kudagoan in Athamallik blocks have urged Angul district administration to set up processing units in the region to boost marketing.

They said the sweet potatoes( Kandamula in Odia language) are grown over eight hundred hectare of fertile land in Satkosia wildlife region and forest localities in Athamallik block. The demand for the sweet potatoes are growing day by day, the farmers said and added that installation of processing units at various places in the above mentioned regions in Angul district will help them to get more proceeds from the sale of the product.

Sushil Pradhan and Ashok Satpathy opined that  the Satkosia wildlife region and Athamallik will become the hubs for sweet potatoes and added that the days are not far away for the farmers to achieve the excellence.

'Last year the farmers got less price for Covid pandemic. Their product has attracted buyers from UP, Maharastra, Bihar and Jharkhand. This year the farmers are hopeful that they will get good price for their product due to favourable weather condition in the region'.

Varieties like Bhu Krishna and Bhu Sona are in great demand among the buyers due to minimal presence of carbohydrates.

 

Mahima Ascetics Sore Over Depletion Of Kumbhi tree(Careya arborea) in Odisha Forest

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

Gradual depletion of Kumbhi tree(Careya arborea) in Satakosia Wildlife Sanctuary, Athamallik, Dhenkanal and Redhakhol forest divisions in Odisha has alarmed followers of Mahima cult in the state. They have expressed fear and anxiety that the extinction of Kumbhi tree might deprive them of getting the bark which they use to wear as their attire.

The relationship between Kumbhi tree(Careya arborea) and Mahima cult is deep rooted. A sect of Mahima Dharma use the barks of Kumbhi trees to cover their bodies who are known as Kumbhipatias.

A number of followers of Mahima Dharma have urged the forest officials of Angul and Dhenkanal districts to take up plantation of Kumbi saplings on a wide scale to so that the barks of the tree will not be in short supply. Such an effort will be beneficial for the ascetics of Mahima Dharma, some followers of the cult said. They said the forest department of Odisha must ensure plantation of the tree on a wide scale to save Mahima Dharma.

The Mahima movement appeared in Odisha in early part of the nineteenth century. Its founder was Mahima Swami or Mahima Gosain. Followers of the cult believed him to be the incarnation of Param Brahma( Supreme Soul).

According to the scriptures of Mahima cult, Mahima Gosain meditated at Kapilas hill in Dhenkanal district of Odisha for 24 years. During meditation he used to put on the bark of Kumbhi tree. Joranda in Dhenkanal district is the seat of Mahima cult which is widely known as Mahima Gadi. The Mahima Gadi spans over 100 acres. Joranda Mela commonly known as Magha Mela is held in January-February every year for a week thronged by followers of the sect from every nook and corner of India.

The ascetics of Mahima Dharma are divided into three sects, Kumbhipatias, Kanapatias and Ashritas. The Kumbhipatias use barks of Kumbhi whose botanical name is Careya arborea. While the Kanapatias use pieces of rag with matted hair palm leaf, the Ashritas use maroon colour attire (Gairikabasana) like the Brahmachari or Yogi.

Angul Farmers Producing Eco-Friendly Tulsi, Lemongrass Oil Under Aroma Mission

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

Farmers at Pampasar in Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary, Saradhapur and Kumurisinga in Angul and Pipalbahal in Chhendipada blocks in Angul district of Odisha have embarked on a mission to produce eco-friendly products like lemongrass, mint and Tulsi oil to encourage the usage of these products to combat health hazards due to environmental pollution in the region.

They are growing lemongrass and Tulsi under the guidance of Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant(CIMAP) to produce natural aroma. These products are of great demand in local market. Cultivation of these crops enhance the livelihood resources of farmers of Angul district. The Aroma Mission, based in  Lucknow, is a Government of India project.

Reports said of the 30 districts of Odisha, 22 are covered under Aroma Mission. CIMAP is providing seeds and saplings to farmers free of cost. The oil extraction units are provided free of cost to the farmers.

The oil extraction units are installed at Pampasar in Satkosia area and Pipalbahal in Chhendipada.  The other plant is being set up at Kumurisinga, situated close to the district headquarters town of Angul.

Tulsi oil is used for curing severe cough and cold and malaria. Cultivation of mint(Mentha) is underway at Saradhapur, according to Ashok Satpathy who is doing the marketing of aroma products like lemongrass oil, mint oil and Tulsi oil. He said Tulsi seed is also being used for reducing sugar level of patients affected with diabetes and other related ailments.

Taps Vanish As Drinking Water Project Fails To Take Off In Bantala

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

Piped water project has remained a pipedream for the people of Bantala in Angul district of Odisha. The standpoints erected on the roadside fitted with taps have been damaged. Most of them have vanished as the drinking water project failed to take off due to irresponsible attitude of Sarpanch and Block officials of Angul district.

The Sarpanch and Ward Members of Bantala Gram Panchayat are never worried about the success of drinking water project even as most parts of the region reel under acute shortage of water during summer. To add to this, a large chunk of groundwater table of Bantala Bazar is unfit for consumption due to hard water elements.

The water project was conceived several years ago with a big well being dug near Fisheries Office at Bantala. But, the project was abandoned as ground water table was not sufficient enough to ensure uninterrupted water supply.

Since then the drinking water project has been going through rough weather. The situation has come to such a pass that people of Bantala will never get water through pipes as the water taps installed on the wayside have been damaged and underneath pipes are almost destroyed for being unused over the years. 

Mango Tree Leaning Precariously Over Old Cuttack-Sambalpur Road Poses Threat To Life

BY SANTOSH MOHANTY

People of Bantala in Angul district in Odisha have urged the authorities to take immediate measures for  chopping down the big mango tree which is leaning precariously beside the busy Old Cuttack-Sambalpur road for quite some time posing severe threat to human life.

It resembles a situation like the sword of Damocles is hanging over motorists and commuters passing through the route. Villagers said that that it is the responsibility of Public Works Department(PWD)and the State Highway authorities to chop down the tree and added that their lackadaisical attitude has put the lives of commuters in peril.

The tall dry mango tree standing close to Bantala Forest Range Office has huge branches that could crash into the road anytime. Some branches have already fallen on the busy route, but luckily none has been injured, nor any vehicle damaged so far. Locals said the dry branches fall on the road as wind speed increases and no one knows who will become a victim.

Neither Bantala Grampanchayat Sarpanch nor the police nor the forest officials are allegedly seemed to be little worried about the danger that might cost lives of innocent commuters and passerby if the dry mango tree comes down to the road at any time.

This tree was planted on the roadside during British Raj. The Britishers were fond of planting fruit bearing trees alongside the road during their rule.The volume of traffic has been increasing in old Cuttack-Sambalpur road as motorists from cities like Sambalpur, Chhattisgarh, Cuttack and Bhubaneswar prefer this route due to less congestion.

Traffic in National Highway(NH) no 55 that runs through Angul connecting Sambalpur to NH 5 has been badly hit over the years due to four lane work going on at a snail's pace. This has forced the motorists to take the bypass route through Bantala to travel to Bhubaneswar, the Capital city of Odisha and the business hub of Western Odisha, Sambalpur.