Surendrapur Villagers Demand Shifting Of High Tension Electric Tower From Football Field

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

Villagers of Surendrapur under Khinda gram panchayat in Angul district have demanded diversion of high tension electric lines which goes over the football field.

They alleged that the lives of budding football players of the village are at risk as most of the time the vicinity of the football field remain charged due to high flow of current overhead. Players said they get electric shocks while playing football during rainy season. ' The spectators who gather near the field to enjoy village tournaments during rain often complained that their umbrella sticks get charged with electricity.

Even they fear to lift their arms to cheer up the players. Therefore, most prefer not to come near the field during rain for fear of their lives', the football players said.

The district administration, however, is surprisingly not aware of this danger. A sum of Rs 3,00,284 was spent during 2020-21 under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme(MGNREGS) for upgradation of the existing football field despite the lurking danger of high voltage electricity. Official sources said that the administration is planning to set up the upcoming village stadium at the place near the high voltage electric transmission tower that crosses the football field.

If this is true, then the administration will be held responsible for the calamity that might occur in the future due to proximity of 133 KV high voltage electricity tower, office bearers of a number of football clubs of the area alleged. They said the administration must take necessary step to divert the transmission lines for the safety of footballers of the region. The administration cannot ignore the risk and health hazard of the football players, they said and added that it is high time that a decision to the end must be taken.  

Black Spots Responsible For Accidents In Old Cuttack-Sambalpur Road, Traffic Management In Shambles

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

The busy old Cuttack-Sambalpur road passing through Bantala under Angul district has become accident prone at several stretches due to absence of traffic management.

Police personnel at Bantala allegedly seem to be little concerned over the issue. The Inspector In Charge of Bantala police station has not taken the required step to field traffic staff at busy intersections of the route.     

A number of black spots have emerged on old Cuttack-Sambalpur road which are responsible for causing deadly accidents in the past few months. Reports said the intersections at Badkera touching NH 55, Bantala square, Sarangpur, Beda, Mahidharpur and Satamile have become dangerous spots for the motorists as well as commuters who prefer to take the route to reach Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur and Raipur.

The above mentioned spots have witnessed a number of fatal accidents in the recent past in which over a dozen of persons have either died or injured severely. As four lane work of NH 55 passing through Angul, Banarpal and Dhenkanal is being done at a snail's pace, motorists are preferring to commute through Badakera-Bantala-Athagarh old Cuttack-Sambalpur road to avoid potholes and heavy traffic bottlenecks.

Heavy flow of traffic through old Cuttack-Sambalpur road has worsened its condition. A number of stretches of the road have developed cracks with potholes due to sheer pressure of heavy vehicles particularly truck trailers. The PWD, it is alleged, does not take up repair work at regular intervals to keep it motorable free from accidents.    

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.