News from Gajapati,ORISSA - 11 May 07

The elephant outrage in the Gajapati District since the last one week is the result of deforestation and the destruction of animal habitat ,which has led to a herd of 11 elephants creating havoc in the Districts of Gajapati and Rayagada .This herd had entered the Kasinagar Block on the 4 ^th of this month and have killed two persons of a single family , and have injured many and have led to destruction of crop , houses and jungles in the villages of Sara , Badi ,Ullabhadra ,Marynagar etc . How and why the elephants have entered the human habitation leaving behind their protected sanctuary makes an interesting study . To protect the elephants and in order to create a sanctuary for them the a project named "Lakhari Safari" was envisaged in the year 1985 in then Ganjam District which is now a part of the Gajapati District. Located at a distance of 12 km from the famous Tibetan Refugee village of Chandragiri the Lakhari Safari was initially planned within a radius of 250 km clubbing the Lakhari, Alari Ramaguda and the Dhoba Dhobani Forest areas. But as there were a large number of established villages and removing the said villagers would have led to more complications the radius area of the 'sanctuary' was reduced to 174 km and this would be restricted to the Lakhari Forest only. But even in this forest range there were more then 35-40 villages big and small and almost all the said villages have refused government extended rehabilitation package and continue to adamantly habitat inside the restricted forest area. In the year 2002 the Gajapati Forest Department had asked for an assistance of Rs 5 crores of Central Aid for the development of the elephant sanctuary at the Lakhari Forest, where the elephant census was more than 200 two decades back .While the funds never arrived , an Annual Action Plan for this project was made under which 40 lacs was projected for the maintaining of the sanctuary , and basing on this in the year the forest department received 12 lacs in 2004-05 and 30 lacs in 2005-06 . But how successfully the funds have been implemented can be understood from the following incidents .

In March 2007 elephants from this sanctuary tried to enter Chandragiri and destroyed the compound wall of a school . In March 2006 three elephants were electrocuted when they tried to go away from their jungle area in search of water . In January 2005 a dead elephant allegedly to have been shot by hunters was found on the border of the Lakhari Forest . In April 2007 a herd of elephants trekked more than 50km into the nearby Gunupur Block of Rayagada District and attacked a TV reporter when he was shooting their photos . Now more recently another herd have been loitering in the blocks of Kasinagar , Gumma(Gajapati) and Gunupur(Rayagada) creating bedlam throughout their passage .

The DFO(I/C) Siba Narayan Mohapatra Gajapati when contacted said "We have been trying our best to keep the elephants inside the sanctuary , but due to the intense heat and the unabated jungle cutting the herds are moving out of the safe zone into the human areas". Forest officials deputed to the sanctuary concede that keeping the elephant herd inside the jungle is a tough task as there is no barricading and there is acute shortage of food and water . Interestingly the Gajapati Forest Department does not have any expert hands who can used for controlling the movement of the elephants when they escape out of the sanctuary .Above all many tribal families continue to encroach on these reserved land and thereby disturb the animal movement. The population of the elephant has also come down drastically to below 100 in the last ten years, and unless the Central Government wakes up to the need of protecting this species the day is not far when the sanctuary will be bereft of any elephants . Ironically though the tuskers continue to be an object of fear, in many of the villages it was observed that the villagers were treating this as an auspicious sign and after the departure of the herd ladies conducted prayers and broke coconuts though none dared to offer any type of food or fruits to them .

Tourist Place - Mahendragiri Hills

Shivaratri was once more celebrated with pomp ,devotion and gaiety in Gajapati , and the main function was at the famous and historical Mahendragiri Hills .The administration had made elaborate arrangements for the a safe and smooth Shivaratri on the Mahendragiri Hills . More than 50,000 devotees from all parts of the state had reached the footsteps of the Mahendragiri Hills from where they trekked up the hills through the Burkat Pass .Ladies and aged women in large numbers braved the chill and dark night to go up the Mahendragiri Hills to have a glimpse of the Shiva Lingas inside the three temples namely Bhima Temple , Kunti(Gokerneswara) Temple and the Yudhister Temple supposed to have constructed by the Pandavas during their exile . Police in big numbers were present through out the route and also on the mountain top to face any law or order situation . Drinking Water supply , generator run electricity , first aid , foodinf and other arrangements were also efficiently maintained by the Revenue Department who are responsible for this annual function . In the other Shiva Temple of the town devotees had gathered in large numbers to and the temples were also brightly decorated ,coloured and lit up with lights for the occasion .


In the adjoining areas the Raiwalsa Temple near Teakkali , Mina Jhola near Rayagada ,Makhalingam near Hiramandallam ,Putingi near Mandaasa were also the few Shiva Temples where devotees from this place had gone in huge numbers . Early in the morning the Suryo Udyog(sunrise) was the major attraction for the devotees who waited for the first sunrays to break through before returning back home .

Tourist Place - Gandahati Falls

Gandahati Falls located in the Rayagada Block of Gajapati is considered as one of the important tourist destination of Gajapati District . Located at a distance of 25 km from Paralakhemundi , jeeps and buses can reach this place by taking a right turn at the Adasingh junction Along with the B N Palace , the Gajapati Palace , the Gudguda Falls , the Khasada Falls and the Chandragiri Tibetan Camps this site is being projected as a must see for tourists to South Orissa . The Gandahati Falls continues to be the most sought after destination for tourists from Orissa and Andhra Pradesh . Nestled the mountain ranges in the Devagiri Forest Range stream of this 'fall' generates from the Mahendragiri Hills and flows into the Mahendrataneya River down stream . It is the huge fall from a 30 meter mountain on rocks down below at the Gandahati Village which is the center of attraction and an enchanting place for visitors for spending a day of relaxation. It was only in the 80's the Gandahati Fall was discovered as a place for picnic and there was a rush by the locals to this place , and as the word of this scenic water fall and lush forest range spread around , in the 90's the flow of visitors had grown up many folds . Today this is one of the most important site for visit ,especially during the winter season . But now the place is facing a crisis of environmental pollution and acute deforestation due to the lack of concern by the administration to protect this place from natural degradation and continuous pollution . A visit to this site reveals thousands of poly empty water pouch ,polythene papers etc all littered around unclaimed and causing huge amount of contamination . There is a green house room constructed by the forest department for the purpose of Research and Development , but is in a dilapidated state due to lack of proper care . "We have started a project to make this a place of tourist visit with all facilities available , and there will be excellent communication to this resort .Already work on this project has started with the cooperation of the Jaganath Institute for Technology and Management who are acting as consultants for this" said the Collector D V Swamy . But there have been many similar attempts in the past by different organizations and Collectors also but all this has been in vain . The Minister for Tourism who coincidently is from this place had also several times repeated that Gandahati Falls will be developed and funds will not be a constraint , but this has never materialized till today.To make this all possible it requires simple management of the available resources . The administration can take the initiative of creating a special zone in this area , and create a committee which will be responsibility for the development and nurturing of the important tourist resort .At the same time a development committee with the District Collector and other interested personalities can be formed which will oversee the improvement of this zone. Visitors coming to this place will be asked to pay a specific amount as entry fees and temporary rest houses can also be set up for the picnickers and visitors. Attention is to be given to the plastic pollution that can create more problems in this zone .

Durbar Hall - Gajapati Palace

The Gajapati Dynasty are the pride of Orissa and the cynosure of all discussions relating to the development, modernization, growth and expansion of Gajapati District .Whenever any visitor comes to Paralakhemundi he or she makes it a point to visit the Gajapati Palace where the Palace Durbar is a major attraction .
While the government has failed to take any care of this illustrious palace , the Palace Durbar continues to be the hub of any major palace related activities or important meeting whenever the Maharaja Gopinath Gajapati is present in the Palace . The Durbar Hall is in the middle of the huge palace with its height up to two upstairs .It is divided into two parts namely the Raja Mahal and the Rani Mahal .Main functions , celebrations ,public functions ,council meetings were organized inside the Durbar Hall with the Maharaja seated on the splendid throne placed on an elevated mandap . Its gilt decorated walls and intricate wooden trellis work are further embellished with other traditional work of art . In the back ground adorning the walls are the portraits of the rulers of this dynasty , and almost all the portraits are hand painted by the eminent artists of that period . Also adorning the walls of the hall are the stuffed head of the animals that were hunted down by the Maharajas during the annual hunting rituals . The staring glared eyes of the bison , bear ,antler ,elephant ,tigers etc all recall back to memory the golden days of the dynasty , when the writ of the Maharaja ran all over his kingdom . They also remind one of the leisure and pursuit of the rulers .

The stuffed animal head look so real that anybody sitting alone in the mighty durbal hall will have goose pimples simply by looking at them . The ceilings and the roof made of wood designed tastefully are in very band conditions due to lack of care . The palace escort will point out a finger to the veiled rooftop to inform a visitor that the palace queen and the ladies were also made accessible to the durbar proceedings provided that they did so from the roof camouflaged by see through openings , which will hide the ladies from the ground floor . A huge bust portrait of the Late Mahraja Krushna Chandra Gajapati adorns the 'singhasana' (throne) as a respect for this great soul .The guns and the swords so dominant in the other palace are mysteriously missing . Unfortunately all this history is decaying and gathering dust with none to take proper care for them . "It will require huge financial investment to take care of the durbar hall and its belongings which the present Maharaja is not capable of and unless the government wakes up fast the palace history will be in ruins" says Purna Chandra Mohapatra the Secretary of a leading cultural organization Siddhanta , which is coincidently getting ready the History of Paralakhemundi .

News from Gajapati,ORISSA 7th May 2007

Paralakhemundi (7.5.2007):

The wild tuskers who had gone on rampage in the Kasinagar Block of Gajapati killing two persons and injuring another lady and destroying properties and houses besides destroying seasonal crops ,are still loitering around this area keeping the villagers of this block on tenterhook . The wild elephants who had escaped from the Lakhari Elephant sanctuary in the Mohona Block of Gajapati , had in the last fortnight traveled into the adjoining Rayagada District into the GPs of Padamapur and Gudari before they traveled back into the Gajapati District through the densely populated Gunupur Block of the Rayagada District . There are reports that the elephants had used the road passing through the GIET Engineering College before they forayed into the Gajapati District vide the Sara , Badigan and Allada villages . Why the elephants attacked a hutment and killed its inmates is still a mystery as the wife of the victim who escaped miraculously has yet to give a vivid description of the entire incident . On the other hand the Forest Department staff led by Ranger Gouri Prasad Rath are hard pressed on the task of making the elephants go back to their sanctuary , no doubt a very difficult task considering that they have to be trekked back around 100km . By the time of reporting the elephants have been sighted near the Siali Village which is a bordering village on the Rayagada -Gajapati District border . The villagers of the Ullabhadra Village faced the wrath of the tuskers on their way back as the elephants destroyed houses belonging to P Raghunath , P Suggribalu ,P Surya and N Sundarika ,by pulling down the tinned roofs of their houses and fed themselves on the grains , rice ,pulses stored inside the tenements . Though fearful but angered at the havoc created by the monsters more than 500 tribals armed with drums , crackers , bows and arrows and cymbals all belonging to the villages of Majyalaguda , Lentaguda ,Taminguda ,Dindiguda ,Retaguda ,Ullabhadra , Yetamguda all in Kasinagar Block and a few from the Regada Village in the Gunupur Block are busy trying to shoo away the elephants as far as they can from their area . “The forest department staff do not have the expertise nor the manpower to deal with the situation and they are only keeping a watch on the herd hoping that the same will return back on the path they had come” says Satynarayan Choudhry a local correspondent who has been keeping a tab on the movement of the elephants .While the exact number in the herd has yet to be established there are reports that the herd consisting of 11 members are being led by a female along with two calves .

News from Gajapati,ORISSA

Paralakhemundi(3.05.2007):

Posters warning the police and the excise department staff not to harass the poor and innocent tribals in the name of implementing the Excise Act has sprung up in several places of Gosani Block of Gajapati . The posters written in Telugu supposed to have been put up by the CPI(Maoists) has created a panic amongst the public while the police have started investigating the matter .The posters which had become a common feature last year , warning a few individuals and also a few political persons of the block has once more stirred up a discussion as to what is the intention behind the putting up of such warnings and who are its perpetrators . The contents of the posters is limited to warning the administration and the police to stop harassing the tribals who are manufacturing country liquor in limited quantities and selling it as a source of income .But the people who have taken up the tender for manufacture and sale of the same are using their own muscle power and also the help of the police and the Excise staff in order to curb the sale by individuals on their own . The group who have taken the tender by paying heavy amount have confessed that as there is heavy illegal distillation of country liquor by certain people in a few marked villages , and unless this is stopped they would be incurring heavy losses . But the warning in the form of posters cannot be taken of lightly as there is every chance that if this has been really put up by the CPI(Maoist) , then there is bound to be a retaliation if the same is not obeyed . Though no police force has been deployed in the villages of Uppalada , Batasiripur etc in the Gosani Block , once the hub of radical activities in Gajapati investigations into the same has already been started . Today morning more posters have sprung up in a few adjoining villages .

The Silver Jubilee Celebration of the Bus Stand Porters Union of Paralakhemundi was organized in grand manner at the Town Hall of Paralakhemundi . The meeting was presided over by Pramod Kumar Sahu while the chief guest of the evening was the veteran trade union leader Santosh Kumar Mohapatra . Amongst the other guests were the local political personalities Trinath Sahu(Paralakhemundi MLA) , Basant Das (BJD District President) ,advocate Upendra Nayak ,councilor Hari Bada and advocate Murali Pattnaiak . This organization which was initially affiliated to the INTUC has now been reorganized under the South Orissa Federation of Trade Union .

The Gajapati District administration has purchased 10 ambulances for the rural areas of the Gajapati District under the Rastriya Shrama Vikas Yojana (RSVY) , a decision that has been welcomed by many quarters but has also given way to certain practical problems regarding the buying of ambulances when the money could have been utlised for more immediate issues . The administration and the health authorities seems to have made an emotional decision without understanding the fact that if the money under RSVY had to be utilized for health purpose then the same could have been used for construction of 'operation theatres' at the different PHC or UPHC or Block hospitals which are reeling under the impact of lack of manpower and shortage of basic facilities .For a simple delivery or a cesarean pregnant ladies are shifted from blocks to the District HQ hospital in the absence of a proper OT with all instruments , which could go a long way in increasing safe motherhood . One doctor who talked to this correspondent over the necessity of 10 ambulances said "We are lacking behing in having a sterile and safe OT in any PHC and this is the major reason we are forced to refer the patient to the District HQ hospital , and by simply using the same amount to upgrade the OT hundreds of lives could have been saved" . The CDMO Dr Bijaya Mangala Mohapatra who inaugurated the said ambulances though appeared satisfied at the purchase of so many ambulances , could not explain the necessity of an ambulance when the other major facilities were lagging behind in almost all the block hospitals . The said ambulances will be at the disposal of the BDO's while two ambulances with special teams will be placed at the R Udayagiri and Paralakhemundi .It may be mentioned here that there is already one ambulance at the District HQ Hospital , one donated under the MP grant at Uppalada , one donated by Hindustan Petroleum at the JITM Engineering College , two with the Serango Eye Clinic at Ranipentha , one with the Deepti Sadan a missionary based at Paralakhemundi , one with the Gajapati Police and nearly ten more with a few missionary located in the interior blocks of Gajapati . While the Ambulance at the DHH takes around ten calls a month the other are rarely used or utilized . As the rate of using the Ambulance is almost same to that of the other private carriers and the rates are not negotiatable many patients prefer to use cheaper vehicles like trekker or jeep to ferry the patients .

News from Gajapati,ORISSA

Paralakhemundi(4.05.2007):

The Maharajas Boys High School of Paralakhemundi synonymous with the terminology MRBH amongst its old and new students celebrated its 150 years in a simple function organized at the School premises . The school which was first started in the years 1857 at the initiative of the Maharaja Goura Chandra Gajapati was later on developed and expanded by the Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati . History says that the school was first functioning out of a building where the present majestic SKCG College of Paralakhemundi stands , and was then shifted to its present position on the top of the Palace Street and is now named as the High School Square . The District Collector D V Swamy who was the Chief Guest of the occasion expressed his happiness and gratefulness for getting a chance to be part of the celebration of this institution which can be termed as a monument in itself . He was also extremely pleased to learn that a number of luminaries in different fields had passed out from this institution which was considered as one of the best education centers of Orissa . The Headmaster of the school Ramchandra Nayak during his speech read out the achievements of the school and also regretted that a large number of teachers vacancy was creating hurdles in rendering efficient teaching to the students . The members of the dais also pointed out that the Clock located on the top of the school which has been defunct for the last twenty years was yet to be repaired despite the promise given by the CM Naveen Patnaik when he was a guest here five years back .

The first Zilla Parishad meeting of Gajapati with the newly elected ZP members was arranged today at the DRDA Conference Hall of Paralakhemundi . The ZP Chairman Y Ram Chandra Rao presided over the meeting along with the Collector D V Swamy , the PD DRDA Prakash Ch Das , the Ramagiri MLA Bharat Paik , the Paralakhemundi MLA Trinath Sahu and the Vice Chairman Binoy Kumari Lima . There was a lot of enthusiasm amongst the newly elected members who were present throughout the marathon meeting that started at 11am and went until 8 pm in the night with a brief lunch . As most of the ZP members had been elected as first timers , many were not aware of the technicalities relating to their role and powers , and therefore most of the questions were subdued and cautioned . "This is my first meeting as a ZP member and I am trying to understand my role properly and I am confident of putting forward the grievances of my people in the right manner , and any officer who tries to sabotage development schemes will be put on the mat" said Ch Shimadri the only BJD member in the 16 member ZP house . All the senior officers of the district were also present and alos present for the meeting were the Block Chiarman who had been invited as special invitees to the meeting .The major discussion that took place related to Minor Irrigation , agriculture , Rural Development and Health . Most of the members expressed their displeasure at the way the health system was in the district and unless the same was corrected there will be a measure hue and cry in the next meeting warned the members .