Jagdev -"the conqueror"

Rourkela: As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), a unit of the Maharatna Company Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), has contributed Rs. 70 lakh for various development activities in Sundargarh District. Of the total amount given to the Sundargarh District Administration, Rs. 25 lakh will be spend on infrastructure development of ADRUT, a childcare home for orphan and destitute children of the district while Rs. 20 lakh will be utilised as support towards construction of a rest shed at the Rourkela Government Hospital for the benefit of the patients and their attendants coming from far off places. The rest amount will be used for promotion of sports, tribal art and culture in the district, RSP sources said.  

Rourkela: The Blast Furnaces of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) have rewritten history by setting a record in producing 7644 tonnes of Hot metal on January 20 this month, which is the best ever hot metal production figure for any single day since inception. The earlier record of 7451 tonnes of Hot Metal was achieved on March 29 last year. The significant aspect of the record breaking performance was that all the Blast Furnaces performed equally well for achieving the sterling production. Besides, the dedication and devotion of the Blast Furnace collective, the timely support of all the upstream and downstream units also played a significant role in this achievement. G S Prasad, Chief Executive Officer of RSP has expressed his immense happiness over this record achieving success. He has also expressed hope that with the committed effort of the RSP collective many more records will be scripted in the days to come.    On this achievement, S N Roy, Executive Director (Works)

Rourkela: Steel City’s dog lovers witnessed today a unique get together of canines belonging to 15 popular breeds; all pets have come with their family members and participated in the dog show, organized by Rourkela Pet Lovers Club in coordination with Sub-divisional Veterinary Department, Panposh at Udit Nagar Ground here. One-of-its-kind events, with more than 100 participants with their pet dogs of 15 popular breeds have come from in and around Rourkela having stolen the show with presence of hundreds of fans. “To create awareness about these canines and to show people about their behavior, work, friendliness and acknowledging about different breeds, such type of show we have organized here”, informed Mihir Ray, organizer of the Show. He said people neglect these animals adding these animals not only pets but also leans and perform tasks to assist and entertain the humans. Opening the show, Jagbir Singh DIG, CISF Rourkela shared his feelings about these pets a

Rourkela: Six more departments of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) have been recommended for receiving the ISO 9001:2008 QMS (Quality Management System) certification. These departments are Crane Maintenance, Energy Management, Refractory Engineering Services, Civil Engineering Services, Pipe Coating Plant and Water Management Department, RSP sources said today.  This was declared after the second surveillance audit conducted by the auditors of M/s TUV India Limited from January 14 to 18 last. Apart from the new units, the auditors- S Talukdar and B B Majumdar- also recommended continuation of the QMS certification to the previously certified departments from the works area. In the closing meeting held at the ED (Work) Conference Hall under the chairmanship of S N Roy, ED (Works) on last day, both the auditors commended the robust management system prevalent in RSP which has resulted in the consistent improvement in the plant’s performance. “With more number of units comi

Rourkela: “Development of the modern world much depends on science, engineering and technology while the role of an engineer is linked closely to the needs of society,” said V K Saraswat, Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister. He is also the Director General, DRDO and Secretary Defence, R&D. The National Institute of Technology (NIT) produces technical minds every year, he added. Speaking at the 10th convocation ceremony of NIT here today, Saraswat praised the institute for its growth from strength to strength over the years. “It has become a Centre for imparting quality education in Engineering and Technology,” he observed. He also stated that the young technical minds produced from NIT should work for India’s technological self-reliance in the field of defence. “I consider these moments with you worthwhile. There are several technological challenges before the country. You have to identify areas of your own strength and interest in the endeavour of making our nation

Rourkela: Manu Badaik, son of a poor farmer Ranjeet Badaik of Kanderkela village, had cataract since birth which was detected during a health check up camp organized in his village by Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. Manu was brought to RSP-run Ispat General Hospital (IGH) where surgery was conducted on his left eye in April last year by specialists of the Ophthalmology Department of the hospital under the guidance of Dr. B B Rao, Director (Medical & Health Services). Seeing the success of the surgery, his right eye was operated recently. Post operation, Manu Badaik is now able to do most of his chores by himself. When asked, he says that he can’t wait to play with his friends and go to school along with them which he could not do earlier. Sanjeeta Badaik, mother of Manu, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to RSP management and the doctors and medical staff of IGH for giving vision to her child and helps him

Rourkela: Members of Rourkela Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) held an interactive session to discuss problems and to suggest ways for functioning of sick industrial units in Sundargarh district. The meeting also took up discussion on pitiable state of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the state. Speaking on the occasion, president of RCCI, Mahesh J Vajir, said that growth and development of industries started in 2000 after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik assumed power in the State, he added. The government embarked upon a massive industrialization programme with focus on ‘Value addition to minerals’ for which a number of MoUs were signed for Steel, Aluminium, Power, Ferro Alloys and Port projects, Vajir stated. The RCCI president said that industrialists from all over the country and abroad are heading towards Odisha, which expects to see economic resurgence. Development of new ports, infrastructure and railway network is contributing to GDP growth in O

Rourkela:  The Rourkela Police arrested one Raju Reddy for burglary and seized from him the stolen property worth Rs. 35 lakh cash, a gold mangal sutra, a gold earring, a pass port of the accused, and one car bearing Reg. No.- OR14V-8176 which he had used for conveyance. Raju Reddy alias Raju (24) of Thetani Store basti of Sector-16 was arrested by the police personnels, informed Rourkela SP Amitendra Nath Sinha. Briefing to media persons at Chhend police station here today about the burglary, SP informed that on November 24, 2012, Rabindra Kumar Nayak, Vice Principal (Admin) of Kanak Manjari Institute of Pharmaceutical Science (KMIPS), Chhend had filed an FIR at Chhend PS that on the same day morning when they opened the office found the lock windows were broken along with inside office door and cash of Rs. 38.5 lakh cash was stolen from the office almirah. Basing on the report, the above referred case was registered and investigated into, Sinha added. On Janu

Rourkela: In an effort to make the Steel City free from criminal activities, the Rourkela Police administration today conducted a Police-Public awareness drive under the guidance of the newly appointed Superintendent of Police Amitendra Nath Sinha. According to Sinha, the awareness drive will be held in other part of the Rourkela Police district in order to create police-public friendliness attitude and policing network. This is the first such drive here after his joining. People from various walks of life attended the event at Gopabandhupali Police Outpost near Railway colony. The focus of the meeting was to ensure safety of the general public by equipping them with necessary means in combating crime by the police personnel. Denizens of Gopabandhupali and Madhusudanpali area informed the SP that most of the crimes relating to burglary, theft, gang-war, drug peddling and eve-teasing and vandalism are reported from their areas. The locals also informed

Rourkela: The district administration claimed to have successfully conducted the public hearing over environmental clearance for the 250 MW expansion project of NTPC-SAIL Power Company (NSPCL) while many people laid a condition that local workers and contractors should be engaged in construction work. In the meeting held yesterday, the locals urged ADM Rourkela Rabindranath Mishra to ensure that their condition should be taken care of. The ADM assured the people that the issues related to the expansion, which were discussed threadbare, would be well taken care of by the NSPCL authorities. The meeting was held at Udit Nagar Parade Ground here. Niranjan Mallick, Regional Officer of Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) was also present in the meeting attended by locals, environmental groups, local representatives, media representatives, lawyers, students and social activists. The ADM took note of valued suggestions, views, comments and objections from various

Rourkela: Tribals in Sundargarh district went on a dancing and singing spree as part of their celebration of Tusu Parab on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. It was observed with traditional fervour and enthusiasm. They worshipped Tusu Devi as per their tradition. The tribals believe Goddess Tusu Devi as Goddess Laxmi. Members of Munda Tamdia, Mochi and Oram communities of Jamsara gram panchayat kicked off the three-day Tusu festival yesterday. Janmajay Nag, president of Tamdia Samaj said that thatched houses have been decked up for the festival. “We are celebrating the festival in line with our ancestral tradition. Goddess Tusu Devi cares and protects the tribal community from evil influence and hardships,” said Nag. Young tribal girls carried Tusu Maa on their heads to the venue of festival venue in a grand procession amid beating of traditional drum beats while members of the community took a holy dip in Koel River on the auspicious day. Delicious festive food ite

Rourkela: With the removal of senior BJD leader and first chairman of Rourkela Development Authority (RDA) Dayanidhi Kisan from his post recently, Urban Development Minister Raghunath Mohanty has temporarily assumed the charge of the office. However, Sundargarh Collector Roopa Roshan Sahoo will continue as the vice-chairman of RDA. While the reason for Kisan’s removal by the party high command has not been made public, political analysts however, feel that it is a fallout of the ongoing tussle between Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and expelled BJD member and OJM chairman Pyarimohan Mohapatra. It may be mentioned that Kisan was appointed as the first chairman of RDA in 2010 following the decision of the party high command to appoint senior party leaders as head of corporations and semi-government bodies. Sources in the BJD said that Kisan had managed to get the coveted post by the influence of the then Minister and Rourkela MLA Sarada Nayak, known as a staunch suppor

Rourkela: Six out of 200 Community Colleges proposed by the Union Government across the country will be set up in Odisha. These projects will be implemented on a pilot basis. The Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) has communicated to the Department of Higher Education (DoHE) in this regard recently and has advised to identify the places immediately. Principal Secretary Higher Education, Gagan Kumar Dhal, has held talk with the district administrations in this regard, said sources. Community Colleges are a supplementary system of education aimed at empowering individuals through appropriate skill development leading to gainful employment in collaboration with the local industry and community. These colleges are a source of economic growth because they provide an educated and skilled work-force that improves the quality of life for individuals, students, communities, and the nation. Community Colleges are being set up on a pilot basis from Academic Session

Rourkela: The Women and Child Welfare Department in collaboration with the district administration and Rourkela Municipality successfully organized a camp for the differently-abled persons to provide them various benefits being provided by the government. These are disability certificates, related equipments, check-ups and identity cards. As many as 593 disabled persons turned for the camp. Christened as ‘Bhimabhoi Disabled Samarthya Sibira (BDSS)’, the camp was held at Town High School in Local Daily Market here today. The physically challenged persons categorized as Mental Retardation (MR), Cerebral Palsy (CP), Orthopedic Handicapped (OH), Visually Handicapped (VH) and Hearing Handicapped (HH) were registered so as to give them certificates, check health, disability pension, rail pass, bus pass and income certificate including Photography section for final result. For this, various counters were put up in different classrooms of the School in order to register and doi

Rourkela: Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) has started preparations for celebrating the 64th Republic Day of the Nation in a grand way. A preparatory meeting was held recently at the Civic Centre here under the chairmanship of J C Mohapatra, General Manager (Personnel) to chalk out the details of the celebrations. As per the programme, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RSP will unfurl the National Flag at Ispat Stadium and Sector-22 football ground. Contingents from various schools, colleges and other organizations will take part in the Republic Day parade at both the venues. The best performing contingents will also be awarded on this occasion. Mohapatra exhorted all the supporting departments to make the celebration of national importance a grand success. S K Basak, DGM (T&RM), P K Mishra, DGM (Town Services), C S Satpathy, AGM (Social Welfare), I Rout, Assistant Commandant (CISF) and representatives from various departments of RSP and Heads of different educational insti

Rourkela: The four-laning of Biramitrapur-Barcote National Highway-143 is hanging fire due to delay in land acquisition and forest clearance. The Central Government has made a budgetary allocation of Rs. 1300 crore for expansion of the NH-143, which entails construction of another bridge across Brahmani river. But the problem in land acquisition and delay in obtaining forest and environment clearance has made the Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry worried. Recently, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Dr. C P Joshi wrote a letter to Sundargarh MP Hemananda Biswal. Joshi stated that the State Government should take effective steps and actions in removing hurdles to expedite the work soon. Sources close to Sundargarh MP informed that the Union government has allocated a budget of Rs. 1300 crore for its first phase of the project which will be executed under phase IV-A of the National Highway Development Programme (NHDP) on DBFOT (Design Build Finance Operate a

Rourkela: In an attempt to glean best of talents and popularise the national sport in the district, the Central Adivasi Club (CAC) here has decided to organize ‘Sundargarh Rural Hockey Olympiad’ in which nearly 1000 teams, men and women, are likely to compete for top honours. Informing PBD about this mega rural hockey event, I Tirkey, President of CAC has said that former captain of Indian Hockey team, famous Olympian and Member of Rajya Sabha, Dilip Tirkey who chaired the preparatory meeting at NIT Guest House here recently will be the Chief Patron and Brahma Mishra, former Chairman of Steel Executive Federation of India and a former top executive of SAIL will be the Chairman of the organizing committee of the event. The mega event will kick-start on January 26 and shall be culminated on March 5, the birth anniversary of Biju Patnaik, said Tirkey adding that preliminary matches will be played at eight zonal centres identified in the district. The selection of the teams wil

Rourkela: The district administration today held a preparatory meeting at ADM office for smooth conduct of a week-long army recruitment rally which will commence from April 8 at Uditnagar Ground here. Colonel Manoj Mehta, Director Recruiting Officer, Army Recruitment Office, Sambalpur, Rourkela ADM Rabindranath Mishra, government officials and police officers deliberated on organisational issues for the upcoming rally. The administration discussed accommodation for candidates (approx 2000 daily), provision of mobile/temporary toilets, water facility, light facility at candidates’ camp, police deployment to prevent entry of touts, district magistrate to look after all officials not to interfere with recruiting process, placement of banners at important places to give information to candidates and strict policing to check anti social elements, touts, miscreant on strategic places like railways stations, bus stand and candidates camp and rally site. Mehta informed that