Bandh demanding basic amenities disrupts normal life in Malkangiri

BERHAMPUR: Day to day life was completely disrupted in Malkangiri town and some parts of South Odisha on Tuesday due to a bandh call given by the ‘Malkangiri Zilla Surakshya Samity (MZSS)'. They had given this call for five demands and apathy of administrative officials towards these demands. President of MZSS, G.Srinivas Rao said they would hold a meeting on Tuesday night to decide about their next course of action.

This bandh call in Malkangiri town had its impact throughout Malkangiri district. No vehicles travelled between the district headquarters town and other places of the district. Trips of passenger buses from all parts of Malkangiri district to outside were also cancelled as they had to pass through Malkangiri town.

The bandh call was complete in Malkangiri town. All government and private establishments remained closed. Educational institutions and banks were also closed. Protestors picketed and blocked road at several points at Malkangiri town. This bandh call had the support of all organisations of Malkangiri town including the Committee of Concerned Citizens (CCC), local bar association, traders' association and political leaders, said Mr. Rao.

Members of MZSS also demonstrated in front of the office of the Malkangiri Collector on Monday for these five demands. Mr. Rao said they opted for the bandh call as the Collector did not show concern regarding their demands to hold discussions with them about their demands.

The demands are mostly related to basic amenities. They allege that most roads in Malkangiri town are in extreme dilapidated condition and need renovation. They also want end of continuing undeclared power cuts in their area. They alleged that piped drinking water supply system was yet to be streamlined in Malkangiri town and they demanded proper supply of drinking water in their area. The agitators also demanded speedy completion of renovation and widening work of Malkangiri-Kalimela road which according to them is being delayed by the construction company that has taken the contract.

The most important demand of the agitators is related to the settlement of land records of all rural and urban pockets of the district. Source: The Hindu

Prof. Jayant Mohapatra appointed V-C of Berhampur University

Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare on July 24 appointed new Vice-Chancellor for Berhampur University. Professor Jayant Mohapatra, who is registrar of Berhampur University, would replace outgoing Vice-Chancellor Prof. B. K. Sahu whose tenure is ending on July 26. “Prof Mohapatra has been appointed for a period of three years. He is heading Department of Political Science of the university. Besides, he has assumed responsibilities in different capacities,” said a release issued by Raj Bhawan. It said the 52-year-old political science professor was an assessor of NAAC, Bangalore. According to the release, he had guided 13 scholars on various research projects producing 12 Ph.Ds. Transparency in administration will be my top priority. Emphasis will be given on quality education, said Prof. Mohapatra while speaking to mediapersons.

Berhampur University paid rich tributes to Dr.Norman Borlaug

BERHAMPUR: A seminar was organised in the Berhampur University campus (Bhanja Bihar) in memory of the great agricultural scientist & Nobel Laureate Dr.Norman Borlaug. It was organised by the Botany Department of the University to pay homage to the Nobel Laureate who played a catalytic role in the green revolution in India.
Students, research scholars and faculty members of the department of Botany paid rich tributes to Dr. Borlaug who passed away in Texas of America three days ago. The speakers described the life and research of this great agricultural scientist.
According to the professor and coordinator of Botany Department, B. B. Panda, he is considered the father of green revolution for his path-breaking research on mutation and breeding in wheat crop. His research was able to produce new disease resistant dwarf varieties of wheat plant.
These improved varieties of wheat helped in improving food security in India, Mexico, Pakistan and countries of Africa. He was awarded Nobel Prize for peace in 1970 for his contribution to increase food supply in the world. The speakers reminded his link with India by informing that he had been honoured with Padma Bibhusan. In 1986, Dr. Borlaug had established the World Food Prize and its first recipient in 1987 was his former Indian colleague Prof. M. S. Swaminathan.
The faculty of the department hoped that researches that are to be taken up in the University in near future would be homage to Dr. Borlaug’s efforts.
Courtesy: The Hindu