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Sewerage projects remain incomplete

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Source : The New Indian Express Date : 20.06.2009

Sewerage projects remain incomplete

 

BHUBANESWAR: Minister of State for Urban Development Badri Narayan Patra today informed the members in the Assembly that no sewerage project in any corporation, municipality or notified area council (NAC) has been completed.

Replying to a question from Rabi Narayan Nanda of the BJD, the Minister said a sewerage project of Rs 80.45 crore with assistance of National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) and State Government is under implementation in Puri by the Orissa Water Supply and Sewerage Board (OWSSB). It has been targeted to complete the project in 2009-10.

Similarly, a project of Rs 754.23 crore with financial assistance from the Twelfth Finance Commission (TFC), Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and State Government funds is being implemented in Bhubaneswar. The project is likely to be completed by 2012, he said.

The State Government has cleared a Rs 945.13 crore for drainage and sewerage system of Cuttack. This project will be funded by JICA. Selection process for a consultant for detailed engineering and design work is on. The project will be started after appointment of the consultant, he said.

A detailed project report is also under preparation by M/s Voyant Solutions Private Limited for a sewerage system in Dhenkanal town to be implemented under the national river conservation programme. The report will be completed by August, 2009, he said.

Steps are also being taken for a sewerage system in Rourkela town, he said, adding there is no proposal at present for a sewerage system for Jeypore town.

Last Updated on Saturday, 20 June 2009 15:36
 

Colony residents march to corporation office

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Source : The Hindu Date : 20.06.2009

Colony residents march to corporation office

Staff Reporter

KOLLAM: Residents of the Pullikada slum colony in the city marched to the Kollam City Corporation headquarters on Friday to register their protest against the alleged failure on the part of the civic body to repair the sheds in which they live. They said that with the arrival of the monsoon the sheds had started leaking, making life miserable for them.

On arriving in front of the Corporation office, the demonstrators made attempts to block the National Highway by squatting on the road. But following police intervention, they moved to the side and registered their protest by cooking their noon meal on the pavement. The demonstration was supported by Democratic Youth Federation of India activists.

Later they withdrew the demonstration when Mayor N. Padmalochanan assured them that the repair work would commence on Saturday

Last Updated on Saturday, 20 June 2009 14:19
 

Government releases Rs. 1 crore for ARDF

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Source : The Hindu Date : 20.06.2009

Government releases Rs. 1 crore for ARDF

Raviprasad Kamila

Foundation to work on two machines for areca farmers

— Photo: R. Ewarraj

MANPOWER CRISIS: An areca plantation near Mangalore.

MANGALORE: The State Government has released Rs. 1 crore to the city-based Arecanut Research and Development Foundation (ARDF) for research and development activities.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who inaugurated a conference on “future of arecanut” hosted by the foundation here on August 9, 2008, had announced that the Government would sanction Rs. 2 crore to the foundation.

He had said that the Government would examine if the foundation could be given recognition.

Now the foundation was managed by a trust under the auspices of the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative Ltd. (Campco).

S.R. Rangamurthy, executive trustee of the foundation and president of the Campco, told The Hindu on Friday that the Government released Rs. 1 crore a month ago. The Chief Minister said that the balance promised amount would be released once the foundation utilised the amount released.

He said the immediate priority of the foundation was to get two equipment for farmers.

One was to de-husk raw arecanut after harvesting and the other was to climb areca trees for spraying pesticides and harvesting.

Mr. Rangamurthy said that areca growers were facing acute shortage of workers. Skilled workers were needed for de-husking raw arecanut and to climb areca trees. All agriculture workers could not do that.

As areca growers had not taken to farm mechanisation in a big way, use of machinery would help farmers overcome shortage of skilled and unskilled workers.

He said the foundation was holding discussions with three companies to develop such equipment.

It would sign an agreement with the short-listed company for developing these equipment.

He said that in 2007, the foundation released to the market Pooga syrup and Pooga trim (powder) made of arecanut and other ingredients for medicinal use. Pooga in Sanskrit means arecanut. They were the results of research on alternative use of arecanut initiated by the foundation.

The foundation initiated the research through Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara Ayurveda Pharmacy, Udupi.

Badanaje Shankar Bhat, a Vitla-based arecanut researcher, gave preliminary formulations to the pharmacy to develop research.

Narayana Sharma of SDM Ayurveda Hospital, Udupi, and his team conducted the clinical trials and developed final formulation of the two medicines.

The syrup was used to treat respiratory-related allergies and to correct hunger-related problems. Pooga trim was used to reduce obesity and control diabetes.

Directorate of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISMH) had given licence for the commercial manufacture of two Ayurvedic medicines using white arecanut.

Mr. Rangamurthy said the foundation had to concentrate on launching value added arecanut products for mass consumption. Only then it would help many farmers as it would create a huge market for the produce.

Manchi Srinivasa Achar, trustee of the foundation and president of Puttur-based All India Areca Growers’ Association, told The Hindu that the foundation was thinking of data related to areca production, area under the crop and its movement in market.

Mr. Achar said the foundation was planning to have its own areca garden and separate premises to help research and development activities.

Last Updated on Saturday, 20 June 2009 08:39
 


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