They threatened that they would gherao the Odisha Legislative Assembly if no step is taken to make the Talcher medical college functional.
Hundreds of residents of Ghantapada Panchayat took out a rally that passed through the streets of the Talcher town before culminating at the Sub-Collector’s office. There, they took the matter up with the Sub-Collector and submitted a memorandum to him, which was addressed to the Chief Minister.
“Talcher being a coal-based mining town, we have been suffering from various diseases and the government is doing nothing to run the medical college. If no immediate step is taken, we would gherao the Odisha Legislative Assembly,” said Sunil Biswal, an aggrieved villager.
The medical college has been built and necessary equipment procured at the cost of Rs 1000 crore. With these equipment lying unused for around five years now, it is doubted that most of them might have damaged, the villagers alleged.
Once made functional, the medical college will strengthen the efforts of the State government to improve the capacity of the medical education institutions in the State besides helping the people of Angul and adjacent districts get quality health care facilities.
The Talcher medical college will not only help people of Angul and adjacent districts get quality health care facilities, but also strengthen the efforts of the State government to improve the capacity of the medical education institutions in the State.
While the Health and Family Welfare Department will run the medical college and hospital, MCL will provide the necessary funds.
The medical college, spread over 20 acres of land provided by the State government and constructed by MCL, will have 100 seats capacity admission per year and the hospital has facilities with 500 beds.
Notably, MCL had initially tried to operate the college and hospital through PPP mode. However, later MCL, based on conversation between the Union Minister of Coal and Chief Minister, had sent a proposal to the State government to take over the responsibility of operating the medical college and hospital.
As per police sources, Mohanty had been appointed as a sub inspector on a contractual basis after retiring from the army. On Thursday, as part of his work, Mohanty was assigned the responsibility of patrolling the highways.
However, around 3:30 AM, Mohanty in an inebriated state allegedly barged into the house of a woman and misbehaved with her. However, the woman residing in Angarua area under Talcher Police Limits, stealthily took a video of the incident.
Later, the woman lodged a complaint at Talcher Police Station against Mohanty, using the video as evidence. Upon receiving information, Talcher Police launched a probe and subsequently took Mohanty under arrest based on primary investigation of the case.
The criminal, identified as Badal Rout of Nalagunda village in Bhadrak has sustained bullet injuries in right thigh in the encounter. He was initially rushed to the Talcher hospital and later shifted to the SCB hospital in Cuttack after his condition deteriorated.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of special squad of Talcher police raided a place near Linagarj mines where Badal was planning to execute a robbery along with an associate. Finding police at the spot, Badal fired at them. In retaliation, cops fired back injuring him critically in the thigh. Several loot and dacoity cases are pending against Badal and police were on a lookout for him, said sources.
However, Badal's associate managed to escape taking advantage of the darkness.
On Sunday night, hardcore criminal Bilu Khan was arrested after an encounter near Derjang area in Angul district.
According to sources, the victim Goura Naik had turned down the demand of his 50-year-old son Gangadhar Naik and grandson 19-year-old Devbrat Naik when they asked him for some money. Irked over the refusal, both the accused lost their cool and attacked Goura with a sharp weapon.
The attack was so brutal that Goura's right eye was gouged out. Later, the elderly man succumbed. Subsequently, Talcher police arrested both the accused and seized Goura's body.
As per sources, Devbrat had been arrested several times in past in connection with multiple criminal cases and recently he was freed from jail.
Investigation is on, police sources said.
As per the complaint, while a group of students were discussing their demands for an offline exam, teacher of Mathematics department A. Roul suddenly arrived and questioned if they were involved in groupism. Suddenly Roul chased the students and thrashed some of them with a stick, informed sources.
Roul had earlier threatened students to fail them in exams if they do not abide by his directive, the complaint stated.
Students have been demanding offline exams instead of online.
Meanwhile, protesting the action of the teacher, the Talcher Yuva Chhatra Sangathan staged a dharna in front of the ITI College after locking the main gate. They also demanded stringent action against the Mathematics teacher.
As per latest reports, to prevent any untoward incident, police have been deployed on the college premises.
Titlagarh was the hottest place in Odisha with a maximum temperature of 42 degrees Celsius. Similarly, Bolangir recorded temperature of 41 degrees Celsius, Angul 40.7, Sonepur 40.6, Talcher 40.2, Jharsuguda 40.1 and Malkangiri 40 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar recorded maximum temperature of 37.4 and 38.4 degrees Celsius, respectively.
According to sources, the incident took place today morning near Kamakhyanagar police station when Pushpakant Sahu, a local trader, was hit by a truck from behind on NH-53, killing him on the spot. Sahu was reportedly out on a morning walk.
Irate over the incident, locals kept the body of the deceased on the Talcher-Jajpur road on NH-53 in protest following which hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on either sides of the highway.
Later, Kamakhyanagar police reached the spot and was seen pacifying the mob.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4S8wf4obZY
Talking to mediapersons after a meeting with Chief Secretary AP Padhi, CEO of the Talcher fertiliser plant JS Saini said, “The State government has assured us to approve the project through single window process,” adding the plant will be operational in February 2021.
Earlier the Union Fertiliser Ministry had asked the State to clear hurdles in land acquisition for laying down railway tracks and pipeline and take steps for waiver of the GST and stamp duty.
The chief secretary said requirements for the plant were discussed and the State has agreed to lend support.
The move has however, made the residents of seven mouzas hopeful of better economic condition after the plant becomes operational.
Nrusingha Charan Gochhayat, a local, said, “We demand Rs 50 lakh per acre compensation and a job for one family member of the displaced.”
Another local Dilip Kumar Sahu said, “During the public hearing, we demanded adequate compensation and employment for youth. We expect financial condition of residents will improve because of allied services.”
The plant has been shut by the Centre for more than 18 years now.
Apart from several pandals that have come up in all cities for celebrations, people almost in every house prayed Lord Ganesh for good health, wealth and prosperity.
Educational institutions across the State were no exception with students seen gathering in large numbers to offer their reverence.
Beginning today, the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations will continue for 12 days in most parts of the state including Khurda and Talcher.
An 18-ft Ganesh idol with 21 heads and 42 hands in Bhubaneswar has been the talk of the town and is expected to draw a large number of visitors.
In 2008, the MCL had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government to look after all necessary management and operation of the Institute. 20 acres of land was also allotted for the project and a budget of nearly Rs 500 crore was also allocated for the same. Later in 2015, the Chief Minister laid foundation stone for the 100-seater medical college and 500-bed super speciality hospital.
However, the MCL recently sent a notice to the state government informing it about its decision to step down from the deal.
“The civil construction of the medical college is almost over and finishing touch is being given to the institute. Other fitting works are continuing in main building and also in hostels and official quarters. We are going as per schedule. Our decision to step down from the deal has become a matter of debate. Discussions are underway and final decision will be taken,” L N Mishra, Director Personnel, MCL said.
On the other hand, local MLA said pressure will be put on the MCL to withdraw their decision. “All necessary clearances and permission from the Medical Council of India (MCI) and State's forest department are yet to be given to the institute. In coming days health minister will call for a meeting in which the MCL authorities will be pressurised to stick to the MoU,” Talcher MLA Brajakishore Pradhan said.
Meanwhile, district administration is hopeful that the medical college would be ready to intake admissions from the next academic session.
Earlier on Monday, the need for clean fuel that can substitute fossil fuels, cut import cost and is cheap was stressed by Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari in a high level meeting on bio-fuels and methanol. Many experts including NITI Aayog Member V.K. Saraswat who has been working on methanol-based fuel research were present in the meeting.
According to sources, the technology for making methanol from coal has not been commercially established in India. Methanol is a promising fuel also used in the West as well as China, but it is expensive for India to import gas.
India is presently importing methanol from Saudi Arabia and Iran. Indigenous production at present is very low as it is not cost effective due to import cost of natural gas. The best option is making methanol from coal.
Meanwhile, NITI Aayog is working on a roadmap for manufacturing methanol which can also be made from municipal solid waste.
"I am the witness of my sister's marriage. The wedding was held in both Puri and Bhubaneswar,” she said. After the marriage, both of them were staying in the official residence of the MLA, she alleged.
She also told the court that the legislator also paid Rs 1 lakh per month for her sister's maintenance.
The woman, who has been claiming to be the wife of Pradhan, last month ransacked official residence of the MLA. Pradhan was not present in his quarters when she vandalized flower pots and broke furniture.
Angul town recorded the highest temperature of 44.7 degree Celsius, followed by 44.5 degree at Balangir, 44.1 degree at Talcher and 44 degree at Jharsuguda, as reported by the regional office of Indian Metrological Department (IMD) here.
Sonepur also recorded a maximum temperature of 43.8 degree Celsius while the mercury hovered between 43 and 43 degree Celcius at Titlagarh, Hirakud and Sambalpur respectively.
Similarly Bhubaneswar recorded a maximum temperature at 36.6 degree and Cuttack sizzled at 35 degrees. The temperature in several parts of the State is expected to rise further in coming days, added IMD sources.
As per sources, the Central Pollution Control Board in 2009-10 had earlier identified Talcher-Angul among the critical polluted category cities and as a result local industries were asked to work out special action plans so that pollution could be strategically reduced.
Though the administration claims that the level of pollution has decreased, in real sense it has stayed more of the same and rather intensified over the past years after 2009, sources said.
A layer of coal dust spreads over the entire city blackening everything from roof of house to trees. Locals have been demanding water sprinkler vehicle and road sweeper system to work on a regular basis but have also shown dissatisfaction over the working procedure of the local administration and pollution control board.
“Due to sever pollution lungs, skin diseases have started to spread in the area. With the onset of summer the situation is likely to worsen as dust and smoke pollution is likely to intensify. The district administration has never ever shown concern towards this aggrieved situation which is very saddening,” a local said.
They city denizens also threatened to stage protests against the indifferent attitude of the government. “A mass scale agitation will be organised and government will be apprised about the degrading condition of our environment,” Amiya Tripathy an intellectual said.
When asked about the situation, administration said they are looking into the problems. “The situation is going to improve a lot in next few days. Road sweepers are always working in the area to contain the pollution. Very few trucks transport coal openly because most of them are ensured with covering. If any instances of open transport come into our view then we will take action,” Shyamabhakta Tripathy, Talcher Sub Collector said.
Talking to media persons here, Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said “We had prepared a station diary and begun investigation after receiving complaint from the victim. In course of investigation, it was found that the allegation made by the victim against Pradhan comes under the section 493 of IPC which is a non-cognizable offence. Since this is a non-cognizable offence, police is not authorised to register a case,” he added.
The DCP, however, said the Commissionerate Police would help and advise the victim to move appropriate forum to redress her grievances.
Notably, the victim had lodged a complaint against the MLA at the Mahila Police Station here few weeks back claiming to be his wife. She had alleged that though Pradhan had married her in a temple, he is unwilling to accept her of late.
The woman also lodged a complaint at Mahila Police Station here alleging that the legislator is refusing to give her social status as wife even after she married him at a temple on April 5, 2015 as per rituals.
Moreover, the complainant has also alleged that that she was also given life threats by the MLA and his supporters.
Accusing the MLA of physically torturing her, the woman said that she has all evidences to substantiate her claim.
He has been beating me up and physically harassing me. He is also threatening to kill me if I divulge the matter to anyone. He takes me to his Bhubaneswar house," said the complainant.
The social media chats obtained revealed certain intimate discussions and even though the number is yet to be verified whether they belong to the legislator or not, the chat boards did have some pictures of the MLA.
On the other hand, the legislator refuted the claims saying, "While I was in Bhubaneswar, she came to meet me seeking help for his family members. She has taken assistance from me for 3-4 times. This is a conspiracy to defame me. If one gets repaid like this for helping someone, then I have nothing to say."
The court will hold the next hearing after two weeks, Soumendra's counsel Dharanidhar Nayak said.
Apprehending arrest, brother of the Union minister had filed an anticipatory bail petition in the High Court after vigilance registered a case against four cooking gas dealers including him on charges of black marketing of LPG.. Cases were filed under sections 120(B), 420 of IPC and sections 7 & 8 of Indian Explosives Act.
Two days after the raid, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had said his brother was not above the law. “No one including my brother is above the law. The law should take its own course in this case too,” he had said.
“The state government has the rights to undertake raids. As the minister of the petroleum and natural gas department, I would like to say that action should be taken if it feels that wrong has been committed by my brother or whosoever it is,” the union minister had added.
Bhubaneswar: Political bickering today gained momentum after the vigilance conducted a raid at a gas agency owned by the brother of Union Minister and Senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan at Handidhua in Talcher.
BJP general Secretary Prithviraj Harichandan demanded the vigilance should not take a wrong step while coming under any pressure.
Harichandan alleged, “As there have been instances of several baseless cases like Prakash Mishra matter in the past, the raid at the gas agency is not a new thing for the BJD government.”
He further stated, “If the vigilance has any prima facie evidence, it should follow the appropriate legal process.”
Refuting the charges of any political motive behind the vigilance raid, Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy said, “Everyone knows what and why the vigilance is taking such steps. Wherever there will be any irregularities, raids will be undertaken.”
Alleging BJP and BJD are utilising power in a wrong way, Senior Congress leader Sarat Rout said, “They can’t stand each other. The ruling party in the State is using vigilance as per its convenience whereas BJP is utilising the CBI to settle political scores.”
Earlier in the day, a team led by Vigilance SP SK Parida searched the gas agency owned by Soumendra Pradhan, the brother of the Union Minister, at around 10 am and examined the documents.
Meanwhile, the sleuths conducted raids at several fuel pumps across the State.
Vigilance DSP HN Pati said, “We were checking the oil measurement at the petrol pumps and matching with the display placed by them. Besides, stock, quality, density of the petrol and diesel were checked.”
Also read: DA case: Vigilance conducts raids across State
“Samples of petrol, diesel and lubricants collected from the fuel pumps will be sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for quality test and action will be taken on basis of the report from the laboratory,” the Vigilance DSP added.
Eyebrows were raised when vigilance raid was undertaken at the Union Minister’s gas agency in Talcher whereas other searches across the State were restricted to fuel pumps only.
Some are of opinion that today’s vigilance raid is BJD’s answer to the CBI raid on party MPs and MLAs in connection with the chit-fund scam ahead of panchayat polls.
According to a Met release this evening, Daringbadi recorded 4.3 degrees, the lowest temperature in the state this year. Apart from Daringbadi, cold wave conditions continued to sweep elsewhere in the Kandhamal district disrupting normal life in Phulbani, G Udayagiri, Balliguda, Kotagarh and Tumudibandha blocks.
Apart from Daringbadi, temperature came down to below 10 degrees in Phulbani (5), Koraput (9.4), Bolangir (9.5), Bhawanipatna (6.8), Talcher (8.7), Hirakud (8.2), Sundargarh (6.5), Sambalpur (8.5), Jharsuguda (9.8) and Angul (8).
Apart from this, temperature remained under 15 degrees Celsius in Balasore (14.2), Chandbali (15), Gopalpur (14.3), Baripada (14.2), Keonjhar (11.4), Titlagarh (10.5), Malkangiri (12.6), Sonepur (10.8) and Dhenkanal (13).
Besides, the twin city of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar recorded 12.8 and 13.1 degrees Celsius respectively.
Talking to OTV today, Director, Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, Dr Sarat Chandra Sahu said temperature in some parts of north Odisha districts will have a marginal fall as there is a possibility of light rainfall in these areas in the next 24 hours. However, there will be no significant change in the weather conditions till next week up to December 31, he added.
According to a Met release this evening, temperature went down to the lowest in Phulbani at 6.6 degree Celsius followed by Daringbadi (8), Angul (8.6), Sundargarh (9), Bhawanipatna (9.2) and Sambalpur (9.7). People in these areas were seen basking around the fire in groups to keep them warm against the biting cold.
In Phulbani, shops and business establishments are closed by late evening as people prefer to remain inside their house due to intense cold.
Besides, temperature remained below 15 degree Celsius in Balasore (12.5), Chandbali (13.4), Baripada (11), Jharsuguda (10.4), Keonjhar (11.1), Hirakud (10.2), Talcher (13.3), Bolangir (10.7), Koraput (11.6), Titlagarh (12) and Sonepur (12.4).
The twin city of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar recorded 12.6 and 14.2 degree Celsius respectively.
The Met department had earlier predicted that the cold wave will return in the next 72 hours with the blowing of northerly wind from the Himalayan region towards east and central India after the moisture, which was in the upper atmosphere due to the Cyclone Vardah, is dried off.
It has also predicted that there will be further slump in the night temperature in next seven days as the weather will remain dry and clear during the period.
The deceased was identified as Diptesh Behera. The incident took place when he was going to tuition on his bicycle and hit by the truck. Behera died on the spot.
Angry over the incident, some locals staged road blockade by burning tyres at Balhar Chhak demanding compensation for the family of the deceased. They also demanded that plying of trucks in the area be stopped during daytime.
Transport services from Banarpal to Talcher and Palhada was disrupted due to the road blockade.
“I hope that within 2-3 months - tentatively by November - we would lay the foundation stone for the revival of the plant, which would run on coal-to-liquid technology. The plant would be a blessing for the farmers of our country. To ensure the coal gasification technology for the plant, we had a review meeting here today,” Kumar told media persons after the meeting.
The Union minister also said the ministry of Fertilisers and Chemicals, ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, ministry of Coal and ministry of Energy are jointly working for the revival of the plant.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who was also present in the meeting, informed the media that a joint venture company has been formed in the name of Talcher Fertiliser Company. “I hope that the coal gasification technology for the plant will be finalised in a couple of months after which Engineers India Ltd (EIL) would be roped in for project management coordination. The ministry would then float tenders for the renovation work of the plant. Efforts are on to complete the tendering process and lay the foundation stone for the revival of the plant in the current fiscal,” Pradhan added.
Of the annual requirement of 80 lakh metric tonnes of urea fertiliser in the country, the Talcher plant will produce 13 lakh metric tonnes per annum.
According to sources, the blockade has adversely affected coal production at all mines of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL).
Transportation of coal to Nalco and NTPC has also come to a halt due to the 48-hour economic blockade launched by the local group in the coal town, the sources added.
The blockade has also affected normal life with schools, colleges, government and private offices and businesses remaining closed. Some agitating members of the protesting body were also seen staging protests in front of TTPC and MCL offices.
The strike has been called demanding fulfillment of demands including the revival of the Talcher fertiliser plant, construction of a dedicated coal corridor, implementation of rehabilitation policy and commencement of classes at Talcher Medical College from 2016.
Notably, the stir, which began at 5 am on Monday, will continue till 5 am on Wednesday.
Prominent among the outfit's demands are commencement of classes at the local medical college from this year, revival of Talcher fertilizer plant, rehabilitation of people affected by industrialization and setting up of a special coal corridor in the area.
The stir, which began today at 5AM will continue till 5 AM on August 31.
The coal laden truck (OR-19-k-6389) coming from Talcher to Banrapal hit the passenger laden mini vehicle (OR-19-M-1309) killing seven passengers on the spot. Two passengers succumbed to injuries later. The truck driver fled spot soon after mishap.
Irate locals blocked the road following the accident and demanded adequate compensation to victims' families. They also demanded restriction on plying of heavy carriers vehicles in day time on the same road.
"We demand Rs 20 lakh compensation for the families of all the victims. The narrow road is the main cause of accident. So, we demand the road to be widened", an angry local said.
Meanwhile, police reached the spot and seized the vehicles. All the bodies were also seized for post mortem.
We are trying to identify deceased. Efforts are on to pacify the irate mob and clear the road”, Inspector-in-charge of Banrapal police station Subhrakant Mallik said.
The deceased have not been identified till the last report came in.
Sources said, the fire which was noticed by labourers of the stockyard three days back, is yet to be brought under control.
“The MCL is busy celebrating mines safety week and thousands of tonnes of coal have been reduced to ashes at the yard. This shows how the authorities are serious about the safety and security of the coal mines,” said Bajrang Agrawal, a mines worker.
“The authorities must take immediate action to douse the fire. But who will bell the cat?” asked he.
Meanwhile, the MCL officials have rejected such a claim.
“It is a regular phenomenon and we have been dealing with such situations on a regular basis,” Sanjay Jha, project officer, Lingaraj stockyard said.
The proposed medical college will have an intake capacity of 100 students and spread across 28 acre of land. MCL will spend Rs 492.62 crore to set up the college, sources said.
The MoU was signed by general manager (CSR) B.B. Mishra for MCL and V.K. Goel, general manager (Civil), NBCC, in the presence of MCL's CMD A.N. Sahay.
The medical college to be set up on 20 acres of land in Talcher coalfields area will have academic and residential blocks with 300-bedded boys' hostel, 200-bedded girls' hostel, interns' and nurses' hostel.
The existing 115-bedded Nehru Shatabadi Central Hospital of MCL in Talcher will be upgraded to 500 beds for the upcoming Medical College.
The maximum temperature in Bhubaneswar which stood at 35.8 degrees Celsius yesterday, jumped to 40.6 degree C, while in neighbouring Cuttack the mercury soared to 38.5 degree celsius from 35.5 deg C, the MeT office here said.
Despite a drop in temperature in many areas including the western region, the mercury breached the 40-degree mark in at least eight places and Angul town became the hottest place in the state recording 42.1 degrees Celsius, it said.
Talcher was a close second to Angul recording 41.8 degrees Celsius, while it was 41.2 degrees Celsius in Jharsuguda, 40.8 degrees Celsius in Sonepur, 40.5 degrees Celsius in Bhawanipatna, 40.1 deg C at Hirakud and 40 degree Celsius at Titlagarh, it said.
Sunstroke has claimed at least three lives in the state this summer so far with casualties reported from Bargarh, Angul and Balangir districts, the Special Relief Commissioner's office said.
Bhubaneswar: Searing heat persisted in western Odisha with Balangir becoming the hottest place in the state recording 43 degree celsius today, even as a nor'wester brought respite in the coastal region.
The mercury breached the 40-degree mark in at least eight places in the state as Titlagarh, also in Balangir district, recorded a maximum temperature of 42.8 degree celsius, the Met office here said.
Sonepur recorded maximum temperature of 42.4 degree celsius, followed by 42 degree at Bhawanipatna, 41.1 degree at Angul town, 40.4 degree celsius at Jharsuguda, 40.2 degree celsius at Talcher and 40 degree celsius at Phulbani, it said.
Thundersquall and rain due to a nor'wester occurred in some parts of coastal belt and adjoining areas. Following this Bhubaneswar recorded maximum temperature of 35.5 degrees, while in Cuttack city the mercury stood at 35 degree celsius.
Two sunstroke deaths have so far been reported in the state, one each from Bargarh and Angul district, according to the office of the Special Relief Commissioner.
Talcher: Two school students drowned while taking bath in Brahmani river at Talcher in Angul district today.
The 11th standard students of the DAV School in MCL Jagannath area drowned after being pulled by strong current in the river while taking bath at Paschimeswar Ghat, police said.
Dense fog enveloped the skyline over the state capital of Bhubaneswar and surrounding areas during the morning hours leading to poor visibility that affected vehicular movement for some time. The capital city recorded a minimum temperature of 16 degrees Celsius compared to 15.1 degrees Celsius registered yesterday, the MeT office said.
Bhawanipatna, the district headquarters town of Kalahandi, turned out to be the coldest place in the state with mercury settling at 6.7 degrees Celsius.
However, Kandhamal which had been the coldest zone in the state, warmed up a bit with the district headquarter town of Phulbani recording a minimum 9.5 degrees Celsius as against 5.6 degrees Celsius measured yesterday.
The mercury stood at 7 degrees Celsius at the picturesque Daringbadi in the hilly district, the MeT office said.
The minimum temperature remained below 10 degrees Celsius in at least six places in the state.
The minimum temperature at Sundargarh stood at 8.5 degrees Celsius, while it was 9.3 and 9.6 degrees Celsius at Hirakud and Talcher respectively.
Hundreds of local residents blocked main roads in the town and staged picketing at several places demanding immediate intervention of the district administration to look into their concerns. Due to the bandh, vehicular communication and businesses were affected.
According to sources, family of one Santilata Bai living near the town police station in the city found their house shaking yesterday evening and before they could think whether it was an earthquake a crater developed on the floor of their house. Much to the surprise, within few hours the hole deepened into a 4-feet crater.
Locals alleged that authorities of the Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) had not filled the now defunct Champapasi underground coal mines with sand due to which the crater is suspected to have developed.
This is not the first such incident in the town. Earlier, a road going towards Lingaraj underground mines had caved near the Sai Temple. Similarly, Hataota, Nabamishra Colony and Handidhuan area had also witnessed such incidents of crater developments.
In 2016, the district administration had cautioned the MCL authorities to ensure sand filing of unused underground coal mines after a road caved in near Handidhuan.
Local residents allege that despite repeated complaints, neither officials of the district administration nor the MCL authorities are addressing their concerns.
As part of their drive to check illegal mining and smuggling, police have been conducting several raids in the district. Acting on a tip-off, police officials along with Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) staff busted the unauthorized depots, informed sources.
Sources said police have handed over the seized coal to the General Manager of Lingaraj coal mines.
Further investigation in this connection with the matter is underway.
An elderly man was trampled to death by a tusker in Deulabeda area of Talcher. The deceased identified as Kedar Nath Prasad was standing near his house when the tusker allegedly attacked and killed him on the spot.
Locals alleged that two tuskers strayed into Gurujang village near the Talcher town from Mahabiroad forest range on February 28 and damaged crops and houses in the area. It is believed that one of the two tuskers attacked Kedar Nath today.
After receiving information, forest and police personnel rushed to the spot and tried to drive away the tusker. The administration officials also reached the spot and handed over compensation cheque to the family of the victim.
In Dhenkanal, another elderly man was trampled by an elephant today. The deceased, Dayanidhi Sahu (65) was attacked by the pachyderm while he was on his way to village pond to take bath. Following this, locals blocked the National Highway-55 disrupting the vehicular movement. A woman also sustained grievous injuries after being attacked by an elephant in the locality.
Meanwhile in Sundergarh, a seven-year-old died after a wall collapsed when an elephant tried to enter a house in Baraghat village under Bonai forest range late last night.
Family sources said that the pachyderm tried to enter their house to eat paddy kept in the house during which a portion of the wall collapsed on the child who was fast asleep. The child was rushed to the hospital where doctors declared him dead.
As per latest reports, a team of Forest personnel has reached the spot to launch an operation to drive away the elephant.
Talcher recorded highest 43.1 degree C followed by Titlagarh with 43 degree C.
Similarly, Angul recorded 41.7 degree C, Bhawanipatna-42.5, Bolangir-42, Jharsuguda-40.9, Sonepur-40.8, Sambalpur-40.1, Sundergarh-40, Bhubaneswar & Cuttack recorded maximum temperature of 39.5 and 38.6 degree C respectively.
On Friday, nine districts in Odisha recorded temperature above 40 degree Celsius. While Bolangir recorded the highest temperature at 42.2 degree Celsius, Angul & Talcher sizzled at 42.1 degree Celsius.
Talcher recorded the highest temperature at 43.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Angul which recorded 43.7 degrees Celsius. The mercury stood at 43 degrees Celsius in western Odisha town Titlagarh.
The maximum day temperature at Jharsuguda and Bolangir touched 42.6 degrees Celsius and 42 degree Celsius, respectively. Sambalpur and Hirakud recorded 41.1 degrees Celsius, the regional meteorological centre said.
The mercury touched 40.1 degree Celsius at Keonjhar, 40.8 degree at Bhawanipatna and Malkangiri, 40.5 degree Celsius at Sundargarh and 40 degree Celsius at Sonepur.
The capital city Bhubaneswar recorded a maximum of 39.6 degrees Celsius, while the mercury touched 39 degrees in the neighbouring city of Cuttack.
The meteorological centre predicted that there will be no significant change in maximum temperature in most parts of the state for the next couple of days.
Panic gripped Sandha village after an elephant trampled three persons of a family to death. One Kalia Saaar along with his two-year-old daughter Anita and his cousin Sarathi who also happens to be a minor were trampled by the jumbo while they were sleeping on their verandah in the village. The deceased were residents of Pallahara Govindpur area and had come to Talcher to work as daily labourers at a brick kiln.
Following the incident, another woman (35) in the neighbouring house was also killed by the pachyderm while she was sleeping in front of her house.
Later, the elephant also allegedly trampled Bramarabar Samal, an elderly man to death at nearby Santhapada village.
Informed, the forest officials reached the spot and provided Rs 40,000 as immediate assistance for the family of the deceased Kalia Saaar and assured to provide them ex-gratia of Rs 3, 60,000.
Efforts are on to drive away the wild elephant into deep jungle, informed a forest official.
The Chief Minister accused the Centre of hatching a conspiracy to stop KALIA scheme and targeted it over coal royalty.
"Centre is getting crores of rupees in terms of revenue from coal royalty while Odisha only gets dust and pollution," Patnaik said during a public meeting in Talcher adding that BJP leaders are only visiting the State but have not done anything for the people of the State.
In his address, CM Naveen highlighted different schemes of State government and said that he will serve the 4 crore people of Odisha till his last breath.
Other than Titlagarh, Bolangir too recorded temperature above 46 degree Celsius today. The maximum temperature recorded in the city stood at 46.3 degree Celsius.
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, Talcher recorded a temperature of 45.7 degree Celsius, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur recorded 45.2 deg C, Sonepur, Hirakud, Bhawanipatna and Angul recorded temperatures of 44.8 deg C, 44.5 deg C, 44.3 deg C and 44.1 deg C respectively.
Temperature stood at 39.5 degree Celsius in capital city Bhubaneswar while Cuttack recorded 40.5 degree Celsius. Met sources have claimed that heat wave condition will prevail in the Western parts of Odisha for the next 48 hours.
Temperature is likely to remain 2 to 3 degree Celsius above normal in several parts of Sambalpur, Hirakud, Bargarh, Nuapada, Jharsuguda Deogarh and Bolangir in the next two to three days, informed meteorologist Sudarshan Mishra.
According to sources, Kailash was killed after being hit by a heavy vehicle on the premises of the mine late Monday night. After learning about the death of Kailash, his colleagues and other labourer groups of the mine resorted to a demonstration today morning. The security staffs have also detained the in-charge of the security agency of the coal mine.
Apart from demanding adequate compensation for family members of Kailash, the protesters have also demanded job for one of his family members in the coal mine.
Due to the dharna, coal mining activities has come to a standstill at the mine. Police have reached the mining site and are trying to restore normalcy by pacifying the irate employees.
No comments could be obtained from the authorities of the mine in connection with the incident.
As per reports, a joint team of NDRF and MCL's mine rescuers retrieved a severed hand and some other parts of a person’s body from the debris. However, as the full body is yet to be traced, it is unclear whether the body parts recovered today was that of security guard Ramesh Das who has been missing after the mishap.
The rescue team had recovered bodies of two trapped miners from the rubble yesterday while the first body was found from the landslide site on Wednesday.
"We are hopeful that the body of fourth missing person will be recovered as the rescue operation is going on. This apart, the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) is inquiring the incident," Paresh Chandra Nayak, sub collector of Talcher said adding that the mining activity has been stopped due to a strike by BJP activists at the mine.
It is pertinent to mention that BJP has been observing strike at all the coal mines of MCL and in front of its General Manager office for past three days following the mishap.
Meanwhile, MCL's chairman-cum-managing director today suspended the Senior manager (mining) and manager of Bharatpur OCP, VK Singh with immediate effect for their alleged negligence over the incident.
It may be noted that three persons have been recovered dead while nine others injured were rescued following a landslide due to blasting for coal exploration at the open cast mine of MCL in Bharatpur on Tuesday.
MCL officials said they are examining the situation before taking any decision on resumption of operations.
"We have decided to withdraw the agitation following talks with the administration and company officials," BJP state unit secretary Kalindi Samal told reporters here.
Samal, who spearheaded the stir crippling production in all coal mines in Talcher, said the concerned authorities have promised adequate compensation to the families of those killed in the mishap and safety measures in mining operations.
Talcher coalfields on an average produces 2.1 lakh tonne of coal per day. Production came to a grinding halt from July 24 evening following the accident at Bharatpur Open Cast Project (OCP) in which four workers were killed and nine injured, an MCL Spokesperson said.
While total loss of production and despatch of coal due to work stoppage is estimated over 14 lakh tonne, the quantum loss to the company till today (Wednesday) has been estimated at Rs 149.64 crore and total loss to the state and Central exchequer is estimated to be around Rs 96.86 crore, the spokesperson claimed.
Four workers were killed and nine others injured in the mishap at Bharatpur mine on July 23 night, triggering protest by political parties and others.
BJP activists had launched an agitation demanding a compensation of Rs 50 lakh for families of each deceased.
The agitation stalled coal production in all mines of Talcher Coalfields, said an official.
Due to forced closure of mines, the company has not been able to produce or dispatch coal and no overburden has been removed during these days, the MCL spokesperson said.
This stoppage of work in Talcher coalfields has resulted in huge power generation loss, he claimed.
MCL, a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd, was diverting two rakes of coal from Ib Valley Coalfields to NTPC, Kaniha, efforts have also been made to divert one rake coal from Basundhara Area under Ib Valley Coalfields to NALCO, for which the aluminum company has been requested to arrange rake from the railways, he said.
The MCL had already announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the family of the deceased, along with gratuity, provident fund, full compensation as per the Employees Compensation Act and benefits under the Coal Mines Pension Scheme, the spokesperson said.
The state government has also provided Rs five lakh ex-gratia each to the families of the deceased.
Though bodies of three labourers were pulled out of the rubble following the landslide, whereabouts of a missing security guard Ramesh Das is yet to be known.
The authorities of MCL had said that four workers were killed and nine others were injured in the accident at Bharatpur mine.
Meanwhile, coal mining and despatch operations continued to remain paralysed at the Talcher Coalfields of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) for the 13th day due to the agitation by the locals following the mishap.
Following this, power generation has been affected as power producers are facing coal shortage.
The agitating locals are demanding a safety inspection of the entire Talcher Coalfields along with a high-level probe into the incident and adequate compensation to the families of the deceased.
MCL, with 144 million tonne coal production in 2018-19, is the second-largest coal producing subsidiary of Coal India Limited, contributing 20 per cent to the total dry fuel produced in the country.
As per reports, to bring the pollution levels under control, a blueprint under the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) guidelines has been prepared. Apart from that, Odisha government will enforce a complete ban on single-use plastics from October 2.
Speaking on the sidelines of the foundation day ceremony, Odisha Forest and Environment Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha said, "Discussions were held today on how a pollution-free environment can be created for citizens. I am hoping to get the support of Odisha residents in making the state plastic free."
Member Secretary of State Pollution Control Board, Debidutta Biswal, said, "There needs to be a change in the attitude of people when it comes to use of plastic. Only after creating awareness on its disastrous consequences, people will start avoiding use of plastic."
The State Forest and Environment Minister had informed on Tuesday that single-use plastic products will be banned in all NACs, municipalities and Municipal Corporation limits across the State from October 2.
The stir occurred at Talcher coalfields over the demand of local residents for Rs 60,000 as compensation for the death of the goat, killed in an accident with a coal transportation tipper, the MCL said in a statement.
A mob led by some residents of a neighbouring village halted coal transportation and despatch work at Jagannath Sidings number 1 and 2 at Talcher coalfields from 11 am on Monday, it said.
Work resumed only at 2.30 pm after the intervention of senior officials and the police, the statement said.
This three-and-half-hour illegal stoppage of work caused an estimated loss of Rs 1.4 crore on account of coal transportation to the sidings and Rs 1.28 crore on account of despatch through the Railways, the release said.
Besides the estimated loss of Rs 2.68 crore, the government exchequer also suffered a loss of Rs 46 lakh due to this stoppage of work, it said.
The company has lodged an FIR with the local police station for necessary action against those responsible for the illegal obstruction of work, the statement said.
Such illegal obstructions to coal mining operations not only act against the economic growth of the nation but also create hurdles to the country's aspiration of becoming a five trillion dollar economy, an MCL spokesperson said in the statement.
Coal mines are restricted working zones where only people who are authorised, trained and have the know-how of the mines are allowed to enter to perform their job while general movement is totally prohibited, he said.
However, some people from the peripheral localities are deliberately trespassing into the coal mine and the overburden areas to pick coal, firewood and are even bringing their livestock for grazing, which remains a cause of concern, he added.
Even as the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) value for Odisha has been estimated at around 0.8-0.9, which is almost at par with Delhi's AOD, the air quality index (surface air) of Odisha looks far healthier than Delhi.
As per the data available with State Polution Control Board, the air quality index of Bhubaneswar on Saturday is estimated at around 80, which is however not good quality or termed as of moderate quality, whereas the AQI of Delhi is put at 188, which is considered poor.
Odisha's most polluted place has been Brajarajnagar with an AQI value of 102 at 4 PM today.
However, a detailed look shows that, though, Bhubaneswar has low PM 2.5 and PM 10 than Delhi, the CO (Carbon Monoxide) in Bhubaneswar air has been far higher than Delhi. While the CO in Delhi Air today has been estimated at 49 microgram/m3, whereas the CO in Bhubaneswar air is measured at 241microgram/m3.
The PM2.5 in Bhubaneswar is 33 micrograms/m3, whereas it is measured higher at 128 micrograms/m3 in Delhi. The values for Semilipada (Angul) have been 23 micrograms/m3, which is better than the Capital city.
The CO level in Brajrajnagar and Talcher has been measured at 99 and 72 micrograms/m3, respectively, today.
The O3 (Ozone concentration) in the City air is less than Delhi. When the value for Delhi has been estimated at 108 micrograms/m3, it's at 87 micrograms/m3 in the Temple town today.
The values for Brarajnagar and Talcher have been 5 and 15 micrograms/m3, respectively.
A look at the pollutants in Bhubaneswar air shows how the vehicular pollution, especially the combustion of fossil fuels like petrol & diesel, is playing havoc with the City air much worse than Delhi.
The reason: the City air has higher CO and O3, which are the harmful by-products of combustion of fossil fuels like petrol and diesel.
This Ozone pollutant is formed in the lower atmosphere, when exhausts from cars react chemically to form ozone compound that is very harmful. In scientific terms, it is being known as bad Ozone to distinguish with ozone layer in the upper atmosphere, and for the conservation of which, climate summits are organised every year in UN.
Even, the air of India's commercial capital Mumbai looks better than the silver city and Odisha's commercial city Cuttack in 2018.
In almost serving a warning to the State, the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) Annual report - 2018 has put the glare on the evolving trend of high air pollution in major cities in Odisha.
However, what the CPCB has revealed seems to be a tip of the iceberg. Because, the air pollution data of State's top cities released by CPCB didn't disclose the concentration of PM2.5 in Odisha air.
PM2.5 pollutants are described as fine pollutant particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs. High PM2.5 concentration is very harmful for human health. And private agencies like Skymet have measured the PM2.5 in Odisha cities as 'hazardous'.
As per the CPCB 2018 report, when Cuttack and Rourkela figured among the top polluted cities in Odisha along with Angul and industrial town Talcher and Kalinganagar, the annual concentration of air pollutants in the smart city Bhubaneswar looks no better.
While the annual PM10 level in Cuttack air is measured at 114 micrograms/m3, the NO2 is measured at 34 micrograms/m3 and SO2 at 4 micrograms/m3, the PM10 pollutant in air of smart city Bhubaneswar is gauged at 99 micrograms/m3, SO2 at 2 micrograms/m3 and NO2 at 17 micrograms/m3.
It needs mentioning here that as per the National Ambient Air Quality (NAAQ) standards, the annual concentration of PM10 should not exceed 60 micrograms/m3. But the level of PM10 in Odisha is far higher than the NAAQ norms.
Why higher PM10 is considered harmful? The size of these pollutants is less than 10 microns. Such smaller size has potential to penetrate into lungs, therefore more dangerous.
The levels of PM10, NO2 and SO2 in steel city Rourkela are evaluated higher at 108, 14 and 8 micrograms/m3, respectively.
Sample how the air in bigger cities is cleaner. Take the case of Mumbai, the commercial capital of India. Here when the pollutants like NO2 and SO2 in Mumbai air are measured at 21 and 2 micrograms/m3, respectively, the PM10 level is measured at 166 micrograms/m3.
The comparison shows Mumbai has only higher PM10 concentration than Cuttack.
However, the air of garden city Bangalore looks much cleaner. Here the PM10 level is measured at 90 micrograms/m3, NO2 at 30 micrograms/m3 and SO2 at 2 micrograms/m3. Similar is the air of Raipur, Indore and Chandigarh. The air there is much cleaner than Odisha's three topmost cities.
As per reports, the minor girl named Shalini was taken to a private clinic by her parents, Niranjan Behera and Sumitra Behera at Gopalprasad in Talcher when she complained of illness.
During treatment, one of the clinic staff administered an injection to Shalini which allegedly broke leaving the needle stuck inside her body.
The doctor reportedly assured the girl’s parents by saying that the needle would automatically get out from her body after some time. But to the despair of Shalini, the needle never got out from her body and the pain gradually increased to unbearable proportions.
Both Niranjan and Sumitra then reportedly took her to another private clinic at Angul where the doctors operated on Shalini but couldn’t remove the needle from her body. Dejected, they again tried their luck in a Private hospital at Bhubaneswar but failed again.
Despite four months of moving from pillar to post, the parents of the girl have been unable to get her out of this health hazard.
Narrating Shalini’s ordeal, her grief-stricken mother said, “She is suffering a lot and is not even able to sleep in the night due to unbearable pain in her lower back.”
Saying that the family has spent whatever they had got for the treatment of the girl, local residents of the area have urged the government to provide some assistance.
Speaking to the media, Talcher Additional Collector said, “We had contacted SCB Hospital regarding the surgery, but the equipment used for this kind of surgery had malfunctioned. We will make arrangements for her operation at Cuttack once again.”
Earlier in October this year, three-year-old boy also had to face such an incident while he was administered injection by a nurse at Madhapur Hospital in Angul.
Talcher followed Titlagarh recording second-highest day time temperature in the State today with 44.3 deg Celsius while Bhawanipatna and Bolangir both witnessed temperature of 44 deg Celsius each.
Mercury stayed at 43.14 deg C in Malkangiri, 43 deg C in Sonepur, 42.5 deg C in Angul, 42.2 deg in Sambalpur and Paralakhemundi, 41.9 deg C in Hirakud, 41.6 deg C in Jharsuguda, 41.8 deg C in Boudh and Phulbani and 40 deg Celsius in Sundergarh.
The Regional Met Centre on Sunday forecast severe heatwave conditions for isolated pockets of western Odisha and issued Orange Warning for the areas of Angul, Boudh Sonepur, Nuapada, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Malkangiri and Sambalpur from May 26 to May 28.
The Met department said that the prevalent heatwave condition is likely to increase heat illness. symptoms in people who are either exposed to the sun for a prolonged period or doing heavy work. high health concern for vulnerable people e.g. infants, elderly people with chronic diseases.
Meanwhile, the State Special Relief Commissioner today shot a letter to the collectors of the state while asking them to ensure full-proof preparedness and take precautionary measures to tackle heatwave situation during the ensuing summer.
Given the fact that the heatwave situation has now surfaced in many districts, SRC further requested the collectors to review and ensure that all precautionary measures to combat further situation are in place and activated.
The SRC has pointed out that adequate measures need to be taken to handle the water scarcity situation during the summer. Some of the measures include immediate repair of tube wells and piped water supply projects, the supply of water through tankers in habitations facing drinking water scarcity, the opening of Paniya Jala Kendras at strategic locations, special arrangements in hospitals/ dispensaries, PHCs/CHCs for treatment of heatstroke patients, taking care of animal resources.
The Special Relief Commissioner has also asked the district authorities to set specific work hours of labourers in order to restrict them from working under the sun.
More Stories On Heat Wave In Odisha:
Heat Wave Warning In Odisha: 13 Towns Record Over 40 Deg C, Titlagarh Boils At 45.5
Odisha Heat Wave Alert: Mercury will hover at 41-45 deg C from May 15!