Latest news with #Lingaraj
New Indian Express
27-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Rollback new kharif paddy registration norms: Odisha Farm body
BARGARH: Protests against the revised kharif paddy procurement registration policy continued to escalate as the Paschim Odisha Krushak Sangathan Samanwaya Samiti (POKSSS) voiced strong opposition to the state government's new guidelines on Saturday. The POKSSS demanded immediate rollback of the revised paddy procurement registration policy, warning of intensified protests across western Odisha. Addressing a press conference at Bargarh, POKSSS convenors Lingaraj and Ashok Pradhan alleged that the new norms requiring biometric and iris scans, OTP verification and submission of legal heir documents of all the persons named in the land records are impractical for farmers, especially at a time when they are already engaged in peak agricultural activity. 'The process is so burdensome that nearly 70 per cent of genuine cultivators may be excluded from selling their paddy at government mandis,' the leaders said. Questioning the timing and intent of the policy, they alleged farmers are being forced to run between revenue inspector and tehsil offices for verification instead of being provided benefits like the promised bonus of `800. The farmer's body demanded immediate withdrawal of the new norms and reinstatement of a simple, farmer-friendly system that does not penalise anyone for documentation hurdles. 'The recent changes in kharif registration have triggered confusion and anxiety among farmers. We see this as a deliberate conspiracy to overcomplicate the process so that many farmers opt out of the registration process. This will ease the government's burden of paying the input subsidy introduced last year,' Lingaraj said. Pradhan said that field reports indicate even genuine cultivators are struggling to complete the biometric and OTP-based verification due to lack of access, internet connectivity, or outdated mobile registrations. Accusing the state government of plotting to deny procurement benefits to farmers under the pretext of transparency reforms, Pradhan warned that if the government failed to revise the guidelines and restore a practical, inclusive system, protest will be intensified across the region. On Thursday, Bargarh's BJD unit also demanded policy withdrawal, warning of mass agitation.
Time of India
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Farmers body protests new paddy procurement policy
1 2 Sambalpur: Protests against the revised kharif paddy procurement registration policy in the state continue to escalate, with the Paschim Odisha Krushak Sangathan Samanwaya Samiti (POKSSS), a prominent farmers' coordination body, voicing strong opposition on Saturday. At a press conference held at Samata Bhavan in Bargarh district, the outfit called for an immediate rollback of the "complex and centralised" registration process, warning of severe consequences across western part of the state if their demands are ignored. Addressing the media, POKSSS convenors Lingaraj and Ashok Pradhan alleged that the new norms — requiring biometric and iris scans, OTP verification, and submission of legal heir documents for all persons named in land records — are impractical for farmers, especially during peak agricultural activity. They demanded immediate withdrawal of the new norms and reinstatement of a simple, farmer-friendly system that does not penalise anyone for documentation issues. Bargarh district collector Aditya Goyal said, "It is a misunderstanding that the registration process has been made difficult. That's not true. We are trying to bring transparency to the registration process and ensure that genuine farmers receive the benefits."
United News of India
19-06-2025
- General
- United News of India
INTACH voices concern over low-level flights near heritage sites from BPIA
Bhubaneswar, June 19 (UNI) The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has raised serious concerns over low-altitude flights taking off from the main runway of Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), Bhubaneswar. Anil Dhir, convenor of the INTACH Bhubaneswar Chapter, has written to the Director of BPIA urging amendments to the existing Standard Instrument Departure (SID) chart for the airport's main runway. Dhir has also brought the matter to the attention of the Superintendent Archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Bhubaneswar Circle, as well as the Union Culture Secretary. In his letter, Dhir pointed out that many aircraft departing from runway 14/32 at BPIA make a sharp ascending right turn almost immediately after takeoff — sometimes even before the landing gear is fully retracted. This maneuver brings the aircraft alarmingly close to the ancient Lingaraj temple. Based on a two-month study conducted in the Old Town area of Bhubaneswar, where the temple is located, Dhir observed that several aircraft come dangerously close to the temple structure. The temple's main spire stands 180 feet (55 meters) tall, while the aircraft at the point of the turn are often at altitudes of just 1,000 to 1,200 feet. A former trainee pilot, Dhir emphasized that although the current departure pattern adheres to the SID outlined by Bhubaneswar Air Traffic Control, it is avoidable. He suggested that delaying the right turn by merely 10 seconds would ensure aircraft fly well clear of the heritage structure. He warned that low-level flights over such ancient monuments, especially during takeoff when engines operate at full thrust, pose significant risks, including physical damage, intense noise pollution, and structural vibrations that may harm the temple. "The structural integrity of the Lingaraj temple is already in a fragile state," Dhir stated. "Continued exposure to such vibrations could exacerbate existing weaknesses, potentially resulting in cracks, loosening of stone joints, and even partial or complete collapse." Dhir has submitted photographs and video evidence, including recordings taken from within aircraft as a passenger. He identified flights operated by Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa as those flying closest to the temple. In contrast, several other aircraft departing from the same runway maintain a straight climb, avoiding the heritage zone altogether. Flying over ASI-protected monuments is generally prohibited within designated restricted zones. Even drones or other aerial devices are banned near such sites under current regulations. Dhir reminded that the ASI bears the responsibility of protecting these historical structures and that any aerial activity posing potential harm is in violation of these protective mandates. Citing the recent Air India Dreamliner crash at Ahmedabad Airport, Dhir, a heritage expert, urged authorities to treat this issue with utmost seriousness. UNI DP PRS
New Indian Express
18-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Odisha government forms panel to finalise RoR for Lingaraj Temple
BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to resolve the frequent strife between servitor groups of Lingaraj Temple over ownership of rituals, the state government has constituted a two-member committee to review and finalise the Record of Rights (RoR) of the 11th century shrine. The committee, headed by retired judge of Orissa High Court Durga Prasanna Choudhury with Sanskrit professor Prafulla Kumar Mishra as the member, met for the first time on Tuesday. Choudhury said the committee will interact with all the servitors under various nijogs of the shrine, check their legal documents of rights over rituals and also study the existing scriptures and the precedence as far as rituals are concerned. It will submit a report on reorganisation and preparation of a final RoR to the state government. The Law department had in May this year directed formation of such a committee in wake of frequent disruptions in rituals of Lord Lingaraj due to disputes between servitor groups. In January this year, Lord Lingaraj had remained hungry for over 24 hours after a dispute erupted between the Mahasuara and Badu servitors over the conduct of the 'Ghruta Kamala Lagi' ritual on Makar Sankranti.
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Odisha police turn Medha Patkar, activists away from Rayagada where resistance against bauxite mining simmering
Several activists led by Medha Patkar were stopped by the Odisha Police and turned away after they arrived in Rayagada district to address a public meeting on World Environment Day, early Thursday (June 5, 2025). District authorities cited potential law and order concerns, stating that the activists' presence could inflame tensions in the region, where local tribals are opposing bauxite mining in the Sijimali Reserve. 'As soon as we got off the train in the early hours of Thursday, a large contingent of police personnel stopped us and said we were not allowed to leave the railway station. We are not criminals. We had come to Rayagada to speak about the importance of protecting the environment,' said Medha Patkar over phone from Rayagada. Within hours, fellow activists Lingaraj and Narendra Mohanty were forced to leave the district. Protest against bauxite mining of Vedanta A public meeting had been planned under the banner of Maa Maati Maali Surakshya Manch, Kashipur at Sunger Hatapada, where hundreds of tribals were expected to gather to hear the activists. Sunger Hatapada is located just a few kilometres from the Sijimali Bauxite Deposit, where the Vedanta Group has proposed mining 9 million tonnes of ore annually over an area of 1,549 hectares. Vedanta, one of India's largest aluminium producers, has operated its alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, Kalahandi district, without a captive bauxite mine since 2007. The company has been seeking a steady supply of raw material, making Sijimali a key target. Similar resistance had earlier derailed a mining project in the Niyamgiri hills, where the Dongria Kondh, a particularly vulnerable tribal group, successfully opposed plans to mine bauxite. The Odisha Mining Corporation, a state-run PSU, was to supply the ore to Vedanta. In Rayagada, tensions have been simmering around the Sijimali deposit for the past couple of years. Tribals allege that the district police, under pressure from the company, have been using force to suppress the people's movement against mining. An order signed by the Rayagada District Collector has barred 24 activists from entering the district for two months starting June 4. They have also been prohibited from participating in any protests or sit-ins. The Eastern Ghats hill ranges that cut across Kalahandi, Rayagada, and Koraput districts are rich in bauxite. Apart from Vedanta, private players such as the Adani Group and the Aditya Birla Group are either exploring or have already established infrastructure to mine the mineral. The National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), a Navaratna public sector unit, has a strong presence in Koraput district, where it is already extracting bauxite from the Panchpatmali reserve and is preparing to mine the Pottangi reserve. 'Why is the present Odisha government afraid of environmentalists and nature lovers visiting their beautiful State at the invitation of Adivasis—the true guardians of nature?' asked Ms. Patkar. 'How can we, as citizens of India, be stopped from marking a day dedicated to pledging our commitment to protect the Earth, its green cover, its farms and forests, and honouring those who have preserved them for generations?,' asked Ms. Patkar.
