INFRASTRUCTURE
ROADS
01. NH-215 (erstwhile SH-11 till mid 99) with its 182 Kms stretching along the entire length of the district of Keonjhar runs like a back bone and is the economic main stay of the district. Persistent negligence and total lack of foresight made this road the biggest road block to an other wise booming iron ore business. The total damage to this road (80 % of which was only a single road) continues to bring untold miseries, not only to the mine owners, transporters, industrialists, but also to common men from School goers, patients, small businessmen and ordinary commuters.
02. Although the authorities have woken up to the reality late, work appeared to commence in a big way. Your citizens’ forum voices concern on the following aspects:
(a) A very large stretch of this road, about 45 Kms, in a busy segment around Joda remained untendered till Aug this year. This has turned out to be the biggest bottlenecks to an otherwise good but slow effort. Simple road widening, mostly to IRQP specification had been completed only for 132 kms by end of May 06. But the tragedy of poor construction to an equally poor specification was exposed when most of the stretch between Kendujhargarh and Ghatgan did not stand even the first month of monsoon.
(b) Out of 8 major bridges and 25 minor bridges, except for one or two all of them are of pre-independence (pre concrete era) vintage. Only one major and one minor bridge have been accepted for work, both of which have an un-ending, and un-targetted work schedule. We are concerned, because all these bridges are potential bottlenecks and unfit for even current traffic load.
(c) Bypass for Keonjhar is an example of delay and apathy of the concerned authorities, which seem to be totally numb to the death and injuries on the road within the town and the difficulties of the dwellers. After over 4 years, the tendered survey work has just commenced, as a part of the 4 laning survey of NHAI. Now we are also informed that the four laning bye pass will not connect NH-6. We are back to Square one. The miseries of the residents of Jhumpura Dhenkikot, Ghasipura and Ghatgan are equally indescribable. A disturbing figure that was revealed by the collector on 23 Dec 05 was the number of death due to MV accidents during less than 9 months of this year is 213, mostly under the mineral carrying trucks, a dangerous increase form 124 in the same period last year.
03. Alternate Route for Mineral Traffic. : Two existing alignments Naranpur- Bamnipal – 80 Km, and Palaspanga – Joda (48 Km) are to be developed as alternative roads for high density mineral traffic to paradip and Dhamra port and proposed steel hub of Dubri. The formar with a sanction of Rs217 crores, shared by central and state govts, is in the process of survey and re-alignment, undertaken by RITES, the latter work has just commenced under a tripartite agreement The present attempt to restore some of these roads by peripheral fund is surely NOT an alternative to a heavy-duty road under BOLT scheme. On BOLT we are again on slippery but tall promises.
04. Four laning : The ongoing 4 laning DPR survey from Remuli to Panikoili has raised our hopes all right but confusion are galore on its schedules, standards, over lapping tasks, and responsibilities. A lot of conflicts between two laning and four laning may have to be resolved for the sake of expediency, mainly on alignment, schedules and overlapping tasks. In any case, citizens are happy that finally the economic necessity of such a vital port connectivity infrastructure has been realized by the Central Cabinet.
05. MDRs & ODRs The pressure of mineral carrying trucks in their attempt to find escape routes from the traffic restriction on HN-215, has caused serious damage to ordinary MDRs and ODRs through out the district. Years of cumbersome and laborious efforts to bring some shape to these roads, lies in shambles. We find absolutely no plan or funding from Orissa Govt to restore these roads. They seem to have washed off their hands because of peripheral development fund with the District Collector.
06. PMGSY: It is a programme of building village roads, totally financed by Central Govt. But for Keonjhar district, we are still not aware of total length of road, targets during the year, and/or hold up if any. On the other hand we are given a lot of statistics of connectively percentage, AB or C grade settlements, sanctions, allotments, placing of funds and such other technicalities. But there is no doubt in the district; the progress of PMGRY continues to be dismally poor, because of lack of adequate efforts at almost all levels.
07. Restoration of Old Roads: In this aspects, the citizens Forum chose to high light the needs of the following roads :-
(a) Suakati – Bonai Road vie Singhpur :
This was an important tribal connectively road, linking the tribals of Keonjhar and Sundargarh. To start with, this road could be restored to the status of an SR, which will effectively reduce the distance to Rourkela by 40-50 Km. while providing a link of all tribal areas, and important mineral resources.
(b) Naranpur – Kamakhya Nagar – Dhenkanal Road via Pithagola – Kaliahata :
The economic potential of this road connecting the coal and iron ore belts of Orissa could gradually evolve into an important link for industrialization, besides reducing the distance to Bhubaneswar by 30-35 Km.
(c) Koira – Joda –Dubna- Daitary
It was originally part of “Expressway No-2” connecting all mineral deposits of iron ore, manganese, and alumina of the region. This can be developed into an important arterial bye-pass exclusively for mineral traffic.
(d) Podang – Nandra, Nayakot – Malda Thes roads will provide arterial return paths and avoid current dead ends.
08. RAILWAYS:
a. Tomka – Keonjhar Section : Forum is happy to know that railways have realized their commercial folly in not seizing the potential of this line when iron-ore movement is at its peak. The visiting Member Engineering of Railway Board had given assurance to the state Chief Secretary that the laying of lines will be completed by Oct 06. It has slipped by about 6 months and is likely to be ready for operation by end of March 2007. Our Forum welcomes the suggestion of our MLA that such scheduled activities be reviewed once in a month to remove any unforeseen hold up, to ensure timely completion.
b. For the sake of ‘Safety’ The RUB near Banpar on Kendujhargarh-Patna MDR has been replaced by a unsafe level crossing on a busy road, although the required land has been acquired on either side of the RUB and haned over to the Railway authorities. Similarly, the level crossing on NH 215 at Raisuan is yet to be built, when the entire line is going to be ready soon.
09. Banspani – Bimalgarh/Barsuan/Kiriburu. When the current budget provides for surrey of Keonjhar Badampahar link, we do not understand how the much shorter link of Banspani – Barsuan was overlooked. Any entrepreneurs, looking for metallurgy as an option, will look to these important connectivity, of Routkela with Tatanagar via the mineral rich area of Sundargarh and Keonjhar. Now that Bimalgarh – Talcher Coal link has been approved for Survey, Bimalgarh – Banspani is to be the next logical, connection. Incidentally such a link will close the famous “Manganeese triangle of Joda – Koida and Meghatiburu.
10 Passenger Trains from Keonjhargarh. Pending completion of the section from Keonjhargarh to Tomka, we seek immediate introduction of passenger trains
a. Extension of the current Barbil Howrah Jan Satabdi Express up to Keonjhargarh
b. At least two DMU services from Keonjhargarh to Joda-Barbil / Tatanagar
This will bring great relief to the commuting public, who are presently grueling under the pain caused by almost nonexistent NH 215. The introduction of these trains will undoubtedly earn a lot of good will for the Railways from the entire population of this district besides earning revenue from this asset.
At this stage let us raise very fundamental observations. Why transport these millions of tons of ores when the infrastructures are totally inadequate? Why not a small fraction of the money earned from this massive expert of mineral is ploughed back to these roads. Or at least why not wait till the roads of adequate capability are made. Bad roads have touched the lives of almost the entire population of this district in return for nothing. Where does privatization or globalization go from here, when their actions impose miseries on millions? How does the globalization bring happiness and prosperity to people?
11.AIRPORT
:
Airports provide an important infrastructural facility for quick and convenient assess to the district from outside. The airport at Raisuan (4 Km from Keonjhar) and Bhadrasali (midway between Joda and Barbil) are the only two locations providing basically two airship facility. But both of them are in urgent need of repair of
(a) The Runway
(b) Cattle fencing
(c) Parking Aprons
(d) Night landing and communication facilities.
(e) Air Traffic control
And for land acquisition / notification for runway length extension, to enable at least medium haul passenger a/c to operate.
POWER SUPPLY
12.Keonjhargarh is the only Dist HQ with out a 240/132-sub station. Besides, Forecasting and planning of power supply and distribution for next ten years is an exercise over due for our district. There is need to assess these requirements scientifically because power supply should stay ahead of industrialization. Currently, the prospective investors are discouraged by the constant poverty of supply. The same goes for growing urbanization and rural electrification, mainly for agriculture.
13. Land for a Grid Station near Kendujhargarh has been earmarked near Judia farm, in village Maligan. The 12 acres of area has been examined by the officials of OPTCL as suitable. District Administration must progress the project at the earliest.
The existing weaknesses in the power distribution network are to be tackled in order to:
Avoid frequent breakdowns
· Avoid loss and thus improve quality of power.
IRRIGATION
14 Kanupur Irrigation Project : Nearly 40,000 Ha of perched land in this upper Baitarani valley in almost 250 villages is waiting for water from this project for irrigation. Command area studies reveal a substantial qualitative improvement of quality of life of a large segment of our population, dependent on this irrigation system. And yet the project draws very little or no attention from the authorities. About 3 year ago, the foundation stone ( the third one in 20 years) of this project was laid by our CM after obtaining full concurrence of central assistance from AIBP.
15. Citizens Forum is keenly observing the progress from a distance and voices the following concerns:-
(a) Even after the administrative approval (on 04-03-2005), one year has gone past with little or no progress on rehabilitation programme. Not one family has been shifted either from dam site or submerged area.
(b) Although baseline survey of two villages falling on dam site has been done and land for rehabilitation has been identified in the command area, no work an shifting the villages has taken place. As a result technical work on the dam is seriously held up.
(c) Spill way location has just been finalized. A Chief Construction Engineer has been posted, along with two executive engineers and a land acquisition officer. But the progress of work is not focused on scheduled targets. We demand a closer monitoring by District Administration.
(d) The estimate of Rs. 428 crores has been revised to some Rs. 625 crores. But forum understands that the revision papers are still laying at CE’s office at Bhubaneswar for last 25 months and yet to reach ministry of water resources of AIBP for acceptance. We do not understand how financial allocation could be made without these basic documents.
16. Deo Nadi Irrigation Project
Although the dam of this project is in Mayurbhanj District, their left banks canal system in totally in Keonjhar district in our Saharpada block, which continues to suffer from the total lack of irrigation facility. The unusually long delay in the completion of this project makes the people of this region of our district totally rain dependent. The farmers are seething in anger and discontent because of the excessive delay in the project. Incidentally this region is the area where the internationally infamous event of tragic “Australian Missionaries “ took place, and considered a fertile ground for all kinds of extremism.
17. Rengali left Canal
The hopes of the farmars of south Anandapur are slowly evaporating, waiting for the water from Bramani River to flow in from Rengali left canal. The unusually long delay shows a lob sided priority to power generation for industries and total negligence of irrigation system for agriculture. Our Forum feeds that if Orissa earns revenue by selling electricity to outside states; why not plough back part of the money for the irrigation system to uplift the condition of poor farmers. In any case, this canal project is probably financed by World Bank and the delay could be only because of some administrative lacuna and deficiency. We seek an early completion of this project.
18. Kajhari Dam Storage Capacity.
The Citizens’ Forum understands that the maximum water level is deliberately kept lower because of partial submergence of the Gopalpur Bridge on the National highway. Since new 4 laned bridges will replace this old bridge, raising the maximum water level could increase the water storage capacity to provide additional irrigation at no extra cost This will bring an additional 6 thousand hectors under irrigation in Kanjhari basin. This could be coordinated between the NH authority & Chief Engineer, Irrigation.
19. Water Harvesting at Keonjhar
We understand that the Central Ground Water Resources survey has revealed that the percolation rate of bore wells is inadequate for irrigation in almost the whole district of Keonjhar. This peculiar geological feature, combined with the wide spread depletion of forests, calls for urgent attention to scientific water harvesting. Keonjhar’s elevation, rain fall, and soil condition, provides at least one location in every village ideal for water harvesting. Funding through national food for work programme, or Rastriya Sama Vikash Yojana , or NREGP could adequately meet the needs of every village, provided the implementation is scientific and honest.
20. Telephone
a. The mobile telephone system in Keonjhar is in total disarray for last several months or so. No suitable explanation is forthcoming from the authorities. Let their Zonal office be approached to remove the malady.
b. No power supply to towers or, public resistances to new towers do not hold water as plausible explanations.
21. Banks and FIs
The performance of these institutions needs a fresh evaluation, in view of current
Economic ‘Boom’ in Keonjhar. Instead of acting as agents for transfer of money to the metro centres, they should substantially improve their loans to rural employment and investment within Keonjhar district.
22. Problems Specific to Keonjhargarh Town
a. Public park revival , a professional approach
b. Renovation of town hall: Capacity and acoustics
c. Master Plan 2006 to 2026 to be subject to public debate and expert advice
d. Road widening and strengthening of Mining Road, College road, Jail road, Sirajuddin road, with adequate funding from PDF society..
e. Jodia Grid Station to improve power supply to the town
f. Removal of dangerous and obsolete Traffic Islands, for better adherence to rules, and improved visibility by road users.
g. NH widening at bus stops is being un necessarily delayed
h. Drinking water crisis is to addressed with utmost urgency
i. New Bus Terminus. Design approval awaited for over 2 months from Govt.
j. OSRTC bus stand to be allowed as a transit bus stop for all, for passenger safety
k. Municipality Cattle pound to be revived against Cattle menace in public places
l. Parking of Trucks and Buses to be prohibited in municipality areas
ROADS
01. NH-215 (erstwhile SH-11 till mid 99) with its 182 Kms stretching along the entire length of the district of Keonjhar runs like a back bone and is the economic main stay of the district. Persistent negligence and total lack of foresight made this road the biggest road block to an other wise booming iron ore business. The total damage to this road (80 % of which was only a single road) continues to bring untold miseries, not only to the mine owners, transporters, industrialists, but also to common men from School goers, patients, small businessmen and ordinary commuters.
02. Although the authorities have woken up to the reality late, work appeared to commence in a big way. Your citizens’ forum voices concern on the following aspects:
(a) A very large stretch of this road, about 45 Kms, in a busy segment around Joda remained untendered till Aug this year. This has turned out to be the biggest bottlenecks to an otherwise good but slow effort. Simple road widening, mostly to IRQP specification had been completed only for 132 kms by end of May 06. But the tragedy of poor construction to an equally poor specification was exposed when most of the stretch between Kendujhargarh and Ghatgan did not stand even the first month of monsoon.
(b) Out of 8 major bridges and 25 minor bridges, except for one or two all of them are of pre-independence (pre concrete era) vintage. Only one major and one minor bridge have been accepted for work, both of which have an un-ending, and un-targetted work schedule. We are concerned, because all these bridges are potential bottlenecks and unfit for even current traffic load.
(c) Bypass for Keonjhar is an example of delay and apathy of the concerned authorities, which seem to be totally numb to the death and injuries on the road within the town and the difficulties of the dwellers. After over 4 years, the tendered survey work has just commenced, as a part of the 4 laning survey of NHAI. Now we are also informed that the four laning bye pass will not connect NH-6. We are back to Square one. The miseries of the residents of Jhumpura Dhenkikot, Ghasipura and Ghatgan are equally indescribable. A disturbing figure that was revealed by the collector on 23 Dec 05 was the number of death due to MV accidents during less than 9 months of this year is 213, mostly under the mineral carrying trucks, a dangerous increase form 124 in the same period last year.
03. Alternate Route for Mineral Traffic. : Two existing alignments Naranpur- Bamnipal – 80 Km, and Palaspanga – Joda (48 Km) are to be developed as alternative roads for high density mineral traffic to paradip and Dhamra port and proposed steel hub of Dubri. The formar with a sanction of Rs217 crores, shared by central and state govts, is in the process of survey and re-alignment, undertaken by RITES, the latter work has just commenced under a tripartite agreement The present attempt to restore some of these roads by peripheral fund is surely NOT an alternative to a heavy-duty road under BOLT scheme. On BOLT we are again on slippery but tall promises.
04. Four laning : The ongoing 4 laning DPR survey from Remuli to Panikoili has raised our hopes all right but confusion are galore on its schedules, standards, over lapping tasks, and responsibilities. A lot of conflicts between two laning and four laning may have to be resolved for the sake of expediency, mainly on alignment, schedules and overlapping tasks. In any case, citizens are happy that finally the economic necessity of such a vital port connectivity infrastructure has been realized by the Central Cabinet.
05. MDRs & ODRs The pressure of mineral carrying trucks in their attempt to find escape routes from the traffic restriction on HN-215, has caused serious damage to ordinary MDRs and ODRs through out the district. Years of cumbersome and laborious efforts to bring some shape to these roads, lies in shambles. We find absolutely no plan or funding from Orissa Govt to restore these roads. They seem to have washed off their hands because of peripheral development fund with the District Collector.
06. PMGSY: It is a programme of building village roads, totally financed by Central Govt. But for Keonjhar district, we are still not aware of total length of road, targets during the year, and/or hold up if any. On the other hand we are given a lot of statistics of connectively percentage, AB or C grade settlements, sanctions, allotments, placing of funds and such other technicalities. But there is no doubt in the district; the progress of PMGRY continues to be dismally poor, because of lack of adequate efforts at almost all levels.
07. Restoration of Old Roads: In this aspects, the citizens Forum chose to high light the needs of the following roads :-
(a) Suakati – Bonai Road vie Singhpur :
This was an important tribal connectively road, linking the tribals of Keonjhar and Sundargarh. To start with, this road could be restored to the status of an SR, which will effectively reduce the distance to Rourkela by 40-50 Km. while providing a link of all tribal areas, and important mineral resources.
(b) Naranpur – Kamakhya Nagar – Dhenkanal Road via Pithagola – Kaliahata :
The economic potential of this road connecting the coal and iron ore belts of Orissa could gradually evolve into an important link for industrialization, besides reducing the distance to Bhubaneswar by 30-35 Km.
(c) Koira – Joda –Dubna- Daitary
It was originally part of “Expressway No-2” connecting all mineral deposits of iron ore, manganese, and alumina of the region. This can be developed into an important arterial bye-pass exclusively for mineral traffic.
(d) Podang – Nandra, Nayakot – Malda Thes roads will provide arterial return paths and avoid current dead ends.
08. RAILWAYS:
a. Tomka – Keonjhar Section : Forum is happy to know that railways have realized their commercial folly in not seizing the potential of this line when iron-ore movement is at its peak. The visiting Member Engineering of Railway Board had given assurance to the state Chief Secretary that the laying of lines will be completed by Oct 06. It has slipped by about 6 months and is likely to be ready for operation by end of March 2007. Our Forum welcomes the suggestion of our MLA that such scheduled activities be reviewed once in a month to remove any unforeseen hold up, to ensure timely completion.
b. For the sake of ‘Safety’ The RUB near Banpar on Kendujhargarh-Patna MDR has been replaced by a unsafe level crossing on a busy road, although the required land has been acquired on either side of the RUB and haned over to the Railway authorities. Similarly, the level crossing on NH 215 at Raisuan is yet to be built, when the entire line is going to be ready soon.
09. Banspani – Bimalgarh/Barsuan/Kiriburu. When the current budget provides for surrey of Keonjhar Badampahar link, we do not understand how the much shorter link of Banspani – Barsuan was overlooked. Any entrepreneurs, looking for metallurgy as an option, will look to these important connectivity, of Routkela with Tatanagar via the mineral rich area of Sundargarh and Keonjhar. Now that Bimalgarh – Talcher Coal link has been approved for Survey, Bimalgarh – Banspani is to be the next logical, connection. Incidentally such a link will close the famous “Manganeese triangle of Joda – Koida and Meghatiburu.
10 Passenger Trains from Keonjhargarh. Pending completion of the section from Keonjhargarh to Tomka, we seek immediate introduction of passenger trains
a. Extension of the current Barbil Howrah Jan Satabdi Express up to Keonjhargarh
b. At least two DMU services from Keonjhargarh to Joda-Barbil / Tatanagar
This will bring great relief to the commuting public, who are presently grueling under the pain caused by almost nonexistent NH 215. The introduction of these trains will undoubtedly earn a lot of good will for the Railways from the entire population of this district besides earning revenue from this asset.
At this stage let us raise very fundamental observations. Why transport these millions of tons of ores when the infrastructures are totally inadequate? Why not a small fraction of the money earned from this massive expert of mineral is ploughed back to these roads. Or at least why not wait till the roads of adequate capability are made. Bad roads have touched the lives of almost the entire population of this district in return for nothing. Where does privatization or globalization go from here, when their actions impose miseries on millions? How does the globalization bring happiness and prosperity to people?
11.AIRPORT
:
Airports provide an important infrastructural facility for quick and convenient assess to the district from outside. The airport at Raisuan (4 Km from Keonjhar) and Bhadrasali (midway between Joda and Barbil) are the only two locations providing basically two airship facility. But both of them are in urgent need of repair of
(a) The Runway
(b) Cattle fencing
(c) Parking Aprons
(d) Night landing and communication facilities.
(e) Air Traffic control
And for land acquisition / notification for runway length extension, to enable at least medium haul passenger a/c to operate.
POWER SUPPLY
12.Keonjhargarh is the only Dist HQ with out a 240/132-sub station. Besides, Forecasting and planning of power supply and distribution for next ten years is an exercise over due for our district. There is need to assess these requirements scientifically because power supply should stay ahead of industrialization. Currently, the prospective investors are discouraged by the constant poverty of supply. The same goes for growing urbanization and rural electrification, mainly for agriculture.
13. Land for a Grid Station near Kendujhargarh has been earmarked near Judia farm, in village Maligan. The 12 acres of area has been examined by the officials of OPTCL as suitable. District Administration must progress the project at the earliest.
The existing weaknesses in the power distribution network are to be tackled in order to:
Avoid frequent breakdowns
· Avoid loss and thus improve quality of power.
IRRIGATION
14 Kanupur Irrigation Project : Nearly 40,000 Ha of perched land in this upper Baitarani valley in almost 250 villages is waiting for water from this project for irrigation. Command area studies reveal a substantial qualitative improvement of quality of life of a large segment of our population, dependent on this irrigation system. And yet the project draws very little or no attention from the authorities. About 3 year ago, the foundation stone ( the third one in 20 years) of this project was laid by our CM after obtaining full concurrence of central assistance from AIBP.
15. Citizens Forum is keenly observing the progress from a distance and voices the following concerns:-
(a) Even after the administrative approval (on 04-03-2005), one year has gone past with little or no progress on rehabilitation programme. Not one family has been shifted either from dam site or submerged area.
(b) Although baseline survey of two villages falling on dam site has been done and land for rehabilitation has been identified in the command area, no work an shifting the villages has taken place. As a result technical work on the dam is seriously held up.
(c) Spill way location has just been finalized. A Chief Construction Engineer has been posted, along with two executive engineers and a land acquisition officer. But the progress of work is not focused on scheduled targets. We demand a closer monitoring by District Administration.
(d) The estimate of Rs. 428 crores has been revised to some Rs. 625 crores. But forum understands that the revision papers are still laying at CE’s office at Bhubaneswar for last 25 months and yet to reach ministry of water resources of AIBP for acceptance. We do not understand how financial allocation could be made without these basic documents.
16. Deo Nadi Irrigation Project
Although the dam of this project is in Mayurbhanj District, their left banks canal system in totally in Keonjhar district in our Saharpada block, which continues to suffer from the total lack of irrigation facility. The unusually long delay in the completion of this project makes the people of this region of our district totally rain dependent. The farmers are seething in anger and discontent because of the excessive delay in the project. Incidentally this region is the area where the internationally infamous event of tragic “Australian Missionaries “ took place, and considered a fertile ground for all kinds of extremism.
17. Rengali left Canal
The hopes of the farmars of south Anandapur are slowly evaporating, waiting for the water from Bramani River to flow in from Rengali left canal. The unusually long delay shows a lob sided priority to power generation for industries and total negligence of irrigation system for agriculture. Our Forum feeds that if Orissa earns revenue by selling electricity to outside states; why not plough back part of the money for the irrigation system to uplift the condition of poor farmers. In any case, this canal project is probably financed by World Bank and the delay could be only because of some administrative lacuna and deficiency. We seek an early completion of this project.
18. Kajhari Dam Storage Capacity.
The Citizens’ Forum understands that the maximum water level is deliberately kept lower because of partial submergence of the Gopalpur Bridge on the National highway. Since new 4 laned bridges will replace this old bridge, raising the maximum water level could increase the water storage capacity to provide additional irrigation at no extra cost This will bring an additional 6 thousand hectors under irrigation in Kanjhari basin. This could be coordinated between the NH authority & Chief Engineer, Irrigation.
19. Water Harvesting at Keonjhar
We understand that the Central Ground Water Resources survey has revealed that the percolation rate of bore wells is inadequate for irrigation in almost the whole district of Keonjhar. This peculiar geological feature, combined with the wide spread depletion of forests, calls for urgent attention to scientific water harvesting. Keonjhar’s elevation, rain fall, and soil condition, provides at least one location in every village ideal for water harvesting. Funding through national food for work programme, or Rastriya Sama Vikash Yojana , or NREGP could adequately meet the needs of every village, provided the implementation is scientific and honest.
20. Telephone
a. The mobile telephone system in Keonjhar is in total disarray for last several months or so. No suitable explanation is forthcoming from the authorities. Let their Zonal office be approached to remove the malady.
b. No power supply to towers or, public resistances to new towers do not hold water as plausible explanations.
21. Banks and FIs
The performance of these institutions needs a fresh evaluation, in view of current
Economic ‘Boom’ in Keonjhar. Instead of acting as agents for transfer of money to the metro centres, they should substantially improve their loans to rural employment and investment within Keonjhar district.
22. Problems Specific to Keonjhargarh Town
a. Public park revival , a professional approach
b. Renovation of town hall: Capacity and acoustics
c. Master Plan 2006 to 2026 to be subject to public debate and expert advice
d. Road widening and strengthening of Mining Road, College road, Jail road, Sirajuddin road, with adequate funding from PDF society..
e. Jodia Grid Station to improve power supply to the town
f. Removal of dangerous and obsolete Traffic Islands, for better adherence to rules, and improved visibility by road users.
g. NH widening at bus stops is being un necessarily delayed
h. Drinking water crisis is to addressed with utmost urgency
i. New Bus Terminus. Design approval awaited for over 2 months from Govt.
j. OSRTC bus stand to be allowed as a transit bus stop for all, for passenger safety
k. Municipality Cattle pound to be revived against Cattle menace in public places
l. Parking of Trucks and Buses to be prohibited in municipality areas
(In the absence of Kiran, Kay is posting these on behalf of the citizen forum.)
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