P'KHEMUNDI BADA DANDA DECORATED WITH JHOTIS  (Pix)

Brahmapur: The Rath Yatra at Paralakhemundi in Gajapati district will be observed in a unique manner. As pre-celebration preparedness, the  entire Bada Danda of the town has been decorated with different  colours and filled with traditional Jhotis at the behest of the district administration. This has become the centre of attraction for devotees and tourists. Paralakhemundi has set an example for observing the fest. A large number of men and women with artistic acumen are working hard to make the festival different from that of other places.

PARADIP LAND LOSERS ASSURED OF REHAB HIKE

Paradip: A row over compensation for land acquired for the
Haladia-Somenathpur-Paradip IOCL Pipeline Project was settled. With
the intervention of the IOCL pipeline authority, including DGM Abayed
Kumar, Sanatan Mallick, Assistant Engineer Brajesh Mishra and senior
assistant  Karnaraj Swain, the bottleneck concerning the project which
was stalled due to protest by the local landlosers claiming
compensation at enhanced rate, has been removed. Now, the officials
have assured to pay compensation of the acquired land as per
prevailing market value. This will benefit villages like Bhutumundai,
Baharatari, Biswali, Kothi and Bagadia, said sources.

B’PUR ENVIRONMENTALIST’S CALL AGAINST PLASTIC  (Pix)

Brahmapur: Single-use plastic, which is a threat to the environment,
is going to be banned from July 1, said environmentalist and Green man
of Odisha Sudhir K Rout. Mention may be made that, Rout has been
campaigning against polythene bags and single use plastic since 2008
as he felt that just planting trees alone will not save the environment. Rout recalled that during initial days of his campaign, some people, even friends, used to laugh at him, but later many good and honest friends joined his campaign in 2018.

ARTIST SUAR HONOURED BY B’PUR BODIES 
Brahmapur: Dance and music champion Sushree Subhra Suar was given warm felicitation with a citation and flower bouquet on behalf of
organisations, Pallabi and Sanskarbadi, here on Tuesday. Activist Trinath Maharana congratulated Suar for achieving excellence in the field of art, music and dance with professional acumen. Vice-president of the organisation Prabhat Kumar Mishra, social worker Sanjay Majhi, many senior scribes, Sushree’s mother Dr Basantibala Panigrahi; her father Sangeet Guru; Subash Chandra Subudhi, Lingaraj Mahapatra and Bijaya Kumar Pattnaik of the city were present. Sushree gave credit to her parents for her achievement and enthralled the audience by singing Jagannath Bhajans in Odia, Hindi and English.

CONDOLENCE MEET FOR HARIHAR ROUT HELD  (Pix)

Jajpur Road: A condolence meeting was held at Patunia under Dharmasala block recently for social worker and politician Harihar Rout. BJD leader Satish Biswal, BJP leader Smrutirekha Pahi, Pabitra Mohan Dash, Adhira Jena, scribe Dushmanta Rout, Susanta Nayak, social workers Ashok Samantray, Alok Biswal, Dayanidhi Rout, Bailochan Rout, Anil Samantray, Ramesh Samal, Guru Charan Samal, Manoranjan Rout, Hemant Rout, Sarat Rout, Srikant Rout, Lecturer Subash Swain spoke about late Rout. A Bhajan Sandhya programme was also held.