Latest news with #BerhampurMunicipalCorporation
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Lavish spending raises eyebrows in bankrupt BeMC
Berhampur: Even as Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) experiences financial bankruptcy, it has reportedly spent crores, not on essential public services, but on cosmetic renovations of its own offices and official residences. In a scathing observation, senior BJP leader and State Bar Council member Pitabas Panda questioned the ethics behind such spending, revealing data obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. According to the information accessed, a staggering Rs 2.34 crore has been spent over the last five years on renovation, beautification and new construction of BeMC's office premises and the official residence of the Municipal Commissioner. This includes Rs 11.89 lakh spent solely on the Commissioner's government bungalow, where Rs 1.09 lakh went toward installing just one air conditioner and Rs 2.45 lakh was used to beautify the open land within the compound. Even more astounding, the Municipal Office building itself underwent a makeover worth Rs 2.22 crore. Among the listed expenses: Rs 5.73 lakh for toilet renovation and Rs 20 lakh for a new conference hall. An additional Rs 4.08 lakh was spent on woodwork for the office. These expenditures come at a time when the citizens of Berhampur are still deprived of basic civic amenities. Long-delayed infrastructure projects, like construction of a cow shelter at Hugulapata and development of Adua Bandha Park at Gosaninua Gaon, remain incomplete due to alleged shortage of funds. Pitabas raised a serious question on the priorities of BeMC: 'When the taxpayers of Berhampur are denied even the minimum civic benefits, is it justified to spend lakhs of rupees merely to beautify official buildings and residences?' The revelations have sparked sharp criticism from local residents and civic activists alike, who see this as a classic case of misplaced priorities and fiscal mismanagement. As Berhampur navigates economic adversity, this tale of extravagant bureaucracy has necessitated public scrutiny.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
BeMC opens 2nd e-library in silk city
1 2 3 4 Berhampur: Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) opened its second e-library in the city at the civic body's 88-year-old public library Friday. The e-library of 20-seat capacity will function in four shifts every day and around 80 students will benefit fro it every day, said Sanghamitra Dalei, mayor, BeMC, after inaugurating the facility. The readers will be provided with free wi-fi facility to download e-books, browse different journals, magazines and e-papers. The digital library is equipped with two servers and 20 computer systems with well-furnished furniture. As some other infrastructure facilities were available in the old library, no major construction works were taken up, said an officer. Around Rs 15 lakh has been spent on it, he said. The first e-library was established in association with Odisha Society of Americas (OSA), an organisation of NROs in the US since 2018. It functions from the first floor of the town hall with a dozen computer sets and is managed by an-e-library committee. The civic body also has a 200-seat e-reading facility on the first floor of the town hall. In the e-reading room, BeMC has provided internet facilities and air-conditioning. These two facilities are overcrowded, as the students throng to prepare for various competitive examinations. Mayor claimed several students have successfully cleared different all India competitive examinations, including civil services, after preparing in the e-library and e-reading halls. The civic body plans to open two more such libraries in the city to cater to the needs of students, said the mayor. BeMC commissioner Prathamesh Arvind Rajeshirk and other offices were present at the inauguration.
Hans India
02-07-2025
- Hans India
Fake sauce unit unearthed in Berhampur
Berhampur: In a crackdown on food adulteration racket, Bada Bazar police unearthed a fake sauce production unit at Pichpichia Nagar in Berhampur. The illegal unit, run under the guise of Anmol Food Products, shocked authorities with the sheer volume of spurious and potentially hazardous food items being churned out. Led by Bada Bazar police station in coordination with Food Safety officials from Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC), the team raided a two-storied building stocked with a staggering quantity of fake tomato sauce, chili sauce, soya sauce, vinegar, pickles and spice products. The premises were littered with drums of artificial colouring agents, acidic liquids, jerry cans filled with suspect tomato pastes and packaging materials bearing the name 'Anmol'. The accused was identified as Prasanta Kumar Panigrahi (48), a resident of Jagannath Vihar 2nd Lane. During the raid, he failed to produce any licence or documentation for his operations. Preliminary investigations revealed that the food products were being manufactured in blatant violation of health and safety standards, involving non-edible and harmful substances disguised as food ingredients. Police have registered a case under sections of FSS Act, 2006, and Section 16 of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act. The entire stock of suspicious goods has been seized and samples have been sent to the Food Testing Laboratory for chemical examination. The accused has been arrested and will be forwarded to court. Further investigation into the supply chain and distribution network is underway. This major bust has raised serious public health concerns, and authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant against such illicit food manufacturing units operating under the guise of familiar brand names.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Time of India
Adulterated sauce making unit busted, owner held
Berhampur: Authorities uncovered an adulterated sauce manufacturing unit in Pichipicha Nagar here on Monday and arrested the owner for illegal production and distribution of these products, police said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The accused was identifed as Prasant Kumar Panigrahy, 48, from Jagannath Bihar. During the raid, police and food safety officers confiscated eight grinding and packing machines, 300 litres of tomato sauce, 700 empty sauce bottles, phenyl plastic bottles, and 300 empty plastic pickle bottles. The raid was launched following a tip-off regarding the illegal production of duplicate sauce in the area. Police, in collaboration with food safety officers from Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC), discovered large quantities of sauce bottles, caps, cartons of packed tomato, chilli and soya sauce bottles, vinegar, pickles and other spices. Authorities also found several containers filled with tomato-like paste, liquid drums, colour drums and acids at the site. The owner failed to provide a licence or any supporting document for the food items, police said. SP (Berhampur) Saravana Vivek M said a preliminary investigation revealed the food items were not prepared according to standards, with synthetic colours and non-edible, hazardous liquids allegedly being used. Samples of each item have been collected and will be sent to the food testing laboratory in Bhubaneswar for examination. Investigation revealed the accused had been operating the unit for the past two years, supplying products to markets in Berhampur and several other towns in Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts, Baba Shankar Saraf, inspector in-charge of Bada Bazar police station, said. The accused has been charged under various sections of the BNS, Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Women pull Devi Subhadra's chariot in Berhampur
Berhampur: Women took centre stage at the Rath Yatra in Gosaninuagaon here as they exclusively pulled the chariot of Devi Subhadra. The unique practice, which mirrors a similar tradition in Mayurbhanj district's Baripada, has been a part of Berhampur's Rath Yatra celebrations since 2000. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The tradition of women pulling Subhadra's chariot began in Baripada in 1975. The silk city followed suit, offering women the opportunity to actively participate in the festival. Organisers said the number of women participating has grown each year, reflecting their enthusiasm and commitment. Panchanan Choudhury, manager of the Jagannath Temple Development Committee in Gosaninuagaon, highlighted the significance of the practice. "The temple committee has reserved Devi Subhadra's chariot for women to ensure they have a chance to participate in Rath Yatra," he said. The event was inaugurated by Sanghamitra Dalei, mayor of Berhampur Municipal Corporation, and K Rama Devi, wife of Berhampur MLA K Anil Kumar, who led the procession by pulling Devi Subhadra's chariot. The MLA commenced the pulling of Lord Jagannath's chariot. The procession, which covered a distance of around 1.5km from the temple to the Gundicha Temple, was conducted under tight security. SP (Berhampur), Saravana Vivek M, said adequate women police officers were deployed to ensure safety and manage the crowds. Dalei said, "Women do not have to jostle with their male counterparts to get closer to the chariot. The arrangement also protects them from potential harassment."
