Rajeev Gandhi Grameen Vidyuktikaran Yojna, a scheme for providing access to electricity in rural areas under the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) was launched by the government of India to electrify all un-electrified and partially electrified villages and all habitations having a population of more than one hundred. All districts of Orissa are included under RGGVY.

However, the poor performance of implementing contractors engaged by the CPSUs delays the completion of RGGVY scheme during the 11th plan project as they are unable to engage adequate manpower as per the requirement. I would like to impress upon the Ministry of Power to give directives to the CPSUs ( NTPC, PGCII & NHPC) to expedite the electrification works under the scheme and REC (Rural Electrification Corporation) to approve the balance revised cost estimates of different districts. A sum of Rs 33308.64 crores has been released so far, out of which 2934.59 crores has been spent having a balance of 374.05 crores with CPSUs. The Distribution transformers provided under the RGGVY are having low capacity resulting in frequent failure. I request the Ministry to take remedial actions so that the real benefit of the scheme can reach the consumers.

Also, a large number of hamlets having a population of 100-300 and less than 100 people are not covered under RGGVY. A considerable number of BPL households are still deprived of electricity. The scheme should be further extended in the 12th plan to cater to such deficiencies.

Bilateral relations between India and the Republic of Maldives have been friendly and close in strategic, economic and military cooperation. India contributed to maintaining security on the island nation and has forged an alliance with respect to its strategic interests in the Indian ocean. Rajeev Ji had also helped their government overcome a coup some years ago.

Today, we stand alienated, as an enemy. Geography will not change. We support corporates that help create enemies, and not friends in the neighborhood. Indian High Commissioner, Dynaneshwar Mulay being termed as a ‘traitor’ and ‘enemy of Maldives’ by Presidential spokesman, Adil Riza is a matter of great concern. Such anti-India remarks by a key presidential aide are against diplomatic protocol.

India should NOT stop giving assistance. The matter should be diluted and our unfriendly neighbors to the North must not be allowed to get entry into Maldives.

Hence, I urge the government to take appropriate and other steps as they may deem necessary in this regard.

Bhubaneswar and Cuttak being educational hubs, with many national level institutions such as IIT, AIMS, NISER, NIFT, Institute of Physics, institute of Mathematics, National University, KIIT, XIM, National University, National Law University and several Medical Colleges, and Brahmapur being a major IT Center, everyday thousands of students, professionals, patients and general people from Tatanagar and around keep traveling to Bhubaneswar, Cuttak, Brahmapur for business, health, educational and other purposes.

Many people from Orissa reside in steel city, Tatanagar and around for their livelihood. But unfortunately, so far not a single intercity express train has been introduced by Indian Railways from Tatanagar to Brahmapur even after 65 years of independence.

Hence I request the Ministry of Railways to introduce an intercity express train from Tatanagar to Brahmapur in the upcoming Railway Budget. Moreover, this train would connect the entire coastal belt of Orissa from Brahmapur to Balasore with each other, bypassing the Kharagpur and Dhenkanal stations, as this will reduce traffic and traveling time. The people of Orissa also propose to name it as LAVANYABATI EXPRESS owing to the historical importance of the Odiya epic ‘Lavanyabati’, written by Upendra Bhanja in 16th Century AD. Thank you.

The elephant death toll in Orissa has risen alarmingly in the lat few years. Poachers remain active in forests of Orissa, eliminating 73 elephants in last seven years since 2005 even as 157 people were arrested during the period on charge of killing wild animals. While hunters killed 57 jumbos by using guns, the poachers poisoned 16 elephants to death during the same period.

Besides poaching, electrocution was another factor responsible for the huge casualty of elephants. High-tension electric lines passing through forest areas, specifically in elephant corridors are a major threat. The electricity poles supporting the wires are placed far apart, causing the wires to hang low. An elephant passing under the wires often accidentally touches it and gets electrocuted. Meanwhile, as per the report of state’s Ministry of Environment and Forests, 78 elephants were killed in Keonjhar district alone in 12 years from 2001 to 2012. This is a matter of concern for all as there is an urgent need to preserve wildlife in the state today. It saddens me to observe that elephants, that were the backbone of the Kalinga army for several decades are in such a dire state today.

Thus, I request the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to undertake remedial steps and ensure strict implementation of the same. The animals are dying due to lack of proper official measures.