BARIPADA: Rains and inclement weather marred the first day of tiger census
today, Similipal Tiger Reserve sources said. The PIPs (Pug Impression Pads)
laid on footpaths and tigers’ track routes have either been damaged or
washed away, said H.S.Upadhyay, State coordinator for tiger head count
operation. At least 35,100 PIPs were laid in all the tiger habitats in Orissa to capture the hind pug marks on them during the head count exercise, Upadhyay
added. More details of damage to the PIPs were yet to reach the State coordinator’s office, he said. As many as 3571 census units are engaged to monitor tigers, co-predators, herbivores and their habitats in different reserves and sanctuaries, Upadhyay added. The census units in Sunabeda Wildlife
Sanctuary in Nuapada district, however, did not join in the census exercise to protest the recent killing of forester Sangram Keshari Swain by Maoists, sources said. Census teams in Keonjhar have also decided to skip the head count. MKC High School turns 121: THE 121st foundation day function and
centenary of Maharaja Krushna Chandra (MKC) High School at Baripada
was observed by alumni and students on its campus recently. The school, established by Maharaja Krushna Chandra Bhanja Deo in 1889, has thrown up many outstanding scholars, writers, sportspersons and administrators who brought glory to the State in their respective areas of works, said Rabindra Kumar Padihari, secretary, MKC High School Old Students’ Association.
Alumni of the institution Probodh Kumar Mishra, former V-C of North Orissa University, Satyananda Acharya, former V-C of Utkal University,
Deba Kumar Tripathy, V-C of Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology,
and renowned artist Jatin Das were felicitated. Also Nihar Ranjan Hota, IAS (retired), noted litterateur Sourindra Barik, eminent artists Harish Singh
Babu and Shiba Panigrahi and Amarendra Bose, a senior journalist, were
honoured by students.
