Berhampur: ‘Utkal Sammilani’, a premier social and cultural outfit of Odisha has strongly objected after Pati-Sonapur beach in Ganjam district has been marked as an area belonging to Andhra Pradesh in ‘Google Maps’, a report said.
The outfit was founded in 1903 by Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das. It pointed out the ‘mistake’ committed by ‘Google Maps’ during a virtual press conference conducted Sunday.
Ganjam district chief, Subrat Kumar Sahu presided over the meeting in which Odisha president Adwait Kumar Patra was also present. The members strongly opposed the move to show Pati-Sonapur beach in the district as belonging to the state of Andhra Pradesh.
The members demanded immediate withdrawal of the wrong depiction of the beach in ‘Google Maps’. A decision was taken to inform ‘Google’ regarding the wrong depiction of the beautiful beach. The members said they will also attract the attention of the Odisha government to the ‘mistake’.
The members alleged that sand mafia and fishermen from Andhra Pradesh are also affecting the environment in and around Chilika lake. They said large quantities of fish and sand are being illegally transported to the neighbouring state on a daily basis. They demanded that immediate action be taken to prevent such clandestine dealings.
Moreover, the members also protested against the non-inclusion of Odia language in the online education portal of the Union government meant for students. The members said that among the 7201 recognised language in the world, Odia is the 37th language.
Odia has also received the status of sixth national language in India. So the Centre cannot overlook the importance of Odia as a language Subrat said.
Dinabandhu Sripallav, secretary of the outfit coordinated the meeting. Among others, Nakul Sahu, vice-president, educationist Banamali Panigrahi, state council members Kanhu Balakrushna Bihari and Nrusingha Prasad Panda spoke on the occasion.
PNN