JK Paper-World Bank deal on emission reduction
Statesman News ServiceRayagada, May 18:
JK Paper Limited signed an Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA) with the World Bank in New Delhi on 8 May. Mr AK Sharda, vice-president of the JK Paper Limited, signed the ERPA on behalf of the company and Mr Shekhar Shah, acting as the country director of the World Bank, Ms Saima Qadir, bio-carbon fund deal manager from Washington DC also attended the signing ceremony.The project will enable small and marginal farmers in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh to earn additional revenues through carbon credits by afforesting their severely degraded lands. Under the agreement, the Bio CF will purchase 276,000 t CO2e (tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) between 2008 and 2017, with an option for an additional purchase of 370,200 tCO2e. The project is the first of its kind in India, said Mr Sharda. It is India’s first LULUCF (land use and land use change and forestry) project to sell emission reductions (ERs) earned through carbon sequestration in newly established agro-forestry plantations. This will not only create additional income for resource-poor farmers, but will also contribute to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). In the first phase, the project will cover 3500 hectares of severely degraded lands mainly owned by small and marginal farmers in three districts of Rayagada, Klahandi and Koraput in Orissa and three district Vizainagram, Viskhapatnam and Srikakulam in Andhra Prasesh. In this project, company will provide quality saplings, buy-back guarantee and technical guidance to farmers, if requires some farmers will get loan from Regional Rural Banks to take up plantation.

Jindal plant workers attacked
Statesman News Service JAJPUR, May 18: Tension gripped Kalinga Nagar steel hub after labourers working with Jindal Stainless were attacked today allegedly by some members of the Jindal Stainless Workers’ Union, an unregistered labourer forum. Many labourers of the plant, who were on the way to the plant for duty, were chased away by the self-styled union leaders. Erection of a power plant being carried out by eight companies, including L & T, Bhel and Volta, for the Jindal Stainless was partly disrupted as workers did not turn up following the attack. According to sources, the miscreants attacked a team of labourers near railway level-crossing at Manapur, just few yards from the Jindal Stainless Ltd. Fearing attack, the labourers were passing through the alternative passage to the plant for reporting duty. They were chased away by the miscreants, armed with lethal weapons, sources added. Kalinga Nagar police station inspector-in-charge Mr Sarat Kumar Mahapatra said one Sangram Biswal was engaged through contractor SR Brothers for construction works of a power plant by the L&T Company. L&T authorities had suspended Sangram for dereliction of duty. Later, Sangram petitioned the authorities concerned seeking the revoking of the suspension. After his plea was turned down, Sangram, along with some of his aides, chased away the labourers on their way to the plant and even attacked them. Jindal Stainless Ltd general manager Mr MD Burma said that works on the power plant were affected following the clash between labourer unions. “If the situation continues, we will be forced to stop the work of the Rs 300 crore power plant,” he said. A handful of labourers and their so called leaders had threatened the senior officials of the plant with dire consequence, he added.

Power projects modified
Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, May 18: The high power project clearance committee which met here today approved modification of three existing MoUs and another new project. Tata Power had applied for revision of its MoU as it wanted to add another 1000 MW to its proposed 1000 MW power plant at Naraj. The project cost has been revised and the second phase entails an investment of Rs 4,866 crore, Significantly, the state will get 450 MW from the plant. Similarly, Adhunik Metalic, which signed an MoU in 2003 for a 0.15 MT steel plant, will increase it to 0. 26 MT, the KVK Nilachal Power will no be a 1200 MW power plant and not a 600 MW one as envisaged earlier. The project cost is revised to Rs 5,000 crore and the state will get 270 MW power. Monet Ispat Energy Ltd will sign an MoU for a 1000 MW power plant at Angul. The project will entail an investment of Rs 4107 crore and the state is assured of 225 MW of power. The MoUs will also have clauses relating to fly ash use and downstream industries in terms of use of fly ash. Certain construction activity near the plant region will be listed out for use of fly ash bricks.

HC quashes college Act
Statesman News Service CUTTACK, May 18: The Orissa High Court today quashed the Orissa Professional Education Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Fixation of Fee) Act, 2007. The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice AK Ganguly and Justice N Prusty declared the Act “invalid” on grounds of “legislative competence.” The Act enforced recently had empowered the state government to regulate admission, fixation of fee, prohibition of capitation, reservation in admission and for other measures to ensure equity and excellence in professional educational institutions. The Orissa Management Colleges Association (OMCA), Orissa Private Engineering Colleges Association (OPECA), Orissa Private Medical Colleges Association (OPMCA) and others had challenged the constitutional validity of the Act. The petitions had stated that the Act was “Draconian,” “oppressive” in nature, “transgressed all its limit” and tends to become “a leviathan.” OMCA counsel Mr Gangadhar Rath contended that the legislature lacked competence in framing law on coordination and determination of standards in institutions for higher education or research and scientific technical institutions. “The state does not have the legislative competence to promulgate such an Act,” the High Court observed while disposing off the petitions. The state government, in its bid, to regulate such private institutions had promulgated an Ordinance and then enacted the law in Assembly.

More coaches to trains
Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, May 17: For the convenience of traveling public and keeping in view of the demands of passengers, East Coast Railway has decided to augment additional four coaches each on Puri-Patna Baidyanathdham Express and Puri-Jodhpur Express permanently from 21 and 23 May respectively. After permanent augmentation of four coaches ~ that is ~ one sleeper class coach, two general second class coaches and one composite coach of both AC-2 and AC-3 tier ~ 8449/8450 Puri-Patna-Puri Baidyanathdham Express will run with 17 coaches instead of earlier 13 coaches from 21 May from Bhubaneswar and from 23 May from Patna. The revised composition of Puri-Patna and Puri Baidyanathdham Express will be one AC-2 and AC-3 tier composite coach, one AC-3 tier, nine sleeper classes, four general second classes coaches and two guard-cum-luggage vans. Similarly, Puri-Jodhpur-Puri Express will be augmented permanently with one sleeper class coach, two general second class coaches and one composite coach on 26 May from Jodhpur. Railway Board has also decided to increase the frequency of 850918510 Visakhapatnm-Nizambad-Visakhapatnam from bi-weekly to tri-weekly from 3 July from Visakhapatnam and 4 July from Nizamabad. This train will leave Visakhapatnam on every Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, in the return direction; this train will leave Nizamabad on every Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Postmortem rules out lock-up murder
SNS & PTI ROURKELA, May 18: The cloud of custodial death that was hovering over Sundergarh police has probably been erased after the autopsy report of the deceased. According to the postmortem conducted at the Panposh morgue, the deceased, Chnuilal, who was found dead in the bathroom of the female lock-up at the Brahmanitaranga police station here, had all the marks of suicide. Meanwhile, government has asked the State Human Rights Cell to inquire into the death of a 30-year-old man while in police custody and suspended three police personnel for “negligence and dereliction of duty” in connection with the incident. According to sources, assistant sub-inspector of police Mr Natabar Samal and two constables, including two women, had been placed under suspension in this connection. “My office was yet to receive any official communique in this regard. However, three persons have been placed under suspension,” DIG Mr Pranabindu Acharya said. The postmortem, which was carried out in the presence of the magistrate and the officials of the district administration, established the fact that Chunilal had hung himself inside the bathroom of the female lock-up. The postmortem conducted yesterday established that there was no sign of any torture. Chunilal had a case against him pending since 2004. He was wanted in connection with robbery. Chunilal’s all other accomplishes were, however, acquitted, while he was absconding. His wife, Mali, alleged that some five months back, he was caught by the same police, but managed to give them a slip. And for this reason, he was brought to the police station, tortured and killed, his wife alleged. The body of Chunilal was handed over to his family after the postmortem. There was a large contingent of police at the Brahamanitaranga station apprehending public unrest. Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik had sanctioned Rs 50,000 from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the next of kin of the deceased. A sum of Rs 5,000 was given from the Red Cross fund to the deceased’s wife for performing the last rites.

Kathantara best movie
BHUBANESWAR, May 18: Ms Iti Samant’s maiden production Kathantara and Basanta Sahu’s Sasu Ghara Chali Jibe cornered as many as eight awards each in the 18th Orissa State Film Awards which were announced today. The award ceremony will be held on 30 May. Announcing the award winners for 2005, culture minister Mr SN Patra said Kathantara was adjudged the best Oriya film, while Sidhanta Mohapatra was declared best actor for his performance in Sasu Ghara Chali Jibe. The best actress award was bagged by Anu Choudhury for her role in the same film. The best director, story, music, supporting actor and supporting actress awards were all bagged by the star cast of Kathantara. The special jury award will be given to Basant Sahu for Sasu Ghara Chali Jibe. The Jayadev Award, the highest award for lifetime achievements and contributions to Oriya films, was, however, held back as the jury did not find any suitable candidature and decided to undertake a re-look. It will be given along with the awards for 2006, said the minister. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has been invited as chief guest for the awards function on 30 May, he added. n SNS

Congress blames all on govt
Statesman News Service BALASORE, May 18: Armed with statistics on the poverty index and unemployment and other parameters which put Orissa at the bottom, Congress leaders hammered home their charge that in the seven-year Naveen Patnaik regime, the state had slipped to ignominious depths. The government has miserably failed to address the basic needs of the poor, distressed and underprivileged, while the state has been pushed down to the poorest in the country, they charged. Not a single megawatt of power has been added and industries have come up only on pen and paper, while the unemployment rate is going up, they said. AICC leader Mr Digvijay Singh, Mr V Narayanswami, Mr JB Patnaik, Mr Jayadev Jena, Mr Sarat Patnaik, Mr Sarat Kar, Mr Lulu Mohapatra and a host of others, including OGP MLA Mr Arun Dey, lambasted the government. They were addressing a gathering at the Gandhi Smrithi Bhavan on the occasion of centenary celebrations of satyagraha movement here. The Congress leaders also referred to the Kalinga Nagar incident where 13 tribals were gunned down by the police to facilitate industrialisation. MNCs are funding the BJD and elections are fought with money bags, they said while pointing out huge expenditure incurred by ruling party candidates during the recent panchayat elections. The speakers, who wanted the government to be dethroned at any cost, urged the party workers to start movement like satyagraha across all the districts to bring the Congress back to power. The leader of the Opposition and former chief minister, Mr JB Patnaik, said that he had no lust for power and position and had only one mission ~ ouster of the BJD-BJP government. He added that the moment for change had begun from Balasore with magnificent result in the last panchayat election. Earlier in the day, the delegates held meetings at Inchudi and Sunduri, where satyagraha was held in the district, and, accompanied by Seva Dal persons, paid tributes to those who had associated with the salt moment. Later, a rally of over 7,000 workers was held from Gadagadia to the venue where satyagraha celebration was held.

Orissa IG suspended for ‘misconduct’
Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, May 18: Mr Naveen Patnaik today suspended top IPS officer Mr Sanjiv Marik, IG, following a probe report on allegations that the officer had helped certain people from Jharkhand meet the accused persons in Bhadrak jail. It is for the first time that such an action was taken against an officer of the rank of IG. In fact, Mr Marik was due for promotion to the rank of additional director general within a couple of months. Mr Patnaik refused to elaborate on the charges or the findings of the inquiry conducted by DGP Mr Amarananda Patnaik. He merely repeated disciplinary action has been taken and Mr Marik has been suspended. The DGP on his part refused to share his findings with the media and said he had submitted his report to the government. “It was for the government to take necessary action. I am yet to receive the official order of suspension,” he said. A visibly shocked Mr Marik said that he was not aware of the action. He, however, maintained that he was innocent. “I was not asked or questioned about the allegation after the government had ordered the probe,” he said. Reliable sources said an explanation had been sought from Mr Marik on 16 April, much before the government ordered a probe. The explanation was regarding the visit of three persons from Patna to Mr Marik’s house in Bhubaneswar. Mr Marik had provided them with an escort as they wanted to meet those w ho had been arrested in connection with a robbery case. The four persons were intercepted by Bhadrak police and arrested. Mr Marik had sent his explanation to the DGP. The matter had died down till the media picked it up and raised questions prompting the government to order an inquiry. DGP Mr Patnaik conducted the inquiry and interrogated the jailed persons in connection with the matter. He submitted his report to the government today. However, the fact that no such action had been taken by the same Naveen Patnaik government in certain other cases, including the infamous police constable recruitment scam, raised eyebrows on today’s suspension. Moreover, reliable sources said the inquiry did not find any criminal nexus or liability or conspiracy involving the IG. At best, it was a case of being indiscreet and conduct unbecoming for a highly placed officer. Misconduct was all that had been made out, said the sources while noting that it did not warrant suspension. It found that Mr Marik had been contacted by the three who had come from Patna and he had deputed an escort for them to go to Bhadrak. Police are yet to establish any criminal record of the visitors from Patna. Viewed in this context, the fact that some people wanted to meet those jailed in the robbery case per se cannot be treated as an offence. With no criminal record or intent being established as yet, Mr Marik’s suspension on grounds of his having been contacted by the persons concerned is being interpreted as harsh and demoralising for the police force.

Briefs
Lynch Dhenkanal, May 18: One Antarjami Nayak (33), alleged to be an anti-social, was beaten to death by a group of people at Karmul village under Gondia police station jurisdiction today. According to police, Nayak was terrorising locals who expressed resentment against him. Some people alleged that the incident occurred due to political rivalry. Nayak had created panic in recent cooperative election. Police said when Nayak had threatened some locals and terrorised them today locals beat him to death. n SNSStorm Bhawanipatna, May 18: A hoarding erected over a two-storied building near Ghodaghat was uprooted from its base and fell over a house below, killing a 14-year-old boy Md Kalam on the spot during a storm in Bhawanipatna and neighbouring areas last night. The midnight storm affected many places and paralysed normal life. Trees were uprooted in several places and power supply and water supply disrupted. By Saturday, power supply may be restored, the Wesco officials said. n SNSLandless BHUBANESWAR, May 18: The State Human Rights Commission had asked the government to provide homestead land to the green card holders who did not have land. But, the president of the state green card holders’ development council, Mr Dev Raj Nayak, has told the Press that due to the non-cooperation of the state government, the landless families had not got homestead land from the government. He also added that the state government should devise some programmes for the landless couples who had undergone vasectomy. They should be provided with health and education by the government. Such plans and programmes are necessary in a poverty-stricken state like Orissa. But due to lack of cooperation from the government side, the slum dwellers are still waiting for the implementation of the programmes. n SNS

Tidal waves lash Orissa district
Kendrapara, May 17 (PTI): Huge tidal waves battered the coastline in Kendrapara district inundating agricultural land in three different points since yesterday, official sources said.
The sea turned violent on the new moon's day yesterday and kept smashing against the saline embankments even as heavy rains lashed Mahakalapada block accompanied by strong wind causing panic in villages of the area.
The sources said over 700 hectares of agricultural land under Suniti gram panchayat had been inundated by the leaping tidal waves which spilled over the embankments at Atharabanki, Gabajidiha and Jagatjori.
Similar saline ingress was also reported from Chakada, Gogua and Tantiapala villages.
There, however, was no report of any loss of life or property, the sources said.
Frequent batterings by the sea had partially eaten up Satbhaya village in the area over the last few years forcing the people to shift inland.
A 32-km saline embankment had been constructed in the 1970s to protect the coastal villages in the aftermath of the severe cyclone that hit the Mahakalapada and Rajnagar blocks of the district, located slightly north of the Paradip port killing around 10,000 people in 1971.
The super cyclone of 1999 hit the Ersama block of neighbouring Jagatsinghpur district, little south of Paradip, with disastrous effect. The sea had surged into the mainland several kilometers on both occasions.

Jindal Stainless plans Orissa steel plant
Thu May 17, 2007 8:33 PM IST
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Jindal Stainless Ltd. said on Thursday it plans to set up a 1.6-million tonne integrated stainless steel plant in Orissa in phases, and will invest 56 billion rupees for the first 0.8 million tonnes.
The company is already implementing one round of expansion, which includes setting up a 150,000 tonne ferro alloy unit and 250 megawatt power plant.
The new investment would mark the second phase and there would also be a third phase involving the balance 0.8 million tonnes of steel capacity and another 250 MW of power capacity.
"Most of the equipment for the entire 1.6 million tonne would come in this phase," Director N.C. Mathur told Reuters.
The company would fund the second phase investment mostly through debt, an official said.
Jindal Stainless also said it was increasing the capacity of its Hisar plant to 0.9 million tonnes from 0.6 million tonnes.
Shares in the company ended 0.4 percent lower at 153.65 rupees in the Mumbai market.

Source: IRIS NEWS DIGEST (18 May 2007)Jindal Stainless to set up Rs 56 bn plant in Orissa Jindal Stainless plans to set up a 1.6-million ton integrated stainless steel plant in Orissa state with an investment of Rs 56 billion, reports Economic Times. This project will include a 500 megawatt power plant.The company is also planning to increase the capacity of its Hisar plant to 0.9 million tons from the current capacity of 0.6 million tons.
In January, 2007, the company announced that it is planning to invest an additional Rs 50 billion in its Orissa plant to double its production capacity to 1.5 million tons annually. The company operates through its three plants in Hisar, Visakhapatnam and Jaipur.Shares of the company closed up Rs 0.65, or 0.42%, at Rs 153.65. The total volume of share traded was 84,556 at the BSE (Thursday).

Centre okays proposal for IIHT in OrissaFriday May 18 2007 11:38 IST
BERHAMPUR: Even as the proposal for establishment of an IIT in Orissa was scrapped leading to protests throughout the State, the Centre has decided to establish the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT) at Bargarh.According to Union Minister of State for Rural Development Chandrasekhar Sahu, IIHT would materialise during the next visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Orissa.Sahu had detailed talks with Union Textile Minister Sankar Singh Vaghela in Delhi on Tuesday regarding the developments needed for Orissa.A release issued by Sahu‘s office stated that Sahu had also proposed to the Textile Minister for a National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) centre at Bhubaneswar.The proposal was accepted by Vaghela who promised to open the centre.


Big FM enters Orissa
STATE BUREAU (Posted online: Friday, May 18, 2007 at 0000 hours IST)
BHUBANESWAR, MAY 17: Big 92.3 FM, the initiative of Reliance's Adlabs Films Ltd, launched its Orissa operation on Thursday by formally airing programmes from its Bhubaneswar station.
Bhubaneswar is the ninth station to become operational of the 17 places in the country for which Big FM has got licences in the first round of bidding. The Bhubaneswar station will be heard over a radius of 60km, covering most parts of the central districts of Puri, Khorda, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Dhenkanal and Angul.
Besides music, the station will keep listeners updated with city traffic positions, weather and health tips.
Sudev Datta, associate vice-president, east, told reporters that Big FM is soon going to spread all over the country with an investment of about Rs 40 crore.
In nine months, the station has started airing programmes from nine stations including Bhubaneswar.
Datta said Big FM is expecting licences for some more places in the next round of bidding.
He said Big FM's second station in Orissa will come up by September at Rourkela.

Coach: 5-year-old Indian boy to walk 500km
BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhuanet) -- The five-year-old Indian marathon runner Budhia Singh whose running last year sparked an outcry from rights activists is planning to walk 500 kilometers, according to his coach quoted by media reports Friday.
"I have spoken to West Bengal DG police, Mamata Banerjee, Mithun Chakraborty and lot many IAS and IPS officers in West Bengal. They have all encouraged Budhia for this walk and are ready to give me permission," said Biranchi Das, Budhia's coach.
Budhia will begin in Bhubaneswar in the eastern state of Orissa and finish in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal state. The walk is to begin on June 6 and should take about 10 days, said Das.
While Das argued that the boy's walk would serve as an inspiration to other young athletes, child rights advocates decried the news.
The Women and Child Development Minister has categorically denied permission, and has declared strict action against those who will make Budhia walk such a long distance.
"Orissa High Court has given us full power to take decision for the welfare of Budhia and by no means will we allow Budhia to walk such long distance," said Pramilla Mallick, the minister.
Last year, he attempted to run a 70-kilometre marathon, but doctors stopped him after 65 kilometres when he showed signs of extreme exhaustion.
Afterward, doctors found the boy to be undernourished, anemic and under cardiac stress, and the Orissa state government banned him from running until he is older.
But Das insisted he is looking after the best interests of the boy, whose father died when he was seven months old.
His mother, unable to support him, was about to sell him to another villager for Rs800 (18 U.S. dollars) when the family met Das two years ago.
"I have raised him as my son and I introduced him into running after observing his endurance," Das said, adding that he is an inspiration to other children.
"The aim is to make our children and children all over the world to know that if they start now they can qualify for the 2016 Olympics," he said.

Friday, May 18, 2007
Orissa suspends top cop for alleged criminal links
The Orissa government Friday suspended Inspector General of Police Sanjeev Marik for alleged links with criminals in Bihar, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters here.
Marik, who is also director of the Orissa Police Academy, has been accused of helping a gang of criminals allegedly involved in several bank robberies in the state. This includes a Rs.2.3 million robbery from the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) office in Bhadrak district on Feb 23.
The state government had ordered Director General of Police Amarananda Patnaik to probe the allegations. He submitted his report Thursday.
Marik has been suspended on the basis of Amarananda Patnaik's report, the chief minister said.

Friday, May 18, 2007
Top Orissa cop suspended for alleged criminal links
Inspector General of Police Sanjeev Marik was Friday suspended by the Orissa government for his alleged links with criminals in Bihar, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters here.
Marik has been accused of helping a gang of criminals allegedly involved in several bank robberies in Orissa. This includes a Rs.2.3 million robbery from the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) office at Bhadrak town, 140 km from here, on Feb 23.
Marik, 52, is also director of the Biju Patnaik State Police Academy.
The suspension order was issued after Director General of Police Amarananda Patnaik submitted report of a probe into the allegations against Marik Thursday night.
Marik has been suspended on the basis of Patnaik's report, the chief minister said.
'No police case has been registered against Marik in this connection,' Amarananda told IANS.
Marik, who had earlier refuted the allegations, was not available for comment. His office staff said he had not come in for work.

Top Orissa cop suspended for alleged criminal links
Bhubaneswar, May 18: Inspector General of Police Sanjeev Marik was Friday suspended by the Orissa government for his alleged links with criminals in Bihar, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters here. Marik has been accused of helping a gang of criminals allegedly involved in several bank robberies in Orissa. This includes a Rs.2.3 million robbery from the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) office at Bhadrak town, 140 km from here, on Feb 23.Marik, 52, is also director of the Biju Patnaik State Police Academy.The suspension order was issued after Director General of Police Amarananda Patnaik submitted report of a probe into the allegations against Marik Thursday night.Marik has been suspended on the basis of Patnaik's report, the chief minister said."No police case has been registered against Marik in this connection," Amarananda told IANS. Marik, who had earlier refuted the allegations, was not available for comment. His office staff said he had not come in for work.

Orissa IGP suspended for alleged links with criminalsPosted at Friday, 18 May 2007 18:05 IST
Bhubaneswar, May 18: Orissa's Inspector General of Police Sanjeev Marik was today suspended for alleged links with criminals from Bihar in the first such disciplinary action against any top officer of the state.The decision to suspend Marik, a 1981 batch IPS officer, was taken after Home Secretary Tarun Kanti Mishra and Director General of Police (DGP) Amarananda Pattanayak met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the state secretariat."I have passed orders to start departmental disciplinary proceedings. He has been suspended from service today," Patnaik told newsmen later.The Chief Minister declined to comment on the charges against the police officer. But police sources said one of the charges was that Marik had helped four persons from Bihar who wanted to meet their relatives in Bhadrak jail.The suspension came after the government asked the DGP to inquire and submit a report within seven days.Pattanayak had also visited the jail at Bhadrak to interrogate persons arrested in connection with the IGP's alleged links with criminals and submitted his report to the government last night.Pattanayak had also interrogated Marik on Wednesday during which he reportedly admitted some of the charges levelled against him.Marik had come into the spotlight after a robbery at Bhadrak in February. The robbers opened fire killing two persons while looting over Rs. 20 lakh from two bank employees.In investigations that followed it came to light that some of the criminals had contact with the IPS officer.

Orissa IG suspended for alleged criminals linksFrom our ANI CorrespondentBhubaneswar,
May 18:
Sanjeev Marik, Inspector General of Police, Orissa was today suspended for having alleged links with criminals.
The decision was taken after Home Secretary Tarun Kanti Mishra and Director General of Police Amarananda Pattanayak met and briefed Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat about the issue.Patnaik told media persons that he had ordered disciplinary action against Marik and suspended him from service.Patnaik declined to comment on the charges against the Marik, who is a 1981 batch police officer.Marik's name surfaced after a robbery in Orissa's Bhadrak District in February. Over 20 lakh rupees were looted from two bank employees in the theft.Investigations that followed revealed that some criminals had contact with Marik.


Orissa nod to projects worth Rs 7,225 crore
BS Reporter / Bhubaneswar May 19, 2007
The Orissa government has approved four projects in the steel and power sector involving investment worth Rs 7,225 crore.
The decision was taken in the meeting of the high level clearance authority (HLCA), chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here today.
The projects approved include the second-phase expansion of Adhunik Metalics, capacity expansion of KVK Nilachal Power Ltd, setting up of a power plant by Monet Ispat and Energy Ltd and capacity expansion of Tata Power Company Ltd.
While a fresh memorandum of understanding (MoU) would be required for Monet Ispat to set up the power plant, for others, the existing MoUs would be modified, said Industry Secretary Ashok Dalwai.
Dalwai said Adhunik Metalics had signed the MoU with the state government to set up a steel plant with 0.15 million tonne a year capacity at Kuanarmunda, near Rourkela.
The company has proposed a second-phase expansion which will take the production capacity to 0.26 million tonne a year. Post-expansion, the total project cost will go up to Rs 437 crore from Rs 197 earlier.
For steel production, the company will shift to a mini blast furnace route from the present sponge iron route, post-expansion, he said.
KVK Nilachal Power’s proposal seeks expansion of capacity from the existing 600 Mw to 1,200 Mw. This will take the total cost of the project to Rs 5,000 crore from Rs 2,580 crore earlier.
The state is likely to get Rs 180 crore in the form of taxes and other levies. That apart, Orissa can purchase 270 Mw power at the rate decided by the power regulator. About 1,320 persons will be employed in the project.

Bar on walking
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Bhubaneswar, May 18: Marathon runner Budhia Singh’s forthcoming padyatra from Bhubaneswar to Calcutta may be stalled if Orissa women and child welfare minister Pramila Mallick decides to have her way.
Budhia’s coach Biranchi Das had announced that the child would not run, but “walk” all the way to Calcutta, covering a distance of 500 km in a huge padyatra. Sulabh International, the lavatory chain, had pledged its support to the padyatra.
However, today Mallick said the Khurda child welfare committee, which has challenged Budhia’s coach’s decision of a marathon in high court, has the authority to decide whether Budhia may be permitted to undertake such an arduous task. “They would decide if the little boy can be allowed to undertake such a long journey by foot,” she emphasised.
Mallick, who has long been engaged in a bitter war of words with Budhia’s coach Biranchi, said the committee will shortly take a decision on the matter. The Orissa High Court has already ruled on January 25 that the CWC has authority to summon Biranchi Das for probing alleged cruelty to the child.
But Das seems unperturbed and says the padyatra will go on as per schedule. He says he has already faxed a letter to the West Bengal DGP seeking his permission. And that leaders of Trinamool Congress have expressed their interest in felicitating the child in Calcutta.
Das said the boy has already started practising for the big day on June 6.
The 10-day-long padyatra will terminate at Dharamtala in Calcutta.