Rs3 cr property gutted in B’ngir cotton mill
Balangir: Cotton bales worth around Rs3 crore were reduced to ashes when a major fire broke out at the Samaleswari Cotton Mill at Chacherabenga in the Belpada area of Balangir district late on Friday night. The fire emanated from the cotton stock in the warehouse and soon engulfed around 220 tonnes of cotton stashed in the mill. Though firemen from Belpada were pressed into service, the damage was already done by the time the fire was doused. While the reason behind the fire mishap was yet to be established, no casualties were reported.
NREGS Assistant held on graft charge
Cuttack: Keonjhar district’s Patna Block NREGS Assistant lalit Kumar Mohanta was arrested by Vigilance officials on Saturday for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs10,000. Mohanta had demanded bribe from one Santosh Kumar Mohanta of Badabaliposi village in the district for issuing work order. On Santosh Kumar Mohanta’s complaint, a trap was laid and lalit Kumar Mohanta caught red-handed by Vigilance officers in his office room.
Ganja plants worth over Rs4 cr destroyed
Phulbani: A joint team of police and Excise officials destroyed illegal ganja cultivation on 52 acres of land at Sripanjeripanga and Panga under Sadingia gram panchayat in Kandhamal district on Saturday. A total of 46, 800 hemp plants worth Rs4, 68,00000 were destroyed. A total of 45 labourers, 20 police personnel and 15 excise staff were engaged for cutting and destruction of the plants that was held from 8 am to 3.30 pm.
Two youths die in S’garh road accident
Rourkela: Two youths died when the bike they were riding dashed against a tree on NH-143 at Juniani under the lahunipada police station in Sundargarh district on Saturday. The deceased were Bikash Munda (19) of Sisudihi and Pradip Kishan (20) of Tikriposh of the Bonei police limits.
Yudhisthir Das remembered in JSpur
Jagatsinghpur: Former Assembly Speaker, freedom fighter and socialist leader Yudhisthir Das was remembered on his second death anniversary at a function at Rahadinga village under Raghunathpur block on Thursday. Excise Minister Damodar Rout was chief guest. MlAs Pratap Jena and Rajashree Mallick and educationalists Manorama Mohapatra and Baistamba Samal and former Speaker Sarat Kumar Kar participated in the programme as chief speakers. The guests highlighted Das’ manifold activities during his time and said Das had dedicated his life serving downtrodden people.
Samarendra gets Sahitya Darpan award
Jajpur: Storyteller Samarendra Baliarsingh has been conferred with the Sahitya Darpan Galpa Samman for his contribution to Odia fiction writing. Odia magazine and literary organisation Sahitya Darpan felicitated him at its 17th annual function and literary meet held at the Dharmasala Press Club at Jaraka recently. Renowned poet Jayant Mahapatra gave away the award to Baliarsingh. The function was presided over by social worker Sangram Jena and coordinated by Sahitya Darpan editor Bimal Pati. Among others, poet Dr Rajkishore Padhy, Prof Manoranjan Mahanty, Prasant Kumar Biswal and magazine chief editor Trilochan Raut were present.
JSPl gets IndiaCSR Award for Best CSR Practices
Bhubaneswar: The JSPl received the IndiaCSR Award for Best CSR Practices for its water conservation and watershed development activities in Angul district. JSPl Group Chief Sustainability Officer Miniya Chatterji received the award from BIMTECH Director Dr Harivansh Chaturvedi in presence of Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs Chief Programme Executive (CSR) Mukesh Kumar and IndiaCSR.in Editor Rusen Kumar. “Watershed programme has been one of major focused intervention by the JSPl for enhancing the farmers’ lives and livelihood on a sustainable basis. Such national recognitions will further strengthen our efforts for enhancing quality lives in Angul,” said JSPl Angul Unit ED DK Saraogi.
NSpur Sishu Mandir annual sports conclude
Narsinghpur: The 14th annual sport festival of the Saraswati Sishu Mandir here concluded on Saturday. Educationist Sachhidananda Panda chaired the valedictory ceremony. Minority Development Officer Nishankar Sahu was present as the chief speaker and awarded the successful players. Social worker Tripura Dehury and sprinter Amiya Kumar Mallick were present as guests, among others. Founder of the organisation Bijay Kumar Panda coordinated the programme and gave welcome address. Headmaster Pratap Chandra Mohapatra gave vote of thanks.