Naveen directive

Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday directed district collectors to lodge criminal cases against the government officials who have included ineligible beneficiaries while preparing the list under Food Security Act.  Naveen also directed the director-general of police and home secretary to take action against officials who have knowingly made mistakes at the time of investigation of cases and to file FIRs against them. He also said that genuine beneficiaries should not be left out of the list at any cost.  

Midday meal

Balasore: A three-member team of World Food Programme on Wednesday visited two schools of the district and checked the midday meal supply. They visited one school each of Sadar and Remuna blocks. Apart from the district education officer, the block education officer and other officials were present.

Posco stand

Bhubaneswar: The BJP on Wednesday asked the state government to make its stand clear on Posco. Senior BJP leader Biswa Bhusan Harichandan asked why the state government was trying to hoodwink the people on the issue. He said though the government was aware that there was no scope for giving a mining lease, it had deliberately stepped up its anti-Centre campaign on the issue to cover up its failures.  

Nalco dividend

Bhubaneswar: National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) has declared a total dividend of Rs 451.02 crore (35 per cent of paid-up capital) for the financial year 2014-15. This includes the government of India's share of Rs 365.01 crore. Since inception, Nalco has paid a total of Rs 5,356.76 crore as dividend, including Rs 4,598.99 crore as share of the Centre. Out of the Rs 365.01 crore payable to the Centre, the company had already paid Rs 260.72 crore as interim dividend in March. The remaining dividend amounting to Rs 104.29 crore was handed over to Union steel minister Narendra Singh Tomar in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Body found

Kendrapara: Police have retrieved the decomposed body of an unidentified man from near the Brahmani riverbed at Kaanrapur village under Aul police station limits here. From preliminary investigation, the cops suspect it to be a case of murder. They are awaiting results of scientific tests.

Dutee honour

Berhampur: Ace sprinter Dutee Chand, who is eyeing a medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics, was felicitated by Madhumaya Panigrahi Foundation at Town Hall here on Tuesday. She said that she wanted to take part in the Olympics next year only in 100 and 200 meters. She said she was undergoing rigorous training in Calcutta under expert coaches.