Naveen writes to Singh

Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday reiterated his demand for imposition of a mineral rent resource tax on iron ore and a ban on export of iron ore. “I hope both these issues will receive your personal attention and the Union government will take immediate steps in the larger interest of the country,” said Naveen, in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Naveen had put forth the demands at the National Development Council meeting last month.

Aerial vehicles

Bhubaneswar: The state government is exploring the use of high-tech radio monitoring devices such as unmanned aerial vehicles for reaching out relief materials and medical aid in the inaccessible areas during disasters. A presentation of unmanned aerial vehicles was made by Tata Advanced Systems at a meeting chaired by chief secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik at the secretariat on Wednesday.

Konark mill

Bhubaneswar: The state government is planning to sell the Konark Jute Mill. The mill at Dhanmandal is running on loss. The mill will be sold for Rs 32 crore. Of total 200 looms in the unit, 40 looms are operational. The work force has been reduced over the years from 1,500 to 200.

Hurt in blast

Paradip: Nine persons were seriously injured in a blast of firecrackers near Kujang Bazar on Cuttack-Paradip state highway. Angry local residents staged a road blockade, demanding award of compensation towards the injured persons. Vehicular movement on the road was disrupted for several hours.

Vigilance raid

Sambalpur: Sambalpur vigilance sleuths on Wednesday raided the office and houses of the assistant engineer of Tileibani block in Deogarh district Prafulla behera on charges of amassing properties disproportionate to his known source of income. The vigilance official conducted the raid at five places simultaneously.

Body found

Cuttack: Body of a woman was recovered from Mahanadi-Birupa Barrage Road at Jagatpur area on Wednesday. Though the identity of the 30-year-old woman is yet to be ascertained, it is being suspected that she was strangulated to death as the body carried injury marks on the neck.