Vigilance raids in four districts

Bhubaneswar: Following allegations of corruption in the implementation of mid day meal scheme, vigilance sleuths on Thursday raided the office of the social welfare board in four districts. Raids were conducted in Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Balasore and Ganjam. The vigilance teams conducted simultaneous raids and reviewed the quality of rice and dal being supplied for the purpose in these districts.

Tourism boost

Bhubaneswar: The Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) has announced that it would sign an MoU with a United Nations organisation, Global Cooperation Society (GCS), based in South Korea. The step has been taken by both the countries to develop tourism in the state, which has many Buddhist centres that attract people from South Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and China. Jyotiskar Mohapatra, chairman, OTDC, and Hong Ki Kim, GCS ambassador to the United Nations informed that as a part of the tie-up, the Jellonamdo province of South Korea will be given sisterhood status with Orissa. GCS will facilitate tourism promotion programmes of the state in various countries across the world.

Techie dies

Bhubaneswar: The body of Pradeep Mishra, a young software engineer who was killed in a road mishap near New Jersey in the US, will reach here on Monday. Mishra was driving back to his house from office when he reportedly met with an accident in New Jersey. His body has been recovered and the driving license seized from the spot. He was working with Microsoft in the US.

Cop arrested

Bhubaneswar: A homeguard in Balangir was arrested on Thursday after allegedly trying to steal a bicycle. The accused, Uday Narayan Sahoo, was deployed at the government bus stand from where he tried to lift a bicycle. The constable has been forwarded to court.

Tribal protest

Bhubaneswar: Tribals from at least three villages in Rayagada on Thursday gheraoed the district collectors' office demanding adequate rehabilitation and compensation against the setting up of aluminium company in the area. The villagers had recently been issued notice to vacate the area for the setting up of the company.

NGO help

Bhubaneswar: The Berhampur Municipal Corporation has decided to involve NGOs to help its sanitation drive. This was decided at a workshop on sanitation held on Thursday. A team from Bangalore and Bhubaneswar will be preparing a plan on issues like water and sewerage, informed mayor Sibashankar Sahoo.