Petroleum Minister launches sale of 5kg LPG cylinders in city

--also launches subsidy LPG connection for BPL families

BHUBANESWAR: Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday launched two schemes of his ministry, sale of 5kg LPG cylinders and subsidised LPG connection for BPL families of the country, in a public function held at Salia Sahi slum in the city.

Pradhan launched the sale of 5kg cylinders under free trade LPG (FTL) scheme in the city to cater the LPG requirements for all sections of society including economically weaker families, students and migrant labourers who do not have proof of address due to acquiring residence on temporary basis. Such customers can buy 5 kg LPG cylinder at market price. 

Oil India officials said the FTL scheme could be available at nine retail outlets in Bhubaneswar and four retail outlets in Cuttack. Subsequently the sale of cylinder under FTL scheme is proposed at various locations of Udyan Fresh outlets in the city, they added.

The officials said that there is also a waiver of Rs 500 for getting a 5kg connection for the BPL families which includes Rs 350 security deposit and Rs 150 as cost of regulator. One consumer can avail 34 5kg subsidized cylinders in a year at the cost of Rs 161 under the scheme, they added.

Pradhan also launched another scheme to provide new LPG connections to the below poverty line (BPL) families at a concessional rate for three months. “BPL category people can get a new LPG connection with a rebate of Rs 1600 for 14.2 kg cylinders. 

The rebate includes Rs 1450 as security deposit for cylinder and Rs 150 as cost of pressure regulator.

Wild jumbo again enters Nandankanan Zoo

--staff trying to disperse it anyway

BARANGA: A wild jumbo, which had entered the Nandankanan Zoological Park’s elephant safari by breaking its boundary wall on the wee hours of Wednesday, entered the zoo again on Friday early morning.

The wild pachyderm belongs to the Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary, said zoo official sources. 

After entering into the safari which housed three elephants, Prema, Basanti and Hira, the jumbo had created disturbances by attacking its inmates. It attacked female elephant Basanti repeatedly in the safari, said a staff of the zoo. 

The zoo authorities have started an operation to disperse the wild animal. To keep eye on the elephant, zoo employees were deployed at the safari. 

The zoo official sources said the jumbo would be dispersed by evening to ensure the visitors’ safety in the zoo area. In worst case, the animal would be tranquilized by the zoo staff to shift it from the zoo, sources said.  

Notably, a wild elephant had trampled a woman to death at Chunakoli Basti under the Chandrasekharpur police station in the city recently. The wild elephants from Chandaka forest used to enter the city due to damage of trenches around the sanctuary area.    

  

State-level theatre fest from Jan 12 in Brahmapur

BRAHMAPUR: Four-day long 7th State-level Theatre Festival organised by the Odisha Natak Samaroha Samitee (ONSS) would begin from January 12 in the city. 

It was informed by the ONSS president Anil Kumar Patra after attending a preparation meeting held here on Saturday afternoon. 

Patra said theatre groups of Bhawanipatna, Bhubaneswar, Puri, Ganjam and Rourkela would participate in the festival. He also informed that his organisation would also organise zone level theatre festival along with the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademy. 

ONSS secretary Dr Mihir Tripathy, Sankarshan Sabat, Arati Patnaik, Bimal Sahu, dramatist Raju Padhy and other members of the organisation were present in the preparation meeting.                  

Hijack threat: Security tightened at Bhubaneswar airport

BHUBANESWAR: The Biju Patnaik International Airport on Sunday tightened security here following an intelligence alert that terrorists may hijack Air India flights going to Afghanistan, official sources said.

The Central security forces were deployed in the airport to keep a tab on the activities of every person. The airport was covered with four-layer security, official sources said.   

The security forces were checking passengers minutely before entering into the airport. They were deployed in front of the airport terminals also.     

“It’s a serious issue that somebody has threatened the Kolkata airport to hijack Air India plane. We have taken all measures in our airport according to security point of view,” said airport Director Sharad Kumar. 

Notably, Air India told that their control room in Kolkata on Saturday received a call from an unknown person who said the Kolkata-Kabul flight would be hijacked but it later turned out to be a hoax.

In 1999, Indian Airlines flight IC 814 was hijacked by terrorists who took it to Kandahar in Afghanistan and demanded the release of three terrorists from Indian prisons in return for the passengers.

Continuous effort can make BU excellent institute: Pradeep Panigrahy

--noted poet Keki N Daruwalla gets first Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja national award

BRAHMAPUR: “Continuous effort of the management and professors of the Berhampur University can make it an excellent institute in the country,” said Higher Education Minister Pradeep Panigrahy while inaugurating 49th foundation day ceremony of the university here on Friday.  

Panigrahy called upon the professors, university management, students and intellectuals to help the university to get a good position in the country’s education map. He expressed happiness over the university’s progress and hoped for a prosperous day ahead. 

On the occasion of the foundation day, noted poet and Padma Shri award winner Keki Nasserwanji Daruwalla was conferred on first Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja national award for his excellent continuation towards the field of poem. The award instituted by the university in memory of Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja carries Rs 1 lakh, shawl and citation. 

Besides, noted dramatist Raju Padhi and painter Dr Durgaprasad Das were also felicitated by the university authority. 

Vice Chancellor Prof Deepak Kumar Behera chaired the inaugural ceremony, while Registrar Manmath Nath Padhy presented annual report.