Orissa: 3 central PSUs pull out of Rs 5 meal scheme

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Everyday 25,000 people visiting these cities and towns for various works would get low-cost lunch at various ‘Aahaar’ outlets at bus stands, railway stations, hospitals and other crowded places. Though each meal would cost Rs 20, the corporates were supposed to pitch in for the Rs 15 subsidy. The outlets will remain open between 11 am and 3 pm.

The state government was banking on central PSUs like Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) and National Aluminium Company (Nalco) for sponsoring the project. But in the past three days, the three have backed out. While MCL was asked to provide assistance for Sambalpur, SAIL was to support the scheme in Rourkela and NALCO in Bhubaneswar.

Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) has been roped in for Cuttack and Tata Steel for Berhampur.

“All three have pulled out. We are surprised over the last minute decision. But it would not affect the launch of the scheme. We have our state PSUs to back the scheme,” said state Urban Development Minister Pushpendra Singhdeo.

The developments threaten to shadow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s April 1 visit to Rourkela Steel Plant to inaugurate its modernised units with some BJD leaders suggesting that Patnaik may stay away from the function. The CM’s office, however, rubbished any such speculation.