Patnaik scraps beer-bottling project in Dhenkanal

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday cancelled the setting up of a beer-bottling plant in Dhenkanal district, two days after a clash between locals and police over the felling of hundreds of trees for the project.

Patnaik's action came on the basis of a report by D V Swamy, the revenue divisional commissioner (RDC) of the northern division, on Monday.

"The chief minister has ordered cancellation of the bottling plant in that location after receiving the report of the RDC on tree-cutting," a statement released by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.

In his report, Swamy said, "The allocation of (the) Bottling plant may be cancelled and alternative site may be provided. Unnecessary felling of trees may be stopped forthwith and immediate plantation should be taken up."