Jajpur, Feb 14, : Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday visited the site of the Jajpur railway station where Howrah-Chennai Coromandel Express derailed yesterday.

According to reports, 15 people were killed and another 100 injured after the derailment of the train.

More than 1,500 people were aboard the train at the time of derailment.

On Monday, Orissa govt. stated forcefully that it will not permit the state-wide shut-down on Christmas day called by some Hindu groups.

Announcing this in side assembly Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, "No shutdown will be permitted Dec 25. The government will come down heavily on those who try to create any trouble.”

Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Sradhanjali Samiti (SLSSS), an organization linked to Hindu out-fits has threatened to observe Orissa Bandh on Dec 25 if the Govt. fails to arrest all those involved in the murder of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati. 

The police have already arrested seven persons, including four on Sunday in connection with the killing of Swamiji.

The Orissa government has cleared projects worth Rs 1,27, 727 crore covering areas like Steel Complex, Power Projects, Aluminum Smelter, downstream and ancillary projects.

The high-level clearance authority (HLCA) headed by chief minister Naveen Patnaik gave green signal to 15 high-value projects in one go.

The list includes 3 projects in the steel sector, 2 projects in the aluminium sector, 6 projects in the power sector, one downstream unit, and two beneficiation and pelletisation units.

New Delhi, Oct 13 : Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that the recent incidents of violence in the State were a manifestation of the "conflict of interest" between Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, at the National Integration Council (NIC) meeting here on Monday.

While referring to two incidents of communal violence in Kandhamal, Patnaik said there were clashes between members of SC and ST communities in the past due to conflict of interest in matters of land rights, employment opportunities and religion.