Bhubaneshwar, Nov 26 : The winter session of Orissa Assembly begins on Wednesday.

The first supplementary statement of expenditure for the year 2008-09 will be presented during the session.

The Orissa Municipal Corporation Amendment bill, Orissa Contingency Fund bill, the Orissa Reservation of Vacancies of Posts and Services Amendment bill and the Orissa Doctors and Health Service workers Protection bill are among eight bills to be introduced during the session.

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.

The SDJM Court of Baliguda in Kandhamal district has postponed the hearing of controversial Nun rape case till Dec 6.

'No petitions were filed before the court today (Monday) either by the crime branch or by the nun. The court posted the date in the case to Dec 6 without making any observation,' Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) B. Loknath Dora said.

The Court had issued a notice the nun last month, directing her to be present at the TIP at Baliguda Nov 10. Subsequently the date was changed to Nov 19 following her petition for more time.

Authorities in Orissa have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in some parts of the riot-hit Kandhamal district on Monday to prevent a rally planned by tribals.

The Kui Samaja Kalyan Samittee had announced to hold a massive rally at Parampanga village. The rally was planned to protest alleged police atrocities against innocent tribals.

"We have clamped prohibitory orders in Daringbadi area and banned the rally as it may flare up tension in the region," a district police official said.

Bhubaneswar, Nov 21 : Unable to withstand the loss and sufferings, hundreds of milkmen in Bhubaneswar on Friday, took to the streets with milk cans on their heads and pour it on the road, in front of the collector''s office.

According to the protestors, the state government headed by Naveen Patnaik, is showing apathy towards the issues relating to the milk producers.

Milkmen, together with their milk cans, gathered in front of the District Magistrate''s office and poured 5,000 litres of milk on the road.

Bhubaneshwar, Nov 20 : A Group of Ministers (GOM) sent from the Centre to Orissa''s Kandhmal District has announced a six-point strategy to strengthen peace, normalcy and communal harmony in the area.

In a review meeting with State Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, the Central Ministers asked the State Government to protect the lives and properties of minorities in the district.

The three-member group led by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar assured the State Government of the Central Government''s support on confidence building measures for people in Kandhamal.

Pawar said a report would be submitted to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on the visit.