No starvation deaths in Kashipur: Patnaik

By Prafulla Das

BHUBANESWAR, SEPT. 6. The Orissa Chief Minister, Mr. Naveen Patnaik, said today that there had been no starvation deaths in the tribal-dominated Kashipur block of Rayagada district. The deaths had taken place due to ``food poisoning and diseases''.

Mr. Patnaik's denial came following a private television channel's claim that the Chief Minister had ``finally admitted'' to starvation deaths in Kashipur.

``I have been given to understand that Star News is telecasting since this afternoon that I have admitted to starvation deaths in Kashipur. This is completely untrue. It is untrue that I have said to anyone at any time that there have been starvation deaths in the area,'' Mr. Patnaik said.

Addressing a crowded press conference here on his return from a trip to Kashipur, Mr. Patnaik said Kashipur had been an area of neglect during the successive Governments in the past.

Mr. Patnaik said that during his visit to Panasguda and Bilamal villages, where 11 people had died, he found that the PDS rice was available. The persons who had died in Kashipur had collected their quota of PDS rice.

The Chief Minister said 20 persons had died in Kashipur between July 27 and August 20. A team of medical experts from the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur, which investigated 15 deaths in Panasguda, Bilamal and Pitajodi, had concluded that the deaths took place due to food poisoning.

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