Naveen opposes privatisation of Text Book Press

Bhubaneswar, Sep 19 (UNI) Taking exception to the Centre's move to privatise the Bhubaneswar Text Book Press, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today urged the Urban Development Minister to reconsider the proposal.

In a letter to Jaipal Reddy, the Chief Minister said the Text Book Press should be modernised instead of being privatised as it was running smoothly and earning profit.

He said the Centre had gone for modernisation of Text Book Press in other states which had gone sick and urged the Union urban Development Minister to reconsider the proposal.

In fact, the Centre decided in 2002 to privatise the Text Book Press in Bhubaneswar however then Mr Patnaik intervened into the matter and dissuade the Centre to privatise the Text Book Press.

The Text Book Press was set up in 1972 with the assistance from the UNESCO. The Centre in its notification issued on July 24 had decided to privatise the Text Book Press, Official sources said.

UNI DP JYN RA VC2125