Noted Industrialist, IMFA Founder Bansidhar Panda passes away

ONI Bureau:  Dr. Bansidhar Panda, founder and Executive Chairman of Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd (IMFA) breathed his last at his Bhubaneswar residence on Tuesday. He was 87.

Born in 1931, Bansidhar Panda, a renowned research scientist, returned from the United Sates and choose Therubali, a remote outpost in the erstwhile undivided Koraput district of Odisha to embark upon his dream and IMFA came into being in 1961.

Today, IMFA is a world of enterprise and innovation inspired by its Founders, Dr Bansidhar Panda and Late Mrs Ila Panda.

Dr. Panda, father of MP Baijayant Panda had received Degrees from Banaras Hindu University, Harvard University and Michigan Technological University.

Dr. Panda was previously employed as Member-Governors Board by Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur and Chairman-Governors Board by National Institute of Technology (Rourkela). He also served on the board at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. and Panda Investments Pvt Ltd.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Odisha Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik, BJP state unit president Basant Panda, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and  former Chief Minister Hemananda Biswal condoled the demise of Panda.

Mortal remains of Panda consigned to flames at his native place Madhuban in Barang today evening. Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra and OPCC President Niranjan Patnaik were present at the cremation.