Article Posted on : - Jul 28, 2017

BHUBANESWAR (PTI): Odisha Government has formally named the Outer Wheeler island in Bhadrak district as APJ Abdul Kalam Island as a tribute to the former President on his second death anniversary on Thursday.

The revenue and disaster management department on Wednesday issued a gazette notification after obtaining no objection certificate from the Ministry of Home Affairs, said revenue and disaster management minister Maheswar Mohanty.

Mohanty handed over a copy of the gazette notification on Thursday to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who had earlier announced to name the Wheeler Island after Dr. Kalam.

Patnaik paid tribute to Dr. Kalam at a function on the occasion of the former President's second death anniversary.

He recalled Kalam's emotional attachment with the Interim Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Balasore district and the Wheeler Island in Bhadrak district.

Kalam had spent most of his time in these two places as part of his efforts to develop missiles for the protection of the country, the Chief Minister said after paying floral tributes.