By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, October 24, 2019: National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has handed over highest ever dividend to the union government for the year 2018-19.

NALCO chairman cum managing director, Tapan Kumar Chand handed over two cheques totalling Rs 557.80 crore to union mines minister Prahallad Joshi at New Delhi on Wednesday. The two cheques comprised of interim dividend of Rs 436.54 crore and final dividend amounting Rs 121.26 crore.

Mines secretary Anil Mukim, additional secretary K Rajeswara Rao, joint secretary Anil Kumar Nayak, NALCO Director (P&T) Sanjib Roy and other senior officials of the Ministry and the company were present on the occasion.

It may be mentioned that NALCO had declared a total dividend amount of Rs 1072.73crore (excluding Dividend Distribution Tax), 115% of the paid up capital for the financial year 2018-19. This includes the Centre’s share of Rs 557.80 crore.

It may be noted that since inception, NALCO has paid a total of Rs 8539.61 crore as dividend, including Rs 6585.57crore as share of Government of India.