Vedanta to invest Rs 25,000 cr in Orissa

Armed with 'Stage I' clearance, mining major Vedanta has announced its plan to start bauxite mining project in Orissa's Niyamgiri Hills within a month and to invest Rs 25,000 crore more for its aluminium units in the state in next two years.     

"We are going to start our bauxite mining project within a month from today for which Stage I clearance has already been granted," Vedanta Resources Chairman Anil Agarwal said after a meeting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here last night.     

Asked whether the bauxite mining project could start this month itself, he said 'may be'.     

Asserting that Vedanta was going full steam in implementing its Orissa projects despite economic recession, Agarwal said the company has already invested Rs 25,000 crore in the state and an equal amount would be pumped in during the next two years.       

Stating that he discussed all aspects of Vedanta's Lanjigarh and Jharsuguda projects with the Chief Minister, the Vedanta Resource Chairman said the company has applied for raising the capacity of its refinery up to 6 mtpa.       

Work for the power plant at Jharsuguda was also being accelerated with a request made for allocation of coal blocks, he said adding that Orissa has immense coal reserves.

A proposal mooted by the Chief Minister for setting up a metal park in Orissa was also discussed at the meeting where Agarwal congratulated Patnaik for his party's landslide victory in recent elections.     

Vedanta would soon implement projects in Kalahandi for eradication of malaria and mid-day meal scheme for 30,000 children, while about 1,000 'anganwadis' have been adopted by the company benefiting about 20,000 children, he said.     

On the university project near Puri, Agarwal said construction work for the world class institution would start very soon. "We expect the bill regarding setting up of the university to be passed soon. We have furnished documents necessary for the purpose," he said.     

He said the Chief Minister was keen about setting up of a trauma care centre with modern facilities in Bhubaneswar.     

"We will definitely consider the proposal."