Vedanta chief meets Naveen, discusses mining problem at Lanjigarh

The Pioneer, Jan 21, 2010
PNS | Bhubaneswar

Vedanta Resources chairman Anil Agarwal on Thursday called on Chief Minster Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat to find an immediate solution to his company’s bauxite mining problem at Lanjigarh. “Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has assured to provide bauxite linkage to our plant,” he told mediapersons after the meeting was over. “Odisha has the 4th largest bauxite deposits. It has the same topography with that of developed nations like Australia. It has coal, bauxite and alumina,” he said.

Agarwal pointed out that in spite of receiving the Supreme Court’s go-ahead for bauxite mining in Niyamgiri in 2008 the activities were yet to start, resulting in huge loss to both Vedanta and the State as the Vedanta Aluminium unit at Lanjigarh is now sourcing bauxite from other States.

He said the company had already invested Rs 39,000 crore in the State. “Many more projects would come up in the State. On a joint venture with L and T, the Vedanta Alumina would set up a steel plant in the State. Everything has been finalised. A tripartite agreement to this effect would soon be made,” he said, adding that 2 lakh people have already got employment in all these projects. “As per our commitment, we are spending either Rs 10 crore or five per cent of the total profit for the development of the plant site areas in Kalahandi,” he said.

Briefing the Chief Minister about the progress of the company’s 1,400-MW power plant at Jharsuguda, Agarwal said it was due to start operation in June,2010. The 100-bed advanced burn and trauma care centre in Bhubaneswar is also progressing as per the schedule. He assured that Vedanta was committed to develop the Metal Park at Jharsuguda that would promote about 100 medium and small-scale industries and employ 15,000 people. Vedanta would provide hot metal, electricity, technical expertise and R and D support for these units.

As per the request of the State Government, the hostel for the students of the recently-announced Government engineering college at Bhawanipatna would be constructed, he said He thanked the Chief Minister and his Government for their support for construction of Vedanta University at Puri and assured that in order to promote art and culture of the State the company has designed special initiatives to search talent across the State at the grassroots level and nurture them through a proper training system. On being asked about the stiff opposition to the Vedanta University project, he said Odisha was a democratic State. “The local people have given their support to the project,” he said.

Replying to another question that the Jharusguda project was creating pollution, he said the company always adhered to environment norms. “We have zero based discharge,” he said.