Special scheme on anvil for development of Lanjigarh

The Pioneer, 25th July, 2009

PNS BhubaneswarA Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is being set up for the welfare of the people of the Lanjigarh area in Kalahandi district. The move has been initiated by the Department of Steel & Mines to set up a Lanjigarh Project Area Development Foundation (LPADF) in line with the judgement of the Supreme Court. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has green-signalled the SPV to get registered as a non-profit making organisation. The LPDAF will be registered under section of 25 of the Companies Act-1956 as a non-profit making company. The SC, in its judgements on November 23, 2007 and August 8, 2008, had asked the State Government to float the SPV with the entire funding from the Sterlite Industries India Limited (SIIL). The LPDAF will be headed by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (South) Satyabrat Sahu. There will be nine directors, out of them five will be from the State Government and the Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) and the remaining five from the SIIL. While Collectors of Kalahandi and Rayagada will be among the directors, the conservator of forests based at Bhawanipatna will also hold office in the foundation. The OMC GM will be one of the directors. From the SIIL’s side, the Chief Executive Officer, Vice-President (Mines), General Manager (HR) and Chief Financial Officer of the Lanjigarh Project will be taken on the Board. The Foundation will engage in activities for welfare and development of the people of the area within a radius of 50 km of Vedanta’s Lanjigrah project. People belonging to the poor and weaker section in general and tribals in particular will be taken care of by the SPV.