Nalco's Damanjodi alumina refinery expansion plan forwarded to HLCA

The State Government on Friday, last week, approved five projects with an investment proposal of `635 crore in various sectors to create more employment opportunities at a time when the number of unemployed has crossed 10 lakh in Odisha.

The five projects were accorded in-principle approval at the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) meeting presided by Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati. Two of the proposals were approved within seven days of the submission of the application.

The projects include alumina refinery expansion plan of National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) at Damanjodi Odisha's Koraput district. The alumina refining capacity at the plant is to be raised from 2.27 million tonne per annum (mtpa) to 3.27 mtpa. The INR 4,357 crore worth investment proposal has been forwarded to High Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) for consideration.

While approving the projects, the Chief Secretary directed Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited (IPICOL) to make a realistic assessment of land for these projects. Pati also reviewed the progress of the investment proposals approved from 2009-2011. Out of the 111 projects approved during this period, 30 projects have gone into production and 33 projects first tracked for completion till now. The promoters of the rest 45 proposals have been advised to put their projects on first track.