Vedanta’s Anil Agarwal Camps In Odisha To Get Clearances For All His Projects

Looks like India’s aluminium king Anil Agarwal is now into full scale PR exercise with the Odisha government. Agarwal, chairman of Vedanta Group, is meeting Odisha chief minister CM Mohan Charan Majhi and his team because the group’s controversial Sijimali bauxite mine project is facing the scrutiny of both environmental and forest clearances amidst local community’s opposition. Agarwal’s objective of camping in Bhubaneswar is to ensure Odisha government’s absolute buy-in of Vedanta’s project requirement. The rumour is Vedanta intends to have a joint press conference post his meeting with CM and his senior team. Already Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja is coordinating with all respective stakeholders to accelerate Vedanta’s $ 20 bn investment into aluminium project. Agarwal who is saying his big investment in Odisha is part of “nation building exercise” which will not only boost industrial growth but also create job opportunities in Odisha. It is learnt that Agarwal is dangling the carrot to Odisha government saying once the bauxite plant gets the government’s green signal, he will also set up downstream aluminium park in Odisha. Sources say Odisha will play along with Agarwal as Vedanta Group is committed to big investment in Odisha; Rs 1.27 lakh crore to set up a 3 MTPA aluminium smelter in the Dhenkanal district, Rs 1 lakh crore to develop 6 MTPA aluminium refinery in Rayagada as well.