Finally, Odisha Govt Green Signals Vedanta Group’s Aluminium Project

Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Group has got the green signal from the Odisha government for its big expansion plans. Agarwal has promised to invest Rs 1 lakh crore in the state to not only set up 3 MTPA aluminium smelter plant in Dhenkanal district but also set up Vedanta University over 6,000 acres at Puri. Though the Supreme Court had scrapped the Vedanta University project in Puri amidst protests two years ago terming it illegal but Odisha government has now welcomed Anil Agarwal’s Foundation to set up Vedanta University in Odisha without specifying Puri. Possibly, Vedanta Foundation has to find a new place for its University project outside Puri. People are not against Agarwal but he must follow the law of the land. According to Agarwal, the smelter plant, one of the largest aluminium in the world that will provide 30,000-40,000 jobs locally, will be set up in 42 months to produce 30 lakh tonnes annually. The work is expected to start over the next 3-4 months once the land deal is signed. Besides, Vedanta has also agreed to establish an ultra-modern ferro-alloys plant in Keonjhar district involving an outlay of Rs 2,000 crore.