HLCA of Orissa approves seven projects

The High Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) of Orissa has approved seven new projects worth Rs 67,445 crore.

Of these, five are in the power sector with a cumulative capacity of 9,640 MW and involving a total investment of Rs 48,525 crore. These projects are of NTPC, Orissa Thermal Power Corporation (OTPCL), BGR Energy Systems, J R Powergen and Adhunik Power & Natural Resources.

NTPC proposes to set up a 3,200 MW coal based power plant on 3,000 acre at Darlipali in Sundergarh district at an investment of Rs 18,000 crore.

OTPCL plans a 2,000 MW power plant at Rengali in Angul district at a cost of Rs 8,250 crore. The project is to come up on 2,100 acre.

BGR Energy Systems is setting up a 1,320 MW (2×660) super critical power project at Bhapur in Nayagarh district on 1,100 acre at an outlay of Rs 6287.93 crore.

J R Powergen is setting up a 1,800 MW (3×600) power plant at an investment of Rs 7988.90 crore. Adhunik Power plans to set up a 1,320 MW power plant at Birmaharajpur with an investment of Rs 8,000 crore.

The other two projects which got the HLCA nod include a Rs 3,100-crore integrated steel project to be set up by Tata Sponge Iron and a mega auto park-cum-steel and power complex to be set up by Amtek Metal & Mining at a cost of Rs 15,820 crore.

POSCO, OPTCL sign deal to draw power

POSCO India, which received Stage II clearance from the MoEF for its 12 million tonne steel plant at Jagatsinghpur in Orissa, recently signed an agreement with Orissa Power Transmission Company (OPTCL) to receive 24 MW power.

The power is to be utilised by POSCO for its construction activities at the plant site near Paradip as it has initiated various activities including infrastructure development to expedite the project work.

After making detail design and getting approval from OPTCL, the company is likely to begin the tower construction work to draw this power and the power supply will be operational from March 2012.

Work commenced on Angul-Budhapal road project

The strengthening and widening work of the proposed Angul-Chhendipada-Sarpal-Budhapal road in the coal bearing areas of Angul (Orissa) has begun with the first patch of road measuring 8 km (from 15 km to 23 km).

The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 153.27 crore, which includes Rs 137.75 crore for the construction of 51.05 km of road and construction of a 4.5 km bye-pass at Angul at a cost of Rs 15.51 crore. The project is expected to be completed by December 2010.

Nabarangpur will have a Maize processing complex

LMJ International of Kolkata plans to set up a maize processing complex in Nabarangapur district of Orissa at an investment of around Rs 150 crore.

The company is likely to sign an MoU with the Orissa Government soon. The district administration has agreed to provide 125 acre for the purpose at Dhodra area in the district. While around 60 acre will be allotted in Phase I, the remaining 65 acre is expected to be provided in Phase II.

The maize processing complex is likely to help raise the income level of maize producers in the state through enhanced production as well as better processing and marketing.

SSWCC of Orissa approves 19 projects

The State-level Single Window Clearance Committee (SSWCC) of the Orissa Government has sanctioned the proposals of 19 projects, including 10 new projects, with a combined value of Rs 30,000 crore.

The SSWCC cleared the proposal of Aditya Alumina for expansion of its refinery from 1 to 1.5 million tpa, captive power plant from 65 MW to 900 MW at Raygada in Orissa. The Company is likely to invest in excess of Rs 5,000 crore for the expansion.

Amtech Auto’s proposal to construct an auto complex at Tangi near Chowdwar at a cost of Rs 15,820 crore has been given a go ahead. The proposed complex is expected to have a 2 million tpa steel plant, a 500 MW thermal power plant. The state government is likely to provide 2,500 acre for the purpose.

Likewise, the SSWCC approved the Adhunik Metalicks’s proposal to set up a stainless steel plant at a cost of Rs 286 crore at Kuanarmunda in Sundrgarh district. The company has sought 300 acre for the project.

Jindal Stainless Steel’s proposal to establish 71 ancillary units, including 24 light engineering, five Auto components and eight kitchen and other units at Kalinganagar in Jajpur district has also been cleared. The Rs 704 crore project may require 300 acre for the purpose.

The other proposals cleared included Gungterman Pieperman’s plan to set up a 500 tpa beneficiation plant at Barbail on 250 acre in Keonjhar and a 500 tpa pelletisation plant Dhamra in Bhadrak district on 100 acre with an investment of Rs 1,608 crore for both the plants and Navabharat Ferro Alloys’ proposal to convert its 94 MW capacity captive power plant into an independent power plant at Khadagprasad in Dhenkanal.

Stage-II forest clearance for Posco’s Orissa plant

Pohang Steel Company (Posco) of South Korea has received the much-awaited Stage II forest diversion clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for its Rs 54,000-crore, 12-million tpa integrated steel project in Orissa.

According to sources, the Ministry permitted diversion of 1,253.225 hectares of forest land for Posco India to set up an integrated steel plant and a captive port. The company requires a total of 5,525 acres, of which 4,004.19 acres is needed for the project site and the balance for the township at Paradeep in Orissa. Of this 4,004.19 acres, 437.66 acres is private land, 607.74 acres is non-forest government land, and 2,958.79 acres is state forest land.

The Centre had granted the Stage I environmental clearance to Posco India in October 2008.

Posco requires around 4,004.19 acres for its project in Jagastsinghpur district of Orissa. Of this, 2,958 acres was marked as village forest and protected forest in state government records. Though the company signed an MoU with the state in June 2005, the latter has not been able to procure any land due to public opposition since much of the area was forest land and needed to be diverted for non-forest use.