Odisha approves fresh investment of Rs 1921 cr in steel sector

The investment proposals were approved at the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLWCA) meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary J K Mohapatra.

The investment proposals included eight steel projects and one in the service sector like a logistic park.

“The proposed investment would provide direct employment for 1873 persons in the state,” said G. Mathivathanan, CMD of the state-owned Industrial Investment Promotion Corporation of Odisha Limited (IPICOL).

The approved proposals included one by Essel Mining and Industries Limited which expressed interest to set up a 1.20 MTPA capacity pellet plant at Koida tahasil of Bonai sub- division under Sundargarh district at an estimated investment of Rs 379 crore.

Other major projects included Arya Integrated Steel Private Limited’s proposed 0.30 MTPA steel plant at village Malada and Dhanurjayapur under Barbil Tahasil of Keonjhar district at an investment of Rs 546 crore.

The SSAB Energy & Minerals Ltd’s 3.00 MTPA iron ore beneficiation plant and 1.8 MTPA pellet plant at Dhanurjaypur under Hormoto block in the district of Keonjhar proposed investment of Rs 248 crore, Mathivathanan said.

Similarly, the proposals of SKJ Ispat Ltd. to set up 0.60 MTPA pellet plant at an investment of 133 crore, K.K.Pellets Pvt. Ltd’s 0.60 MTPA plant at an investment of around 159 crore, Fortune Iron & Steel Ltd’s 0.60 MTPA pellet plant at an investment of Rs 123 crore got the SWCLA’s nod.

Identifying that land acquisition and water allotment for mega industries as two major hurdles before execution of mega steel plants in the state, the SWCLA decided that central agencies like Mecon and others would be engaged in assessing requirements of projects taking the capacity of the proposed industry into account.

“It has also been decided that IPICOL will engage the central government expert agencies for benchmarking of land and water requirement for industries,” Mathivathnan said.

The meeting resolved that industries could not park their vehicles on state and national highways.

“They have to develop their own parking place. Chief Secretary has advised the Industry department not to allow industries to be set up at plants within 500 meter from NH/SH and river beds,” the IPICOL CMD said.

The SWCLA also approved a proposal of Container Corporation of India Limited for development of rail linked container terminal and multi modal logistic park with proposed investment of Rs 70 crore.