Patna, Nov. 18: The cabinet today gave its nod to private investment proposal for setting up a cement factory in Aurangabad district.
“As per the proposal, New Delhi-based Shree Cement Ltd would set up the unit entailing an investment of Rs 337 crore,” cabinet department principal secretary B. Pradhan said.
The company, manufacturer of brands like Bangur and Shree Ultra, would set up its plant in the district, 160km south of Patna, Pradhan said, adding that it would produce 20 lakh tonnes of cement per annum. Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (Biada) provided 67.63 acres on lease for the plant, an official media note stated, adding that the company proposes to set up a biomass-based 12MW captive power plant in order to meet its energy requirement. While 7MW would be used, the surplus power would be sold to the Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Ltd.
Citing reasons for selecting Aurangabad for the proposed project, sources said regular supply of raw material was taken into consideration while zeroing in on the location of this plant. “The raw material (clinker) for Aurangabad plant would come from Chhattisgarh, while fly ash would come from NTPC’s Nabinagar power plant (under construction in Aurangabad at present) and gypsum from Paradeep Phosphates Ltd, Odisha” the sources said. The plant would provide direct employment to 300 skilled and unskilled people.
The cabinet also gave its nod to the urban development and housing department’s proposal to purchase 591 buses under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) at an estimated cost of Rs 257.19 crore, Pradhan said.
Besides purchasing 591 buses, the money would also be spent on construction of bus depots and developing intelligence transport system, he said, adding that these buses would be run in 13 cities and towns, including Patna and Biharsharif (60 buses each), Muzaffarpur and Begusarai (50 each), and Gaya and Jehanabad (40 each).
The cabinet also okayed the parliamentary affairs department’s proposal (itinerary) to convene a week-long winter session of state legislature from December 19. The 15th session of the Assembly and 178th session of the Council would continue till December 26, except on December 20 and 21, which happen to be the weekend besides December 25 being Christmas holiday, Pradhan said.
The cabinet also sanctioned Rs 648 crore for school uniform and other educational material for students of Classes I-VIII in all the primary government, government recognised and government minority schools.
The fund would be spent under Mukhyamantri Poshak Yojana and Mukhyamantri Balika Poshak Yojana. It also approved the law department’s proposal to construct new combined building for Patna sessions court at an estimated cost of Rs 45.78 crore, Pradhan said.
Altogether, 59 decisions were taken in today’s meeting chaired by chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.