Bhubaneswar, April 8: National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) will install solar electrification systems at 163 periphery villages in tribal-dominated Damanjodi sector of Koraput district, where the company's mines & refinery complex is located.

The Rs 9-crore-worth project will be executed through the Nalco Foundation, the CSR arm of the company. The foundation has, as a pilot project, installed 30 solar street lights at two villages, an official announcement said.

Besides, Nalco has also received proposals from public representatives and the district administration to take up various projects towards infrastructure development at the villages around Damanjodi and Pottangi. On this account, Nalco is planning to implement 49 projects for Rs 15.83 crore in the first phase, and in the second, 32 projects will be implemented for Rs 24.33 crore, it said.

Nalco has taken steps in the field of employment generation for the project affected people in Damanjodi sector. It has provided jobs to 600 land-displaced persons and identified 235 substantially affected persons, who have lost one-third or more land for the project. They will be provided with employment.