Bhubaneswar, Aug. 13: The State-Level Single Window Clearance Authority today approved three industrial expansion projects involving a cost of Rs 16,431 crore and recommended these to the high level clearance, headed by chief minister Naveen Patnaik, for its final approval.

The projects included the proposal to increase the steel-making capacity of Bhushan Power & Steel Limited's plant set up at Thelkeloi in Sambalpur from 2.80 million tonne per annum (MTPA) to 5.5MTPA. The expansion will cost Rs 4,837 crore, said general manager of Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation Limited K.C. Mohanty.

The proposal of Ardent Steel Limited to expand the capacity of its iron ore pelletisation plant from 0.60MTPA to 1.80MTPA and addition to the iron ore beneficiation plant at Phulijhar in Keonjhar district with an investment of Rs 4,031 crore.

The committee also gave its nod to the proposal of Utkal Alumina International Limited for expansion of its alumina refinery capacity from 1MTPA to 1.5 MTPA and that of its captive power plant from 50MW to 90MW with an investment of Rs 7,563.70 crore.

Besides, four projects received in-principle approval of the committee. The committee approved the proposal of Pro Minerals Pvt Ltd to set up an iron ore pelletisation plant at Basantpur in Keonjhar district for Rs 238.97 crore. The proposal of Saraf Agencies Pvt Ltd to set up 15MW captive power plant at Chhatrapur in Ganjam district for Rs 99 crore also received the committee's nod.

The panel also agreed to the proposal of Ramco Cement Ltd to set up 0.9MTPA cement factory inside the IMFA complex, Choudwar in Cuttack district for Rs 406 crore.

The proposal of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd to set up a common user facility for storage of petroleum products at Berhampur in Ganjam with an investment of Rs 280 crore was also approved.

In another move, the state government has set up State Level Facilitation Cell and the District Level Facilitation Cell to address the grievances of industrial units and expedite the grounding of the newly approved projects.

This matter was discussed at the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority meeting held under the chairmanship of chief secretary Gokul Chandra Pati.

Pati directed the facilitation cells at the state and district levels to check the State Monitoring Group and Central Monitoring Group website on daily basis and track the grievances by the industries. The cells have been authorised to take up and resolve the issues raised by the project proponents within a period of 15 days.