Bijay Patnaik

Bhubaneswar, May 2: The Single Window Clearance Committee today cleared proposals for establishment of four more industrial projects, including two thermal plants and a petroleum downstream unit, involving a total investment of Rs 1,045 crore.

Chief secretary Bijay Patnaik chaired the meeting at the state Secretariat.

Industry secretary T. Ramachandru said the high power committee gave its nod to a proposal submitted by the Primo Power and Infra Limited for setting up a 60 megawatt thermal power plant in Nayagarh district at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore.

Similarly, another proposal was submitted by the Konark Kranti Energy Limited for establishing a 110 megawatt thermal power plant at Baliapara in Boudh district with an investment of Rs 435 crore, said Ramachandru.

Official sources said MoUs for the above two thermal projects were likely to be signed soon following nod from the Single Window Clearance Committee, which is empowered to clear industrial projects with investment below Rs 1,000 crore.

Earlier, as many as 29 independent power producers have signed MoU with the Orissa government for setting up thermal power plants with a total generation capacity of 38,000 megawatt.

Most the above thermal plants were proposed to be set up at the coal belt of Talcher in Angul district and IB valley in Jharsuguda district.

The Konark Kranti Energy Limited has also proposed to set up a petroleum downstream unit in Paradip with an investment of Rs 200 crore and a petroleum storage tank near Dhamra port site at an estimated cost of Rs 110 crore.

The public sector Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) is setting up an oil refinery and petro chemical complex near the Paradip port.

There is also a proposal for establishment of a petroleum and petro chemicals investment region near Paradip with the IOCL as anchor tenant. So far, more than 80 private companies have signed MoUs with the Orissa government to set up various industrial projects with an aggregate investment of Rs 5 lakh crore.

Most of the proposed projects are to be located in mineral rich belt or coastal areas.

Realising that concentration of industries in one region will create pollution, displacement and water scarcity problems, the Orissa government has now advised the new applicants to set up their projects in the undivided Koraput-Balangir-Kalahandi (KBK) districts and other backward regions. Particularly, the alumina and power-based industries will be encouraged to set up their units in these areas.