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Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approves PCPIR proposal in Paradeep

Central govt. schemes, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Paradip - Jatadhari - Kujanga, PCPIR, Petrochemicals 1 Comment »

Following is from http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=68211.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the Government of Orissa to set up a Petroleum Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) in Paradeep. This is the fourth PCPIR which has been approved after PCPIRs in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and West Bengal.

A total investment of about ` 277,734 crore is expected in the Orissa Petroleum Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (OPCPIR), which includes a committed investment of ` 29,777 crore. The proposal envisages development of physical infrastructure such as roads, rail, air links, ports, water supply, power etc. at a cost of ` 13,634 crore. The PCPIR policy prescribes that infrastructure will be created/upgraded through Public Private Partnerships to the extent possible and Central Government will provide the necessary Viability Gap Funding (VGF). Accordingly, Government of Orissa (GoO) has sought support from Government of India involving a commitment  of 716 crore on account of VGF funding for one port and three road-related projects.

The total employment generation from the OPCPIR is expected to be about 6.48 lakh persons comprising direct employment to 2.27 lakh persons.

The PCPIR policy is a window to ensure the adoption of a holistic approach to the development of global scale industrial clusters in the petroleum, chemical and petrochemical sectors in an integrated and environment friendly manner. The idea is to ensure the setting up of industrial estates in a planned manner with a view to achieve synergies and for value added manufacturing, research and development.

The Government of Orissa proposes to set up a PCPIR at Paradeep extending over parts of Kujang and Ersama blocks of Jagatsinghpur district and Mahakalpada and Marsaghai blocks of Kendrapara district.

The State Government proposes to implement the Orissa Petroleum Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Region (OPCPIR) under the Orissa Development Authorities Act, 1982, which is an existing State law. The State Government proposes to constitute the Greater Orissa Paradeep Development Authority as the authority in charge of the development of the Paradeep PCPIR.

The delineated region has a strong industrial base with major processing activities at present including Paradeep Phosphates Ltd., IFFCO’s Fertiliser Plant, Essar Steel Plant, Goa Carbons (Paradeep Carbons Ltd), Paradeep Port etc.

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) has been identified as the Anchor Tenant for the Orissa PCPIR. IOCL signed a MoU with GoO in 2004 for setting up a 15 MMTPA grassroot refinery at Paradeep in the first phase at a cost of ` 29,777 crore. The Refinery is likely to be commissioned by March 2012 and should be fully stabilized by November 2012. The Refinery will have a Crude and vacuum Distillation Unit, a Hydrocracking Unit, a Delayed Coker Unit and other secondary processing facilities. It will also have an Integrated Gassification Combined Cycle Plant for production of steam, power and hydrogen from petroleum coke for captive use in the refinery at the cost of about ` 935 crores. A petrochemical complex will be set up at a later date depending on the market conditions.

A Preliminary Environment Assessment Report (EIA) has been conducted. The State Government will carry out a detailed EIA as per the EIA notification.

****

VBA/SH/LV

Hearing from the Horse’s mouth: Excerpts from an interview with Anil Agarwal

Aluminium, Anil Agarwal, Kalahandi, Vedanta 3 Comments »

Earlier some news papers had reported that with the Cairn’s deal and the upcoming IPO of Sterlite Anil Agarwal may become the richest Indian and among the 5 richest in the world. Considering his interest in Odisha (for now in Kalahandi, Jharsuguda and Puri) it is important to know about what he has in mind. An interview is a better medium than articles and propaganda pieces. So here is an excerpt from his interview to CNBC as given in moneycontrol.com.

Q: Let me talk about the other controversy that you are currently dealing with and that is with your Lanjigarh refinery where the ministry of environment or the center has said that you violated environmental norms, you did not have appropriate clearances before you went ahead and actually began construction and your expansion there. You have of course refuted all of these allegations, you have responded to the government showcause notice to you. There was a committee that actually setup, and the committee also said that you flouted the environment norms. is it the end of the road as far as your Lanjigarh expansion plans are concerns? Are you feeling more confident? Have you spoken with Jairam Ramesh? Do you intend speaking with Jairam Ramesh to present your case?

A: Let’s look at the overall picture. This is a story of aluminium. We are in a natural position to produce aluminum which is green metal which is required for human development on a day to day basis. China produces 22 million tonne of aluminium against the 1.5 million tonne that we produce.

In seeing that Rs 45,000 crore has already been invested in the aluminium sector and we are producing aluminium and we are running this plant very well. Now to produce aluminium we need bauxite. That’s a fundamental (requirement) to have bauxite. India has one of the finest and huge reserves of bauxite, of which Orissa has largest bauxite and Lanjigarh area has the largest bauxite and that’s why we setup the plant there.

The intention is that we have already invested the money. At the moment we are buying the bauxite from outside and running the plant which is not natural. We have complied with all the rules. Why would somebody go to Kalahandi and invest USD 2 billion. It’s the most backward area of India. We have gone there and invested on the presumption because here is the bauxite and here development will take place. Lanjigarh and Kalahandi have a different face today.

Q: But the tribal community that is currently based there in the Niyamgiri Hills believes that they don’t want Vedanta, they don’t want your refinery, they don’t want you to mine there. And you’ve had NGO after NGO, you’ve had the Church of England, you have had Bianca Jagger, you have had the Center for Science and Environment, you have had of course the government appointed committee saying that you are in violation of environmental norms. The Center for Science and Environment has gone as far as to say that Vedanta and Anil Agarwal are history sheeters when it comes to environmental violation?

A: You must know that I have used this word not a blade of grass has been moved. What are you talking about violating the norms? Not a blade of grass has been moved on that and that mine isn’t on our name. We were supposed to get the clearance, with the joint venture or the Orissa government was supposed to do and before that this came up. Sometimes I believe that there are vested interests.

Q: You believe this is because of vested interest?

A: I’m just saying because how long India will stop? We have to produce aluminium which is required for our day to day development because thousands of industries are to be developed on the basis of aluminium.

Q: But at the cost of destroying the environment, at the cost of displacing the tribal community that is based there because that’s the allegation?

A: One thing I can tell you as Anil Agarwal, I will never flout. I am more sensitive about our people, our Adivasi people than anybody else. I am more sensitive. Orissa is only bauxite – bauxite – bauxite. We all are working together; we are looking forward to get the bauxite to run our plant.

Q: Is this politics at play? Let me ask you directly do you feel that this is politics at play, that you have gotten caught between the politics of the BJP, the BJD and the Congress party. Rahul Gandhi visited the Niyamgiri region, visited Lanjigarh and said that I am your sipahi in Delhi, I am the tribal community’s sipahi in Delhi. Do you believe that you have gotten caught between the politics of the Congress, the BJP and the BJD?

A: I can tell you that Rahul Gandhi was very clear that he is not against development. He was definitely and we all are with him as far as tribals are concerned. We will make sure that whatever the government policy is and whatever the government wants for the tribal, as far as we are concerned we are not going to touch anything unless it has been completely settled down. But Orissa has huge Bauxite. What you are talking about is may be quarter percent of what they have.

Q: You can shift the location you are saying. That if indeed you were not get clearance as far as mining in this region is concerned you would look at other regions?

A: Because there is only Bauxite. Huge employment will be created; we need aluminium and the 25 years can you believe after Nalco there is no mining which has opened.

Q: Are you going to talk to the Congress, have you reached out to the Congress party? There seems to be a perception that there is some sort of trouble when it comes to the Congress and its relationship with Anil Agarwal, is that a true perception?

A: I don’t have to believe because everything has been done. What you are seeing what has not happened. What you are not seeing is what has happened. We have invested almost USD 20 billion in India, created huge employment, paying huge income tax. There is no reason to believe that government is not with us. Otherwise they will never do it.

But when the question comes of tribals we are with them. When it comes to Cairn Energy I am giving them enough, if there is anything which we can do to take the country into the next level. So if you look at our credentials, we have worked with the government all the time and we have got all our clearances for our power plant, for our aluminum plant.

Q: Jairam Ramesh doesn’t seem to think so?

A: He has given 50 clearances to us, except these two clearances. I am just thinking 40–50 clearance must have come through him.

Q: So what is the problem with these two clearances you think because you continue to believe that you have done everything as far as getting the environmental clearances are concerned, that you have not flouted any norms, why do you believe that we have reached this point where you have been asked not to construct further, not to expand further, there is a status quo as far as your plans for Lanjigarh are concerned?

A: We are in democratic country, we are not in China. When something is there somebody has to address and we all are addressing jointly because my agenda is not different than the government’s. We live in a democratic country and we have to take our society with us.

If you look at it, aluminium is very important metal and we have to make sure that a couple of million tonne of aluminium is added to our country.

Update on various PPP projects in Odisha

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Khordha, Odisha govt. action, PPP, Puri, Sambalpur, SEZs, Sundergarh Comments Off on Update on various PPP projects in Odisha

Following is from a report in Business Standard.

The Orissa government has decided to undertake 14 projects on the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode involving an expenditure of Rs 6,218.02 crore.

A total of 46 projects, to be taken up on the PPP mode, are under the consideration of the state government, A U Singhdeo, minister for Planning & Coordination said in the state assembly.

… The Infocity-II project, one of the major PPP projects, being planned over 600 acres of land at Janla on the outskirts of the city, has gathered some steam after being marred by inordinate delay.

As part of its commitment to expedite this project, the state government has set in motion the process to prepare Request for Qualification (RFQ) for this project.

"An empowered committee of the state industries department has been asked to oversee the bidding process of the Infocity-II project. The RFQ is currently being prepared. The land acquisition for the project has been already completed and environment clearance has been obtained. The state government has also submitted an application to the Government of India for Special Economic zone (SEZ) notification for the project,” the minister said.

The other notable projects in the information technology sector taken up on the PPP mode are Mindspace IT Park involving a cost of Rs 480 crore, the DLF Infopark project entailing an investment of around Rs 1,000 crore and an IT & Corporate Tower being taken up at Chandrasekharpur at a cost of Rs 140 crore.

In the tourism sector, the Empowered Committee on Infrastructure (ECI) has approved the revised Request for Proposal (RFP) for selecting the master developer for the Shmauka beach tourism project being taken up at a cost of Rs 3,500 crore on around 3,000 acres of land at Sipasarubali near Puri.

In the road transport sector, the High Level Clearance Authority of the state government has approved a proposal to seek Viability Gap Fund (VGF) assistance for the four-laning of the Sambalpur-Rourkela road involving a cost of Rs 1,483 crore.

For the Koira-Tensa-Lahunipara road in Keonjhar district, involving an implementation cost of Rs 392.2 crore, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has submitted a draft preliminary report. This project needs 38 per cent VGF as per the toll rates of National Highways Authority of India Ltd (NHAI).

Meanwhile, feasibility study is underway for three other road projects- Shaukati-Dubuna road in Keonjhar district, Tensa-Barsuan-Lahunipara road in Sundergarh district and Chorada-Duburi road in Dhenkanal  Jajpur.

Sambalpur-Howrah via Angul weekly express to commence from Dec 11th 2010

KGP...Lakshannath Rd - Bhadrakh, Railway Budget 2010, Rajathagara - Nergundi, Sambalpur - Talcher, Time table and websites 4 Comments »

Following is an excerpt from http://orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=22808.

As announced in the last Railway Budget, Ministry of Railways has decided to introduce three new trains in East Coast Railway jurisdiction. Puri-Howrah-Puri daily Duronto Express will be introduced from 7th December 2010; Sambalpur-Howrah-Sambalpur weekly Express from 10th December & Puri-Digha-Puri weekly express will be introduced from 11th December 2010.
 
2278 Puri-Horah Duronto Super Fast Express will leave Puri at 06.45a.m and will arrive at Howrah at 01.45p.m. In the return direction, 2277 Howrah-Puri Duronto Super Fast Express will leave Howrah at 02.25p.m and will arrive at Puri at 09.40p.m. This train has One AC Chair Car, 11 Second Class Chair Car and Two Guard vans having no intermediate stoppage.
 
2586 Sambalpur-Howrah weekly Super Fast express via Angul & Bhadrak will leave Sambalpur at 07.55p.m. on Fridays and will arrive at Howrah at 07.05a.m. on the next days. Similarly, in the return direction, 2585 Howrah-Sambalpur weekly Super Fast express via Bhadrak and Angul will leave Howrah at 08.55p.m on Saturdays and will arrive at Sambalpur at 08.10a.m. on the following days. This train has One AC-2 tier, One AC-3 tier, Six Sleeper Classes, Six General Second Class Coaches and Two Guard cum Luggage vans in its composition having stoppages at Rairakhol, Boinda, Angul, Talcher Road, Dhenkanal, Jajpur Keonjhar Road, Bhadrak, Balasore and Kharagpur between Sambalpur and Howrah.
 
2580 Puri-Digha weekly Super Fast express will leave Puri at 11.35p.m on Saturdays and will arrive at Digha at 09.30a.m on the next days. In the return direction, 2579 Digha Puri weekly Super Fast express will leave Digha at 05.15p.m. on Sundays and will arrive Puri at 03.20a.m. on the following days. This train has One AC-2 tier, One AC-3 tier, Eight Sleeper Classes, Six General Second Class Coaches and Two Guard cum Luggage vans in its composition having stoppages at Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Jajpur Keonjhar Road, Bhadrak, Balasore, Kharagpur, Panskura, Tamluk and Kanthi between Puri & Digha. But presently this train will have One AC-2 tier, One AC-3 tier, Five Sleeper Classes, Three General Second Class Coaches and Two Guard cum Luggage vans in its composition.

I am expecting the Sambalpur-Howrah via Angul weekly express to be made daily in the coming years as it newly connects Sambalpur, Angul,Talcher and Dhenkanal to Jajpur Keonjhar Road, Bhadrak, Balasore and Kharagpur and Angul,Talcher and Dhenkanal to Howrah.

Status of Bhubaneswar airport upgradation: Civil aviation minister’s answer to a Rajya Sabha question

BBSR-Bangalore, BBSR-Chennai, BBSR-Delhi, BBSR-Hyderabad, BBSR-Kolkata, BBSR-Mumbai, BBSR-Raipur, Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Bringing International Connectivity, Khordha 4 Comments »

Following is from a report in Business Standard.

The on-going developmental work at the Biju Patnaik airport in Bhubaneswar, which aims to upgrade the airport as an International airport, is likely to be completed by November, 2011.

The expansion work, being implemented by the Airport Authority of India (AAI), envisages construction of new domestic terminal building complex with all modern amenities, which includes two aerobridges at a cost of Rs 145.54 crore.

On completion of these works, the final capacity of the Bhubaneswar airport would be 970 domestic passengers and 348 international passengers during peak hours as per IMG norms, says Union minister of state for civil aviation, Praful Patel.

Funds earmarked for construction of new terminal building and extension of apron was Rs 160.45 crore. Out of this, Rs 24.59 crore has been spent by September, this year, Patel said in response to a query from Rajya Sabha MP, Renubala Pradhan.

The average number of passengers handled by the Bhubaneswar airport daily varies from 2500 to 3150. The average daily passengers handled by the airport was 2637 in April, 2506 in May, 3150 in June, 2657 in July, 2848 in August and 2517 in September this year.

Patel said, the National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) operates daily flights in Delhi-Bhubaneswar-Delhi and Mumbai-Raipur-Bhubanswar-Mumabi sectors and five flights per week in Chennai-Bhubaneswar-Chennai sector.

Similarly, the Jet Airways operates daily flights in Kolkata-Bhubaneswar-Kolkata sector, while Kingfisher Airlines operates Mumbai-Bhubaneswar-Mumbai and Bangalore-Bhubaneswar-Bangalore and Kolkata-Bhubaneswar-Kolkata sector (twice daily) flights.

Indigo operates Delhi-Bhubaneswar-Delhi (twice daily) and Hyderabad-Bhubaneswar-Hyderabad flights.

11km bypass from Bhuasuni temple to Daya bridge to make it faster to travel between Cuttack and Puri

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Cuttack, Khordha, NH 203 (97 Kms: Bhubaneshwar-Pipili-Puri-Konark), NH 5 (488 kms: NH No.6 in Jharkhand - Baripada - Baleshwar - Bhadrakh - Cuttack - Bhubaneswar - Khordha - Brahmapur - upto Andhra Pradesh Border), Puri 2 Comments »

Following is an excerpt from a report in Telegraph.

The traffic woes of the people commuting between Rasulgarh and Samantarapur are likely to come to an end with the construction of the proposed 11km bypass road from Bhuasuni temple to Daya bridge.

Part of the 67.25km NH-203 project, the bypass road will not only provide better and faster communication facilities to the people of 11 villages from Pandra to the Daya bridge near Lingipur, but also help commuters between Cuttack and Puri avoid the congested capital. The project will be undertaken by the Bhubaneswar Expressway Pvt. Ltd, for which tenders have been finalised.

Project director of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Aditya Kumar Ray said the bypass road has been proposed specifically to address the traffic problem on the stretch from Rasulgarh and Samntarapur. …

… Ray said though the work is supposed to start from January 30, land acquisition problems were likely to cause some delay and ultimately the project may kick off in the first week of February.

… The project is likely to be over in two and a half years. To be executed in the design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) mode, the road would be handed over to the NHAI by the operators after 29 years.

Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for Selected Tribal and Backward Districts; 25 and 30 crores per year per selected district; KBK districts to get this in addition to 130 crores under BRGF

Balangir, BRGF: Backward districts program, Central govt. schemes, Kalahandi, KBK Plus district cluster, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Programs for special districts, Rayagada, Sonepur Comments Off on Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for Selected Tribal and Backward Districts; 25 and 30 crores per year per selected district; KBK districts to get this in addition to 130 crores under BRGF

Following is from http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=67682.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved commencement of an Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for Selected Tribal and Backward Districts to cover identified 60 districts as an Additional Central Assistance (ACA) scheme on 100% grant basis. This is in pursuance of the Finance Minister’s announcement in his Budget Speech of 2010-11 and the Prime Minister’s address to the National Development Council on 24th July, 2010.

The scheme will, to begin with, be implemented over two years i.e. 2010-11 to 2011-12 with the following Components:

(i) In the current year (2010-11), a block-grant of ` 25 crore will be made available to each of the 60 selected districts for which the schemes will be decided by a Committee headed by the District Collector with District SP and District Forest Officer as members. During the year 2011-12, the block grant will be raised to ` 30 crore per district. The scheme will be reviewed for implementation in the 12th Plan at a later stage.

(ii) The existing KBK plan under BRGF will continue as before with annual allocation of ` 130 crore for all eight districts put together. The eight KBK districts have also been included under the IAP and will get additional block grant of ` 25 crore per district in the current year and suitable additional amount under both State and District Components of IAP in the subsequent years.

(iii) The scheme will focus on improvements in governance and specific preconditions will need to be complied with by the States before availing of the second tranche of the proposed additional financial assistance in 2011-12 under the State Component of the IAP. However, these conditionalities will not apply to the District Components of IAP.

(iv) The scheme will focus on effective implementation of the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) and the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (Forest Rights Act).

(v) A mechanism for procurement and marketing of MFPs, including issues of manpower requirement, capacity building and development of value chain specific to MFPs would be worked out by the Planning Commission, in consultation with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The administrative mechanism for enforcement of the minimum support price for MFP in accordance with the mechanism so work out will be the responsibility of the State Government concerned.

(vi) The District Component will be administered by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the State Component by the Planning Commission.

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AD/LV/RK

Odisha Single Window Clearance Committee cleared five proposals worth Rs 1,340 crore

Balasore, Balasore-Baripada-Rasgovindpur, Bhadrakh, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Cement, Dhamara- Chandbali- Bhitarakanika, Food processing, Jagatsinghpur, Khordha, Paradip - Jatadhari - Kujanga, Petrochemicals, Sambalpur, Single Window Clearance (SLSWCA), Sundergarh, Thermal Comments Off on Odisha Single Window Clearance Committee cleared five proposals worth Rs 1,340 crore

Following is an excerpt from a report in Telegraph.

… the single-window clearance committee of the state government, cleared five proposals worth Rs 1,340 crore. Industries secretary T. Ramchandru said that Orissa-based Konark Kranti Energy would set up a petroleum complex at Paradip and a petroleum storage facility at Dhamra port. “The company will invest Rs 300 crore,” he said.

Britania Industries Limited would also set up a plant at Khurda with an investment of Rs 51 crore.

Around 700 people will be employed by the firm. Everest Industry would set up a corrugated asbestos plant at Somanthpur in Balasore with an investment of Rs 69 crore, Chariot Steel and Power would expand its cement plant at Sundergarh and invest Rs 320 crore while Nababharat Ventures Limited would set up a power plant with an investment of Rs 600 crore, he added.

Rourkela-Kolkata flight from January 2011: Dharitri

Jharsuguda, Jharsugurha, Jharsugurha- Brajarajnagar- Belpahar, Rourkela, Rourkela- Kansbahal, Sundergarh 4 Comments »

Following is an excerpt from a report in Telegraph.

A private airline today submitted a proposal to the state government to start a daily air service between Rourkela and Calcutta. The company initially proposes to operate an 18-seater aircraft.

The company, which has done a preliminary survey, intends to use the airstrip of Rourkela steel plant but it has urged the government to provide another 64 acres to develop the airstrip. In the second phase, it plans to start anther flight from Rourkela to Bhubaneswar via Jharsuguda. The proposal is under consideration, said sources. Representatives of the airline met the chief secretary Bijay Patnaik and submitted their proposal today.

Navayuga signs agreement with Odisha government for Astaranga port

Astaranga, Puri (Navayuga interested), Puri Comments Off on Navayuga signs agreement with Odisha government for Astaranga port

Following is from http://www.tathya.in/news/story.asp?sno=4742.

… The Managing Director of the Construction Major, Navayuga Engineering Company Limited (NECL) after signing the Concession Agreement said that “the dynamics of the areas in the vicinity of 80 Kilometres of Astaranga in Puri will be energized”.

… “A Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared by NECL within a year”, said he.

Mr.Sridhar signed the CA on behalf of NECL with the Government of Odisha to set up a port with a capacity of 25 Million Tonne Per Annum (MTPA) at an investment of Rs 6,500 crore in Puri district.

Gagan Kumar Dhal, Principal Secretary of the Department of commerce & Transport (DOCT) singed CA on behalf of Government of Odisha.

… Mr.Dhal said “All out support will be extended to the promoter of the deep water port being developed with ultimate capacity of 60 MTPA, which will be operational within four years of land acquisition”.

Astaranga Port would be full-fledged all weather multi-user port on BOOST (build, own, operate, share and transfer) basis, Mr.Dhal added.

The port would carter to ultimate vessel size of 1.75 lakh DWT Dead Weight Tonnage (DWT), he said.

The company would share with the State Government its gross income with 5 per cent share in the first five years, 8 per cent in 6th-10th year and 10 per cent in 10th-15th year.

It would share 12 per cent of share from income on 16th year when lease period ended, Dhal said.

Astaranga Port project, which would generate a large number of direct and indirect employment.

As per the stipulated policy of the Government of Odisha,90 per cent of the total requirement of unskilled and semi skilled manpower would come from locals.

The Developer would take 60 per cent of local people in skilled category, said Mr.Dhal

Similarly, a minimum of 30 per cent of supervisory and managerial level would be drawn from locals and it was allowed to hire senior executives from open market, Mr. Dhal added.

The port will have a Service Corridor of 90-km long rail and road connectivity.

While for road connectivity, it will be connected to the nearest National Highway and connectivity for rail will be taking off from Barang Railway Station, revealed P A Venkateswaran, Resident Director NECL.

In order to promote private ports the State Government has already signed Concession Agreements with three other companies to develop port facilities at Gopalpur in Ganjam district, Dhamra in Bhadrakh district and Chaumukh in Balasore district.

Harihar Dash in the new Airtel ad

Berhampur- Gopalpur- Chhatrapur, Ganjam, Odisha personalities 1 Comment »

Read about how this ad happened in this Indian Express article.

Progress in Creative Port Development’s all-weather port at Subarnarekha Muhan

Choumukha-Kirtania, Balasore (Creative ports, Chennai interested) 2 Comments »

Following is from a Business Standard report.

Chennai-based Creative Port Development Ltd, which proposes to set up an all-weather port at Subarnarekha Muhan in Orissa’s Balasore district, aims to achieve financial closure for the Rs 2187-crore project by June 2011.

The land acquisition process for the proposed port project is set to take off soon with notification under Section 4 (1). "The project needs 1215.43 acres of land for the port area and 1565.93 acres for the rail corridor. Notification under Section 4 (1) will be issued soon for land acquisition”, Sanjeev Sahoo, minister for commerce and transport, Orissa told reporters.

Out of the 1215.43 acres of land needed for the port area, 158 acres constitute Gochar land, 193 acres Bhudan land, 138 acres encroached land and the remaining 724 acres are free land. A high-level meeting chaired by the state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the status of ports proposed to be set up at Gopalpur and Subarnarekha.

Creative Port Development Ltd had inked an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the state government on December 18, 2006, for setting up a port with an initial capacity of 10 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) which would be scaled up to 40 mtpa in 10 years.

The port developer had entered into a concession agreement with the state government on January 11, 2008. As per this agreement, the port developer would share revenue with the state government at the rate of five per cent from first to fifth year, eight per cent from sixth to 10th year, 10 per cent from 11th to 15th year and 12 per cent for the remaining 15 years.

Creative Port Development had submitted the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) application to the Orissa State Pollution Control Board on October 19 this year which has been forwarded to the Balasore district collector for conducting public hearing.

The Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) package for the project is under finalisation. The proposed port is set to create direct and indirect employment for around 3,000 people.

Kalahandi news: Wagon factory and branch of Sri Sri University

INDUSTRY and INFRASTRUCTURE, Kalahandi, Railways Comments Off on Kalahandi news: Wagon factory and branch of Sri Sri University

Thanks to Kalahandia.blogspot.com for the pointers. Following is an excerpt from a report in sify.com.

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday said the railways will usher in an industrial boom in the country as her ministry is to set up 20 new industries in the next one year.

‘We will set up 20 more heavy industries like wagon factories in underdeveloped areas of the country like Kalahandi in Orrisa, in Telangana (in Andhra Pradesh) and in Junglemahal (Maoists affected area),’ said Banerjee, while addressing a function to commence the work for the Dedicated Eastern freight Corridor at Dankuni.

Following is an excerpt from a blog entry in kalahandia.

To a local proposal through Vision Kalahandi 2020, Sri Sri Ravishankar ji has also agreed for a branch of his University in Kalahandi …

High level delegation from Odisha makes pitch to auto makers

Auto, Odisha govt. action, State Bureaucrats (IAS, OAS, etc.) 2 Comments »

Following is an excerpt from a report in Business Standard.

…  A high level delegation of the state government which was recently on a visit to Pune, the hub of the country’s automotive industry, has got some positive signals from the auto majors.

"Tata Motors, Fiat and John Deere have evinced interest in setting up their manufacturing bases in Orissa. These auto majors have assured us that the would definitely keep Orissa on their investment radar while pursuing their expansion plans and this is a positive development”, C J Venugopal, chairman and managing director of Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Orissa Ltd (Ipicol) told Business Standard.

Apart from Venugopal, the state industries secretary Saurabh Garg; chairman and managing director of Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Orissa (Idco) Priyabrata Pattnaik and veteran business leaders of the state who were part of the delegation, made a detailed presentation to the prospective investors.

We have asked the prospective investors in the auto sector not to be carried away by the negative publicity surrounding the projects of Posco and Vedanta. Our objective was to sensitize these investors who had never considered Orissa as an ideal investment destination for auto manufacturing. Once, we convince the big auto manufacturers to set up their manufacture ring bases in the state, the auto ancillaries will automatically follow”, he added.

The high profile delegation highlighted the strengths of Orissa including the state’s stable political climate, enabling infrastructure, consistently healthy GDP growth for the past few years, availability of cheap and productive labour and low incidence of labour unrest.

It is our earnest endeavour to diversify the state’s investment base and getting the auto majors to invest is the first step in this direction, Venugopal said, adding, “we are making efforts to get investors in sectors like automobiles, chemicals and food processing as the state has already attracted large number of investors in sectors like steel, aluminium, power and .”

Balasore poised to take advantage of its location between two PCPIRs in Haldia and Paradip; Foundation stone laid for an Advanced Plastic Processing Technology Centre (APPTC)

Balasore, Balasore- Chandipur, CENTER & ODISHA, PCPIR, Plastic products cluster - Balasore 2 Comments »

Following is an excerpt from a report in Pioneer.

… Balasore, which has around 70 per cent of the State’s plastic units, would soon turn into a plastic industry hub with this training centre while a plastic park is also in the offing and the work under the Industrial Up-gradation Scheme is in progress. Jena informed that Balasore is very strategically located between two upcoming Petrochemical Investment Regions at Nayachar, Haldia, and Paradip. There is potential for Balasore to be the hub of Plastics Industrial Corridor stretching on the East Coast of India.

Establishment of the APPTC at Balasore would act as a catalyst to stimulate growth of plastic industries in general and plastics processing industries in particular, he said. He said cooperation between the Centre and State is required for development.

State’s Minister of Industries and Steel and Mines Raghunath Mohanty said the APPTC’s intake for this year would be 150 and 100, respectively, for skilled and short-term courses while the full-fledged intake would be 480. The APPTC is being established by the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET) on an area of 8 acres of land allotted by the State Government at a cost of `15 crore, which is being shared equally by the Central and State Governments.

Union Secretary of Chemicals & Petrochemicals M Raman informed that a proposal of the State Government to set up a PCPIR at Paradip has been recommended by the high-powered committee and its final approval is expected shortly. The total employment generation from the OPCPIR is expected to be about 6,48,000 persons, comprising of direct employment to 2.27 lakh and indirect employment to 4.21 lakh.

Balasore should also try to take advantage of its proximity to IIT Kharagpur.

Odisha continues to attract investors in Steel, Energy and Cement during July-September 2010

Angul, Balangir, Bargarh, Bouda, Cement, Coal, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Jharsugurha, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Paper and newsprint, Rayagada, Steel, Thermal 7 Comments »

Following is from a Business Standard report.

The state has attracted investments worth Rs51963.54 crore in the July-September quarter of 2010-11, reinforcing its image as an investor friendly destination.

… Of the 22 proposals that the state has received in the July-September period of this fiscal, seven have been in the energy sector followed by six in the steel and mines sector and three in the cement sector.

Investment proposals in the energy sector have been to the tune of Rs32024.76 crore with a cumulative capacity of 5175 Mw. Hecate Power Company Ltd has proposed to set up a 1080 Mw (4×270) thermal power plant in Bolangir district at a cost of Rs5350 crore.

Samvijaya Power and Allied Industries Ltd has proposed to set up a 1320 Mw (2×660) thermal power plant at Rampela in Jharsuguda district at an investment of Rs6828.38 crore.

Another power firm- Arissan Energy Ltd has also proposed to set up 1320 Mw (2×660) thermal power plant at the same location, entailing an investment of Rs6828.38 crore.

Similarly, Action Ispat and Power Ltd has evinced interest in setting up a 1320 Mw (2×660) thermal power plant at Puruna Pani in Boudh district at a cost of Rs8079.74 crore.

Embassy Nirman Pvt Ltd has proposed to set up a 135 Mw coal based power plant at Ghantikhal in Cuttack district at an investment of Rs618 crore.

Moser Baer Power and Infrastructures Ltd has proposed to put up a 1320 Mw (2×660) power plant in Bolangir district at a cost of Rs7400 crore.

Sonepur Energy and Oil City Pvt Ltd has lined up an investment of Rs5000 crore in setting up a gas processing plant and petrochemical complex at Sonepur in Ganjam district.

In the steel sector, ARSS Steel & Power Ltd has proposed to set up a three million tonne per annum (mtpa) steel plant at Boinda in Angul district, involving an investment of Rs10900 crore.

Similarly, Neepaz B C Dagara Steels Pvt Ltd, has planned to set up a 0.4 mtpa integrated steel plant and a 45 Mw captive power plant (CPP) at Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj district at a cost of Rs1152 crore.

International Minerals Trading Company Pvt Ltd has proposed to set up an iron ore fines beneficiation plant at Barbil in Keonjhar district at a cost of Rs150 crore.

In the cement sector, Visa Cement Ltd intends to set up a portland cement plant at Bargarh at a cost of Rs1840 crore. Jaipur Cements Pvt Ltd has proposed to set u a 0.5 mtpa cement grinding plant at Kalinganagar in Jajpur district at a cost of Rs63.50 crore.

Bhushan Infrastructure Ltd has planned an integrated township at Mangalpur in Dhenkanal district at an investment of Rs425 crore. J K Paper Ltd plans to set up a paper board plant at Jaykaypur in Rayagada district at a cost of Rs1475 crore.

Khurda-Balangir line: State pushes to get approval for kms 36-112 (From Samaja)

Khurda Rd - Balangir (under constr.), Odisha govt. action, Railway network in Odisha 3 Comments »

Update on Shamuka beach project

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Khordha, Shamuka Beach project 1 Comment »

Following is an excerpt from a report in Telegraph.

The largest integrated tourism project of the state — Samuka — is coming up on 3,000 acres of land on the sea beach near Puri. The project involves an investment of Rs 116.59 crore and is being implemented on public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

… The project had been visualised as a one-stop rejuvenation facility for “body and mind of tourists” and provide business opportunities to private investors while protecting the tourism interest of the state, official sources said.

The principal project components include star hotels, resorts, international convention centre, golf course, golf villas, cultural villages and craft bazaar.

Chief secretary Bijay Patnaik reviewed the progress of the proposed project at the state secretariat here today. At present, development plan has been prepared for 972 acres by the state tourism department and state-run Orissa Tourism Development Corporation, an official said.

“Protect natural beauty and environment while developing integrated tourism project along the sea shore. The project should aim at preservation and promotion of the state’s tourist potentials,” Patnaik told officials at the review meeting.

To take Samuka ahead, the Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Orissa (Idco) has already acquired 972 acres.

“Puri district collector has submitted proposal for further acquisition of 622 acres for a cost of Rs 4.81 crore. The government is examining the proposal. Tenders have been invited from hoteliers for construction of hotels and sea resorts. The committee has decided to invite and negotiate with interested investors and builders to give shape to the commercially viable components of the projects,” he added. The Idco has also constructed approach road to the proposed site for Rs 7.63 crore.

“The state energy department has been asked to supply power to the site for which Rs 37.56 crore will be spent.

“Water supply to the site will be provided for an investment of Rs 63.77 crore,” the official said.

It is good that the Chief Secretary has started reviewing the various large projects. I hope he does that regularly until the projects are completed.


Sniti Mishra from Balangir impresses in Saregamapa Singing Superstar Contest in ZeeTV

Balangir, Odia music, Odisha personalities, THINGS ODISHA N ODIA 2 Comments »

This site has high quality video of all her performances.

 

Here are the performances.

December 25th (Ik Tara – duet with Sugandha)

November 13th (Nigahein Milaney Ko Ji Chahta Hai)

November 12th (Barson Barson yaaron Barso Re)

November 6th (Aap ki nazron ne)

November 5th (Nach Baliye)

October 30th (Surmayee Ankhiyon Mein Nanha Munna Ek Sapna De Ja Re)

October 29th (Tere Bin Jiya Mora)

October 23rd (Laga Chunri mein daag)

October 22nd (Tere bina zindagi se koi)

October 16th (Chaandni Raatein) : The judges and mentors gave her 9, 9 and 10.

October 15th: Duet with Ali (Prem Jaal Mein)

October 9th: (Duet with judge/mentor Shekhar); So far I liked this performance of her the best)

October 2nd (Yeh Hosla Kaisey Jhuke)

October 1st: Duet with Khurram Iqbal (Tere Chehre Se)

September 24th – Performace of the day:

September 24th (Mitwa):

September 17th (Aye Herat-e-Aashiqi):

September 10th (Sapno Se Bharey Naina):

September 3rd (Mora Saiyan):

August 27th (Jhoote Naina):

August 21, Mega Audition (Hume Tumse Pyaar Kitna):

August 14, Kolkata Audition (Mora Saiyyan To Hai Pardes):

Survey to link Mahanadi with Rushikulya initiated: Samaja

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ECOR to make an indoor stadium in Bhubaneswar: Samaja

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Milk Mantra to come to Odisha; Will pose a big challenge to OMFED

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, INVESTMENTS and INVESTMENT PLANS, Khordha, Milk 4 Comments »

Following is an excerpt from a report in Economic Times.

Mumbai Angels, an angel investment network, will invest in Kolkata-based milk packaging and distributing company Milk Mantra . The company, which is the latest in the agri sector to catch attention of investors, has already received early stage funding from Avishkar and an angel investor based in the UK.

“The company is planning to introduce fresh milk in cartons for the first time in India. It is a huge opportunity for a market like India where fresh milk is available only in plastic covers, which are not always hygienic.

… “Our aim is to offer direct to home service of fresh milk packed in a more hygienic manner. We have tied up with about 50,000 farmers in Orissa to procure milk. We expect to start business this year and in the initial phase it will be available in Kolkata and Bhubaneswar,” he said.

Indian Air force wants to develop the Charbatia base near Cuttack into a full-fledged base station

Bhubaneswar- Cuttack- Puri, Cuttack, Defence establishments, INVESTMENTS and INVESTMENT PLANS, Odisha govt. action, State Bureaucrats (IAS, OAS, etc.) 1 Comment »

Following is an excerpt from a report in Telegraph.

The Indian Air force wants to develop the Charbatia base in Cuttack district into a full-fledged base station.

“I want to see an air base at Charbatia,” Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik told reporters after visiting the base. Presently, Charbatia is an aerial reconnaissance post of the Aviation Research Centre.

Charbatia base, spread over 2000 acres, is now with the Union home ministry. The airstrip came up in the area in the 1960s.

Earlier, Air Marshal J.N. Burma had discussed the issue with chief minister Naveen Patnaik in January, 2010. The Air Marshal had also urged Naveen to recommend to the home ministry to hand over the land to air force.

“Unless the state recommends, the Centre cannot transfer land to the air force,” said an IAF official.

Sources in the state government said the IAF had already given a proposal to the Centre to this effect and wants to invest Rs 5,000 crore in the base.

Revenue divisional commissioner Pradipta Mohapatra said he had already directed the Cuttack district collector to arrange the land for the air base. “They require an additional 600 acres of land. Discussion on the matter is going on,” he said.