By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, September 29, 2015 : The Odisha government on Tuesday cleared seven new mega projects entailing a total investment of Rs 41,900 crore, official sources said.

The 16th High Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) chaired by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved these projects – four in power, two in steel and one in aluminium sector.

The new projects are likely to generate direct employment to 4,450 persons, according to Industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra.

The power projects which got the state government’s nod comprised of JGreen Power Private Limited Company, Mahanadi Basin Power Limited, Tata Power Limited and CESE Limited.

Similarly, Bhushan Power and Steel Limited (BPSL) and Ardent Steel Limited’s proposal for expansion of their capacities also got the HLCA’s nod.

BPSL has proposed to enhance its steel making capacity from 2.80 million ton per annum [mtpa] to 5.5 mtpa at its Sambalpur plant through an investment of Rs 4,837 crore while Keonjhar-based Ardent Steel Limited has proposed to expand capacity of its iron ore pelletisation plant, iron ore benefication plant, DRI plant, pig iron blast furnace, sinter plant, rolling mill and CPP at a total investment of Rs 4,031 crore.

Utkal Alumina has also given a proposal to expand its refinery capacity from 1 mtpa to 1.5 mtpa and its Captive Power Plant [CPP] from 50 MW to 90 MW at an investment of Rs 7,563 crore, Mishra added.

The HLCA has also approved a coal-fired power plant proposal to be set up by Tata Power and Company Ltd at Begunia in Khurda district at a cost of Rs 7,500 crore.

Mahanadi Power Limited, has proposed a pit head 2X800 MW coal based power plant at Basundhara in Sundargarh district at an investment of Rs 8,000 crore, Mishra said.

Besides, the HLCA also approved the proposal for a 423 MW capacity power plant to be set up by Jgreen Power Private Ltd with an investment of Rs 3,106 crore at Dhamra in coastal Bhadrak district and a super critical power unit to be set up by Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) with an investment of Rs 8,861 crore in Dhenkanal district, the minister added.

Presiding over the meeting, the chief minister directed the authorities to have direct talks with the investors and remove hurdles, if any, before establishment of projects.