By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, September 2, 2020: Odisha on Wednesday cleared seven investment proposals worth Rs 3,205.67 crore promising to generate employment opportunities for about 2,500 people.

With this, the state government has endorsed investment proposals totaling Rs 15,000 crore since April amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The investment proposals mostly are in metal and metal downstream sector, infrastructure, tourism and cement.

The state-level single window clearance authority (SLSWCA) headed by chief secretary Asit Tripathy, empowered to individual projects up to Rs 1,000 crore, okayed the seven investment proposals.

The proposals include Hindalco Industries Limited’s proposal to set up a flue-gas desulphurization plant (FGD) for its existing (6×150 MW) captive power plant at Lapanga in Sambalpur with an estimated cost of Rs 696 crore. The plant once operational will provide jobs to at least 50 people, an official release said.

Besides, MGM Minerals Limited has proposed to set up 0.125 million tonne per annum (MTPA) sponge iron plant, 0.6 MTPA pellet plant, 0.25 MTPA MS billets, 0.25 MTPA TMT and wire rods and 40 MW captive power plant at Nimdha in Dhenkanal. The company is expected to invest Rs 801.89 crore and create employment for about 1215 people.

Similarly, a proposal by GM Iron and Steel Company Limited to set up 0.8 MTPA pellet plant, 0.2379 MTPA DRI plant, 0.195 MTPA billet, 0.24 MTPA wire rod mill, 0.416 MTPA slag cement and 46 MW captive power plant in Dhenkanal also got SLSWCA nod. All the projects entail an investment of Rs 607.52 crore. The projects when commissioned will employ 592 people.

In a boost to the COVID-19 hit tourism sector, the SLSWCA gave green nod to a proposal by Lifeline Multi-ventures Pvt Ltd to set up a 5-star Hotel in Bhubaneswar with a total investment of Rs 150.38 crore with job opportunities for some 240 people.

Among others, proposals that got cleared include Envirocare Infrasolution Pvt Ltd’s plan to setting up an iron ore beneficiation plant of 3.6 MTPA at Koira in Sundergarh with an investment of Rs 60 crore, expansion of cement grinding capacities by JSW Cement Ltd and Jaipur Cements Pvt Ltd from 1.2 MTPA to 2.4 MTPA and Jajpur Cements Pvt Ltd’s proposal from 0.5 MTPA to 1.5 MTPA. Both the projects are located at Kalinganagar in Jajpur. While JSW will invest Rs 489.88 crore, the Jajpur Cements would invest Rs 400.00 crore for the projects, added official sources.