The emerging face of Kalahandi: Vedanta's project

April 5, 2010 - PRLog -- Vedanta's Alumina project is changing the face of Kalahandi, Orissa. Vedanta aims to bring ' change' in the lives of Tribal people of Area , providing Employment, Economy and Development.

VEDANTA'S FIVE million tonne Alumina project is providing  employment oppurtunities to over 20,000 common people.The project is " transforming " the Face of Kalahandi, Orissa.

Kalahandi of  yester-years:

Acute poverty, lack of infrastructure, lack of drinking water & Electricity ,Prone to diseases like malaria, sickle cell anami and reports of starvation deaths
Lacking sufficient economic base for sustainable prosperity.

Bringing Kalahandi in Mainstream of Development & prosperity:

•   Vedanta's Alumina project has brought industrialization, large scale employment, high quality infrastructure and amenities like; Roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, drinking water. electricity and sustainable livelihood for community at large.

•   Vedanta's world class state-of-art Alumina project, is the first project set up after 25 years in India since NALCO, which is mining and operating in the same vicinity. Vedanta's Alumina refinery is amongst the most Environment friendly plants in the world with " zero discharge " moving towards zero waste.

•   5.000 local people have worked for last 5 years to build this project-with an investment of over Rs 12,500 crore. India has the world's 4th largest Bauxite resources/reserves of 3 miliion tonnes, out of which Orissa alone has over 2 billion tonnes. Vedanta Alumina project will use  only 5% of these resources and Orissa mining corporation, a govt of Orissa undertaking, who holds the mining lease, will supply Bauxite for this project.

•   Not a single Tribal family Vedanta says , would be displaced due to mining project- According to Vedanta no " dongaria kondh " tribes lives at the proposed site of Lanjigarh.
•   Hon'ble Apex court of India has approved the project in August 2008--After considering reports of experts fom Wildlife Institute of India, recommendations of Ministry of Environment and Forests, Central mine planning and design institute and Govt. of Orissa.

Unique Formula for Development:
As advised by the Supreme court, the new model for socio-economic development--where 5% of the profit from this project is to be spent on development of Local area, within 50 km radius of this project. The model will contribute hundreds of crores for " development " of local community transforming the lives of thousands of local people.

Benefits for Orissa and Kalahandi:

•   Increase in revenue to state--Rs. 400 crore from royalty and taxes.
•   Electricity being provided in 13 villages
•   30,000 under-privileged Children being looked after Vedanta Child care centres and 1,000 Vedanta Aanganwadis centres in partnership with Govt. of Orissa
•   20,000 under privileged Children in 273 schools to be provided nutritious lunch through " mid day" meal kitchen scheme.
•   Malaria cases considerably reduced--with a vision to eradicate malarial deaths completely in the area.

Source: www.merinews.com