Reported by Chinmaya Dehury/Edited by Swetaparna Mohanty

Bhubaneswar, Aug 2

The ten-member Central team led by Anil Swaroop, additional secretary, Cabinet secretariat, today observed that problems in land acquisition and lack of ore linkage to upcoming industries are the major hurdles in implementation of various projects in Odisha. The team, however, expressed satisfaction over the steps being taken by the state government to start the projects.

industries

“Though land acquisition and ore linkage to steel industries are posing serious hurdles, the Odisha government has taken many initiatives for the projects coming up in the state,” Swaroop told the media after reviewing the progress of 22 big projects in the State. The team may visit the state again in the next one and half months, if required, to assess the progress of the projects further.

The team reviewed projects of six departments including power, steel, mines and railways many of which have failed to make adequate progress for a variety of reasons.

The promoters of the projects raised their concern over the tardy progress of their projects, which are facing various hurdles including resistance from people, law and order problem and land acquisition.  The team advised the state government to put in place a fast track mechanism to overcome the bottlenecks and expedite approvals pending for various projects.

The projects include the proposed 15 million ton oil refinery being set up by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) at Paradip at a cost of Rs 29, 777 crore, steel projects of Jindal Steel & Power Ltd and Monnet Ispat & Energy, alumina refinery project of Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL) and an aluminium smelter project of Aditya Aluminium Ltd, KVK Nilachal Power and various railway projects meant to facilitate transport of coal.

While the IOCL refinery is facing deteriorating law and order situation in the area, another IOCL project – the Paradip-Haldia-Durgapur LPG pipeline has been delayed due to non-receipt of no-objection certificate for obtaining forest clearance. The oil marketing firm's Paradeep-Raipur-Ranchi pipeline being laid at a cost of Rs 1793 crore is battling delay in getting Stage-II forest clearance and law and order issues.

The deliberations also focused on the headway achieved in case of key rail link projects like Paradeep-Haridaspur, Talcher-Bimlagarh and Angul-Sukinda.