The Orissa government will closely monitor the progress of the projects for which various companies had signed MoUs with it, but have not made any headway in implementation.
It has already identified some companies which have failed to take forward their projects and will call a separate meeting of these units to know about the cause of the delay in grounding their projects.
While the government will try to resolve the contentious issues, if any, under its purview for smooth implementation of these projects, it is contemplating to act tough, in the form of abrogating the MoUs, in case of companies which have not taken desired initiative for expediting the projects.
The issue of delay in the implementation of various projects was discussed in the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) headed by the chief secretary. The units identified as making slow progress include projects both in the metal and non-metal sector.
Sources said, 9 units in the steel sector have been identified for not making satisfactory progress. These include Welspun Power and Steel, Uttam Galva Steels, Atha Mines Pvt. Ltd., Deo Mines and Minerals (P) Ltd, Brand Alloys Ltd., Konark Ispat Ltd. and Monnet Ispat and Energy.
Similarly, the progress of Utkal Alumina International’s (UAIL) one million tonne alumina refinery at Raygada and RSB Group’s proposal to set up an integrated aluminum project in the state have not made much progress. In this context, it has been decided to monitor the progress of these two units.
In the cement sector, the state government signed MoU with 3 companies namely OCL (India) Ltd, Grasim Industries and ASO Cements. Of them, OCL has commissioned its 0.9 million tonne grinding unit at Biswali near Tangi and a 1.7 million tonne clinker unit at Rajgangpur. The progress of the remaining 2 units has not been satisfactory.
Among the 21 Independent Power Producers (IPPs) who signed MoUs with the Orissa government for setting up of power plants, two are likely to go into stream in the next couple of months. While Bhushan Energy Ltd (BEL) will generate 300 Mw, Sterlite Energy Ltd is set to generate 600 Mw by September. The progress of land acquisition and allotment of coal block of all the power units will be monitored, sources added. It may be noted, 29 out of 49 steel companies, which signed MoUs with the state government, have gone into partial production. Their combined installed capacity is pegged at about 5.5 million tonne of steel. These units have been able to generate about 845 Mw power through captive generation and are supplying about 260 Mw to the state grid.