Anil Agarwal, the chairman of Vedanta Resources speaking to media on Saturday in Bhubaneswar.
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Bhubaneswar (Orissa): Anil Agarwal, the chairman of Vedanta Resources on Saturday said all projects of the group in Orissa were on schedule.
Speaking to the media persons after meeting with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik senior state government officials in Bhubaneswar Agarwal said ' All projects in Orissa are on schedule. We will work for the benefit of the state,'
Agarwal's meeting with Chief minister is very crucial as Vedanta's projects in the state are facing stiff opposition in many parts including Puri district, where the group is setting up a multi-disciplinary world-class Vedanta University near the Konark-Puri marine drive with an investment of Rs.150 billion ($3.75 billion) in phases.
While Vedanta Alumina, part of the Vedanta Resources (Sterlite) Group, is building an alumina refinery with an investment of $800 million in the state's Kalahandi district, its aluminium smelter project costing Rs.70 billion which is set up in Jharsuguda district.
'Our refinery project in Lanjigarh is one of the best projects in the world. We hope bauxite will be available for it,' Agarwal said.
He was hopeful of getting raw material and adequate water for the Lanjigarh project.
He further made it clear that his group will not touch a drop of water meant for farmers.
When asked about the rehabilitation package, he said 'We will follow R&R (resettlement and rehabilitation) policy of the Orissa government which is best in the country for all our projects.'
Speaking of the progress of Vedanta University, Agarwal said in the first phase, the foundation stone for a medical college and a 600-bed hospital will be laid soon in the university campus.
'We will work towards giving 25 percent seats to the students from Orissa who will be taken on merit basis,' he remarked.
