Odisha govt approves investment proposals worth Rs 1,188 crore

The projects were approved by the state level single window clearance authority (SLSWCA) headed by chief secretary A P Padhi.

Approval of Rs 1,188 crore investment is in addition to Rs 1.10 lakh crore investment proposals already sanctioned by the SLSWCA, they said.

Fresh investment proposals came from Emami Paper Mills Limited (Rs 650 crore), Ambuja Cement Limited (Rs 430 crore) and Surya Foods and Agro Limited (Rs 108 crore).

With approval from the government, Emami Paper Mills will expand its multi-layer coated board manufacturing plant at Balgopalpur Industrial Estate in Balasore district.

The company had started its paper manufacturing unit at Balgopalpur in 1982 and continued to expand its operations in the state by manufacturing newsprint, paper board project based on water paper and also setting up a 10.50 MW co-generation power plant in 2015.

With expansion plans, Emami Paper Mills is expected to generate around 1,750 direct and indirect employment opportunities, said a senior official of the industries department.

Proposal of Ambuja Cements to set up a 1.5 MTPA cement grinding unit at Industrial Growth Centre, Jharsuguda, has also been approved by the SLSWCA.

The proposed facility will spread across 125 acres of land and add to the company's existing portfolio of five integrated cement manufacturing plants and eight cement grinding units across the country.

The proposed project in Odisha is expected to generate around 300 direct and indirect job opportunities, the official said.

Surya Foods and Agro Limited (SFAL) will set up a biscuit manufacturing unit of 60,000 TPA at Khurda Food Park.

The proposed project is expected to generate around 667 employment opportunities.

In the last three years, the SLSWCA has approved 102 projects with investment proposals worth Rs 1,67,284.63 crore and an employment potential of 1,12,532 jobs, said industries secretary Sanjeev Chopra.