HYDERABAD: The alumina smelter plant proposed by Jindal Steel Works, Vijayanagar (Karnataka), is now being set up at Srungavarapukota in Vizianagaram district, according to Sajjan Jindal, JSW Vice-chairman and Managing Director.

Talking to presspersons on the sidelines of the workshop on `Steel in construction' jointly organised by the Institute of Steel Development and Growth, headed by him, and Visakhapatnam-based Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd. here on Monday, he stated that the State Government had allotted 1,500 acres in the village for the plant in which Rs.4,000 crores was proposed to be invested in the first phase. Two hundred more acres would be private land.

Mr. Jindal exuded confidence that the land acquisition would be completed by March next year. It would take two and a half years from 2007 for plant to be completed.

He pointed out that the project was originally planned at Sabbavaram, 60 km from Visakhapatnam. But it had run into controversy following opposition from several NGOs.

He claimed that there was not much resistance from people for the project but there were issues concerning bauxite mining in the mining areas of the Araku Valley and adjoining tribal areas. To overcome this, the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation Ltd would take up mining and supply of ore for the plant..

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