Other States - Orissa   

Work on titanium oxide project to begin next month

BERHAMPUR: With the completion of land acquisition for its first phase, the construction work of Indo-Russian titanium project near Gopalpur port in Ganjam district is all set to start in a month or two.

This first Indo-Russian project in the country is envisioned to be India’s first titanium based SEZ to boost bilateral ties between India and Russia.

Saraf Agencies Pvt. Ltd. of India has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two Russian State-run agencies for this proposed project worth around Rs. 200 crore, which would process titanium from ilmenite ore.

The proposed project would be on an area of over 550 acres near the Gopalpur port in Chatrapur subdivision of Ganjam district.

The first phase of the project needed 250 acres of land on which the main plant of the project would be constructed.

According to the Chatrapur Sub-Collector, Ajit Mishra the land needed for the first phase of the project has already been acquired.

This land was located near Kanamma, Sriramchandrapur and Tikiria villages. Around 200 acres of land was in private possession while the rest was government land. Mr. Mishra said land acquisition for the project faced no opposition as there was little agricultural land in the area.

The people of the area were also in favour of establishment of this project. Moreover, they were also satisfied with the new compensation package under the new rehabilitation policy of the State Government.

Mr. Mishra added that after the public hearing related to the issue of pollution held at Chamakhandi recently the stage is set for the start of construction work of the project.

At the public hearing which was attended by the officials of the company, government and State Pollution Control Board, locals did not oppose the project in any way.

This no objection certificate from the public hearing would play a major role for the environmental clearance, after which the construction work of the project would be ensued.

The land acquisition process for the second phase of the project has also started. Around 300 acres of land would be acquired in the second phase. Around 75 per cent of this land identified for the project is now under private possession.

The project would use ilmenite ore from the Orissa Sands Complex (OSCOM) a unit of Indian Rare Earths Ltd located near its site.

This integrated chemical and metallurgical complex will produce titanium slag, titanium dioxide pigment, titanium sponge and high purity pig iron.

Allied industries of titanium based paints and pharmaceutical industries would be promoted to set up units in this SEZ.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Art colleges face fund crisis
KIIT ranked 18th among top 100
Petro price hike affects PDS
Women robbed of ornaments
People up in arms against various projects in State
Work on titanium oxide project to begin next month
Congress launches tirade against government
Relief operation stepped up in flood-hit districts
HC expresses concern over Cuttack woes
Tribals hold demonstration seeking protection

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu