Vedanta Aluminium to lay off employees, no hope of revival of refinery

BHUBANESWAR: Vedanta Aluminium on Thursday will inform Odisha government its decision to lay off employees at its alumina refinery at Lanjigarh with no hope of an immediate revival of the plant, the company's chief operating officer Mukesh Kumar told ET.
VAL, a unit of London-listed Vedanta Resources, was forced to close down its refinery with a million tonne a year capacity two weeks ago due to non-availability of bauxite, the key raw material used to produce alumina.
The Act requires any plant employing more than 100 workmen to take prior permission from the state government for lay-off, retrenchment and closure. VAL has about 550 employees on its payroll.
In the past three months, about 70-75 employees, including engineers and executives, have already left the refinery, according to Kumar. The Lanjigarh plant had been facing bauxite shortages since its commissioning in August 2007 as the state government could not fulfill its commitment of supplying bauxite from the nearby Niyamgiri hills through state-run Odisha Mining Corporation, which held the lease due to regulatory and legal issues.
The refinery requires 10,000 tonnes of bauxite a day to operate at full capacity and the VAL had been lifting bauxite from the open market, which also has dried down. Odisha has a rich deposit of bauxite, pegged at 1,849 million tones, of all categories.
Ironically, during 2003-09, only 28.8 million tonnes of bauxite ore has been produced mostly from Panchpatmali mines of the maharatna National Aluminium Company. Some 7,000 people, mostly locals, would be seriously affected due to the retrenchment, a company top official said. VAL had announced to shut down the refinery on December 5. The Lanjigarh refinery has already incurred financial.

Courtsey: Economic Times

Can Vedanta restart Lanjigarh refinery?

Eight years ago, Kada Majhi, a tribal woman of Kinari, a village in the Kalahandi district of Odisha, eked out a living with paltry wages as a daily labourer. When Vedanta Aluminium started constructing a one-million-tonne-per-annum aluminium refinery at Lanjigarh, she, along with her husband and five children, shifted to Niyamagiri Vedanta Nagar, a model township, set up by the company to rehabilitate persons displaced by the project. Since then, the economic profile of the family has improved significantly. While Kada, 32, started working as a tailor in the Maa Manikeswari Self Help Group, promoted by Vedanta Aluminium, after required skill training, her husband got a job in the factory that fetched him Rs 15,000 per month. The children study at the DAV Vedanta International School — the first in the Majhi family to ever enter a classroom. The same story of improved fortunes runs across the 121 displaced tribal families settled in Vedanta Nagar, most of whom for the first time have accessed modern amenities like a pucca house, electricity, piped drinking water, healthcare and education — all free of cost.
In fact, the sudden change in lifestyle of these families had in the past led to agitations in the nearby villages — people there demanded similar benefits even at the cost of taking away their land. While most of the displaced persons have been provided permanent jobs by the company, drawing a salary of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per month, about 500 of the 1,800 project-affected persons (those who lost their land and not home) have been engaged by contractors and earn up to Rs 5,000 per month. No wonder, ever since Vedanta announced that the refinery would be closed due to non-availability of bauxite, they are a worried lot, with a question mark over their future and livelihood. “What will our children do? Where can we find another job if this plant closes down”, asks Kada.
“The dream of several educated youth in Kalahandi district to get the job in their own district will be shattered if the plant is not revived”, says Parimita Behera, an assistant manager in the plant. Incidentally, Vedanta Aluminium is the only large industry in Kalahandi, a tribal district which ranks among the poorest in the country. The anxiety is all pervasive in Lanjigarh, which saw a spurt in economic activity over the last decade, catapulting it from a small village to a small town with the arrival of Vedanta. The factory currently engages about 3,500 people — 550 on the company’s payroll and another 3,000 through the contractors. There are also about 5,000 others who earn their livelihood by working in small shops, garages, filling stations, hotels, transport businesses, etc, in and around the town. But amidst the dismay, a tinge of optimism is displayed by the locals who hope the shutdown of the refinery may be “temporary”. “We expect the plant will reopen soon. The government should take urgent steps to supply bauxite”, says Sridhara Tensia, president of the Lanjigarh Anchalika Bikash Parishad.
The company, in its advance closure notice to the government, had expressed its intention to shut the refinery temporarily from December 5, citing non-availability of bauxite. It had urged the government to arrange alternative sources of bauxite (other than the controversial Niyamgiri deposit) for the revival of the unit. More than two years ago, Vedanta Aluminium had sought bauxite supplies from seven alternative mines, five in Rayagada and two in Kalahandi, after the Union ministry of environment & forests had scrapped the stage-II forest clearance for Niyamgiri lease in August, 2010.

Courtsey: Business Standard

Vedanta Hospital at Lanjigarh Organises Camp for Cleft Palate Surgery Free of Cost

People with Cleft lip and Palate are benefitted from a free camp for surgery at Vedanta Hospital in Kalahandi’s Lanjigarh area of Odisha which started on November 29, 2012. This is a rarest of the rare occasions in the district where six indigent people including children have been identified for surgery after a survey in the region. Cleft lip and Palate is found one amongst 1000 birth, according to a Bhubaneswar-based doctor.

The free camp for surgery was inaugurated by Dr. Mukesh Kumar – President & COO, Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), Lanijgarh. Along with him also present were Dilip Pattnaik, Chairman-NKBT; Rabi Misrha, Head-HSE (VAL); Avilash Dwivedi, Head-CSR (VAL). Vedanta Hospital provided surgeons and doctors for the successful treatment of the identified patients. The camp seems to be a symbol which portrays the escalating journey of the region’s improving health care service.

Dr. Ram Anupam Tripathy (Maxcilo Facial Surgeon), Dr. Ritesh Ray (Anastisis) of NKBT, Bhubaneswar were present for surgery whereas Dr. Manoj Sahu (Medicine Specialist), Dr. Chinky Gupta (Dentist) and Supriti Patra were instrumental in conducting the overall survey, screening and surgery.

After inaugurating the camp, Dr. Mukesh Kumar said, “This is a noble initiative, Vedanta Hospital will continue to serve the people in this region.” VAL opened Vedanta Hospital at Lanjigarh for the community which is predominantly habituated by tribal population.

DAV Vedanta International School organises Shishu Swasthya Mela at Lanjigarh

Nearly 1500 children between 5-9 years of age from peripheral villages of Lanjigarh attended a mega health fair “Shishu Swashthya Mela” organised by DAV Vedanta International School on 16-17 October 2012. The objective of the two-day programme, held at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district of Odisha, was to create awareness about childrens’ health and identification of deficiencies. Health check-up of children was done and subsequently curative measures were advised in case any deficiency was detected.

The health fair had 20 doctors providing their services to participants from 25 peripheral villages of Lanjigarh viz. Trilochanpur, Basantpada, Jagannathpur, Rengopali, Sindhbahal, Chhatrapur, Balabhadrapur, Kenduguda, Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar, Nangalbeda etc. Speaking about the Shishu Swashthya Mela, Shukla Chakrobarty, Principal of DAV Vedanta International School said, “A lot of attention is required towards children and we all should come forward to build a healthy society. This health camp is one of our efforts to improve the health condition of children.”

The Shishu Swashthya Mela was inaugurated by Dr. Mukesh Kumar, President & Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), Lanjigarh in presence of senior VAL officials - Mr. Koustav Ratan Kundu and Mr. Manoj Agrawal.

The DAV Vedanta International School at Lanjigarh is the only English medium school in this region. Nearly 500 children study in the school, of which mostly come from tribal communities belonging to nearby villages.

Vedanta Foundation Partners with Government of Odisha to Help Impart Quality Education to 2,00,000 Children in Odisha

Vedanta through its foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Odisha (S.T. & S.C. Development and Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department), to help 2,00,000 underprivileged children  across 1000 government run upper primary & secondary schools under SSD Department in Odisha under the Vedanta E-Shiksha@Schools Programme.

The 1000 schools are spread across 30 Districts which include predominantly tribal districts like Rayagada, Kalahandi, Kolaput & Kandhamal.

The MoU was signed between Mr. Ravi Krishnan, CEO Vedanta Foundation and Mr. Sushil Kumar Popli, Director  S.T. & S.C. Development and Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha. The function was presided over by Mr. Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, S.T. & S.C. Development and Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department. Mr. Lalbihari Himarika, Hon. Minister S.T. & S.C. Development and Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha was the Chief Guest.

Over 2,00,000 underprivileged students from 6^th to 10^th standard will benefit from this initiative that aims to make learning interesting & interactive through the use of Technology aided learning. The MoU allows Vedanta Foundation to help educate Odisha’s underprivileged as well as tribal children of communities like Kondh.

As per the MoU, Vedanta Foundation will provide hardware as well as software solutions like LED Pico Projectors with memory and battery backup and text book based educational software i.e. e-content based on course curriculum in local language (Odia). Training to teachers in the use of the material will also be conducted.

Speaking about the MOU, Mr. Ravi Krishnan, CEO Vedanta Foundation said, "Our Chairman has been a strong advocate of right to equal education opportunities for all students specially students who are studying in government schools across the country. Through Vedanta Foundation’s E-Shiksha programme we are working towards providing quality education tools to underprivileged students. We are very proud that this MOU will enable us to help enhance the quality of education for these 2,00,000 students across Odisha."

Vedanta through its foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Odisha (S.T. & S.C. Development and Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department), to help 2,00,000 underprivileged children  across 1000 government run upper primary & secondary schools under SSD Department in Odisha under the Vedanta E-Shiksha@Schools Programme.

The 1000 schools are spread across 30 Districts which include predominantly tribal districts like Rayagada, Kalahandi, Kolaput & Kandhamal.

The MoU was signed between Mr. Ravi Krishnan, CEO Vedanta Foundation and Mr. Sushil Kumar Popli, Director  S.T. & S.C. Development and Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha. The function was presided over by Mr. Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, S.T. & S.C. Development and Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department. Mr. Lalbihari Himarika, Hon. Minister S.T. & S.C. Development and Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha was the Chief Guest.

Over 2,00,000 underprivileged students from 6^th to 10^th standard will benefit from this initiative that aims to make learning interesting & interactive through the use of Technology aided learning. The MoU allows Vedanta Foundation to help educate Odisha’s underprivileged as well as tribal children of communities like Kondh.

As per the MoU, Vedanta Foundation will provide hardware as well as software solutions like LED Pico Projectors with memory and battery backup and text book based educational software i.e. e-content based on course curriculum in local language (Odia). Training to teachers in the use of the material will also be conducted.

Speaking about the MOU, Mr. Ravi Krishnan, CEO Vedanta Foundation said, "Our Chairman has been a strong advocate of right to equal education opportunities for all students specially students who are studying in government schools across the country. Through Vedanta Foundation’s E-Shiksha programme we are working towards providing quality education tools to underprivileged students. We are very proud that this MOU will enable us to help enhance the quality of education for these 2,00,000 students across Odisha."

Vedanta Supports Quality Education For Tribal Children

Vedanta through its Foundation has funded education for tribal children in the Rayagada district of Odisha with an objective of providing an equal opportunity to underprivileged children from the tribal population, including Dongria Kondhs, to pursue formal education.

Vedanta Foundation has sent 100 tribal students between 5-8 years of age to Kalinga Institute of Social Science (KISS), Bhubaneswar. More students would be sent there in the second phase. In this regard a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Vedanta Foundation,

KISS and Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), Lanjigarh. The children have been identified from Muniguda and Kalyansinghpur blocks of Rayagada district which is predominantly inhabited by Dongria Kondh community.

Children’s Day observed at DAV Vedanta International School

District legal Service Authority, Kalahandi observed Children’s Day at the DAV Vedanta International School (DAV VIS) at Lanjigarh on November 14, 2012. Mr. Girish Kumar Mishra – District Judge Cum Chairman, District legal Service Authority, Kalahandi attended the function as the Chief Guest along with other guests such as Mr. Himanshu Brahma – Additional District Judge; Mr. K C Behera – Judge, Permanent & Continuous Lok Adalat Cum Secretary, District Legal Service Authority, Kalahandi.

Dist Judge Mr. Girish Kumar Mishra addressed the children on “Children’s Right” in presence of Dr. Mukesh Kumar – Chairman, DAV Management Committee; Dr. S K Tripathy – Lecturer in Physics, Govt. College of Engineering, Kalahandi and Principal of the School Smt. Shukla Chakrobarty.

Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chairman, DAV VIS Management Committee, said the school is doing a commendable work by providing quality education to nearly 500 children in the Lanjigarh area which is mostly populated by tribal inhabitants.

After the inaugural function what followed was a day-long ‘Science Exhibition’ organised by the students of the school which marked the Children’s Day. The exhibition mesmerized the guests and visitors.

In a thankful note, Principal of the school Smt. Chakrobarty praised Dr. Mukesh Kumar for taking all necessary steps to make the school world class in terms of facility and infrastructure.

The school children, nearly 500 in numbers from the nearby vicinity of Lanjigarh, were captivated on the speech of the Dist. Judge along with the parents of the children who were also present on the occasion.

Children’s Day was also observed at the Niyamgir Vedanta Nagar where Block Development Officer of Lanjigarh Block Mr. Prabeer Kumar Nayak attended as the Chief Guest with others guests – B S Mund, Ms. Adarsh Gupta, Dr. Chinki Gupta–Dentist, Vedanta Hospital, Ms.Niharika Sahoo and Balakrushna Rath.

Anil Agarwal, Chairman, Vedanta Group honoured as the Economic Times Business Leader of the Year 2012

12th November 2012, Mumbai: Anil Agarwal, Chairman - Vedanta Group has been honoured with the most coveted ‘Economic Times Business Leader of the Year 2012’ Award. The award was presented by the Dr. Manmohan Singh – Hon’ble Prime Minister of India in a glittering ceremony held in Mumbai on 10th November, 2012 in the presence of distinguished gathering including Union Ministers and Industry leaders.
 
The Economic Times Business Leader of the Year Award Is a part of the ET Awards for Corporate Excellence, given annually by Economic Times, world’s second largest read financial daily. The Business Leader of the year award “seeks to honour a leader who has clearly demonstrated a strategic direction for success, and pursued a vision”

On receiving the honour, Mr. Anil Agarwal, said, “It is a great honour and I feel humbled for having been chosen to receive this recognition. I thank the jury and the Economic Times for giving me this award. This award is a recognition of the Indian entrepreneurial spirit which has delivered world class projects in infrastructure and resources. India has one of the largest deposits of natural resources in the world. Exploration and development of these resources in a sustainable manner has the potential of creating mass employment, eradicating poverty and making India a self sufficient economy.”

The Economic Times felicitated Mr. Agarwal for having driven “growth in trying times”. They also acknowledged that his “growth story is different from typical first-generation entrepreneurs” because he was able to “expand in India and overseas with money raised in global markets”. That set him apart from other Indian entrepreneurs who have expanded in India with domestic capital.

The ET Business Leader of the Year Award is yet another recognition of Mr. Agarwal’s achievements. He has also been felicitated with the prestigious E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2008, and Mining Journal’s coveted Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2009. He was featured by the Forbes Magazines as one of the “48 heroes of Philanthropy” in the world. We all join to congratulate him for achieving this excellence.

Students of Lanjigarh Excel in District Level

The students of DAV Vedanta International School are letting no stone unturned to ensure their path to success in spite of being located in one of the remote locations of the country. Recently, these students, mostly tribal, at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district of Odisha – demonstrated a tribal dance in the District Level Shishu Mahotsav–SURABHI and won the first prize and also excelled in the events like Creative writing, Drawing, Quiz, Elocution etc.

These students who belong to the tribal-dominated villages of Odisha like Lanjigarh, Ambodala, Basantpada, Biswanathpur, Jagannathpur etc – after lifting the prize –were felicitated by Dr. Mukesh Kumar – President & COO of Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), Lanjigarh and the Principal of the school Mrs Shukla Chakrobarty.

Dr. Mukesh Kumar, in fact, ensured the students that VAL would provide all those facilities which will help them to fulfil their dreams of becoming an engineer or a doctor or a bureaucrat or as they aspire. “Dream high and you will get the success. You can prove the world that you are better than the students living in the cities – getting coaching and training. Dedication and commitment is the only mantra which will take you high.” said Dr. Mukesh Kumar to the students of the school.

DAV Vedanta International School is the only English medium school in the vicinity proving quality education to the students of the tribal dominated places in the region and one of the students has secured ten out of ten CGPA in the last CBSE secondary level exam.

ET Awards 2012: India has potential to grow at 10%, says Anil Agarwal, Vedanta Resources

Kausik Datta, ET Bureau


The ET jury chose Anil Agarwal, founder chairman of Vedanta Resources, as Business Leader of the Year mainly for his dogged pursuit of Cairn India, and its eventual acquisition against substantial odds. In a freewheeling chat with Kausik Datta, Agarwal spoke about how he got the idea of buying Cairn India, and more.
Excerpts:
You started your journey as an entrepreneur some 30 years ago. How has India changed as a business destination since then?
As one of the world's largest democracies, India has come a long way in the last 30 years. The economic and regulatory reforms introduced in the 90s led to the creation of many new business opportunities. We have moved up the value chain — we are no longer the world's back office but their knowledge partners.
Full coverage: ET Awards for Corporate Excellence 2012
What are India's growth prospects?
After a period of slow growth, we have now started see increased policy reform and further liberalisation. A consistent effort in this direction will propel India into a higher growth trajectory. India has the potential to grow at a 10%. A right policy in this direction can lead to inclusive growth that will gradually eradicate poverty.
What are the changes needed in policy and policymakers' mindsets to help India grow?
We need a clear policy roadmap to accelerate development of domestic industry. Speedy approvals and predictable and stable policies will motivate domestic and overseas investors. Being a country rich in natural resources, we have a huge potential to reduce dependence on imports and ease the current account deficit (CAD). In fiscal 2011, 55% of India's imports comprised crude oil (30%), gold and silver (14%), iron & steel and metal-ferrous ores/products (5%), coal (4%), and fertilisers (2%). Exploration is the key, only 22% of our basins have even been moderately explored. Around 12% of our basins have not been explored at all.
The ET jury has chosen you as the business leader man of the year mainly because of your acquisition of Cairn India. How did the idea of buying Cairn occur to you?
I have always been enamoured by oil & gas. Memories of how India got elated when Indira Gandhi set up ONGC are still fresh in my mind. I was also fascinated by the value Dhirubhai Ambani created for his shareholders through Reliance. I have been watching how Cairn India taking shape. I even sought advice from two bankers on whether I should try to buy this company, although it was never up for sale. They forbade me. They said it was too big for me. But I had gone to Edinburgh and made a direct approach to Sir Bill Gammell (owner of Cairn). And the rest is history.
So, you went ahead with your instinct to buy Cairn India even after two bankers told you not to do so?
That's what we are. That's why we succeed.
What role will Cairn India play in the Vedanta Group?
Cairn is a great natural resource company and hence had a strategic fit with our existing portfolio. They operate around a fourth of India's oil production. We believe the oil & gas industry has attractive fundamentals. Additionally, we have expertise in managing natural resource assets, particularly in India. It is also a great platform for us on which to deploy our key skills of project delivery, and fast-tracking asset development. We believe that Vedanta can create significant value for the country by helping to accelerate growth at Cairn India. To date, our Rajasthan oilfield has helped reduce the value of oil imports by $10.5 billion and has contributed $3.5 billion cumulatively to the exchequer. The governments of Rajasthan and of India along with ONGC receive around 82% of net revenues through profit petroleum (the value of production after deducting costs that is divided amongst parties and government as per the production-sharing contract), cess and royalty. At 300,000 barrels per day, Rajasthan can reduce India's annual import bill by $10 billion annually and can contribute .Rs30,000 crore annually to the exchequer. In the first six months of this fiscal year alone, Cairn has contributed.Rs10,000 crore to the exchequer.

Vedanta Initiates Income Generation Programme for Women at Lanjigarh

Women Empowerment Initiatives seems to have taken a big leap at Lanjigarh and its periphery in Kalahandi district of Odisha as 117 women of 11 Self Help Groups (SHGs) in the region will be engaged in income generation activities like Applique work, Leaf and cup plate, Hill broom binding, Phenyl making and Agarbatti making etc. Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) initiated the programme in collaboration with the District Industries Centre (DIC), Kalahandi.

These women, mostly tribal, are expected to earn Rs 1000-1500 per month after the start of the income generation activity. The training programme was started in October, 2012 at the Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar and Basantpada where member of three SHGs participated. Women in villages of Basantpada, Kenduguda, Kansari, Parvatipur, Baterlima and Bandhguda will be part of the programme initially.

Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Mukesh Kumar – President & COO, VAL, said, “Strengthening women of Lanjigarh region is one of our prime focus. In the time to come, we will bring more women in this income generation programme.”

Two well experienced Master Trainers Mr. Narayan Yadav and Mr. Saroj Manhira, identified by DIC, were present to impart training on the different trades. Mr. Avilash Dwivedi – Head-CSR, VAL was instrumental in organizing the programme along with other CSR members like Sweety Mukherjee and Niharika Sahu.

Earlier, an inaugural session for the skill development training Programme was organised on 12th Sept, 2012 which was attended by General Manager District Industries Centre (DIC), Kalahandi Miss Meena Kumari Behera and Mr. K R Kundu, Head-HR (VAL).

VAL, Lanjigarh has taken up the project to enhance the quality of life of the SHG members and ensuring their empowerment in family and social decision making process. So far 22 SHG’s have been strengthened covering 238 women in 12 villages.

Vedanta Staff at Naveen's Door

The ‘Save Vedanta Movement’ gained momentum with around 30 representatives of local employees and community meeting the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today. The delegation met the CM and gave him a memorandum and appealed for regular supply bauxite from Odisha to the alumina refinery of Vedanta Aluminium Limited at Lanjigarh so that the company doesn’t close down.

The Chief Minister was kind enough to meet all members of the delegation. He gave assurance and said, “I will follow it up and take the matter forward in consultation with the Chief Secretary. All necessary steps will be taken.” A day earlier, the delegation gave a memorandum to the Chief Secretary, Minister of Mines and Minister of Labour and Employment. The Chief Secretary ensured that he is concerned and will take steps to sort out the issue for the wellbeing of the people.

The local community said the company has already sent a temporary closure notice to the Govt. of Odisha due to lack of raw material (bauxite) and at this juncture, if regular bauxite will not be supplied to the refinery thousands of people will be impacted. “In spite of having large quantities of Bauxite in the state, if Vedanta Alumina Refinery closes down, Kalahandi will again become poverty-affected,” the memorandum said.

“I am from Lanjigarh of Kalahandi and I know if the company will close down, life of more than 20,000 people will be affected. We want that govt. should take immediate measures for supply of Odisha Bauxite to the company so that we and our region will prosper,” said Srikant Bohidar of Lanjigarh.

A lot of protest, agitation is seen in the recent times demanding Odisha bauxite supply to the Alumina Refinery of Vedanta Aluminium Limited at Lanjigarh.

Residents of Kalahandi Approach Member of Parliament against Vedanta closure

After Vedanta Aluminium Limited’s plant closure notice to the Odisha Govt., the ‘Save Vedanta Movement’ seems to be escalating further with hundreds of local people working at the alumina refinery meeting the Member of Parliament – Kalahandi, Odisha, Bhakta Charan Das on 15^th September 2012. The localities handed over a memorandum to the MP seeking his intervention in taking their concern to the appropriate authorities so that the present situation of closing the refinery at Lanjigarh can be averted.

Local workforce, more than 300 in numbers, approached the Congress leader at his residence in Bhawanipatna and requested him to consider their demand. “If Vedanta at Lanjigarh will be shut down, thousands of local people working at the refinery will be jobless and livelihood of more than 10,000 people would get affected directly or indirectly,” said Hari Majhi, a local employee and a member of the displaced families.

The local workforce also told the Congress MP that in spite of having several bauxite deposits in Kalahandi, industrialisation in the district is facing a setback as VAL has already sent closure notice to the Odisha Govt. owing to lack of regular supply of bauxite.

“We, the local workforce of the company and residents of Kalahandi request your kind intervention in taking our concern to the appropriate authorities so that the present situation can be averted and more employment opportunities can be created for our other brothers and sisters of Kalahandi,” locals of Kalahandi stated in the memorandum submitted to the MP.

This move was followed by a series of demonstration and agitation by the localities of Lanjigarh area and the local workforce of the refinery to save VAL by ensuring regular supply of Odisha bauxite. This series of ‘Save Vedanta Movement’ is subsequent to the notice sent by Vedanta Aluminium Limited to Odisha Government seeking temporary closure of its Lanjigarh refinery from 5^th December 2012.

Vedanta conferred with Kalinga Safety Award

His Excellency the Hon'ble Governor of Odisha, Shri Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare presented the prestigious KALINGA SAFETY AWARD 2011 to Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh on September 14, 2012 in a glittering ceremony held in Hotel New Marion, Bhubaneswar. Sri Rabi Narayan Mishra, Head-HSE, Vedanta Lanjigarh Unit, received the award from His Excellency on behalf of the company.

This Award has been instituted by the Renowned ODISHA STATE SAFETY CONCLAVE 2012 of Odisha. Giving importance to safety aspect in industries, Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare expressed his concern that lack of knowledge about dangers increases occurrence of accident. He also called upon the industrial houses to strictly adopt safety tools to ensure safety of the workers.

The two-day programme was organised by Institute of Quality and Environment Management Services Private Limited and Rotary Club of Bhubaneswar Heritage supported by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of India and Department of Labour & ESI, Govt. of Odisha along with the Department of Tourism, Govt. of Odisha and Disaster Management Institute, Bhopal.

Local Employees, Affected Community Come Forward for Vedanta

Subsequent to the notice sent by Vedanta Aluminium Limited to Odisha Government seeking temporary closure of its Lanjigarh refinery from 5^th December 2012, people from Lanjigarh and nearby areas have come forward to support the Company in demanding immediate allocation of bauxite.

Hundreds of local employees, project affected people and displaced persons staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the office of District Collector and District Magistrate of Kalahandi in Odisha. They were demanding that government should ensure steady supply of bauxite to Vedanta’s Lanjigarh refinery so that the livelihood of thousands of people who depend on it will not get jeopardised. A memorandum to this effect was handed over to the District Collector.

According to the affected people, the alumina refinery is on the verge of closure which will hamper employment and livelihood of a larger community in Kalahandi and Rayagada district. “Many local graduates are employed at the refinery of Vedanta directly and indirectly. However, if bauxite from Odisha is not provided to the refinery, it may be forced to close down which will wipe out hopes and dreams of many students who aspire to get employment at the only industry in the district,” said Parimita Behera a localite of Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district of Odisha.

People at the rehabilitation colony viz. Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar are also concerned after the closure (temporary) notice was sent. “We are rehabilitated, provided with jobs, our children get quality education at English medium school. And, at this juncture if Odisha bauxite is not provided to VAL, it will be closed down after which our life will again take a back step of 10 years,” said Hari Majhi of Lanjigarh.

Vedanta to shut down its Odisha refinery plant from December 5

Unable to run the refinery project to its full capacity since inception due to scarcity of bauxite, Vedanta Aluminium Limited on August 6, 2012 formally informed the Odisha government about its plan to shut down the plant from December five.

"We have given a letter to the secretary-cum- commissioner of labour department of the Odisha government about the closure plan. The three month notice is mandatory under the industrial dispute act before shutting down operations," Mukesh Kumar, President & Chief Operating Officer of VAL said.

Stating that the VAL had designed the smelter plant at Lanjigarh in Kahalandi district based on buffer bauxite, Kumar said the company could not get a gram of raw material from the state.
"Though you (state government) had guaranteed supply of bauxite raw material in the MoU, the company has not received any during its five years operation," Kumar wrote in the letter seeking the state government's help to run the plant.

Also Read: Vedanta calls for India to restrict bauxite exports  (Economic Times)

The company, which made operational its 1mtpa refinery at Lanjigarh in 2007, also stated that it could not use the plant to its full capacity during the last five years.

"Though we arranged raw material from other states, it was not possible anymore due to environmental clearance in many places. VAL also could not arrange bauxite from Gujarat as the state government preferred to export the raw material," Kumar said.

Under such a situation, the company incurred a loss of about Rs 2,500 crore for running the refinery at Lanjigarh, he said in the letter.

The VAL COO also requested the state government to help it by providing the raw material for running the refinery plant after December 5.

"If situation improves within 90 days, the company may not shut down the plant," he said.

The company has so far invested Rs 9,000 crore in the project which provided employment to 7,000 people including direct jobs to 3,000 persons, the COO said.

Though the company applied for 26 bauxite reserves in the state, nothing was finalised due to different reasons.

The company required 10,000 ton of bauxite every day to feed its 1mtpa refinery plant.

Steel and mines minister R K Singh said "We have not received the letter. The government will examine VAL's issue after getting the letter."

Courtesy: Business Standard

Vedanta Launches Centralized Mid-Day Meal Kitchen at Lanjigarh

5000 students of primary and upper primary schools of Lanjigarh Panchayat in Kalahandi district of Odisha will now get hygienic and nutritious food - courtesy Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), which has collaborated with the Government of Odisha and Naandi Foundation to set up a hi-tech centralized mid-day meal kitchen in Lanjigarh.

Fresh, healthy and nourishing food cooked in this kitchen would cater to students from 50 schools covering many villages viz. Jaganathpur, Basantpada, Biswanathpur, Lanjigarh, Balabhadrapur, Pokhribandh, Chhatrapur, Jodabandh and Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar. The project aims at improving the hygiene and nutritional value as well as increasing enrolment along with the retention of children in schools.

Appreciating the initiative, former SC & ST Minister Mr. Balabhaadra Majhi, said, “Vedanta’s attempt to provide nutritious and hygienic food to the children of Lanjigarh area is commendable. I am sure this would also help improve the overall rate of attendance in these schools.”

Dr. Mukesh Kumar, President & COO, VAL said, “The centralized mid-day meal kitchen intends to provide quality food to the children of Lanjigarh area. This would facilitate the government run mid-day meal programme and benefit students studying in the remotest of schools.”

As part of the MoU, Vedanta Aluminium Limited, has set up the centralized kitchen, where food will be cooked and sent to schools. Naandi Foundation will be responsible for cooking and management of the kitchen and also for delivering the food at the doorstep of the schools. The district administration will provide ration and other necessary items as per the mid-day meal scheme of the Government of Odisha.

Vedanta runs seven state-of-the-art kitchens in the states of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh providing mid-day meals to over 2.5 lakh children.

Govt. Must Provide Bauxite in Odisha to Vedanta: Demand Locals

A never-seen-before agitation supporting industrialization in Odisha brought life to a standstill. Thousands of people in Kalahandi district’s Lanjigarh area and adjacent places like Biswanathpur, Daikhal, Ambodala etc. protested and shouted slogans demanding allocation of bauxite to the alumina refinery of Vedanta Aluminum Limited (VAL) in Lanjigarh.
The people in these regions came to the streets on August 29, 2012 and observed a one day bandh. Due to scarcity of bauxite, VAL had to run its refinery at 40-50 percent of its capacity. If this situation continues, then it is anticipated that there will be a stoppage of production at Lanjigarh. The locals fear that this would lead to loss of jobs and affect livelihood.
The protest was prominent in Lanjigarh and was spearheaded by Lanjigarh Anchalika Vikash Parishad. Sridhara Pesnia, president of the Anchalika Vikas Parishad said that the people in Lanjigarh were disappointed as their future appears to be in the dark since no bauxite mine has been allotted to Vedanta.
“The alumina refinery should be provided bauxite from Odisha. The state and central govt. must ensure this, else the local people will be affected. Thousands of localities depend on the refinery for their livelihood. We will go to the Chief Minister and if required to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister in future if bauxite mine is not provided to Vedanta”, added Pesnia.
Few days ago, nearly two thousand localities of Lanjigarh area staged a demonstration demanding bauxite mines for the Company.

Vedanta Supports Quality Education For Tribal Children

 Vedanta through its Foundation has funded education for 100 children in the tribal-dominated Rayagada district of Odisha with an objective of providing an equal opportunity to underprivileged children from the tribal population, including Dongria Kondhs, to pursue formal education.

In the first phase of the project, Vedanta Foundation has sent 63 tribal students between 5-8 years of age to Kalinga Institute of Social Science (KISS), Bhubaneswar – the sister concern of KIIT. The rest 37 students would be sent there in the second phase. In this regard a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Vedanta Foundation, KISS and Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), Lanjigarh. Vedanta Foundation would be supporting the project with an amount of Rs. 25 Lakhs per annum.

Appreciating the initiative, Mr. Balabhadra Majhi – Former SC & ST Minister, Govt. of Odisha, said, “Vedanta’s effort to provide quality education for the upliftment of tribal children is commendable. I am thankful to the corporate house for this noble cause. I hope more such attempts will be undertaken by Vedanta.”
Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Mukesh Kumar, President & COO – VAL said, “As a responsible corporate it is our prime responsibility to provide quality education to the tribal children around us because it is the only medium which can bring them into mainstream and help them live a better life. Quality education would ensure a bright future for these children and eventually, bring prosperity to the community.”
Beneficiary students of this project have been identified from Bissumcuttack, Muniguda and Kalyansinghpur blocks of Rayagada district which is predominantly inhabited by Dongria Kondh community.

To Save VAL Lanjigarh Refinery

Save VAL Lanjigarh Plant, Localites appeal to govt

Tribals, officials take to streets on shutdown talk

 As the news spread that London-based Vedanta Aluminium Limited is planning to shut down its Lanjigarh alumina refinery unit in Orissa’s Kalahandi district, over 5,000 people gathered at Lanjigarh and urged the state and Union governments to ensure that the VAL authorities reconsider their decision and stay on at the place.

According to sources in the VAL, the company has virtually stopped operations of its one-million-tonne refinery because of non-availability of bauxite, the principal raw material of the facility.

The people who gathered under the leadership of Sridhar Pensia said at least 4,000 people who are directly and indirectly involved in the project work will be on the streets if the plant was closed down for good.

Hundreds of women of Lanjigarh, a tribal-dominated village, said the local people will be deprived of quality education, healthcare facilities and good connectivity they availed after the company established its 4,500-crore project.

In the afternoon, over 600 employees of the VAL and its associatee partners also held a demonstration in front of the plant protesting the Union and state government’s dilatory approach to ensure bauxite linkage to the project.

Also Read:

Tribals, officials take to streets on shutdown talk (Deccan Chronicle)

Vedanta to Close lanjigarh Plant  (Financial Express)

Vedanta may temporarily shut down Odisha refinery  (Business Standard)

The fate of the one-million-tonne refinery project has been pushed into uncertainty because of unavailability of bauxite. The company is incurring losses of 3 to 4 crores a day. Although the Vedanta was pledged Niyamgiri bauxite reserve close to its plant facility, it has failed to get the same because of opposition from green activists and a number of litigations which are pending for disposal.

Courtesy: Asian Age

Vedanta Conducts Safety Awareness Campaign

As part of the regular activity to aware the employees and workers about safety measures, a week-log campaign was organised at Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), Lanjigarh which was concluded here on August 15, 2012.

The 7-day long Safety Awareness Campaign was started on 7th August with several awareness activity and competitions as part of the programme. The prime focus of the awareness programme was the Safety March around the alumina refinery of VAL at Lanjigarh which was led by Dr. Mukesh Kumar, President & COO – VAL, Lanjigarh. Including the senior officials of VAL and its associated partners, all other employees participated in the march.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. Mukesh Kumar said, “Safety of the employees and workers remains the highest priority for VAL. We definitely celebrate the safety Week, but with an intention to make our workers aware about safety and to make the daily life safe, we have organised this safety week. We will organise such safety awareness programmes regularly for the safety of everybody working here.”

All senior officials of VAL-Lanjigarh participated in the safety awareness programmes such Mr. Bimalananda Senapati, Head-Operations; Mr. KR Kundu, Head-HR; Mr. Rabi Narayan Mishra-Head, Health, Safety and Environment and Mr. BS Mund, Head-Power Plant. However, Pramod Kumar, Suniti Dhal and Soumya Ranjan Nayak played vital roles to make the safety Awareness Campaign successful.

The week-long schedule included various awareness programmes related to safety such as drawing, painting, quiz, road safety campaign, essay etc. among employees of VAL and its associated partners.
 

 

Bhawanipatna-Bhubaneswar Link Express flagged off

After completion of the much-awaited rail line up to Bhawanipatna, the long wait of the citizens here has finally come to an end as the Bhawanipatna-Rayagada-Bhubaneswar Link Express has been flagged off on the evening August 11, 2012. Kalahandi MP and former railway minister Bhakta Das flagged off the train in presence of District Collector Mr. Dukhisyam Satapathy and DRM, East Coast railway, Sambalpur Dision.

The Express train on the way to Bhubaneswar would touch Vizianagaram and Berhampur. Besides, Bhawanipatna-Raipur DMU is also run. It took 21 years to link Bhawanipatna with railway connectivity.

Congratulating the people of Kalahandi Dr. Mukesh Kumar, President & COO, Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh said, “The long awaited dream of the people of Kalahandi and especially Bhawanipatna has been accomplished. I congratulate all the people on the occasion.” The new railway line will also beneficial to the people of Lanjigarh Biswanathpur also.

It has become a historic occasion for Das who had put up a proposal for railway connectivity to Bhawanipatna during the tenure of erstwhile Janata Dal Government at the Centre led by V P Singh in 1991. The 32-km rail link has been connected from Lanjigarh Road to Bhawanipatna while the link to Junagarh will be completed soon.