Bhubaneswar: Vedanta Group plans to set up a 1,000-bed hospital in western Odisha and is pushing ahead with its proposed Rs 1 lakh crore aluminium project in the state, chairman Anil Agarwal said after meeting chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday. “I want a big hospital in western Odisha and have requested the chief minister in this regard,” Agarwal told reporters after the meeting. According to a govt statement, the discussions focused on expediting project execution and strengthening industry-govt collaboration to drive Odisha’s next phase of industrial growth.The proposed investment includes a 3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) aluminium smelter in Dhenkanal district and a 6 MTPA alumina refinery in Rayagada district. Vedanta said the Dhenkanal facility would also supply hot metal to its downstream aluminium parks in Odisha, boosting value addition and manufacturing. Agarwal also proposed a brownfield expansion of Vedanta’s Jharsuguda smelter by an additional 1 MTPA, adding to the existing 1.8 MTPA.The chief minister reiterated the state’s commitment to attracting investments that generate employment and spur regional development. He assured full support for proposed investments in the aluminium sector, citing their potential to create large-scale jobs for Odisha’s youth.Vedanta said the upcoming projects are expected to generate more than two lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities while supporting ancillary industries and MSMEs linked to logistics, infrastructure, engineering and manufacturing.Recalling his long association with the state, Agarwal said former chief minister Biju Patnaik had encouraged him to establish industries in Kalahandi, then among the state’s most underdeveloped districts. Vedanta currently operates a 5 MTPA alumina refinery there. He said the company remains keen on expanding its footprint in Odisha through the proposed refinery in Rayagada and the smelter project in Dhenkanal.Responding to concerns over environmental and social impacts, Agarwal said Vedanta remained committed to maintaining high environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. “Controversies are part of any large business. One learns from every experience. Today, Vedanta draws its strength from the trust people place on us,” he said. Agarwal added that while Vedanta has the capability to enter downstream manufacturing, it prefers to support small entrepreneurs and MSMEs through access to finance, technology and raw materials, enabling them to grow alongside the company’s operations.
