Public Hearing For Hindalco FRP Expansion In Odisha’s Sambalpur Completed

Sambalpur: The public hearing for expansion of FRP Hindalco Hirakud, a unit of Aditya Birla Group, was completed on Wednesday.

Sambalpur ADM UK Raj, who presided over the public hearing, said, “Everything was done as per norms of the government.”

Hindalco Hirakud has proposed expansion of its existing FRP plant from 1.35 lakh TPA Hot Rolled Coil and Cold Rolled Coil to 5.85 lakh TPA Hot Rolled Coil at Jamda and Jamda (Nimpali) villages in Sambalpur district.

The existing plant will be modified for the expansion, so there will be no adverse impact of the project. There will be no resettlement or rehabilitation of villagers.

No national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves and eco-sensitive zones are there within 10-km radius of the plant site.

Adequate mitigation measures will also be implemented to keep emission levels within prescribed norms.

The expansion will cost Rs 1,500 crore and create job opportunities for villagers.

“Hindalco has given employment to the people of Hirakud and western Odisha. We are hopeful that it will do the same this time,” said Mamata Nanda, from Christian Pada and a member of the Small Development Association (SDA).

“As many as 350 families of our ‘pada’ will be directly benefited by FRP Hindalco,” she added.