Vedanta Looking For Land In Odisha’s Puri To Set Up World-Class University

Bhubaneswar: Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal on Tuesday said that the company is looking for suitable land in Odisha’s Puri district to set up a world-class non-profit university.

Agarwal, who is in Bhubaneswar to attend the two-day ‘Utkarsh Odisha — Make In Odisha 2025’ Conclave, said the Vedanta group is keen to set up a world-class university in the coastal district. “Our students are moving to foreign countries like America and England for higher study and Indian teachers are teaching in those universities. I want to set up a university in Odisha with an investment of Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 crore,” he said.

The  proposed university in Odisha is now in limbo following the Supreme Court’s order to cancel the land allotted for the project.

On April 12, 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the Orissa High Court’s 2010 decision of quashing the proceedings initiated by the state government to acquire about 6,000 acres of land to establish a university over undue favour shown to Vedanta. “There is no scarcity of land in the state and its people are very lovable, he said, adding, With the blessings of God, the university will definitely be established. During last 30 years in Odisha, I saw that whenever some development work is being undertaken whether it is Niyamgiri mines or industry in Kalinganagar, some foreign forces have opposed those,” the industrialist claimed, without elaborating.

Describing Odisha as the most preferred Indian state for companies in India, he said the state is heaven on the earth for investors to establish ventures.

As per the vision of the Prime Minister to promote downstream industries in Odisha, the company is planning to set up a 30-lakh-tonne capacity aluminium plant in the state. The process of raw materials will be done here, giving a boost to ancillary industries and creating thousands of employment opportunities for the youth.

Drawing a comparison between Odisha and Australia, Agarwal showered praises on the people of the state and the work culture adopted by them.

Stating that Jharsuguda Aluminum complex is the largest in the world, he said Lanjigarh is also a great complex and Kalahandi district is now fully developed.

Stressing that his group companies work towards job creation and development of Odisha, Agarwal said aluminium is environment-friendly and, Odisha has become an aluminium hub.