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Mining ordinance to affect projects in Odisha

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Bhubaneswar: The union government’s decision, via an ordinance, to allocate all future mines through auctions is likely to affect some projects in Odisha, including Posco and Bhusan Power and Steel Ltd (BPCL), while it has come as a blessing to some companies sustaining to run their plants in the absence of raw materials in the state.

The Odisha government has recommended a prospecting lease in favour of Posco India for the Khandadhar iron ore deposit spread over 2,500 hectares in Sundargarh district of the state. The South Korean company is setting up a $12 billion project in Jagatsinghpur district.

The state government has also recommended a lease in the Thakurani mines of Keonjhar district for BPCL, a mines department official said. Now, the companies may now have to bid for an ore reserve for captive consumption to feed their plants.

The state government had recommended in favour of the two companies under its commitment mentioned in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The government, which had inked MoU with 50 steel and three aluminium projects, had assured them that raw material linkages to run their plants would be facilitated.

“We have recommended a prospecting lease for Posco India. The state cabinet also took a decision against auctioning the Khandadhar mines meant for Posco. Now, the central ordinance has decided to auction all the mines in future. So, it is up to the centre to decide on the matter,” Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Mallick told.

“The nation will be sending a wrong signal to the international investor community by ignoring the international commitment for supporting the raw material requirements of the project, which is the largest FDI in the country,” Mallick added.

There is however ambiguity over granting a mining lease to Bhusan since the Supreme Court had directed the state government in April 2014 to grant this.

“Unless they have prior central approval or a letter of intent from the state, all pending applications will stand cancelled as per the ordinance,” said a mines official.

So, the National Aluminium Company(Nalco) will retain its rights over the Potangi bauxite mines as the central government has already approved this and the state government will only execute the lease, the official said.

However, the decision to auction the mines will be fruitful for some companies, including Vedanta Alumina, which has set up a refinery and smelter in the state. The company is running its plants at 25 percent capacity due to a shortage of raw material.

Now, these companies can participate in the bidding to run their plants. The bidding process would also not affect industrial activities in the state.

“There would be no problem of shortage of raw material in the state. As per the state government’s mandate, 50 percent of the iron ore from non-captive mines in Odisha has to be given to the plants located in the state,” Mallick said.

The Odisha High Court has also upheld the decision to reserve 50 percent of the mineral for state-based industries while the remaining can be sourced out, the minister said. Besides, the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) has 11 mines that can come handy for projects coming up in the state.

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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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