Vedanta, Nabard to promote food processing at Lanjigarh

Vedanta Aluminium Ltd. (VAL) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) will jointly promote food processing industries in the Lanjigarh area in Kalahandi district, where VAL has set up a 1 million tone alumina refinery. Both VAL and Nabard have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for implementation of a wadi and watershed project at Lanjigarh. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 5 crore with 50 percent being contributed by each partner. Under the project, cultivation of cashew nut, mango, lichi, strawberry, turmeric and other products will be promoted in a major way. “To promote the food processing industries we have entered into a MoU with Nabard for implementation of a wadi and watershed project in Dongria Kandh area”, Dr Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer (COO), VAL, Lanjigarh told Business Standard. He said, Sterlite Industries India Limited (SIIL) has already deposited Rs 20 crore up to 2008-09 in the special purpose vehicle (SPV) namely ‘Lanjigarh Scheduled Area Foundation’, formed for overseeing the all-round development of the Lanjigarh area. While the company has deposited Rs 12 crore for tribal development, another Rs 10 crore is proposed to be deposited with the SPV for this purpose during 2009-10. As part of its plan for the overall development of the area, the company intends to provide connectivity to all the villages of Dongria Kandh, which are remotely located. It is in line with the 5-year development plan drawn up for these villages by the Dongria Kandh Development Authority (DKDA). Further, to ensure better health care facilities for the tribal people living in that area, VAL will take up a project to convert the existing Hospital at Lanjigarh to a full fledged medical centre. About 8 doctors will be appointed for this purpose and the total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 4 crore. Kumar said, the company, in collaboration with the Hyderabad based Nandi Foundation, implemented a mid-day meal scheme in the Lanjigarh block couple of days back. The programme covers about 18,000 children of 258 schools at a cost of about Rs 3 crore. Besides, project Ujala, launched last year to electrify 18 villages located in and around Lanjigarh at a cost of Rs 3 crore, will be extended to Dongria Kandh area. The additional cost will be borne by the company.