Orissa puts on hold Hindalco, Vedanta refinery expansion

BHUBANESWAR: Orissa government on Friday put on hold Hindalco industries and Vedanta Aluminium's expansion plans of their refineries in the state even as it approved investment of rs 2,859 crore in steel sector, official sources said. The decision to keep the expansion plans of Hindalco Industries (HIL) of Aditya Birla Group and Vedanta Aluminium Ltd of Vedanta Resources on hold was taken at the single window clearance committee keeping an eye on the possible non-availability of bauxite and pollution burden. The committee is headed by chief secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy.