Agarwal, who met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here this evening, told reporters that they were setting up "world's best Bauxite refinery" at Lanjigarh in Orissa which had started trail production. "Bauxite linkage should be available to us," he said.
"All our projects are doing on schedule," he said claiming that the people of Orissa were supportive to Vedanta's projects. This is because, he said, Vedanta's projects are for the people of Orissa.
While avoiding a question of AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's opposition to Vedanta's refinery project at Langigarh, Agarwal said the unit had been doing well.
Expressing confidence on taking forward its projects, the chief of Vedanta said that he hoped that all problems, including raw material for its refinery project at Lanjigarh and water for smelter project at Jharsuguda, would be "resolved soon".
On controversial water supply to its smelter from river Mahanadi, Agarwal said: "We understand that as per the expert committee, enough water is available for industries in Hirakud reservoir." He, however, said that the smelter plant would certainly not take water meant for farmers from Hirakud reservoir. "We will not touch farmers' water," he reiterated.
Asked whether Chief Minister Patnaik allowed Vedanta to draw water from Hirakud, Agrwal said: "We have assured him that farmers' water would not be taken for the smelter."
Announcing that the foundation stone for the proposed world class university near Puri would be laid probably by the end of next month, Agarwal said that only 6,000 acre of land was required for the project. Stating that the first phase of the varsity would start with a 600-bed hospital and medical college, Agarwal said that steps were being taken to fill up 25 per cent seats with students from Orissa.
"We have to give seats to the students of Orissa on merit," he said as such students in Orissa were meritorious.
On local resistance to its varsity, smelter and refinery projects at three different places in Orissa, Agarwal said Vedanta was preparing a rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) policy basing on the R & R policy of the state government. "Ours R&R policy will be best in the world," he said Agarwal pointed out that the company had taken up several welfare schemes like schools, hospitals, mobile clinics, electricity and pipe water supply in peripheral villages.
"The company will take up many more such projects as per its corporate social responsibility," he said.
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