The Business Bytes
Angul, November 20, 2024 (TBB Bureau): Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday emphasized the importance of fostering synergy and continuous dialogue between the District Administration and Jindal Steel & Power (JSP) to ensure the success of ongoing development initiatives during the second Rehabilitation and Periphery Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) meeting for JSP’s Utkal B1, B2, and C Coal Mines. The meeting, which also marked the seventh RPDAC meeting for JSP’s Industry, was held at Angul Circuit House under the chairmanship of Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Northern Division) Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav.
In his address, Pradhan, who participated in the meeting as the Member of Parliament for Sambalpur, urged all parties involved to work in harmony to enhance the progress of development work in the region. He stressed the need for a unified approach to ensure that the initiatives benefiting the community and the industry proceed smoothly. His remarks underscored the importance of cooperation between local authorities, JSP, and the affected communities in achieving sustainable growth.
The meeting, conducted in a peaceful and collaborative atmosphere, was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Angul Collector and District Magistrate Abdaal M. Akhtar, IG Police Satyabrat Bhoi, Superintendent of Police Rahul Jain, Land Acquisition Officer Jayakrushna Patra, Sub-Collector Baranyendu Mohanty, as well as key representatives of the project-affected villagers. Also present were Zilla Parishad Chairperson Babita Pradhan, Chhendipada Block Chairperson Sumitra Sahoo, and senior executives from JSP, led by Executive Director and Location Head Pankaj Malhan.
The discussions focused on addressing a range of issues related to JSP’s coal mines and plant operations. A key concern raised by the representatives of the periphery villages was the need for faster implementation of rehabilitation measures, ensuring fair compensation for those impacted by the operations. While supporting JSP’s mining and plant activities, the villagers emphasized the importance of accelerated rehabilitation to improve their quality of life.
JSP expressed its commitment to working closely with the local communities and the District Administration to realize the shared vision of transforming the Angul steel plant into the world’s largest single-location steel plant by 2030. The company reiterated its aim to ensure that local prosperity and the quality of life for residents improve sustainably alongside industrial development.
Pankaj Malhan, Executive Director of JSP Angul, expressed gratitude to the people of Angul for their ongoing support of the company’s efforts in driving industry-led social prosperity. He also thanked Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and MLA Agasti Behera for their valuable guidance and leadership in helping JSP and the local community move toward a brighter future. “We are immensely thankful to Union Minister Sri Dharmendra Pradhan Ji and MLA (Chhendipada) Sri Agasti Behera Ji for their invaluable guidance to translate our vision of building a better tomorrow for the people of Angul and Odisha,” Malhan said.
