SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN, UNION COAL & MINES MINISTER TO VISIT ORISSA

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The Union Minister for Coal and Mines, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan is reaching Bhubaneswar on April 25, 2002 on a two-day visit. Shri Paswan will visit Nalco’s Smelter and Power complex at Angul in Orissa and review the progress of the on-going Rs.2500 crore expansion of these facilities. Nalco’s smelter capacity is being raised from 2,30,000 to 3,45,000 tonnes and the capacity of power plant, which is already the largest in the captive power sector in the country, is slated to go up from 720 MW to 960 MW.

Shri Paswan will also visit Talcher coal mines of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) and meet the trade union leaders and important members of the public there. He will inaugurate a road bridge constructed by MCL for public use.

Earlier the minister had visited Nalco’s bauxite mines and alumina refinery complex at Damanjodi on April 18, 2002 and had dedicated the expansion of the Refinery to the Nation. During this visit, a number of social welfare schemes for local tribal population were introduced.