Bhubaneswar: December 16, 2024: The Sijimali Bauxite Block, situated across Kalahandi and Rayagada districts, is owned by Vedanta Aluminium and holds the potential to significantly uplift the socio-economic status of the local tribal populations. This will be achieved by accelerating the developmental process in these two Odisha districts. Vedanta has committed to investing Rs 1,200 crores over the next 25 years through the Lanjigarh Periphery Area Development Fund (LPDAF) and the proposed Sijimali Periphery Area Development Fund (SPDAF). Local public representatives will be included in the Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), ensuring the region’s transformation into a thriving area.
Generating Rs 2,200 crores annually for the public exchequer, the Sijimali Bauxite Mine will be a major source of revenue for Odisha over its operational lifetime. This substantial income will empower the state to focus on long-term infrastructure development and address the state’s requirements for the next fifty years. Additionally, it will enable the state to launch a range of welfare schemes to benefit the local population in the region.
This will also create more than 1500 direct and indirect job opportunities in the area. Together the Vocational Training Centers and Entrepreneur Development Programmes will reshape the future and dreams of the community.
The old saying,” Money brings new horizons” rings true as the Sijimali bauxite mine opens the door to a new era that will carve out its own historic legacy. The involvement of local tribes in the development process will redefine the region’s progress in health, education, livelihoods, and environmental sustainability. With Vedanta viewing mother earth as a stakeholder, the existing lush green cover will act as a natural bio-filter, preserving the ecosystem by preventing soil erosion and protecting the local flora and fauna.
The Sijimali bauxite mine is set to change the mining industry’s ecosystem, both regionally and nationally. Vedanta has crafted a visionary, long-term plan that aims to uplift tribal communities while preserving their cultural heritage. To sum up, socio-economic advancements, coupled with environmental and cultural conservation efforts, will make these districts thriving centers of socio-economic growth.
