Chhattisgarh mulls aluminium plant in Surguja

RAIPUR - Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh Saturday said his government would examine options to set up an aluminium plant in the state’s poverty-hit northern region that has large stocks of bauxite.

“Government will soon examine all options to have an aluminium plant in Surguja district that has massive stocks of bauxite. Government will even consider proposals of private companies if they plan to set up a plant in the district,” Singh was quoted as saying in an official statement.

Singh, who is ruling the state since December 2003 at the head of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, presided over a marathon meeting of Surguja Development Authority where its members discussed in details how to improve infrastructure and life quality in the tribal-dominated impoverished district.

Sources said that Singh approved the suggestions of several members that government should work on a strategy to have an integrated aluminium plant in Surguja to absorb local unemployed youths.

Last month, hundreds of youths of Surguja district, led by a Congress legislator halted shipment of bauxite from Mainpat area to aluminium major Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd (BALCO) to pressurise the company to set up a plant in the district.