A demonstration was staged by a section of villagers of Lanjigarh, Dahikhal and Ambadola here demanding reopening of Vedanta’s Lanjigarh alumina refinery on Monday.
Vedanta Aluminium Ltd had closed its one MT capacity alumina refinery at Lanjigarh from December 5, 2012 due to shortage of bauxite, which is the raw material for the refinery.
“After closure of the plant, people have lost their income source and want the refinery to start immediately. More than 15,000 people depend on it for their livelihood directly or indirectly,” said Sridhara Pesnia, president of Lanjigarh Anchalika Vikash Parishad. Villagers handed over a memorandum to the Chief Operating Officer of VAL. Company Chief Operating Officer Mukesh Kumar said the management has been exploring all possible sources to reopen the plant. “We have plan to restart the plant partially by sourcing bauxite from neighbouring States and Gujarat,” he said.