Birla Corpn to invest Rs 1200 cr in MP

Bhopal, Jan 15: Messrs Birla Corporation is planning to establish a Rs 1200 crore project in Madhya Pradesh and sought the state government's assistance for granting mining lease and a coal block in this regard.

During his interaction with senior state government officials here yesterday, Birla group's Chairman-cum-Managing Director R S Lodha recalled his 50-year ties with Madhya Pradesh and said his group's 50 percent investment was in this state alone. The group had already signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government for establishing the new project.

Mr Lodha and other prominent industrialists held discussions with Industry Minister Jayant Malaiya during review of MoUs signed at the Investment Meet at Khajuraho and Global Summit at Indore last year.

A total of 120 MoUs for investment of Rs 1 lakh crore were signed.

Mr Malaiya held out the assurance to give advance possession of government land to the Reliance group for setting up Sason Ultra Mega Power Project. The group had pledged investment of Rs 50,000 crore in the state.

At village Acharpura near the state capital, 175 acre plot of land would be given to the group for setting up Dhirubhai Ambani Technical Institute, official sources said.

On the first day of the two-day review, Mr Malaiya held discussions with the representatives of 21 industrial houses, which offered to invest Rs 73,263 crore in the state. Another 33 MoUs are slated to be reviewed today.

UNI