(a) whether the BALCO plant at district Korba is being expanded;
(b) If so, the details thereof;
(c) whether accidents have taken place during the last two months due to the absence of proper safety norms for the workers engaged in the expansion work; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL AND MINES (DR DASARI NARAYANA RAO)
(a) & (b) As informed by the management of Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), they are setting up a new smelter alongwith the Captive Power Plant(CPP) at Korba in the State of Chhattisgarh. The smelter would be of a capacity of 2,45,000 MT which will increase the total installed capacity of BALCO to 3,45,000 MT and the capacity of CPP would be 540 MW.
(c) & (d) The management of BALCO has also intimated that no accident has taken place during the last two months in the absence of proper safety measures for workers employed by contractors in the project area.