Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, along with Dhenkanal MP Rudra Narayan Pany, attended the 15th Rehabilitation and Periphery Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) meeting for Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) projects. The meeting took place on Tuesday at the Collector’s office in Odisha’s Angul.
Pradhan discussed with officials from MCL and the district administration about land acquisition. The goal was to find a way to acquire land that would be convenient for the local people while also increasing coal production.
Following the meeting, Pradhan visited the Aluminium Park in Angul and reviewed the ongoing projects there with the district and senior industrial officials.
ଅନୁଗୋଳ ଜିଲ୍ଲାର ମହାନଦୀ କୋଲ୍ ଫିଲ୍ଡ ଲିମିଟେଡ୍ ପ୍ରକଳ୍ପର ୧୫ତମ ରିହାବିଲିଟେସନ ଆଣ୍ଡ୍ ପେରିଫେରି ଡେଭଲପମେଣ୍ଟ ଆଡଭାଇଜରି କମିଟି(ଆରପିଡିଏସି) ବୈଠକରେ ଯୋଗଦେଲି । ଅନୁଗୋଳରେ କୋଇଲା ଉତ୍ପାଦନ ବଢାଇବା ପାଇଁ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ସୁବିଧା ଅନୁସାରେ ଜମି ଅଧିଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବା ଏବଂ ଜନସାଧାରଣଙ୍କ ସ୍ୱାର୍ଥକୁ ଦୃଷ୍ଟିରେ ରଖି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରିବା ଦିଗରେ ଏମସିଏଲ୍… pic.twitter.com/p0wAE7MWMR
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) September 16, 2025
Union Minister Pradhan, speaking to ANI, said, “Angul is gradually becoming an industrial hub. One million tonnes of coal production happens here. There is also a steel plant cluster in Angul. Big power plants, including that of NTPC, are also here. We have considered establishing an Aluminium Industrial Park in Angul to support the development of MSMEs and the ancillary industries. I had come here to review this project and meet all stakeholders. We have to make our youth enterprising and enable them to become employment generators.”
Earlier on September 9, Union Education Minister Pradhan held a meeting with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and other Odisha MPs and discussed various upcoming railway projects in the state.
Addressing a press conference, Pradhan highlighted Ashwini Vaishnaw’s announcement of railway projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore for Odisha. The Union Minister explained that the Central government has made significant changes in the state’s railway sector to promote development and increase agricultural output in the state.
“Today (September 9), there was a discussion among Members of Parliament colleagues. Ashwini Vaishnaw Ji had mentioned in the previous budget about an investment of ₹1 lakh crore in Odisha. To promote development and boost the agricultural produce sector, the Government of India has made fundamental changes in the railway sector. Work is underway on various projects,” Pradhan told reporters.
The Union Minister also stated that discussions took place to increase the railway connectivity to Odisha’s Kandhamal district, which is referred to as “Kashmir of Odisha”
