Vedanta's Anil Agarwal eyes ₹80,000 crore Bengal bet

Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal has revealed plans to invest between Rs 70,000 crore and Rs 80,000 crore in West Bengal to develop power generation facilities and an aluminium smelter. The conglomerate is considering Asansol as a potential location due to the availability of coal and existing infrastructure. Agarwal stated that a feasibility study will be conducted before a final investment decision is made.

The projects would require timely access to coal, water, and government clearances. West Bengal's Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, expressed enthusiasm for the potential investments and promised the creation of thousands of jobs. Agarwal also mentioned the possibility of sourcing alumina from Odisha to feed the proposed aluminium smelter.

The investments could further stimulate local entrepreneurship by providing opportunities for smaller businesses to establish industries requiring Rs 5 crore to Rs 50 crore. The feasibility assessment will determine the viability of the proposed projects.