Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Thursday approved investment proposals of Rs 381 crore from five firms, including state-run Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, which will create employment opportunities for 844 people.

The government's nod to the projects came during the 75th meeting of State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary A.P. Padhi.

The SLSWCA also recommended Vedanta's proposal for the expansion of its Lanjigarh alumina refinery from 1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 6 MTPA at an investment of Rs 6,483 crore.

The proposal of Vedanta will now require final nod from High Level Clearance Authority chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. This project would generate employment opportunity for 9,494 people.

The authority also gave its recommendation to increase the capacity of company's co-generation captive power plant from 90 megawatts (MW) to 340 MW, said an official.

Meanwhile, the company has sought 1,645.8 acres of additional private land for project expansion.

The SLSWCA accorded approval to state-run Indian Oil Corporation Ltd's proposal for setting up LPG bottling plant in Khurda with an investment of Rs 161.59 crore. This unit would provide employment to 79 people, said the official.

Shree Malani Foams Pvt Ltd, a company from the house of Centuary brand of mattresses, was also given clearance to set up a unit to manufacture 4,500 tonnes per annum of polyurethane (PU) foam and foam products at Khurda.

The project, with an investment of over Rs 53 crore, will employ 135 people.

This will be the company's second unit in the state as it already produces coir, foam and spring mattresses from its existing unit at Khurda under Centuary Fibre Plates Pvt Ltd. The unit went into commercial production on 4 December, 2015.

Additionally, Runaya, a metals start-up founded by the sons of Vedanta Ltd's Executive Vice Chairman Navin Agarwal, got the clearance to set up 30,000 tonnes per annum Aluminium dross refining unit at Jharsuguda with a total investment of Rs 64.43 crore. This project would generate employment for 175 people.

JSK Industries Pvt Ltd's proposal to set up 1,07,000 tonnes per annum aluminium wire rod and aluminium conductor unit at Angul Aluminium Park was also cleared by the SLSWCA. The project entails an investment of Rs 50 crore and will create employment for 380 people.

A proposal from Western Integrated Waste Management Facility Pvt Ltd, to set up an integrated common hazardous waste treatment, recycling, storage and disposal facility in Deogarh for Rs 52 crore was also approval. The project will help create direct and indirect employment for 75 people. (IANS)