Solar Power and Floriculture
Date of Issue : 4 April 2012
The Hon,ble Central Minister for New & Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, during his maiden visit to Odisha inaugurated two projects of MGM Group in Tangi Tehsil of Khordha District in the presence of Shri Niranjan Pujari (Hon'ble Minister, Science & Technology), Shri Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak (Hon'ble Minister, Energy), Dr. Prasanna Kumar Patasani (Hon'ble M.P., Bhubaneswar) and Shri Rajendra Kumar Sahoo (Hon'ble M.L.A., Khordha).
The projects include a 1 MW solar power plant established under the Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Mission of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy and a high-tech horticulture and floriculture farm under the National Horticulture Mission. Both projects have commenced commercial operations and have been developed with the support of State Government organisations like Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) and Directorate of Horticulture.
MGM Group is one of Odisha's oldest business houses developing and operating iron ore mines in Sundergarh District and has diversified into steelmaking with an integrated plant of 0.25 million tonnes capacity under development in Dhenkanal District. MGM Group is also supporting the growth of technical education in the State by having established a Chair Professor in Minerals, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology (lIT) Bhubaneswar.
To commemorate the occasion, Dr. Abdullah released a Postal Special Cover of Department of Posts. He expressed his happiness and desired for more such renewable energy and greenhouse projects in the State of Odisha since these are environment friendly, non-polluting and foster green management practices while adding to economic growth.
Sh Suvendu Swain, I.Po.S., Director, Postal Services, Bhubaneswar and Senior Philatelists S/Shri Anil Kumar Dhir, Anup Kumar Raut, Akshya Kuumar Nayak, Ajit Kumar Dash(Secretary, EIPA), Shanti Swarup Rath, Pradip Kumar Mohanty(Secretary,OPA), Mrs. Bijaylaxmi Mohanty, etc. attended the function.
Shri R. L. Mohanty, Chairman of MGM apprised that the Group has floated dedicated subsidiaries to focus on such projects. Other upcoming initiatives of MGM Group include vegetable and fruit cultivation and a 1 MW solar power plant in District of Boudh. The plans include an ambitious vision to have the largest single location banana cultivation in the eastern region of the country as well as to become the largest grower of vegetables and flowers in the State. Shri Mohanty expressed his gratitude to the officials of Department of Agriculture and Department of Science & Technology without whose guidance the projects would not be possible.
