The Aditya Birla Group paid donation of Rs 5 crore to the BJD in 2009. The contribution report filed by the party in May 2010 revealed that the Aditya Birla Centre paid Rs 5 crore through two bank cheques (102768 & 102770) of HDFC Bank to the BJD as donation, according to sources.
Now, after the CBI has lodged the FIR against Hindalco on the allocation of the Talabira-II coal block on the recommendation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, he refuted the charges of showing any illegal favour to the company.
But contrary to Patnaik’s claim, observers pointed out, the words of his letter written to the PM in 2005 unequivocally suggest the kindness shown by him to Hindalco. The excerpts of the letter say, “The State Government gave topmost priority to allocation of Talabira-II coal block in favour of M/s Hindalco and strongly supported the case during the 25th meeting of the Screening Committee of the Coal Ministry for allocation of coal blocks held on January 10, 2005.”
When in 2005, the Aditya Birla Group’s share value dipped due to power crisis in its alumina plants, it was keen to get some coal blocks, especially in Odisha. Accordingly, it approached the State Government in July 2005 for coal blocks. After a couple of weeks, the Chief Minister wrote a favourable letter on behalf of the company.
This is only tip of the undue favours shown to the company by Patnaik. Yugabda.com sources basing on the “evidence” in its possession said that in July 2012, Deputy Account General, Economic and Revenue Sector Audit BC Mandal, in his letter suggested how after repeated remarks the State’s Steel and Mines Department did not pay any attention to collect Rs 9,82,046 (short levy of royalty for March 2011) from the company. The letter stated, “…However, the amount remained unrealised till date (July 2012).”
Similarly, the AG in 2008-09 had pointed out in his reports that the State Energy Department was not keen on collecting the whopping power bills pending before the company. In his remarks (IR-No.47/2008/09), he said, “ED on auxiliary consumption of 14,47,000 units of energy for August 2007 by M/s Hindalco, Hirakud Power, Hirakud involved Rs 2,80,400 but not paid by the company so far; even then no demand raised by the office.”
Even the findings of the survey report on rice field proximity to Hindalco industries, Hirakud by the Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack (August 22, 2012) at the behest of the NHRC in November 2011 was overlooked by the State Government, the sources added.
The recent letters of the State Government for fast-tracking the approvals or clearances of the Aditya Birla Company industries show how it is anxious about favouring the company.
The letter (7709/2013) of P&C Department, the letter (3786/19, May 2012) of S&M Department, the letter (4014/2012 ) sent on May 6, 2013 by S&M Department to Director of Mines on Talabira-I coal block show that the BJD Government is keen on overlooking the faults of the company.
Above and beyond it, regarding Hindalco’s labour dispute even the labour Commission’s recommendations and orders (878/ 21, January 2012) were not complied with by the Government.