KM Birla and AP Chief Minister inaugurate Grasim Industries’ Chlor-Alkali project

On Thursday, April 21, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, along with Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumara Mangalam Birla, inaugurated the caustic soda manufacturing unit by Grasim Industries Limited at Balabhadrapuram in East Godavari district.

In February 2019, Grasim Industries Limited had signed an agreement with Aditya Birla Group to acquire the under construction 200 TPD Chlor-Alkali project at Balabhadrapuram, Andhra Pradesh for INR 235 crore.

Now that the plant is complete, the Chief Minister and Birla went around it, inspecting different features of its design and the laid safety protocols.

The unit is supposed to achieve a production capacity of 1,600 tonnes per day in three separate phases, involving a total investment of INR 2,700 crore.

Though Birla confirmed 75% of the openings are already being reserved for the local people, following the state law, around 1300 direct employments will take place along with an indirect addition of 1150 candidates.

Presently, Grasim has a 29% capacity share in the caustic soda manufacturing sector in the country.

The Aditya Birla Group Chairman notified that Grasim has technically reorganized the design of the Balabhadrapuram plant, adding a combined water treatment-cum-effluent treatment and recycling plant with zero liquid discharge facility.

These features will ensure that no liquid oozes out of the plant to mix with water at ground level. The Central Pollution Control Board is responsible for monitoring online the actions of both Electrostatic Precipitators for dust absorption and elaborate scrubbing system for exhaust gases.

The unit has been upgraded with a three-layer safety-design accompanied by an avant-garde command and control centre to control emergencies.

To honour the occasion, the Chief Minister announced that cases filed against the people protesting against the factory would be withdrawn and a Government order would also be in effect to second the decision.

Among other established personalities, T Vanita, State Deputy Chief Minister (Home) and G Amarnath, Industries Minister were present at the inauguration ceremony.