PM Modi lays foundation for Rs 13,000 cr Talcher fertiliser project in Odisha
Talcher, Odisha, Sept 22 (IBNS) : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid the foundation for the Rs. 13,000-crore project to revive the Talcher ferlitiliser plant at Angul in Odisha, the first such plant in eastern India, that will see coal being converted into gas for use as feedstock and for producing urea.
Speaking on the occasion, the PM said the project, which will start production in 36 months, will help dependence on urea and natural gas and make India self-reliant.
“Our aim is to take India to new heights of growth,” he said at a function organised to mark commencement of the project. Projects like the fertiliser plant here are central to India’s growth story, he said. “This plant will use latest technology as well.”
Talcher Fertilizers Ltd is a joint venture between state-run GAIL (India) Ltd, Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited (RCF) and Coal India Ltd (CIL). Once commissioned, it will produce 1.26 million metric tonne per annum of neem coated urea.
“Coal-gasification is being used for the first time in India to covert this ‘black diamond’ coal into gas. This would help reduce import of natural gas fertiliser,” he said.
Modi said the project would also generate employment for about 4,500 people.
Talcher fertiliser project of the Fertilizer Corporation of India was shut in 2002 by the then BJP-led NDA government as frequent power restrictions, obsolete and mismatch of technology made the plant economically unviable.
Reviving sick fertiliser units has been a policy priority of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government as it reduces import of the most commonly used fertiliser urea and deepens the market for natural gas. Gas-based fertiliser units will also add to the customer base of gas trading and energy infrastructure firms such as Gail India Ltd.
Prime Minister Modi is also slated to inaugurate the Jharsuguda airport in the state today.
Speaking separately at a political rally, Modi also spoke about bringing central government schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana to the people of Odisha.
The Prime Minister said under PMJDY, aimed at providing a bank account to every Indian household, around 1.30 crore bank accounts were already opened for the people of Odisha. Also, under Ujjwala Yojana, which aims to provide free cooking gas connections to poor families, 34 lakh connections have been given in the state.
He also took a dig at the Naveen Patnaik government and said toilets were not being constructed under the Swachh Bharat Mission. He added that the BJD government should also come on-board the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY).
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