GUWAHATI, Sept 1 - Seven Oil PSUs operating in Assam � ONGC, IOC, BPCL, HPCL, GAIL, OIL and NRL, under the administrative control of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas � have together contributed Rs 15 crore to the Chief Minister�s Relief Fund in aid of the people affected by the recent spate of floods in the State.
A cheque of Rs 15 crore was handed over to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal by the representatives of the oil companies led by Director (HR), ONGC, DD Misra at Janata Bhawan today.
Appreciating the gesture of the oil PSUs, Chief Minister Sonowal called upon them to contribute meaningfully to the growth of Assam by determining their role in tandem with North-East Hydrocarbon Vision Plan of the Petroleum Ministry of Government of India.
Sonowal said the people of Assam have showered their love and affection on the oil PSUs during the last 50 years and Assam being the birth place of the oil industry, the PSUs also have an obligation to join the government in scripting a new era of development in the State. He advised the PSU representatives to take up integrated work involving all the oil PSUs instead of implementing projects in a piecemeal manner.
The Chief Minister asked the PSU representatives to spend the CSR fund more for generating employment and implementing projects which are visible. He also advised them to rope in the expertise of professional institutions for skill development of the youth of the State.
Sonowal also called upon the PSUs to be an active partner in the State government�s efforts to make Guwahati India�s gateway to the south-east Asian countries. Keeping in mind the broad vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi�s Act East Policy, Sonowal informed that several activities have been outlined for the State and sought the PSUs� support in improving connectivity between Assam and the ASEAN members.
The Chief Minister also underlined Assam Government�s move to create State Capital Region expanding the periphery of the capital city, construction of World Trade Centre providing space for companies and business houses to operate from Guwahati with the ASEAN nations and dredging of River Brahmaputra to utilise its navigation facility for promoting trade and commerce.
ONGC�s Director (HR) Misra, conveyed Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan�s deepest sympathies for the flood-affected people of Assam.
Kamakhya Temple: The management of Kamakhya temple has donated Rs 2 lakh to the Chief Minister�s Flood Relief Fund, a press release said.
