NAMRUP, June 17 � The Namrup-based BVFCL is the lone urea producing fertiliser industry in the entire North-East, contributing a great deal to the agricultural production of the State and the country as a whole. The existing machinery at the BVFCL is wearing out and the technologies are obsolete. Despite all efforts by the management to revamp the existing units of the plant from time to time, there is no significant improvement in the performance, thereby necessitating large-scale expansion with state-of-the-art technology.
As per information provided by the general secretary of the Joint Council of Officers (JCO), BVFCL, BM Borthakur, the BVFCL management is actively pursuing the proposal to set up a new urea producing brown field ammonia-urea plant at the existing site and has requested the Government of Assam and other Central PSUs like OIL, GNVFCL, RCF to pick up equity in the proposed new project. The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 3,312 crore with debt-equity in the ratio of 2:1.
Borthakur further said that the Chief Minister recently met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and submitted a memorandum, requesting the Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers to approve of the installation of the New Namrup IV plant, finalise the equity pattern and provide necessary clearance to the project in the interest of the State and the region.
It is further learnt that the Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers has already moved the Planning Commission for providing plan support to the tune of Rs 695.52 crore in the 12th Five Year Plan for the proposed New Namrup Brown Field Ammonia Urea Plant to meet the equity requirements. The Oil India Ltd has shown willingness to take 26 per cent equity while the Government of Assam is actively contemplating to offer 11 per cent equity. But the green signal from the Planning Commission of India
regarding the same is yet to be obtained.
Further, despite repeated claims by different representations, the issues are still unresolved, pushing the BVFCL into a state of despair. These issues include approval of the comprehensive proposal of the BVFCL from the CCEA, revision of pay scale of BVFCL employees with effect from January 1, 2007, enhancement of superannuation age from 58 to 60 years.
The JCO, BVFCL, Namrup once again requested the Chief Minister to pressurise the Central Government to take proper measures to resolve the woes of the BVFCL, Namrup.
