Gas-based fertiliser plant at Ramagundam: CM thanks PM, Sonia

Hyderabad / New Delhi, June 27 : The Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today thanked the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi for agreeing in principle for the removal of FCI’s (Fertiliser Corporation of Inida) Ramagundam Plant from the BIFR’s (Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction) list of sick industries and for initiating action for its revival.

The Government of India agreed in principle to establish a gas-based Fertiliser Plant at Ramagundam Plant with an estimated cost of Rs 5,000 crs with latest technology.

It may be recalled here that recently a high-level delegation under the leadership of Civil Supplies Minister D Sridhar Babu along with Karimnagar MLA and people’s representatives from Karimnagar District met the Chief Minister and urged him to pursue this issue with the Government of India. The Chief Minister repeatedly requested the Government of India for the establishment of the plant at Ramagndam. The Chief Minister also requested the Centre to lay gas pipeline from KG Basin to Y Jaypore of Gujarat via Kataram, Karimnagar District to supply gas to the proposed plant.

It may be mentioned here that during 1992 under Sick Industries Companies Act, this plant was referred to BIFR. The BIFR declared it as a sick industry. It was a coal-based fertiliser plant, first of its kind in Asia and provided employment to 1,500 people directly producing 1,500 tonnes of urea per day.

The proposed gas-based plant will be established jointly by National Fertilisers Ltd, Engineers India Ltd and FCI. The Civil Supplies Minister D Sridhar Babu thanked the Chief Minister, Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi. INN