PM lays foundation stone of gas cracker project

Laying the foundation stone of the ambitious gas cracker project, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh wanted the project to be commissioned "before the scheduled five years, if possible". At exactly 11am today, the Prime Minister pressed an electric switch to unveil a plaque, declaring the completion of the foundation laying process of the Rs 5,460-crore project.

Dr Singh appeared apologetic about the second foundation stone for the project today. It was 12 years ago, on November 24, 1995 that the then Prime Minister, PV Narasimha Rao laid a similar foundation stone for the same project, at Wilton, 22 kms from here, in Dibrugarh district. Today's function was at Lepetkata, 13 km from here, also in Dibrugarh district. The earlier venue at Wilton had to be abandoned following objections by the Indian Air Force, on the ground that the industry would be perilously close to a strategic defence establishment, an Indian Air Force fighter base.
Dr Singh began by saying that he is always happy to be in Assam, his “adopted State,” and that his heart fills with joy and pride each time he comes to Assam and see faces of hope. He read his printed speech in English in a very slow tempo, with each paragraph translated to Assamese by Assam industry minister Pradyut Bordoloi from a mike stand at the right hand corner of the rostrum. Dr Singh was speaking from the podium at the left hand corner in the tastefully designed rostrum, wearing his trademark blue turban and spotless white kurta pajamas.

He paid rich tributes to Late Rajiv Gandhi, saying he was the person who readily agreed to a gas cracker project in the State as a part of the Assam Accord. “It is unfortunate that it has taken more than 15 years to deliver on the promise of the project, though successive governments in Assam and the Centre tried to do so. I am doubly happy that at long last, our government today is beginning work on the project.” He thanked UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, his ministerial colleagues and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for working as a team to see the fructification of the gas cracker in the form of Brahmaputra Cracker & Polymer Limited (BCPL). “Der aaye, drust aaye, but now we must take this project on a super fast track and must be implemented in the shortest possible time,” he exhorted. He urged the BCPL management to make it their objective to commission the plant in less than five years.

The Prime Minister said the UPA government at the Centre has an agenda for rapid development and growth of Assam and her sister states in the northeast, and cited this as the motive behind the recently announced new North East Industrial Policy whereby big concessions and financial incentives are on offer for setting up industry in the region.

Mentioning erosion by the Brahmaputra at Rohmaria as a serious issue, the Prime Minister said the Centre is seized of the matter and that it is in the process of being resolved. He also had a word of encouragement for the tea industry, saying a package is in the offing.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Union minister for petroleum and natural gas Murli Deora said Assam is an important State in the hydrocarbon map of India, and that all benefits due to Assam shall continue to be given.

Union chemicals and fertilizer minister Ram Vilas Paswan said he is happy that the gas cracker unit has been placed with GAIL as the operating partner. “GAIL is an efficient company with good technological base for such projects…I just hope the unit will go on stream within 50 months from today, instead of the scheduled 60 months,” he opined.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi blasted the previous NDA government at the Centre for putting the project in the backburner. "Today, Rajiv Gandhi's soul must be blessing us for going a step towards giving shape to his dream of an industrialized Assam," he said.

Those who were present at the function today included Assam Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Ajai Singh, Union minister for heavy industries, Santosh Mohan Dev, Union ministers of state Bijoy Krishna Handique and Dinsha Patel, Assam ministers Pradyut Bordoloi and Prithibi Majhi, Dibrugarh MP Sarbananda Sonowal and the state chief secretary, Prafulla Kumar Sarmah. Handique offered the vote of thanks. Popular Assamese actor, Kapil Bora, anchored the function.

A record gathering witnessed the ceremony today. Assam ministers Bordoloi and Majhi thanked the people for their overwhelming support and the huge turnout, despite a tricky weather condition. Despite the tight security measures and heavy public turnout – estimated at over 50,000 persons – the function concluded without any hiccup. Dibrugarh SP V K Ramishetty too congratulated the people for readily cooperating with the security bandobust

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