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Tripura's Industrial future bleak under CM Manik Sarkar : No progress of proposed Rs 5000 crore Urea Plant : 800 acres fallow land remains unused, lameduck Industry Minister Tapan shy to talk
TIWN
Tripura's Industrial future bleak under CM Manik Sarkar : No progress of proposed Rs 5000 crore Urea Plant : 800 acres fallow land remains unused, lameduck Industry Minister Tapan  shy to talk
PHOTO : Proposed Urea Plant Site. TIWN File Photo

AGARTALA / KAILASHAHAR, August 29 (TIWN): Fairy tales of Manik Sarkar Govt’s Industry performance is only highlighted in some biased media which are actively financed by CPI-M Govt , also those biased journalists are usually gifted with Govt. Bunglow and secure Govt job for their wives in exchange of cooked news glorifying Manik Sarkar. In 2013, a MoU had been signed among Tripura Govt., ONGC and Chambal Fertilizers with the proposed investment of Rs. 5,000 crore. Tripura Govt. supposed to allot 800 acres of land to set up this plant. As per long manifesto, proposed Urea plant supposed to provide at least 10,000 employments to Tripura people as well as railway connectivity to that region. But after signing the MoU, Tripura Govt. started delaying work, by saying that if these lands are taken away from farmers, it would cease their livelihoods. On Friday, When TIWN correspondent asked Tripura’s Industry Minister Tapan Chakraborty about the delay, Minister felt shy to discuss this matter. TIWN talked to many high officials in this regard, according to all of them, these 800 acres land is barren and it's just the state govt.'s initiative which would help to develop the plant and as well as develop nearby region, Unokoti Dist. with industrial progress.

However, it is to be mentioned that these lands which had been chosen at Birchandra Nagar Mouja after technical feasibility survey, are "barren lands", that means not worthy for agriculture. However, farmers also are ready to give up these land to govt. if industry gets developed in this undeveloped region but Govt unwilling to step forward.

However, TIWN talked to many political, non-political  bigwigs and high officials in this regard. According to all of them, these 800 acres land is barren and it's just the state govt.'s initiative which would help to develop the plant and as well as develop Unokoti Dist. with industrial progress. 

After technical survey in 3 places : Raham Chara, Ramchara, and Satrera Mia Howrah. Ultimately the last 1 had been selected, which falls under Birchandranagar Mouja. But after all the tiols, state govt. has choosed to remain silent over the plant. Birchandranagar Mouja can easily provide the plant water from river Manu, said sources.

However according to the official sources of ONGC, the project would take time to start as there are many issues related to it including gas and water-sources.

However, talking to TIWN Nitish Dey, Kaliashah Unyoyon Monacha scretary,  he mentioned that before the last assembly when former Industry Minister Jiten Chowdhury talked to the centre about this plant, Central govt. fully supported to develop the plan, but after that suddenly state govt.and its lameduck Industry Minister Tapan Chakraborty started to show their lack of interest in Urea Plant, showing the excuse that farmers livelihoods will be at risk if this 800 Acre’s land is ceased from the farmers. May be state govt. is afraid of the WB event of Nandigram, which caused the downfall of Budhhadeb Basu, Dey added. However farmers have no problem to sacrifice these barren lands, so why the govt. has problem now. ?

The continuous delay to start fully the Chambal Fertilizers and Chemicals Urea Plant, has raised anger among the locals and a section of ruling party.

This project is delaying due to the shortage of gas was to be provided by ONGC. But the amount of gas which will be needed for this project is not decided, neither ONGC has sufficient gas in stock. However although the project supposed to start soon, but progress of the work is badly suffering due to water shortage and gas-shortage.

State-owned ONGC has signed MoU with a Rajasthan-based private company to set up a gas-based fertilizer plant in Tripura to meet the growing shortage of urea in the eastern and north-eastern states and adjoining Bangladesh.The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), in association with Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited (CFCL) and the Tripura government, will set up the Rs.5,000 crore plant in northern Tripura.

It’s to be mentioned here that ONGC had earlier invested a lot to set up a gas-based 727 MW combined cycle power plant at Palatana in Gomati Tripura in partnership with the Tripura government and two central government enterprises. But power generation from the project has been halted multipletimes due to serious technical snags.Same in this urea plant startup too. Experts are yet to find out a regular source to bring in water to the plant site.

Natural gas appears as a major bottleneck for the proposed fertilizer company in Tripura’s Panisagar subdivision with the oil giant ONGC trying hard to establishing the main raw material.

The seismic survey indicates gas reserve at Khoubal and its adjacent areas in Unakoti district but true potential of reserve is yet to be ascertained, which appears a problem for the project, said ONGC’s Tripura Asset Manager VP Mahawar.

However with a lameduck Industry Minister Tapan Chakraborty at the helm,  Manik Sarkar certainly doesn't want any Industrial Development of Tripura.

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