AGARTALA, June 10 (TIWN): Making an easy escape from the utter failure of CPI-M Govt, Industry Minister Tapan Chakraborty quite surprisingly slammed ONGC for the failure in the commencement of the Rs 5000 crores Urea Plant at Khobal in Unakoti district of Tripura. Talking to TIWN correspondent Industry Minister Tapan Chakraborty said that the project is now lying dead as ONGC is unable to supply the required amount of gas to the plant. Tapan Chakraborty also said that the Chambal Fertilizer company, which was engaged (by then ONGC Asset Manager V.P.Mahwar) from the beginning of the project has backed out resulting the project lying dead for past many years. Tripura’s proposed Rs 5000 crores Urea Plant most likely to remain dead as the Chambal Ferllizer has backed out and nothing can be done until new company is engaged, added Industry Minister Tapan Chakraborty.

As per latest reports, Chambal Fertilisers will raise Rs 1,057 crore loans from SBI and Axis to establish new urea unit at its existing plant in Kota, Rajasthan.

Besides, the company will also avail a Rs 300 crore bank guarantee from   State Bank of India. In a regulatory filing, Chambal Fertilisers & Chemicals Ltd said it has executed a loan agreement with SBI for term loan of Rs 500 crores and with Axis Bank for term loan of Rs 557.85 crores.

The so called 5,000 crore urea fertilizer plant is yet lying dead in the 800 acres of land allotted to set up a Urea fertiliser plant at Khobal in Unakoti district of Tripura.  

The alleged intentional delay in the commencement of the Chambal Fertilizers and Chemicals, has brewed resentment among the common people.   

This project is delaying due to the negligence of the ruling party and somewhat also the shortage of gas supply by ONGC is also to be blamed for the delay in the commissioning of the 5,000 crore urea fertilizer plant.

The project was suppose to be started soon, but no glimpse has been seen in the progress of the work resulting the Plant badly suffering due to shortage of water and gas and mainly the negligence attitude of the ruling government.

The Tripura government has allotted 800 acres of land to set up a Rs. 5000-crore Urea fertiliser plant but after years there is no much development in the site and the site is left dead.

State-owned ONGC had earlier 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 took the initiative to set up the Rs.5, 000 crore plant in northern Tripura. However, the 5,000 crore urea plant was to be operational in Tripura years back at Unokoti District with the joint venture of Tripura government, ONGC and sector firm Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals but till date no development in the plant.