Namrup: Uncertainty mounts over Namrup Fertilizer Plant as the production in the unit remains alarmingly zero. Factors mounting from mismatched policy of the state government, neglect by the central government and poor governance of the industry has relatively led to the unit’s death.
The first unit of the three units of the industry in Namrup, Assam which was set up in the sixties was revived which was now scrapped. The second unit has been closed for nearly two and a half years since 2019. On the other hand, the third unit which is closed for the month is also undergoing repairs and has been shut down due to a complex anomaly.
The situation may worsen as the Namrup unit remains shut due to repairs. With the usual demand of 72000 Metric tons production, the present production is only 26600 Metric Tonnes of urea produced.
It may be noted that as an alternative to such adverse conditions, late Union Minister for Fertilizers and Chemicals Ram Vilas Paswan on June 26, 2006, laid the foundation stone for setting up the fourth unit of the fertilizer plant in Assam with a target of producing eight lakh metric tonnes of fertilizers at a cost of Rs 2600 crore. But despite the full infrastructure, there are also suspicions that some of the corrupt senior officials in the management of the industry have contributed to the government’s failure to set up a fourth unit in fifteen years with various excuses.
It may be noted that about Rs 1000 crore was infused into the repair work of the second and third unit of the industry and yet with production consistently remains zero till date. This highlights the corruption taking place in the name of repair work as highly placed officials and contractors are behind this big financial anomalies.
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