8 FCIs to reopen soon, Rs 6800 cr for TISCO,DSP moderinasation

Durgapur, Mar 18 (UNI) Union Steel, Chemical and Fertiliser Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today announced to reopen all the eight Fertilser Corporation of India (FCI) plants, closed in 2003 during the NDA regime.

Addressing mediapersons at a function here, Mr Paswan said Rs 400 crore would be provided to each of the FCI plants for their revival.

''We will soon reopen the FCIs but are waiting for the availability of Methane gas. As soon as we find the source we will open the defunct fertilser plants,'' the Union minister added.

Mr Paswan said the Centre had allocated Rs 1250 crore for modernisation of the IISCO steel plant here.

''The Centre has also sanctioned another Rs 5,500 crore for the modernisation of the Durgapur Steel Plant,'' he added.

Besides, the Central government had decided to take over the National Iron and Steel Company at Burnpur near here. For this about Rs 50 crore had been sanctioned, he said and added that a new Kulti Works has been opened for production of Scan Pipes.

On setting up of a new chemical hub in Midnapore district, Mr Paswan said, ''We require about 250 sq km area. However, the West Bengal government has provided only 162 sq km land at Nayachar.

''We have decided to start work at Nayachar soon. The rest of the land will be soon acquired,'' he added.

He also informed that his ministry had made profit of Rs 6000 crore from SAIL in the last fiscal.

''To keep the production steady this financial year, we are trying to protect and preserve the high quality of iron ore,'' he said.

Mr Paswan was here to lay the foundation stone of a road bridge worth Rs 50 crore over river Damodar at Burnpur. The bridge will benefit about 10 lakh people from three districts- Bardhaman, Bankura and Purulia.

UNI XC PP DB1723