Inclement weather hampers PM's visit; ONGC function deferred

Mangalore, June 23: In a setback to the ONGC's petrochemical foray, its much-awaited Rs 4,900 Refinery Complex project failed to take off as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh could not land at the Bajpe airport, near here, due to inclement weather, to lay the foundation stone for it.

The IAF Boeing aircraft, in which Dr Singh and his entourage were travelling to Mangalore on the first lap of his two-day visit to Karnataka, hovered for a couple of sorties, before it was diverted to Bangalore, his next destination, following heavy downpour.

Disappointment was writ large on the faces of officials of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, its subsidiary MRPL and several others who had gathered at the project site at Permude in Dakshina Kannada district to witness the event.

The ONGC deferred the ceremony, despite BJP State President D V Sadananda Gowda, and local MLAs demanding that the Corporation go ahead with the function as several people have come from far off places to take part in it.

Talking to reporters at the project venue, ONGC Chairman and Managing Director R S Sharma said ''The programme has been deferred due to non-arrival of the Prime Minister in the wake of inclement weather.'' However, he did not announce any fresh date.

BJP leaders staged a 'dharna' in protest against ONGC and MRPL officials for not properly briefing them about the postponement of the foundation stone-laying ceremony.

However, Mr Gowda and others gave up their agitation after Mr Sharma apologised and informed them that he had rushed to the Mangalore airport following a call from Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Dr Singh had played a key role in sanctioning the multi-crore project to Mangalore, which envisaged production of petrochemical building blocks paraxylene and benzene. Once completed, the project, which formed part of ONGC's over Rs 35,000 crore in the Mangalore SEZ, would generate enormous job opportunities in the region.

The ONGC and its subsidiary MRPL had made elaborate arrangements for the ceremony, amidst stiff opposition from a section of people. Villagers of Bajpe, Permude and Kalavar, who had given up their land for the project, were opposing it demanding proper rehabilitation measures. This is the second consecutive time that the Prime Minister's aircraft has faced landing problems in Karnataka.

Earlier in August last year, he faced a similar unpleasant experience during his visit to Belgaum to survey the flood-affected regions of Northern Karnataka.

His helicopter, which took off from Goa, could not cross Aravallis and had to return to Goa en route to Mumbai. He had to be content with an aerial survey of some of the affected regions.

Dr Singh, scheduled to release a special coin to commemorate social reformer Basaveshwara and attend the valedictory function of Canara Bank's centenary celebrations in Bangalore later in the day, arrived in the State Capital three hours ahead of schedule.

He would also be laying the foundation stones for the ten-lane 9.89 km mixed corridor between Bangalore and Electronic city and the Metro Rail projects tomorrow, before emplaning for New Delhi.

UNI