Manmohan Singh lays foundation of Asom Gas Cracker Project

Dibrugarh, Apr 9 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today laid the foundation stone of the much-awaited Asom Gas Craker Project at Lepetkata here, underscoring the need to complete the construction work within a stipulated period by adhering to a strict time-table.

Christened as the Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL), the Rs 5,460.61-crore project, which was conceived 20 years ago, is the biggest investment in any sector so far in the state.

Addressing a mammoth gathering on the occasion, Dr Singh said the project would bring new opportunities and development in Asom.

''This project is part of my government's dream of the future of Asom. It proclaims the commitment of the UPA government towards the development of the state as well as the North East,'' he said.

Describing the ambitious project as a vision of former prime minister late Rajiv Gandhi, Dr Singh said, ''Having taken so much pain to put the project on a fast track, now the government and the stakeholders should ensure that the project is completed before the targeted time of five years,'' he added.

Among others present at the foundation laying ceremony were Asom Governor Lt Gen (retd) Ajai Singh, Union Ministers Ram Vilas Paswan, Santosh Mohan Dev, Murli Deora, local MP Sarbananda Sonowal, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and his ministerial colleagues.

According to sources in the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), the main promoter of the multi-crore venture, the project has the potential to promote a number of downstream and ancillary industries such as chemicals, paints, packaging, foam, rubber, among others. Besides, the Gas Cracker project would provide direct employment opportunities to about 1,000 odd technicians, while another one lakh are expected to get work in the wide-ranging downstream industries.

The government has already handed over 1,741 bighas of land to GAIL out of 3,297 bighas required for setting up the project in Upper Asom.

The GAIL has 70 per cent stake in the project, while the Oil India, Numaligarh Refinery Limited and Asom Government would have 10 per cent stake each.

Official sources said eight more industrial training institutes were coming up in the state to train entrepreneurs and skilled workers to reap the benefits of the gas cracker. Five hundred downstream projects have been already identified, the sources added.

UNI