MFL revival plan to Cabinet shortly, says Paswan

New Delhi, Aug 24 (UNI) The Government has decided to revive the loss-making Madras Fertilisers Ltd, and the related proposals would be brought before the Cabinet shortly.

Plans had been drawn up to revive eight other fertiliser plants, including Haldia and Sindri, Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers Ram Vilas Paswan told the Rajya Sabha today.

He said the proposal for revival of MFL had been prepared on the recommendation of the Committee of Secretraies set up after the BRPSE okayed the revival plan.

He, however, said he would not disclose the details of the proposal before it was presented to the Cabinet as it would amount to breach of privilege.

Explaining the reasons for the sickness of MFL, the Minister said though the price concession enjoyed by the MFL was the highest, it was not able to recover the actual cost of production and hence, the company continued to incur losses. Moreover, without the availability of gas, operations of MFL could not be viable.

The cost of production of urea in MFL was the highest in the country, he said.

Replying to supplementary of a Member from Orissa about the Talcher plant, he said the unit had been closed during the NDA regime, but the Government was now trying to open it, and it would take sometime.

UNI