CM asks Centre to make MP a petrochemical investment region

Bhopal, Sep 15:

Chief Minister

has asked Centre to make Madhya Pradesh a Petrochemical and Petroleum Investment Region (PCPIR) by establishing natural gas-based industries to attract investments worth over Rs 2 lakh crore.

Madhya Pradesh would become a belt of petrochemical industries spread over hundreds of kilometres once the PCPIR plan is implemented by setting up projects related to fertilisers, petrochemicals, plastic and pharmaceuticals, according to an official release issued here today.

Chouhan held discussions with Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar yesterday to get these projects sanctioned, the release said. The release quoted Chouhan saying that he would visit Delhi on September 20 to discuss these projects with Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State for Energy and Coal Piyush Goyal as well as central government officers.

Responding to the MP CM's appeal, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar informed that the Union Finance Ministry has provisioned Rs 10,000 crore for laying gas pipelines in this year's budget, the release said. The new pipeline would be set up from Vellawaram in Andhra Pradesh to Surat in Gujarat.

In between, Madhya Pradesh's districts Chhindwara, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Dewas and Jhabua have been proposed, the release said. Madhya Pradesh already has the Hazira-Jagdishpur natural gas pipeline. National Fertilisers Ltd's plant is situated on the same pipeline at Vijaynagar in Guna district. Other industries may also be based around this pipeline, the release said.

PTI