STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal urged the management of Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) to play a proactive role in promoting agro-based economy in the State and take steps for skill development of youth of the neighbouring areas. The Chief Minister made this call during a review of the Numaligarh Refinery Expansion Project (NREP) and Bio Refinery Plant at the NRL headquarter in Numaligarh on Wednesday.
Chief Minister Sonowal also visited the construction sites of both the projects and took stock physical progress of the projects.
Chief Minister Sonowal said that in the industrial landscape of Assam, NRL is playing an important role and has generated much hope for the State's economy especially in view of its expansion project and the bio fuel plant. However, it is time that NRL should come out of its conventional area of expertise and focus on promotion of agro economic fundamentals in the state, he said adding that the bamboo based ethanol plant is a big opportunity for NRL to venture into the field of agro economy by engaging maximum number of local people in bamboo production which is now an agricultural product. He further observed that the new bamboo and cane policy of the state government would significantly help the NRL and local farmers in this regard.