A Correspondent
Numaligarh: The representatives Numaligarh Refinery Employees’ Union (NREU) met State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding the proposed privatization of Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL), at LGBI airport on Tuesday evening.
During the meeting, NREU general secretary Binod Gogoi and president Ripun Saikia submitted a memorandum to Himanta Biswa Sarma for his urgent intervention and favorable decision on the issue of privatization or disinvestment of NRL. Talking to this correspondent, NREU general secretary Binod Gogoi said, “During our meeting with minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, we appealed for his urgent intervention in the proposed disinvestment issue of NRL and we also discussed with him about the ways and options available to save NRL from being privatized. After the meeting he also assured us that all options are being concerned and he will bring up the issue with the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.”
He added, “In the meeting, the minister also talked with us about the technical pros and cons about merging the BPCL’s share (in NRL) with other State-owned oil companies and PSUs to save NRL. He has also assured us that if required, the Assam Government will buy the remaining share (61.65%) of BPCL upon its disinvestment.”
This meeting of NREU leaders with Himanta is regarded as important as after the meeting the minister flew to New Delhi as per his pre-fixed schedule on Tuesday evening. NREU leaders said that Himanta had made a commitment that he would take the whole issue to the Centre and would take every possible step to save NRL.