Assam Pradesh Congress Committee urges minister to prevent BVFCL closure

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president, Bhupen Borah, with Kaliabor MP Gaurav Gogoi, Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi, and MP Ajit Bhuyan, met Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Bhagawanth Khuba, at New Delhi and urged prevent the closure of Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Ltd. (BVFCL) and requested to initiate the proposed 4th unit (Namrup IV).

They have submitted a memorandum citing that “BVFCL, the sole urea manufacturing company in Eastern India situated in Namrup, Assam, has been a vital component of the region’s development and economic growth. Over the years, it has played a pivotal role in the agricultural sector and has been a significant source of employment for thousands of people. We are deeply concerned about recent reports suggesting that the Government of India may consider the closure of BVFCL based on the recommendations of the Group of Officers meeting under the purview of NITI Aayog. This has raised apprehensions and uncertainties among the people of Assam, especially given the company’s historical significance and its contributions to the state’s agricultural economy. We would like to highlight some crucial developments related to the BVFCL issue that have further added to the concerns of the people of Assam:

a) In 2019, the Union Ministry informed the public through a press release about the Government’s proposal to set up a new ammonia-urea plant at BVFCL, the Namrup IV, with a capacity of 12.70 Lakh MT through the nomination (PSU) route. This announcement had raised hopes among the people of Assam that the construction would begin soon.

b) In a significant step, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilizer for a grant-in-aid of Rs. 100 Crore to BVFCL in February 2021. The grant was aimed at sustaining operations and restoring urea production capacity to 3.90 Lakh MT per annum. This financial assistance was seen as a positive move to support the struggling BVFCL.

c) However, the recent contradictory statements by different ministers regarding the future of BVFCL have further created confusion and uncertainty among the people. The Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, released a video message on July 25, stating that there are no intentions to close down BVFCL and instead, the government plans to modernize the facility. However, this statement contradicts the reply given by you and raised by the MP Gaurav Gogoi in the Lok Sabha on July 21. In this response, it was clearly stated that a Committee of Group of Officers (CGO) under the purview of NITI Aayog had recommended BVFCL for closure as part of the New Public Sector Enterprises (PSE) Policy for Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

Further, the memorandum stated, “Given these developments, we earnestly request that you take the matter positively, prevent the closure of this vital establishment, and direct the construction of the proposed 4th unit, Namrup IV. By doing so, you will not only safeguard the livelihoods of thousands of workers but also ensure the continued growth and prosperity of the agricultural sector in our state. Your support will immensely help in resolving this issue and preserving the future of BVFCL for the benefit of the people of Assam and the entire North Eastern region.”

“The proposed 4th unit, Namrup IV, has been a long-standing demand of the people of Assam and has received assurances from government authorities in the past. However, tangible progress in this regard has been lacking. We urge you to use your esteemed position to initiate the process of establishing Namrup IV and ensure its timely completion. By supporting the construction of Namrup IV, we can not only safeguard the jobs of the current employees but also create new opportunities for the people of Assam,” it added.

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