Debabrata Saikia urges government to revive the fourth unit of BVFC in Namrup

Congress demands CBI probe into alleged syndicate raj in Corporation

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Leader of Opposition in ALA (AssamLegislative Assembly) Debabrata Saikia urged the government to revive the fourth unit of the BVFC (Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corporation) Limited in Namrup at the earliest.

Making this demand while addressing the media at the premises of ALA Secretariat here on Wednesday, Saikia also demanded a CBI(Central Bureau of Investigation) probe into the alleged syndicate raj in the company.

Saika stated, "The public wants to know the reasons for not opening the fourth unit of the fertiliser company despite the fact that both the Union and the State governments had assured earlier in 2015 that steps will be taken to revive the fourth unit of the fertiliser factory in Namrup."

The senior Congress leader further stated, "The Namrup fertilizer factory should be revived to benefit the State's farmers."

Deploring the "government's indifference" towards revival of the Namrup fertilizer factory, Opposition leader Debabrata Saikia alleged, "The BJP government has announced different schemes for improving the economic condition of the State's farmers but the schemes have failed to make any impact.

"Previously, the farmers have been buying fertilizer at high prices and the government's supply of low-quality seeds have led to losses for the farmers, according to media reports, but the government has not instituted any probe into the matter. The issue of fake farmers' names included in the 'Prime Minister Samman Yojana' has also not been given due importance.

"Since 2015, repeated announcements were made regarding the fertilizer factory's renovation but nothing has emerged so far. While campaigning in Assam for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured that the 4th unit of the theNamrup fertilizer factory would be set up within 100 days of the BJP coming to power. But the factory is still using old and obsolete technologies in production. In 2015, the Central government had announced the allocation of Rs4,500 crore for the new unit; but, the decision is yet to be implemented.

"At one time, a total of5000 employees were engaged in the Namrup fertilizer plant but now only 580 permanent and 1500 temporary workers are employed. The State and Central BJP governments are not giving due importance to the revival of the Namrup fertilizer plant, as a result of which the death knell has been sounded for the plant.

"It has been reported that the poor farmers of the State are buying illegally sourced fertilizers at high prices. It has also emerged that a syndicate is operating for the fertilizer produced in the Namrup plant. This has been going on for a long time now and recently, on August 28, the workers union of the Namrup plant launched an operation where 930 bags of fertilizer were found to be in the process of illegal transportation by train.

"The administration tried to deal with the matter by arresting only two officials. Due to the syndicate, the farmers in the State are forced to buy fertilizer at higher prices.So, we demand that a CBI inquiry be instituted into the fertilizer syndicate and the guilty identified and punished. We also urge PM Modi to abide by his promise and take steps to set up the 4th unit of the Namrup plant very soon."

OTHER DEMANDS: Saikia added," We demand that the government follow the NCLAT order and revive the mills. Lakhs of women and the general public were deprived of financial assistance; PM Modi had announced that, to tide over the Covid pandemic situation, the poor women who opened zero-balance accounts would receive financial assistance every month.

"A few women in Assamreceived some amount under the scheme during the first wave of infection but those with zero-balance accounts opened before 2018 did not receive the aid.''

"I had written to the Assam Finance Minister and the Prime Minister about the matter in May 2020 but no steps were taken for these poor women. A newspaper report on September 13 said that 8 lakh women were deprived of the central scheme. So, Iurge the Assam government to take appropriate steps in this regard. Under the 'Jan Vikash Yojana' of the Central Government, while the other northeastern States got funds for development and welfare of minority communities, Assam government this year failed to receive any amount for the same.

LSHEP: Senior Congress Saikia said on LSHEP, "Study on the impact of LSHEP (Lower Subansiri Hydro- ElectricProject) on the downstream areas is necessary.

Also Read: Debabrata Saikia urges CM to revise decision on renaming 'Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park'

Also watch: