PM stresses need for industralisation in Punjab

  by Punjabnewswire4u
PHULOKHARI (BATHINDA) APRIL 28

            Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today emphasized the need for industrialization in Punjab as it would not only contribute to economic growth of the state but also create new employment opportunities for its youth. 

            In his address after dedicating the Guru Gobind Singh Refinery to the nation, Dr. Singh said that Rs.21500 crore refinery with a refining capacity of 9 MMTPA was a unique example of partnership between the public and private sector and complimented the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. and Mittal Energy Limited led by global captain of industry Mr. Lakshmi N. Mittal for setting up this giant venture with the world’s latest technology and experts in the petroleum industry.  Dr. Singh said: “Refineries act as catalysts for industrial growth and development in the areas in which they operate. I am sure that this refinery will provide the impetus for the setting up of a number of major industries and ancillary units and will lead to sustained growth and development in and around Bathinda”.

            The Prime Minister said that this refinery was equipped with latest technology and capability to introduce Bharat stage III and IV fuels, which reiterated our commitment to safeguard our environment and push ahead with growth.  The refinery sector in the country has shown phenomenal growth and India has emerged a refining hub.  From 62 MMTPA per annum, in 1998 the country’s refining capacity has grown about three-and-a half times to 213 MMTPA today.  He said India had sufficient refining capacity to enable us to export petroleum products and hoped the products from this refinery would especially help in bridging the gap between demand and supply in the northern region of the country. 

Lauding Punjab as the torch bearer of the Green Revolution, Dr. Singh said that the State had immensely contributed to our country's food security besides its hard working farmers fed the nation and has also had a glorious history of industrial growth, especially in the small and medium sectors.  He underlined the need to regain its lost glory in industrial sector as Punjab today needed a new wave of industrialization.    Projects such as the one dedicated to the nation today would help the process of industrialization in Punjab. 

Laying greater emphasis on the initiatives for skill development and vocational training in the state to give stimulus to industrialization, Dr. Singh said that Punjab has not lived up to its potential in areas such as Information Technology and we need to correct this situation. We also need improved infrastructure in Punjab- better roads and transport facilities, reliable power supply and so on. He assured that the people of Punjab that Centre would continue doing everything possible to ensure that Punjab touches new heights of development.

Responding to the demand of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal for setting up of the state-of-the-art Cancer & Research Hospital on the pattern of PGIMER Chandigarh and AIIMS Delhi, Dr. Singh said that he was fully aware of the recent increased incidence of Cancer in Punjab and large number of the people suffering from this disease in this region despite the fact of average Punjabi to be known for his robust health and high productivity.   The Prime Minister informed that Baba Farid University of Health & Sciences, Faridkot had requested permission to set up an advanced cancer diagnostic and research centre at Bhatinda. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board has since granted permission for setting up two of the three facilities that were proposed. The third is being processed.  He said that they have also included Bathinda, in addition to Hoshiarpur and Mansa, as one of the districts under the National Program for Prevention and Control of Diabetics, Cardio-Vascular Diseases & Strokes and Cancer.
            Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal demanded a special economic package for the industrial growth in the state on the pattern of concessions and incentives given to industry in our neighbouring states.  He also raised an issue to grant moratorium on the repayment of the loan advanced to Punjab for next five years as the 13^th Finance Commission had already recommended such concessions for the debt stressed states of Punjab, Kerala and West Bengal.  He also urged the Prime Minister to take initiatives for opening of Hussainiwala border to further boost the bilateral trade ties between India and Pakistan besides enhancing the list of items from 137 to around 6000 traded through ICP Attari to bring it at par with the Mumbai-Karachi sea route.   He also asked the Centre to make its policies and formulae for giving grants to the states under centrally sponsored schemes in a realistic and objective manner without being impartial to any state.    

Appreciating Prime Minister’s concern to boost industrialization in Punjab, Mr. Badal sought his cooperation and support to make Punjab as the most preferred destination for industrial investments.  He urged Dr. Singh to immediately direct the Ministry of Civil Aviation to allow international flights from Mohali and domestic flights from Bathinda Airports in order to facilitate the prospective investors and entrepreneurs who intend to make investments in the state. 

Mr. Badal also asked the Prime Minister to immediately provide relief to the beleaguered farmers of the Punjab in terms of complete waiver of debt to the tune of Rs.30000 crore.  He said that the state government had pleaded for debt waiver at different fora of Centre but of no avail.  He said agriculture was no longer a profitable proposition as both the land holdings and the margin of profit have been considerably squeezed.  He impressed upon Dr. Singh being an eminent economist to implement the recommendations of world renowned agri-economist Dr. MS Swaminanthan to provide much needed relief to the hapless peasantry.

Concluding issues related to Punjab, Mr. Badal urged the Prime Minister to immediately constitute a committee of experts for their early resolution so that the justice could be done to Punjab. 

The Chief Minister complimented the world’s steel tycoon and Chairman Mittal Energy Limited Mr. Lakshmi N. Mittal for setting up this huge refinery in the Malwa belt which would soon herald industrial revolution in this region.  He also asked Mr. Mittal to set up more such mega projects in that state especially in the power sector.     

In his address Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Mr. S Jaipal Reddy appreciated the unique partnership model between public and private sector companies for establishing a hi-tech refinery.  He hoped that this sort of novel partnership would be replicated in other states also for setting up such more mega refineries to give stimulus to the energy sector. Mr. Reddy also said that owing to world class technology being adopted in Bathinda refinery it has the distinction of being a ‘Green Refinery’ as it was not causing any sort of environmental pollution.

Mr. Reddy pointed out that the inauguration of GGSRL was another feather in the cap of petroleum industry as it would add another 9 MMTPA to the total existing country’s refining capacity of 213 MMTPA.   He hoped that Punjab would soon emerge as a petroleum hub as the new refinery would not only propel the industrialization in the state but also be instrumental in boosting up its economic progress by setting up of ancillary units down the line. 

Earlier in his address the Union State Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gases Mr. RPN Singh termed it as a historic day for Punjab as with this refinery getting operational, a new era of economic development had been ushered in the state which would result in manifold increase of employment opportunities in the state. He said that due  to easy availability of the raw material most of the private refineries have been set up earlier in the coastal areas of the country but with the installation of this refinery in Bathinda, the transport cost of petroleum products to the region would decrease, which would prove helpful in providing impetus to the much needed industrialization of the state.

Expressing gratitude to the dignitaries present on the occasion the Chairman of MEL and Steel Tycoon Mr. Lakshmi N. Mittal said that the refinery would set up  a new milestone in the state as it would not only strengthen the power sector of the country but would also help in developing Punjab as a Petrochemical hub in the world. He said that owing to its tremendous capacity this refinery would not only cater to the demands of petroleum products of the state but would also fulfill the demand of neighboring states like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Rajasthan.  Thanking Union and State government along with the residents of Bathinda for their unstinted support in completion of the project, Mr Mittal said that his group would make untiring efforts to double the capacity of refinery from 9 MMTPA to 18 MMTPA in the coming years.

Later on Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal and MP from Bathinda Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal honored the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Union Petroleum Minister Mr. S Jaipal Reddy, Union State Minister for Petroleum Mr. RPN Singh, Union State Minister for Planning, Science & Technology Mr. Ashwani Kumar and Steel Tycoon Mr. Lakshmi Niwas Mittal by presenting them a model of Sri Harmandir Sahib, a Shawl and a Sword.

Meanwhile, C&MD of HPCL Mr. S.Roy Choudhury proposed a vote of thanks on the occasion. 

Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Punjab Governor Mr. Shivraj V.Patil, Bhagat Chunni Lal, Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Jathedar Tota Singh, Mr Gulzar Singh Ranike, Mr Anil Joshi, Mr Surjit Singh Rakhra (All Cabinet Ministers of Punjab), Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Mr. Sarup Chand Singla and Mr. NK Sharma, MP from Faridkot Mrs. Paramjeet Kaur Gulshan besides several MLAs, leaders and workers of SAD-BJP and the members of SGPC. 

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