Paradip: Both the Centre and state lay emphasis to rejuvenate the economy of Paradip region through industrialisation as the port town is considered as one of the premier gateways of eastern India.
However, the future of several proposed industrial units including Dipak Fertilisers, a big project, now hangs in balance, well place sources revealed.
On the other hand, the Centre and state last year had made announcements for establishment of eight industries. However, there is no progress in this direction even as public hearings for four of them have been held on several occasions.
None is sure whether the projects would see the light of the day.
Similarly, the expansion project of Paradeep Phosphates Limited (PPL) is also yet to take off, it was learnt.
The highest investment, according to the Make in Odisha conclave of last year, of Rs 9,500 crore was to be made in the expansion project of PPL.
Likewise, Essar’s 6 MTPA pellet unit is learnt to be incurring losses for the past one year and is on the verge of acquisition. Industrial giants like Mittal and Adani are learnt to be the front runners to takeover, it was learnt.
While the prospect of establishment of new industries looks grim, a plastic park and a polypropylene projects which were announced about four years back seem to have gone into cold storage.
Public hearing was completed last years for four projects – PPL’s expansion project, Kalinga Calciner Ltd (a manufacturer of petroleum coke), IOCL project and Dipak Fertilisers.
While Kalinga Calciner failed to get the environmental clearance, Dipak had some problems with PPL over sharing of ammonia. Orissa state pollution control board too raised objections over production of explosives like ammonia nitrate by Dipak near human habitations.
This has pushed the future of the proposed fertiliser unit into uncertainty.
The industrial policy and economic reforms initiated by the Centre have also not helped the industries in Paradip, said some of the promoters.
In the midst of such a dismal state of affairs, two projects – taking over of Kargill India, an oil company that remained closed since 2014, by Adani group and IOCL’s LPG terminal project – seemed to be the silver linings.
While Adani has started renovating the oil unit and the production is likely to begin by July end, IOCL sources said the project would be completed in time.
