The BJD on Friday claimed that due to continued efforts of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik and incumbent CM Naveen Patnaik, the Paradip IOCl refinery has become a reality. Addressing a Press conference here, party leaders Pratap Keshari Deb, Sashibhusan Behera and Sameer Ranjan Das said the Biju Patnaik had placed a demand before the then Prime Minister VP Singh for an oil refinery in July 1990, and subsequently reminded the then Petroleum Ministers about the demand.
During BJD-BJP alliance, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee laid foundation stone for the project in May 2000 due to intervention of the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, they said, adding that the work was delayed for two years due to lack of strong political will.
They said the State Government has provided a total of 3,345 acres of land for the project, spent `1.62 crore towards payment of compensation and rehabilitation of 143 families and waived royalty on sand during construction. Tthe State Government is providing 25 million gallon water daily to the project.
By now, the State Government has lost VAT of `475 crore and is going to lose revenue of `24,000 crore at the current prices in coming years. Besides, the State Government has lost `50 crore invested on Sairat source developed on the land. “The State Government’s strong will power and dedication has been reflected in the successfully completed refiner project,” they said.