Attending the Make In Odisha Conclave here, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan called for initiative for jobs to about 1.25 crore youths of the State.
Pradhan said that though Odisha is rich in minerals but the prices of minerals have fallen in the international market. As such, the focus should shift from minerals-based industry to other industries that could help the State’s economy grow at a faster rate.
On the proposal of forming SPVs by the State Government, Pradhan maintained that time has come for forming SPVs at a larger scale in Odisha. He said that he has taken up the issue at several levels for forming SPV by taking IOCl, PPT, PPl and IFFCO at Paradip. He also informed that 13 districts in Odisha would be connected by gas pipeline from the Jagdishpur-Haladia pipeline, a project the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has undertaken at a cost of Rs 4,500 crore.
The work for providing domestic cooking gas through pipeline would also commence soon, said Pradhan, adding that the Bharat Petroleum Corporation would set up a 2G ethanol plant in Baragarh district which would produce fuel from farm waste at a cost of Rs 900 crore. Besides, he said the textile products of the State can get a major boost by using the fibre of IOCl refinery in Paradip for weaving fabrics of Sambalpuri and Maniabandha design.
Pradhan also reiterated the Centre’s unflinching support to Odisha for improving the railway sector. He said that Rs 6,000 crore has been spent for the railway infrastructure development in Odisha and steps are being taken to provide rail connectivity to districts like Malkangiri and Nabarangpur. Besides, a coastal highway in the State is being constructed at a cost of Rs 4,500 crore, while Rs 20,000 crore has been earmarked for construction of National Highways by the NHAI.