Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan met at the Odisha Bhawan in New Delhi on Friday in a bid to end the impasse over the dispute of tax waiver to the Paradip Refinery between the State Government and the Indian Oil Corporation limited (IOCl).
It was agreed that officers of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the IOCl and the State Government would deliberate on the issue and work out an acceptable solution at the earliest.
Speaking to media, Patnaik said, “We discussed to solve the IOCl problem, and I am hopeful of a solution soon keeping in priority the State's interest.”
Pradhan said the State had extended the tax concession in 2004. There is a necessity of finding an amicable solution to the present impasse keeping in view the fiscal health of the State and the commercial interest of the IOCl.
Pradhan emphasised the need of finding a middle path, wherein both the IOCl and the State Government can work out a mutually acceptable solution by climbing down from their stated positions. He opinioned that it is important for the State Government to incentivise the expansion plans of the IOCl to create petrochemical and downstream industries in the State.
Among others, the State’s Chief Secretary, Development Commissioner and Finance Secretary and the Petroleum Ministry Secretary and the IOCl Chairman were present at the meeting.