A major defence production unit has been proposed in Gopalpur in Odisha, where Tata group can partner the state and the central governments, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Tuesday.
He also proposed developing Odisha as a future oil and gas hub of eastern India and said that about Rs1 lakh crore is expected to be invested in the hydro-carbon sector in the state in 5-7 years.
“Steps have been initiated for establishment of a defence manufacturing unit at Gopalpur in Ganjam district as part of the ‘Make in India’ drive,” the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas told reporters. Tata group has 3,000 acres of land at Gopalpur and the company has been asked to be a partner in the proposed venture which can come up in their area, Pradhan said. The project is at a conceptual stage and can be developed jointly by Tata, Odisha Government and the Centre, he added.
The Modi Government also plans to set up an international standard skill development centre of excellence in Bhubaneswar to provide training in hydro-carbon sector, he added.
There is a requirement of 136 skills in the hydrocarbon sector starting from exploration to delivery point, Pradhan said, adding that such a skill development centre has huge potential to generate revenue and skilled manpower.