The Central Government will invest Rs 15,000 cr to increase the capacity of Panipat refinery in Haryana from the existing 15 MT to 25 MT to create employment opportunities.
Also, an Ethanol Plant would be set up at a cost of Rs 500 crore by the Indian Oil Corporation in Panipat to generate alternative fuel from agricultural residue which would boost agriculture sector, announced Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, after distributing free lPG connections, under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) at Panipat on Monday.
He also appreciated Haryana Government’s initiative for making Haryana kerosene free by March 2017 and added that this model would be replicated in the entire country to make India kerosene free.
The Union Minister said that the expansion of Panipat refinery would raise specifications of fuel quality from BS-4 to BS-6. This would not only create employment opportunities for the people, but would also help in raising quality of fuel in the country by the year 2020, said he.
As per scientific research, he said that ethanol made from crop residue can produce fuel or energy upto 72 per cent.
Pradhan said that efforts are being made to have the downstream of petro chemical hub in Haryana so as to attract maximum investment in the state. This would attract about 100 big or small industries thus generating maximum revenue and employment in the state, said he.
The Union Minister also appreciated the State Government for digitization of ration Cards under Public Distribution System, which revealed that five lakh beneficiaries were getting dual benefit of both subsidized lPG and kerosene. This has saved Rs 100 crore subsidy being granted by Centre to Haryana Government.
He also announced to pay back 75 per cent subsidy to Haryana keeping in view the target to declare eight districts as kerosene free in Haryana by November 1. The Union Minister also assured that more than six lakh BPl households would get lPG connection in next six months in the state.
On the occasion, the Union Minister and Chief Minister Manohar lal together handed over papers of gas connections to 10 beneficiaries.
Speaking on this occasion, the Chief Minister said that under the PMUY, the distribution of free lPG connection has been started from Panipat and the state would get success in declaring eight districts of Yamunanagar, Panchkula, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat, Jahjjar and Gurugram as kerosene free by November 1. The state would become kerosene free by March 2017, he added.
He said that schemes like housing for all, employment opportunities to about two lakh people and all announcement for development purpose made by him would be completed in Swarna Jayanti year. Apart from this, Rs 1700 crore would be spent for swarna jayanti projects in addition to regular budget, he added.
The Chief Minister said that Central Government is celebration Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya centenary as “Gareeb Kalyan Varsh” in which special schemes for welfare of the poor would be implemented. Following the footsteps of Central Government, the State Government would also focus on bringing the poor into the mainstream, said he.
He said that with a view to hone the skills of youth, centres of Skill Development have been started under Skill Development Mission. There are about 1000 courses of skill development through which we can make youth employable. The government is also setting up a Skill Development University in Palwal, added the Chief Minister.
later on, the Union Minister and the Chief Minister also visited the Panipat refinery.