Kerala MPs meet union ministers for revival of FACT

After the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the centre government has initiated steps for immediate revival of the Fertilizers And Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT). As a part of this initiative, Ananth Kumar, Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, and Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, held a meeting with Members of Parliament from all the parties from Kerala in the Parliament House New Delhi yesterday to discuss all related issues.
 
It is first time in the last five years that such an initiative had been taken for revival of the FACT. Kerala MPs had met the Prime Minister last week and requested him to look into the issue. Narendra Modi had thereafter instructed both the Ministers to take quick actions as required for revival of the unit. After today’s meeting it is hoped that this plant will revive production in about 15 days from now, added the Chemicals and Fertilizers Ministry press release.
 
At the meeting, Ananth Kumar also requested all the members to work for providing the right of way for laying the gas pipe line from Petronet facility at Kochi, up to Mangalore for an uninterrupted supply of gas to this fertiliser unit and also for development of various other downstream industries alongside the pipeline. He also pleaded with members to impress upon the Government of Kerala to allow unhindered usage of over 1000 acres of free hold land with FACT for development of other industries including a power plant in the region. The Petroleum Minister suggested that the Heads of GAIL and FACT should immediately meet to discuss issues of pricing and other related issues for the gas to be supplied to the FACT.
 
Members of Parliament from Kerala including the Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha P J Kurien, who attended the meeting urged the Government to work towards providing gas or feed-stock at a cheaper price to the FACT. MPs also pleaded for adequate financial settlement for the revival of this plant.