Suresh Prabhu, union minister of chemicals and fertilisers said at the seminar on the India fertiliser industry :Vision for the new millennium -- organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), "Revival of sick units is of prime importance and since of the sick units are in the eastern region, the area will be a thrust area for us in the years to come. The brownfield project policy may be applied to revive the units."
According to the draft on long term policy on the fertiliser sector, the future of the sick units of HFC and FCI that are lying closed will be decided in accordance with the relevant enactments.
A detailed study would be ordered in respect of all such centres, which should spell out the details of the availability of the infrastructure such as land, water, power supply, educational facilities etc.
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Thereafter, the price that the government can expect may be determined confidentially and offers from interested parties can be invited.
Since the matter concerns the sick industrial companies which fall within the ambit of BIFR, it would be necessary to consult the BIFR with regard to the modalities to be adopted for expeditious winding up of such units.
"We are discussing the draft policy with all stakeholders in different parts of the country. We have already discussed with farmers in the north and western India" said Prabhu.
The draft policy pertains to a three phased programme for the ministry. The first phase will emphasise on the removal of aberrations in the existing system and initiation of steps towards systematic reforms.
In Phase II, decisions on the steps initiated in the first phase will be taken and the time frame will also be indicated. The third phase would witness total decontrol with a view to allow operation of free market forces.
K K Bangur, president ICC said, "Though the aggregate measurement support for the agricultural sector is below WTO stipulations, in the long term we have to be careful about the targeting of subsidies."