The government will clear all fertilizer subsidy arrears within a month and take steps to boost fertilizer production in the next five years, Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Ananth Kumar has said.
Addressing a conference of the Fertilizer Association of India (FAI) this week, Kumar said that six to seven fertilizer manufacturing facilities will be established to boost domestic production over this period.
Kumar said this will be done through a mixture of new units and revival of closed sites to augment the country's existing capacity.
He also assured the industry that the government will also address various issues relating to the fertilizer sector would be addressed at the earliest.
"For the last one decade, the country has not seen a new fertilizer plant but the Prime Minister has now told us that we should strictly follow the principle of 'Make In India'. Accordingly we are going to start and revive at least 6-7 fertiliser plants in next 5 years in both public and private sectors," Kumar said.
At present, about eight units of state-owned FCIL and HFCL are closed. The ministry is working on reviving the five closed plants of the Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd (FCIL) and Hindustan Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd (HFCL).
The Fertilizers Ministry is seeking increased supply of gas for urea manufacturing plants. It has also asked Oil Ministry to explore the possibility of gas pipeline from Phulpur to Haldia, the minister pointed out and that this can lead to revival of five closed plants.
Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers complimented FAI and its Board of Directors and the members of the Fertilizer Industry fraternity for their continuous service for Indian agriculture and making fertilizers available to the farmers.
