Petroleum ministry to spend Rs. 25,000cr on Bihar projects

The ministry of petroleum and natural gas will be spending over Rs. 25,000 crore on various projects in Bihar in the next five years. This includes enhancement of the Barauni oil refinery’s capacity from the existing six million tonnes to nine million tonnes.

Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the Union government has also taken a decision to lay LPG gas pipeline from Durgapur to Muzaffarpur in Bihar soon for effective supply of LPG to consumers of the state.

“We have also planned to set up bottling plants with the twin purpose of strengthening the gas supply and generate employment opportunities,” he said while addressing a function here on Sunday.

He reiterated his government’s resolve to lay a pipeline from Motihari to Amlelkhganj in Nepal for supply of oil to the Himalayan country. “Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a commitment in this regard and we will fulfill it soon,” he added.

Only 35% population in the state is availing of the facility of LPG gas, he said while announcing that in the next couple of years it would touch the national average.

To refurbish the Barauni fertiliser plant, Pradhan declared that his department would make available the required gas to the unit. “Our department can do this for the revival of the ageold plant and I assure you to accomplish it in the years to come,” he said adding that it was his dream to see the plant functional.

Pradhan also reiterated his government’s decision to complete the 2000-km-long Jagdishpur-Haldia pipleline project, of which 600 km would run in Bihar. “We have taken the project very seriously and we will see to it that it sees the light of the day very soon,” he affirmed.

Pradhan said his department would facilitate setting up a fullfledged petrochemical complex in the state. “There are many such plans in our mind, which we will take up one after another,” he said.

In response to demands of Begusarai BJP MP Bhola Singh, the Union minister said IOC would set up a nursing school or college at Begusarai.

He said in the names of Bihar’s first chief minister Shri Krishna Sinha and Rashtriya Kavi Dinkar, two scholarships would be started for the education of 10 poor students of the district. “This will be IOC’s responsibility to fund the education of 10 poor children of the state every year,” he said.

Pradhan said IOC would also work for the integrated development of the Begusarai district, where the independent India’s second oil refinery is located.

The golden jubilee function was also attended by IOC chairman B Ashok, director of refineries Sanjeev Singh, local MP Bhola Singh, joint secretary, ministry of petroleum and natural gas Sandeep Poundrik.