RAMAGUNDAM (KARIMNAGAR): The laying of foundation stone for the revival of Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCI) unit, Ramagundam, may be delayed further due to lack of workforce and several other reasons.
Union minister of state for chemicals and fertilizers Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, on January 22, announced Prime Minister Narendra Modi would lay foundation stone for the renovation works of the unit in the third week of February.
The National Fertilizers Limited (NFL), Engineers India Limited and FCI signed an agreement to form a joint venture company (JVC) for setting up new ammonia and urea plants at the existing site of plant on January 14, 2015. Estimated cost of the JVC is '4,700 crore. Name of the venture is Ramagundam Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited.
General manager of FCI, M.N. Mallishwari said that they don’t have information on Prime Minister’s visit. “Major works of the revival have not been begun so far. In order to start the works, staff of RFCL will arrive to the plat within a week,” she clarified when asked about the progress of the works.
“Demolition of the plant and its machinery, furniture and structures reached final stage. However, it will take another month for completing destroying of certain equipment and shifting of demolished material and scrap piled up at the plant,” said an employee of Bohra Exports Pvt. Ltd, executing agency of the works.
Renovation of administration building and guest houses is still underway. The process of numbering to trees grown all over the site of the plant and tendering of selling the wood has not completed yet.
Youths, former employees pin hopes on revival plan
Local unemployed youths and casual labourers of the FCI pinned many hopes on revival of the unit. They demand employment opportunities in the plant for eligible candidates.
A total of 3,000 casual jobs and 450 permanent ones can be created in the unit once revived, as estimated by authorities of Telangana state pollution control board at the time of conducting public hearing.
Kandi Srinivas, general secretary FCI casual labourers’ union demanded that the Union government must bring a policy to reappoint them as it is a rare plant going to be reopened soon.
He wanted the government to provide employment in the revived plant to all the eligible candidates of the town.
