“The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of a ₹10,601 crore fertilizer plant at Namrup.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone of a modern fertilizer plant costing ₹10,601 crore at Namrup in Assam’s Dibrugarh district. The project is expected to boost fertilizer production in the North-East and bring significant development to the agricultural sector. The proposed plant has a target of producing 1.27 million metric tonnes of urea annually.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that the fertilizer plant will not only meet Assam’s requirements but will also supply fertilizers to neighbouring states. At the same time, it will reduce dependence on fertilizer imports, create new employment opportunities, and act as a catalyst for overall industrial development in the region.

Criticising the Congress government, the Prime Minister said that the technology of the old fertilizer plants at Namrup had become obsolete long ago. However, the then Congress government did not take any initiative to resolve the problem, resulting in the closure of one unit after another. He added that the problems created during the Congress regime are now being addressed by the “double-engine” government.

He further stated that in 2014, the country’s total urea production stood at only 22.5 million metric tonnes. Due to relentless efforts over the past 10–11 years, it has now increased to around 30.6 million metric tonnes.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister visited the Swahid Smarak Kshetra at West Boragaon in Guwahati and paid tribute to the martyrs of the Assam Movement. Later, as part of the Pariksha Pe Charcha programme, he will interact with 25 meritorious students from Assam. This special interaction will be held on a cruise on the Brahmaputra River and is being described as a unique dialogue between the Prime Minister and students ahead of their examinations.

It may be mentioned that yesterday the Prime Minister inaugurated the new terminal building of the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati. He also unveiled a statue of Assam’s first Chief Minister and Bharat Ratna awardee Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi at the new terminal complex, paying tribute to him.