BHUBANESWAR: The BJP on Sunday accused labour minister Susanta Singh of conspiring to stall the proposed second generation (2G) ethanol bio-refinery project in Bargarh district for narrow political gains, a charge denied by the minister.
Addressing a news conference at BJP state headquarters, BJP MLA Pradeep Purohit said Singh has been influencing officers to stall transfer of land to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) for the project.
The proposed plant at Baulsingha village in Bhatli tehsil of Bargarh district would produce ethanol blended petrol (EBP) and bio-manure from agricultural waste and crop residues. It is one of the 12 such projects planned by oil PSUs in the country.
Purohit said a year after BPCL requested the state for land in November 2016, the government is delaying its transfer which has already been identified. "Singh who represents Bhatli assembly segment fears the central move may dent his popularity," said the BJP MLA.
Singh denied the allegation. "The BJP is coming out with baseless allegation to mislead people for their political gains. If they can prove the allegation, I will quit politics," Singh said.
The accusation and counter between BJP and BJD comes ahead of the bypoll in Bijepur assembly segment in Bargarh district. Singh is among BJD's popular faces on the ground there.
The Centre has been implementing the EBP programme to promote use of alternative and environment friendly fuel and reduce import dependency for energy requirements and boost the agriculture sector.
Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan on December 1 wrote a letter to chief minister Naveen Patnaik seeking his cooperation for implementation of the project.
Pradhan highlighted that the bio-refinery will necessitate setting up of around 10 decentralized biomass collection depots in a radius of 50km, which will boost labour and transportation activities and generate employment opportunities for the local people.
The plant will consume estimated 1.30 lakh MT feedstock (agricultural waste and crop residues) per annum. This is expected to generate Rs 8 crore per year for the farmers for their agricultural waste which otherwise needs spending by the farmer for its disposal.
Addressing a news conference at BJP state headquarters, BJP MLA Pradeep Purohit said Singh has been influencing officers to stall transfer of land to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) for the project.
The proposed plant at Baulsingha village in Bhatli tehsil of Bargarh district would produce ethanol blended petrol (EBP) and bio-manure from agricultural waste and crop residues. It is one of the 12 such projects planned by oil PSUs in the country.
Purohit said a year after BPCL requested the state for land in November 2016, the government is delaying its transfer which has already been identified. "Singh who represents Bhatli assembly segment fears the central move may dent his popularity," said the BJP MLA.
Singh denied the allegation. "The BJP is coming out with baseless allegation to mislead people for their political gains. If they can prove the allegation, I will quit politics," Singh said.
The accusation and counter between BJP and BJD comes ahead of the bypoll in Bijepur assembly segment in Bargarh district. Singh is among BJD's popular faces on the ground there.
The Centre has been implementing the EBP programme to promote use of alternative and environment friendly fuel and reduce import dependency for energy requirements and boost the agriculture sector.
Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan on December 1 wrote a letter to chief minister Naveen Patnaik seeking his cooperation for implementation of the project.
Pradhan highlighted that the bio-refinery will necessitate setting up of around 10 decentralized biomass collection depots in a radius of 50km, which will boost labour and transportation activities and generate employment opportunities for the local people.
The plant will consume estimated 1.30 lakh MT feedstock (agricultural waste and crop residues) per annum. This is expected to generate Rs 8 crore per year for the farmers for their agricultural waste which otherwise needs spending by the farmer for its disposal.
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