State needs 6.7L MT salt, produces 3,135 MT

Odisha produces 3,135 metric tonnes (MT) of salt against its annual need of 6.7 lakh MT, according to information furnished by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Prafalla Samal in the State Assembly on Friday.

In response to a question of BJP MLA Dilip, he said three of the four Salt Cooperative Societies have stopped production. There were Salt Cooperative Societies at Huma and Bahuda in Ganjam district, Bolanga in Baleswar district and Astarang in Puri district, but excepting one at Balanga, all others have stopped production.

While the State’s annual salt need is 6.70 lakh metric tonne, the State produced only 3,135 MT in 2017-17, said the Minister. Out of annual need of 6.70 lakh metric tonne, 4.50 lakh metric tonne is required by industries. Though the State Government had provided financial assistance of 94 lakh to the three Salt Cooperative Societies between 2007 and 2014, they have not yet been revived.

A high-level meeting held in October 2017 in order to revive the closed units and reengage workers in those units. It  was revealed that the salt production has been reduced in the due to digging of Palur Canal by the Chilika Development Authority. Another meeting was held in February 2018 for revival of the units, he said.