Jharkhand clamps prohibitory order near Sindri fertiliser plant

DHANBAD(JHARKHAND): The Jharkhand government on Monday imposed prohibitory order under section 144 of CrPC for an area covering a 500-meter radius from Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Limited (HURL) in Sindri in wake of an agitation call given by a trade union, an official said.
The RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has called for two day 'dharna', beginning on Monday, at the main gate of the fertiliser plant in suport of its demand for a 75 per cent job quota for local youth. However, BMS agitators were not seen near the plant on Monday.
Dhanbad sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Prem Kumar Tiwari, in his notification, said that prohibitory order which forbid gathering of more than 4 people, has been imposed to maintain peace, law and order and functioning of essential services.
"The action has been initiated on the application of HURL Sindri project's senior vice- president, who was apprehensive that the proposed two-day agitation may impact production," SDM said.
HURL Sindri, which came up in place of FCI Sindri, is an ambitious project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had laid its foundation stone on May 25, 2018 along with Barauni (Bihar) and Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh ) plants.
Sindri plant produces 3,850 ton of urea and 2,250 metric ton of ammonia per day. Though the plant has started commercial production, its formal inauguration is yet to be done.
On November 15, 2022, the plant operation came to a halt just after one week of production following demonstration by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) supported union at the main gate of the plant on the same issue. On Sunday, BJP Baghmara MLA Dhulu Mahto who runs a separate union had also demonstrated at a plant site for jobs to local youth.
HURL Sindri Plant senior vice-president Dipen Ray told mediapersons that the plant has already given 80 per cent jobs to local youth so far. "If any organization or individual has any doubt about employment to local youth, they can check through proper channel," he said.