Revival of closed fertiliser units likely by 2011-12: Paswan

The government today said that all ailing fertiliser units are likely to be revived by 2011-12 either through the joint venture route or inducting a strategic partner. An Empowered Committee of Secretaries has been set up to look into various options for revival of each of the closed units of Hindustan Fertiliser Chemicals and Fertiliser Corporation of India, Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said in the Lok Sabha during the Question Hour. "The government has also decided in-principle to consider waiver of outstanding loans and interest on these companies subject to finalisation of a fully tied-up proposal for revival of each of the closed unit," he said. There are eight fertiliser units which have been closed due to various reasons including non-availability of inputs like gas and high prices of naphtha. Once restarted, the availability of fertilisers would increase substantially, the minister said. Replying to a supplementary that whether subsidy on fertilisers can be given directly to farmers, he said this was not possible as in that case the farmers would have to make huge investment to buy fertilisers and then claim subsidy. "We are still open to this... Let members give their views... If we get convinced it we will certainly look into it," the minister added.