Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal urged the Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) management to play a proactive role in promoting agro-based economy in the state.
The Assam chief minister urged the NRL management to take steps for skill development of youth of the neighbouring areas.
The chief minister made this call during a review of the Numaligarh Refinery Expansion Project (NREP) and Bio Refinery Plant at the NRL headquarters in Numaligarh on Wednesday.
Sonowal also visited the construction sites of both the projects and took stock physical progress of the projects.
Chief minister Sonowal said in the industrial landscape of Assam, NRL is playing an important role and has generated much hope for the state’s economy especially in view of its expansion project and the bio-fuel plant.
Sonowal said it is now time for the NRL to come out of its conventional area of expertise and focus on promotion of agro-economy fundamentals in the state.
The bamboo-based ethanol plant is a big opportunity for NRL to venture into the field of agro economy by engaging maximum number of local people in bamboo production which is now an agricultural product, observed Sonowal.
He further observed that the new bamboo and cane policy of the state government would significantly help the NRL and local farmers in this regard.
Moreover, the chief minister said the NRL with its wide resources should give a thought to strengthen the local economy including setting up of cold storages and providing succour to the horticulturists who have suffered huge loss during the coronavirus lockdown.
He said establishing cold storages would not only help the farmers but also go a long way in boosting rural economy.
Sonowal further said concentrating on developing skilled manpower, which could also be a strong force to catapult industrial growth in the state, may also be a core area of importance for the NRL.
He urged the NRL management to take up skill development initiatives for the youth of the neighbouring areas.
Appreciating the measures taken by NRL to deal with COVID19, the chief minister said guided by the Prime Minister’s vision, the Assam government is working on a mission mode to contain and control coronavirus pandemic and at the same time strengthening the state’s economy.
He further urged the NRL authority to carry out its production activities maintaining social distancing and directives of the health department.
He also asked them to continue with the sanitization drive and keep all logistics ready at its hospital to deal with any emergency situation.
