AGARTALA, Jan 10 (TIWN): Due to the Industry Minister Tapan Chakraborty's lameduck performance no industry could properly grow in Tripura, although chit fund looted mass-money from here. A MoU signing ceremony was held at Agartala on 9th April 2013 with much advertisement of Urea fertilizer. On that occasion Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, Sudhir Vasudeva, CMD-ONGC, the then Chief Secretary S. K. Panda, K S Jamestin, Director (HR & BD), ONGC; Chief Financial Officer, CFCL Abhay Baijal MP Jiten Chowhdhury dignitaries and other functionaries from the State administration, ONGC and M/s CFCL were also present. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on that time said that this would upgrade Tripura’s industrial growth further and boost business.

Although ONGC had discovered significant gas reserves in Khubal under NELP acreage AA-ONN-2001/1, located in the logistically challenging north-eastern part of the state of Tripura, which otherwise would be stranded due to poor marketing and evacuation avenues; but due to the negligence of the state administration the matter didn’t progress much.

Reportedly, initially 2 places were chosen for the plant : One was Khubal at Kachanpur & another was Birchandranagar at Unakoti. At Khubal it was said that lack of water was another problem, but if pipeline is used 25 crores investment could be done among the Rs. 5000 crores investment. At kailashahar Birchandranagar another place, which was much nearer to Manu river with 200 meters distance; but none of those places were selected ultimately as the state govt showed huge negligence to cooperate.

 On that time of MoU signing, the ONGC and M/s CFCL also had planned to take their joint collaboration further ahead through prospective projects in other geographies. Therefore, the success of Khubal fertilizer project draws great significance in the growth ambition of both the parties, besides its importance to the state of Tripura.

But Minister Tapan Chakraborty in his last talk with TIWN said that the Chambal Fertilizer is non-interested in that project.

During NE summit Manik Sarkar also blamed the same, against ASSOCHAM Industry that they came in Tripura and went without investment. However, the Govt has to understand why the investors are not investing here? The lack of industry which loaded the state with 7 lakhs of unemployed youths; is yet to teach a lesson to the state govt here.