Centre keen on setting up urea plant in Karnataka.

Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Ananth Kumar recently announced that the Centre was keen on setting up a urea manufacturing unit in Karnataka with an investment of around Rs. 6,000 crore.

Addressing farmers after formally launching KRIBHCO's neem-coated urea at a programme organised at the University of Agricultural Sciences-Bengaluru here, the Minister said the Centre had written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking 500 acres of land for locating the proposed fertilizer unit, with a capacity of 1.3 million tonnes.

The Chief Minister had responded positively by promising to give not only land, but also 10 per cent equity with respect to the project, Mr. Ananth Kumar said.

The land would have to be given near the Bidadi-Dhabol gas pipeline as it would run on gas, he said.

It should also have road and rail connectivity. It may take about four years to set up the proposed plant after obtaining the land, he said.

Mr. Ananth Kumar reiterated that the Centre would take steps to revive Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd.


THE HINDU