Mangaluru: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, addressing a press meet at the BJP office yesterday evening said that the union government has decided to complete the process of setting up of a crude oil reserve facility with a capacity of storing oil upto 2.5 million tones in Mangaulru by Mid October. This is prompted by the falling oil prices in the World, he said.
“The strategic reservior facilities will be set up and managed by Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Ltd in Mangaluru, Vishakapatnam and Kadoor. It is my vision to look into the final preparedness of the reservoir facilities in this financial year,” he added
He praised the skill enhancement programmes of the BJP government to create employment opportunities for the younger generation,. “Make in India and Skill India are two futuristic programmes designed by the Government to ensure that there will be no dearth of employment opportunities for the youth and certainly Mangaluru has strong link to these programmes.”
“Mangaluru is in a way emerging as new industrial capital of Southern India owing to the existence of MRPL, SEZ and the upcoming reservoir facility. Further these three organisations can go a long way to provide momentum to Make in India and Skill India programmes. During my visit to Mangaluru, I will be looking into the options to take these two initiatives forward and meet all stakeholders. With everybody’s co-operation we are hoping to carve out a new developmental path in this area,” he added.
Pradhan, in response to a query on the problems caused by Coke and Sulphur unit of MRPL in Jokatte, said that that he was aware of the problems and that he would visit the affected villages tomorrow (Sunday) and talk to the people there and also understand the problem being faced by them.
Protest:
Incidentally a press release from Muneer Katipalla, Convenor of the Civil Action Committee of Jokatte, has announced a black flag demonstration against the inaction on the pollution by MRPL and SEZ authorities in front of the visiting Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan at 9.00 AM at MRPL, when he is scheduled to visit the plant.
In his reply to the issues being faced with regards to the setting up of Bengaluru to Mangaluru gas pipeline the Minister said some problems have cropped up in Kerala due to certain misunderstandings and the same will be resolved soon after persuading the Kerala government. Early functioning of Kochi terminal will prove beneficial to Mangaluru and now it is upto the Kerala government to facilitate ensure that gas pipeline will be up and running.
As far as apprehensions of farmers in Dakshina Kannada district is concerned Dharmendra Pradhan said “he is aware of the disputes as MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has briefed him about it and all the issues will be resolved soon.”
In the end Dharmendra Pradhan gave a call to the people to support Prime Minister in his ‘Give It Up’ campaign where he has asked the better off sections of the society to forego their LPG subsidy that can be utilized in providing subsidized LPG connections to the poor.
