Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Apr 4: Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday April 4 termed Mangaluru the 'new industrial capital of southern India' and said that the work on ISPRL (Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited) project for crude oil storage in Mangaluru will be completed within a year.
Addressing media persons at the district BJP office during his visit to the city after attending the party's national executive meet in Bengaluru, Pradhan said, "Being a minister for petroleum and natural gas, I have a relationship with Mangaluru which houses MRPL, one of the biggest refineries of the country. Another important institution of the ministry - the strategic reservoir ISPRL with a capacity of 2.5 million tonne is also in Mangaluru. It will start functioning within a year."
He further said, "Considering the fall in oil prices in the world market, the union government decided to fill the strategic reservoirs at an early stage. The important points of strategic reservoirs are Vishakapatnam, Mangaluru, and Padur. This financial year we are trying to fill these strategic reservoirs as part of our major vision. Tomorrow I will be visiting MRPL and then going to Hubballi.
"Mangaluru is the new industrial capital of southern India and a major anchor of industrialization. I will be spending a day here, meeting with different people and stake holders and I hope for everyone's cooperation to create new developmental path. It is my first visit to MRPL, I will try to understand the local dynamics," he said.
On the programmes initiated by Modi-led government, he said, "It is 10 months since we formed the goverment and already a lot of pro-poor initiatives have been taken to create jobs and boost employment. 'Make in India' programme will facilitate the younger generation of this country to fulfill their dreams by generating employment. Simultaneously, the government has initiated 'Skill India' programme. These two programmes are futuristic, and certainly Mangaluru will benefit from both."
To a question on allegations of air pollution by MRPL, he said, "Yes, the issue has come to my notice. Tomorrow (Sunday April 5) I will meet the locals and study the case. First I need to understand the basic issue."
On the stalled work on Gail pipeline he said, "We are pursuading the local leaders of Kerala. There seems to be some misuderstanding there."
To a question on whether BJP members are heeding to PM Narendra Modi's call for the well-off to give up subsidized LPG cylinders, "Let me request that this should not be made a party issue. The PM has given a call for the well-off section of the society to give up subsidy on LPG cylinders. Ashok Chavan has done it. I did it six months ago, and so also the finance minister (Arun Jaitely. Many chief ministers are also coming forward to do the same. Today a retired teacher called Prema Kumari in Bengaluru said that she has given up subsidized cylinders, and when I asked why, she said she has faith in Modi."
Later he addressed a meeting of BJP workers. MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, chief whip of opposition and Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar and others were present.