JOIN USThe government will consider supplying domestic gas to manufacturers of phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilisers once again but with some conditions.
“We used to sell gas to companies manufacturing P&K fertilisers at subsidised rates. If the companies to which we used to supply gas are ready to give the same subsidy to the farmers, we will certainly consider supplying gas once again to these companies,” Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar said at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the RCF-BPCL sewage treatment plant.
An inter-ministerial group will be set up to consider the supply once again and if the proposal given by the companies is in favour of the farmers, we will certainly consider it, he added.
Kumar said that the government is looking at making the country self-sufficient in fertiliser production so that imports can be stopped.
“We plan to start six fertiliser plants across the country and the first one will be put up by RCF at Talcher in Maharashtra,” Kumar said.
The Prime Minister’s vision is to make India an exporter of fertilisers from an importer currently and we need to move ahead in that direction, Kumar said.
He said that the government will also consider Navratna status for RCF.
“The government is looking at upgrading RCF from a Miniratna to Navratna and will start work immediately for it,” Kumar said.