Union Petroleum seeks Odisha’s help to implement Chandikhole SPR

Bhubaneswar, Dec 8

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan has sought cooperation of the Odisha government for implementation of the Rs 6,500 crore Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) project at Chandikhole in Jajpur district.

The Union Cabinet in June this year approved establishment 4 MMT SPR facility at Chandikhol.

            “I request cooperation and support of the Government of Odisha in executing the SPR project in the state,” Pradhan wrote to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

            He sought cooperation of the state government in single window clearance for the SPR project at Industrial Development Corporation of Odisha, fast tracking of land acquisition, consent for sourcing water and power, permission of state directorate of mines and geology, clearing the area of all quarrying activities and environment and pollution control board clearance.

            The Union minister also said in the letter that during the meeting with chief secretary on October 31, it was agreed that a team of state government officials will visit Mangaluru and Paddur SPR in Karnataka to see the kind of facilities that are proposed to be built at Chandikhole and the quality of rock debris that will be generated.

            The visit may be expedited, Pradhan said adding that the proposed SPR will bring benefits to the state besides generating employment of 4000 man days for the five-year construction period.

It will promote development of ancillary industries, travel and hospitality services also, he said.

      The enormous quantity of excavated rock will also contribute to the construction sector and in the development of ports, urban infrastructure and highways. The sale of rock will also add to royalty earning of the state, Pradhan said.

      The Union Minister in another letter urged Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to initiate stern action against those involved in the alleged sexual abuse of minor girls at a shelter home in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district.

In his letter he said that the minor girls of the shelter home were sexually abused by the staff, including the managing director of the NGO,Good News India.

He said that the NGO had set up 26 shelter homes in Odisha of which 15 were running illegally and without registration.

Though the NGO was involved in the religious conversion and trafficking of the minor girls to other states, the state government remained a mute spectator, Dharmendra alleged.