New Delhi, Dec 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid the foundation stone of the Ammonia-Urea Fertiliser Project of the Assam Valley Fertiliser and Chemical Company Limited at Namrup in Dibrugarh district, marking a major push to fertiliser self-reliance and industrial revival in the North East.
Addressing a large gathering, the Prime Minister said Assam had “picked up a new momentum of development” and asserted that farmers’ welfare was at the centre of all government policies. He said the new fertiliser unit would ensure an uninterrupted supply of urea to farmers, reduce import dependence and cut logistics costs.
The brownfield project, to be set up within the existing premises of Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corporation Limited (BVFCL), will involve an investment of around Rs 11,000 crore and produce over 12 lakh metric tonnes of urea annually. The plant is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities, benefiting local youth and allied industries. Calling the day “historic” for Assam and the North East, Modi said the long-pending demand for a modern fertiliser plant at Namrup had finally been fulfilled. He said Assam, which once played a central role during the Ahom era, would again emerge as a key contributor in a developed India through new industries, modern infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing, agriculture, tea, and tourism. Highlighting the government’s focus on agriculture, the Prime Minister said initiatives such as the PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana and the Dalhan Atmanirbharta Mission had been launched this year to strengthen farming and support farmers. He noted that nearly Rs 4 lakh crore had been transferred directly to farmers’ accounts under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi so far.
Prime Minister Modi also underlined welfare measures for tea garden workers, tribals, women and youth, and said development guided by the vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas had helped nearly 25 crore people move out of poverty over the last 11 years. The Prime Minister said the Namrup fertiliser plant would supply not only Assam but also Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and eastern Uttar Pradesh, strengthening the North East’s role in India’s growth story. “Eastern India and the North East will become the growth engine of the nation,” he said. Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal were among the dignitaries present at the event. According to officials, the project, estimated at over Rs 10,600 crore, is expected to significantly boost farmer welfare, employment and regional economic development while advancing India’s goal of self-reliance in fertilisers.
