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The closed fertiliser factory in Sindri on Tuesday. Picture by Gautam Dey
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Residents of Sindri, Dhanbad’s industrial hub that lost its sheen ever since its landmark fertiliser factory shut down in 2002, is jubilant at SAIL chairman C. S. Verma’s promise of pumping in close to Rs 35,000 crore in various projects to revive the township.
Vice-president of Federation of Dhanbad Zilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dipak Kumar Deepu, who is also convener of Sindri Bachao Morcha, expressed the hope that glory days would return to Sindri once SAIL’s investment plans took shape and created more employment and business opportunities.
Verma announced on Sunday that SAIl would invest Rs 35,000 crore in Sindri to establish a 5.6 MTPA steel plant, a 1,000 MW power plant and 1.16 MT fertiliser plant.
Deepu welcomed the announcement of fresh investments, but asked the SAIL administration to rehabilitate those living in Sindri before launching the new projects.
“We want the SAIL administration to allot quarters to shopkeepers on the lines of Bokaro so that the they can open businesses in the ground floor and live on the upper floor. SAIL should also allot land on lease to former employees of the Sindri fertiliser factory so that they can construct their own house,” he said.
Sewa Singh, president of All India Fertiliser Corporation of India VSS Employees Association, also welcomed the development. He said new projects would help the town enter a new era of development.
“The investment will be the biggest in the coal belt after the creation of Dhanbad,” he said.
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