The under construction oil refinery in Paradip. Telegraph picture

Paradip, Oct. 7: Acute shortage of skilled and highly skilled workers has slowed down the construction of the Rs 30,000-crore worth Paradip oil refinery project.

The company still in need of at least 25,000 skilled and highly skilled workers such as heavy-machine operators, crane operators and over-dimension cargo operators even as the date for commissioning of the project is drawing close.

“Skilled workers are not available in the state, and the company has to depend on manpower from outside. That has seriously affected the construction progress. Despite many hindrances, the refinery project by Indian Oil Corporation Limited will be over by March next year,” said the project’s executive director Ramjee Ram.

“Consultant companies have engaged around 15,000 skilled labourers at the project site. There is still a deficit of 10,000 workers. The project is valued at an estimated cost of Rs 29,777 crore, of which Rs 26,052 crore has already been used for construction-related works.

“The company engineers are working round the clock, so that the project is commissioned on time,” said Ram.

Labour unrest, recurring lawlessness and troublesome activities by trade unions have been a bone of contention in commissioning of the project.

Non-completion of the captive power plant of 366-MW capacity has also affected the project’s progress.

At present, the project is getting power from Cesu.

There has also been a delay in laying of water pipes from the Mahanadi river.

The pipeline-laying was concluded earlier this year, after a delay of two years. Government clearances and impending court cases consumed a lot of time.

Cyclone Phailin that hit the Odisha coast last year has also slowed down the progress of the project related works.

The project work was completely paralysed in October last year after labourers had left the site.

Delay in transfer of land for laying of the underground product pipelines from the south jetty of Paradip port to the refinery site has also played a spoilsport.

Frequent formation of low pressure in the Bay of Bengal that results in heavy rainfall has also affected the multicrore project.