Paradeep Phosphates Ltd expansion plan gets support at public hearing

PARADIP: The proposed expansion plan of Paradeep Phosphates Ltd (PPL) got support from the locals at a public hearing organised by Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) here on Friday.

During the hearing, chaired by Paradip ADM Biswajit Biswal on PPL premises, the elected PRI members, village heads and representatives of 26 organisations agreed to the PPL expansion plan on the condition that locals are given  employment and anti-pollution measures are taken.

Sources said the PPL will set up a 15 million-tonne  ammonia, urea, DAP and nitric acid plant at an estimated cost of Rs 10,000 crore. During the first public hearing on October 5 last year, the locals had opposed the expansion plan and criticised the Government for conducting the hearing on PPL premises instead of Kujang area. Following this, the district administration had cancelled the meeting. But on Friday, they expressed their support.

Leader of ‘Priyabandhu’, a social organisation which did not participate in the public hearing, Raghunath Sahoo, however,  criticised the administration for allowing PPL to conduct the hearing on the company premises.

Regional Officer of OSPCB Prasant Kumar Kar and PPL officials were present.