BHUBANESWAR: Even as the State government is contemplating to challenge the Odisha High Court order against its tax recovery notice to Indian Oil Corporation's Paradip refinery project, Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said the Centre is ready for a fresh dialogue to resolve the issue.
"I had written to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, requesting him to reconsider the State government's decision to withdraw tax incentives to the mega oil refinery project. I once again appeal him to resolve the issue through talks as suggested by the High Court," Pradhan told reporters after launching BS-IV grade fuel at a function here.
He said the present government at the Centre is not responsible for the delay in setting up of the project (of IOCL). The State government was duly informed about the expansion of the refinery's capacity from nine million tonnes to 15 million tonnes. If the Odisha government feels that there should be more financial support from the Centre to minimise the State's burden, the petroleum ministry is ready for a fresh negotiation, he added.
Besides, the High Court has ordered for constitution of a high level working group under the chairmanship of Union secretary in the petroleum and natural gas ministry to examine the issues raised by both the parties within two months.
"Instead of politicising the issue, the State government should depute its chief secretary to the working group for negotiated settlement. The sooner the matter is resolved the better for the State," Pradhan said.
If the State government has any problem with IOCL on issues of rehabilitation of project affected families and employment to local people, it should spell out its expectations from the company so that he will force the oil major to fulfil the demands.
Clarifying that the delay in execution of the refinery is beyond the control of IOCL, Pradhan asked the State government to explain why the intended beneficiaries are not getting water for irrigation from the Rengali Left and Right canals even after more than two decades.