Akalis Push For Early Clearance To Fertiliser Unit Project Sought

The Akali Dal, a constituent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition, is pressing the government to expedite clearance of the Rs 1530-crore fertiliser project in Sangrur district of Punjab.

Fertiliser minister S S Barnala has convened a high-power meeting here early next month to discuss the proposal and set a deadline for its clearance.

The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held on April 28.

The meeting is expected to be attended, among others, by officials of the fertiliser, agriculture and finance ministries. Senior officials of the Planning Commission and leading financial institutions are also likely to be present at the meeting.

The Akali Dal feels that the fertiliser project will give a fillip to Punjabs economy.

According to Dal leaders, the economic activity generated by the project will also help check the militancy problem in the state.

The fertiliser project was considered the dream project of former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, who, during his short tenure in South Block, did his best to push the project.