M A I N   N E W S

Need to rationalise fuel prices: PM
* Dedicates Bathinda refinery to the nation
* Says challenges on energy front formidable
SP Sharma
Tribune News Service

Phulokhari (Bathinda) April 28
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India needs to rationalise the prices of petroleum products while insulating the common man from its effects. "We need to rationalise prices and at the same time ensure that the poor and needy are shielded from the effects of such a rationalisation," he said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today dedicated to the nation the Rs 21,500-crore joint venture Guru Gobind Singh Refinery (GGSR) here.

Manmohan Singh said the challenges before the country on the energy front were formidable and adequate supply of energy at affordable prices was needed. With imports accounting for about 80 per cent of our crude supplies, the spiralling prices of crude in the international market have put a severe strain on the import bill. In order to insulate the common man from the impact of rising oil prices, the government was shouldering a sizable portion of the burden by subsidising diesel, kerosene and domestic LPG.

He emphasised the need to conserve the energy resources and warned “there is no room for inefficient and wasteful usage of fuel, be it petrol, diesel, kerosene or gas.

In the speech that Manmohan Singh delivered in chaste Punjabi, he emphasised the need for industrialisation in Punjab as it would not only contribute to economic growth of the state but also create new employment opportunities for its youth. Over the last two decades, Punjab has lost its leadership role in many areas of industry. The state needs a new wave of industrialisation that would besides economic growth also create employment avenues.

He pointed out that Punjab has not lived up to its potential in areas such as information technology and there was need to correct this situation. “We also need improved infrastructure, including better roads, transport facilities, reliable power supply and so on,” he said.

Taking credit for hurdle-free commissioning of the refinery, Manmohan Singh said “ever since our government assumed power at the centre we have kept the interests of Punjab in mind and this refinery is an example of the importance we give to the progress of this beautiful state. I assure you today that we will continue doing everything possible to ensure that Punjab touches new heights of development”.

The dedicated freight corridor project will provide Punjab with rapid connectivity to the eastern and western ports of the country. With these and other such projects, Punjab can once again become a hub of industry and can reclaim the traditional role it has played for centuries.

He described the 9 million tonne per annum refinery as “a unique example of partnership between the public and the private sector”.

He complimented the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. and Mittal Energy Limited led by global captain of industry Lakshmi Nivas Mittal for setting up this giant venture with the world’s latest technology and experts in the petroleum industry”.

Responding to the demand of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for setting up a cancer hospital in Bathinda, the Prime Minister said that the Baba Farid University of Health and Sciences has been granted permission by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board to set up an advanced cancer diagnostic and research centre at Bathinda. “We have also included Bathinda, in addition to Hoshiarpur and Mansa as one of the districts under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of cancer, diabetics, cardio-vascular diseases and strokes.”

Those present on the occasion included Governor Shivraj Patil, petroleum minister Jaipal Reddy, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, minister of state for petroleum R.P.N.Singh, minister of state for planning, Ashwani Kumar, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, steel tycoon Lakshmi Nivas Mittal and top officers of the ministry of petroleum.

Jaipal Reddy hoped that Punjab would soon emerge as a petroleum hub as the new refinery would not only propel the industrialisation in the state but also be instrumental in boosting its economic progress by setting up of ancillary units down the line.RPN Singh said that with opening of the refinery a new era of economic development had been ushered in the state which would result in manifold increase of employment opportunities.

Lakshmi Nivas Mittal said the refinery would not only strengthen the power sector of the country but would also help in developing Punjab as a petrochemical hub. The capacity of the refinery would gradually be doubled to 18 million tonnes. The refinery would supply its products to Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, UP and Rajasthan.

PS Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal and MP from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal honoured Manmohan Singh and other ministers by presenting replica of the Golden Temple.

PM’s assurance

"Ever since our government assumed power at the Centre we have kept the interests of Punjab in mind and this refinery is an example of the importance we give to the progress of this beautiful state. I assure you today that we will continue doing everything possible to ensure that Punjab touches new heights of development."

what PM says

On Punjab

• Over the last two decades, Punjab has lost its leadership role in many areas of industry
• The state needs a new wave of industrialisation. Besides economic growth, this would create employment avenues
• State has not lived up to its potential in areas such as IT. There was need to correct the situation
• Improved infrastructure, including better roads, transport facilities and reliable power supply, needed badly

On energy sector

• Spiralling prices of crude in international market have put a severe strain on import bill
• Imports account for about 80 per cent of our crude supplies
• There was need to conserve the energy resources
• Cautions that there is no room for inefficient and wasteful usage of fuel