Government considering other alternatives to revive Sindri unit

NEW DELHI: Following withdrawal of state-run SAIL from Sindri project, government is considering "other" alternatives for revival of the fertiliser unit, Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said in Rajya Sabha today.
SAIL was given the mandate by the government to revive the unit of erstwhile Fertiliser Corporation of India (FCIL). In 2011, it chalked out a plan to invest Rs 35,000 crore for setting up a fertliser unit, a steel plant and a power plant at Sindri in Jharkhand with partners but backed out due to non-availability of land.

"SAIL explored the possibility of revival of Sindri plant but due to non-availability of a minimum of 3,247 acres of contiguous and encroachment-free land, the project could not be pursued further," Tomar said during Question Hour.

"The government is considering other alternatives for the revival of the fertiliser unit at Sindri," he added.

Tomar said SAIL is in the process of investing about Rs 11,000 crore as per its on-going phase of modernisation and expansion of Bokaro Steel Plant and mines in Jharkhand.

"This does not include revival of Sindri unit," Tomar said, adding the state-run steel maker was investing around Rs 72,000 crore for capacity expansion through modernisation and expansion.