Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a big gift to Assam today. He laid the foundation stone of a fertilizer plant to be built at a cost of Rs 10,601 crore here in Dibrugarh district. Addressing a huge public meeting organized on this occasion, the Prime Minister said that Assam is entering a new development era today. PM Modi said, ‘Today is a big day for Assam and the entire Northeast, the dream that Namrup and Dibrugarh had been waiting for for a long time is being fulfilled. Today a new chapter of ‘industrial’ progress is starting in this entire area… Assam has gained a new pace of development. I want to tell you, what you are seeing and experiencing right now, is a beginning. We have to take Assam much further…’
The Prime Minister said that there were more people standing outside the pandal than those present inside, which shows the enthusiasm and confidence of the people of Assam. Describing Assam as the “land of heroes”, he said that the mothers and sisters who have come here in large numbers are our biggest strength. Referring to the fragrance of tea gardens, PM Modi said that this fragrance creates a special feeling in the relationship between him and Assam. He saluted the public for their affection and love.
Big role of Assam in developed India
The Prime Minister said that Assam has to be taken far ahead. Just as Assam had a role and strength during the period of Ahom Empire, in the same way Assam will once again be made a powerful land in developed India. He said that new industries are being started in the state, modern infrastructure is being created, work is being done on semiconductor manufacturing, new opportunities in the agriculture sector and advancement of workers. Tourism possibilities are also increasing rapidly and Assam is progressing in every field.
The Prime Minister congratulated the farmers across the country for this modern fertilizer plant and also congratulated them for the new terminal of Guwahati Airport.
Government’s priority for farmers
PM Modi said that the role of farmers and food providers of the country is most important in building a developed India. For this reason, the government is working day and night keeping the interests of the farmers paramount and the benefits of farmer friendly schemes are being extended to every farmer.
The Prime Minister said that Namrup has been a major center of fertilizer production for decades and the fertilizer produced here provided strength to the farms of the entire North East. But with time, due to old technology, many units started getting closed and the Congress governments did not pay any attention to this. Farmers had to bear the loss due to this, their income was affected and the problems of farming increased.
PM Modi’s attack on Congress
He said that today the double engine government is solving the problems that arose during the Congress era. There was a time when farmers had to stand in long lines for urea, police were deployed at shops and batons were used. Now the government is working with full force to change those conditions.
PM Modi said that during the Congress era, fertilizer factories kept getting closed, whereas his government has started many new plants like Gorakhpur, Sindri, Barauni and Ramagundam and the private sector is also being promoted. The result is that India is moving rapidly towards becoming self-sufficient in urea production.
Counting the figures, the Prime Minister said that in 2014 only 225 lakh metric tonnes of urea was produced in the country, which has now increased to about 306 lakh metric tonnes. However, the country’s requirement is about 380 lakh metric tons and the government is continuously working to bridge this gap as soon as possible. PM Modi assured the countrymen that this target will also be achieved soon with the blessings of the farmers and the schemes of the government.
