Sindri’s natural-gas-based fertilizer unit had been facing the challenge of being completed on time, but now it looks all set to be completed soon. The initial hiccup that the fertilizer factory of Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Limited (HURL) was facing due to the lockdown has been resolved. And the installation work of the Rs 6500 crore factory is back on time. According to officials, 79 per cent of the project was completed by October 2020. The factory will start production by August 2021 if the work continues at the same pace.

The HURL fertilizer plant is a joint venture project with Coal India Limited (CIL), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Indian Oil Company Limited (IOCL), and Fertilizer Corporation of India Limited (FCIL), Sindri.

“Seventy-nine per cent of the work is complete.Ammonia converter, urea reactor, and CO2 absorption unit have been installed. The low-pressure and high-pressure flash drums have also been set up,” said Himmat Singh Chauhan, General Manager of HURL’s Sindri unit, during a press conference.

“A switchyard of 220 KV capacity, along with the peeling tower has been set up at the site,” he informed.

Regarding the ongoing work for other facilities at the Sindri unit, Chauhan maintained that the mechanical work for the installation work of two captive power plants of 20 megawatts each is complete. “These power plants will become functional by March 2020. Also, by the end of this year, the natural gas pipeline work will be completed. Work is in progress to have the demineralization plant and bagging building functional on time,” added Singh. He also hinted at getting the cooperation of the locals for the timely completion of the project.

“Apart from having the factory set up, we are working hard to improve the basic facilities for the locals. We have plans to better the water and electricity supply here along with the healthcare facilities. We have planned to develop the existing Urban Primary Health Centre (PHC) of Sindri into a model health centre of Jharkhand,” elaborated Chauhan.

Notably, deputy commissioner of Dhanbad, Uma Shankar Singh during a meeting with HURL, FCIL, Sindri unit, and Associated Cement Company (ACC) Limited, Sindri unit chalked out a plan for up-gradation of facilities of Sindri Urban PHC, on November 5 at the district collectorate. During the meeting, he constituted a committee led by Medical Officer in Charge of Jharia, Kumari Punam to prepare a detailed report concerning the facilities available at Sindri’s urban PHC.

“Besides upgrading Sindri urban PHC we also have a long-term plan to revive the 205 bedded Hospital of Fertilizer Corporation of India in association with Fertilizer Corporation of India, State Government, and ACC Limited.

Talking about improving the power supply of Sindri, Chauhan said, “We working with Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited to better the electricity supply. Work is also on to improve the water supply.”

He added that they are also in talks with Dhanbad Municipal Corporation to replace the non-functional streetlights of Sindri in the next two months.