Union minister for chemicals and fertilisers D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Thursday announced the proposed fourth unit of the Namrup fertiliser plant will be ready in three to four years.

Addressing a meeting at the plant, the minister said the Centre will take urgent steps to facilitate revival of the ailing unit and asked the management to chalk out a quick action plan to rejuvenate the existing second and third units and submit it to the ministry.

The Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corporation Ltd has been struggling to stay afloat owing to rapid decline in urea production caused by outdated machinery and failing infrastructure.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always given preference to the development of the Northeast. BVFCL is lacking modern infrastructure, which is resulting in high cost of production. The Centre will take every step to revive the fertiliser plant. The fourth unit will be set up but since it will take three to four years for it to be ready, the existing second and third units will be rejuvenated so that production doesn’t suffer,” Gowda said.

On the other hand, the All Assam Students’ Union staged a protest at Namrup for the delay in setting up the fourth plant. Later, AASU members met Gowda and submitted a memorandum.

Gowda also laid the foundation stone of the HPG (hydrogenated pyrolysis gasoline) second stage plant at Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Ltd at Lepetkata in Dibrugarh district on Thursday.