Patna/Barauni: The Centre’s decision to revive the Barauni fertilizer unit has made people in the area happy as they now see big business and employment opportunities in the region. In 2008, the then Union chemical and fertilizer minister Ram Vilas Paswan had inaugurated its revival but it could not materialize due to unavailability of natural gas and Barauni not being on the natural gas grid. The ceremony was attended by chief minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad, who was the railway minister.
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Barauni fertilizer plant started its commercial production in 1976. The total plant area is spread over 350 acres and the township is in over 260 acres of land. It used to produce urea with the plant capacity of 3.3 lakh metric tonne annually. Naphtha was used as feedstock for producing urea which became financially unviable as natural gas later became the cheaper source material. The plant was finally closed down in 2000 by the Vajpayee government.
With empty quarters, the entire township (Urvarak Nagar) wears a desolate look. However, the ‘Urvarak Nagar Kendriya Vidyalaya’ and a DAV school besides a SBI branch are functioning on the campus.
Old-timers say the township once presented a model of modern lifestyle with officers’ club and social welfare club being the hub of cultural and sports activities. Over thousand employees, including officers and workers of the plant, used to live in over 600 quarters on the campus.
Dr Abhilas, who was a medical officer at the township hospital before being given VRS in 2002, said: “Though I am running my private clinic now, it’s a matter of joy for me since I was associate with the organization for long and I am emotionally connected to it.”
Gita Singh of Bihat village situated close to the closed unit served as plant engineer. “This has been the long-cherished dream of the people of the region,” Gita said.
Chandan, who is engaged in industrial construction business and hails from Bihat, said, “It’s like a dream come true for many of us since both Barauni fertilizer and Barauni refinery plants would have major projects soon. The expansion work at Barauni Thermal Power Station would definitely pave way for new business opportunities and employment in the region.”