Bhubaneswar, 06 March (H.S.): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday inaugurated a new sulphuric acid plant at the facilities of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) in Paradip, underscoring the Centre’s focus on strengthening industrial capacity and promoting rural development in Odisha.
Constructed at an estimated cost of ₹750 crore, the plant is expected to enhance industrial output and improve environmental performance. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, along with several state ministers, senior officials and the Member of Parliament from Jagatsinghpur.
According to officials, the newly commissioned facility will have the capacity to produce around 2,000 tonnes of sulphuric acid per day. The project is also designed to improve environmental efficiency, with authorities stating it could help reduce pollution levels by nearly 50 per cent and lower reliance on coal by approximately 500 million metric tonnes. Additionally, the plant is expected to reduce the need to import nearly six lakh metric tonnes of sulphuric acid, thereby saving significant foreign exchange.
Addressing the gathering, Amit Shah said Odisha is progressing steadily under the current government and has the potential to achieve development on the lines of Gujarat in the coming years. He added that with public support, the government is working to accelerate economic growth and improve the livelihoods of rural communities across the state.
Shah also highlighted the success of India’s dairy cooperative movement led by Amul, noting that around 36 lakh rural women have played a major role in building the cooperative network. He suggested that similar cooperative initiatives could further strengthen rural livelihoods in Odisha.
Describing IFFCO as a matter of national pride, the Home Minister said the organisation is the world’s largest cooperative, owned by nearly five crore farmers, and continues to play a crucial role in supporting India’s agricultural sector.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
