Production at HURL Sindri plant still uncertain, CMD fails to announce date

Dhanbad, July 22: The production of urea in the much-publicized Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Limited (HURL) Sindri plant still seems uncertain as Chairman cum Managing Director SC Mudekarikar returned to Delhi without announcing a tentative date for starting of the factory.

Mudekarikar in his maiden visit to Sindri after assuming charge of CMD on Thursday evening and while inaugurating the ‘Central Control Room’ of the plant, said that the Gorakhpur unit of HURL has started production of urea. Sindri and Barauni units too would kick start production soon.

Since the operation of the Sindri HURL plant has already been delayed for two years, it was expected that the new CMD in his maiden visit to Sindri would announce the production date. But he kept mum on the matter. However, vice-president Dipten Roy later told that if the technical problem does not arise, the plant would start production next month.

“Focus of the team should be on starting urea production in the plant as soon as possible,” said Mudekarikar while addressing officers and technical consultants of the plant at the meeting. He further added that production in Sindri keeps significance as it would second largest urea production plant in Asia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the Sindri, Gorakhpur, and Barauni units of HURL on May 25, 2018. The plants should have been completed in three years by May 2021. But the Sindri plant is still lagged behind.

CMD Mudekarika directed the unit management to use CSR funds properly, especially to ensure a proper supply of water in Sindri township.

During his day-long visit, the CMD inspected the ongoing construction work of the Sindri plant and expressed satisfaction over the pace of the working process. A senior officer of the management said that since the plant is automatic, the inauguration of the Control room is the first step toward starting production.