Lok Sabha Question No. 4061 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-24
Subject: Manufacturing of Epichlorohydrin
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Gajendra Singh Patel

## Government of India Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO . †4061

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TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2023

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## Manufacturing of Epichlorohydrin

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS रसायन और उव रक मं ी

†4061.   SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH PATEL: be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  the  assistance  being  provided  by  the  Government  for manufacturing of Epichlorohydrin;
- (b)  the  details  of  the  efforts  made  by  the  Government  to  ensure  availability  of chemical fertilizers in the agriculture sector;
- (c) whether the Government proposes any schemes to set up new units for the availability of chemical fertilizers in Rural and Tribal areas;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether any new unit has been set up to provide chemical fertilizers under Khargone, Barwani and Nimar Tribal Areas; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## Minister of State Chemicals and Fertilizers (Shri Bhagwanth Khuba)

- (a):     Government has reduced the Basic customs duty from 7.5% to 2.5% on the basic raw material/feedstock i.e. Crude glycerin used in manufacture of Epichlorohydrin  in  the  current  budget,  so  as  to  enable  domestic  Epichlorohydrin industry remain globally competitive.
- (b):     Following steps are taken by the Government in every season to meet the adequate and timely requirement of fertilizers in the country:
- i.  Before the commencement  of each cropping season, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), in consultation with all the State Governments, assesses the state-wise & month-wise requirement of fertilizers.
- ii.  On  the  basis  of  requirement  projected,  Department  of  Fertilizers  (DoF) allocates  sufficient/  adequate  quantities  of  fertilizers  to  States  by  issuing monthly supply plan and continuously monitors the availability.
- iii.  The movement of all major subsidized fertilizers is monitored throughout the country  by  an  on-line  web  based  monitoring  system  called  integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System (iFMS).
- iv.  The State Governments are regularly advised to coordinate with manufacturers  and  importers  of  fertilizers for  streamlining  the  supplies through  timely  placement  of  indents  for  railway  rakes  through  their  state institutional agencies like Markfed etc.
- v.  Regular Weekly Video Conference is conducted jointly by DA&FW and DoF with  State  Agriculture  Officials  and  corrective  actions  are  taken  to  dispatch fertilizer as indicated by the State Governments.
- vi.  The  gap  between  demand  (requirement)  and  production  for  Urea  &  other fertilizer  is  met  through  imports.  The  import  for  the  season  is  also  finalized well in advance to ensure timely availability.

(c) and (d): The Government has no proposal to set up new urea units in Rural and Tribal  areas.  However,  in  order  to  increase  urea  production  in  the  country, Government of India mandated revival of Ramagundam (Telangana), Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh),  Sindri (Jharkhand)  and  Talcher  (Odisha)  units  of Fertilizer Corporation  of  India  (FCIL)  and  Barauni  (Bihar)  unit  of  Hindustan  Fertilizer Corporation Ltd. (HFCL) through Joint Venture Company (JVC) of nominated PSUs for  setting  up  new  ammonia-urea  plants  of  12.7  LMTPA  capacity  each.  The Ramagundam and Gorakhpur units have been commissioned on 22.03.2021 and 07.10.2021 respectively. Also, Barauni and Sindri units started urea production on 18.10.2022 and 05.11.2022 respectively.

(e) and (f): At present, there is no such proposal to be set-up new urea unit under Khargone, Barwani and Nimar Tribal Areas.

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