By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, February 7, 2016: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday dedicated the state of the art 15-million ton per annum oil refinery at Paradip to the nation, inaugurated the permanent campus of National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) and offered obeisance to famed Lord Jagannath at the coastal town of Puri.

Regretting over delay in execution of different projects, Modi said a new work culture is being developed to materialise the projects within fixed time frame that would benefit the country.

“Projects are marred by delays due to legal and tender processes and local agitations, resulting in cost overruns to the country. Initiatives have to be futuristic and completed before the designated time limit so that the country does not sustain cost overruns due to delays,” the prime minister said.

After inaugurating the Rs.34,555 crore refinery project of 15 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) capacity, Modi lambasted the Congress: “Nowadays, whenever I go to inaugurate any project, the friends in Congress party say it was started during our time.”

Remembering former Chief Minister of Odisha Biju Patnaik, the Prime Minister said Paradip will now become “Vikas Dweep” – the island of development for the people of Odisha. He said youth would benefit from employment opportunities, and poor women across the country who depended on firewood for fuel, would get access to LPG.

Describing Paradip refinery as Odisha’s ‘Vikas Deep’, Modi said it will fulfill the aspirations of the state’s bright youngsters.

Modi said the Paradip refinery has set a record of sorts when it came to ‘Make in India’ initiative — the refinery will become a source of jobs for lakhs of poor since several downstream industries will come up after its commissioning.

The prime minister said the central government had distributed about Rs.1 lakh crore in recent months under the Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA) scheme to make the youth self-employed.

Modi claimed that the government initiatives such as Mudra and Start Up India are benefitting the youth of India.

“MUDRA Yojana has given an opportunity to India’s youth to stand on their own feet and become job-creators, not job-seekers. We don’t want the youth to be job-seekers; they should be job-creators,” said the prime minister.

He said effort was on to decrease oil imports and make India self-reliant in petroleum sector.

“I have asked the petroleum ministry to decrease oil imports by 10 percent by 2022, when India will celebrate 75 years of Independence. The ministry will try hard to be self-reliant in oil,” Modi said.

He said the government was also emphasising on solar energy so that it does not depend on other countries for its energy needs. The Indian Oil Corp’s refinery was a step towards that goal, he added.

Modi also congratulated the scientists for developing indigenous technology for the refinery project.

“Paradip refinery is made in India, for India and by Indians, using indigenous technology and this has amazed the world,” the prime minister said.

The refinery at Paradip would produce 78 crore kg liquefied petroleum gas, 500 crore kg petrol, 680 crore kg disel and 120 lakh quintal petroleum coke.

Addressing the large gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister said he appreciated the participation of a such a large number of people in an official programme related to development.

The Prime Minister, who visited the Main Control Room and the Indmax Unit built with indigenous technology, before arriving at the inauguration venue, said the Indmax production capabilities at the plant are an illustration of the Make in India initiative.

The project will primarily produce BS-IV fuels and serve the eastern and south-eastern markets, apart from exports.

The refinery is the largest on the country’s eastern coast, and is equipped with the latest technology, including IOCL’s own patented IndMax technology for better and higher output of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Speaking on the occasion, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged Modi to ask the IOCL to fulfil its commitment in creating jobs for the region’s people. He also urged the prime minister to grant special category status to Odisha for its further development.

Earlier in the day, inaugurating of the permanent campus of National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) at Jatni on the outskirts of the capital city here, Modi stressed on renewable energy, innovation in the field of research and develop scientific temper among students.

Modi then left holy city of Puri and offered obeisance to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. After offering prayers, he made a parikrama of the temple. While returning from the temple, Modi, who was clad in an off white kurta with yellow ‘Anga Vastram’ on his shoulder, waved at the waiting crowd queued along the Grand Road in front of the Temple.