Ranchi: Chief minister Raghubar Das on Wednesday inaugurated an 88,000-kilolitre-capacity Indian Oil Corporation smart terminal at Khunti, the completion of the project holding out the promise of employment opportunities and lower prices of petroleum products in Jharkhand in the long run.
The terminal project, which includes the 1,073km-long Paradeep-Raipur-Ranchi pipeline, is worth Rs 2,800 crore. It is expected to be fully commissioned in four months and is estimated to provide direct or indirect employment opportunities to over 3,000 people, said IOC sources.
"The terminal and pipeline project, initiated in 2010, would be responsible for supplying oil to districts of Ranchi, Khunti, Simdega, East and West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Garhwa, Palamau, Ramgarh, Lohardaga, Gumla and Latehar," said senior IOCL manager Veena Kumari.
Petroleum prices at retail outlets, she explained, were dependent on several factors. "After the terminal becomes fully functional, IOCL may consider revising petroleum prices at retail outlets across Jharkhand since transportation costs may go down," she said.
In 2014, a fully automated 31,600-kilolitre-capacity oil terminal was commissioned at Jasidih in Deoghar district. Now it is responsible for supplies to Bokaro, Dhanbad, Giridih, Deoghar, Jamtara, Godda, Dumka, Pakur and Sahebganj districts.
A senior IOCL official maintained that old depots in thickly populated areas of Dhanbad and Jamshedpur had been phased out and the Ranchi depot would also be closed now.
Chief minister Das recalled that he was deputy chief minister when the Khunti terminal and pipeline project was taken up.
"The JMM, which was supporting the BJP-led government then, had reservations. But Khunti MP Karia Munda, who was Lok Sabha deputy Speaker, and MLA Neelkanth Singh Munda left no stone unturned for the execution of the project," he said.
He asked companies to spend 2 per cent of their profits on CSR schemes. "Half of this should be spent on schemes prioritised by the state government and the remaining half on the company's own projects," Das added.
Karia Munda, who was present at Wednesday's inauguration, said the new terminal would bringing about drastic changes in the socio-economic life of local residents. "It is a model terminal. We are proud of such an initiative in the land of Birsa Munda," he said.
IOCL director (pipelines) Anish Agrawal thanked the state government for promptly granting various permissions and licences. He also expressed his gratitude to Karia Munda for his support to the project.
