PM Modi Inaugurates Bioethanol Plant, Lays Foundation Stone For Polypropylene Unit In Assam
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the Assam Bioethanol Plant and laid the foundation stone for a Polypropylene Plant at Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) in Golaghat, Assam, asserting that India has embarked on the path of becoming self-reliant in meeting its energy needs.
Addressing a gathering, the Prime Minister extended greetings to the people of Assam on the occasion of Sharodiya Durga Puja and paid tribute to Srimanta Sankardev on his birth anniversary. He said projects worth around ₹18,000 crore have been allocated to Assam, underlining that the new initiatives would accelerate the state’s development and open opportunities for farmers and youth.
PM Modi highlighted that the newly inaugurated Bioethanol Plant, which uses bamboo as feedstock, would not only boost Assam’s green energy sector but also benefit tribal communities and farmers engaged in bamboo cultivation. He said arrangements are being made to ensure steady bamboo supply and that small chipping units will be established in the region. “This single plant will benefit thousands of people, and approximately ₹200 crore will be spent annually in this sector,” he noted.
Alongside the ethanol plant, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a modern Polypropylene Unit at NRL, describing it as vital for India’s manufacturing sector. Polypropylene, he said, is a key raw material for a wide range of everyday and industrial products, from household items and textiles to automotive and medical equipment. “This plant will strengthen the foundation of ‘Make in Assam’ and ‘Make in India’, and boost the state’s manufacturing ecosystem,” he added.
The Prime Minister also underscored India’s progress in renewable energy, recalling that the country once lagged in solar power but now ranks among the world’s top five nations in solar capacity. He stressed that alternative fuels like ethanol are critical for reducing dependence on oil and gas imports, which cost the nation lakhs of crores annually.
Prime Minister Modi pointed out that Assam is also playing a central role in India’s Semiconductor Mission. A semiconductor factory with an investment of ₹27,000 crore is being developed in Morigaon, he said, noting that energy and semiconductors will be the twin pillars of India’s journey towards self-reliance.
Touching on Assam’s cultural and historical identity, the Prime Minister said the state’s heritage is being preserved while aligning with modern development. He cited the renovation of Rang Ghar, development of Batadrava as a world-class tourism centre, and the upcoming Maa Kamakhya Corridor as examples of efforts to boost tourism and cultural pride.
The Prime Minister also criticised past governments for neglecting Assam’s development and failing to honour local heroes like Lachit Borphukan, whose 400th birth anniversary was recently celebrated nationally. He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to empowering tribal communities through land rights under Mission Basundhara and welfare schemes for tea garden workers, especially women and children.
“Assam is entering a new era of development and is poised to become a hub for trade and tourism,” PM Modi said, reaffirming the government’s resolve to build a developed Assam and a developed India.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Hardeep Singh Puri, and other dignitaries attended the event.
