On May 25th, Maharatna PSU OIL and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) announced that they were setting up around 8 to 10 compressed bio-gas (CBG) plants in different districts of Assam and other North-East states — to cater to their green initiative that would create wealth out of waste and address the burgeoning problem of waste management in towns and cities in the North East Region.
While attending the event titled, “Creating Wealth from Waste: Role of Startups and New Enterprises,” organised by the Pollution Control Board of Assam in Guwahati, Dr. Ranjit Rath, CMD at OIL & Chairman of NRL (also the Chief Guest at the event), stated that collaboration with urban Local bodies for municipal solid waste collection had already been initiated.
NRL’s Managing Director (MD), Mr. Bhaskar Jyoti Phukan, in his address the need to create an effective ecosystem where various industries support the collective initiatives of the Pollution Control Board of Assam in finding solutions to environmental issues in terms of funding; since present revenue models are not sustainable. He urged the young enthusiasts to hone their entrepreneurial spirit and take up Startup ideas in providing solutions to micro issues in this domain.
Principal Secretary to the Govt. of Assam, Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship Development, Dr. B Kalyan Chakravarthy (1995-batch IAS officer), appreciated the efforts of OIL and NRL for their sincere efforts in waste to wealth management in the region. Earlier, the Chairman of the Pollution Control Board of Assam, Dr. Arup Kumar Misra, while setting the context for the symposium impressed upon the need for collaboration amongst various stakeholders for proper waste management and encouraged young entrepreneurs to find more ways to create wealth from waste; citing examples from across the nation and the globe.
