PM Narendra Modi addressing a public rally after dedicating Indian Oil Corporation's largest greenfield refinery at Paradip to the nation. (Press Trust of India photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the government is trying to bring a culture of completing projects well in time and blamed the Congress for the delay in implementation of plans and policies.
"Delays shouldn't occur as they affect people," PM Modi said while addressing a public rally after
dedicating Indian Oil Corporation's largest greenfield refinery at Paradip to the nation.
"My Congress friends often say it was started by us. I don't relish such ceremonies, rather I would have been happy if the projects were completed 15 years ago (well in time)."
Taking Paradip refinery as a case in point, he said the foundation stone was laid by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2000 and completed again during the NDA government's tenure.
Citing another example, PM Modi said, "Around 26 lakh cooking gas connections were given in Odisha over the last 60 years, whereas Dharmendra Pradhan gave 11 lakh connections in one year in the state after he took over as Petroleum Minister. This is the way work should be done."
He said in past, ideas originated 50 years back would take 10 years to put on paper, an equal number of years to lay the foundation stone and many more years before it is completed.
"For the development of the country, we all -- citizens, bureaucracy, industry and policy makers -- have to give birth to such a culture where projects start on time, progresses within the scheduled time, and finishes within the pre-decided time so that the country gets the benefit, (and) the benefit comes before scheduled time," he said.
The government, he added, was "trying to bring in this change so that there is no serious loss to the exchequer because of delay."
He added that he has asked oil marketing companies to reduce dependence on imports by 2022 -- the year India completes 75 years of Independence -- with increase in use of bio fuels like ethanol produced from sugarcane and diesel from Jatropha.
India spent $112.7 billion on import of 189.4 million tonnes of crude oil in 2014-15.