Monday, January 16 2006 15:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Salakati (Assam): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Jan 16, 2006) laid the foundation stone of the Bongaigaon Thermal Power Station (BPTS) here saying it was a 'gift to Assam and the Bodoland area'.

Singh said it was the largest power project in the state and also the largest taken up in Assam by the implementing agency National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).

The Prime Minister, who represents the state in the Rajya Sabha, said he personally took the initiative for the power project as Assam consumed only 100 units against the national average of 600 units.

"Stating Rs 3000 crore was sanctioned by the Centre for the BTPS," he said, "Local coal would be used in the power station."

He also announced that a railway sleeper coach factory and a petro-chemical complex would be set up in Assam for its development.

Acknowledging there was enough possibility for growth and development of the Bodoland area, Dr Singh said, four industrial training institutes (ITI) would be set up in Kokrajhar, Udalguri, Phanjhar and Bongaigaon for training the local youths.