Sambalpur: Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said that work for the Rs 1,000 crore ethanol plant in Bargarh is likely to take off soon.
The Union minister for petroleum and natural gas said that the project was delayed as the Odisha government allegedly failed to provide land on time.
However, the problem has already been resolved now, he added.
"I am hopeful that the work on the project will take off in July or August this year," he said.
He said crop residue such as straw and other biomass would be utilised to produce ethanol in the plant, which is being set up with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore.
Pradhan said Sambalpur would be covered by piped gas distribution network within three years and CNG will be made available in the city in two years.
The Union minister asserted that the State has been immensely benefited by a number of development and welfare programmes launched by the BJP-led NDA government during the last four years.