Govt fast-tracking chemical hub

At a meeting in Writers’ Building today to review the progress of all projects undertaken by the New Kolkata Industrial Development (NKID), the Nayachar hub’s development was given first priority — provided the Centre approves it. The meeting was presided over by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

The NKID comprises three companies: the Salim Group of Indonesia, Universal Success of Singapore and Delhi-based Unitech.

“We have given the PCPIR (Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region) project the first priority. We have sent the proposal to the Central government. They have already got back to us with two queries. We are vying with three other states and we top the list,” said Bhattacharjee after the meeting. Minister for Commerce and Industries Nirupam Sen, Minister for IT Debes Das, Minister of State for Sunderban Affairs Kanti Ganguli and other senior government officials attended the meeting.

The government has also set up a six-member expert committee headed by former ONGC chairman Subir Raha to advise the government on matters regarding the chemical hub and environment. “The committee will monitor all activities undertaken for setting up the chemical hub. It will advise us on what to and what not to do to protect the environment, sea and aquatic life,” said Sen.

The expert committee includes PK Ghosh, Director of Central Salt Research Institute in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, Anandadeb Mukherjee, an expert in oceanography, environmental scientist Pranabesh Sanyal, Jadavpur University Pro V-C Siddhartha Dutta, and S Dasgupta, head of the chemical engineering department at IIT, Kharagpur.

While NKID, which has formed a joint venture company with WBIDC, will become the anchor developer of the hub, IOC will be the anchor investor. “They have hired Jurong Group of Singapore, which has already visited Nayachar. The group had earlier developed a chemical hub on an island near Singapore,” said Bhattacharjee.

Next on the priority list is the bridge between Raichowk and Kunkrahati at Haldia, also to be constructed by the NKID.

“Earlier, we had planned to build it with a JBIC (Japan Bank for International Co-operation) loan but that could have proved to be a huge financial burden. Therefore, we have opted for the NKID,” said the chief minister. NKID has hired an American firm as consultant for the bridge.

The state government has also set up a steering committee headed by Bhattacharjee to oversee the progress in the two projects and handle issues related to land acquisition.

Another project to increase connectivity between Haldia and Kolkata and third on the priority list, is the road between Barasat and Raichowk. “The road will connect National Highway 34 and Raichowk. A 25-km long stretch will be constructed in the first phase. We have asked the DMs to identify land,” said the chief minister.