WB Gov transfers land to PC Ray Chemicals

Kolkata: The West Bengal Government on Friday handed over 54 sq km of land at Nayachar near Haldia to PC Ray Chemicals for conducting a feasibility study set up chemicals hub in the region.

PC Ray Chemicals is a 49:51 joint venture between New Kolkata International Development Pvt Ltd (NKID) and the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. NKID is a special purpose vehicle, which has the Salim Group of Indonesia, the Universal Success Group and Unitech, as its partners.

The chemicals hub is proposed to be set up under the ambit of the Petroleum, Chemicals & Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) scheme of the Central Government.

Speaking to newspersons , West Bengal’s Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr Nirupam Sen, said the land that was handed over to NKID would be the core processing area of the proposed chemicals hub.

It is outside the ambit of the Coastal Regulations Act. Along with other facilities, the total land area under the chemicals hub at Nayachar would qualify for PCPIR status, he said.

To qualify for PCPIR status, the total land area has to be at least 250 sq km.

Mr Sen said NKID would now conduct a feasibility study on the chemicals project. Jurong Consultants of Singapore has already been engaged for the purpose.

Once the study is complete, a report would be sent to the Centre with a request for expeditious clearance of the project. Applications as per the PCPIR format have already been sent to the Centre. Following completion of the feasibility study, clarifications that have been sought would be addressed.

A consolidated report on the proposed project may also be sent to the Centre with a request for the latter’s approval.

Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Chief Minister, who was present on the occasion, said he had personally taken up the matter with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Union Minister for Fertilisers & Chemicals, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, and their attitudes in respect of the proposed chemicals hub at Nayachar were “very positive”.