Centre planning to set up PCPIR hub in Bengal: Paswan

Kolkata, Jan 16 (UNI) Urging the West Bengal government not to force the farmers to give up their land, Union minister of Chemicals, Fertilisers and Steel Ram Vilas Paswan said here today that the Centre plans to set up Petrochemicals, Pharmaceuticals Investment and Research (PCPIR) hub in Bengal, along with other four others in the country.

Around 25,000 hectares of land will be required for a PCPIR. We will start the project in any state as and when we get the land.

However, the state government should not hamper the interest of the farmers while acquiring land, he said at a press conference on revival of Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Limited.

These PCPIRs was expected to attract investments worth more than Rs 60,000 crores. The proposal of setting up of PCPIR had been approved by a Group of Ministers (GOM) yesterday and would be placed in the cabinet soon, Mr Paswan said.

The minister said Haldia had been shortlisted as one of the future destinations of PCPIR.

Several other states like Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have also shown interest for setting up of PCPIRs.

PCPIR would house refineries, fertilisers, chemical units, cracker units, pharma industries and all other facilities including social infrastructure needed for petroleum.

'' The Centre will work as a facilitator and develop the necessary infrastructure. It will also invest Rs 4000 crore for a single PCPIR,'' Mr Pashwan said.

The Centre also plans to set up National Institute of Pharma and Education&Research(NIPHER) facilities across the country. Five such facilities will be set up and the Centre would provide Rs 250 crore for each units.

UNI