Alternative site for Bengal chemical hub in a month

Kolkata, Aug 9 (UNI) The West Bengal Government has appointed a consultant to identify by the next month an alternative site for the proposed mega chemical hub, which has ignited unrest in Nandigram and whipped up a political controversy in the state.

''We have appointed Mott and McDonald to identify land for the chemical hub in a month time. After the site is finalised the Government will get it approved in an all-party meeting before going ahead with the project,'' Industry Minister Nirupam Sen told reporters today.

Mr Sen's statement came few days after Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee sent letters to political parties seeking their views on setting up of the chemical hub, a central project of which Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and the Indonesian Salim Group would be the anchor investor and developer respectively.

Requiring 10,000 acres of land, the hub was to have been set up at Nandigram in East Midnapore district, but the Government had to backout on the location following mass violence against land acquisition.

Though abandoning the plan to set it up at Nandigram, the Chief Minister categorically said the project, which was of immense importance for the state's industrial growth, was sure to come up elsewhere on the basis of a consensus.

The proposed project has driven wedges even among the partners of the ruling Left Front with parties like the Forward Bloc and RSP openly questioning its various aspects.

Meanwhile, Salim group Chairman Benny Santoso met the Chief Minister and the Industry Minister at the state Secretariat during the day, to review the progress of the group's ongoing projects in the state.

Speaking to reporters on behalf of Salim, NRI businessman Prasun Mukherjee said feasibility study for the hub would be taken up once an alternative site was identified.

''We have been told by the Government that the chemical hub would be set up somewhere other than in Nandigram. We have accepted it,'' he said.

UNI