Andhra to re-submit PCPIR proposal: Paswan

New Delhi, Aug 24 (UNI) The governmnent today said 25,000 hectares of land would be needed for the setting up of a Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam-Rajahmundry-Kakinada region, aimed at encouraging global investments in the sector to accelerate economic growth.

Chemicals and Fertilisers Ministers Ram Vilas Paswan told the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour that preliminary scrutiny of the project was undertaken in consultation with the state government officials.

''On its basis, they are in the process of re-submitting a proposal,'' Mr Paswan said, clarifying that no agricultural land would be acquired for the purpose.

The region would be a combination of production projects, public utilities, logistics, environmental protection, residential areas and administrative services, he said.

The minister also assured that factories would be set up only on 40 per cent of the acquired land while the role of the Central and state governments would be that of mere facilitators.

He said the Centre would ensure the availability of external physical infrastructure linkages to the PCPIR, including rail, road (National Highways), ports, airports and telecom, in a time-bound manner.

The infrastructure will be created and upgraded mostly through the PPP route. The Centre will provide the necessary viability gap funding through existing schemes and also make available requisite budgetary provisions for creation of these linkages through the public sector, if necessary.

Mr Paswan said the PCPIR policy is not location-specific and the investment requirements of such a region will depend on its location and other factors, including the availability of infrastructure and the project proposal, which will be worked out in consultation with various departments of the Central Government.

''Exact quantification of investments would depend on the proposed specific details,'' he added.

UNI