Nayachar likely location for chemical hub in West Bengal

KOLKATA: The West Bengal government on Monday informed an all-party meeting that Nayachar island, close to Haldia, was the likely choice for the much-debated chemical hub, amid boycott by the main opposition Trinamool Congress and SUCI.

This was the general view of the meeting convened by Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee and attended by all Left Front constituents, though the Congress said it would come back with its response after discussion in the party.

Briefing reporters, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirupam Sen said 10,000 acre would be required for the hub to be set up in joint venture by the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation and New Kolkata International Development Private Limited.

He said the chemical hub, which was shifted from Nandigram in East Midnapore following violence and resistance, was likely to come up at Nayachar island in the same district where the land was owned by the government -- mainly by the Haldia Development Authority and the state Fisheries department.

Sen said the state government was of the view that the location of the chemical hub would be finalised without causing any harm to farmers and the common people.