Kolkata, July 30 -- State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya has written to Bengal Chief Minister (CM) Suvendu Adhikari urging his government to take necessary steps to secure a chemical park under the Centre's BHAVYA Rasayan Scheme.
In his letter, Bhattacharya mentioned that the Union cabinet has given approval for the BHAVYA Rasayan scheme, a Rs 3,030 crore Central initiative which will help in establishing three dedicated chemical parks across the country. Various states will have to compete for these three parks. The Centre will provide financial assistance of up to Rs 1,000 crore for each selected park while the state government's contribution would stand at Rs 500 crore.
Bhattacharya noted that the scheme requires the state to identify at least 2,000 acres of contiguous land and commit a financial contribution of Rs 500 crore. He also suggested four potential locations for the proposed chemical park ~ Singur in Hooghly, Haldia in East Midnapore, Raghunathpur in Purulia and Durgapur in West Burdwan, adding that Singur could be considered if land-related disputes do not arise.
"This is a rare opportunity for West Bengal to anchor a national-scale chemicals hub, and the benefits on offer are substantial." Bhattacharya wrote in his letter. He also stated that the initiative would generate substantial employment opportunities in the chemical, construction, logistics and MSME sectors.
"A durable, plug-and-play industrial asset (CETP, TSDF, utilities, pipelines) that would attract anchor investors for a generation, strengthening Bengal's position in the national chemicals value chain," Bhattacharya said, adding "a statement of intent that West Bengal is open for large-scale industrial investment, at a time when competing states will move quickly to stake their claims."
State BJP president also urged the state government to promptly take action to utilise the opportunity. BJP's Rajya Sabha MP, Bhattacharya, also wrote that he was prepared to extend all possible assistance in coordinating with the Centre to ensure West Bengal's successful participation in the scheme. Copies of the letter have also been sent to State Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta, Industries Minister Tapas Roy and the state's Industries Secretary.
To strengthen West Bengal's bid, Bhattacharya recommended the formation of an inter-departmental task force involving the Industries Department and the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), preparation of all land ownership and readiness documents, allocation of the state's financial share in the next budget and close coordination with the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Petrochemicals.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.