Pratim Ranjan Bose

Kolkata , Sept. 10

The West Bengal Government has finalised the setting up of a Chemical Park outside the city in Howrah.

The proposed park is expected to solve, among other things, the issue of relocating hazardous SSI chemical units away from the city.

The Indian Chemical Merchants and Manufacturers Association (ICMMA) has been the pleading for such a relocation of their member units for the past five years. According to the proposal, which has now received due approval from the state pollution control board and directorate of industries, the association will develop the project for its member units.

Talking to Business Line, the State Director of Industries, Mr Moloy De, said the proposal had already received in-principle approval from the State and was awaiting formal clearance from various departments.

Mr Sanjiv Kothari, President of ICMMA, said in the first phase, the proposed park would include separate zones for different type of existing chemical units, depots and warehouses spreading over roughly 180 acres. In the second phase, the park would include the new investments in chemicals sector.

"Such structures would help us in reducing the cost by way of installing relatively smaller sizes of effluent treatment plants specific to each type of industry," he said adding that the industry association of Ankleswar Industrial Estate in Gujarat was helping the association to prepare the blueprint for the park.

On whether the association would develop the park on its own, Mr Kothari said while ICMMA would be acquiring the land, the next phase of development, including provision of roads, shed, power, water and setting up ETPs, could be carried out through a BOT partner.

"We will shortlist the BOT party after receiving formal approval from the state government."

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