NGO raises questions on WB petrochem hub

In a letter dated October 5, the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has notified a Kolkata-based NGO, Society for Direct Initiative for Social and Health Action (DISHA), that Nayachar Island off Haldia in Medinipur, the proposed site for the petrochemical hub project of West Bengal, falls within coastal regulation zone area, and is classified as Coastal Regulation Zone I and Coastal Region Zone III.

According to the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification of 1991, areas falling under CRZ-I cannot be used for industrial purposes, while areas under CRZ-III could only be used for laying pipelines and conveyance systems.

Therefore, Nayachar Island has to be de-notified to have the proposed chemical industry there.

The MoEF has further notified that it had not received any proposal from the state government for setting up of petrochemical or chemical industry on the island, the NGO said.