By IANS
Kolkata : West Bengal is yet to zero in on an alternative site for its proposed chemical hub after the project was shelved in Nandigram.
Denying reports that Mahishadal in East Midnapore was chosen as the new location, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya said the state is sticking to its plan to set up a chemical hub in the state but the site is yet to be decided.
"The government has taken no decision about the location of the chemical hub. It will take some time," Bhattacharya said at the state secretariat Writers' Buildings.
"Talks are on with the chemicals and fertilisers ministry and with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the anchor investor for the chemical hub," he said.
Bhattacharya's comments came amid speculation that the proposed chemical hub will most likely be set up at Mahisadal in East Midnapore district.
About the report in a section of the press that Ramki Infrastructure had received in-principle approval for setting up an special economic zone (SEZ) at Mahisadal in East Midnapore district, Bhattacharya said he had no such information.
"We have taken no decision on locating the chemical hub at Mahishadal. We need time to finalise it," the chief minister said.
"We read reports about the sanction of an SEZ in the area for a private company. But we can only say that we have only discussed a chemical hub with the Centre," he said.
The chemical hub will have downstream projects in which many private companies would be present, he said.
The police firing at Nandigram in East Midnapore district on March 14, which claimed 14 lives, forced the state government to declare that the chemical hub would not be set up there and that it would come up at an alternative site around Haldia in the same district.