By IANS,
Kolkata : Hoping that West Bengal will maintain the highest environmental standards at the petroleum, chemicals and petrochemical investment region (PCPIR) on Nayachar island off Haldia port, the central government Wednesday said there was no reason to cancel the project if everything was in order.
“I hope the state government will adhere to the highest environmental standards and monitor the project regularly once the chemical hub came up,” Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh told reporters here.
Pointing out that the PCPIR required the highest international and environmental standards, the minister said: “This is because the country has experienced tragedies like Bhopal and Ankeleshwar in the past.”
The PCPIR, originally planned to be set up in Nandigram in East Midnapore distict, was shifted by the state government to the Nayachar island in the same district following much bloodletting in Nandigram after protests by opposition Trinamool Congress-led farmers against acquisition of their land for the project.
A section of environmentalists and the Trinamool have also opposed the Nayachar projact, saying the island’s environment would be damaged.