Ignoring Shiv Sena’s opposition to Green Chemical Zone in Konkan, the BJP-led state government has given a go ahead for petrochemical companies to set up a Greenfield port.

Ignoring Shiv Sena’s opposition to Green Chemical Zone in Konkan, the BJP-led state government has given a go ahead for petrochemical companies to set up a Greenfield port. Three petroleum giants of the country — Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum — will be setting up their plants in Konkan, which is expected to take up an area of 5,000 acres. The state has offered land in Palghar, Thane and Raigad near the sea to the companies. The project will see investment of Rs 1 lakh crore and estimated job creation of one lakh. However, the environmentalists have warned against further degeneration of water sources.

In a latest development, the state government is considering setting up two Greenfield ports in Konkan region, which will have chemical and petrochemical hubs. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had made this announcement in August to develop Integrated Petroleum Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Region (IPCPIR).

Intending to achieve its target, the state government has offered land in Palghar, Thane and Raigad near the sea to Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum, industries minister Subhash Desai confirmed to The Asian Age. “The companies need site that has sea nearby for cooling purpose. We have offered them lands to select their site. This will be one of the biggest projects in the state attracting investment of around Rs 1 lakh crore,” Mr Desai said.

However, when asked about possible pollution hazards and Shiv Sena’s opposition, the minister said it would be taken care of. “The companies will have to ensure that there is no environment hurdle,” he said.

Maharashtra has a 720km coastline — 114km in Mumbai, 127km in Thane, 122km in Raigad, 237km in Ratnagiri and 120km in Sindhudurg.

Shiv Sena in the past had opposed to the setting up of a chemical zone in the Konkan region, which is a part of the IPCPIR. “Why are these projects, which will destroy the environment, being taken to the Konkan This is because they want to use the sea to dump poison in it, be it the Jaitapur plant or the chemical zone," Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena MP, had said.

The party had even opposed vehemently to the 10,000 mw of Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant proposed in Konkan. A delegation of Shiv Sena leaders even met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to appeal to look into possible environment hazards posed by the nuclear power plant. However, the Centre has given go ahead to the nuclear project by signing a fresh MoU in March this year with the French government to provide technology.