Lok Sabha Question No. 5070 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Setting up of PCPIR
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: VASANTHI M.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICALS AND PETROCHEMICALS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5070 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2018

## SETTING UP OF PCPIR

## 5070.    SHRIMATI  VASANTHI  M.:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  a  decision  to  establish  Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) in the coastal region of Tamil Nadu;
- (b) whether  the  people  living in the coastal region  of  Tamil  Nadu  are vehemently opposing the proposal for establishment of the PCPIR and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether it is a fact that there is an environmental threat from the proposed PCPIR as it would cause environmental pollution which will affect the lives of the dwellers; and
- (d) if so, the remedial measures being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS, (SHRI RAO INDERTJIT SINGH)

- (a): Yes  Madam;  the  Government  of  India  has  approved  the  proposal  of Government  of  Tamil  Nadu  to  establish  a  Petroleum,  Chemicals  and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam districts  of  Tamil  Nadu  in  2012.  Government  of  Tamil  Nadu  has  notified about 247 square kms in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam districts as Local Planning Area under the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act 1971.
- (b): Government  of  Tamil  Nadu  has  informed  that  during  the  process  of notifying  the  PCPIR  area  as  Local  Planning  Area  under  the  Tamil  Nadu Town and Country Planning Act 1971, the district level notification process was conducted in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam districts between January 2016 to June 2017. State Government has further informed that during this process  and  subsequently,  there  was  no  opposition  to  the  proposal  of establishing the PCPIR.
- (c)& (d):  As per the PCPIR Policy 2007, detailed Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)  study  is  carried  out  by  the  State  Government  to  address  all  the concerns related to environment pollution. State Government has informed that  following  major  steps  are  taken  to  safeguard  the  environment  in  the PCPIR:
- (i) The  Concept  Plan  prepared  for  the  development  of  PCPIR  has  taken complete  preservation of existing village settlements and  agricultural activities into consideration.
- (ii) Ecologically sensitive areas have been excluded from the PCPIR area.
- (iii) The  waste  water  generated  would  be  treated  before  intake  into  the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP).
- (iv) The PCPIR  would be functional only after obtaining environmental clearances at State level and clearance of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study as per terms of reference of Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change at Central level.
- (v) Therefore, there is no environmental threat from the proposed PCPIR and hence, the lives of the dwellers in the PCPIR area will not be affected.

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