Kolkata, July 30: The West Bengal President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rajya Sabha MP, Samik Bhattacharya, has proposed the establishment of a specialized chemical park in the state at an estimated cost of ₹1,500 crore. This proposal was recently submitted to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
In his proposal, Bhattacharya identified Singur in Hooghly district as one of the most suitable locations for the chemical park project.
Singur gained international attention in 2007 when the Trinamool Congress, the main opposition party in West Bengal, led a significant movement against the acquisition of agricultural land for Tata Motors’ Nano project during the tenure of the then Left Front government led by Buddhadeb Bhattacharya.
After prolonged and often violent protests, Tata Group ultimately decided to withdraw from the project. Ratan Tata, the then-chairman, announced the relocation of the Nano plant from Singur, marking the end of one of the state’s most controversial industrial projects.
Bhattacharya has also identified three additional potential sites for the proposed chemical park: Haldia in East Midnapore district, Raghunathpur in Bankura district, and Durgapur in West Bardhaman district.
In the proposal sent to the Chief Minister, Bhattacharya noted that the Central Cabinet approved the “Grand Chemical Scheme” on July 24 this year. This ₹3,030 crore central initiative aims to establish three specialized chemical parks across the country, requiring at least 2,000 acres of land in a single location, free from any legal disputes or encumbrances. Additionally, the state must contribute at least ₹500 crore, in exchange for which the central government will provide grants of up to ₹1,000 crore for each park.
According to Bhattacharya, this development presents a rare opportunity for West Bengal to become a national-level chemical hub. The project is expected to attract an overall investment of ₹1,500 crore or more into the state’s infrastructure, with potential for private capital in later stages.
He emphasized that the proposed project could generate direct employment in construction, plant operations, logistics, and supporting MSMEs. Furthermore, it is expected to have a significant multiplier effect on downstream sectors such as agriculture, textiles, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and electronics. Sustainable “plug-and-play” industrial infrastructure, including CETPs, TSDFs, utilities, and pipelines, will also be developed to attract anchor investors and strengthen West Bengal’s position in the national chemical value chain.
In his proposal to the Chief Minister, Bhattacharya stated, “This indicates that West Bengal is ready for large-scale industrial investment, especially at a time when other states are also rapidly making their claims.”
He also suggested that the Chief Minister form an inter-departmental task force led by the state’s commerce and industry department and the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation. This task force would prepare West Bengal’s “Challenge Route” submission. Additionally, he recommended that the WBIDC prepare updated documentation related to land ownership, any legal disputes, and infrastructure readiness.
Bhattacharya advised the Chief Minister to engage actively with the central Ministry of Chemicals and Petrochemicals before formal guidelines are issued, ensuring West Bengal is prepared for a swift response. He also emphasized the need for consultation with the West Bengal Finance Department to secure the state’s equal contribution in the upcoming budget process.
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