Proposal to set up Rs.30,000 crore petrochemical park near Chennai cleared

06-Mar-07

Envisaged in 1997, a petrochemical project was to come up on a 7,156-acre plot spread over Puzhudivakkam, Kattuppalli, Kalanji and Voyalur villages in Tiruvallur district. The public interest petitioners submitted that the park would affect the livelihood of small farmers and fishermen besides endangering environment. The Madras High Court has dismissed all petitions challenging a proposal to set up the Rs. 30,000 crore petrochemical park near Chennai, on environmental grounds as well as violation of land acquisition norms. This decision was guided by the fact that: Of the 7,156 acres, only 311 areas of land were wetland and only 585 families will need to be rehabilitated. The project seems to be within the legislative competence of the State Government and that no Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) guidelines had been violated.