Question : Setting up of PCPIR

(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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