Trouble brews against PCPIR

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, May 27, 2014: The proposed Petroleum Chemical Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) between Vizag and Kakinada is yet to take off, but trouble is definitely brewing against the government’s ambitious project as the environmental activists and political parties opposing the project are getting ready for a fresh a bout of agitation.

In an attempt to attract global investments in petroleum sector, union government planned PCPIRs in various states and sanctioned one for Andhra Pradesh between Vizag and Kakinada.  

Accordingly state government formed a special purpose vehicle- Visakhapatnam- Kakinada Petroleum Chemical Petrochemical Investment Region Special Development Authority   (VK PCPIR SDA) was formed in this regard in 2008.

State government appointed APIIC as the nodal agency for development of PCPIR and planning to invest around Rs 19, 031 crores to provide infrastructure. Government aimed to attract Rs 3.43lakh crore investments with employment potential of 12 lakhs.

PCPIR is considered as one of the key projects for the successor state of Andhra Pradesh after the state bifurcation to trigger growth and local economy besides providing employment in the region.

While the environmentalists are raising objections over the PCPIR proposal and demanding the authorities to scrap the project, industrialists, businessmen argue that the project must be grounded, which can spur economic growth in this region.

“With the given projection of industries, the PCPIR is definitely a threat to sensitive eco system along the coast. The investment region and the pollution caused will definitely have impact on the marine resources and the humans in the core and buffer areas. At the crude oil refineries proposed fossil and dirty fuels are burnt. Acidic gases like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are released into the air. They are very dangerous,” said senior professor of department of environment at Andhra University, Dr EUB Reddi.

Reddi opined instead marine and agri based industries can be planned to avoid environment related issues, taking advantage of the coast.

CII, Vizag chapter former chairman and MD of Sravan Shipping, G Sambasiva Rao asserted that the PCPIR should be established at any cost as it would trigger economic activity in the region and added If PCPIR comes up it generates employment opportunities in lakhs, helps in establishing allied industries providing indirect employment too.  

“We have already passed resolutions against the project in as many as 97 villages that are going to be affected by the PCPIR. It will leave an environmental disaster behind us. Very soon we are planning a fresh round stir by creating awareness among the villagers going to be affected by the project,” said, CPM city secretary, B Lokanadham.

Recently the PCPIR SDA constituted a Committee with experts of the concerned departments to examine the objections raised over the draft master plan released last year. After a thorough examination, the Committee has recommended for incorporation of valid objections and accordingly, the Draft Master Plan and Zonal Development Plans were revised.