CM airs Kulpi SEZ, port plans

Statesman News Service

KOLKATA, Jan. 7: Even as violence over the anti-land acquisition stir engulfs Nandigram, the chief minister announced revival of another SEZ project in South 24-Parganas which would require another 3,200 acres of land. Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee held talks with the chairman of Dubai World Group, Mr Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, announcing the revival of the project for setting up of a private port and a SEZ at Kulpi.

Dubai Port World, a holding of Dubai World Group, will set up the minor port at Kulpi at a cost of Rs 2,500 crore alongwith Keventer Group and West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation. The port will come up on 700 acres of land and the SEZ will require another 2,500 acres. The chief minister expressed happiness over the revival of this project which had become uncertain with the acquisition of P&O with whom negotiations were on. However, he took a cautious approach about land acquisition, saying, “We are yet to earmark the land for the project. We will convince the local people that project will be good for them. It is not that they are going to take away the land to Dubai.” Approval has already been received by the long delayed project in 2003. “We are eager to start work for this project which will ensure better trade connectivity with South and South East Asian countries and the free zone will help generate cargo and business for the port,” said Mr Bin Sulayem.