TN suspends Nagapattinam petro cluster project

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has decided to withdraw the proposed petrochemical cluster at Nagapattinam in the face of stiff resistance from farmers and political parties. The government has withdrawn the bid for proposed Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the petrochemical cluster planned to capitalise on the construction of a refinery by Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd (CPCL).

The CPCL has commenced work on the Rs31,580 crore, 9 million metric tonne per annum (MMTPA) grassroot refinery at Nagapattinam.The bids for the preparation of DPR earlier called by the MSME Trade and Investment Promotion Bureau (M-TIPB) was withdrawn citing administrative reasons.

Founder of PMK SRamadoss has welcomed the government's decision to drop the petrochemical cluster project.Former Chief Minister and AIADMK CoordinatorPanneerselvam had strongly come out against the project stating it shows the 'double face' of the ruling DMK.