Haldia Needs Rs 600 Crore For Core Sector
Development of critical infrastructure in the Haldia region in the next five years has been estimated to cost Rs 600 crore, according to the findings of the Task Force on Haldia Infrastructure, set up by the West Bengal government.
However, what ails the development of the 326 square kilometer Haldia Planning Area, is the manpower shortage in key positions. "Of the 21 sanctioned senior positions in the Haldia Development Authority, only 6-7 are occupied at any given point of time. This is at a time when HDA is embarking on a very ambitious programme of development", laments the Task Force report.
Like in the case of Durgapur in the 1960s, it is essential to place senior officials at Haldia to strengthen local administration, recommends the Task Force.
Of the Rs 600 crore needed for infrastructure development, half of the sum is required to set up a new 30 million gallon a day (mgtd) water supply project as the existing 20 mgtd water plant `will barely take care of the immediate requirement of industrial water in Haldia. The report anticipates `major demand shortfall from mid 2001'. The report has recommended that the critical water supply project is planned through the Build-Operate-Transfer route.
To meet the requirement of the remaining Rs 300 crore, the Task Force has suggested direct budgetary support, funds from FIs with government guarantee. Loans can be sourced from external agencies too.
There is an urgent need for a short-term finance of Rs 79 crore to finance infrastructure development `directly affecting two mega projects and on-going projects'. Haldia Petrochemicals alone needs projects costing Rs 23 crore, and, the Mitsubishi Chemicals Rs 7 crore for development of roads, drainage, water supply and power supply.
The Task Force notes with concern that the "HPL factory and its surrounding area has become prone to flooding". An irrigation department scheme for composite drainage network requires permanent diversion of drainage bypassing the HPL site. However, the Rs 51 crore irrigation department scheme awaits approval.
Haldia suffers from poor quality of power and telecommunication. Fluctuations in frequency and voltage levels "are affecting industrial activity and water supply". Inter-exchange communication within Haldia is poor in view of the limited number of inter-exchange channels, says the report. "During high traffic time, communication with Calcutta is also difficult", it says.
About 30 per cent of HPL products and also the Mitsubishi plant products will need to be sent outside Haldia. "Transport infrastructure within the state needs to be improved" so that the products can reach rest of the country.
Public jetty facilities for commuters at Raichak and Kukrahati "
are in a hazardous condition". Frequency of the catamaran service between Calcutta and Haldia needs to be increased and made dependable. The only available vessel "suffers from frequent breakdowns for extended periods of time". Private enterprise is needed to run fast ferry services including hovercraft.
The reports has also proposed that the possibility to build an airport at Haldia jointly with Mitsubishi Corp be explored. The Japanese has already shown interest in such a project.
Task roce recommendations
* Critical water supply project through the BOT route
* Direct budgetary support, funds from FIs with government gurarntee. Loans can be sourced from external agencies too
* Since HPL factory is prone to flooding an irrigation department scheme for composite drainage network requires permanent diversion of drainage bypassing the HPL site. Rs 51 crore irrigation department scheme awaits approval
* Better power and telecommunication facilities
* Frequency of the catamaran service between Calcutta and Haldia needs to be increased and made dependable
* Private enterprise needs to run fast ferry services including hovercraft
* Possibility of building an airport at Haldia jontly with mitsubishi Corp be expored. The Japenese have already shown interest in such a project