With the Left Front allies seeking details of the chemical hub that the state government now proposes to set up at Haldia after scrapping Nandigram, Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee on Tuesday clarified that the alternative site for the hub has not yet been finalised.
“The government has not taken any final decision on the location of the chemical hub. The exercise will take some more time as the size of the project is of critical  importance,” Mr Bhattacharjee told reporters at the state secretariat here.
His observation comes a week after the allies began asking the government about the details of the hub, particularly the investors.

 The CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc, to whom the Chief Minister sent a letter explaining the need for the hub, maintained that unless details are furnished about the project, it is difficult to discuss about it.
“Talks are on with the chemicals and fertilisers ministry and with the Indian Oil Corporation, the anchor investor for the chemical hub,”  Mr Bhattacherjee said. The West Bengal government has deliberately been delaying the announcement of the alternative site at Haldia in view of the elections to  the Haldia civic board slated on July 23.
Political observers feel that  after the opposition Trinamool Congress snatched the neighbouring civic board from the CPM last month, the ruling party were required to change strategy. Selection of Haldia as an alternative site and declaration of the same before the poll could have an impact on the poll outcome.
The March 14 killings at Nandigram compelled the government to scrap the idea of  the proposed chemical hub there and shift the same to Haldia in the same East Midnapore district.