Mumbai: A mega chemical industry park will be developed next to the Vadhvan Port, announced CM Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday. Dahanu Taluka where the port is being developed was once designated as an ecologically sensitive area under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.Speaking at the India Chem 2026 inauguration ceremony at Goregaon, Fadnavis said the state govt will allot 2,500 – 5,000 acres for the chemical industry park and asked the central govt to sanction it. The state govt, he said, is preparing an independent policy to promote investment in the chemical industry and it will be announced in the first week of November.“The Vadhvan Port will give a big boost to the industrial development of the state. There is an opportunity to develop necessary infrastructure and industrial clusters for chemical industries in the vicinity of this port,” said Fadnavis. The CM said efforts are being made to attract large investments in Maharashtra through the grand chemical park scheme announced by the central govt. He said the state govt is making efforts to make it easier for industries to obtain permits, provide necessary services at one place through the Maitri one-stop platform and the Invest Maharashtra initiative. The chemical industry sector, he said, provides three lakh jobs in the state and there is a potential to double employment opportunities in the state.Union minister for chemical, fertilisers, J P Nadda said the centre in the union budget has already announced the Grand Chemical Park scheme for which it will provide Rs 1000 crore and the state govt Rs 500 crore. The minimum land requirement is 2000 acres. He said the Centre will facilitate environmental clearances for the scheme. It is part of the centre’s Vikasit Bharat goal and achieving a US $one trillion economy by 2040.Nadda said the centre has included the advanced chemicals and petrochemicals sector in the Rs one lakh crore research, development and innovation scheme.
