From correspondents in West Bengal, India, 12:33 AM IST

It is the government's endeavour to revive the fertiliser units that were closed down during the previous regime, Minister of Chemicals, Fertilisers and Steel Ram Vilas Paswan said here Tuesday.

Paswan told reporters that his ministry had formed a committee to revive at least six units closed at Haldia, Durgapur, Barauni, Sindri, Gorakhpur and Talcher.

The minister was in town to inaugurate the revival package of Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Limited (BCPL), which has been granted Rs.4.4 billion by the central government.

The sum comprised Rs.2.07 billion in cash and writing-off loans and interest for the rest of the amount.

He said the government will set up Petrochemicals, Pharmaceuticals Investment and Research (PCPIR) hubs in various regions across the country, which will attract investments worth more than Rs.600 billion.

The proposal to set up PCPIR hubs been approved by a group of ministers (GOM) and would be placed in the cabinet soon, Paswan said.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)