I dont think he compared the two regimes.

Hi Sydney,

He had said
i think that by the time next elections happen WB will be worse than even Bihar. Sometimes i think the commies were better than didi.

If this is not comparison, what is?

Sun, I agree to your point....but I never remember putting up any arbitrary post saying that didi is better than commies. By the time next elections happen , WB will surge ahead of Gujrat in manufacturing and Maharashtra in financial services etc etc

This is a great forum....we are all well wishers of the city and the state. Lets discuss , update each other and if we reach a sizable number we can create an online petition like stuff to bring up some imp issue and wish that the govt sits up and notices.

Great man....!!! And what major investments did CPM bring which generated in thousands of jobs?
Well, yes the CPM under jyoti basu hardly did anything worthwhile - Hundreds of industries got closed during his regime. However, under BB you have to agree that a lot was done and the state was just foraying into the manufacturing sector, when MB put the brakes on. And since after that hardly any large scale industry proposals have come up.
MB is sure to take the state forward in the IT sector as per the policies which she is sticking to. However, the manufacturing sector is sure to suffer due to her populist policies of no land acquisitions.

^^ even IT sector needs land.

There was no 'bandh' in last 200 days that's a big plus. 'Bandh's are the real spoiler for IT industry which tarnishes the reputation of Kolkata as an attractive IT destination.

well if i correctly remember there were bandhs by TMC for protesting FDI in retail on Dec 2 and similarly for rising fuel prices

Assocham unveils roadmap to convert WB into organic state by 2015

Assocham has offered its co-operation to promote organic farming in West Bengal which according to a study undertaken by the apex industry body can lead to wealth accumulation of Rs 120 billion, generate exports worth Rs 5.5 billion and create nearly 20 lakh employment opportunities during the course of next five years.

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) study titled `Organic West Bengal: Ushering New Era of Prosperity` was released by Arup Roy, agriculture marketing minister, Government of West Bengal along with D.S. Rawat, national secretary general of Assocham and Debmalya Banerjee, co-chairman, Eastern Regional Council here in Kolkata today.

Over six lakh additional jobs can also be generated if farm storing, processing, value addition, packaging and marketing facilities are included, considering organic farms provide more than 30% more jobs per hectare as against non-organic farms.

``Adoption of organic farming can increase net per capita income of a farmer in the state by a whopping 250% to over Rs 15,680 per month in next five years thereby, arresting the migration of people from West Bengal to other states in search of jobs,`` according to the Assocham study.

At least 35% of cultivable land can be converted into organic farms, in next five years, thereby converting seven% cultivable land annually into organic farming.

``The state government must emphasize on organic farming in their agriculture policy to overcome constraints like unproductive plantation, low crop productivity, poor crop management, high degree of pests and diseases,`` said Rawat. ``It is imperative to adopt modern practices, technologies and scientific management in agri sector.``

Considering rising health consciousness and growing awareness among people, the demand for organic food products is likely to increase rapidly, thus Assocham calls for setting up organic farming clusters across the state.

West Bengal can attain the top spot in organic farming among competing states by focusing on potential crops in a phased manner and cash in on organic aquaculture (pisciculture) by raising fish seeds organically for earning higher export revenues.

Growing at a robust annual growth rate of over five billion dollars, the global organic market currently stands at around 65 billion dollars.

Growing at a steady annual rate of about 40%, organic farming in India is likely to be worth Rs 100 billion by 2015 from current levels of about Rs 25 billion. Nearly 4.5 million hectares area is currently under certified organic farms, points out the Assocham study.

Certified organic products including all varieties of food products namely basmati rice, pulses, honey, tea, spices, coffee, oil seeds, fruits, processed food, cereals, herbal medicines and their value added products are produced in India. Apart from edible sector, organic cotton fiber, garments, cosmetics, functional food products and body care products are also produced.

Although, organic farming is picking up pace in India but the sector has been jostling with lack of awareness, knowledge and confidence about organic farming, food products among both farmers and consumers.

Organic agriculture should be recognised and integrated in main policies of the central government like those on agriculture, food, health and environment. This will ensure that all needs of organic sector are properly addressed and considered in government programmes and budgetary allocations, says Assocham.

Considering the questions being raised on quality of Chinese organic products, more emphasis must be laid on maintaining quality control while promoting exports of domestically produced organic products, says the chamber.

Assocham has proposed formation of a national commission for organic agriculture with participation of all stakeholders including private sector. Besides, an organic food council can also be set up to institutionalize policy dialogue between the government and the organic sector.

Highlighting the role of West Bengal government, the study says that mapping the status of organic farming and certification along with agro-climatic zones must be carried out to tap the potential of organic crops and understand micro level production potential. Interventions must be carried out to raise production levels.

The area under crops may be increased through cluster approach to generate marketable surplus and provide economy of scale in marketing the production.

Regional action plans should be developed for organic farming stating direction and target for adoption and combination of specific measures including direct income support, marketing and processing support, certification support, consumer education and infrastructure support, says the study.

The state government should promote a concept to set up an organic village in each district to encourage usage of organic fertilizers to protect land from residual affect of chemical fertilizers, suggests Assocham.

A niche market of organic products be developed to exploit advantage and tap the potential of organic farming. This will help strengthen domestic market and support export of organic food.

Organic certification is imperative for adding value to default organic system and enable farms to explore domestic and export markets for fetching better prices.

Assocham suggests formation of a state organic institution for training, certification, production, packaging, processing and marketing through PPP model for setting up a value chain and consultations especially with bodies like Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). Many recommendations on organic certification are also mentioned in the study.

To further facilitate expansion of organic farming sector and to increase its production capacity, information related to new technologies must be imparted to farmers, says Assocham.

State government must provide rural credit through co-operatives, commercial, regional rural banks thereby playing a proactive role in providing institutional credit to enhance adoption of organic farming in the state.

Assocham will work along with farmers to promote organic farming at different levels by adopting potential clusters and will convert them into organic farms.

The chamber will organize development programmes to nurture entrepreneurial skills of farmers and will help linking them with certification agencies, markets both domestic and international.

Assocham also plans to organize product fairs and buyer-seller meetings to enable farmers to get premium pricing for their produce.

source: http://www.myiris.com/newsCentre/storyShow.php?fileR=20111209171259200&dir=2011/12/09

Will start work on West Bengal centre in 3-6 months

IT major Infosys Technologies will start construction work on its first software development centre in West Bengal, at Rajarhat near here, in three to six months, a top company official said on Friday.

"We have paid the money and got possession of the land. We hope to start construction work in three to six months," Infosys Technologies Executive Co-Chairman S Gopalakrishnan said on the sidelines of a CII event.


He said in the first phase, 5,000 jobs would be created and the approximate investment would be Rs 100 crore.

He said while 35,000 professionals had been already hired so far this fiscal; another 10,000 would be hired by the end of March, 2012. The present headcount of the company is 1.40 lakh.

When asked whether Infosys would shift its focus outside the US and Europe due to the slowdown in these economies, he said, "Any shift will take time."

"We are looking at the markets of China, South Africa, Malaysia and Indonesia," he added.

Gopalakrishnan said despite the global turmoil, the IT sector has shown resilience and there have been no lay-offs.

"There would, however, be consolidation in IT sector and those who have the niche capability will survive," he said.

source: http://profit.ndtv.com/News/Article/will-start-work-on-west-bengal-centre-in-3-6-months-infosys-293786

TCG likely to object to bidding of HPL shares

All is not well as far as Haldia Petrochemicals is concerned.
Fresh out of a legal battle, the West Bengal’s showcase project in which The Chatterjee Group (TCG) and the state government are major shareholders, is staring at an even uglier battle over the shareholding pattern. With the state planning to auction 675 million shares, which is the state government's entire stake plus the disputed, officials close to the development said that TCG was likely to object to the bidding of the disputed 155 million shares among this.
The Purnendu Chatterjee-led group may take a tough stance over the state’s plan to auction the 155 million shares as the recent Supreme Court judgment did not specify on what to be done with it, the official said. This comes after the industry and commerce minister Partha Chatterjee said that the government will auction its shares in HPL.
The apex court had recently dismissed the petition filed by TCG against a decision by the Calcutta High Court allowing the state government to retain its 155 million shares. The company had challenged the High Court verdict which set aside a CLB directive which asked the government to exit HPL by selling shares to its private partner.

When asked about the government’s move, the TCG chairman said, “I am unaware about the state’s plan to auction its stake. Unless they inform, I cannot say what TCG’s stand would be.” The firm’s board meeting scheduled on Monday is set to discuss the issue in detail.

Earlier, the state government had reportedly mandated SBI Capital Markets to do a valuation of HPL, for selling its shares. “The state government seems to have put on hold, the valuation process. If they go for auction, it would be an open invitation for the competitors of HPL’s private partner. The ideal thing should be to wait for the company to turn around. Till then both the shareholders should wait,” the official added. The firm has a debt of Rs 3,500 crore now, including loans for various developmental projects. While HPL suffered a loss of Rs 247 crore during the last financial year, it has suffered a Rs 600 crore till November this year.

An auction was likely to evoke interest from different quarters. It is an open secret that Reliance Industries is interested in HPL. IOC has a minority stake in HPL while GAIL had also revived its interest recently.

source:http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/tcg-likely-to-object-to-biddinghpl-shares/458086/

http://www.anandabazar.com/14bus3.html

After a week of creepy news finally something cheer for...Jindal project and Patton project both got final clearances from govt....this will definitely expedite the construction processes..
জিন্দল-প্যাটনের প্রকল্পে ছাড়পত্র রাজ্যের
সুপ্রকাশ চক্রবর্তী • কলকাতা
সব জটিলতার অবসান ঘটিয়ে শালবনিতে জিন্দল গোষ্ঠীর ইস্পাত প্রকল্প এবং উলুবেড়িয়ায় প্যাটন সংস্থার কোল্ড রোলিং মিল ও ওয়্যারহাউসিং পরিকাঠামো নির্মাণ প্রকল্পে ছাড়পত্র দিল মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের সরকার। মঙ্গলবার রাজ্যের তরফে এই মর্মে নির্দেশ জারি হয়েছে।
ভূমি ও ভূমি সংস্কার দফতরের জারি করা ওই নির্দেশে বলা হয়েছে, রাজ্যের শিল্প ও বাণিজ্য দফতরের সুপারিশ মোতাবেক ১৯৫৫-এর ভূমি সংস্কার আইনের ১৪(ওয়াই) ধারা অনুসারে দু’টি সংস্থাকেই ঊর্ধ্বসীমার অতিরিক্ত জমি রাখার ‘ছাড়পত্র’ দেওয়া হল। শিল্পের জন্য জমির ঊর্ধ্বসীমা আইনে এমনিতে সর্বাধিক ২৪ একর ২২ শতক জমি রাখার কথা বলা হয়েছে। তবে কারখানা, চা-বাগানের মতো নির্দিষ্ট কয়েকটি ক্ষেত্রে জমির ঊর্ধ্বসীমা সংক্রান্ত বিধি শিথিল করার ক্ষমতা রয়েছে রাজ্য সরকারের। সেই মতো জিন্দল ও প্যাটনকে ঊর্ধ্বসীমার বেশি জমি রাখার অনুমতি দেওয়া হল। তবে, জিন্দল এবং প্যাটন দু’টি সংস্থার ক্ষেত্রেই সরকারি নির্দেশে জানানো হয়েছে যে, নির্দেশ জারির তিন বছরের মধ্যে প্রকল্পের কাজ শেষ করতে হবে। অন্যথায় দু’টি প্রকল্পেরই সমস্ত জমি ফের ১৯৫৫ সালের ভূমি সংস্কার আইনের ১৪(এম) ধারা মোতাবেক জমির ঊর্ধ্বসীমা সংক্রান্ত বিধিনিষেধের আওতায় চলে আসবে। পশ্চিম মেদিনীপুরের শালবনিতে জিন্দলদের সরাসরি কেনা ২৯৪ একর জমি ঊর্ধ্বসীমা আইনের বাধায় পড়েছিল। এই নিয়ে দীর্ঘদিন ধরে টানাপোড়েন চলে। ঊর্ধ্বসীমার বেশি জমি রাখার অনুমতি দিয়ে নির্দেশ জারির পর প্রশাসনের আশা, এ বার ওই ইস্পাত প্রকল্পের কাজ জোরকদমে শুরু হয়ে যাবে। পাশাপাশি, সরকারের এই ঘোষণার মধ্যে দিয়ে শিল্পমহলের কাছে নতুন বার্তাও দেওয়া গেল বলে মনে করা হচ্ছে। নতুন সরকার ক্ষমতায় আসার পরে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের সঙ্গে একাধিক বার মুখোমুখি হয়েছে শিল্পমহল। পুজোর পর এমনই এক অনুষ্ঠানে শিল্পের জন্য জমি পাওয়ার ক্ষেত্রে রাজ্য সরকারের নীতি কী প্রভাব ফেলবে, তা নিয়ে সংশয় প্রকাশ করেছিলেন কেউ কেউ।
মুখ্যমন্ত্রী তখন জানিয়েছিলেন, রাজ্যে ‘শিল্প বিপ্লব’ আনা ভবিষ্যতে তাঁর অন্যতম অগ্রাধিকারের মধ্যে পড়বে। তার কয়েক দিনের মধ্যেই মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর সভাপতিত্বে রাজ্য মন্ত্রিসভার শিল্প বিষয়ক স্থায়ী কমিটির বৈঠক বসে। সেই বৈঠকে জমির ঊর্ধ্বসীমা সংক্রান্ত বিধিনিষেধের বেড়াজালে আটকে থাকা বেশ কয়েকটি প্রকল্পকে ছাড়পত্র দেওয়ার নীতিগত সিদ্ধান্ত নেওয়া হয়। এর মধ্যে সবচেয়ে বেশি বিনিয়োগের প্রকল্পটি ছিল জিন্দলদের। ওই প্রকল্পে প্রথম দফায় ২০ হাজার কোটি টাকা বিনিয়োগ করে ৩০ লক্ষ টন ইস্পাত উৎপাদনের কথা রয়েছে।
ভূমি ও ভূমি সংস্কার দফতর তার নির্দেশে শালবনিতে ইস্পাত প্রকল্প তৈরির জন্য প্রয়োজনীয় ৪১৭৮ একর জমিই জিন্দলদের হাতে রাখার অনুমতি দিয়েছে। শুধুমাত্র যে ০.৩৬ একর পাট্টা জমি জিন্দলরা নিজেদের হেফাজতে রাখতে চেয়ে আবেদন করেছিল, তা খারিজ করে দিয়েছে রাজ্য সরকার। প্যাটন তাদের কারখানার জন্য উলুবেড়িয়ায় ৫৬ একর জমি চেয়েছিল। তাদেরও জমির ঊর্ধ্বসীমা সংক্রান্ত বিধিনিষেধ থেকে ছাড় দেওয়া হয়েছে।

METRO, WBSEDCL TO GAIN : State clears acquisition of land for infra projects

Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee has always expressed her discontent over the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, and has said on numerous occasions that her government will stay away from any acquisition. However, the Trinamool government seems to be tip-toeing into land acquisition to give state’s infrastructure a major impetus.
On Monday, the government took the first step forward with the state Cabinet clearing an acquisition of 6.4 acres under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, which Mamata has slammed as draconian since the Singur agitation. The land has been allocated for the Rammam Intermediate Stage Hydel Project, to be executed by West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL). The land acquisition for an electrical sub-station for the East-West Metro Corridor was also cleared on Monday. The city’s major transport project has currently slowed down owing to landrelated hurdles. The quantity of land for all the projects that got Cabinet clearance is rather miniscule. But this can be taken as a hint that the government would not sit idle over land acquisition for infrastructure.
In addition to the above projects, the Cabinet also cleared some ongoing land acquisitions. In each case, the 1894 Act is being invoked, predictably because the Trinamool government is yet to formulate the West Bengal Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011. The government has identified the Rimbick mouja in Darjeeling for construction of the Rammam plant. Another power project at Raghunathpur in Purulia, for construction of 33/11 KV sub-station by WBSEDCL, came up for Cabinet clearance on Monday. Awards will be declared under Section 11 of the Act for acquisition of land at Gobranda mouja.
The long-pending Teesta Barrage Project (TBP) has now received the government’s attention as the Cabinet also approved an award for acquisition of 35.69 acres for distributor canal number 4 of the Teesta-Jaldhaka main canal in Chak Moulani, Dakshinchak Moulani and Dakshin Matiali moujas in Jalpaiguri district. The Bakreswar reservoir also got a boost with the clearance for acquisition of 0.25 acres at Parulbona in Birbhum. Notices will also be served for clearance of 0.06 acres at Bhonra mouja in Birbhum’s Dubrajpur.
But topping the list of land acquisition clearances is the administrative approval for notification under Section 4 of the 1894 Act for acquisition of 0.4882 acre at 157A Manicktala Main Road for construction of the power sub-station for the East West Metro Corridor project. TNN

so finally around 50 acres approved by WB govt. for acquisition, very bold step i must say.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article2723692.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home

Rashmi group to invest Rs 930 cr in West Bengal
KOLKATA, DEC. 17:

Kolkata-headquartered Rashmi Group will invest nearly Rs 930 crore in setting up different projects across West Bengal. Expansion plans will be funded through internal accruals and borrowings.

L&T sets up a 1600MW land test for hands-off state govt

http://telegraphindia.com/1111222/jsp/bengal/story_14913639.jsp

Larsen & Toubro has expressed interest in setting up a 1,600MW thermal power plant in Bengal and requested the government to arrange for 1,200 acres.

The company said it would not opt for direct acquisition, raising the question how the government would get so much land given its hands-off policy on acquisition for private players.

Mamata had said during a recent interview with STAR Ananda that L&T would be offered 700 of the 1,000 acres available with the government in West Midnapore’s Goaltore. Asked by reporters if the company was willing to set up the plant in the Maoist-affected zone, Roy said “no”. When asked if the government had offered the Goaltore land today, he said: “We have not been given any such impression.”

Roy made it clear that the company would not acquire the land. “The government has to give the land to us. We will prepare a plan that can be altered according to the availability of land but we cannot do with less than 1,200 acres to produce 1,600MW of power,” he said.

Power minister Gupta said the government would provide L&T the land it needed from the land bank once the company chose the site.

But the land bank is yet to be created as a dozen major departments, including health, public works and panchayat and rural development, have so far failed to furnish details of the plots available with them.

Government officials said L&T could also be offered land in Purulia’s Adra in case NTPC, which has expressed interest in constructing a power plant there, pulls out.

In rural Bengal, power outages shoot up

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/in-rural-bengal-power-outages-shoot-up/890689/

The power utility companies of the West Bengal government are under acute debt burden as the power tariff had not been revised and is not likely to be revised within this financial year. Unlike previous years, this year, the state-owned power utilities are facing a power shortfall of 300 to 400 MW in winter and this is leading to at least two to three hours of power outage in rural Bengal.

In the last 10-15 years, power utilities have never faced power shortfall in winter season. But this year, the story is very different.

Significantly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is still against any increase in power tariff and it is learnt that power companies have been restricted from filing petition to power tariff regulatory commission for revising the power tariff.

Bhushan Steel defers $1 bn share issue

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/stocks-in-news/bhushan-steel-defers-1-bn-share-issue/articleshow/11192329.cms

Processed steelmaker Bhushan Steel has deferred plans to build a new plant and raise $1 billion through a share issue because of problems acquiring land in West Bengal and weak financial markets, its finance director said.

Jhodabudi takes the sheen off Burnpur

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/jhodabudi-takessheen-off-burnpur/457285/

Once a ghost town, Burnpur is beginning to take-off, thanks to a revived steel plant. Yet, an obscure tribal deity is preventing it from coming into its own.

With 22,000 people working relentlessly to complete a Rs 17,000 crore makeover for IISCO Steel Plant, formerly, Indian Iron and Steel Company, the energy is palpable. The modernisation and expansion of the country’s second oldest steel plant to 2.5 million tonnes capacity into an entity that can easily pass off as a brand new steel plant, will make it Steel Authority of India Ltd’s (SAIL’s) fifth integrated steel plant as well as Bengal’s single largest investment on ground, till date.

Swanky malls and residential complexes now compete for space with pear-shaped furnaces along the skyline. “Not just Burnpur, the entire area has changed. Real estate prices have sky-rocketed,” an IISCO official points out. In the last three years, land prices have moved up from Rs 25,000 a cottah to Rs 2 lakh a cottah.The multiplier effect on the local economy is significant. “The local units have got orders worth Rs 1,000 crore,” SAIL chairman, C S Verma, pointed out. There is more coming their way as the plant readies to be commissioned by the middle of next year.

But even as Burnpur is raring to take off, politics is casting its shadow on the investment, 80 per cent of which is already on the ground. A 20ft x 20ft green patch, apparently the abode of a tribal deity, Jhodabudi, is threatening the project. “Jhodabudi is there in the records since the British Raj. No one can deny this. If the company tries to move the deity, we will launch a protest,” Trinamool Congress local councillor, Pabitra Majhi, said. Whether Jhodabudi has a presence in any record is a matter of debate, but its only reminders are a tenuous wooden fence that binds the green patch, garlands strewn on some rocks and some red flags signalling an ominous presence.

But divine intervention may not be the only route to resolving the present crisis. Majhi, representing the 230-odd people who have put their faith in Jhodabudi, has a compromise formula in place. “SAIL’s Bokaro has given jobs to land losers. How can policies differ for the two plants? If IISCO gives jobs then we will reconsider our demand,” Majhi said. SAIL has already paid a handsome compensation to the people in accordance with a High Court order and made alternative arrangements for Jhodabudi, as well. But that’s not helping.

Majhi’s views have found favour in the upper echelons of the Trinamool Congress “Giving jobs to land losers is part of our land policy,” Chatterjee, who had lent support to the movement prior to the elections, said. The green patch may be a small peck in the whole scheme of things, but it happens to be in the despatch route of the plant. “If we can’t have that patch, the plant will operate at 60 per cent,” IISCO chief executive officer, N K Jha, said.

Quite unlike the industrial history of Bengal and IISCO’s own, trade unions are putting up a united front to wage a war against the Trinamool Congress-led movement. “If they don’t give up their demand, we will do a dharna at the Jhodabudi site. The state government should intervene, we have written to Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee,” Dutta said. For the Save IISCO Committee, which has been fighting for IISCO’s survival for years, it’s a full circle. “Earlier, we used to fight against the Centre for want of support to IISCO, now we have to fight with the state government for a unit which is significant for its exchequer,” BMS secretary, Rama Hili Rai, rued.

Alternatively, the entire engineering layout will have to be changed. That could be embarrassing and expensive since 90 per cent of the plant is ready. When complete though, people say that Burnpur will be second to none. “Once ready, Burnpur will surpass Durgapur,” Verma pointed out.

MARS to invest 100 cr in tea industry

MARS Group of Companies is looking to invest Rs 100 crore in the tea industry of North Bengal. Primarily a plywood maker, they had ventured into the tea industry in early 2011. They have bought five tea gardens in the Dooars region, which were closed since the first half of this decade.
“We have produced 1.5 million kgs of CTC tea over the last six months and are targeting to take the production up to 10 million kgs in the next couple of years,” said Roshan Lal Agarwal, chairman and managing director, MARS Group of Companies. “We have already invested Rs 50 crore in the tea gardens and are setting up processing plants.” They currently have three processing plants with thirteen CTC tea producing lines at various locations in the Dooars.
With 6500 acres of land currently producing tea leaves, MARS group is looking to further boost up their capacity by following the same model of procuring sick or closed tea gardens in the coming years in Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri.
Currently only a wholesaler, the company has plans to venture into the packaged tea markets. They are also planning to buy green tea from smaller gardens to process in their plants in order to boost production.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2011/12/22&PageLabel=15&EntityId=Ar01506&ViewMode=HTML

L&T sets up a 1600MW land test for hands-off state govt

http://telegraphindia.com/1111222/jsp/bengal/story_14913639.jsp

hope that by next elections the work gets started, L&T may also demand higher tariffs in PPA(power purchase agreement) which mamata may not agree to.

hope that by next elections the work gets started, L&T may also demand higher tariffs in PPA(power purchase agreement) which mamata may not agree to.

It will take four years at least for the project to complete. Also a power plant can be explathanksined away as something of public interest and the Government should get the fig leaf cover for acquiring land.

However as I have noted in another post, the "intellectuals" and "activists" must be really upset on hearing that a industry needs land that is suitable [connectivity, linkages, water, raw material etc] and not something in the middle of nowhere. Also when L&T says that space cannot be compromised with, it is a big slap on the face of the intellectuals who were lecturing everybody about how much land needs to be allocated to industry.

L&T tests waters for power project

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/LT-tests-waters-for-power-project/articleshow/11199915.cms

The Mamata Banerjee government on Wednesday got a first-hand feedback on its "no acquisition for private purpose" policy as engineering major Larsen and Toubro (L&T) tested waters to set up super-critical thermal power plants (2 X 800 MW) in Bengal. After a meeting with the CM, L&T's senior vice-president, corporate affairs, Shailendra Roy said, "We can't buy land to construct our power plants. The government must give us the land or acquire it for us."
However, understanding that L&T power would foray into Bengal only if there was ready land at hand, the chief minister consulted land department officials and offered around 500 acres at Kharagpur. But then, Roy categorically told reporters, "We would require at least 1,200 acres since the plants with minimum emission and with their super-critical nature can't come up in shrunken area. There must be enough space for the other elements needed for the plants. Space can't be compromised with."

The government had earlier offered L & T 1,000 acres at Goaltore. But these plots were nowhere near a proper water source, power minister Manish Gupta said. Finally, the land offered was at Kharagpur.

Roy said, "We will study the layout of the land and other infrastructure like water, rail connectivity and the nature of the land - whether it has been filled up etc - and then take our decision." The company will inspect the area and submit its report to the power minister in a fortnight.

Roy said his company was in a hurry and would like to freeze the deal soon after identifying the land, but power projects essentially needed gestation periods. "We will need at least four to four-and-a-half years for the plants to be completed," said Roy.

early signs of change from extremes!!waiting for the reasonable postures in future...

Farmland acquisition in revised bill?
Ajanta Chakraborty, TNN | Dec 23, 2011, 01.14AM IST

KOLKATA: In a radical shift from its land policy, the Mamata Banerjee government may keep the option open of acquiring single-crop or barren land for industry, if farmers agree. According to highly placed sources in Writers' Buildings, the government may revise the rudimentary principle of the West Bengal Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011, on these lines, sparing a significant thought for industry.

There was no provision for acquisition for private purpose - even for PPP projects - in the original avatar of the bill. It was this tough stand against land acquisition that had brought Mamata to power.

Now, the changed version of the bill is likely to allow the chief minister to highlight her pro-industry stand during "Bengal Leads" - the much-hyped trade summit - in January, to be attended by the likes of Anil Ambani and Azim Premji.

full (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Farmland-acquisition-in-revised-bill/articleshow/11212312.cms)

this will influence the change of stance..seems like many pressure grps are in the field...may see some chng in the 'bengal leads' summit..
সিঙ্গুরের ছায়াতেই প্রশ্নের মুখে রাজ্যের লগ্নি-ভবিষ্যৎ
রঞ্জন সেনগুপ্ত • কলকাতা

সরকার জল-জমি-কয়লার বন্দোবস্ত করে না দিলে রাজ্যে বিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্র গড়ার পথে তারা হাঁটবে না বলে প্রথম দিনেই জানিয়ে দিয়েছে লার্সেন অ্যান্ড টুব্রো (এলঅ্যান্ডটি)। ফলে সলতে পাকানোর আগেই এই প্রকল্পের প্রদীপ নেভার বন্দোবস্ত হয়ে গেল বলে আশঙ্কা রাজ্য প্রশাসনের একটা বড় অংশের। তাদের বক্তব্য, মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের সরকারের নতুন জমি নীতির প্রথম বলি যদি হয় কাটোয়ার তাপবিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্র, তা হলে দ্বিতীয়টি এলঅ্যান্ডটি-র বিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্র।
অর্থাৎ, সিঙ্গুরের ‘ফল’ হাতেনাতে ফলতে শুরু করেছে!
জোর করে জমি অধিগ্রহণ করার অভিযোগ তুলে সিঙ্গুরে ‘ন্যানো’ গাড়ি তৈরির কারখানার বিরুদ্ধে আন্দোলনে নেমেছিল তৃণমূল। তার জেরে এ রাজ্য থেকে কারখানা তুলে গুজরাতের সানন্দে নিয়ে চলে যায় টাটা মোটরস। সেটা ২০০৮ সালের ঘটনা। তিন বছর পরে ক্ষমতায় এসে বেসরকারি সংস্থার জন্য কোনও রকম জমি অধিগ্রহণ না-করার যে নীতি তৃণমূলের নেতৃত্বাধীন সরকার গ্রহণ করেছে, তার জেরে নতুন শিল্প প্রকল্প তৈরির পথ তো তৈরি হচ্ছেই না, অনিশ্চিত হয়ে পড়েছে বাম আমলে শুরু হওয়া একাধিক প্রকল্পও।
যেমন কাটোয়ায় ন্যাশনাল থার্মাল পাওয়ার কর্পোরেশনের (এনটিপিসি) তাপবিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্র। এই প্রকল্পের জন্য প্রয়োজনীয় ১১০০ একর জমির মধ্যে ৫৫০ একরের দাম জমি মালিকদের মিটিয়ে নিজেদের হেফাজতে নিয়েছিল আগের বামফ্রন্ট সরকার। বাকি জমি অধিগ্রহণের প্রক্রিয়া যখন শেষের মুখে তখনই ভোটের দামামা বেজে যায়। ফলে কাজ বন্ধ থাকে।
নতুন সরকার ক্ষমতায় এসেই জানিয়ে দেয়, কাটোয়ায় আর জমি অধিগ্রহণ করা হবে না। সাত মাস টানাপোড়েন চলার পরে বুধবার রাজ্যের বিদ্যুৎমন্ত্রী মনীশ গুপ্ত জানান, বাকি জমি এনটিপিসি-কে কিনে নিতে হবে। রাজ্যের ভূমি ও বিদ্যুৎ দফতরের কর্তাদের একাংশের আশঙ্কা, নতুন জমি নীতিতে জমির দাম, ১০০ শতাংশ সোলাসিয়াম, চাকরি-সহ ক্ষতিপূরণের যে ‘প্যাকেজ’ ঘোষণা করা হয়েছে, জমির মালিকরা সেই দাবি করে বসলে এক ছটাক জমিও কেনা যাবে না। এমনকী, যে জমি ইতিমধ্যেই সরকারের হাতে এসেছে, তার মালিকেরাও এই সুযোগে নতুন ক্ষতিপূরণ চাইতে পারেন। তাই ১৬০০ মেগাওয়াট এই বিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্রের ভবিষ্যৎ অনিশ্চিত হয়ে পড়ল বলেই মনে করছেন তাঁরা।

এই জটিলতার মধ্যে ঢুকতেই চায়নি এলঅ্যান্ডটি। শিল্প দফতরের এক কর্তার কথায়, “প্রথম রাতেই বেড়াল মেরে দিয়েছে ওরা।” কিন্তু তার ফলে ১৬০০ মেগাওয়াটের প্রস্তাবিত এই বিদ্যুৎ প্রকল্পের আলোর মুখ দেখার সম্ভাবনা যে কার্যত নেই সেটাই মেনে নিচ্ছেন তিনি।
সরকারি সূত্রে খবর, এই প্রকল্পের জন্য ১২০০ একর জমি চেয়েছিল এলঅ্যান্ডটি। মুখ্যমন্ত্রী ও বিদ্যুৎমন্ত্রীর সঙ্গে দু’দফায় বৈঠক করেন সংস্থার কর্তারা। রাজ্য তাঁদের জানিয়ে দেয়, সরকারের হাতে একলপ্তে ১২০০ একর জমি নেই। এই অবস্থায় দু’টি জায়গায় শিল্পের জন্য চিহ্নিত প্রায় হাজার একর জমি নেওয়ার ব্যাপারে আগ্রহ দেখায় সংস্থাটি। একটি পুরুলিয়ার আদ্রায়। এখানে রেলের জমিতে এনটিপিসির সঙ্গে যৌথ উদ্যোগে বিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্র হওয়ার কথা থাকলেও তা অনিশ্চিত হয়ে পড়েছে। কিন্তু এই জমি পাওয়া সম্ভব নয় বলে জানিয়ে দেয় রাজ্য। দ্বিতীয় জমিটি বর্ধমান জেলার রূপনারায়ণপুরে একটি বন্ধ কারখানার। সেই জমি নিতে গেলে আবার ওই কারখানার কয়েকশো কোটি টাকার আর্থিক দায় ঘাড়ে নিতে হবে। যাতে স্বাভাবিক ভাবেই রাজি নয় এলঅ্যান্ডটি।
শুধু কাটোয়া বা এলঅ্যান্ডটি-র ঘটনাই নয়। গেঁওখালিতে জাহাজ তৈরির কারখানা কিংবা জামুরিয়ায় ভূষণ স্টিলের ইস্পাত প্রকল্পের জমি না-মেলায় সেগুলির ভবিষ্যৎও কার্যত অনিশ্চিত। জমি ও অন্যান্য সমস্যায় আটকে রয়েছে পড়েছে রঘুনাথপুরের তিন ইস্পাত প্রকল্প জয় বালাজি, আধুনিক ও শ্যাম স্টিল। শিল্প দফতর সূত্রে খবর, পুরনো-নতুন মিলিয়ে মমতার সরকারের কাছে বিনিয়োগের যে প্রস্তাবগুলি জমা পড়েছে, তাদের অধিকাংশের জমি সংস্থানের ব্যাপারে এখনও সিদ্ধান্ত নিতে পারেনি শিল্প দফতর। প্রস্তাবগুলির মধ্যে রয়েছে: রিলায়্যান্স গোষ্ঠীর ৫০০ কোটি টাকার সিমেন্ট প্রকল্প, পানাগড়ে হিন্দুস্থান ন্যাশনাল গ্লাস সংস্থার ৩৬০০ কোটি টাকার প্রকল্প, টেক্সম্যাকো রেল ও ইঞ্জিনিয়ারিং সংস্থার ৩২২ কোটি টাকার ইস্পাত প্রকল্প, জোকায় টেকনো ইন্ডিয়ার হাব তৈরির ১০০০ কোটি টাকার প্রকল্প ইত্যাদি।

শিল্পে লগ্নির সব চেয়ে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ উপাদান জমি থেকে সরকার হাত গুটিয়ে নেওয়ায় সমস্যা ক্রমেই বাড়বে বলে মনে করছে রাজ্যের প্রধান বিরোধী দল সিপিএম। তাদের মতে, পশ্চিমবঙ্গের মতো ছোট জোতের মালিকানাধীন রাজ্যে কোনও লগ্নিকারীর পক্ষে বেশি জমি কেনা সম্ভব নয়। এ ক্ষেত্রে সরকারকেই ‘মধ্যস্থতাকারী’-র ভূমিকা নিতে হবে। প্রাক্তন শিল্পমন্ত্রী নিরুপম সেন বলেন, “জমি নেওয়ার পুরো কাজটা বেসরকারি হাতে ছেড়ে দিলে ক্ষতিপূরণের প্রশ্নে কৃষকের স্বার্থ রক্ষিত হবে না। তাই শিল্পের পাশাপাশি কৃষকের স্বার্থেও সরকারের গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ভূমিকা থাকা উচিত।” হাওড়ার ফাউন্ড্রি শিল্প এবং ট্রাক্টর ইন্ডিয়ার উদাহরণ টেনে তিনি বলেন, “ওরা শেষ পর্যন্ত জমি কিনতে না পেরে রাজ্যের কাছেই এসেছিল।”
একই আশঙ্কা শিল্প মহলের। তাদের বক্তব্য, জমির সমস্যা গোটা দেশেই রয়েছে। সিঙ্গুর-নন্দীগ্রাম তাতে আরও ইন্ধন জুগিয়েছিল। কিন্তু অন্য রাজ্য যখন নানা ভাবে জমি সমস্যা এড়াতে তৎপর, তখন পশ্চিমবঙ্গ আরও জটে জড়িয়ে যাচ্ছে। এ দিন ভারত চেম্বারের এক অনুষ্ঠানে রাজ্যের শিল্পমন্ত্রী পার্থ চট্টোপাধ্যায়ের সামনে চেম্বারের প্রেসিডেন্ট পবন পোদ্দার বলেন, “শিল্প স্থাপনের ক্ষেত্রে অন্যতম গুরুত্বপূর্ণ হল জমি। কিন্তু সাম্প্রতিক কালে গোটা দেশেই জমি অত্যন্ত স্পর্শকাতর বিষয় হয়ে উঠেছে। এ ক্ষেত্রে স্বচ্ছ ও বাস্তবসম্মত নীতি নির্ধারণের ক্ষেত্রে পশ্চিমবঙ্গই গোটা দেশকে পথ দেখাক।”
শিল্পমন্ত্রী অবশ্য জমির কোনও সমস্যা আছে বলে মনে করেন না। তাঁর কথায়, “সরকারের হাতে জমি রয়েছে। কিন্তু লগ্নিকারীরা যদি নিজের পছন্দের জায়গায় জমি চান, তা হলে তা দেওয়া সম্ভব না-ও হতে পারে।” শিল্পমহল সূত্রে খবর, রাজ্যের কাছে এখন শিল্প প্রস্তাব নিয়ে গেলেই অশান্ত জঙ্গলমহলে যেতে বলা হচ্ছে। শিল্পপতিদের বক্তব্য, সব শিল্পেরই নিজস্ব কিছু পরিকাঠামোগত সুযোগ-সুবিধা দরকার। যেমন বিদ্যুৎ প্রকল্পের জন্য চাই জল, কয়লাও যোগাযোগের সুবিধা। জঙ্গলমহলে সেই প্রকল্প কী করে সম্ভব!
আবার সরকারের হাতে থাকা জমি শিল্পের জন্য কতটা উপযোগী, তা নিয়েও প্রশ্ন রয়েছে। রাজ্যে ‘ল্যান্ড ব্যাঙ্ক’ তৈরির কাজ চলছে। এ জন্য বিভিন্ন দফতর ও সরকারি সংস্থার হাতে থাকা জমির তথ্য চাওয়া হয়েছে। যদিও এই কাজ কবে শেষ হবে কেউ জানে না। ভূমি দফতরের এক মুখপাত্র জানান, ল্যান্ড ব্যাঙ্ক তৈরি হলে হয়তো দেখা যাবে সরকারের হাতে খালি জমির পরিমাণ এক লক্ষ একরেরও বেশি। কিন্তু সেই জমির কত অংশে শিল্প হওয়া সম্ভব? বিশেষ করে বড় শিল্প? তাঁর মতে, সেচ, পূর্ত, উদ্বাস্তু পুনর্বাসন, পশুপালনের মতো যে সব দফতরের হাতে খালি জমির পরিমাণ বেশি, সেখানে শিল্পের পরিকাঠামো নেই। আবার, ইস্পাত, বিদ্যুৎ, বিমানবন্দর, গাড়ি কারখানার মতো মেগা প্রকল্পের জন্য একলপ্তে বেশি জমিও পাওয়া যাবে না। ল্যান্ড ব্যাঙ্কের জমিতে বড়জোর ছোট ও মাঝারি প্রকল্প হতে পারে। পার্থবাবুর অবশ্য মন্তব্য, “বড় বিনিয়োগ মানেই বেশি জমি নাকি!”
কিন্তু বিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্র গড়তে যে একলপ্তে অনেকটা জমি লাগবে, সে ব্যাপারে কোনও সন্দেহ নেই। আর বিদ্যুৎই যে এই মুহূর্তে রাজ্যের অন্যতম বড় চাহিদা, সেটাও হাড়ে হাড়ে বুঝছেন মহাকরণের কর্তারা। এখন শীতের মরসুমে বিদ্যুতের চাহিদা অনেকটাই কম। তা সত্ত্বেও লোডশেডিং হচ্ছে নিয়ম করে। গ্রীষ্মের দিনে পরিস্থিতি কোথায় গড়াবে তা ভেবে কপালে ঘাম জমতে শুরু করেছে বিদ্যুৎ কর্তাদের।
আগামী পাঁচ-ছ’বছরের মধ্যে ৭৬৯৬ মেগাওয়াট বাড়তি বিদ্যুৎ পাওয়া যাবে বলে বিধানসভায় আশ্বাস দিয়েছেন বিদ্যুৎমন্ত্রী মনীশ গুপ্ত। কিন্তু প্রথমে কাটোয়া আর তার পর এলঅ্যান্ডটি কিন্তু সেই আশ্বাস ঘিরে সংশয় তৈরি করছে।

তথ্য সহায়তা: দেবপ্রিয় সেনগুপ্ত

জমির জটে
কোথায় কার প্রকল্প কী প্রকল্প বিনিয়োগ* জমি**
রঘুনাথপুর জয়বালাজি ইস্পাত ১৬,০০০ ২৩০০
আধুনিক সংস্থা ইস্পাত ৬৪০০ ১৫০০
শ্যাম গোষ্ঠী ইস্পাত ৩৫০০ ১১০০
গেঁওখালি বেঙ্গল শিপইয়ার্ড জাহাজ ২০০০ ৫৯০
বর্ধমান ভূষণ স্টিল ইস্পাত ৯৬০০ ২০০০
* (কোটিতে) **(একরে)

It will take four years at least for the project to complete.

i said "starting" ;)

Air Traffic Control
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CMq21vJRPTE/TvgRJjh4_sI/AAAAAAAAAc8/SWFNJiWBCMM/s494/andal3.JPG

The Runway
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IBe17dul5PA/TvgRJn_-PoI/AAAAAAAAAc8/uguSYNliWyg/s512/andal4.JPG

Passenger Terminal Building
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2RiHMAWKKRo/TvgRLl8vluI/AAAAAAAAAc8/oEqrdv5TQWA/s507/andal1.jpg

Service Cluster Block
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ygBumFnowqE/TvgRLvYLfiI/AAAAAAAAAc8/lTVxO6jzfgw/s498/andal2.JPG

Source: http://www.bengalaero.com

Power sector faces political road block (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/power-sector-faces-political-road-block/459691/)



It may be an year of Parivartan for West Bengal, but for the state power sector, 2011 was nothing short of a shocker.

While new projects failed to take off due to land hurdles, power utilities were bleeding like never before triggered by some populist views by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government. Moreover, when 2011 is closing down, the state power utilities are even staring at a huge loss next year.

STALLING PROJECTS

In 2011, one of the major jolts for the power sector was the snail’s pace at which the major projects in the state were developing.

On one hand, the Banerjee government’s unwillingness to acquire land from those unwilling to sell is delaying a more than Rs 9,000-crore project for a 1,600-Mw unit by NTPC in Katwa. NTPC had taken over the Katwa project from WBPDCL, which had acquired 387 acres of the 1,035 acres required for the project. However, the new government has asked NTPC to set up the 1,600 Mw unit in less than 600 acres of land, due to its unwillingness to acquire land.

On the other hand, NTPC is understood to have dropped or frozen its plan to set up a 1,320 Mw power plant at Santaldih, which might have seen an investment of at least Rs 8,000 crore. The 1600 megawatt power project, as part of JSW’s Salboni plant is also facing procedural hurdles.

For a country, which is striving for clean energy, the new TMC government had in stock one more shocker. The state power minister Manish Gupta had ruled out the setting up of a proposed 10000 MW nuclear power plant at Haripur, following protests from local fishermen communities.

The Videocon Group is also planning to relocate its location for a 1,200 mega watt power plant, which is going to be set up with a 3 million tonne integrated steel plant due to land acquisition issues. The company has so far acquired close to 100 acres of land at Jamuria, while it is urging the reluctant state government to play a mediatory role.

Meanwhile, the work of RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group’s flagship company CESC Ltd’s Haldia project is in progress. According to the company, the first phase of Haldia thermal power plant of 600 MW with an investment of more than Rs 3000 crore is set to be ready for generation in mid-2014.

CESC had recently signed a long-term strategic deal with Chinese power equipment company Shanghai Electric Group, that might lead to joint ventures for ultra mega power projects in future. A deal was also signed with the Chinese fir for supplying boilers, turbines and generators to the Haldia Thermal Power Project.

Another major foreign tie up that happened in the state’s power sector was the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (WBSEDCL) signing an agreement for technological collaboration with Singapore Power (SP), one of the largest power companies in Asia.

PRICE PUZZLE

While projects failed to take off, rise in coal prices and the unwillingness from the part of the government to increase tariff has left the power companies in lurch.

According to official sources, the state firms are facing a combined loss of Rs 225 crore per month, while the government is refusing them to hike tariff. Despite approval from the state regulator, the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC), for a tariff hike this financial year, the Banerjee government reversed the decision, leaving the companies in trouble. The discom has been collecting Rs 4.27 per unit — the 2009-10 tariff.

This amounts to under recoveries of Rs 1.33 per unit, resulting in a revenue loss of above Rs 2,500 crore for 2011-12, against the power ministry's projected sales of 19,000 million units. If allowed, the average tariff would stand at around Rs 5.60 per unit.

“Still we have not approached the regulator for further hike,” said a senior official of a state utility. Though the firms are demanding a subsidy of or some benefits like adjustments in the form of waiver of state cess, electricity duty and interests for certain loans that the utilities have taken from the state government. It amounts to about Rs 1500 crore. Even after that, the loss is expected to be around Rs 1000 crore.

The year also saw the Coal India Ltd refusing to supply coal to the state power producer citing non payment of dues, which ultimately led to short supply during the peak hours. Though there are talks going on for rise in power tariff for commercial purpose, the state government seems to be not in any mood to rise prices for domestic users.

However, the state power sector is now pinning hopes on a better 2012, forgetting the disastrous 2011.

disastrous, if things go the way they are going then surely by next state elections centre will have to bailout the state electricity board and kolkata will be under blackouts frequently, a big worry for industry also.

^^
:bash::bash::bash::bash:
god knows what will happen to bengal in the years to come......
:bash::bash::bash:

i am eagerly waiting for the day when didi will be kicked out of centre and state as well.

^^
:bash::bash::bash::bash:
god knows what will happen to bengal in the years to come......
:bash::bash::bash:

God save us! no land acquisition,no power project,no roads,no industries but ever increasing population and its basic requirement for these things..I just don't know how the people of Bengal are going to survive in future..

God save us! no land acquisition,no power project,no roads,no industries but ever increasing population and its basic requirement for these things..I just don't know how the people of Bengal are going to survive in future..

Through andolon, roadside rabindrasangeet, hooch and sarkari chakri in a dilapidated building.

scratch the sarkari chakri.

replace that with hawkery

Wish You all a Very Very Happy and Blessed New year..God Bless!!

Bhushan Steel Defers 20k-Cr Bengal Project :storm:
State govt goes slow on land acquisition for industry;uncertain partner adds to woes

RAKHI MAZUMDAR KOLKATA
Bhushan Steel has put on hold its 6-million-tonne Bengal steel project following the state governments policy decision to stay away from acquiring land for industrial projects.Uncertainty regarding the participation of a key joint venture partner has also impacted Bhushans schedule for the.20,000-crore project.The Delhi-based steelmaker,which makes products for auto and consumer goods companies,was in talks with Japans Sumitomo Industries for a possible joint venture for the steel project.Bhushan will now review the greenfield steel plant plans around September 2012,a senior company executive told ET.We would require a large amount of land measuring up to 2,500 acres to build the plant.We cannot acquire such large tracts privately.We will review the situation later and take a call, said Chief Financial Officer Nittin Johari.Since coming to power in May 2011,the Mamata Banerjee government has decided against acquiring land for industry.The state governments decision came in the backdrop of Banerjees agitation against forcible land acquisition in Singur,which had stalled Tata Motors project in the state in 2008,and led to similar protests across the country.The Tatas later shifted their project to Gujarat.Bhushan had chosen Salanpur in the industrial belt of Asansol for the proposed steel unit.The plant was supposed to have an initial capacity of 3 million tonne and start production by 2015.New steel projects in India have been severely hampered due to problems arising from land acquisition as there is lack of clarity on adequate compensation to land losers.While in some states,the government looks at the issue of compensation,in others the company and the state government together focus on acquiring land.Bhushan Steel,with a total annual production capacity of over 2 million tonne,has three plants in Uttar Pradesh,Maharashtra and Orissa and produces secondary steel products like cold-rolled coils,galvanised coils,high tensile steel strapping and colour coated coils.It has been simultaneously expanding its Orissa unit.We are focusing on completing the second phase of our Orissa project by September 2012, Johari added.Incidentally,the company exports coldrolled sheets from the Orissa plant under the Sumitomo brand.Adding to the uncertainity is Sumitomos participation in the Bengal project.Bhushan had said the Japanese company was keen to take a 26-40 % stake in the Bengal project.However,Sumitomos proposed merger with Nippon Steel has raised doubts regarding its India plans.Nippon Steel too has been eyeing a joint venture with Tata Steel.The fate of the venture will be known only after the Sumitomo-Nippon merger process ends by October 2012.A decision on the Bengal project is thus likely to be taken around September-October 2012.While Indian steelmakers are adding capacity,global economic uncertainty and sluggish demand have clouded the outlook for steelmakers globally and prompted many companies,including ArcelorMittal and Tata Steel,to cut production,mainly in Europe.

Bhushan Steel Defers 20k-Cr Bengal Project :storm:

Are you shocked? :hammer:

wow! another feather in mamata's cap! :cheers:

i think my dream of WB behind bihar will come true.

wow! another feather in mamata's cap! :cheers:

i think my dream of WB behind bihar will come true.

No. She is taking over Bihar, Goa, Arunachal etc very soon.

WB Industry minister claims 84 industrial project proposals worth 65409 crores in first six months of new regime. 1400 crores additional in new IT projects (not including Cognizant, Infosys and Wipro).

tgmH0bU_9Hs

wow! another feather in mamata's cap! :cheers:

i think my dream of WB behind bihar will come true.


If Bhusan would get land will they proceed at this time. Many big projects even in India also are going slow, some of them have even been hold also.

lol

who said? Steel companies have not stopped their expansion anywhere.Here is a gift for you-
Essar ramps up Hazira steel unit capacity (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/essar-rampshazira-steel-unit-capacity/154452/on)

WB Industry minister claims 84 industrial project proposals worth 65409 crores in first six months of new regime. 1400 crores additional in new IT projects (not including Cognizant, Infosys and Wipro).

tgmH0bU_9Hs

IT cos keen to work in state projects

MS India Chief,Sabeer Bhatia Meet CM

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kolkata: The newly-elected Trinamool Congress-run governments bid to attract more multinational companies to Bengal seems to be yielding positive results.
On Tuesday,both Microsoft India chairman Bhaskar Pramanik and Hotmail.com co-founder Sabeer Bhatia met chief minister Mamata Banerjee and IT minister Partha Chatterjee at Writers Buildings.Chatterjee later said both companies want to partner with the state in various projects.
Both Sabeer Bhatia and Bhaskar Pramanik gave us proposals which were discussed.We introduced them to the chief minister.We have requested Bhatia to become advisor to the upcoming innovative centre in the state, he told reporters after the meeting.
Microsoft India wants to partner with the state in three fields.It wants to improve digital literacy in schools,bring in innovation in higher education and start a programme to generate more employment among rural women,Pramanik said.
Earlier during his visit to the state in December,Pramanik said Microsoft India has already partnered with 12 other states in the country for such development works.
Now that the proposals have been put on the platter,the state government would weigh them before taking any decision,Chatterjee said.
Bhatia has expressed keenness to collaborate with the state government for his new venture JaxtrSMS.He said it was a delight to work with the West Bengal government.
The proposal that he has come up with is a mobile application that enables users to send unlimited free SMSes to any other phone.So far,Bhatia has not partnered with any other state governments in India.
He said Bengal would be the first state to adopt this technology.It would help the state government in three levels of text-based communications sending SMSes within the government,from government to citizens and also from citizens to government.It will help the government in disaster management as well, Bhatia said.
Later,the IT minister also met officials of Hewlett-Packard who came to the Writers Buildings.
IN THE QUEUE

January 6: Cognizant second campus January 3rd week: Siliguri IT park (IInd phase) January 2nd 3rd week: Durgapur IT park (IInd phase) January 4th week: Kharagpur IT park February 1st week: Bantala IT hub February 2nd week: Rajarhat IT hub February 2nd week: Barjora (Bankura) IT park February 3rd week: Falta IT hub

Are you shocked? :hammer:

Na ami bolchhi "Ohey Paschimbanga er bairer manusera ,daya kore ar gobor chhurben na.....Amra gobor er modhye aachhi..Gobor er modhyei thakbo..."

Sun can better elaborate and give a presentation on feature and facilities on having COWDUNG industry in PASCHIMBANGA

^^ People may disagree with me but I must say that the IT confidence in the state was created by Buddha babu only. I cannot give credit to the others yet. Most the above IT projects were initiated by team Buddha. And regarding the manufacturing and power, we will be sitting in "gobor" as long as the current govt changes its stupid land policy..:)

^^ Also, the other ministers including the industry minister and the "ortho montri" should stop doing "puppet giri" and take some decisions by their own..

i think my dream of WB behind bihar will come true.

thats a great possibility but why would you dream of it? :colbert:

Maybe he meant nightmare!

^^ People may disagree with me but I must say that the IT confidence in the state was created by Buddha babu only. I cannot give credit to the others yet. Most the above IT projects were initiated by team Buddha. And regarding the manufacturing and power, we will be sitting in "gobor" as long as the current govt changes its stupid land policy..:)

^^yes, whatever is happening on the ground today, credit for that goes to team Buddha. I am sure the public will soon see behind the patchwork done in the name of beautification and realize this is definitely not the poriborton people were looking for. Buddha has started talking and I hope there are some serious questions raised by what the govt has accomplished so far.

Don't u guys think it is a bit too early to criticize mamata?? Afterall, she is heading a system that had been unchanged for the past 3 decades.

Don't u guys think it is a bit too early to criticize mamata?? Afterall, she is heading a system that had been unchanged for the past 3 decades.

^^I am not referring to the past three decades, just the change in the form of rapid industrialization Buddha and team tried to bring about in the 5 years till the Singur episode. Besides doing some stone ceremonies for small IT parks and patchwork ( and rather unplanned) beautification such as lights, decorative bus stops and pavements, the govt has really not done anything in terms of new big ticket projects or addressing some of the perennial problems of Kolkata and West Bengal.

The party is also not getting the kind of financial support from the center with their stubborn attitudes towards FDI, Lokpal etc.

Don't u guys think it is a bit too early to criticize mamata?? Afterall, she is heading a system that had been unchanged for the past 3 decades.

Nothing can remain unchanged for three decades.

Singur landowner claims lower than government estimates

http://www.livemint.com/2011/12/28232558/Singur-landowner-claims-lower.html?h=B

Claims for return of land from erstwhile landowners in Singur have fallen short of the state government’s estimates.

So far, claims in respect of some 1,200 erstwhile landowners, from among the 2,200 named in the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act as eligible to reclaim land, have been filed with the district administration, according to Rabindranath Bhattacharya, a legislator from Singur and the state’s minister for agriculture.

The response has been less than estimated even though the state government has taken “an extremely lenient stand” in recognizing the rights of the heirs of deceased landowners, according to a section of lawyers.

The collective ownership of the people who have managed to establish their “rightful title” is around 235 acres, about 60 acres short of the amount of land the Act seeks to return to erstwhile owners, said Bhattacharya, who spearheaded the agitation against the now-abandoned small-car factory.

The district administration has asked panchayat pradhans, or village council heads, to issue certificates confirming the heirs of deceased landowners whose names appear in the Act, said Bhattacharya.

One such panchayat pradhan, Dudh Kumar Dhara, who heads the Beraberi village council, admitted to have issued at least 500 such certificates. “We aren’t even insisting on production of original death certificates,” he said. “Some of these people died decades ago.”

The legal opinion on the legitimacy of the certificate being issued by village councils is divided. A section of lawyers said the intervention of village councils was a “reasonable step” in recognizing claims of the successors of deceased landowners, considering the fact that it takes at least a year and a half to obtain a formal succession certificate from courts. These lawyers refused to be identified.

However, another section of lawyers questioned the legal validity of vesting powers with the panchayat to determine the legal heirs of the deceased.

“Under established land and succession laws, there is no provision for village councils to conclusively determine successors, bypassing the standard court procedure,” said Niloy Pyne, a partner of Amarchand and Mangaldas and Suresh A. Shroff, a leading law firm. Such means of recognizing the rights of successors will be “deemed arbitrary” and will set “unsound legal precedents with far reaching implications”, according to Pyne.

The certificates issued by Singur’s village councils, which have been reviewed by Mint, neither indicate why they were issued nor give any detail of the properties to which heirs have staked claims.

Lawyers on both sides of the debate agreed that imposters, if backed by the panchayat, can stake claims to abandoned properties, posing as successors to their rightful owners.

IT is growing very slowly in Wb,i think 7,000 crores export this year,which is less than 4% of the country total.

IT is growing very slowly in Wb, .

Maybe the growth is high but base is low?

Don't u guys think it is a bit too early to criticize mamata?? Afterall, she is heading a system that had been unchanged for the past 3 decades.

it's a bit early but the signs are all depressing.

lol

who said? Steel companies have not stopped their expansion anywhere.Here is a gift for you-
Essar ramps up Hazira steel unit capacity (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/essar-rampshazira-steel-unit-capacity/154452/on)

Today I have read this article but it is just on paper. Arcelor Mittal and Tata Corus have cut down production. In China several projects are going slow. India can not be isolated fully from global downturn. Even here in India a 2000 crore project is going slow ( it may be put on hold also) and unfortunately I have been associated with this project (not steel but a item which price has been crashed nearly half within last six months)

Everything seems so gloomy these days.Its like whenever you talk about business and how is it going everyone just shakes their head and makes a long face.Its like plague!

How has bengal fared in 2011?And its no use quoting all those "60,000 crore proposals".Proposals are no use if they just remain proposals.What we need is hard facts.What has been the real capital formation?Credit advanced?manufacturing index numbers.Is it possible to get these numbers on statewise basis?

January 6: Cognizant second campus January 3rd week: Siliguri IT park (IInd phase) January 2nd 3rd week: Durgapur IT park (IInd phase) January 4th week: Kharagpur IT park February 1st week: Bantala IT hub February 2nd week: Rajarhat IT hub February 2nd week: Barjora (Bankura) IT park February 3rd week: Falta IT hub




Kolkata: The West Bengal government hopes to grab 25 per cent of India's revenue from IT sector by 2015, state Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee said Friday and added that the new IT policy was being finalised.
"Our mission is that we want to get 25 per cent of India's IT revenue by 2015. Unless we set a target, we cannot achieve that," Chatterjee said on the occasion of the foundation stone laying ceremony of IT major Cognizant's Green Technology Park at Bantala here.
"For that, we have to create excellent infrastructure to attract travellers from all over India. Promotion of innovation and becoming a leader in the IT sector is the vision for the next five years," he said.
The minister said the state government would provide all kinds of support to investors in the IT sector.
He said the new IT policy of the state was being finalised and it was to make the state a top destination for IT. The government has already identified 13 areas to set up IT hubs, the minister added.
"Foundation stones for the hubs will be laid during January and the first part of February 2012," he said, reports IANS.

Source (http://www.igovernment.in/site/bengal-eyes-25-indias-it-revenue-2015)

DARJEELING: Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt on Thursday hinted that his production house may shoot parts of the sequels to blockbusters Jism and Jannat in the Hills. He was present on the closing ceremony of Darjeeling Tea & Tourism Festival along with his actor-producer-director daughter Pooja Bhatt.

However, Bhatt quickly added that things were in the initial stages and nothing could be confirmed just as yet. "In Bollywood terms, we cannot be definite as many factors have to be taken into account. Therefore I would say that I am exploring the possibilities of shooting here," he said. The director had shot some of his hit films like "Lahu Ke Do Rang" and "Chor Aur Chand" in Darjeeling.

Talking to TOI, Bhatt said Darjeeling has not lost its charm and that the new breed of Bollywood directors would start flocking the Hills soon since political agitation has receded over the past few months.

"Distances are only psychological. Once news reaches Mumbai about the exotic and colonial nature of Darjeeling, the new breed of Bollywood directors will definitely come here," Bhatt said.

His daughter Pooja echoed, "There are lots of colonial heritage architectures here amidst exotic locations. These architectures and locations need to be utilized. Darjeeling is a jewel and we must bring it back on the silver screen."

Before taking part in the closing ceremony of the festival, the ace director had a meeting with the district magistrate of Darjeeling. Though the nature of the meeting was not disclosed, sources confirmed that Bhatt discussed the formalities to seek permission for shooting in Darjeeling.

Before venturing out for location hunting for their forthcoming films, Bhatt highlighted the role of the district administration in putting forth favourable conditions. "It must be said that district administration has really been cooperative in extending its support. Inviting us here shows that the administration is intent on reaching out to Bollywood," he said.

Darjeeling DM Saumitra Mohan informed that a directors' meet would be convened in Darjeeling in the first week of February. There are possibilities that the likes of Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Madhur Bhandarkar, among other directors, would attend the meeting.

Source (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Mahesh-Bhatt-keen-to-bring-Hills-back-on-silver-screen/articleshow/11383239.cms)

KOLKATA: Funding may be a problem for the Indian Railways when it comes to creating infrastructure for passenger safety and recruiting staff in safety-related posts but there is no holding back where projects like the one to connect Singur with Nandigram by rail are concerned.

To expedite the process of land acquisition for this project, South Eastern Railway (SER) has paid an additional Rs 2.25 crore (over and above the normal rate) to landlosers and selected 196 people for jobs in the railways. And this is only for about 50% of the land that needs to be acquired.

Officials aren't even sure whether this project will be commercially viable. But then, Mamata Banerjee, when she was railways minister, had promised to connect these two locations that provided her with ammunition to take on the Left in West Bengal. She had laid the foundation stone of this new line on January 30, 2010, at a public function in Nandigram.

"Singur is already connected by rail to Howrah through the Eastern Railway network. SER has a line from Howrah to Haldia and Digha via Tamluk. There is a station called Deshpran between Tamluk and Digha. The project involves connecting Deshpran to Nandigram by rail. We really don't know whether there is a demand from people to open a direct connection from Singur to Nandigram. Even if we run train services from Howrah to Nandigram, there are doubts whether this section will be commercially viable," an official said.

Laying of 18.5 km tracks between Deshpran and Nandigram will cost Rs 121 crore. The project will require the acquisition of 195 acres, spread across 1,037 plots. Till now only 544 plots have been acquired by SER. For these, 1,400 cheques totaling Rs 6 crore, have been distributed to landlosers. Of the 412 job applications received, SER shortlisted 196. Till date, 113 of them have already got jobs. The compensation was high and landlosers got jobs as this project was given a 'special' status.

The formula used to arrive at the compensation in case of special projects is quite complex. All plots in the area that were sold in the last three years are first selected. The top 50% of these (on the basis of monetary value) are selected and the average unit rate is calculated. The compensation offered by the railways is 60% over and above this sum.

That is, if it is found that the average going rate is Rs 1,00,000 per cottah, the railways will pay Rs 1,60,000. Going by this equation, the compensation due to landlosers would have been Rs 3.75 crore only had the railway link not received a special project status.

According to SER, 196 of those who applied for the Group-D jobs so far were found eligible. Of them, 113 have already got their appointment letters. The remaining are completing various formalities like medical examination and verification of educational documents.

Of them, 26 candidates were eligible but can't be employed at the moment as they have not yet attained 18 years of age. Their names have been registered though and they will get jobs in the next couple of years, an official said.

When asked why so much effort is being made for a project that may not be commercially viable, SER chief PRO Soumitra Majumdar said: "All this is happening as per law. When the project was announced, it was made clear that it would get special status. Moreover, this status has expedited the acquisition process."

Source (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Nandigram-to-get-rail-connectivity/articleshow/11383224.cms)

KOLKATA: Funding may be a problem for the Indian Railways when it comes to creating infrastructure for passenger safety and recruiting staff in safety-related posts but there is no holding back where projects like the one to connect Singur with Nandigram by rail are concerned.



Looks like a waste of public funds when there are more viable projects and IR has limited cash to spend.

http://i39.************/2n9x440.jpg

Punj Llyod to invest in infrastructure projects in Bengal

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/punj-llyod-to-invest-in-infrastructure-projects-in-bengal/948242.html

Infrastructure and engineering major Punj Llyod today said it is keen to set up various infrastructure projects in West Bengal. "We are looking at various infrastructure development projects in the state like power, housing, roads, hospital and highways," Punj Llyod Chairman Atul Punj told PTI on the sidelines of 'Bengal Leads 2012 investment' seminar here. Punj said his company was quite serious to invest in the state and already had a preliminary round of discussion with state Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee during the day. He said the company was working on five hospital projects in the state worth Rs 300 crore. To a query, Punj said the company would freeze the investment decision in the next 60 days.

JSW Steel`s Bengal project hits new hurdle

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/jsw-steel%60s-bengal-project-hits-new-hurdle/461302/

Iron ore linkages have cast a shadow on JSW Steel’s proposed 10 million steel plant at Salboni in West Medinipur.

“The company is facing ore linkage problems. They will have to sort it out with the Centre,” West Bengal commerce and industry minister, Partha Chatterjee, said.

JSW Steel, which has delayed the steel project by more than three years, is now seeking Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee’s intervention to resolve the issue. While JSW Steel has been allotted coking and non-coking coal mines in West Bengal, the state has no iron ore mines.

“We have already invested about Rs 600 crore in West Bengal. We are waiting for some change in policies,” JSW Steel vice chairman and managing director, Sajjan Jindal, who was in the city to attend Bengal Leads, said.

“They will now start work on a 250-bed hospital at Salboni,” Chatterjee said.


Jindal pledges to start coal mining

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Jindal-pledges-to-start-coal-mining/articleshow/11430081.cms

Sajjan Jindal, chairman of the JSW Group, requested chief ministerMamata Banerjee on Monday to move the Centre to solve the "iron ore crisis" that has held up the proposed Rs 20,000 crore steel project at Salboni.

Jindal indicated that the project would be delayed due to shortage of iron ore but the company would start the work for mining and other processes. The financial closure of the steel project too would not be possible without iron ore linkage.

Sources say that Mamata Banerjee has already instructed WBIDCmanaging directorNandini Chakraborty to write a letter to the Centre in this regard. JSW officials had earlier informally requested the state to help procure iron ore from the National Mineral Development Corporation's mines in Orissa and Jharkhand.

Though JSW is still unsure about the time-line of the Salboni project, Jindal tried to assure that his firm would start mining. "We have already started enabling work and invested Rs 600 crore. JSW will invest additional Rs 2,000 crore for coal mining. This work will start now. The chief minister has told me that she would soon visit the site," he said.

JSW Bengal has got three coal blocks in the state dispensation route - Kulti, Ichapur and Sitarampur in Ranniganj belt. The combined estimated reserve is over 600 million tonnes, say sources.

Didi Scores Big On Slow Pitch

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Didi-Scores-Big-On-Slow-Pitch/articleshow/11430084.cms

The inaugural session of Bengal Leads 2012 brought some fresh proposals. Punj Lloyd, one of the biggest construction companies in the country, has expressed interest to participate in infrastructure projects like roads, port and energy. Indonesia-based mining company PT Bumi Resources has expressed interest in investing in mining and energy sector while Tractors and Farm Equipment ChairmanMallika Srinivasan said her company would look forward to be a part of the state in agriculture and small farms. "We are interested in agro-processing and linkages," she added.

DLF, the biggest real estate company in India, too, said it was interested in new infrastructure projects. As the proposals kept pouring in, vice-chairman of Matix N Y Kanoria assured that the much-talked-about proposed mega fertilizer project at Panagarh will be commissioned by the end of this year.

Bengal is your dreamland too, CM tells industrialists

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Bengal-is-your-dreamland-too-CM-tells-industrialists/articleshow/11430104.cms

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee wooed industrialists and investors with the state's potential and infrastructure plans. Helicopter and small aircraft services were about to be introduced in the districts, the CM said, adding that the new Kolkata airport will be ready by March and the Behala Flying Club was "functional".

"There is immense scope for you to invest in Darjeeling. Vast open lands are lying unused. It is up to you to nurture the Hills," she said, adding that a land bank has been created and a policy framed to help investors tide over hurdles. "We shall take a case by case decision on land. If you are interested, come to us and we promise to cooperate with you. Remember, the government can't do anything alone. Bengal is your dreamland, too. We are pro-industry," she argued.

Her appeal soon took on a more authoritative tone. "I have requested you so many times.....," said an agitated Mamata. "Some people are spreading rumours. You do business in the state and Bengal will give whatever it can. There have been financial problems, yes. We started off with a debt of Rs 2,03,000 crore. But we kept all our commitments and have delivered much more than we promised," Mamata proclaimed. The meet will now be a regular affair, she later told industrialists.

Mamata's grilling turns front row into hot seat

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Mamatas-grilling-turns-front-row-into-hot-seat/articleshow/11430079.cms

Rochem Group is setting up a 4-mw waste-to-energy power plant at Malda in West Bengal. The company, in December 2011, received the letter of award for converting 300 tpd municipal solid waste into energy from the Municipal Corporation, Malda. Rochem will generate 4 mw net saleable power with 300 tpd waste through Pyrolysis technology.

http://www.projectsmonitor.com/ELECTRICITY/in-brief--renewables-4

Titagarh shipping venture to set sail

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120111/jsp/business/story_14990353.jsp

The diversified Titagarh group is planning to foray into ship building and is likely to invest around Rs 650 crore. Of this, Rs 100 crore to Rs 200 crore will be invested at Kakinara, where it already has around 60 acres.

“We intend to start from Kakinara where we are planning to build vessels of 150 metre length. We will later expand to Kulpi when we get land. This may entail an investment of Rs 450 crore where we intend to build bigger vessels, something like the Panamax,” J.P. Chowdhary said while speaking on the sidelines of the India and Singapore: Exploring Business Synergies, an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The company requires around 447 acres of land in Kulpi and is already in talks with the villagers. This would also require clearances with regard to land ceiling, Chowdhary said.

অন্ডাল বিমাননগরী প্রকল্পে হাসপাতাল হচ্ছে ৫০০ শয্যার
নিজস্ব সংবাদদাতা • কলকাতা
অন্ডালের প্রস্তাবিত বিমাননগরীতে ৫০০ শয্যার মাল্টিস্পেশ্যালিটি হাসপাতাল গড়ে তুলবে দুর্গাপুরের মিশন হাসপাতাল। এ বিষয়ে ওই বিমাননগরীর নির্মাতা বেঙ্গল এরোট্রোপোলিস প্রজেক্টস লিমিটেডের সঙ্গে মিশন হাসপাতাল কর্তৃপক্ষের একটি সমঝোতাপত্র স্বাক্ষরিত হয়েছে। মঙ্গলবার মিলন মেলায় ‘বেঙ্গল লিডস’ সম্মেলন প্রাঙ্গণে এক সাংবাদিক বৈঠকে ওই হাসপাতাল গড়ার ব্যাপারে যৌথ ঘোষণা করলেন তাঁরা।
মিশন হাসপাতালের চেয়ারম্যান সত্যজিৎ বসু জানান, দুই একর জমিতে ১৬০ কোটি টাকা বিনিয়োগে তৈরি হবে ওই হাসপাতাল। তিনি বলেন, “এরোট্রোপোলিস-কর্তৃপক্ষের প্রতিশ্রুতি অনুযায়ী চলতি বছরের শেষ নাগাদ বিমানবন্দরটি তৈরি হয়ে যাবে। যে-দিন সেই কাজ শেষ হবে, তার পরের দিন থেকেই শুরু হবে হাসপাতালের নির্মাণ। দু’বছরের মধ্যে হাসপাতাল তৈরি হয়ে যাবে বলে আশা করছি আমরা।” এরোট্রোপোলিস প্রজেক্ট লিমিটেডের সিইও ও অধিকর্তা সুব্রত পাল বলেন, “বিমাননগরীতে এক হাজার শয্যার হেল্থ স্কাই সিটি তৈরি হবে। মিশন-কর্তৃপক্ষ ৫০০ শয্যার হাসপাতাল তৈরি করছেন। অন্য কয়েকটি বেসরকারি হাসপাতাল গোষ্ঠীর সঙ্গে এ বিষয়ে কথা চলছে।” সত্যজিৎবাবু জানান, দুর্গাপুরে তাঁদের ২৫০ শয্যার হাসপাতাল রয়েছে। কিন্তু রোগীর বিপুল চাপের তুলনায় শয্যা কম হয়ে যাচ্ছে। তাই তাঁরা অন্ডালের প্রকল্পটির বিষয়ে উৎসাহ দেখাচ্ছেন। শিলিগুড়িতে পুরসভার সঙ্গে ‘পিপিপি’ বা পাবলিক-প্রাইভেট পার্টনারশিপে হাসপাতাল খুলছেন তাঁরা। রাঁচিতেও সাড়ে চার একর জমি নিয়েছে মিশন হাসপাতাল গোষ্ঠী।
রাজ্যের বিভিন্ন জেলায় সুপার স্পেশ্যালিটি হাসপাতাল খোলার ব্যাপারে উদ্যোগী হয়েছেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। এই বিষয়ে প্রশ্ন করা হলে সত্যজিৎবাবু বলেন, “এই উদ্যোগ সফল হলে সাধারণ মানুষ খুবই উপকৃত হবেন। তবে প্রত্যন্ত জেলায় চিকিৎসকদের নিয়ে যেতে হলে সেখানে তাঁদের থাকা, বাচ্চাদের ভাল স্কুল, বিনোদনের ব্যবস্থা ইত্যাদিও গড়ে তুলতে হবে। সেই বিষয়ে সরকারের সাহায্য প্রয়োজন।” জেলা হাসপাতালগুলিতে পিপিপি মডেলে ক্যাথ ল্যাব তৈরি হলে জেলার হৃদ্রোগীদের আর কলকাতায় ছুটতে হবে না বলেও মন্তব্য করেন মিশন হাসপাতালের চেয়ারম্যান।

Mission Hospital, Durgapur will set up a 500 bed hospital in the airport city coming up at Andal with an investment of INR 160 crore. The construction will begin as soon the airport will become operational by the end of this year.

http://www.anandabazar.com/11swasth2.html

Summit to showcase Aerotropolis: Primary Users Of Airport To Be Invited To Two-Day Aviation Meet In Feb

All major carriers operating in India and some from the region will participate in the two-day aviation summit organized by developers of airport city early next month.
Project promoter Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL) will use the event to showcase facilities at the upcoming airport in Andal near Durgapur. Officials of Durgapur Steel Plant, Eastern Coalfields Ltd, Bharat Coking Coal Ltd and IISCO Steel Plant, who will be the primary users of the airport, will also be invited.
“We expect several airlines to operate flights from Andal,” BAPL chief executive officer and director Subrata Paul said in Kolkata on Tuesday. Changi Airports International, Singapore, has a 26% share in BAPL.
Construction of the airport that comprises the first phase of the Aerotropolis project is on schedule and is expected to become operational by 2012-end. The 6,500-sqm terminal building will have an annual passenger handling capacity of 1 million.
On the land hurdle, Paul said the company had begun work on 1,820 acre that had been acquired. “We had initially sought 2,300 acre. We are in talks with the government for the remaining land,” Paul said.
The Mission Hospital has decided to establish a 500-bed multi-specialty hospital in the health city being developed by the BAPL in the Asansol Durgapur Planning Area.
This pact forms part of BAPL’s urban development plan that involves integration of complementary zones, including a domestic airport, IT park, logistics hub, health and education city. The health city will be a 1,000-bed facility.
Satyajit Bose, chairman of Mission Hospital, said construction on the hospital on a 2-acre plot will begin as soon as the airport is functional. Mission Hospital already has a 250-bed hospital in Durgapur.
On Wednesday, P&H Joy Mining will sign an MoU to buy land for office space at Aerotropolis.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2012/01/11&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00401&ViewMode=HTML

More proposals as Partha meets biz

It seems the Bengal government is desperate to appease businessmen in order to attract more investment into the state. A day after rolling out the red carpet for investors in the summit Bengal Leads 2012, commerce and industries minister Partha Chatterjee on Tuesday spent almost the entire day interacting with businessmen, listening to their proposals as well as problems.
“We have given time to everybody, right from a ball pen-manufacturing company to real estate developers to an automobile major like General Motors. There were companies that came to us with complaints of labour problems. We even tried to solve them,” Chatterjee said, terming the state’s initiative a ‘hazarduari’ (a thousand doors) that would invite various industries.
Apart from General Motors’ plan to give a ‘concept paper’ to the state for its concept car, the government received proposals from SPS Group of Companies’ chairman Bipin Kumar Vohra, who plans to invest around Rs 5,000 crore in the next three to four years in various sectors, and invitation from a 17-member Singapore delegation to their country so that bilateral business can be facilitated between the two nations. An IT company from Singapore has also expressed interest in investing in the state.
SPS Group is planning to invest around Rs 1,200 crore for the IQ City project that’s coming up in Durgapur in collaboration with Mani Group. The project includes a hospital, medical college, nursing college, international school and housing project.
Another Rs 2,000 crore will be invested for the steel plant in Bankura. “Our Bankura project was stuck due to land hurdles. But now, 80% of the problem has been solved after the state government intervened,” Vohra said. The company is building a 110 mw power plant, a pelletization plant with a capacity of 1.2 million tonnes per annum, a coke oven plant with a capacity of 0.5 mt per annum and an iron ore beneficiation plant with a capacity of 1.7 mt per annum.
The group is also investing Rs 1,500 crore to build a hotel along with JW Marriott in the city.
The Singapore team expressed interest in investing in sectors like port, infrastructure, healthcare, water-treatment, shipping and food processing. “We have to take the first step,” said R Narayanamohan, the chairman of Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, after meeting Chatterjee.
The Singapore-based Eternal Software Solutions (ESS) plans to invest in online education. “We are into financial analytical work. We were planning to foray into online education sector. We plan to do a pilot project in Bengal,” said Rajendra Prasad Kantipudi, director, ESS.
“According to the last received official figure, Indo-Singapore bilateral trade was at $30.5 bn in 2010 but for 2011, it was somewhere between $30 bn and $35 bn. Bilateral trade was also hit by the depreciation of the Rupee,” said Narayanmohan, India’s fourth largest exporter is Singapore.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2012/01/11&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00400&ViewMode=HTML

P&H Joy Mining Equipment to invest $25 million in setting up manufacturing and servicing facility

P&H Joy Mining Equipment, a wholly owned subsidiary of US-based Joy Global Inc., has decided to invest $25 million in setting up a manufacturing and servicing facility for high-end mining equipment near Durgapur in West Bengal.

The new facility, will cater to the company diversified customer base in the country's mining belt in the eastern region including states like Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal.
While P&H's biggest customers include Coal India and Reliance Power, it also serves the likes of Singareni Collieries, Hindustan Zinc, Hindustan Copper and Tata Steel.

Joy Global Inc., a $5.5 billion US mining company, is a world leader in surface and underground mining equipment. "We expect a significant growth in mining activity in the eastern region, with projects like JSW Steel at Salboni and expansion of mining activity by Steel Authority of India Limited, both in coal and iron ore," he added.

"We have set a target date of commissioning the first phase of our project by 2013. Initially, we will set up a fabrication unit for mechanical structurals. To start with, we will manufacture the smallest machines in our catalogue," Anirudhha Gupta, director P&H Joy Mining said.

"In the second stage, we will start making the transmission equipment and finally in the third phase we take up the electrical parts. However, we are yet to firm up our investment road map for the second and third phase of our project," Mr Gupta added. This will incidentally be the second largest US investment in Bengal since Pepsico's Frito-Lay set up its unit in the state in 2004.

P&H has taken up 25 acres for its facility inside an industrial park being set up by Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited (BAPL) in the Asansol-Durgapur area. Co- promoted by Singapore's Changi Airport, Rs 5,000 crore BAPL project is an airport city with a logistics skyhub, IT and industrial parks around it.

For the first time in India, P&H Joy Mining will also offer a 'smart' service out of its new facility using a satellite-based system for remote monitoring of mining equipment on real time.

"The service is popular among Joy's global clients in South Africa, Australia and the US and it helps reduce machine down time significantly. Since these machines cost upwards of $20 million, this adds to the productivity too. The service will be based on 'Prevail', a proprietary software developed by Joy Global Inc.," Gupta said.

"While P&H has expertise in surface mining equipment, Joy specializes in underground equipment. The two businesses represent two departments but we operate as one company," Mr Gupta said.

source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/metals-mining/ph-joy-mining-equipment-to-invest-25-million-in-setting-up-manufacturing-and-servicing-facility/articleshow/11448624.cms

DVC's Durgapur Steel thermal unit to go commercial in January

The first 500 mw unit of Durgapur Steel Thermal Plant being set up by Damodar Valley Corporation is slated to start commercial generation by end of January. The unit was put on stream in July 2011.

Another unit of the same size is expected to be commissioned by March 2012, so as to achieve completion of 2 x 500 mw capacity addition in the 11th Plan Period.

The company is presently operating a total capacity of about 3,800 mw of which about 3710 mw is thermal while the rest at 144 mw is hydel. DVC has decided to add 4000 mw of fresh power generation capacity in the 12th Plan Period which starts from April 2012. The units will be put up depending on coal availability for the units.

In order to finance its expansion plans the company is in talks with Life Insurance Corporation for raising funds through government guaranteed bonds. The power generator plans to raise a total of Rs 4400 crore from LIC and a clutch of banks for financing its capital expenditure through such bonds.

The company has been financing its projects on a 70:30 debt equity ratio. The Rs 2000 crore of guarantee will be used to pay a portion of the debt it needs. The rest Rs 2,400 crore will, for the time being, be used as equity but the government's obligation of infusing the equity will remain.

source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/steel/dvcs-durgapur-steel-thermal-unit-to-go-commercial-in-january/articleshow/11447680.cms

Joy Global plans to set up manufacturing base in Bengal

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article2793034.ece

The $3.5-billion mining equipment major Joy Global Inc of the US is planning to set up its Indian manufacturing base in West Bengal.

The company currently has such facilities in the US and China. Joy Global, along with its Indian subsidiary P & H Joy Mining Equipment India Ltd, sells gears worth nearly Rs 500 crore a year, in India.

Announcing the project, Mr Anirudha Gupta, Director of P&H Joy, told Business Line that in the first phase the company will invest $25 million (approximately Rs 132 crore) to set up an integrated facility to render after-sales services as well as manufacture major structures used in (high tonnage) equipment.

In the second phase, the manufacturing facility will be further expanded to enhance indigenisation of products. The facility will be located on a 25-acre land at the engineering and technology park in the proposed Air-port City project (Aerotropolis) promoted by the Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL) at Andal, approximately 180 km from Kolkata. Joy Global has entered into a preliminary agreement with BAPL in this regard on Wednesday.

According to the company, this is the second largest FDI from the US – after PepsiCo – in West Bengal. “We have zeroed in on Andal as it is in close proximity to our client base in the mining regions of Eastern India,” Mr Gupta said.

Star Ananda has reported that 1350 crore worth of new projects have been proposed today at Bengal Leads.

This includes Techno India's 1000 crore Food Processing and Biotech Park in Bishnupur, South 24 Parganas. This project will create direct and indirect employement of 15,000.

Bata will also invest in 15 new stores and upgradation of their manufacturing facilities in West Bengal.

http://starananda.newsbullet.in/state/34-more/15922-2012-01-11-16-56-27

Some Positive news.If only our cm could change her stance on the land bill i am sure Bengal will get to see a lot of new proposals....Kgp has huge amount of unused land , the government should give more importance to Kgp.It can be turned into a great industrial town..Buddha tried a lot to bring many big industries to Bengal , Mamata must do the same....btw any news on da MAMC(Mining and allied m/c) it was to be revived by BEML,CIL and DVC????It used to be a premier PSU.

West Bengal's effort to woo investors received a boost with Y K Modi's Great Eastern Energy Corporation Ltd (GEECL) among some Rs 3,000 crore worth of investment proposals which trickled in on Thursday, the fourth day of 'Bengal Leads', a business summit organized by government.

GEECL, which has already invested in a Rs 1,000 crore in a coal bed methane (CBM) project at Raniganj, has decided to invest another Rs 2,500 crore to expand its capacity in the state. While GEECL's proposal could be one of the largest to come by in recent months, leading automaker, Maruti Suzuki is also pursuing plans to invest Rs 80 crore in a logistics hub in Siliguri.

And in a fillip to the 'green' manufacturing, home-grown electric vehicle maker, Tara International, part of Bengal Enamel Works has submitted a proposal to invest Rs 300 crore in a facility at Barrackpore. The state also received a proposal for an oil refinery and a super-speciality hospital.

GEECL, which has already started commercial production, said its decision was prompted by the state administration's active role in curbing law & order problems in its command area spread over 225 square km. "We were facing some law & order problems and had requested the state government for help. Over the last few months police patrolling has been stepped up significantly. This has helped instill confidence and a sense of security among our people," Y K Modi, chairman of GEECL said. The company produces 8.3 million cubic feet of gas per day and currently has 25 customers in the Asansol-Durgapur industrial belt. It plans to raise capacity to 100 million cubic feet per day in next five years. Mr Modi met the state industries minister Partha Chatterjee earlier in the day.

Later speaking to reporters, Mr Chatterjee said GEECL is in talks with ONGC Limited to farm in more blocks as co-operator. "If these discussions are fruitful, GEECL has promised a further investment of Rs 4,000-5,000 crore," the minister said.

"We have also received a number of proposals worth Rs 70-100 crore that require smaller parcels of land ranging between 15-30 acres. This includes Maruti Suzuki, which is keen to set up a logistics hub on 35 acres in an upcoming industrial park at Siliguri," the minister added.

The state government already owns the land in the industrial park being set up at an investment of Rs 500 crore by WBIIDC, Kanchenjunga Integrated Infrastructure Development and Bengal Shristi. On Friday, a team of officials from Maruti are scheduled to meet Mr Chatterjee and WBIIDC executives to work out the proposal.

Additionally, Delhi-based The Indian Hume Pipe Co. Ltd is also interested in a Rs 70 crore project to manufacture bar wrapped steel cylinder pipes in West Bengal. These pipes, which could replace mild steel ones, are estimated to have a Rs 2000-crore market in the state.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/west-bengal-receives-rs-3000-crore-worth-investment-proposals/articleshow/11472408.cms

jJEEV_eQ6Ns

"We have also received a number of proposals worth Rs 70-100 crore that require smaller parcels of land ranging between 15-30 acres. This includes Maruti Suzuki, which is keen to set up a logistics hub on 35 acres in an upcoming industrial park at Siliguri," the minister added.


KOLKATA: India's leading car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) is scouting for land in Panagarh to set up its integrated servicing and warehousing hub for catering to its customers in eastern India, MSIL executive director R Dayal said here on Friday.

"We are looking for around 60 acre for the project in Panagarh. We will also look into the Panagarh Industrial Park. If it suits us, we will execute the project there. Otherwise, we will look for land in the vicinity of Panagarh along NH 2. The project will involve an investment of over Rs 100 crore," Dayal said.

The Maruti Suzuki officials discussed the company's projects in Bengal with state commerce and industries minister Partha Chatterjee at the ongoing investors' summit, Bengal Leads 2012. MSIL's proposals are in tune with what former railways minister and now Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee once conceived. While laying the foundation stone for an automobile logistics hub near Howrah in November 2009, Mamata said automobile hubs will be set up at Siliguri, Guwahati, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kerala, Bangalore and Delhi as a pilot project in collaboration with Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

"We first thought of setting up this facility in Jharkhand. Later, considering favourable government policies in Bengal, we decided to shift it here," Dayal said. The project will have the capacity to accommodate 10,000-15,000 cars. It will cater to the entire eastern zone market - across Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. MSIL has 65% market share in the eastern region where it sells around 20,000 vehicles across categories.

Similar integrated warehousing and servicing facilities in Bangalore, Gurgaon and Nagpur are also being set up. The Bangalore facility - on 120 acre - involves an investment of Rs 200 crore. The Gurgaon hub caters to north India, while the Bangalore one caters to south India and Nagpur.

On the project it plans in Siliguri's Kanchenjunga Integrated Park, which is meant to cater to clients in north Bengal and northeast India,

Dayal said: "The minister has sought a presentation from us on our similar projects earlier. We will make a presentation within a week. The Siliguri project will generate direct employment for around 150 people," Dayal said.

The minister said: "We wanted a detailed presentation from them on their projects of similar nature."

Kanchenjunga Integrated Park is a joint venture project between Shristi Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited and West Bengal Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBIIDC).

Sunil Jha, chief executive officer of Shristi Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited said MSIL now needs a "comfort letter" from WBIIDC to start the project.

Source (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Maruti-seeks-60-acres-for-auto-servicing-hub/articleshow/11480688.cms)

Why and what is this confusion all about, once source says 60 acre and the other says 35....???

DIGHA: Even as chief minister Mamata Banerjee spent the third successive day visiting sea beaches in East Midnapore, speculation were rife in political circles that the CM had zeroed in on the tourism industry as the major revenue earner for the state's frayed coffers.

During the inauguration of the Digha Beach Festival on Friday evening, Mamata had spoken at length over the state's tourism potential. While pressing for the upgrade of existing tourist destinations like Darjeeling, the Sunderbans and Digha, she had also stressed on the need to create new tourist destinations that could cater to both foreign and domestic tourists. However, she also admitted that the funds crunch was hindering her plans to develop and beautify the state.

A senior Trinamool Congress politician acknowledged that Mamata had extended her stay in the district to gauge its tourism potential. "She (Mamata) is usually restless and likes to move on. Given the hours she spends on the job, she winds up a district's assessment in two days. Therefore, it is very unusual to see her spend three days in East Midnapore after a day in West Midnapore. She has obviously spotted the region's tourism potential and wants to seize the opportunity," he said.

The keenness and urgency with which the CM had taken administrative decisions on improvement of the tourism industry had stunned many, a state official said. Mamata has already sought two time-bound reports on the tourism potential of Mandarmani and Tajpur. On Saturday, she asked district magistrate Rajiv Kumar to submit within one month a report on how Tajpur can be developed into an international tourist spot without adversely affecting the environment. "At present, Digha is very congested. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop new beaches. Bengal has a decent coastline that extends 35km from Udaipur in New Digha to Tajpur near Contai. The CM wants more spots to be developed," the official said.

After visiting the beach resort in Mandarmani on Thursday and inaugurating the Digha Beach Festival on Friday, Mamata drove down to Tajpur on Saturday and spent a good 25 minutes on the beach. After a leisurely walk on the sands with the entourage in tow, she spoke to local hoteliers and traders and assessed the tourism potential of this relatively virgin beach located 30kms from the crowded Digha.

Tajpur has only a couple of small hotels and is yet to become as popular as either Digha or Mandarmani. Even Shankarpur draws more tourists than Tajpur. Her enthusiasm has given a huge fillip to hoteliers in the belt and they firmly believe the CM will spend funds on further developing public infrastructure to facilitate more tourist inflow.

"Nearly every past chief minister has visited beaches in the district on holiday. But none have spent time evaluating the potential of earning foreign exchange and taking concrete steps to facilitate the hospitality industry. It is only a matter of time before Digha and other beaches in the belt find a place on the national and international tourism map," said Tajpur Seacoast Hoteliers' Welfare Association vice-president Santanu Saha.

Clearly, Mamata has revenue on her mind. She is keen that the tourism sector flourishes and earns both Indian and foreign currency so that it can make a healthy contribution to the state exchequer. On the one hand, she is burdened with staggering borrowings of over Rs 2 lakh crore and is unable to get adequate financial assistance from the Centre. On the other, she is unwilling to levy taxes on citizens or raise price of power or milk to generate revenue. With the scenario bleak, she wants to take the Kerala or the Goa route to re-invent the tourism industry as a way out.

Source (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/CM-banks-on-tourism-to-earn-revenue/articleshow/11492960.cms)

If She can pull it off, nothing like that..!!

KOLKATA: Bengal Leads 2012 concluded on a high note on Saturday with TVS Motor Company promising a 450 crore production facility at Uluberia, and an auto ancillary hub as well.

TVS Motors chairman Venu Srinivasan said the copmpany was looking at a "bigger role in Bengal". TVS has formed a joint venture with Universal Success Group of Singapore-based industrialist Prasoon Mukherjee to enter the state, he said. "We have not come here with only this small plant in mind. As the market develops, we will require plants in different parts of the country. We already have one in the north and two in the south. This one (in Bengal) will cater to the eastern part of the country," Srinivasan told reporters.

The two-wheeler giant earlier used the manufacturing unit of Mahabharat Motors, a Universal Success firm, to assemble its products. "The investment for this scaling up of capacity will be 450 crore," Mukherjee said.

Source (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/TVS-eyes-450cr-unit-bigger-Bengal-role/articleshow/11493335.cms)

Ambuja crores for north tourism

The Bengal Ambuja Group will invest Rs 100 crore in three tourism projects in north Bengal, minister Gautam Deb today said.

A fourth project, by the developers of the Uttarayon Township here, will be in Sikkim.

The chief minister, too, will announce a wide range of projects, quite a few of them in the tourism sector, when she visits the region next month.

“The chief minister would announce new facilities for the people of north Bengal when she reaches here on February 10. Her plans include a regional centre for disaster management, supplemented by a fire station, at Naxalbari. The centre will offer training as well as function during natural calamities and emergencies like the earthquakes,” said Deb, the north Bengal development minister.

Mamata’s visit will also kick off a campaign to bolster Trinamul’s fortunes in north Bengal, a Congress bastion. Trinamul sources had earlier said she would chalk out a strategy to make her party’s presence felt in the region.

In the tourism sector, Deb said, the chief minister will announce the opening of additional accommodation — tents in specified locations — in Gorumara National Park and Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary. “Morgan House, a property owned by the tourism department in Kalimpong, and another government accommodation in the same area would be renovated. The website of our department is almost ready and the chief minister will launch it during the visit,” the minister said.

About the Bengal Ambuja investment, Deb said: “The group will shortly invest in projects at Lataguri, Makaibari and Ghoom in north Bengal.”

Mamata is also expected to make announcements on office infrastructure at the chief minister’s secretariat that will come up in Siliguri. “We have finalised a plot at Kamrangaguri, close to New Jalpaiguri station, for the secretariat and have submitted the details to the CMO. The construction of a second circuit house, considering the frequent movements of ministers and officials, is also necessary,” said Deb.

He said 38 projects, spread across six north Bengal districts and sanctioned by the government, would start by March 31.

“We have sought expression of interest for execution of projects. On the basis of responses made by competent enterprises, seven public sector undertakings have been shortlisted for the task. The tender process would commence soon,” Deb said. He said a process was on to recruit 17 engineers for the North Bengal Development Council and strengthen the engineering cell to facilitate the completion of 370 ongoing projects.

The projects had been started by the Left Front government but were not completed, Deb said.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120118/jsp/siliguri/story_15019743.jsp

Kolkata: Scarcity of free land may no longer pose any major challenge to produce green energy in West Bengal. If the proposal submitted by a newly set up Arka-IGNOU Community College of Renewable Energy gets the Centre’s nod, water bodies in the State will be dotted with floating solar panels to cater to the State’s power requirements.

Tried and tested in Australia, the new strategy to tap solar power in a big way in wetlands would script a new beginning in the country towards production of eco-friendly energy.
The college of renewable energy has proposed a Rs 56-lakh project to set up solar power station from wetlands of the city, particularly on the water bodies of east Kolkata.

According to Chairman of the college, S P Gon Chaudhuri, who also happens to be an adviser to the state’s Energy Department, the new technology would not require much land for setting up solar power stations.

“States like Gujarat or Rajasthan have enough land to use for installation of solar panels. But Bengal has limited free land to utilise for the purpose. So, floating type solar modules on the water bodies could be a very effective tool to generate solar power on a massive scale,” he added.

Officials said the State government might go in replicating the same module in other wetland areas in both South and North 24-Parganas, if the new venture of the college of renewable energy bears fruit in the desired manner.

“This will be the first-of-its-kind research-oriented solar project,” they said.

As a beginning, the authorities would conduct research on some water bodies in South 24-Parganas to try generating power from floating solar photo voltaic power plants on the water bodies.
The panels will generate solar power that will be connected with the grid through marine cables. We will research this entire concept, explained Gon Chaudhuri.

It may be noted that the West Bengal government has proposed generation of about 115 MW solar powers by March 2013. Out of this, about 5 MW is expected to be generated through rooftop panels.

Source (http://www.igovernment.in/site/bengal-gears-tap-solar-power-wetlands)

KOLKATA: Poor work culture in state power utilities will be a thing of the past soon. For officials in Kolkata will soon be able to monitor movement of linesman in remote towns. State utility WBSEDCL is spending big time on IT infrastructure to set up a virtual monitoring network that can later be used to manage the system, right from the generating station to the consumer.

"Delay in supply connection, restoration of supply in case of breakdown as well as billing and collection, that plagued the system, will disappear for a quarter of WBSEDCL consumers soon. As the IT network expands, the circle will widen, bringing more consumers under the ambit," power minister Manish Gupta said after inaugurating the Rs 57-crore central data centre at Rajarhat that has a disaster recovery unit at Berhampore.

The project is funded by the Centre and includes Rs 134 crore spent to beef up the network and make it IT-enabled. The data centre covers 22-23 lakh of the 95 lakh consumers, allowing seamless metering, billing and collection through 121 customer care centres in 62 towns. Till now, 38 centres have been rolled out. "Over the next three years, a major part of the rest of the state will be brought under its ambit," Gupta said.

The most challenging part of the programme was consumer indexing. Each and every consumer point has been mapped using differentiated geographical information system (GIS). This will enable real-time and precise fault location to ensure faster restoration. The IT system will also enable real-time monitoring of technical and commercial loss, thereby facilitating remedial measures including anti-pilferage drives.

Also, mobile fault repair vans will be fitted with GPS-enabled machines that can pinpoint the vehicle's location, thereby ensuring prompt repair.

Over the next three years, another Rs 250 crore will be spent to extend the service to rest of Bengal and implement Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) package to monitor faults in Kolkata urban area ( Salt Lake, Baguiati, Garia, Baruipur), Siliguri and Asansol. "When implemented, the highly-automated system can be remotely operated. It will enable smoother and efficient load shedding management. At present, the command for loadshedding is conveyed over phone from the main control room and has to be done manually," said power secretary Moloy De.

While the three zones will be SCADA-ready in three years, it will take a further three to four years to roll it out in other areas of the state. "The equipment in use needs to be SCADA-compliant. While we are ensuring that all new equipment that is purchased meets the criteria, some other equipment will require retro-fitment while others need to be replaced," said De.

SCADA will usher in smart grid that will enable handling of business operations-procurement and supply of power, as well as billing and accounting-on a single electronic platform. It will also allow power connections to be remotely disconnected in case bills are not paid.

"This smart grid will also be self healing. In case of a fault, the system will find out an alternate line of supply till the time the fault is manually attended. This would be India's first smart grid. It is being done in conjunction with Harnest Technologies Ltd as well as PTC which is the venture capitalist," WBSEDCL chairman and managing director Rajesh Pandey added.

Source (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/State-power-utility-goes-hi-tech/articleshow/11573206.cms)

www.telegraphindia.com/1120126/jsp/bengal/story_15055104.jsp
Jan. 25: Construction and repair of Cyclone Aila-ravaged embankments in
the Sunderbans have not started yet
as the land acquisition process has
been hit by demands of compensation
by people without land-ownership
documents and encroachers. Around 4,000 of the 6,000 acres
required for the project are occupied
by people who don’t have valid
papers. The farmers have refused to
leave without compensation, but the
government is in a fix because the relief can be given only to valid
owners. Mamata Banerjee had announced after
coming to power that the
embankments, lying damaged since
the 2009 cyclone, would be repaired
by October 23. The South 24-Parganas administration
recently sent a confidential note to the
land and land reforms department
requesting that the deadline for
completing the acquisition process be
extended. “Earlier, it had been decided that the
land would be acquired by October
2010. After the deadline was missed,
no official one was fixed. We have
requested the land department to give
us time till March this year,” a district official said. He, however, added it was “not clear”
if the acquisition could be completed
within such a short time span. The Centre had allotted Rs 1,300 crore
for the project but as work is yet to
start, most of the amount is lying
unspent. Land officials said notices to acquire
about 2,000 acres had been served so
far and compensation declared for
owners of about 1,500 acres. The note
states that the authorities are facing
problems over the remaining 4,000 acres. Many people have constructed
houses on this land and have been
living for more than 20 years. According to the note, several farmers
have failed to produce documents to
back their claim that the land belongs
to them. There are many who have
claimed that their father or
grandfather was the original owner of the land but no mutation had been
done. Several people have encroached on
vested land and the district authorities
said they were finding it difficult to
evict them. A land department official
said: “We can give compensation only
to those who have been given pattas of vested land. We can’t compensate
encroachers.” He said the department
had “not got instructions to evict
them”. The official said the 4,000 acres were
located in Sagar island, Gosaba,
Basanti, Joynagar, Pathar Pratima,
Canning, Namkhana, Kultali, Kakdwip
and Mathurapur. Around 10 lakh
people live here. The residents said they would not
leave till they were compensated. “My
father started cultivating our plot 30
years ago. Now the government is
asking us to show papers,” said Subal
Naskar of Kultali. Haider Mollah of Canning said: “The administration is
demanding documents to deprive us
of the compensation.” Landowners with valid documents will
get the value of the land fixed by the
government in addition to 30 per cent
solatium and an interest of 12 per cent
from the date of declaration of the
valuation till the disbursal of cheques. Registered sharecroppers will be
offered 50 per cent of the value of the
land they cultivate and Rs 34,000
each. Land department secretary R.D. Meena
said: “The problems will be solved in
keeping with the law. Those who have
proper documents will get
compensation.” An estimated 778 acres of
embankment in North and South 24-
Parganas were damaged in the Aila.
The embankments should be repaired
before the monsoon, an official said.

Japan scouts investment opportunities in WB

A business delegation from Japan visited Kolkata on Friday where they held talks with the state authorities, expressing interest in investment possibilities in sectors such as health, infrastructure, heavy industries.


West Bengal commerce minister Partha Chatterjee held the talks with Nobuo Ohashi, chairman of Japan-India Business Co-operation Committee (JIBCC) and other delegates.

The Bengal government presented the investment opportunities available in the state to the Japanese delegates.

The proposals included investment opportunities for Nippon Steel, Toshiba Corporation, Bank of Tokyo, Institute of Technology.

The government now awaits a response from them.

“We are very happy that people from Japanese industry have come here. The government wants to provide them full support,” said Partha Chatterjee.

Speaking about the investment rules in West Bengal, he said: “We will provide them all the information.”

He added that through his talks with the Japanese, he found that they were interested in investing various sectors such as health, education, tourism, infrastructure, heavy industries.

Chatterjee said that a team from Kolkata would visit Japan to hold further discussions.

The visit by the Japanese delgates was the first once since Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government came to power last May, ousting the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) that ruled the state for more than three decades.

source: http://www.indiablooms.com/BusinessDetailsPage/2012/businessDetails270112f.php

Shareholder agreement for MAMC to be signed soon: BEML

Shareholder agreement between BEML, Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) and Coal India to reinstate mining firm MAMC Ltd would be signed soon, a top BEML official said today.

"We have already got 195 acres where the MAMC plant is located in Durgapur. We are waiting for another 100 acres where the staff quarters and directors bungalows are located," BEML Chairman and Managing Director V R S Natarajan told reporters on the sidelines of Asian Mining Congress here.

The consortium (between BEML, DVC and CIL) has already paid Rs 100 crore for taking over the assets of MAMC, which is not operational.

Natarajan said while BEML would hold 48 per cent equity in MAMC with management control, Coal India and DVC would hold 26 per cent each.

He said initial orders of MAMC would come from DVC and Coal India for supplying spares for underground mining.

BEML would consider manufacturing activity at MAMC to make the operations viable, he added.

source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/metals-mining/shareholder-agreement-for-mamc-to-be-signed-soon-beml/articleshow/11677004.cms

RINL to invest Rs 300 cr in Bengal axle plant

State-owned Rashtriya Ispat Nigam ( RINL) would invest Rs 300 crore for setting up an axle plant at Jalpaiguri in West Bengal.

"We will invest Rs 300 crore for the axle plant and we have already got land from the railways," the company's Chairman and Managing Director A P Chaudhuri told reporters on the sidelines of Asian Mining Congress here today.

Mecon has been appointed as the consultant for the project which is expected to be on stream by 2014, he added.

source: http://business-standard.com/india/news/rinl-to-invest-rs-300-cr-for-jalpaiguri-axle-plant/156444/on

KEC bags 400kV transmission orders

KEC International Ltd, Mumbai, has secured two orders worth Rs371 crore for supply and construction of 400kV double circuit transmission lines in Gujarat and West Bengal.

PGCIL has placed a Rs258-crore order for a 260-km long transmission line from Bhachau (Kutch district) to Essar thermal power station in Gujarat while Haldia Energy Ltd, a subsidiary of CESC Ltd, has awarded a Rs113-crore order river crossing transmission line between Haldia thermal power plant and Subash Gram, crossing the Ganga at Kolkata. The two projects are to be completed within 26 months and 18 months, respectively.

http://www.projectsmonitor.com/POWDIST/kec-bags-400kv-transmission-orders

Hopefully the new regime will try to resolve this issue to prove their commitment to industrialization.

Bhushan Steel puts proposed steel plant in West Bengal on hold

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/steel/bhushan-steel-puts-proposed-steel-plant-in-west-bengal-on-hold/articleshow/11763894.cms

Bhushan Steel has put its proposed Rs 20,000 crore steel plant in West Bengal on hold, stonewalled by the Mamata Banerjee government's policy of not acquiring land for industry, a senior company official said.

"Land acquisition in the state is an uphill task for the industries, we can not do it alone. It is difficult for us to acquire such a vast area on our own," company Director (Finance) Nittin Johari told PTI.

He added, "It (the project) is on hold, nothing is moving there. We can not make any commitment on capital expenditure until the land is acquired fully."

Himadri Chemicals lines up Rs 1,200-cr investment
BS Reporter / Kolkata Feb 06, 2012, 00:49 IST

When most of the business groups are shying away from investing in West Bengal, Himadri Chemicals and Industries, one of the largest Indian coal tar pitch (CTP) manufacturers has now lined up investment plans worth Rs 1,200 crore in the state in the next four years.

The firm which has four plants in West Bengal — two in Howrah and one each in Hooghly and Falta — and has already invested above Rs 1000 crore here, with majority of the investments coming in the last two years.


“We are expanding our capacity in the state from 250,000 tonnes to 400,000 in next four years, possibly by 2015. Moreover, for carbon black also, we will be doubling the capacity to 100,000 tonnes, from the current 50,000 tonnes.
This will see an overall investment of above Rs 1,200 crore in the state only,” said Anurag Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer of Himadri Chemicals. The firm is planning to raise the money through internal accruals and debt.

Even after eight months of coming to power, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress was unable to bring any major investments due to the anti-industry image following its land policies, which had invited criticism from various corners. However, the state had claimed that during the same time it had seen an investment to the tune of Rs. 65,000 crore, though there are not too many major players in that.

Hence, Himadri’s investment may also act as a relief for the state, craving for investments.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/himadri-chemicals-linesrs-1200-cr-investment-/463818/

NTPC to follow WBPDCL's rehabilitation package
Press Trust Of India / Kolkata Feb 06, 2012, 00:53 IST

Country's largest power company NTPC is expected to follow the rehabilitation package offered by West Bengal Power Development Corporation for land acquisition for the proposed 1,600-MW Katwa thermal power project in the state.

NTPC had decided to go ahead with land acquisition directly from land owners, after the state government said it will not acquire any land for any commercial project. "We have deployed our officials who are making a survey of land for the Katwa thermal power project and we will be following the West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL) package for acquisition," an NTPC official told PTI.


"We are working closely with panchayat and land department officials," the official said. NTPC has deployed four-five company officials to make a survey for additional 500-600 acres contiguous to the 480 acres of land already acquired by WBPDCL.
The project was initiated by WBPDCL but was transferred to NTPC after it failed to acquire land during the Left Front regime. NTPC has decided to go ahead with the power project with 1,000-1,100 acres, down from the earlier proposed 1,625 acres from 16 mouzas (districts). Though it would take at least 3-4 months for a detailed survey, the initial feedback from the land owners is favourable, NTPC officials said.

"We have noticed emergence of some brokers who are trying to misguide farmers and land owners. But we are not facing any problem so far from them as acquisition is yet to begin," a company official said. There had been reports that land brokers were trying to buy land from the owners in disguise of NTPC officials. Katwa block, with 32 villages, is largely dependent on agriculture and allied activities.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ntpc-to-follow-wbpdcls-rehabilitation-package/463819/

Sunderbans likely to get a new wildlife sanctuary

If all goes well, Sunderbans will soon get another wildlife sanctuary and probably the largest among all the forest parks it has now. A proposal will come up for discussion at Monday’s state wildlife board meeting on forming West Sunderbans Wildlife Sanctuary, covering an area of over 462 square kilometres.
“The sanctuaries this UNESCO World Heritage Site have at present are Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary, covering an area of over 362 square kilometres, Lothian Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over 38 square kilometres area and Haliday, covering six square kilometres. If the proposal gets a nod in tomorrow’s meeting it will be the largest sanctuary in Sunderbans,” said a forest department official, who didn’t want to be quoted.
According to the official, the meeting will discuss the formation of the new wildlife sanctuary in the mangroves, comprising Dhulibhashani 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and Chulkathi 1 to 8 compartments.
“The proposed wildlife sanctuary will have Dhulibhashani 1 to its north, Bay of Bengal to its south and rivers Matla and Thakuran to its east and west respectively,” said the official, adding that while 224.26 square kilometres will fall under Dhulibhashani, 238.13 square kilometres will come under Chulkathi.
While some conservationists felt the move will restrict illegal entry into the forests, a section of experts was bothered about the lack of infrastructure for proper maintenance of the new sanctuary.
Among other issues to come up for discussions in the meeting is the survey on widening of NH31A from Sevoke to Ranipal, covering almost 7.68 hectares inside Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary in north Bengal.
“The wildlife board members will also take a call on construction of broad gauge railway line between West Bengal’s Sevoke and Sikkim’s Rangpo, covering about 33 hectares within Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary and laying of optical fibre cable by two private telecom firms over 1.17 hectares within the same sanctuary,” said a forest department official.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2012/02/06&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00402&ViewMode=HTML

....
"We have also received a number of proposals worth INR 70-100 crore that require smaller parcels of land ranging between 15-30 acres. This includes Maruti Suzuki, which is keen to set up a logistics hub on 35 acres in an upcoming industrial park at Siliguri," the minister added.
.....


Source:
http://www.transreporter.com/detail.php?pId=&Id=13&nId=7072

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Purulia-to-get-a-Rly-coach-factory-soon/articleshow/11800559.cms

Purulia to get a Rly coach factory soon
Debajyoti Chakraborty, TNN | Feb 8, 2012, 03.05AM IST

PURULIA: Construction of the railway coach midlife rehabilitation factory at Anara in Purulia will start soon, said general manager of South Eastern Railway, A K Verma. The announcement was made by Verma during his Purulia visit on Monday.

The project was announced in the 2010-11 railway budget by the then railway minister, Mamata Banerjee, and she had laid the foundation stone on October 31, 2010. The foundation of the thermal power plant that is a joint venture of the railway and NTPC was also laid by Mamata on the same day. By initiating two major projects, Mamata wanted to convey to her rivals that she was equally keen on industrialization in Jangalmahal after the Nano small car factory of Tata Motors in Singur was shelved.

Verma said that the railways already has 160 acre land in its possession for the proposed Rs 185 crore project in Anara. The coach factory would be the second by Indian railways; the first being at Bhopal. Once it starts production, the factory will help meet the country's annual requirement of 50,000 coaches. Funds will also not be a problem, Verma assured. The construction work has been allotted to a private contractor. Building of the boundary wall and land levelling is expected to begin soon. The project would take speed from March, he added.

Verma also said that DVC has agreed to provide water from Panchet Dam in Jharkhand

for the propsed 1320 MW JV greenfield thermal power project in Adra.

Railway board officials have discussed the issues with NTPC top brass. Construction work of the Rs.6,000 crore thermal power plant will start once the project gets clearance from the Central ministry of environment and forests.

Investors may get a land breather now : State Likely To Relax Project Completion Target Clause Of Land Agreement

Investors complaining over the “stiff project completion” target in the changed scenario when they had to buy a portion of the land on their own, may now get a breather. The Mamata Banerjee government has decided to relax the project completion target clause in the land lease agreement from three years to a maximum of five years. The move has come as a relief to big investors, particularly in the steel industry, who are yet to get the land under their possession mutated.
The relaxation — once approved by chief minister Mamata Banerjee — may help ease out the tension over projects worth over Rs 51,000 crore. The proposal lying with the land revenue department will call for fresh land lease agreements with the new clause. Investors who could not complete the projects within the three-year period ran the risk of losing the land allotted to them under the existing agreement. The pullout would have deprived the state of a total Rs 80,000 crore investment lined up in Bengal.
The proposed amendment is likely to clear the uncertainty over eight mega projects in the state — JSW Bengal steel project at Salboni, Jai Balaji steel project at Raghunathpur in Purulia, Adhunik Group project near Asansol, Shyam Steel project at Raghunathpur, Matix fertilizer project in Panagarh, OCL cement project near Salboni and DPSC power project in Haldia.
“The new lease agreement is almost ready. The state government has approved it in principle. The government will now give five years instead of the existing three to finish the project, failing which the state will take the land back. Once LR department clears the new draft WBIDC will start signing agreement with the concerned industry,” sources added.
But the amend will also require a change in the land lease agreement with the requiring body — West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation. Under the new arrangement, the Corporation will assign the lease agreement to the industry concerned. “Earlier WBIDC use to sub-lease the land to industry but this is not legally correct. The industry has also faced problems. In the new format LR department will set a deadline for 5 years to WBIDC in the lease agreement for starting of project. The WBIDC will also have the discretion to fix shorter completion targets for smaller units. Like for steel industry it would be 5 years for small projects that could be less,” added sources.
Incidentally, JSW Bengal has 4,334 acres for a 3-million tonne steel plant and 300-MW power plant in the first phase with an investment of Rs 20,000 crore. Incidentally, the project is also facing land hurdle as mutation for the entire 4,334 acres is still pending. Jai Balaji has so far been allotted 1,094 acres for 2.5-million tonne steel and 3-million tonne cement plant with an investment of Rs 16,000 crore. Shyam Steel and Adhunik have got 600 acres and 505 acres respectively. Shyam Steel has proposed 1.1-million tonne steel plant with an investment of Rs 3,500 crore and Adhunik has proposed an investment of Rs 7,000 crore. Matix has got 500 acres for 1.5 million tonne fertiliser plant with an investment of Rs 4,900 crore.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2012/02/09&PageLabel=3&EntityId=Ar00300&ViewMode=HTML

‘Europe’s auto hub’ keen to invest in state

Bavaria, the German state commonly called Europe’s automobile hub, is keen to invest in Bengal’s automobile sector.
This has assumed significance after the exit of Tata Motors from Bengal in October 2008. A 27-member Bavarian parliamentary delegation met chief minister Mamata Banerjee and commerce and industries minister Partha Chatterjee on Wednesday. They had an hour’s meeting with Chatterjee along with industry secretary Basudeb Banerjee and WBIDC MD Nandini Chakraborty.
The commerce and industries minister said the German state has expressed interest to invest in Bengal. Incidentally, Bavaria is the headquarters of automobile-makers BMW, Volkswagen and Audi. Other big companies like Siemens, Allianz, Munich Re, Continental, Adidas, Puma are based in Bavaria as well.
“They want to know what kind of investment Bavaria can make. We know that it is strong in automobiles, auto ancillaries and industrial clusters. We have sought their help in developing an auto industry here,” he said.
Chatterjee said a Bavarian delegation has invited him to visit the German state. “If we get aformal invitation, we shall consider it. They can help us make logistic hubs along with auto-related industries,” he added.
Chatterjee pointed out that a Bavarian delegation has expressed interest in investing in biotech and solar energy, too. “We told them that Bengal has cheap and skilled manpower which they could utilize,” he added.
WBIDC managing director Nandini Chakraborty later added that key members of the delegation have assured that they would talk to industries in Bavaria for investment in Bengal. “In fact, the Bavarian delegation was keen to discuss about industry and sought appointments for it,” she added.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2012/02/09&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00405&ViewMode=HTML

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/government-and-policy/article2885562.ece

West Bengal Power Development Corpn plans to invest Rs 2,000 cr in 2 hydel projects


KOLKATA, FEB 12:
The West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL), state-owned power generating company, is planning to foray into hydel power with an investment of Rs 2,000 crore.

“We are thinking to set up two hydel power projects. At present, we are in the process of finalising the detailed project report,” State Power Minister, Mr Manish Gupta, told PTI.

He said there is a plan for two hydel projects with a combined generation capacity of 300 MW and the sites have already been finalised.

While one hydel project of 200-220 MW capacity will come up at the confluence of Rangit and Teesta rivers, the other 80-100 MW project will be set up close to Coronation or Sevoke bridge near Siliguri on Teesta, the Minister said.

ON TRACK - Prasoon meets CM on Nayachar

Universal Success chairman Prasoon Mukherjee on Monday met chief minister Mamata Banerjee for the first time in Writers’ to apprise her of the new projects in Nayachar. Incidentally, Mamata Banerjee government signed a revised development agreement for Nayachar in November last year. It was signed between WBIDC, New Kolkata International Development and state government for the 12,000 acres that could attract over Rs 76,000 crore investments over aperiod of 9-10 years. Universal Success is now the main promoter of NKID.
After meeting chief minister, Mukherjee said that heads of states of Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia are keen to meet Mamata Banerjee and would soon send invitation letters to the CM. “There are many investors who are keen to invest in Bengal. We have also started works for Nayachar project,” he added.
The new project blueprint for Nayachar follows the Mamata Banerjee government-stated stand against a chemical hub on the island. The fresh set of proposals are tailored to the thoughts and ideals of the new government. Hence, the ambitious chemical hub is out and a more modest industrial zone for downstream units and eco tourism destination are in with a supercritical power plant. There will be a fishermen village on 250 acres to rehabilitate 800 fishermen families there. Commenting on the convention centre at Rajarhat, Mukherjee said L&T is working on the design.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2012/02/14&PageLabel=15&EntityId=Ar01503&ViewMode=HTML

IDBI Bank syndicating loan for Nayachar power plant

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/banking/finance/banking/idbi-bank-syndicating-loan-for-nayachar-power-plant/articleshow/11877285.cms

IDBI Bank is arranging loan syndication for the proposed Rs 12,000-crore thermal-power plant at Nayachar off the Haldia coast in West Bengal, promoted by NRI entrepreneur Prasoon Mukherjee.

After meeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to present the status report on the Nayachar project here today, Mukherjee said, "IDBI Bank is making arrangements for the 2000-MW power plant at Nayachar".

The power plant would be funded by 70:30 debt-equity ratio.

He said besides the three projects of a power plant, eco- tourism and industrial park at Nayachar, there would also be a fishermen's hub for which Indonesian assistance would be taken.

The eco-tourism project would involve an investment of Rs 2,000 crore and the industrial park Rs 12,000 crore.

Not Sure....whether this is the right thread.

State offers higher salary to lure doctors to villages

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/State-offers-higher-salary-to-lure-doctors-to-villages/articleshow/11880421.cms

To arm government hospitals with not only state-of-the-art medical facilities, but also the best of doctors, the state government is set to recruit around 200 doctors at salaries which are substantially higher than other health service recruits. Some will be empanelled and later join rural health centres and hospitals.

They will serve primarily at the sick neo-natal care units (SNCU) that are being set up across the state. Even though it will cost the state exchequer an additional Rs 11 crore a year, the move had become inevitable since the best doctors are often reluctant to work outside cities, health department sources said.

Being appointed on a one-year contract, 96 doctors have already been recruited. Around a 100 more will be taken in over the next six to seven months. While a contractual general duty medical officer receives Rs 40,000 on appointment, the SNCU recruits will be paid around 20% more. It will also be higher than what the state health service recruits receive. Those with experience will receive even higher compensation which could work out to more than 50% of what a health service doctor is paid. Even though the official reason is that these doctors will be doing a "high-risk, high-skilled job that requires them to be on their toes almost round-the-clock", the fact is that the health department is keen on a good bunch of medics who would otherwise have not joined the government ranks.

"It's true that doctors are not willing to serve in rural and semi-urban areas. One major reason is that these hospitals don't have the infrastructure to deliver quality services which put them at risk and make their job tougher. Since we are now setting up SNCUs which will offer the best facilities, they will find it easier to serve there. Unless we have the best talent available, it won't be of much use having the best facilities," said Tridib Banerjee, chairman of the task force for infant mortality.

Along with freshers, senior doctors are also being appointed. Health service medical officers serving at the SNCUs will receive a special grant of Rs 8,000 per month. While some appointment letters have already been handed out, more are due in the next few weeks. "Some are taking their exams while others are yet to complete their internship. So, we are waiting for them to come and collect the letters," said Dilip Ghosh, commissioner of the health and family welfare department.

The compensation package for the recruits will vary according to seniority. While fresh recruits form a substantial number, there is "an adequate number of senior and very senior doctors" as well. Despite the attractive packages being offered, the health department fears that several recruits may not eventually join the service. "This is, after all, a contractual service. Once health service recruitments begin, some may choose to leave. There would be yet others who are still weighing their options and may finally choose to opt out. But overall, the response has been good. We hope to be able to fill up all the slots by the middle of this year," said a health official. The health department plans to set up 26 SNCUs by March. Sixteen of them are functional. Each will have eight to ten doctors on an average.

An intensive training programme has been designed for the recruits. First, the health department will hold a training camp for trainers later this month. "It will be conducted by members of the National Neo-natalogists' Forum. Those who attend the camp will train our doctors, in turn. It will be a massive programme that will cover all aspects of neo-natal care," said Banerjee.

The recruitment will be a continuous process, health officials said. "There will be vacancies from time to time. So, we will keep recruiting accordingly. The better compensation packages should help to retain doctors," Banerjee added.

While a contractual general duty medical officer receives Rs 40,000 on appointment, the SNCU recruits will be paid around 20% more. Those with experience will receive even higher compensation which could work out to more than 50% of what a health service doctor is paid.

IIT road to be repaired

The public works department has decided to repair and widen the only road leading to IIT Kharagpur on war-footing as part of an image makeover exercise in districts by the new government.

Mamata Banerjee has asked the PWD to “immediately” repair the road following feedbacks from various quarters, including finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, sources said.

The road — that connects NH6 with NH60 before heading to Orissa — has been lying in neglect for over five years. Tomorrow, a team of PWD officers, led by secretary A.R. Bardhan, are expected to meet IIT director Damodar Acharya to discuss the issue.

“We expect to finish the work within the next seven to eight months,” said a PWD official. “The road width would be increased from the existing 3.5 metre to 7 metre so that there are two dedicated lanes for movement. Besides, a flyover would be also built on this road near Kharagpur railway station so that the movement of vehicles is not hindered because of trains,” Bardhan said.

After complaints started pouring in from former students, a detailed proposal was sent to the Centre, which released over Rs 24 crore for the road from the Central Road Fund, a source said. That was a year-and-a-half ago. Since then nothing much had been done on this stretch.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120215/jsp/bengal/story_15136691.jsp

No NANO
No Nuke
No SEZ
No Balaji
Hurrrrrrrreeeeeee
Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday scrapped further acquisition for the 2.5-million tonne steel plant at Raghunathpur in Purulia,in tune with her land policy.
The state Cabinet cleared granting awards for 54 acres of land for the project.But the government decided that Jai Balaji,which has 1,200 acres in its possession,will not be given any more land.
Industries minister Partha Chatterjee said,Adhering to our governments land policy,which shuns acquisition for private purpose,we are only clearing ongoing projects.No more land will be acquired for Jai Balaji.
The total land requirement for Jai Balaji is 2,600 acres.The new government has made it clear that it will have to limit its project to the 1,200 acres in its possession and not an inch more.The minister said Jai Balaji would be asked to release Rs 2 crore for payment of compensation to land-owners for the 54 acres.
The CMs announcement of banning acquisition by any government department or agency for industry has grounded more than a dozen key industrial parks.But the government has now decided to clear some of these projects which are in various stages of land acquisition,since they would ensure investment of Rs 50,000 crore.
Most of these projects were promoted by the state governments West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC),as the facilitator.
Jai Balaji has invested around Rs 200 crore on the steel plant at an industrial park in Raghunathpur in Purulia.The company plans to invest around Rs 16,000 crore on an integrated steel plant,a captive power plant of 1,000 mw and a cement plant.It remains to be seen how all these would be incorporated in the 1,200 acres.
source (http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=4&edlabel=TOIKM&mydateHid=16-02-2012&pubname=&edname=&articleid=Ar00401&format=&publabel=TOI)

^^

More carbon credits?

:lol:

Govt nod to acquire 1711 acres in Aila zone

The cabinet today approved the acquisition of 1,711 acres in the Sunderbans for building new embankments and repairing those damaged by the Aila cyclone.

The Centre has sanctioned Rs 5,032 crore for the project, of which Rs 1,300 crore has been released.

During her visit to Gosaba in the Sunderbans last month, Mamata Banerjee had asked residents to part with their land so that the embankments could be restored or built. Of the 6,000 acres required for the project, the Left Front government had acquired around 2,100 acres.

A Trinamul minister said the pre-monsoon months were the “best time” to start work on the embankments. “Land availability is crucial for the project. We are trying to convince the people to give their land,” he said.

The Sunderbans project is the only one for which the chief minister has given the nod to acquire land. Compensation will be paid at the market rate. A government job will be given to one member of each land-loser family.

The cabinet today also approved a proposal to acquire 1.7 acres for the expansion of the Sagardighi power plant in Murshidabad. “The Power Development Corporation Ltd is planning a very small expansion of the plant and the proposal has been accepted,” the minister said.

The government gave the go-ahead to the Purulia administration to complete the formalities for the land acquired during the Left rule for a proposed steel plant in Raghunathpur. “The company got the possession of 54.97 acres but the formalities were not completed,” another minister said.

A proposal to set up six health districts in the state was cleared. “The sub-divisional hospitals at Burdwan’s Asansol, Bankura’s Bishnupur, Birbhum’s Rampurhat, North 24-Parganas’ Basirhat and South 24-Parganas’ Diamond Harbour and the rural hospital in East Midnapore’s Nandigram will be upgraded to district hospitals. Around 102 posts for these hospitals have been sanctioned,” the minister said.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120216/jsp/bengal/story_15140906.jsp

Not sure whether this is the right thread. However I didnot come across any thread related to West Bengal Tourism so posting it here.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Tourism-road-show-organized-in-Kolkata/articleshow/11887799.cms

Showcasing Bihar as one of the emerging tourism destinations, department of tourism, Bihar on Tuesday organized a road show in Kolkata conveying the blissful experience of tradition and culture of Bihar.

The centre of discussion was the growth of Bihar tourism, that has been a key constituent of the state's development. The government is also working on setting up Nalanda International University that will attract students from different parts of the country as well as abroad. Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Vaishali and Patna were a few of the places highlighted as focus areas to attract tourists from West Bengal.


This is really a fantastic initiative by Bihar Govt. Did we have any such road show by West Bengal Govt in anywhere in India or abroad?

I have one more suggestion. Since we are hearing some initiatives by West Bengal Govt in the tourism front, can we have a thread dedicated to West Bengal tourism?

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday scrapped further acquisition for the 2.5-million tonne steel plant at Raghunathpur in Purulia,in tune with her land policy.

JOI BANGLA!!!!! :rock: :horse:

What a great poriborton have the great people of Bengal opted for....
Ooh sorry its paschimbanga.
NO INDUSTRIES, NO EMPLOYMENT....
Anyway who the heck cares about employment...
Its all about-
maa (Mother cow chewing grass merrily on the fields)
mati (jomi in singur)
manush (the aadh langta chashis roaming proudly on their land in rajarhat
feeling it to be state of bliss):righton:
Having a life of poverty is just so much more better than being rich and having tensions.
chash hi to jibon er aadhar.:|
Gorib hole ki hobe, doo bela khete to pachchi. Shilpo niye aamra ki korbo.
byapshadar ra gorib er taka khaye. ae jibon hi bhalo..... :applause::applause:

SONAR MATI SONAR BANGLA!!! JOI BANGLA!!!:bow:

NTPC makes last-ditch effort to revive Katwa project

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ntpc-makes-last-ditch-effort-to-revive-katwa-project/465099/

NTPC is making a ‘last-ditch attempt’ to revive its 1,600-Mw supercritical thermal power project at Katwa in Burdwan, 170 km away from Kolkata. But the country’s largest power generating company is worried over middlemen’s involvement in the land acquisition process and high prices being quoted by farmers.

For people in Katwa and nearby villages like Koshigram and Churpuni, NTPC is a golden goose that they are ready to reap benefits from. "Earlier, WBPDCL had paid a price of Rs 7 lakh-12 lakh per acre. Now, we have heard NTPC will pay the same amount. In three years, land prices have doubled, so we need much more, close to Rs 20 lakh. We want NTPC to talk directly to us and give a fair price,” said Tapan Kumar Ghoshal, who owns three acres in Churpuni. “Some of us were approached by middlemen offering us a higher price and a racket is quite active in this locality.”

But NTPC is pretty confident there will be no ‘Singur rerun’ in Katwa. Krishak o Khet Majoor Bachao Committee, the TC-backed association spearheading agitation during the Left rule, is almost non-functional now. “Those are things from the past, the committee is no more functional. We don’t want the project to go back, like it happened in Singur in the case of Nano. But they (NTPC) must respect our feelings and should talk to us collectively,” said Hari Krishna Pal, a former activist of the committee.

A top official from NTPC said the firm would do “whatever it can to retain the project”, as it is one of the pet projects of its chairman and managing director.

A top official from the state power ministry said, “Even in the new Land Bill adopted, power was not included as a public purpose project, making matters difficult for NTPC and other players,” Even the state power utility’s 30 substation projects are stuck due to land acquisition issues.

Meanwhile, at ground zero, the farmers are working in the acquired land to earn their livelihood. “Yes, this is no more my land. My land was taken way back for power plant, but how long will I wait for a new job. So, I have started cultivating on these farmlands again,” said Pradyut Ghosh, a land loser, who was working in the acquired fields.

Coochbehar airport expansion - stuck in land acquistion problems
Operators claim that 72 seater aircrafts needed for making profits
AAI says runway and airport expansion needed but this is stuck in land acquistion issues. They are not having such issues in other states that are ruled by non UPA parties.

rs2oqc_J5cs

Essar Projects Durgapur, Country's Biggest Prilling Tower.

hqLVX9I_Kow

Bye Bye Bhushan?

Bhushan Steel threatens to pull 6 mtpa Bengal steel project

http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_bhushan-steel-threatens-to-pull-6-mtpa-bengal-steel-project_1654423

Bhushan Steel will not go ahead with its proposed 6 million tonne steel plant in West Bengal.

The New Delhi-based company has, in fact, asked the state government to refund the money given as advance for land acquisition.

“We have received a request from Bhushan to pay them back the money for acquiring land for their proposed steel project. We are looking into their request,” said an official of West Bengal Industrial Development Corp (WBIDC), requesting anonymity.

Since the Mamata Banerjee-led government has come into power, WBIDC has virtually stopped assisting in land acquisition, in line with the government’s stance of only allowing direct land purchases by the promoters of industrial projects.

This has understandably left Bhushan Steel peeved.

The company’s plan was to have a 2 million tonne per annum (mtpa) capacity in the first phase with a captive power plant in Burdwan district, besides a 0.5 mtpa cold rolled and galvanising plant for automobile grade steel at a different location, in North 24 Parganas district.

The Burdwan works, with a total investment outlay of `8,800 crore, would have required 2,500 acres, which was to be identified jointly by the state government and Bhushan Steel.

The cold rolled and galvanising plant would have taken another 90 acres.

ABP is reporting that Volkswagen may build a factory in West Bengal. They are looking for about 200 acres of land. A delegation will visit West Bengal to discuss issues. Chennai has also been shortlisted by the company as a prospective location for the factory.

excerpts:

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/9117/abpvolkswagenwb.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/33/abpvolkswagenwb.jpg/)

they will be offered 20 acres on condition that they employ 10000 TMC cadres. when VW execs disagree, middle level TMC leaders will boycott public events where VW is present citing "insult to didi".

Volkswagen - its a positive news. Its an opportunity for the govt to turn the so much negative sentiment around.

Bye Bye Bhushan?

Bhushan Steel threatens to pull 6 mtpa Bengal steel project

http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_bhushan-steel-threatens-to-pull-6-mtpa-bengal-steel-project_1654423


God knows what is in store for Bengal,in the coming days.not a single big name in the field of industry,has come in recent months.even,for those which were planned long back,there is an immense level of negative sentiment prevaling everywhere.for a state like Bengal,which has remain deprived of the benefits of good industrialization drive in the last few decades,its really amazing and shocking to find that the current government is adopting such an adamant attitude.who will make the politicians in Bengal understand the fact,that helping an industry to set up a base in the state,will also benefit them in long run! its a big privilege for Bengal to have companies like Infy,Wipro or big steel plants like that of Bhushan,as these will not only generate huge employment opportunities,but also improve the image of this state.....nowadays,when every other state in India,has become equally competent and aggressive to attract investment,who would come to Bengal to invest in coming days,unless the Govt takes a pro-active role in promoting industrialization...

they will be offered 20 acres on condition that they employ 10000 TMC cadres. when VW execs disagree, middle level TMC leaders will boycott public events where VW is present citing "insult to didi".

Is this the political forum where anybody can place such kind of political comments? I am not a great fan of Mamata and even I am sceptical about her success for no land aquisition for industry but I also praise her for her strong stand against bandhs. There may be multiple political opinions among us but I feel this is not the right place to place any political comments.

where the heck did you see political comments in my post ? :nuts:

the fanboys (of both sides) are very tiring. STOP thinking of every poster as pro or anti mamata/buddha. most don't give a **** as long as they do their job right.

they will be offered 20 acres on condition that they employ 10000 TMC cadres. when VW execs disagree, middle level TMC leaders will boycott public events where VW is present citing "insult to didi".

is that a translation or did I miss the satire? :shifty:

Land not a problem to set up Volkswagen unit in WB: Minister

http://zeenews.india.com/business/companies/land-not-a-problem-to-set-up-volkswagen-unit-in-wb-minister_43235.html

The West Bengal government on Friday welcomed German automobile major Volkswagen to set up a unit in the state and assured them that land would not be an issue.

"We must welcome any formal proposal in this regard expressing the company's desire to set up unit in the state. However we don't have any official communication on the issue," state's Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee said.

Stating that land would not be a problem for setting up new units, Chatterjee said, "Let them (Volkswagen authority) express their intention, we will do the rest".

A media report had said that the company wants to set up its unit in the state.

sid, it's a combination of cherry picking of events under this admin.

Russian logs for Bengal tourism

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/government-and-policy/article2954384.ece?ref=wl_industry-and-economy

The West Bengal government has decided to use Russian fire and termite-proof logs for houses in Sandakfu, the highest Himalayan point in West Bengal.

The government would be building the log houses at an initial investment of Rs 5 crore, the State Tourism Minister, Mr Rachpal Singh, said on the sidelines of CII-organised Tourism b2b event.

An Ukranian company had been entrusted to execute the project in next six months. The initial capacity of the log homes would be for 50 people.

Mr Singh said the State Government has identified four districts to develop tourism infrastructure in PPP model.

ACC to add 5 mtpa cement capacity in next 3 years

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article2960292.ece

Enthused by rising cement demand from the eastern region, ACC will create additional five million tonnes per annum capacity (mtpa), entailing an estimated investment of around Rs 3,000 crore.

Holcim said the existing Jamul clinker making facility in Chhattisgarh would be replaced by a latest plant and grinding capacity to be increased simultaneously.

The Jamul facility would have 2.79 million tonnes clinker manufacturing capacity with an estimated investment of Rs 800 crore. In addition, capacity of the existing Sindri grinding plant would also be increased.

A new grinding plant will be built at Kharagpur (in West Bengal). Both (Kharagpur and Sindri) installations will source clinker from the new Jamul plant. Therewith, overall capacity of ACC will increase to 35 million tonnes.

Beautification in parks of Hill

iPoyJsw6TJk

Land not a problem to set up Volkswagen unit in WB: Minister

http://zeenews.india.com/business/companies/land-not-a-problem-to-set-up-volkswagen-unit-in-wb-minister_43235.html

Please forgive my ignorance, but, now that its ByeBye for TATA, what's going on with the Singur land? I had earlier heard that there was supposed to be a railway factory, then there was a news of some Bus-manufacturing Company asking for the Singur Land. Is something on the ground there yet? If not, then good, coz if VW wants land near Kolkata (much lesser in quantity), there can be no better place

Please forgive my ignorance, but, now that its ByeBye for TATA, what's going on with the Singur land? I had earlier heard that there was supposed to be a railway factory, then there was a news of some Bus-manufacturing Company asking for the Singur Land. Is something on the ground there yet? If not, then good, coz if VW wants land near Kolkata (much lesser in quantity), there can be no better place

Forumers will be able to give better idea but as far as I know after coming to power, Govt had vested the land lying with the TATAs accusing them of not starting the work. TATAs went to court. A special fast court was dealing with this as I remember Hearing was happening every other day. Ultimately TATAs lost. But again they have gone to court and I think this is Supreme court this time. Can anybody update the current status ?

Work has not started on 85% of Railway projects for West Bengal announced with grand pomp and fanfare in last three years. Only one factory in Dankuni has been completed. Work on three other projects is ongoing. This utter failure by Indian Railways s being blamed on near bankrupt status of Indian Railways and no interest to the PPP model for these projects.

A report from Star Ananda:

upaQbA2Rho8

Land ceiling for new industries to be relaxed
16 March 2012

KOLKATA, 16 MARCH: The Trinamul Congress-led state government has decided to relax land ceiling for new industries, including information and communications technology, food park, power projects, agro-industry but has kept township out of the loop on the insistence of chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
The Cabinet sub-committee on industries, infrastructure and employment met today to decide on increasing the ambit of Clause-14Y of the Land Reforms Act, 1955 which fixes land ceiling for private investors at 24.2 acres except for tea garden, livestock farms, mill, workshop and factory. Under the clause these are allowed to hold land beyond ceiling but only with prior approval of the state government.
Following the decision of the state Cabinet new industries such as food park, industrial park, ICT, ship yard, financial hub, power generation projects, agro-industries, bio-technology will be allowed to have land beyond 24.2 acres but this will still require the prior approval from the land and land reforms department. Although L&LR department had also included township in the proposal the chief minister was adamant against real estate and blamed the previous Left regime for promoting real estate as well. Since the LR Act is quite outdated sunrise industries were not included in it which turned out to be a big setback for industrialisation.
“We are taking decisions protecting the rights of the people but without affecting industrialisation in the state,” said the state commerce and industries minister Partha Chatterjee. After today's decision the state government will be required to amend Clause-14Y of the Land Reforms Act.
It may be recalled that the previous Left Front government had also moved an amendment to the Land Reforms Act in 2006 to increase the ambit of Clause-14Y and include industry, IT and infrastructure but due to the opposition of the Front partners, particularly Forward Bloc, it was sent to the select committee before being dropped altogether.
However, the state commerce and industries department is insisting that the private parties must justify the quantum of land required for their unit. sns

Another project bye bye?

Uncertainty over L&T's Bengal power sector plan

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/uncertainty-over-lts-bengal-power-sector-plan/468575/

Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government’s endeavour to tide over the anti-industry image has got yet another jolt. Engineering major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is likely to have dropped its plan to come up with a 1600 mega watt power plant in West Bengal due to land hurdles.

The project, which the company was considering “following an invitation” from the state government Rs 10,000-Rs 11,000 crore was “dropped” according to sources as the state government was unable to provide favourable land. When asked about this, the state commerce and industries minister Partha Chatterjee, said, “They are not interested in setting up the plant. We had shown them land in North Bengal and West Midnapore, from our land bank but the company is not keen at all.”

On the future of the project a top company official said, “We had made it clear to the state government that without proper availability of land, water and linkages we would not go ahead with the project. We needed about 1200 acres of land for it, but the locations with in the land bank that the state government had shown is not favourable at all. We are not going to acquire land directly also. Hence, it is unlikely to happen.”

Adding further the official said, “The state government can say come and do this, but the firm has no money to burn on a project with out any future or linkages.”

:applause:

"We think we have suffered a lot? this is nothing. it would go on till a point that it wouldn't matter anymore. We will be resurrected only after we have been robbed of anything we have, material or otherwise. it will be then we will be absolutely free. free of everything."

--Shri Shri sidney_jec (with a little inspiration from Fight Club :D )

West Bengal Budget 2012-2013 (This is the first full-fledged budget presented by Finance minister Amit Mitra)

1. “A baby in West Bengal is born with a debt of Rs 21000”, commented Finance Minister Amit Mitra in presenting State’s budget for the year 2012-2013.
2. Government revenue collection estimated at Rs 31000 for next financial year and increase of almost 28%
3. Investment worth Rs 80000 cr to be made in the state in coming financial year.
4. VAT to be modified to prevent double taxation.
5. 10 Lakhs new jobs to be created in the year.
6. Roads will be constructed in backward regions.
7. Amnesty scheme for small businessmen.
8. Health bank for all.
9. E filing on tenders.
10. Stamp duty to be made electronic.
11. Professional tax can be deposited at 12 public sector banks as against two earlier.
12. Self audits to be permitted for small businessmen.
13. 6 lakhs farmers have been given “kissan Credit Card”.
14. Project undertaken for “Sobar ghorey prokolpo”
15. One year tax waived for tea gardens.
16. Tax process simplified for car registration. Online registration can be made.
17. State Road Corporation has been made for development of 1046 Km of roads and 8 bridges under state highway.
18. Minimum 100 day wage to be increased to 200 day wage.
19. Separate department for North Bengal.
20. New branch for Rabindra Bharati University at North Bengal.
21. New university at cooch Bihar.
22. Food storage capacity will be increased to 10 lakh ton.
23. To target for “Arsenic free” drinking water.
24. Digital ration card to be issued.
25. Hardware Industry Park at Sonarpur.
26. PPP model for tourism at Darjeeling, Sundarban and Digha.
27. 10 new sick born care units to be setup in state.
28. 23 blocks to have mobile medical unit.
29. Cars more than Rs 10 Lakhs will attract higher taxes.
30. TV set costing more than Rs 25000, mobile phone costing more than Rs 20000, watches costing more than 15000, AC (more than 1 ton capacity) to be costlier.
31. Domestic gas cylinders to be cheaper.
32. Paneer, kites to be cheaper.
33. Entry tax on trucks coming from other states.
34. Tax reduced in on small hotels and restaurants.
35. Krishi Ratna to be awarded to farmers every year on March 2014.
36. Rs 90 cr allotted to development in sports field.
37. Rs 200 cr for North Bengal development.
38. Rs 947 cr for scheme “NIJO BHUMI NIJO GRIHO”
39. Rs 255 cr for self employment schemes.
40. Rs 250 cr for Sunderban development.
41. Rs 155 cr for fisheries
42. Rs 315 cr for farmers.
43. Rs 175 cr for labor welfare
44. Rs 118 cr for hill development
45. Rs 68 cr for food distribution
46. Rs 90 cr for tourism.
47. Rs 110 cr for IT
48. Rs 1015 cr for women and child welfare.
49. Rs 355 cr for Western Bengal.
50. Rs 570 cr for minority development.
51. Rs 462 cr for backward class development.
52. Rs 370 cr for water transport.
53. Rs 444 for technical education.
54. Rs 560 cr for industry development.
55. Rs 800 cr for public health services.
56. Rs 2713 cr for school education.
57. Rs 1010 cr for electricity
58. Rs 286 cr for small scale industry.
59. Rs 1933 cr for urban development.
60. Rs 1568 cr for irrigation.
61. Rs 375 cr for transport.
62. Rs 68 cr for Public distribution system.
63. Rs 1175 cr urban development.
64. Rs 75 cr for food processing.

Another project in the freezer? Fall out of tussle between Didi and Congress(I)?
Feb 2011:

Reclamation finds place in Mamata's lexicon

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/reclamation-finds-place-in-mamata%5Cs-lexicon/424772/

Acquisition may be the most hated word for Mamata Banerjee, but on Thursday the Railways minister added a new word to her dictionary, reclamation, which may well turn out to be her favourite.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader was all praise for the Rs 5,000 crore Sagar Port project by the Kolkata Port Trust(KoPT), which will be the first project in the country to come up through the reclamation of riverbed.

“The project in Sagar Island is a model for the rest of the country. Here there will be no land acquisition issues, as the area required will be created through reclamation of river bed. Close to 3,000 acres will be artificially created through depositing dredged materials from other parts of Kolkata Port Trust area,” she said during the foundation-stone laying ceremony of the dyke for reclamation of land at Sagar Island.

The first phase of the project will see an investment of Rs 2,000 crore while the second phase will see another Rs 2,000 crore.

March 2012

WB: Land reclamation project for Sagar port scrapped

http://zeenews.india.com/news/west-bengal/wb-land-reclamation-project-for-sagar-port-scrapped_765909.html

Kolkata Port Trust has decided to scrap the land reclamation programme for building deep sea port near Sagar Islands in West Bengal for want of enough funds.

"The board has decided to drop the land reclamation project due to lack of funds. Union Shipping Ministry did not offer money for the same," Kolkata Port Trust (KOPT) Chairman M L Meena said.

According to sources, KPT had advocated for the port project with land reclamation at the western tip of Sagar Islands despite state-run consultant RITES questioning feasibility of the port on the western part in their interim report.

KOPT had floated a tender worth Rs 32 crore to construct dykes and reclaim earth for the project, sources said.


The proposed deep sea port on 2,000 acres of reclaimed land in the sea was announced with much fanfare by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during state assembly polls last year.

KOPT tried to seek funds from Ministry of Shipping by trying to link the reclamation project with dredging.

However, the Ministry denied funds reportedly saying it has no relation with dredging activities.

Kulti cast in new action mould

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article2978613.ece

Kulti works of SAIL, resurrected as Growth Works in 2007-08, is alive and kicking.

The oldest smokestack unit, established in 1874 by British India in its “coal country,” West Bengal, went out of business in 2003. Today it is feeding SAIL's integrated plants with ferrous and non-ferrous castings and machinery items in its way to modernisation.

The unit with 14 executives and 460 contract workers produced business worth around Rs 50 crore during 2011-12,
Since 2007-08, SAIL has invested around Rs 20 crore in Growth Works on revamping some old operations and providing working capital.

According to insiders, the unit, in turn, kept capital costs under control and reduced cash outflow.

SAIL is facing land use hurdles in its proposal for housing a wagon unit, inside complex, as a joint venture with RITES.

“The total land area of Kulti unit, including the housing colony, is around 1,000 acres. It needs a holistic plan for hosting other ventures and a positive role of the State Government for generating fresh employment as well as productive land use,” said a SAIL insider.

i think that this will be worst or equal to lalu's rule in Bihar. Industries will close and due to rising unemployment there will be law and order problem.

IPCL's Haldia power plant to be commissioned by mid 2013
Shine Jacob / Kolkata Mar 26, 2012, 00:05 IST
India Power Corporation Ltd (IPCL), holding company of DPSC Ltd, expects its 450 mega watt (MW) Haldia plant to be commissioned by the third quarter of 2013.

“Through this plant and through special purpose vehicles, we have an overall investment plan of more than Rs 25,000 crore in the next five years. This includes the 450-mega watt thermal power plant at Haldia with an investment of Rs.2500 crore at Haldia. The plant is expected to be commissioned in mid 2013. While the DPSC’s 540MW greenfield unit at Raghunathpur will see an investment of Rs 3000 crore. More than this, we have signed MoUs with Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh to build more than 4,000MW of thermal power capacity,” said Anup Bhargava, who joined as managing director of IPCL recently.

DPSC came under IPCL fold after divestment by Andrew Yule in 2009-10. While the land for the first phase of Raghunathpur (1 X 270 MW) in Purulia has already been allotted by West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), BTG order was given to Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL).
The Company will also be commissioning a 12 MW thermal power plant at Dishergarh (Asansol) at a cost of Rs 60 crore the end of this month. DPSC currently has a generation capacity of 42 MW thermal power from its plants at Chinakuri and Dishergarh in West Bengal.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ipcls-haldia-power-plant-to-be-commissioned-by-mid-2013/469003/

Another project in the freezer? Fall out of tussle between Didi and Congress(I)?
Feb 2011:

Reclamation finds place in Mamata's lexicon

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/reclamation-finds-place-in-mamata%5Cs-lexicon/424772/



March 2012

WB: Land reclamation project for Sagar port scrapped

http://zeenews.india.com/news/west-bengal/wb-land-reclamation-project-for-sagar-port-scrapped_765909.html


State may take over Sagar port project from Kolkata Port Trust
Jayanta Gupta, TNN | Mar 26, 2012, 04.09AM IST

KOLKATA: So what if the Kulpi port has not seen the light of day, even 16 years after it was conceptualized? The Bengal government now wants to take over the project to build a deep-draughted port at Sagar Island from the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT).

RITES has already carried out a study on the possibility of a port on the island. Initially, KoPT had planned a port facility on the island's western shore. Later, RITES was asked to explore the possibility of the port on the eastern bank which is closer to the mainland in South 24-Parganas.

"We have decided to hand over the project for the port at Sagar to the state government. The state government wants to take it over," said KoPT chairman M L Meena.

The concept of a deep-draughted port facility at Sagar first came up a couple of years ago when it was realized that the Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) will no longer be able to handle large vessels due to fall in draught in the Hooghly channel. The only option was to build a port facility outside the channel and Sagar - the largest island in estuarine Bay of Bengal - was a possible location.

With problems in acquiring land, it was decided to reclaim nearly 2,000 acres from the sea by building dykes with geotubes. As a pilot project, it was decided to construct a km-long dyke and start dumping dredging proceeds from Auckland into it. The port was to be built on the basis of a public-private partnership (PPP).

The project ran into trouble thereafter with KoPT not succeeding in convincing the ministry of shipping of the need for a deep-draughted port in the state. KoPT had sought Rs 50 crore from the ministry to construct the dyke as a pilot project. In February, 2012, the ministry of shipping wrote back to the port, asking it to use funds from the river regulatory project for the construction or use its own funds.

KoPT may not be in a position to release funds from its own kitty for the project at the moment. According to sources, the Centre has also cut subsidies for dredging and the port management may find it difficult to channelize funds from the river regulatory project. At the same time, a deep-draughted port is crucial for the state.

"The Kulpi project may not be feasible as it will also face the problem of inadequate draught. A port facility at Sagar will not have these problems. If the state assures land, promoters may be keen to invest in this venture," a port official said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/State-may-take-over-Sagar-port-project-from-Kolkata-Port-Trust/articleshow/12408983.cms

Priya Entertainments to come up with eco-tourism project in West Bengal by October 2012

Priya Entertainments Pvt Ltd (PEPL) will soon come up with an eco-tourism project in the Birbhum district of West Bengal. To be launched ahead of the Durga Puja vacation in October this year, this eco-tourism project will focus on adventure in the state. Arijit Dutta, Managing Director, PEPL informed that for the project they have bought a plot of around 130 bighas near Santiniketan, about 250 km away from Kolkata.

To be powered fully by solar energy, the resort will offer 40-45 luxury tent accommodation. However, there will be a limited number of low-cost accommodation facilities for students and nature club members. Being built at a cost of Rs nine crore, the resort will be offering barbecue cooked food, fishing, bonfire in wintry nights and local cultural festivities including tribal music performances, as per a PTI report. Minimising the chance to damage the environment, all organic waste generated from the project will be used as manure, and the farmland, spread over 45 bighas, will supply organic food to tourists. We are also studying the possibility of introducing gobar (cow dung) gas for cooking food, Datta said.

To provide the tourists with adventure sports, PEPL is buying four horses, which will run inside a small track specially built for the purpose, stated the report. The local tribal population will not be left out of the project, which also aims at community development. There are two small villages near the plot with a total population of around 100 people. We are training them now as we will employ all of them in various capacities. We will also ensure food and education for their children, Dutta added. The company is also planning another resort in Dooars in north Bengal, stated the report.

http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com/detailNews.aspx?aid=13027&sid=41

State may take over Sagar port project from Kolkata Port Trust
Jayanta Gupta, TNN | Mar 26, 2012, 04.09AM IST

KOLKATA:
RITES has already carried out a study on the possibility of a port on the island. Initially, KoPT had planned a port facility on the island's western shore. Later, RITES was asked to explore the possibility of the port on the eastern bank which is closer to the mainland in South 24-Parganas.


With problems in acquiring land, it was decided to reclaim nearly 2,000 acres from the sea by building dykes with geotubes. KoPT may not be in a position to release funds from its own kitty for the project at the moment. According to sources, the Centre has also cut subsidies for dredging and the port management may find it difficult to channelize funds from the river regulatory project. At the same time, a deep-draughted port is crucial for the state.

"The Kulpi project may not be feasible as it will also face the problem of inadequate draught. A port facility at Sagar will not have these problems. If the state assures land, promoters may be keen to invest in this venture," a port official said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/State-may-take-over-Sagar-port-project-from-Kolkata-Port-Trust/articleshow/12408983.cms

Not sure why the state will "assure" land if the whole hype is about reclaiming land.

Hopefully the state government will be very careful before it jumps into this project. Meanwhile RITES is getting 10 crores for the "feasabilty" study.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/kolkata-port-trust-scraps-sagar-island-project/469110/

The project was facing allegations after the then Railways minister Mamata Banerjee and minister of state for shipping Mukul Roy laid the foundation stone for the dyke for reclamation of land at Sagar Island and the railway line connecting it in February 2011, much before the feasibility study from RITES, which is yet to be out.

“The project reclamation planned was through geo-tubes technology with 800 metre wide receptacles, in which the receptacles will be filled with the dredged silt of the river thus further proposing to ensure effective dredging in the river Hooghly. But even an interim report from the RITES had said that the project is not feasible in the Western area where KoPT was planning it and they had suggested it to be done in the Eastern side of Sagar island, as ‘Jambu Dweep’ can act as a cyclone barrier there,” said a top KoPT official.

When contacted RITES about the interim report it declined to comment. “The final feasibility report is under process. We are expecting to submit it by the end of this month,” Arvind Kumar, head (ports), RITES, said. KoPT was spending about Rs 10 crore for the feasibility study only.

According to the content in interim report to which Business Standard got access to, the railway PSU said, “Western Side could be vulnerable because (i) the wind is very strong (ii) water is very choppy (iii) cyclone prone area and not Sheltered (iv) Bedford and Lohachara Islands on the Western Side could be a possible threat to Sagar Port because of land erosion meaning that Dredging will still have to be done involving hundreds of crores of rupees.”

The project was also in news due to a tender floated by the port officials for the pilot project in April 2011 for Rs 27 crore, even though the location of the port at Sagar was not yet finalised. Again in August, KoPT innovated fresh tender with a revised estimate of Rs 32 crore. According to sources, Mackintosh Burn Limited, Maccaferri Environmental Solutions, and Emaskiara, a Malaysia-based company, participated in the tender.

Govt reworks land deal for 66 firms

A STAFF REPORTER

Calcutta, March 28: The West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation has drawn up a lease agreement to hand over 5,000 acres to 66 companies that include Jindal’s Salboni steel plant, TVS’s two-wheeler factory in Uluberia and a Matix fertiliser plant in Panagarh.

To set the industrial ball rolling, the WBIDC today signed new lease agreements with seven companies at a board meeting. The seven projects involve over 300 acres and a cumulative investment of about Rs 1,500 crore across sectors like cement, power, food park and auto components.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120329/images/29plot.jpg
“At the board meet today, it was decided to have new lease agreements with entrepreneurs who have taken land at different industrial parks of the WBIDC,” sources told The Telegraph. The plots are in Raghunathpur, Panagarh, Kharagpur, Sankrail and Salboni, among others.

“We are ready with the lease deed for these 66 companies. Any one of them can come up to the WBIDC and sign from now. Many requested us to give some time since it is the year-end (financial year). We have set an internal target to complete all by April 15. As these land are with us, the companies would not have to take 14y clearance (allowance to hold land excess of ceiling),” industries minister Partha Chatterjee said.

But the new agreements come with changes.

Earlier, the WBIDC used to sub-lease the land to the industry. If the industry was not able to execute the project, the land would be returned to the original owners.

Under the new norms, if the companies are not able to complete their projects, the land would be handed over to the WBIDC, which could then allocate it to some other potential investors.

This could lead to less paperwork and lower the time required to process and hand over the land to the industry.

Also, the WBIDC will have the discretion to fix the timeline of the projects. Initially, a milestone period of three years has been fixed. If the concerned company is unable to complete the project within this time period, the land has to be handed back to WBIDC.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120329/jsp/bengal/story_15308941.jsp#.T3PNPGE7Xko

Land boost for sunrise industries
28 March 2012
Ceiling restrictions likely to be relaxed
anindita chowdhury

KOLKATA, 28 MARCH: The state government is going to introduce an amendment to the Land Reforms Act, 1955 in the ongoing session of the Assembly to prevent recurrence of scams like the one that occurred with Hindustan Motors, by barring use of land leased out to industries for any other purpose save industry.
The government's objective is to amend the Land Reforms Act in order to promote industrialisation and pave the way for sunrise industries while sticking to its political promise of stopping the diverting of industrial land for real estate purposes.
However, a decision on introducing the proposed Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Bill is still pending.
The change of policy was cleared in a meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee on industry held on 16 March.
The sub-committee had decided to amend the Act in order to relax the land ceiling for sunrise industries, including information and communication technology, industrial parks, food parks, ship yards, biotechnology and mining but real estate was firmly kept out of this list on the chief minister’s insistence.
Under Clause 14 Y of the present Act, only mills, factories and workshops among industries, are allowed to keep land in excess of the legal ceiling, and with prior approval from the state government.
While amending Clause 14 Y of the present Land Reforms Act, the land and land reforms department has also decided to amend Clause 14 Z which allowed industries with large tracts of land leased under Estate Acquisition Act to auction the excess plots and use the funds generated for revival of the sick unit.
Incidentally, Clause 14 Z was used by the previous Left Front regime to allow Bata and Hindustan Motors to auction their excess land and use the funds raised for their revival.
However, in both cases, the private developer or the company in question did not abide by the conditions. Moreover, the excess land was utilised for real estate and it did not serve the purpose of industrialisation.
The proposed amendment is to add a condition which will require the companies to use the excess plots only for industrial use. “Earlier industrialists took advantage of these loose clauses to sell off the excess land belonging to the government for development as real estate. Hence we decided to tighten the screws and amend the relevant clause,” said an official.
The state government has also decided to give ryot status to wholly owned state government companies WBIDC and WBIIDC and development agencies such as HIDCO and KMDA to allow them to lease out land for industrial parks and housing projects to private developers who would then further lease out the land in small parcels to individuals. The L&LR department's opposition to this had created a legal tangle during the previous regime.

http://thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=404730&catid=35

Govt reworks land deal for 66 firms

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120329/images/29plot.jpg

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120329/jsp/bengal/story_15308941.jsp#.T3PNPGE7Xko

Here is the status of the matix factory as of Jan 2012:


Project Status as on Jan 31, 2012

http://www.matixgroup.com/project-status.html

Land - The required land is allocated by WBIDC and possession taken in Panagarh Industrial Park near Durgapur in West Bengal.

Approvals - All key statutory approvals are in place. The Department of Fertilisers, Government of India has recognized the project implementation for subsidy dispensation.

Environmental clearance - Received Environment Clearance as well as consent to establish Fertiliser complex.

Technology - Plant is using latest technology from KBR, USA for Ammonia and Saipem, Italy for Urea.

Engineering - Basic engineering complete. Detailed engineering at 90% model review stage.

Procurement - Procurement of all equipment and packages complete. Several equipment already arrived at Site and erection has started.

Construction - Construction almost 50% complete.

Feedstock - Executed Firm contract for supply of required CBM gas for 20 years.

Financing - Achieved financial closure and started drawdown by consortium for reputed banks led by IDBI.

Organisation - Highly experienced team from industry in place; further recruitment in progress as per schedule.


What does the "big agreements in pipeline and yet to be signed" mean?

If no agreement is in place for the land how is 50% construction work completed?

reporters will always leave some parts for public guessing...

Here is the status of the matix factory as of Jan 2012:


Project Status as on Jan 31, 2012

http://www.matixgroup.com/project-status.html




What does the "big agreements in pipeline and yet to be signed" mean?

If no agreement is in place for the land how is 50% construction work completed?

What I understand is, if these companies have a fair idea that ultimately the Govt is going to allocate the land, they start work for the projects on phase basis. So the 50% completed construction activity might be for phase I and the land for the Phase II is yet to be allocated.

If you go to Durgapur by train, just before reaching Panagarh you can see the Matix factory, construction related activities seems to be going on at a fast space.

What I understand is, if these companies have a fair idea that ultimately the Govt is going to allocate the land, they start work for the projects on phase basis. So the 50% completed construction activity might be for phase I and the land for the Phase II is yet to be allocated.

If you go to Durgapur by train, just before reaching Panagarh you can see the Matix factory, construction related activities seems to be going on at a fast space.

The Matix factory is coming up in Panagarh Industrial Park (More:http://www.wbidc.com/about_wb/panagarh_industrial.htm (http://www.wbidc.com/about_wb/panagarh_industrial.htm)).

Lots of big names are associated with this fertiliser factory: Essar, UDHE, Mitsubishi, L&T, Linde etc. The required land is allocated by WBIDC and possession taken. The company shall source Cold Bed Mathane gas from Ranigunj and has executed Firm contract for supply of required CBM gas for 20 years with Essar. It has also tied up its project funding from a consortium of banks led by IDBI.

For project summary: http://www.chemicals-technology.com/projects/matrix-complex (name has been wrongly spelled in the article)

Puja Mall, Kharagpur

photo copyright piyush9685 (http://www.panoramio.com/photo/64777495)

http://img859.imageshack.us/img859/7883/kharagpurmallpiyush.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/859/kharagpurmallpiyush.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com//city/kolkata-/SRK-may-shoot-for-Beautiful-Bengal/articleshow/12476779.cms

Mountains, forests, wildlife, sea beach, heritage... 'Beautiful Bengal' lacks nothing to be a tourism hub. All it needs is a bit of marketing and promotion, for which the government roped in none other than tinsel town superstar Shah Rukh Khan. The Bollywood Badshah is finally all set to shoot for the promos of the Beautiful Bengal campaign over the next eight weeks or so.

Though the state information and culture department, which is coordinating the campaign, is tightlipped about the details of the promotional video, it was learnt that it will be of 30 seconds' duration and have brilliant outdoor visuals and smart music and lyrics. Khan, who owns the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), will be here during the tournament that starts on April 4. That's when he is likely to shoot for the video as well.

Considering Khan's busy schedule, the shoot is being planned in such a way that it can be completed in a day. The promotion is being coordinated by state information and culture secretary Nandini Chakraborty. However , none less than chief minister Mamata Banerjee will finally approve of the campaign , which is said to be her pet project. Some officials in the state information and culture department feel that since Khan has his own films and entertainment company called Red Chillies Entertainment, it is possible that he might produce the campaign and dedicate it to the state as its brand ambassador - a role he had been offered by the chief minister when he was here for the Kolkata Film Festival and which he accepted later. Khan's representative in Mumbai, Karuna Badwal, said: "SRK is just back from London, in time for the IPL. We are yet to receive details about this (the shoot) from the Bengal government and are looking forward to hearing from them. We have sent our confirmation already regarding SRK's willingness to be brand ambassador of the state and I am sure things are being worked out at the Bengal government's end." The Beautiful Bengal campaign is already being compared to the Khushboo Gujarat Ki campaign - mainly because of the star power that's going behind both. However, an official at the state information and culture department felt that the the state's campaign should be rated higher than the Gujarat government's campaign that has superstar Amitabh Bachchan as the brand ambassador. "Bachchan has no direct link with Gujarat , but SRK owns the KKR and has associated himself with brand Bengal for at least four years now," he pointed out. :cheers::banana:

Looks nice, does it have a multiplex? Kharagpur needs more of these commercial outlets to become a satellite town of Kolkata.

http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=404892&catid=72

There is more to West Bengal than Rabindranath Tagore, Kolkata's British heritage, the Sunderbans and the Hazarduari palace.
For instance, the lush green golf courses tucked away in the folds of the great Himalayas in north Bengal.
“They are already well-developed. It just needs proper marketing,” the state tourism department's principal secretary, Mr Raghvendra Singh said.
Mr Singh said the well laid-out golf courses would be one of the 25 themes the state government would highlight in order to promote tourism in the state. Some of the themes will be based on geographical regions like Darjeeling hills while others will focus on subjects such as wildlife, heritage, Tagore, etc.
Highlighting the proud history, rich culture and glorious heritage of the state along with the geographical variety which it offers to tourists, an aggressive promotional blitzkrieg will be launched in the next couple of months. The state government has already roped in reigning Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan as its brand ambassador who will also be used to woo tourists.
“We are chalking out a plan on this which will be announced soon,” a source in the chief minister's office said without revealing further. Among other tourist themes will be the beaches of Digha and the nearby Mandarmoni, trekking in the wildlife-rich forests of the Dooars and Jalpaiguri in north Bengal, heritage journey in the towns of Murshidabad and Cooch Behar, river cruise to visit other tourist attractions in Kolkata and its outskirts.
The biggest area of concern, however, remains augmenting infrastructure, providing tourism-related amenities and ensuring the safety and security of travellers. For this, the officials said, the budgetary allocation of the department of tourism has been doubled from Rs 44 crore in the current financial year to Rs 90 crore in the next fiscal.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has already assigned tourism as a high-priority area. Besides constructing budget-hotels, log huts, cabins, etc in picturesque locales around the state for accommodation purposes, the tourism department is actively promoting the concept of homestays, where travellers pay locals to stay at their place.
Forest dwellers living in the small hamlets within reserve forest areas of Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts have joined hands to initiate community-based tourism and improve their socio-economic conditions. Officials said there are 220 forest villages in north Bengal, out of which 20 villages have been identified, considering idyllic locations.
Staying in the guest houses of forest villagers, tourists also get the opportunity to enjoy the local cuisine and observe their indigenous culture from close quarters.
The tourism department is also trying to launch helicopter services to connect Digha, Murshidabad, Sunderbans, Sagar Islands and Mayapur to Kolkata. To encourage private investment in developing tourism infrastructure, they are also drawing up a PPP . :cheers:

WB emerging as new
investment destination:
Pranab
IANS | 02-Apr 02:29 AM
Kolkata: Even as the gap between the
Congress and the Trinamool Congress has
been widening on various issues, union
Finance Minister and Congress stalwart
Pranab Mukherjee Sunday hailed West
Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool
supremo Mamata Banerjee for
"responding" to aspirations and
expectations of the people.
He also said West Bengal, under
Banerjee's leadership, is emerging as a
new investment destination.
"Political choice exercised by the people
of Bengal in the last (assembly) elections
clearly indicates their expectations for
change and new aspirations. I am happy
that the new government, under the
leadership of Mamata Banerjee, is
responding to this new aspirations and
expectations of the people," Mukherjee
told the gathering at an Assocham
programme.
He also said the state was emerging as a
new investment destination.
"Recent developments suggest that West
Bengal is emerging as the new investment
destination which rekindles optimism
about the future of the state. As on
December 2011, the state has about 900
live investment projects worth Rs 6.11
lakh crore," he said.
Mukherjee's comment is significant in the
context of the prevailing relationship
between the Congress and Trinamool
Congress, both at the centre and in the
state, with tussle between the two parties
gaining momentum.
While the Trinamool has been a major
constituent of the Congress-led United
Progressive Alliance central government,
the Congress is also a constituent of the
Bengal government.
The gap between two parties had widened
on the issues like Teesta water sharing
dispute, FDI in retail and Lokayuktas in
states. Another tussle between the two
parties is imminent as Banerjee is going
ahead with the order, asking state-
sponsored and aided libraries to keep
select newspapers only.
The chief minister has further fuelled the
controversy by asserting that she may in
future even ask people to stop buying
certain newspapers "because a conspiracy
is going on against us".
Terming this move as "shocking" and
"most undemocratic", the state Congress
Sunday demanded immediate withdrawal
of the government order.
Praising the Mamata Banerjee-led
government, Mukherjee, however, said
with the change in the state government,
there was a significant scope to improve
policy environment to attract capital.
He said the state had got Rs 58,000 crore
new investment and was the clear
indication that the industrialists and
prospective investors were looking at the
state with both hope and expectations.
"The state attracted new investment
worth Rs 58,000 crore. Manufacturing
sector has got the major share - 36.5 per
cent of total live investment, this is
followed by electricity (29.4 per cent) and
service sector (18.9 per cent)," he added.

source: m.ibnlive.com/news/wb-emerging-as-new-investment-destination-pranab/244810-37.html

^^ encouraging .........

WB emerging as new
investment destination:
Pranab

"The state attracted new investment
worth Rs 58,000 crore. Manufacturing
sector has got the major share - 36.5 per
cent of total live investment, this is
followed by electricity (29.4 per cent) and
service sector (18.9 per cent)," he added.[/B]

source: m.ibnlive.com/news/wb-emerging-as-new-investment-destination-pranab/244810-37.html

Is there a list of companies with amounts they have proposed?

The biggest one is of course the recycle "eco" branded project in Nayachar of Rs 26,000 crores.

What are the others?

In the budget speech, it was claimed that the quantum of investment was 80.000 crores. Looks like Pranab babu is not aware of the revised figure?

West Bengal government committed to set up industries in Purulia

West Bengal state assembly was told on Monday that the government was committed to set up heavy industries in the state's backward district Purulia and has already received many proposals.

Replying to a question, Industry Minister Mr Partha Chatterjee said proposals from Jai Balaji, Neo Metalics Ltd, SRMB, Srijan Ltd, Shyam Steel Industries and Adhunik Corporation were under consideration.

The ministry added that while Jai Balaji has proposed to invest INR 16,000 crore, the proposals from Adhunik and Shyam Steel stated of investment of INR 7,200 crore and INR 3,425 crore respectively.

The minter added that Proposals of these three companies, when implemented, would create direct employment of over 4,000 people, he said adding the government also received a detailed project report from Reliance for setting up a unit in the district.

Replying to a supplementary, Mr Chatterjee said the state government had no intention for forcible acquisition of land. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of an IT Hub in Purulia on April 12.

Source - PTI

(www.steelguru.com)

West Bengal government committed to set up industries in Purulia

West Bengal state assembly was told on Monday that the government was committed to set up heavy industries in the state's backward district Purulia and has already received many proposals.

Replying to a question, Industry Minister Mr Partha Chatterjee said proposals from Jai Balaji, Neo Metalics Ltd, SRMB, Srijan Ltd, Shyam Steel Industries and Adhunik Corporation were under consideration.

The ministry added that while Jai Balaji has proposed to invest INR 16,000 crore, the proposals from Adhunik and Shyam Steel stated of investment of INR 7,200 crore and INR 3,425 crore respectively.

The minter added that Proposals of these three companies, when implemented, would create direct employment of over 4,000 people, he said adding the government also received a detailed project report from Reliance for setting up a unit in the district.

Replying to a supplementary, Mr Chatterjee said the state government had no intention for forcible acquisition of land. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of an IT Hub in Purulia on April 12.

Source - PTI

(www.steelguru.com (http://www.steelguru.com))

All these are old projects announced atleast 2-3 years back. Nothing has moved. Earlier govt. used to say these projects will come up. Now the current govt. is beating the same drum.

^^

Who will be opening offices in IT Hub Purulia? Suvoprasanna or Mahasweta or Anuradha or Medha or Arundhuti?

Prayag Film City ropes in Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador

http://www.afaqs.com/news/company_briefs/?id=53665_Prayag+Film+City+ropes+in+Shah+Rukh+Khan+as+brand+ambassador

Marking a major development in the Indian film and tourism industry, Prayag Group, having interests in infrastructure, hospitality and film production, has announced their dream venture 'Prayag Film City'. This first of its kind state-of-the-art film making arena in Asia is endorsed by iconic Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. On completion, the Rs 1000 crore project is envisaged across a projected area of 2,700 acres, Prayag Film City will be a mega size integrated film city complex and a one-stop entertainment destination to be opened to the public in two phases at Chandrakona, West Midnapore, 165kms from Kolkata.
Designed by eminent Bollywood art director Nitish Roy, the big bang Phase I opening of the Film City is slated for April 15, 2012.
On the occassion, Shah Rukh Khan said: 'I belong to the industry and projects like this build its future; so I'm very happy to be the ambassador for Prayag Film City.'

Is there a decent road in the so called "proposed IT hub in Purulia".

^^

Who will be opening offices in IT Hub Purulia? Suvoprasanna or Mahasweta or Anuradha or Medha or Arundhuti?

I was listening to the brain behind the land policy the other day - Mr. Debrabata (Pantua) Bandopadhyay [sorry if this offends anybody, but I couldnt help noticing his resemblance with a big pantua] - who was questioning why Tata was not given land in Kalyani when there was plenty of land there. He conveniently ignored the fact that many business houses had turned down Kalyani because of the lack of road infrastructure. It may be argued that it was the failure of the LF govt to build the infrastructure, but the point here is that business houses will select a spot with best available infrastructure. In the case of Puruliya also the Government is again committing a similar blunder, they are trying to coax the industry without providing the proper infrastructure. No matter how much the Government cries itself hoarse: "Apnara aschhen na keno?," eventually, people of Bengal will be the only looser.

Lets not talk about Purulia as an IT hub. If the WB Govt can move some of its IT deptt there then it can work. In fact this is the model which is now being followed in Kerala where all govt deptt are now being scattered across the state instead of concentrating in few cities.

I was listening to the brain behind the land policy the other day - Mr. Debrabata (Pantua) Bandopadhyay [sorry if this offends anybody, but I couldnt help noticing his resemblance with a big pantua] - who was questioning why Tata was not given land in Kalyani when there was plenty of land there. He conveniently ignored the fact that many business houses had turned down Kalyani because of the lack of road infrastructure. It may be argued that it was the failure of the LF govt to build the infrastructure, but the point here is that business houses will select a spot with best available infrastructure. In the case of Puruliya also the Government is again committing a similar blunder, they are trying to coax the industry without providing the proper infrastructure. No matter how much the Government cries itself hoarse: "Apnara aschhen na keno?," eventually, people of Bengal will be the only looser.

Well Pantua ji is said to be one of the main architects of Left Front's land reforms. Now almost every Trinamool leader, intellectual, economist will give you a long list of negatives about the land reforms. Even the Left has agreed that while the initial socio economic returns were good, later on the returns were diminishing and that's why the light finally dawned on them about industrialization. The irony is that Trinamool now has Pantua ji as its land reforms architect!

:lol:

Also Kalyani is no match as a location compared to Singur. Pantua ji should know that.

Pantua :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=405583&catid=42

The multi-crore Urban Haat in Durgapur would soon be opened as the project finally had seen completion three months ago. The micro, small & medium scale enterprises & textiles department (MSMSETD) of the state has set up the Haat with Central aide in the lines of the already-functioning Dilli Haat.
The Urban Haat scheme provides direct marketing facilities to the artisans and weavers where the craftsmen will be able to sell their products almost throughout the year. There will be a food park and the craftsmen will also be provided with living places, where they may stay temporarily against a minimal monthly charge.
The project to set up three such Haats in Santiniketan, Durgapur and Salt Lake though was conceived in the 2008-09 financial year, the first one of the lot ~ a Rs 4.40 crore project erected on 5 acres ~ took four years to be completed. The cut-off date for project completion of the Durgapur Haat was slated on 20 July 2011 which couldn’t be met due to multiple reasons. The state-backed Asansol Durgapur Development Authority’s (ADDA) new board finally stressed completion of the work when the Union cottage industry department officials, after a meeting in last November, inquired about the fund utilisation for the purpose. Two Central ministries ~ cottage industry and handloom development had disbursed Rs 1.05 crore each for the Durgapur Haat. The state spent Rs 2.15 crore besides allocation of 5 acres of land by the ADDA. State small & cottage industry minister Manas Bhuniya inspected the Durgapur Haat last Sunday and expressed satisfaction about the accommodation.
Dr Bhuniya told The Statesman today: “The chief minister will inaugurate the Urban Haat in Durgapur on 13 April. Now it is ready to use and this Haat will accommodate 300 artisans and craftsmen at a time.” :banana::cheers:

I was listening to the brain behind the land policy the other day - Mr. Debrabata (Pantua) Bandopadhyay [sorry if this offends anybody, but I couldnt help noticing his resemblance with a big pantua] - who was questioning why Tata was not given land in Kalyani when there was plenty of land there. He conveniently ignored the fact that many business houses had turned down Kalyani because of the lack of road infrastructure. It may be argued that it was the failure of the LF govt to build the infrastructure, but the point here is that business houses will select a spot with best available infrastructure. In the case of Puruliya also the Government is again committing a similar blunder, they are trying to coax the industry without providing the proper infrastructure. No matter how much the Government cries itself hoarse: "Apnara aschhen na keno?," eventually, people of Bengal will be the only looser.

This is a valid point. Mamata needs to build the infrastructure first.
Otherwise nobody will go to the remote areas of the state.

I am not sure whether it can be done but I think if possible she can try doing that through Backward Area Development fund that she got from the Centre for JungleMahal.

Moreover she has to push through the State Highway Road Corporation ( I am not sure if this is the right name) to develop the Highway infrastructure at least. I did not hear anything about that company other than the fact that the company got registered.

Suncity, there is no point in criticizing the intellectuals who started backing Mamata after the Nandigram genocide. 34 years was a huge time for Left Front to develop the infrastructure in the state and they failed miserably in that.
BTW,

This is a valid point. Mamata needs to build the infrastructure first.
Otherwise nobody will go to the remote areas of the state.

I am not sure whether it can be done but I think if possible she can try doing that through Backward Area Development fund that she got from the Centre for JungleMahal.

Moreover she has to push through the State Highway Road Corporation ( I am not sure if this is the right name) to develop the Highway infrastructure at least. I did not hear anything about that company other than the fact that the company got registered.

We have two excellent highways - NH2 and NH6 . NH34 expansion has been stalled for quite some time due to opposition by TMC. NH6A is nearing completion. There is excellent railway connectivity in Bengal.

Now if we have a stupid policy of not acquiring land along existing, good quality highways and railway tracks then why complain about infrastructure?

Arey baba if you make an excellent highway in Purulia, then too these same people will say we cannot acquire land along the highway.

It is a strange policy if the current regime thinks that we cannot have industries next to existing national highways. So when they build a nice highway in middle of Puruliya, land costs will go up and then what will they say? No factories along highway?

Now if they widen Kalyani Expressway and then say we cannot acquire land on either side then what's the point of having good infrastructure?

West Bengal's infrastructure may not be that good but its not that bad either. The real reason for holding up industrialization is that the previous regime understood the importance of industrialization only ten years ago. The new regime is still clueless. That is where the main problem is.


Suncity, there is no point in criticizing the intellectuals who started backing Mamata after the Nandigram genocide. 34 years was a huge time for Left Front to develop the infrastructure in the state and they failed miserably in that.
BTW,

While whatever happened in Nandigram is bad, it is well known that it was a result of TMC+Maoists instigating people, an incompetent Left Front adminstration and trigger happy and untrained police. It doesn't fit the term "genocide". BTW do you think what happened in Gujarat is genocide -Also what happened to Sikhs in 1984?- yes or no. Then we can discuss further in SSC Adda.

Genocide (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide): Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group",[1] though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars.[2] While a precise definition varies among genocide scholars, a legal definition is found in the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG). Article 2 of this convention defines genocide as "any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life, calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group children of the group to another group."[3]. It can simply also be known as the intent to destroy a group, in part or in whole. Intent must be proven, otherwise the crime cannot be identified as genocide.

Similarly it is foolish to call Mamata fascist or hitler.

As far as infrastructure is concerned see my previous point.

http://www.anandabazar.com/6pgn2.html

NHAI is planning to build two flyovers over railway tracks at Habra. They will also build two underpasses. There is a proposal to build flyover at Ashoknagar also.

হাবরায় যশোহর রোডে রেললাইনের উপর দু’টি উড়ালপুল তৈরির জন্য এলাকা পরিদর্শন করলেন জাতীয় সড়ক কর্তৃপক্ষ এবং রেলের পদস্থ কর্তারা। বৃহস্পতিবার তাঁরা হাবরার ১ এবং ২ নম্বর রেলগেট এলাকা ঘুরে দেখেন। এর পর হাবরা পুরসভায় সংশ্লিষ্ট সব পক্ষের উপস্থিতিতে একটি বৈঠক হয়। হাবরা পুরসভা সূত্রের খবর, উড়ালপুলের পাশাপাশি দু’টি আন্ডারপাসও তৈরি হওয়ার কথা। জাতীয় সড়ক এবং রেল যৌথ ভাবে এই কাজ করবে। কিন্তু এই কাজের জন্য কত টাকা লাগবে বা উড়ালপুলটি কতটা লম্বা হবে তা অবশ্য এখনও ঠিক হয়নি। হাবরা পুরসভার চেয়ারম্যান তপতী দত্ত বলেন, “সিদ্ধান্ত হয়েছে, আগামী ১৭ এপ্রিল ওই প্রকল্পের জন্য জমি চিহ্নিতকরণ হবে। সেই মতো ২ নম্বর রেলগেট এলাকায় ইতিমধ্যেই ৩২টি দোকানঘর ভাঙার নোটিস দেওয়া হয়েছে।” জাতীয় সড়ক কর্তৃপক্ষের তরফে জানানো হয়েছে, হাবরার পাশাপাশি অশোকনগরেও একটি উড়ালপুল হওয়ার কথা আছে।
যানজট হাবরা শহরের দীর্ঘদিনের সমস্যা। ২ নম্বর রেলগেট থেকে চোংদা মোড় পর্যন্ত প্রায় ৫ কিলোমিটার রাস্তা পেরোতে দেড় ঘণ্টা সময় লেগে যায়। তাই হাবরায় উড়ালপুলের দাবি দীর্ঘদিনের। স্থানীয় বিধায়ক ও খাদ্যমন্ত্রী জ্যোতিপ্রিয় মল্লিক বলেন, “নির্বাচনের সময় আমরা উড়ালপুল তৈরির প্রতিশ্রুতি দিয়েছিলাম। তা ছাড়া মুখ্যমন্ত্রীও হাবরার যানজট নিয়ে খোঁজ নিয়েছেন। হাবরার যানজটের জন্য বারাসত থেকে বনগাঁ যেতে এক ঘণ্টা বেশি সময় লাগে। সে জন্য উড়ালপুলের প্রস্তাব দেওয়া হয়েছিল। উড়ালপুল দু’টো তৈরি হয়ে গেলে যানজট সমস্যা অনেকটাই কমে যাবে।” মন্ত্রী জানান, দু’টো উড়ালপুল তৈরিতে খরচ হবে প্রায় ৩২ কোটি টাকা। জাতীয় সড়ক কর্তৃপক্ষ এবং রেল ১৬ কোটি করে দেবে। প্রকল্পের জন্য যশোহর রোডের দু’ধারে যাঁদের দোকানঘর ভাঙা পড়ছে তাঁদের প্রস্তাবিত ‘হকার জোন’এ পুনর্বাসন দেওয়া হবে। হকার মার্কেটের জন্য জমিও চিহ্নিত হয়েছে বলে জানান জ্যোতিপ্রিয়বাবু। সেখানে প্রায় চারশোটি দোকানঘর হবে। মন্ত্রী বলেন, “হকার মার্কেটের জন্য মোট খরচ ধরা হয়েছে ১ কোটি ২৪ লক্ষ টাকা। ৬২ লক্ষ টাকা রাজ্য সরকার ইতিমধ্যে বরাদ্দ করেছে। শীঘ্রই অর্থমন্ত্রী এবং পুরমন্ত্রীকে দিয়ে নির্মাণ কাজের সূচনা হবে।” :cheers:

Puja Mall, Kharagpur

photo copyright piyush9685 (http://www.panoramio.com/photo/64777495)

http://img859.imageshack.us/img859/7883/kharagpurmallpiyush.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/859/kharagpurmallpiyush.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Looks nice, does it have a multiplex? Kharagpur needs more of these commercial outlets to become a satellite town of Kolkata.

Looks perfect and cool for 14.5 lakh populated city. Better still, INOX is coming to this place :cheers:

Looks perfect and cool for 14.5 lakh populated city. Better still, INOX is coming to this place :cheers:

Kharagpur Urban Agglomeration population as per 2011 census is 293,719 only.

Agri marketing budget has been increased by 300%...govt. should fully utilize the fund in the best possible manner...

Bengal's roses for Italy
Submitted by admin4 on 8 April 2012 - 4:33pm
India News
By Anurag Dey, IANS,

Kolkata : Italian lovers can now gift roses from West Bengal to their sweethearts, with the state government planning to tap the European nation's market for exporting the flower, said an official here Sunday.

"With over one lakh pieces per week, the demand for roses in Italy is huge and we want to tap the market. The plan to export the flowers is in place and the agricultural marketing department has already allotted Rs.16.5 crore for the project," State Agricultural Marketing Minister Arup Ray told IANS.

The first shipment will be sent this year itself.

The department is also in talks with several Italian trade organisations, who would facilitate the export and also train the cultivators about new and improved ways of farming the flower.

"The project will initially be started on a pilot basis in Bagnan (Howrah district) and later will be spread to Panskura (East Midnapore) and other flower growing areas of the state," said Ray.

The government is also mulling to establish a flower market apart from constructing cold storages in the area.

"In spite Bagnan and Panskura being major flower producers there is neither a proper marketplace nor storage facilities. We will be setting up cold storage facilities in these areas. Talks are also on for establishing a flowermandi (flower market)," Ray added.

http://twocircles.net/2012apr08/bengals_roses_italy.html

Agri marketing budget has been increased by 300%...govt. should fully utilize the fund in the best possible manner...

Bengal's roses for Italy
Submitted by admin4 on 8 April 2012 - 4:33pm
India News
By Anurag Dey, IANS,

"With over one lakh pieces per week, the demand for roses in Italy is huge and we want to tap the market. The plan to export the flowers is in place and the agricultural marketing department has already allotted Rs.16.5 crore for the project," State Agricultural Marketing Minister Arup Ray told IANS.

The first shipment will be sent this year itself.

http://twocircles.net/2012apr08/bengals_roses_italy.html


baba. this is what they promised last year too. Still not much progress I guess. Anyway best of luck for this effort.

West Bengal keen to export roses to Italy, other European countries

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-07-16/news/29781787_1_roses-flowers-west-bengal

ET Bureau Jul 16, 2011, 05.20pm IST

West Bengal government is keen to export roses to Italy and other European countries and is in talks with an Italian trade organization, which may visit Kolkata shortly, to expedite the process.

Agriculture marketing minister Arup Roy said, "We are trying to market the flowers grown in Bengal in the international market. We have made a beginning with Italy. A trade organization there wants to import roses from our state."

He expects roses from Bagnan in Howrah to be in Italian markets by the end of this year. Bagnan is among the two areas in the state where roses are produced in bulk. The Italian team will visit this region to impart training to flower growers on the latest agricultural techniques.

^^ I somewhere read that they did export last year but it was nothing compare to what Karnatak and some other states did(I remember like entire Lufthansa flight was used to carry the flower)...proper processing and cold storage were cited as the possible bottlenecks that time... let see how it goes this year...

Looks perfect and cool for 14.5 lakh populated city. Better still, INOX is coming to this place :cheers:

Is that Kharagpur!!!

Can't believe it. During my days in KGP, I remember the cinema hall beside the rail quarters, where some telegu movie would go on eternally. Probably the KGPians would somewhat stop cribbing about the lack of enterntainement at the place :)

Telugu movie? In Kharagpur?

My uncle studied in Kharagpur IIT in the 1970s. He said the entire staff was all Telugus (canteen and so on, not faculty and in fact very few Telugu students among BTech. The Telugu domination of JEE was yet to begin). Am surprised to know that Telugus are quite significant outside IIT too. :)

My uncle studied in Kharagpur IIT in the 1970s. He said the entire staff was all Telugus (canteen and so on, not faculty and in fact very few Telugu students among BTech. The Telugu domination of JEE was yet to begin). Am surprised to know that Telugus are quite significant outside IIT too. :)

Where do IIT KGP get its canteen staff from? The area where IIT Kgp is located is full of telegu origin people. And this movie theatre was for them.

My uncle studied in Kharagpur IIT in the 1970s. He said the entire staff was all Telugus (canteen and so on, not faculty and in fact very few Telugu students among BTech. The Telugu domination of JEE was yet to begin). Am surprised to know that Telugus are quite significant outside IIT too. :)

i think that is because a sizable number of Telegu railways employees live in KGP. moreover nowadays 25 percent IIT students are Telegus

Prayag film city..

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/525522_428038763889896_100000513295755_1699773_767006974_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/538814_428038820556557_100000513295755_1699774_948739176_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/561968_428038940556545_100000513295755_1699775_913979706_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/303400_428038983889874_100000513295755_1699776_783120285_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/525924_428039063889866_100000513295755_1699777_1754241417_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/427829_428039130556526_100000513295755_1699778_603540771_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/578845_428039193889853_100000513295755_1699779_41002909_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/553110_428039353889837_100000513295755_1699781_202717129_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/545980_428039397223166_100000513295755_1699782_588978036_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/579813_428040073889765_1568880573_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/552779_428040197223086_100000513295755_1699792_2023698535_n.jpg

^^

Nice photos Abhishek.

:cheers:

This project started some years back and it is surprising to see something happening in WB over such a large land area without any reported poltical controversy.

^^

Nice photos Abhishek.

:cheers:

This project started some years back and it is surprising to see something happening in WB over such a large land area without any reported poltical controversy.

thank you sun... yes it happened almost quietly without much controversy.. just came to know couple of weeks back..

Good photo ... somewhere read it will be the largest film city in India once completed

http://epratidin.in/epaperimages/1242012/1242012-md-hr-12/4574393.JPG

source (epratidin.in)

Durgapur hospital

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120326/jsp/calcutta/story_15291704.jsp

The Narayana Hrudayalaya hospital group of Devi Shetty will manage a 1,000-bedded hospital in Durgapur.

The promoters of the hospital — Synergy, SPS and Mani groups — said the hospital would be upgraded to a medical college. The first phase will have 150 beds. The Rs 500crore project, IQ City Health and Knowledge Campus, will also have a dental college, hospital management institute, nursing and paramedical training colleges and allied health sciences institute.

“We have the expertise to manage hospitals but don’t have funds to build one in Durgapur,” said Shetty. “We have been managing hospitals set up by other groups,” the cardiac surgeon added.

“The hospital will be operational in three months. Then we’ll apply for the licence for medical college from the medical council,” said Sanjay Jhunjhunwala of the Mani group

Durgapur IQ City layout

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/7387/durgapuriqcitymasterpla.jpg (http://img35.imageshack.us/i/durgapuriqcitymasterpla.jpg/)

Durgapur IQ City google earth 2010

Looks like they started with the hospital quite some time back and it will be ready soon.

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/7539/durgapuriqcity2010.jpg (http://img683.imageshack.us/i/durgapuriqcity2010.jpg/)

Mamata endorses project attacked by her party

http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=406531&catid=35

DURGAPUR, 13 APRIL: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today executed a 180-degree turn for her party when she laid the foundation for a controversial private medical college here that had been facing criticism from the Trinamul Congress ahead of the last Assembly election.

The statutory approval for the medical college from the relevant authority is yet to be received by the promoter. Miss Banerjee acknowledged this, but said: “I wouldn't have come here but I agreed to come as I know the state alone cannot provide such utilities.”

The project, that comprises a medical college and a proposed Health City to be set up on 600 acres, was touted by the Left Front as a major development project ahead of the 2006 Assembly election. The foundation for the project was laid by the LF industry minister Nirupam Sen on 17 February 2006, for which the Asansol-Durgapur Development Authority had given in-principle approval for land allotment in November 2005. The first phase of the project was supposed to have been inaugurated in 2009.

Trinamul leaders, in the run-up to the last Assembly election, had hit out at the LF for extending undue favours towards the project. Last year, industry minister Partha Chatterjee, at an “Investor's Meet” here, also had said several anomalies were apparent in the project and it could not be given a go-ahead.

Another project that was opposed when in opposition..

Mamata launches Trans Damodar coal mining project

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article3311741.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home

The West Bengal Chief Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, on Friday rolled out Trans Damodar Coal Mining Project in Bankura district.

According to a release, the Trans Damodar Coal Block is one of the six coal blocks allocated by the Union Coal Ministry through the state dispensation route to the West Bengal Mineral Development and Trading Corporation Ltd (WBMDTC). Both opencast and underground portions will be awarded to WBMDTC.

The coal exploited from the block would be sold to the coal using industries based in West Bengal through e-auction and 12.5 per cent coal would be sold to the coal using enterprises in micro and small sectors, the release said.

Prayag film city..

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/525522_428038763889896_100000513295755_1699773_767006974_n.jpg



nice pics abhishek... this project came out of the blue..

thanks Rajarshi..actually it goes to one of my friends :)

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bengal-to-vest-270-acresjsw-land-at-salboni/445536/

The West Bengal government has decided to vest the 270 acres, directly purchased by Sajjan Jindal-promoted JSW Bengal Steel at Salboni in West Medinipur, with it.
“After vesting the land, it will be given to the company on lease,” officials close to the development said after a meeting between JSW Steel officials and the state land reforms commissioner on Wednesday.
JSW Steel had acquired 294 acres “ryotwari” land directly, without the approval from the land reforms department. The Land Reforms Act places a ceiling of 24 acres on land acquisition while Section 14Y of the Act exempts the ceiling, primarily, in four cases — mill, factory, workshops and tea gardens. The state government will vest 270 acres after accounting for 24 acres, which is permissible, after JSW Bengal Steel makes an application for it. The previous government, too, had also decided to vest the land and then lease in November 2010, but the decision was scrapped by the new government. The Mamata Banerjee-led government had explicitly expressed its discontent over the close to three-year delay in the project.
The vesting process is expected to be completed in a month, after which the company will achieve financial closure for the first phase of its 10-million tonne steel project at Salboni. The investment in the first phase, comprising three million tonnes of steel-making capacity and 300Mw of power, would cost Rs 20,000 crore.
The remaining land has to be acquired by the company. The development agreement between the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) and JSW Steel had a clause wherein the government agency had promised to acquire land for road access and also if the company faced problems in acquisition. That clause stands annulled since the new government has decided not to acquire land for industrial projects.
The company, which entered into a development agreement in 2007, has not been able to acquire 14 acres of the 450 acres of private land as it was disputed and some land owners did not have documents.
“The 14 acres is scattered all over the project site spread over 4,334 acres,” an official said. The total land the company will have to acquire is 49 acres, apart from the 14 acres. “We will have to purchase land for road access and railway linkages,” the official said. The quantum of land to be purchased may be small, but it is key to the project.
For the purchase of the remaining land, the company will have to seek approval from the state in advance. If the lease is done in a month, then the company will go ahead with groundbreaking in October.

Indian Railways soon intends to sign a JV agreement for setting up a wagon component manufacturing facility at Jellingham in East Midnapore district of West Bengal. The Rs200-crore project will be set up for manufacturing 10,000 wagon couplers and 10,000 bogies per year. The Railways has agreed to an assured off-take of 5,000 couplers and 5,000 bogies per annum. The project was sanctioned to set up a steel foundry for manufacturing of wagon bogies and wagon couplers where Burn Standard has 128 acres on lease from the Kolkata Port Trust.

http://www.projectsmonitor.com/MISC/in-brief--transport--logistics-21

Kharagpur Urban Agglomeration population as per 2011 census is 293,719 only.

Apparently, I found this from Wikipedia about KGP:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kharagpur,_West_Bengal

In the 2011 census, Kharagpur Urban Agglomeration had a population of 293,719 (which you were referring to).
And this is what I was trying to refer to:
At present Kharagpur City has a population almost 6.5 lakhs.And including the population of railways,IIT army,AirForce,EFR & the rest of common populations,it builds up to 14.5 lakhs.

Apparently, I found this from Wikipedia about KGP:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kharagpur,_West_Bengal

In the 2011 census, Kharagpur Urban Agglomeration had a population of 293,719 (which you were referring to).
And this is what I was trying to refer to:
At present Kharagpur City has a population almost 6.5 lakhs.And including the population of railways,IIT army,AirForce,EFR & the rest of common populations,it builds up to 14.5 lakhs.

wikipedia is incorrect in this case.

Looks like the coal ministry is raising its opposition again. It had tried to stall the project earlier during previous regime. Now it is raising issue again!

India’s first aero city project suffers due to Centre-Mamata spat

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indias-first-aero-city-project-suffers-due-to-Centre-Mamata-spat/articleshow/12740431.cms

The off and on sparring between the Centre and West Bengal government was evident yet again when the Union government on Thursday threw a spanner in the works of the ongoing Rs 10,000 cr Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL), India's first aero city project, at Andal.

The Union coal ministry sent its objections to the project in a letter to chief minister Mamata Banerjee, saying it would block an A-grade coal reserve which would affect several states, said coal minister Sri Prakash Jaiswal. He was in Asansol to review the performance of Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL).

"We are surprised by the statement of the coal minister since both the activities were permitted earlier," a statement issued by Aerotropolis said.

Bengal commerce and industries minister Partha Chatterjee said the state government will reply to the coal ministry. Aerotropolis authority claimed that the coal ministry had earlier given the go ahead saying that the project and the underground mining could be carried out simultaneously.

Coal India (CIL) had first raised such objection in September 2008. Later, the project site was realigned to release 150 acres of coal-bearing land. About the proposed site of Aerotropolis, CIL had said that a majority of the area demarcated for the project has huge coal reserve, and any permanent structure there would affect the future energy security of the country.

not sure how much merit is there in the objection but this is just a pressure tactics before presidential election..

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-19/kolkata/31367210_1_power-project-land-acquisition-ntpc-officials

The state cabinet on Wednesday decided to hand over 575 acres of land to NTPC to set up a thermal power project.

The NTPC had initially planned to set up a 1600 MW power project on 1600 acres at Burdwan's Katwa in Burdwan on 1600 acres, but it was postponed due to land acquisition problems, as local landowners had resisted the move of land acquisition. The state government, which is against was against any land acquisition, had asked and the NTPC officials were asked by the state government to set up the plant ir power project on a smaller area. However, NTPC wants around 1100 acres of land for the power project.
Earlier, West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL) had acquired been acquiring the land on behalf of NTPC, but it managed to acquire around 480 acres for NTPC. Later, the state managed to acquire 575 acres in the area. Now, the state wants to start the project on the same plot without any further delay.

NTPC had earlier agreed to invest Rs 9,600 crore for the Katwa power project, but as the state government is unwilling to provide more land, the power project can only come up on a small scale because 0.7 acre of land is required to install one megawatt of power. as for installing every megawatt of power .7 acres of land is needed.

Even the NTPC officials are apprehensive if the power plant will be technically feasible on such a small plot. But state officials said that more land acquisition is a tough job in Katwa and it can create law and order problem.

The state cabinet also decided on setting up a degree college in Rajarhat-New Town. It even the state government approved appointment of financial consultant for six departments, so that these departments do not have to send files to the finance department to get the latter's concurrence of the finance department.

As earlier departments like home, health, PWD, urban development used to complain about delay in their projects as unnecessarily files were held up in the finance department and so to smoothen the process the financial consultants will be recruited. There will be also recruitment of some home guards and green police will be recruited for the various police commissionerates. The state also approved the construction of a bridge al for a bridge on river Subarnarekha in West Midnapore(West) was given and for which the state government will acquire land. :cheers:

not sure how much merit is there in the objection but this is just a pressure tactics before presidential election..

You are probably right. Jato faltoo jhamela. The state suffers due to these polticians.

http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=407315&catid=72

Development of Digha, Sankarpur gets boost
20 April 2012
biswabrata goswami

DIGHA, 20 APRIL: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee's plan to transform the state's popular sea resort ~ Digha ~ into a more popular tourist destination, like Goa, seems to be moving at a good pace. The Digha-Sankarpur Development Authority (DSDA) is planning to set up an ethnic spa and health club on 3.5 acres of land near the beach at Digha.
The DSDA has already floated a tender inviting applications from single entities, joint ventures or consortiums having technical expertise, financial capability and operational experience in a related sector on a design-build-finance-operate-transfer basis for a period of 30 years.
The state government, meanwhile, has asked Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS) to prepare a "pre-feasibility study" for setting up of a ropeway from Old Digha to New Digha. "We have requested the IL&FS to start a pre-feasibility study in this regard. The study is to examine things starting from availability of land to safety measures,” said Mr Soumen Pal, executive officer of the DSDA.
Mr Pal said that the 7.5-km long proposed ropeway will not only attract tourist but also serve as an urban transportation facility, which will eventually ease the load on the roads.
Talking about the development plans, Mr Pal said: "Survey works on a sewerage and drainage system in Digha have already been completed by the state public health engineering and urban development departments. A proposal to build up an advanced sewerage and drainage system in Digha has also been sent to the state government.”
“With the rise in the numbers of tourists, the pollution level has also risen. Digha, which was once called the 'Brighton of the East', has turned into a garbage-filled spot with plastic littered everywhere. But, this will no longer be the scene of Digha when the sewerage and drainage system is introduced," said Mr Ashok Bishal, a Trinamul Congress zilla parishad member.
Following the chief minister's recent visit to Digha, the administration has taken steps to develop infrastructure and include Tajpur within the DSDA in an attempt to develop the Digha-Mandarmani-Tajpur area as a tourism circuit like Goa.
In addition, the state government is taking steps to renovate and widen at least three roads in the area. “Works for transforming the existing Digha bypass road into double lane have already been started and a fund of Rs 60 lakh for lighting the beach with LED lamps has been sanctioned,” said Mr Pal.
The state government has also set up a separate police station at Digha railway station to look after law-and-order situation of 11 railway stations falling under its jurisdiction. This apart, the Digha Science Centre, one of the satellite units of the National Council of Science Museums, Union ministry of culture, has recently opened two new galleries ~ Fun Science and Reflection ~ to attract more tourists.

^^

Sewerage and drainage system will probably not help in garbage and plastic litter. You need a proper garbage collection and recycling system apart from civic sense and pride amongst the resident and visiting population to tackle that.

Ropeway is a good tourist attraction. It is doubtful that it can ease load on roads.

Sul Steel starts testing labs

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/steel/sul-steel-starts-testing-labs/articleshow/12881354.cms

Sul Steel Private, a leading manufacturer of steel products like, TMT bars, rounds, flats, channels and other structural items under the 'Sul' brand name, has established four labs across the state offering free testing of TMT bars.

These labs, perhaps a first of its kind facility in the sector, are located at Paharpur factory of Sul Steel in Kolkata, at Berhampore in Murshidabad, in a Krishnanagar, Nadia and Malda town in Maldah district. The company's initiative comes in the wake of the earthquake that took place causing wanton death and destruction last September, 18, 2011. The company is planning to set up two more labs and test houses, one in North 24 Parganas at Barasat and the other one in South 24 Parganas district.

Govt is planning Pragati Utsav in Milan Mela compound.
Source: Blog of Debashish Sen http://principalsecretarysblog.blogspot.in/

I commented about the need to create a buzz. However I didnot get any response. In case there is not enough marketing of this exhibition, this may also be a flop show like Bengal Leads 2012.

moved to tourism section

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article3367392.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home

Upmarket tourist resort to come up in New Digha

AYAN PRAMANIK

KOLKATA, APRIL 29:
The Digha Sankarpur Development Authority (DSDA) on Friday allocated 24 acres of land in New Digha for setting up a high-end tourist resort. Aimed at attracting high-end travellers, the resort will conduct underwater sports, night safari on sea, ayurvedic spa and others. The project would be developed through one or more private companies.

Digha is the state's popular seaside tourist destination in East Midnapore district.

“We have allocated 24 acres of land in New Digha for setting up the project. IL&FS will conduct the bidding process,” Mr. Debashis Sen, chairman of DSDA, adding that the civic body has already spoken to a couple of developers “informally.”

DSDA has already invited expression of interest (EoI) for the project, to be submitted before May 15. The proposed tourist hub will have under-sea activities for the high-end tourists, mid-range hotels, ayurvedic spas and an amusement park. Apart from these, the developers can add more itineraries to it, Mr Sen said.

“Though an under-sea zone for leisure activities will involve a huge cost and need a cutting-edge technology, a couple of developers have showed interests for this. On the other hand, developing mid-level hotels, amusement park and spas will not be cost-intensive,” he pointed out.

Besides, DSDA is also planning to begin a “fishing safari” for the premium tourists. “Fishing safari will be like an expedition of catching fish in the night as part of the itineraries,” Mr Sen added.

Currently, the DSDA has put up a few tent accommodations in New Digha area.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article3367392.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home

Upmarket tourist resort to come up in New Digha

AYAN PRAMANIK

KOLKATA, APRIL 29:
The Digha Sankarpur Development Authority (DSDA) on Friday allocated 24 acres of land in New Digha for setting up a high-end tourist resort. Aimed at attracting high-end travellers, the resort will conduct underwater sports, night safari on sea, ayurvedic spa and others. The project would be developed through one or more private companies.

Digha is the state's popular seaside tourist destination in East Midnapore district.

“We have allocated 24 acres of land in New Digha for setting up the project. IL&FS will conduct the bidding process,” Mr. Debashis Sen, chairman of DSDA, adding that the civic body has already spoken to a couple of developers “informally.”

DSDA has already invited expression of interest (EoI) for the project, to be submitted before May 15. The proposed tourist hub will have under-sea activities for the high-end tourists, mid-range hotels, ayurvedic spas and an amusement park. Apart from these, the developers can add more itineraries to it, Mr Sen said.

“Though an under-sea zone for leisure activities will involve a huge cost and need a cutting-edge technology, a couple of developers have showed interests for this. On the other hand, developing mid-level hotels, amusement park and spas will not be cost-intensive,” he pointed out.

Besides, DSDA is also planning to begin a “fishing safari” for the premium tourists. “Fishing safari will be like an expedition of catching fish in the night as part of the itineraries,” Mr Sen added.

Currently, the DSDA has put up a few tent accommodations in New Digha area.


I think its high time we start a West Bengal tourism thread. Sun / Abhishek ....can anyone of you take the initiative?

Looks like the Durgapur airport has hit a wall again thanks to the coal ministry. They have long tried to disrupt this important project. The time taken to disrupt and delay projects in India by an inefficient bureacracy, corrup politicians and socialist activists is creating a bad name for the country and holding up progress.

It is time Didi gave this minister a piece of her mind.

Andal on lips, Delhi stokes coal concern

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120420/jsp/bengal/story_15397157.jsp

I think its high time we start a West Bengal tourism thread. Sun / Abhishek ....can anyone of you take the initiative?

Feel free to create a thread and take ownership.

:cheers:

Narayana Hrudayalaya plans to set up 100 low-cost hospitals (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article3380488.ece)
Ahmedabad, May 3:
The Bangalore-based Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospitals (NH), which currently has 14 hospitals with 6,000 beds in seven States, is planning to invest nearly Rs 5,000 crore on setting up a

chain of 100 low-cost speciality hospitals and at least three more health cities in the country.

The low-cost hospitals will add 30,000 beds in five years. The company will invest Rs 25-30 crore on each of these hospitals, using prefabricated construction materials. “The first such hospital is being built by L&T in Mysore. We want to prove that a state-of-the-art, 300-bed multi-speciality hospital can be built for $6 million to $7 million (Rs 35 crore) as against estimates of $25 million,” Dr Devi Shetty, Chairman, said here on Thursday.

These hospitals will be opened in cities with a population of between five and 10 lakhs. Nine such projects will be operational in the next 18 months.

After Bangalore, the company’s second super-speciality Health City complex, offering all healthcare facilities at one place, is coming up on a 37-acre plot in Ahmedabad. With a total investment of Rs 600 crore planned in five years, it will have 5,000 beds in three-four phases, besides a medical college that will admit 200 students from poor families, nursing and paramedical institutions.

In the first phase, inaugurated on Thursday by the Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, NH has provided 300 beds at a cost of Rs 110 crore. “Economy of scale, sharing infrastructure and expertise reduces our cost of operation and other expenses,” said Dr Shetty.

About half-a-dozen more hospitals will be established in the same campus, Dr A. Raghuvanshi, Managing Director, told Business Line. “We are also planning to set up two more health cities, in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, with similar investments.”

Dr Shetty said India needs to perform 25 lakh heart operations annually but is able to operate only about 90,000 patients. “We want to make India the first nation to dissociate healthcare from prosperity by providing ultramodern treatment at the lowest cost.”


Narayana Hrudayalaya plans to set up four health cities (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article3380392.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home)
Ahmedabad, May 3:

Ms Kiran Mazumdar Shaw promoted Narayana Hrudayalaya (NH), on Thursday said it would set up four 5,000 bed health cities in India.

“We shall build four more 5,000 bed health cities in India, apart from Bangalore and Ahmedabad. These shall offer medical care facilities in heart, kidney and cancer,” NH CMD Dr Ashutosh Raghuvanshi told PTI.

“One city each is planned in Jaipur and West Bengal, while two shall come up on the outskirts of Kolkata,” he said adding that land for the Jaipur project has been acquired and project for West Bengal is in final stages of negotiation.

“The health city in Jaipur is expected to be operational in next three years,” Mr Raghuvanshi said.

The NH group today dedicated a 300-bed hospital at Rakhiyal in Ahmedabad, which is first phase of the 5,000 bed health city project here being developed with an investment of Rs 600 crore. It will be inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister Mr Narendra Modi later today.

The facility here, projected to have a Centre of Excellence, has potential to treat 10,000 patients per day.

The group has set an ambitious target of having a 30,000 bed capacity on low cost model in 100 towns across the country, having population between half a million to one million, and currently working without a heart hospital.

“The model low cost 300-bed hospitals using pre-fabricated technology costs around $ 6 million, which otherwise of similar capacity are constructed at an investment of around $ 30-35 million, NH Chairman Dr Devi Shetty said.

“Nine such low cost model hospitals are in project stage, four of them are in West Bengal, one each in Orissa and Assam, they shall be operational in next five to seven years,” he said.

http://www.anandabazar.com/5bus2.html

অবশেষে বাধা কাটল। যাবতীয় বোঝাপড়ার পর আগামী সপ্তাহেই শালবনির ইস্পাত প্রকল্পের জন্য জিন্দল গোষ্ঠীর সঙ্গে লিজ চুক্তি হতে চলেছে রাজ্য সরকারের। শুক্রবার মহাকরণে সংস্থার কর্তাদের সঙ্গে বৈঠকের পর এ কথা জানান শিল্পমন্ত্রী পার্থ চট্টোপাধ্যায়। তবে একই সঙ্গে তিনি বলেন, “ওদের কাছ থেকে আর্থিক বিষয়ে বিস্তারিত তথ্য পাওয়ার পর তিন বছরের মধ্যে কারখানা চালু করতে হবে। না-হলে জমি ফিরিয়ে নেওয়া হবে।” প্রকল্প চূড়ান্ত হওয়ায় মুখ্যমন্ত্রী এক দিন তা পরিদর্শনে যাবেন বলেও জানিয়েছেন তিনি।
পশ্চিম মেদিনীপুরের শালবনিতে এক কোটি টনের ইস্পাত প্রকল্প গড়তে পূর্বতন বাম সরকারের সঙ্গে চুক্তি করেছিল জিন্দল গোষ্ঠী। জমিদাতা পরিবারের এক জনকে চাকরি এবং শেয়ার দেওয়ার কথাও এ রাজ্যে প্রথম ঘোষণা করেছিল তারাই। তখন প্রকল্পের জন্য প্রয়োজনীয় মোট ৪,২৫৯ একর জমির ব্যবস্থা করেছিল রাজ্য। এর মধ্যে অধিগ্রহণ করা হয়েছিল ৩,৮০০ একর। আরও ২৭০ একর সংস্থা সরাসরি কিনলেও পরে তা খাস করে নেয় রাজ্য সরকার। পরে সেই জমি আবার ফিরিয়ে দেওয়া হয় তাদের। প্রকল্পের বাকি ১৮৯ একর জমি মূলত ঊর্দ্ধসীমা আইনের জটে আটকে ছিল সরকারের কাছে। এ দিন শিল্পমন্ত্রীর সঙ্গে বৈঠকে সেই সব জট কেটেছে।
পার্থবাবু বলেন, “আগের সরকার প্রকল্পটি নিয়ে চুক্তি (ডেভলপমেন্ট এগ্রিমেন্ট) করেছিল। আমরা পুরো জমির লিজ চুক্তি করছি। প্রকল্প ঘিরে দেওয়া সব সামাজিক কাজের প্রতিশ্রুতিও লিখিতপড়িত করা হচ্ছে।” শিল্পমন্ত্রী জানান, এর মধ্যে চাকরি ও অংশীদারিত্বের কথা থাকবে। সঙ্গে থাকবে হাসপাতাল নির্মাণ, সংশ্লিষ্ট প্রতি গ্রামে স্বাস্থ্যকেন্দ্র তৈরি, গ্রামের মানুষের ব্যবসা করার জন্য সব্জি মণ্ডি তৈরির প্রস্তাবও।
এ প্রসঙ্গে সংস্থার অন্যতম কর্তা বিশ্বদ্বীপ গুপ্ত বলেন, “প্রকল্পের পরিকাঠামো তৈরি শুরু হয়ে গেছে। বর্ষার শেষে মূল কারখানা গড়ায় হাত দেওয়া হবে। হাসপাতালের শিলান্যাসও হবে সেই সময়ই। আমরা চাই, মুখ্যমন্ত্রী সেই শিলান্যাস করুন।” শিল্পমন্ত্রী বলেন, “তার আগে আমি এক বার যাব।”
জিন্দলদের নিয়ে এ পর্যন্ত মোট ১২৮টি প্রকল্পের জমি-জট কাটল বলে এ দিন দাবি করেন শিল্পমন্ত্রী। এই সব প্রকল্পই বাম আমলে প্রস্তাবিত। সম্মিলিত লগ্নির অঙ্ক প্রায় ১.১০ লক্ষ কোটি টাকা। পার্থবাবু বলেন, “আমরা নির্দিষ্ট কারণে জমি দেব। কিন্তু সেই জমি ঠিক ভাবে কাজে লাগানো হচ্ছে কিনা, তা-ও তদারকি করব। তবে খবরদারি করব না।”
জিন্দলদের প্রকল্প চূড়ান্ত হলেও অবশ্য বাম জমানায় চুক্তি হওয়া অন্য ইস্পাত প্রকল্পগুলি নিয়ে আদৌ আশাবাদী নন শিল্পমন্ত্রী। বরং প্রকল্পের কাজ না-করে যে সব সংস্থা কয়লার ব্লক নিয়ে আটকে রেখেছে, তাদের কার্যত হুঁশিয়ারি দিয়েছেন তিনি। তাঁর কথায়, “যারা কয়লার ব্লক নিয়ে ফেলে রেখেছে, কাজ করেনি, তাদের অবস্থা বুঝে রিপোর্ট করার জন্য আজই সংশ্লিষ্ট কর্তৃপক্ষকে নির্দেশ দেওয়া হয়েছে। সংস্থাগুলিকে ওই ব্লক ব্যবহার নিয়ে কাগজপত্র দেখাতে বলব।” পার্থবাবুর প্রশ্ন, “২০০৬ সালে ব্লক নিয়ে যারা ২০১২-তেও কাজ শুরু করতে পারল না, তাদের ব্লক দিয়ে লাভ কী?” একই সঙ্গে রাজ্যে কয়লার ব্লকের সংখ্যা কম হওয়া নিয়ে কেন্দ্রের বিরুদ্ধেও সরব হন শিল্পমন্ত্রী।

Translation - Govt. is about to sign lease agreement with Jindals next week. The work for the main factory will start at end of the monsoon. They will also build a hospital and health centres in villages. The govt. has cleared a total of 128 projects amounting to an investment of Rs. 1.1 lakh crore.

Bengal to get Rs4,000 crore under central scheme for road projects
Published: Saturday, May 5, 2012, 15:38 IST
Place: Kolkata | Agency: PTI


At a time when West Bengal is yet to get any concrete assurance on interest moratorium, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh today announced Rs4000 crore for upgrading rural roads in the state under a central scheme in the current fiscal.

"We have set a roadmap for development and upgradation of rural roads totalling 9700km at a cost of Rs4,000 crore within 2012 calender year," Ramesh, the Union Panchayat and Rural Development minister told reporters here.

He said that the upgrading of the roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana had been pending for the last five years.

Ramesh said that the state would also send DPRs for 4000 km of new roads in Maoist-hit districts of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura comprising 'junglemahal'.

"We will clear the projects in 2 to 3 weeks after we receive the proposals," he said.

Ramesh also assured the state that he would look into the demand for conferring backward district status to Cooch Behar and Darjeeling districts.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_bengal-to-get-rs4000-crore-under-central-scheme-for-road-projects_1684841

RPG Group announces Rs. 10,500 crore thermal plant

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
CESC Ltd., the flagship company of city-based RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, on Tuesday announced an investment of Rs. 10,500 crore in West Bengal, the group’s first major investment proposal since the new government came to power in the State.

Group Chairman Sanjiv Goenka said that the CESC Board which met in Kolkata on Tuesday has approved the setting up of a 3x660MW thermal power plant at Balagarh in West Bengal’s Hooghly district at an investment of Rs. 10,500 crore.

Around 997 acres needed for the project is already with the group, which is actually reviving a project it had shelved some years ago due to various factors, including difficulty in getting fuel linkage.

Mr. Goenka said that the implementation of the project would depend on getting assured coal linkage, for which it has sought the help of the State government.

CESC, which mainly serves the city and its vicinity, also has projects in Maharashtra and Orissa as well as in West Bengal’s Haldia. It has also taken up renewable energy projects in Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh.

The CESC Board also approved the fourth quarter results. Profit after Tax (PAT) for the quarter stood at Rs. 266 crores against Rs. 74 crores of the previous quarter. Full year’s PAT rose to Rs. 565 crores against Rs. 488 crores in 2010-11, mainly on account of Rs. 100 crore benefit on account of a tariff revision.


Source: http://www.thehindu.com/business/companies/article3397522.ece

^^ looks like govt. policy of reclaiming industrial land if not used is showing success.. grt job..:cheers:
txykjKeYHhY

Fantastic news. If we being undertaken by CESC it will definately get executed. However coal linkage may be a problem. A thermal power plant without a coal linkage is unviable. So hopefully govt. will act fast on linkage part.

State to develop highway through Jangalmahal
TNN | May 10, 2012, 03.03AM IST

KOLKATA: The newly formed State Highway Development Corporation Limited (SHDCL) held its first board meeting at Writers' Buildings on Wednesday to chalk out its immediate course of action. The corporation has made development of a 323 kilometer State Highway-2 through Jangalmahal its first priority.

SHDCL chairman Subrata Bakshi said that it mainly discussed the corporation's structure and how it can start work on maintaining and further developing state highways. The corporation has principal secretaries from departments like finance, power, PWD, commerce and industries, forest and others as its directors. PWD and environment minister Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar is the body's vice chairman. The chief secretary is a permanent invitee. "Our job will be to maintain state highways properly. We will be working to widen and strengthen state highways. It will take some time. Detailed project reports will be prepared to execute work on the public private partnership (PPP) model," Bakshi said. The idea is to earn revenue as far as possible to maintain state highways properly. For now, the corporation's office will be at Council House Street.

Bakshi said that they will focusing on highways passing through Jangalmahal and a few in North Bengal as priorities. The state highway-2 is one such important highway that starts from Bankura and passes through Khatra, Taldanga, Bishnupur, Arambag, Tarakeswar, Baidyabati, Uttarpara, Dakshineswar, Basirhat and Hasnabad before ending at Malancha.

Bakshi said that the PWD has received Rs 1,400 crore from the centre's backward region grants fund (BRGF) which could be divided among the 11 backward districts of the state with each being allocated between Rs 100 crore and Rs 110 crore.

A notification issued in June 2006 identified 19 state highways in West Bengal that together stretch across nearly 4,505 kilometers.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/State-to-develop-highway-through-Jangalmahal/articleshow/13073442.cms

http://www.anandabazar.com/13bus1.html

অব্যবহৃত পড়ে থাকা খনি থেকে কয়লা তুলে রাজ্যে ১৩০০ মেগাওয়াটের একটি সুপার ক্রিটিক্যাল তাপবিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্র গড়ে তোলার প্রস্তাব দিল প্রমোদ কুমার মিত্তলের সংস্থা গ্লোবাল অয়েল অ্যান্ড এনার্জি। বিশিষ্ট শিল্পপতি লক্ষ্মীনারায়ণ মিত্তলের ভাই প্রমোদ শনিবার নিজে মহাকরণে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের সঙ্গে দেখা করে প্রকল্পের বিস্তারিত পরিকল্পনা জমা দিয়েছেন। যা গড়ে উঠলে রাজ্যে বিদ্যুৎ শিল্পে কমপক্ষে ৭,৮০০ কোটি টাকা বিনিয়োগ আসবে।
মহাকরণ সূত্রে খবর, মিত্তলের প্রস্তাবের ব্যাপারে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী যথেষ্ট আগ্রহ দেখিয়েছেন। পরিকল্পনাটি যাতে কার্যকর করা যায় তার জন্য তিনি বিদ্যুৎমন্ত্রী মণীশ গুপ্তকে সব রকম সহযোগিতা করার নির্দেশ দিয়েছেন। প্রকল্পটি নিয়ে রাজ্যের শিল্পমন্ত্রী পার্থ চট্টোপাধ্যায়ের সঙ্গেও আলোচনা করতে বলেছেন মমতা। কারণ, কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারের কাছে কয়লা খনি দেওয়ার সুপারিশ পাঠাতে হবে পার্থবাবুর শিল্প দফতরের অধীনস্থ পশ্চিমবঙ্গ শিল্পোন্নয়ন নিগমকেই।
ইস্পাত শিল্পে বিশ্বের প্রথম সারির সংস্থা আর্সেলর মিত্তলের প্রধান কর্তা লক্ষ্মীনারায়ণ মিত্তলের ভাই প্রমোদ মিত্তল কলকাতারই ছেলে। সেন্ট জেভিয়ার্স কলেজে বাণিজ্য শাখায় পড়াশুনো করেছেন। প্রমোদের নিজেরও লিবিয়া, বসনিয়া, ফিলিপিন্স, নাইজিরিয়াতে ইস্পাত কারখানা রয়েছে। তিনি গ্লোবাল স্টিল হোল্ডিং নামে ওই সংস্থার চিফ এগ্জিকিউটিভ অফিসার।

বিদ্যুৎ দফতর সূত্রে বলা হচ্ছে, আসানসোল-রানিগঞ্জ এলাকায় বহু কয়লা খনি অব্যবহৃত পড়ে রয়েছে। যার অনেকগুলিই এখন জলাধারে পরিণত হয়েছে। এই সব খনি থেকেই কয়লা তুলে তাপবিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্রটি গড়ার পরিকল্পনা করছে প্রমোদ মিত্তলের সংস্থা। খনিগুলি অবশ্য পরিত্যক্ত বলতে যা বোঝায়, তেমন নয়। ইসিএল সূত্রে বলা হচ্ছে, এই সব খনি থেকে কয়লা তুলতে আধুনিক প্রযুক্তি প্রয়োজন। কিন্তু সেই প্রযুক্তি ইসিএলের নেই। আর্থিক ভাবে ধুঁকতে থাকার কারণে প্রযুক্তি আমদানি করাও সম্ভব হয়নি। ফলে খনিগুলি থেকে কয়লা তোলা বন্ধ রাখা হয়েছে। সেই কয়লা তুলেই বিদ্যুৎ উৎপাদনের অভিনব পরিকল্পনা করেছেন প্রমোদ মিত্তল।

রাজ্যের বিদ্যুৎমন্ত্রী মণীশ গুপ্ত বলেন, “আমরা জানতে পেরেছি, আসানসোলের শীতলপুর এবং সোদপুর খনিতেই ছয় কোটি মেট্রিক টনের মতো কয়লা এখনও রয়ে গিয়েছে। এ ছাড়াও সংগ্রামগড় ও সালানপুর খনিতে দুই কোটি মেট্রিক টন, গিরমিন্তে প্রায় তিন মেট্রিক টন এবং শ্রীপুরে এক কোটি মেট্রিক টনের মতো কয়লা রয়েছে।” এই সব খনি ও তার সংলগ্ন জমি ঘিরেই প্রমোদ মিত্তল জ্বালানি সাশ্রয়ী ও পরিবেশবান্ধব সুপার ক্রিটিক্যাল তাপবিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্রটি গড়ে তোলার প্রস্তাব দিয়েছেন বলে মণীশবাবু জানান। খনিগুলি পাওয়ার ব্যাপারে কেন্দ্রীয় কয়লা মন্ত্রকের সঙ্গে খুব শীঘ্রই কথা বলবে রাজ্য সরকার।

কিন্তু চাহিদা বাড়ছে না বলে আগামী বছর থেকে এ রাজ্যে বিদ্যুৎ উদ্বৃত্ত হবে। সেখানে নতুন একটি তাপবিদ্যুৎ প্রকল্প বেসরকারি ওই সংস্থাটির পক্ষে কতখানি লাভজনক হবে, তা নিয়ে প্রশ্ন উঠেছে। বিদ্যুৎমন্ত্রী অবশ্য দাবি করেছেন, সব কিছু ঠিকঠাক ভাবে চললেও, প্রকল্পটি গড়ে উঠতে কমপক্ষে পাঁচ-সাত বছর সময় লেগে যাবে।

তত দিনে এ রাজ্যে বিদ্যুতের চাহিদা যেমন আরও বাড়বে, তেমনি অন্য রাজ্যগুলিও বিদ্যুৎ চাইবে। তা ছাড়া, রাজ্যের চালু বিদ্যুৎকেন্দ্রগুলির বয়স ক্রমেই বাড়ছে। ফলে আগামী দিনে তাদের উৎপাদন ক্ষমতা কমবে। এই জোড়া কারণকে সামনে রেখেই মিত্তলদের প্রকল্পকে রাজ্য সরকার গুরুত্ব দিচ্ছে বলে মণীশবাবু জানান। তিনি বলেন, ভবিষ্যতে রাজ্যের প্রয়োজন মেটাতে মিত্তলদের কাছ থেকে বিদ্যুৎ কেনার মতো পরিস্থিতি তৈরি হতে পারে। বাকি বিদ্যুৎ ওই সংস্থাটি জাতীয় গ্রিডের মাধ্যমে বাজারে বিক্রি করে দিতে পারবে।

Pramod Mittal's company Global Oil and Energy have proposed to use the unused coal blocks to build a 1300MW supercritical plant. This will involve an investment of Rs. 7800 crore. There are huge reserves of unused coal lying in Asansol which could not be extracted due to lack of proper technology. Mittal group will use these coal blocks.

Ankur Urza’s plant to go on stream in August

Ankur Urza Ltd’s project is expected to be operational from August 2012. It may be recalled here that the company is setting up a ferro alloy manufacturing plant (36,000MTPA) to produce various types of ferro alloys like ferro manganese, silico manganese and ferro silicon (36,000 MTPA) at Bankura, West Bengal. Work on the project was started in March 2011. The aggregate project cost of Rs.59.7 crore and is being financed at a debt-equity ratio of 1.33:1.

http://www.projectsmonitor.com/MISC/ankur-urzas-plant-to-go-on-stream-in-august

http://www.anandabazar.com/13bus1.html

Pramod Mittal's company Global Oil and Energy have proposed to use the unused coal blocks to build a 1300MW supercritical plant. This will involve an investment of Rs. 7800 crore. There are huge reserves of unused coal lying in Asansol which could not be extracted due to lack of proper technology. Mittal group will use these coal blocks.

Most of the business ventures of Pramod Mittal has failed. Ispat Industries is the classic example. Ran into huge debt problems. Unlike his brother L.N Mittal he has failed in most of his ventures. Hopefully GoWB will not waste their time on these proposals. Google his name and you will find his illustrious past!!

http://www.livemint.com/2010/12/21215905/Mountain-of-debt-forces-Mittal.html

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/why-pramod-mittal-gets-angry/63720/

Udit Prasanna Mukherji | TNN

Kolkata: After almost a decade,ITC,the biggest corporate house in the east and one of the top business conglomerates in India,is betting big on Bengal.The over 22,000-crore tobacco-to-hospitality giant plans to set up five manufacturing facilities for its foods business in the state.


The combined investment for these facilities would be around 1,000 crore,the biggest by the corporate giant in the state in recent times.
If it materializes,say industry experts,this could set the pace for industrialization in Bengal once again after the Singur setback.

Kurush Grant,the executive director of ITC,told TOI that the new FMCG division of the company had started the process of setting up two food units of its own.Besides,it is in talks with a few partners for three contract manufacturing facilities for different food items.

We shall have most of the units within 50-60 sqkm of Kolkata.Bengal is an ideal place for investment in the foods business.It has most of the raw materials as well as goods market.This is the entry point to the northeast, he added.

According to Grant,ITC already has two contract facilities in Bengal and is planning half-a-dozen more in view of growing demand.He indicated that the company,which has the highest weightage in the sensex along with Reliance Industries,may form joint ventures for the contract manufacturing facilities here.This (joint venture) is a possibility we are exploring for the contract manufacturing units.This can solve the land problem.We can tie up with those who have land with them, he added.

ITC had in fact expressed interest in setting up a food facility in Bengal way back in 2006 near National Highway No 6,but the plan was deferred because of unavailability of land.The West Bengal Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBIIDC) had earmarked 40 acres for the project,which was found to be disputed.

Later,WBIIDC allotted 18 acres at Uluberia industrial estate.The Mamata Banerjee government has also offered land to the FMCG giant near Santiniketan.

We shall start work at Uluberia.Regarding Santiniketan,we are yet to take a call,but the industry department is really cooperating with us, Grant said.

Bengal the best place to invest, promises Partha

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120516/jsp/calcutta/story_15492323.jsp



It’s been a year since you took charge, what is the one achievement that you would say has been the highlight of the year?

The major achievement since we assumed office would be restoring the confidence of investors in Bengal so that they think this is the best place in India to invest.

Does the state have any plans to make sure that Infosys doesn’t lose interest in West Bengal now that SEZ is out of the question?

I have said many times that it is our commitment to see that Infosys has its set-up in Bengal and the government is keen to protect the company’s interest.

I have already written to (Union minister of commerce and industry) Anand Sharma, on the advice of the chief minister, to extend the STPI (Software Technology Parks of India) incentive schemes, which, according to me, are a better financial deal than SEZ. I sent the letter on May 6. I have spoken to them and expect a positive response.

There is not much happening in terms of industry in the state. Is that primarily because of the government’s land policy or an overall lack of investor confidence?

Who says not much is happening? We have got proposals worth Rs 1 lakh crore in just a year…what does that say?
The perception about Bengal has gone through a sea change. The change has happened because of the present government’s assurance, because the government is taking into account the urgency of investors and introducing hassle-free services. We are not staying confined within four walls but going out to the people and meeting them and inviting them to come to West Bengal.

Can you give us examples of some projects that have started rolling in the last one year?

There is Tractors India. But how can an industry start rolling in a year? It takes three years to get an industry going. All the companies have started work. Putting up a boundary wall means work has started but it has to be completed within three years from the date of financial disclosure.

Are there any exciting new proposals?

Both the Hindusthan National Glass project and the Matrix project had moved out of Bengal but have since come back. Jindal had also left in 2007, but the company is now reviving its project once again.

With Hillary Clinton’s visit are you expecting interest from American investors?

Clinton or no Clinton, there has been interest in the IT sector. We have one of the largest talent pools in IT. American companies such as Accenture and Cognizant are already there. Many Bengalis who had settled in America have come back.

Finally, what is Partha Chatterjee’s message to local and global investors?

West Bengal is the best place to invest…

Had the HNG, Jindal and Matrix projects "moved out" or "left"?

A few months back when the govt spoke of proposed investments it was 80,000 crores in nine months [as reported by the Governor of West Bengal in March 2012 (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Mamata-government-receives-Rs-80000-crore-investment-proposals/articleshow/12278496.cms)]. In just two months it is now 100,000 crores as reported by the Industry minister. The numbers are just going up in leaps and bounds. This is great news for West Bengal.

Receiving investment proposals worth Rs. 1 lakhs crores has no meaning. What matters is how much investment has happened on ground. Don't know abt HNG, Jindal & Matix moving out. Jindal project was stuck because of land issue. That has been solved now

Udit Prasanna Mukherji | TNN

Kolkata: After almost a decade,ITC,the biggest corporate house in the east and one of the top business conglomerates in India,is betting big on Bengal.The over 22,000-crore tobacco-to-hospitality giant plans to set up five manufacturing facilities for its foods business in the state.


The combined investment for these facilities would be around 1,000 crore,the biggest by the corporate giant in the state in recent times.
If it materializes,say industry experts,this could set the pace for industrialization in Bengal once again after the Singur setback.

Kurush Grant,the executive director of ITC,told TOI that the new FMCG division of the company had started the process of setting up two food units of its own.Besides,it is in talks with a few partners for three contract manufacturing facilities for different food items.

We shall have most of the units within 50-60 sqkm of Kolkata.Bengal is an ideal place for investment in the foods business.It has most of the raw materials as well as goods market.This is the entry point to the northeast, he added.

According to Grant,ITC already has two contract facilities in Bengal and is planning half-a-dozen more in view of growing demand.He indicated that the company,which has the highest weightage in the sensex along with Reliance Industries,may form joint ventures for the contract manufacturing facilities here.This (joint venture) is a possibility we are exploring for the contract manufacturing units.This can solve the land problem.We can tie up with those who have land with them, he added.

ITC had in fact expressed interest in setting up a food facility in Bengal way back in 2006 near National Highway No 6,but the plan was deferred because of unavailability of land.The West Bengal Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBIIDC) had earmarked 40 acres for the project,which was found to be disputed.

Later,WBIIDC allotted 18 acres at Uluberia industrial estate.The Mamata Banerjee government has also offered land to the FMCG giant near Santiniketan.

We shall start work at Uluberia.Regarding Santiniketan,we are yet to take a call,but the industry department is really cooperating with us, Grant said.

:cheers: ITC should play the same role in Kolkata as Reliance does in Bombay.

:cheers: ITC should play the same role in Kolkata as Reliance does in Bombay.

ITC is a Board managed company. Whereas Reliance is promoter driven company. Whatever Mukesh says gets implemented. Also I don't think Reliance has paid any stellar role in Bombay other than setting up their Reliance campus in Navi Mumbai. They have played large role in establishing Gujarat by promoting Jamnanagr in a big way and supporting Narendra Modi in every business platform.

ITC is a Board managed company. Whereas Reliance is promoter driven company. Whatever Mukesh says gets implemented. Also I don't think Reliance has paid any stellar role in Bombay other than setting up their Reliance campus in Navi Mumbai. They have played large role in establishing Gujarat by promoting Jamnanagr in a big way and supporting Narendra Modi in every business platform.

Well, Gujarat then :)

Minister meets district magistrates to speed up rural works

TNN | May 23, 2012
KOLKATA: With eyes on the ensuing panchayat polls, state panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee on Tuesday held a meeting in the city with all district magistrates and panchayat zilla sabhadhipatis, asking them to speed up work in the three tier system.

Implementation of work for 11,000 km of rural roads, fixing the number of below poverty line (BPL) people in the state, increasing the number of areas where work can be done under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), raising total amount of funds that can be sanctioned by the DMs, were some of the issues discussed at the meeting.

Interestingly, Mukherjee's challenge was to get all the sabhadhipatis, even those from the opposition, to join the meeting on Tuesday. And they all attended the meeting. So, the Centre can now clear road projects because getting the nod and participation of all panchayats was one of the conditions placed by Delhi.

State government wants work of at least half of the 11,000 km of rural roads to be started by the end of this year, and the detailed project report (DPR) on the rest will be submitted by that time as well.

Centre's deadline for DPR submission for the 5,500km roads projects is June 14 and the rest by December. This suits the state fine because by then work for a major portion of roads may be over, even if the poll date is fixed for December instead of May next year. - considering there are already such speculations.

Total work would be worth several crores and the DPR for all the roads would itself cost approximately Rs 10 crore.

In addition, the government also has sanction for roads in three 'special backward regions' - Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore. These roads will be constructed in areas which have population of more than 200. "It means many interior villages too will have roads," Mukherjee said, adding that for some places many people have been fighting for construction of a single road for years. According to him, there will be only black top roads, and 'no morrum roads'.

Tuesday's discussion also involved completion of the BPL survey and the nitty-gritties of MGNREGA project among other issues.

The state government is currently conducting a survey on the BPL list and this would be ready by June, Mukherjee said. While the former Left Front government had said the BPL population in the state is 46.6%, the Centre maintained the figure at 28.3% and all Central funds for BPL are sanctioned on the basis of this figure. Now, the state is following the same criteria as the Centre but feels the figure should increase. "And if it does, we'll have to give the benefits of BPL to the remaining number of people from our own funds even if the Centre does not accept our finding," Mukherjee said.

The DMs were told on Tuesday to introduce new areas under which work can be done in the MGNREGA according to change of weather. Now, with the advent of monsoon, the work will be related to horticulture, and there is also work in the tea gardens, mangrove forests, small irrigation, and plans to introduce MGNREGA even for cutting paddy.

IISCO phase-I expansion to be over by this month
TIMES NEWS NETWORK




Kolkata: The first phase of the muchtalked-about Rs 16,000-crore expansion plan of SAIL’s IISCO Burnpur will be completed by end of this month. IISCO CEO N K Jha on Tuesday met state commerce and industries minister Partha Chatterjee and urged him to inaugurate the coke oven plant built in phase I. The expansion plan was announced during the first UPA regime by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in June 2006.
Incidentally, the project was delayed owing to various reasons, including land acquisition and local agitation in an area called Purushottampur regarding a 0.19 acre in the middle of projected area of expansion, which villagers believe to be a holy place. There was a cost overrun following the delay that escalated the project cost to Rs 16,000 crore from Rs 10,000 crore estimated in 2007, the biggest investment proposal by a PSU in Bengal in many years.
After meeting the IISCO CEO on Tuesday, Chatterjee told reporters that finally, first phase of IISCO will be operational. “There was a problem regarding shifting of some area outside the projected site. We have spoken to the villagers and the issue will be resolved soon. IISCO will recruit 2,500 people for the new plants,” he said.
IISCO CEO Jha said it has sought time from Chatterjee for inaugarating the coke oven plant. “We are almost ready with the plant and hopefully it should be operational in few weeks,” he added. “IISCO has already spent Rs 13,000 crore out of the proposed Rs 16,000 crore expansion plan. For coke oven plant, we have invested Rs 1,600 crore. The entire expansion of IISCO will be finished by end of this fiscal. Following coke oven, the wire rod mill will be operational by August-September of this year. There will be an investment of Rs 1,100 crore for this,” he added.
Meanwhile, the state government is preparing a report for revival of the five beleagured tea gardens (three in the Hills and two in Dooars) under the aegis West Bengal Tea Development Corporation. The revival plan will be submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office soon. GJM MLA from Kurseong Rohit Sharma on Tuesday met Chatterjee and placed a three-fold demand. GJM wants a pay revision for around 5,000 WBTDC employees, revival of the tea gardens through public-private initiatives and filling up the job vacancies.

JSW lease deed soon



Kolkata: Bengal industries minister Partha Chatterjee said it has already informed JSW Group that the state government is ready to sign the lease deed for its 3 million tonne steel project this week. “It will be signed any day,” he added. However, Chatterjee was sceptical about the proposed Jai Balaji Group project. Despite repeated reminders, Jai Balaji has not shown any interest to sign the lease agreement though it has already got land and coal mines, he said. When contacted, Jai Balaji CMD Aditya Jajodia said there are 3-4 points in the lease agreement which they want to change. TNN

Bengal the best place to invest, promises Partha

Best place on earth to invest. :lol:

SAIL inks JV pact
with Burn Standard

25 May 2012 , By Special Correspondent

Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL),
on Friday, signed a joint venture
agreement with Burn Standard
Company Limited (BSCL), a unit under
Indian Railways, for setting up a
wagon components manufacturing
facility at Jellingham in West Bengal's
Purba Medinipore district.
SAIL Chairman C. S. Verma told
reporters that the outlay on this unit
would be about Rs.200 crore. Given
the state's supportive and positive
environment, SAIL, however, was keen
to increase its investments here.
Special steel unit
It would like to set up a special steel
unit in West Bengal, where it already
has investments of over Rs.20,000
crore under implementation. The joint
venture unit would have a capacity to
produce 10,000 bogies and 10,000
couplers per annum.
The agreement for the new joint
venture was signed in the presence of
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,
Railways Minister Mukul Roy, the SAIL
Chairman and Railway Board Member
(Mechanical) Keshav Chandra.
Ms. Banerjee urged that the joint
venture's implementation schedule be
advanced by a year to 2013, as it
would lead to the area's overall
development. She said that she had
announced the project in her 2010
budget speech and Railways had
assured annual offtake for 5,000 units.
“It is praiseworthy that SAIL is
investing Rs. 21,000 crore in Durgapur
and Burnpur”, she said.
She also said that all the RAIL projects
announced for West Bengal were
progressing well. “ This should silence
the Doubting Thomases”, she said.
Mr. Chandra said that the project
assumed special significance
considering the fact that bogies and
couplers were in short supply.
Mr. Verma said that SAIL was keen to
explore the opportunity to set up a
special steel unit in Kulti near Asansol
in West Bengal which would make
high-end applications.
Modernisation
SAIL will take its hot metal capacity to
19 million tonnes by March 2013 from
14 million tonnes, as its massive
modernisation programme makes
headway.
Mr. Verma said the Rs.72,000-crore
modernisation programme was a
unique one. He said orders had been
placed for Rs.58,000 crore.
To a query on delays in the
modernisation plan, he said, “It was a
unique programme and expectations
have been high”.
He said the implementation of the 2.5-
million tonne greenfield project at
Burnpur (the erstwhile Indian Iron
and Steel Plant) had run into some
delays but would now get
implemented in an integrated manner
by March 2013 (instead of June 2012),
at an investment of Rs.16,000 crore.
This is the timeline for the completion
of the Rs.3,000 crore modernisation
programme of Durgapur steel plant
also.

source: m.thehindu.com/business/companies/article3456497.ece/?page=1

Three cheers for SAIL. Infact they are the largest investor in Bengal. :cheers::cheers::cheers:

Keventer Group plans Rs 700-cr food park in Bengal
KOLKATA, MAY 26:

Keventer Group plans to invest Rs 700 crore for setting up a food park at Dankuni in West Bengal. To be spread over 530 acres, the food park will be commissioned over the next five years. “We will invest Rs 600-700 crore to develop a food park at Dankuni. And, there will be an investment of Rs 3,500 crore at the facility,” Mr Mayank Jalan, Managing Director, Keventer Agro Ltd, said on Saturday. The company on Saturday launched a food testing laboratory, Edward Food and Research and Analysis Centre Ltd, and a manufacturing unit for Yippee noodles jointly with ITC Ltd at Barasat. This facility will entail a total investment of nearly Rs 150 crore.

The West Bengal Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Partha Chatterjee, confirmed that the State Government received a proposal from the company and it was in conversation for allocation of land for the upcoming food park.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article3459003.ece

Keventer Group plans Rs 700-cr food park in Bengal
KOLKATA, MAY 26:

Keventer Group plans to invest Rs 700 crore for setting up a food park at Dankuni in West Bengal. To be spread over 530 acres, the food park will be commissioned over the next five years. “We will invest Rs 600-700 crore to develop a food park at Dankuni. And, there will be an investment of Rs 3,500 crore at the facility,” Mr Mayank Jalan, Managing Director, Keventer Agro Ltd, said on Saturday. The company on Saturday launched a food testing laboratory, Edward Food and Research and Analysis Centre Ltd, and a manufacturing unit for Yippee noodles jointly with ITC Ltd at Barasat. This facility will entail a total investment of nearly Rs 150 crore.

The West Bengal Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Partha Chatterjee, confirmed that the State Government received a proposal from the company and it was in conversation for allocation of land for the upcoming food park.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article3459003.ece

Good proposal, but what about the land availability.

They already have land....it is only after the push from govt. they are willing to invest more and not to sit on the land..

^^530 acres!! Where is the land :ohno:

Kool.. if they have the land.. infact they are putting up a food park in Bihar..

1995 to 2015 ?

:nuts:

news from 2000 and the foundation stone was laid in 1995 - same old issue of land!

Bengal food park tingles taste buds of cos abroad

http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2000/01/22/stories/14221884.htm

THE country's first integrated food processing park, which is being set up in West Bengal has drawn interest from a host of overseas outfits, with at least one international food major seeking an equity stake.

Mr. Kalyan Dutta, Managing Director of Modular Industrial Infrastructure Ltd (MIIL), the company implementing the project, said the idea of setting up an integrated food park had now caught on, and the Centre was set to catalyse the setting up of similar projects _ one in every State capital.

A Rs. 3-crore grant has been received from the Union Food Processing Ministry for developing the food park here, Mr. Dutta told Business Line.

The consultancy services for the project is being provided by Modular Consultants Pvt Ltd (MCPL), a consortium of Indian and overseas companies. ``While MCPL is the leader of the consortium, the other members are Eco-Vision of Canada, Machenfabrik Moller s of Germany and Hipoint Rendel of the UK. Talks are now on with some other companies based here and abroad, for expanding the expertise base''.

While the Canadian company will help out with the R&D centre, the German company will advise on packaging and storage. Hipoint's expertise lies in infrastructure development and Fugro's specialisation is in setting up geographical information systems and environmental engineering.

Mr. Dutta said Mitsubishi of Japan, through its Indian subsidiary Snowman had already begun construction of a 1,200-tonne capacity cold storage which would act as a common facility for the units to be located here.

I-Win, the joint venture of ICICI and the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation, is currently working out the corporate structure of the promoting company, MIIL. I-WIN advice has been sought to decide on the debt-equity ratio and the internal re source generation necessary for implementing this Rs. 204-crore project, (according to earlier estimates). Currently, MIIL is a public ltd company whose equity is held by Mr. Dutta, Simplex Engineering and M.R. Singhvi Associates.

Observing that the project is expected to suffer a cost escalation of at least 20 per cent due to the delay in implementation, he said every effort had been taken to make up for the nearly four-year delay.

The project, whose foundation stone was laid by Mr. Jyoti Basu in April 1995, is set to be ready in around five years. However, primarily on account of land acquisition problems the project's schedule slipped and now it is expected to be ready by 2003.

Since this is the country's first major growth centre being set up in the private sector, some amendments were necessary in the land amendment laws. This took some time in coming and against the project's requirement of 530 acres, physical possession of only around 93 acres has so far been obtained. However, the West Bengal Government through a notification has removed some of the legal hurdles and the land acquisition part is expected to be completed shortly.

The park is coming up in Dankuni in Hooghly district. It will locate food processing industries with common facilities, such as a R&D centre, a common effluent treatment plant and common social infrastructure too. All these will be constructed in the fir st phase of the project comprising 220 acres.

Referring to the advance actions which have been taken, he informed that the water supply has already been tied up from the Sreerampore filtration plant which is three km away. Pipelines have been laid up to the project.

Its water requirement has been estimated at two million gallons per day with around one million gallon being required in the first phase. Power supply agreement has been finalised with the West Bengal State Electricity Board. The power requirement is 25 MW. Pollution Control Board approval has also been obtained.

2002

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/hll-eyes-bengal-as-source-of-fruits-vegetables/55836/3

Meanwhile, Mr Sarkar admitted that the much-hyped food park at Dankuni has been a non-starter, and the government is trying to work out a smaller project at the same site.

Modular Industrial Infras-tructure Ltd, the company setting up the park, had failed to acquire contiguous plots of land adding up to 530 acres, the area suggested in the project proposal.


Here is some old news from the company website which states it was supposed to be completed in 2008!

http://www.modularindia.com/Foodpark.php

Food Park (MFP) Project


The company has conceived, designed and planned the first integrated Food Park in the country with three industrial clusters in Food Sectors Post Harvest Management system like –

• Food Processing Park
• Foodgrain Park
• Technology Park
This integrated Food Park is being developed as the nucleus facility towards integration of food sector supply chain and value chain in the 3-tier infrastructure for procurement, storage, processing, packaging and distribution of food commodities by providing latest technology and quality management systems.

MFP, Dankuni has been planned on 530 acres of land and is located in one of the most suitable locations with access infrastructure like Eastern Railways network, NH 2 Bypass, Durgapur – Haldia Expressway / NH 6 linkage river Hooghly and Bally canal.

The promoters’ team is now being restructured with Keventer Projects Ltd. as Anchor Promoter and the company as the Prime Consultant of the project of national priority and importance.

MFP, Dankuni will be implemented fully in phases by end 2008. It will accommodate around 150 food processing units and cold chain facilities in large, medium and small sectors. Government of India has already provided Grant-in-aid to this project to set up common infrastructures like water supply system, cold storage and common infrastructures.

Mamata inaugurates diesel locomotive factory
PTI | 08:05 PM,May 28,2012

Dankuni (WB), May 28 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today inaugurated a diesel locomotive component factory here, 20 km from Singur, which she had promised to set up when she was the railway minister. The factory will manufacture components for diesel locomotives built at Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi. Railway Minister Mukul Roy and Railway Board Chairman V N Mittal were present during the inauguration. The project was sanctioned in 2009-10 when Banerjee was the railway minister. She had laid the foundation of the factory on December 26, 2010 and the project was completed within a record time of two years. Promising to set up 15 more such railway projects, Banerjee dismissed the CPI-M's reservations over her announcement of projects for West Bengal. "In 2009-10 when I was the railway minister, many people had ridiculed this project after I laid the foundation and described it as a mere 'eye-wash'. But now you see this factory has started functioning," she told a gathering here. She said that work on 15 other rail projects, including two projects at budge budge, Metro Railway Rehabilitation Centre at Noapara, Rs 1000 crore railway factory at Kanchrapara, projcts at Haldia, Siliguri and Coochebehar and an industrial park at Jellingham would be completed shortly. Banerjee said she had a vision for a political change in the state and accordingly prepared railway projects much ahead of the actual political change took place for generating lakhs of of employement. "I had realised that nothing can be done on a dead infrastructure," she said.

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/mamata-inaugurates-diesel-locomotive-factory/1004401.html

CM admits land clog in industry - Mamata lays stress on public sector

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120529/jsp/bengal/story_15544744.jsp

Mamata Banerjee today said private investors “are staying away from Bengal because land is not available for them”.
However, she laid stress on the importance of public sector projects — the state has attracted some — saying “public sector investment is also investment”.
As railway minister, I had commissioned 16 factories. Others are staying away from Bengal because land is not available for them. But these are government projects and they are materialising. These 16 factories will bring industrialisation to Bengal. Public sector investment is also investment.”

Mamata inaugurated a diesel loco-component factory and laid the foundation of an electric loco-component factory in Dankuni.

"Once the dedicated freight corridor is ready, Dankuni will become an important place. Factories will come up in Hooghly, Burdwan, Howrah and Birbhum. Employment opportunities will increase once these projects are completed. There will be no dearth of employment opportunities,” she said.

Mamata said she was committed to setting up a railway project on the Singur plot where the abandoned Tata Nano plant is located and returning land to unwilling farmers.

^^ This is another yellow journalism...the main news of inauguration is just a footnote... whereas this sidetalks become headlines ....

^^ This is another yellow journalism...the main news of inauguration is just a footnote... whereas this sidetalks become headlines ....

I only posted a few excerpts as you had already posted the main news. The other points highlighted are important. It talks of important project like the Freight Corridor, Singur railway factory and also the importance of public sector investment under the given circumstances. Aren't those important highlights?

The fact that she is at least acknowledging [at least as per the newspaper] to a slight extent that private sector investment is affected by the land issue is not a bad thing. Once you acknowledge an issue you can then resolve it.

Official inauguration video from TMC leaning channel 10 and TMC youtube site (Bengali)

tAOVXACXMmA

It's not abt the excerpts that u posted..it's wht TT is doing on a daily basis
..even on a positive news they will put their negativity..
many news grps were skeptical abt the project when the foundation was laid..
now even after it started the cliche continues..

Actually I am sceptical about all these projects (not that they are just eye wash but about their viability) - many of these are 'component' factories, and you don't need so many at different places. Its add to the OH cost and supply chain will be a nightmare. I hope that they will be running as a profit making unit.

Actually I am sceptical about all these projects (not that they are just eye wash but about their viability) - many of these are 'component' factories, and you don't need so many at different places. Its add to the OH cost and supply chain will be a nightmare. I hope that they will be running as a profit making unit.

That is a valid point.

However public sector organizations like Railways also look at social aspect and are not often run like private organizations. So for a private company having a component factory in Dankuni and main factory in Varanasi may not make sense. But in case of Railways it is also about distributing fruits of industrialization across the nation.

Now the question is how many new people really got jobs in Dankuni factory - 0, 10, 20, 100?

Also what is its planned production capacity?

Is it really going to manufacture something or just act as a warehouse and assembly centre?

^^ as per Ganashakti its 0 and its a warehouse

That is a valid point.

However public sector organizations like Railways also look at social aspect and are not often run like private organizations. So for a private company having a component factory in Dankuni and main factory in Varanasi may not make sense. But in case of Railways it is also about distributing fruits of industrialization across the nation.

Now the question is how many new people really got jobs in Dankuni factory - 0, 10, 20, 100?

Also what is its planned production capacity?

Is it really going to manufacture something or just act as a warehouse and assembly centre?

Railways is a Government organization, not a public sector. AFAIK, even public sector companies have to spend at least 5% of their profit for CSR ( corporate social responsibility). For govt organization i think it is the government's decision altogether. don't know about the Baniya companies, but Tatas do spend a lot on CSR activities atleast in case of big projects

And given a chance any private or public company would like a have a stake in any raiways related project ... they call it 'assured off take' better than gold (??)

However, in these cases the railway projects didn't attarct any pvt investment; either railways went solo or partnered with another public sector unit. WB is already littered with sick/closed public & pvt industries which made general public sceptical about industrialization. I wish that these newbies will run as a viable units and enrich the local economy.

^^ as per Ganashakti its 0 and its a warehouse

Doesn't matter what they say. It is for the Railways to come clean on basic questions. Ganashakti is as good as Didi when it comes to misstatements and wild claims.

But I think it does matter if the question is correct...it is incumbent on railways to come clean...and one should not expect same type of reporting done by a mainstream newspaper from a mouthpiece ...

However, in these cases the railway projects didn't attarct any pvt investment; either railways went solo or partnered with another public sector unit. WB is already littered with sick/closed public & pvt industries which made general public sceptical about industrialization. I wish that these newbies will run as a viable units and enrich the local economy.

as far as i remember, except one ( given to a global co.), projects were given to PSUs like SAIL, RINL. So some Indian private players had filed a case for 'monopoly' against Railway, that is, not giving a chance to the private players to participate.

AFAIK, the pvt industries questioned when the existing capacities for wagon mfg is not utilised fully what's the point in setting up new capacities?

Can industries be set up right now on these lands? Looks more like self advertisement.

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/80-000-acres-in-land-bank/955599/

The state government has 80,000 acres of land on which it could set up industries. A booklet published by the Trinamool Congress-led government on the completion of its one year rule has come out with this number.
After coming to power, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her first cabinet meeting had decided to set up a land bank and asked Land and Land Reform Department to compile a date of land lying unused by the various government offices. A year later, it seems the land bank, as it is said, has 60,000 acres under the ownership of district administration of 18 districts. Another 20,000 acres are lying unused with various departments of the government.

“There is lot more land still unrecovered. The process is on. Since the state government is not going to acquire land for setting up industries this unused land will be offered to the industrialists,” a senior official at Writers’ Buildings said.

Though the number may seem be huge but it may not be able to be of much use. These lands are scattered and therefore if we want to set up an industry in a single plot of 5,000-acre of land, we won’t be able to do it. But still this will help us a lot in setting up more industries,’’ added the official.

Darjeeling district has the largest chunk of unutilised land — 16, 947.93 acres. Bankura comes second with 15,000 acres.

The state government is also coming up with another map on what kind of industries suits the land available with it. ``The classification of land is done by Commerce and Industries Department and it will be compiled very soon,’’ said an official of the department.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, before coming to power, promised that while there would be no forcible acquisition of land and a land bank will be constituted for it. She had instructed the Land and Land Reforms department to finish the work on a war footing. The land reforms commissioner issued at least 20 letters to various departments and the district magistrates to furnish the details of the list of unused land.

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/2073/raghu4.jpg :cheers:

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/2073/raghu4.jpg :cheers:

This is the type of infrastructure development the Govt needs to do if they need to develop a complete new business destination.

Besco inaugurates its greenfield wagon manufacturing unit at Baruipur

KOLKATA: Besco Ltd's foundry division unveiled their advanced wagon manufacturing unit today at Baruipur in West Bengal. The unit, a first of its kind in eastern India, is spread over about 14 acres with annual production capacity of 3000 wagons. Total outlay is estimated to have been Rs 120 crore.

"The new unit is expected to employ over 1200 workers and skilled technicians in the foundry and wagon units. Incidentally, this wagon plant is the first of its kind in eastern India with a robotic welding facility for wagon sub-assemblies and automatic paint booth to provide highest quality of welding and painting with improved productivity," the company said in its media statement issued on Saturday.

Inaugurating the unit, West Bengal minister in-charge commerce & industries, parliamentary affairs, public enterprises, industrial reconstruction, information technology Partha Chatterjee said: "The move is indicative of the fact that Bengal is still doing well in the steel and engineering sec-tor. Availability of skilled and semi skilled labour, raw material and proximity to port are the major advantages for this unit."

He further added, "Besco should explore other sectors of different industrial parts and come up with more such expansion initiatives. We are emphasising on generating skilled labour through education and training."

source:ET

This is the type of infrastructure development the Govt needs to do if they need to develop a complete new business destination.

With leading lights (intellectuals and mantrijis) of this government making foolish and contradictory statements like industries cannot be set up along highways, one wonders how how these folks will now justify not only building an expressway but also setting up industries along it. Raghunathpur was already identified as a iron and steel hub but work came to a near halt with the land opposition brigade. Good to see the same brigade reviving the project.

Suncity, the TC won 4 out of 6 local bodies. I read comments on online forums from people puporting to be in WB, stating that infra development has got a fillip post the TMC coming to power and that development was indeed taking place. Is there any truth to it at all?

Suncity, the TC won 4 out of 6 local bodies. I read comments on online forums from people puporting to be in WB, stating that infra development has got a fillip post the TMC coming to power and that development was indeed taking place. Is there any truth to it at all?

Didi is trying her best and a majority of people seem to have faith in her efforts.

Minister meets district magistrates to speed up rural works

TNN | May 23, 2012
KOLKATA: With eyes on the ensuing panchayat polls, state panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee on Tuesday held a meeting in the city with all district magistrates and panchayat zilla sabhadhipatis, asking them to speed up work in the three tier system.

Implementation of work for 11,000 km of rural roads, fixing the number of below poverty line (BPL) people in the state, increasing the number of areas where work can be done under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), raising total amount of funds that can be sanctioned by the DMs, were some of the issues discussed at the meeting.

Interestingly, Mukherjee's challenge was to get all the sabhadhipatis, even those from the opposition, to join the meeting on Tuesday. And they all attended the meeting. So, the Centre can now clear road projects because getting the nod and participation of all panchayats was one of the conditions placed by Delhi.

State government wants work of at least half of the 11,000 km of rural roads to be started by the end of this year, and the detailed project report (DPR) on the rest will be submitted by that time as well.

Centre's deadline for DPR submission for the 5,500km roads projects is June 14 and the rest by December. This suits the state fine because by then work for a major portion of roads may be over, even if the poll date is fixed for December instead of May next year. - considering there are already such speculations.

Total work would be worth several crores and the DPR for all the roads would itself cost approximately Rs 10 crore.

In addition, the government also has sanction for roads in three 'special backward regions' - Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore. These roads will be constructed in areas which have population of more than 200. "It means many interior villages too will have roads," Mukherjee said, adding that for some places many people have been fighting for construction of a single road for years. According to him, there will be only black top roads, and 'no morrum roads'.

Tuesday's discussion also involved completion of the BPL survey and the nitty-gritties of MGNREGA project among other issues.

The state government is currently conducting a survey on the BPL list and this would be ready by June, Mukherjee said. While the former Left Front government had said the BPL population in the state is 46.6%, the Centre maintained the figure at 28.3% and all Central funds for BPL are sanctioned on the basis of this figure. Now, the state is following the same criteria as the Centre but feels the figure should increase. "And if it does, we'll have to give the benefits of BPL to the remaining number of people from our own funds even if the Centre does not accept our finding," Mukherjee said.

The DMs were told on Tuesday to introduce new areas under which work can be done in the MGNREGA according to change of weather. Now, with the advent of monsoon, the work will be related to horticulture, and there is also work in the tea gardens, mangrove forests, small irrigation, and plans to introduce MGNREGA even for cutting paddy.

What does morrum road mean?