just look around this place

http://wikimapia.org/243283/St-Thomas-High-School-Dasnagar

Budge Budge refinery to find value in palm oil waste

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Energy/Oil__Gas/Kolkata_refinery_to_find_value_in_palm_oil_waste/articleshow/3710631.cms

Budge Budge Refineries (BBRL), which runs an edible oil refinery at Budge Budge, near Kolkata, has firmed up plans to convert crude palm
oil waste into value-added products.

After studying the market potential, especially in the eastern region, the company has decided to foray into production of soap noodles and stearic acid from fatty acid that is being left out as by-product after refining crude palm oil.

There is a huge market for those products in the eastern region with an average monthly consumption of 250-300 tonne for each product. In absence of any player here in these segments, the entire requirement is sourced from the western and northern zones. As an intermediary to toilet soap, soap noodles have huge demand among local toilet soap manufacturers while stearic acid has demand from the rubber industry.

"For having no players in those products in the eastern region, we have decided to create a facility to produce soap noodles and stearic acid from fatty acid. Initially, the capacity of the plant to produce 50 tonne per day, on either/or basis. About Rs 25 crore is estimated for initial investment to create that facility with the state-of-the-art technology. Some amount of new products will be exported," said BBRL director Vijay Agarwal.

The new facility would be put up within the existing plant, which is equipped to process and refine 300 tonne of crude edible oils per day. At present, the company uses the plant to refine crude palm oils, all of which are imported.

Google earth view of Budge Budge area. BBRL is in lower right hand corner (http://wikimapia.org/1079189/Budge-Budge-Refineries-Ltd).

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/8/budgebudgerefineriesyx2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

WBMTDC plans JV with NMDC

16 Nov 2008, 0138 hrs IST, ET Bureau

KOLKATA: West Bengal Mineral Trading & Development Corporation (WBMTDC) is all set to enter into a joint venture with the country’s largest
mining company, NMDC Limited. The tie-up between the two companies will focus on exploration, development and mining of coal in West Bengal.

Interestingly, this will be NMDC's maiden foray into coal mining. The company is one of the largest producers of iron ore. Till date, West Bengal has attracted some Rs 80,000-90,000 crore of investment in the steel sector from the likes of JSW Bengal Steel, Bhushan Steel, Jai Balaji Industries, Adhunik Steels, Abhijit Group and Shyam Steel.

Accordingly, the upcoming agreement between WBMTDC and NMDC could go a long way in ensuring raw material security for these steel ventures. The agreement comes at a time when global financial turmoil seems to have put a question mark over corporate investment plans.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Economy/WBMTDC_plans_JV_with_NMDC/articleshow/3718166.cms

Photo cc smprl08 @flickr

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http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff132/SarafIndian/2950938035_475246a549_b.jpg

^^ Know about this unique project here: Purulia Pump Storage Project (PPSP) (http://purulia.gov.in/power/ppsp.html)

^^Looks cool

^^Looks cool

Ya, this is first of its kinds(Pump Storage process) in India if I am not wrong. :banana:

TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Kolkata_/Light-and-sound_effect_for_Bishnupur_temples/articleshow/3721037.cms)

Light-and-sound effect for Bishnupur temples

17 Nov 2008, 0455 hrs IST

KOLKATA: The temples covered with ornate terracotta works are fascinating in themselves. So imagine how remarkable they would look when they shine
brilliantly against the dark night sky.

The Ras Mancha temple, Jorbangla temple and Shyam Rai temple in Bishnupur are all set to be illuminated from the end of December, as the West Bengal government has taken up a light-and-sound project here funded by the Union ministry of tourism.

And, this is just the beginning. Several heritage structures and temples in the state would be lit up similarly — the idea behind also being transforming some areas of day tourism in West Bengal into night tourism.

“Instead of using conventional sodium vapour lights, sophisticated computerised equipment, that will be programmed to change the colours, will be used here. The lighting system can create a million shades of colour,” said TVN Rao, managing director of West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC).

Bishnupur was the capital of the Mallabhum kingdom, once the most important Hindu dynasty in Bengal (founded in the eight century and lasting till the early 19th century). The town has more than a dozen terracotta temples. The 16th-century Jor Bangla and the stepped Ras Mancha are fascinating temples covered with ornate terracotta tiles that depict scenes from the Hindu epics.
Though thousands flock to Bishnupur every year, most people visit the place during the day.

But with the introduction of light and sound, this would be an added attraction and many might stay back for several nights to watch the temples at night. The project cost is Rs 63 lakh, which is being funded entirely by the Centre, and a clearance has been given by Archeological Survey of India (ASI), which maintains the temples.

Next in line is the Cooch Behar Palace. “We will take up this project next and the Centre is giving Rs 55 lakh for it. We are expecting to get a clearance from ASI very soon,” an official of WBTDC said. After this, the state government is also planning illumination of several other temples, including Dakshineswar, Nanoor and Bakreswar temples.

“Light and sound add a special dimension to all heritage structures. These places, which take only a few hours to travel from major towns and cities in West Bengal, are visited only during the day.

With addition of light and sound, these very places can be transformed into spots where tourists will stay on for the nights. The whole tourism infrastructure and business, including hotels and guest houses, would then grow centred around this added dimension,” the official added.


Btw, a photo of Jorbangla temple. Photo cc asis k. chatt (http://www.flickr.com/photos/indiantraveller/2077169894/)

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff132/SarafIndian/2077169894_545b92535e.jpg

Raasmancha temple. Photo cc royjoy1231 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royjoy1231/1984534342/)
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff132/SarafIndian/1984534342_ffb677cf55.jpg

Shyam Rai temple. Photo cc royjoy1231 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/royjoy1231/1984592496/)
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff132/SarafIndian/1984592496_5a26f722ac.jpg

Priya Food Products, makers of biscuits, cookies and cakes under the 'Priya' brand name, is investing Rs 10 crore in setting up four new plants in West Bengal. Investment in new plants is aimed at increasing its production capacity to 100 tonnes per day in three years, from 60 tonnes per day right now.

Currently the company has eight plants in West Bengal and sells more than 30 products in biscuits, cookies and cakes.

According to G P Agarwal, chairman of Priya Food Products, "We hope to achieve a turnover of Rs 150 crore in three years from Rs 70 crore right now. We realized that we had to expand capacity to boost sales as demand across biscuits, cookies and cakes have been increasing."

Simultaneously, the company plans to take its distribution network to 2 lakh outlets in three years, up from 1 lakh outlets right now in West Bengal alone.

Direct employment in the company is also expected to touch 1,200 in three years, up from 800 right now.

"The demand for Priya products has especially been growing in West Bengal and we expect this state to contribute close to 50 per cent to our overall turnover. The other states include Orissa, North-East and Chhattisgarh," Agarwal added.

Agarwal, who also owns G P Foods, the Rs 12 crore company manufacturing potato chips under the brand name 'Pogo', intends to introduce more flavours in chips as well as brand extensions.

"We will experiment with potatoes and flavours in order to innovate. We have five flavours right now. The intention is to make Pogo a Rs 30 crore brand in three years," Agarwal added.

For Pogo potato chips, the company has entered into contract farming with farmers in Bankura in Hooghly.

The company has one cold storage unit in the vicinity where it stores 50,000 bags of potatoes per year and uses them according to demand.

The company also manufactures chips for other companies in West Bengal who then package and sell them under their brand names.

On the other hand, Priya Food Products exports its biscuits, cookies and cakes to USA and Australia currently, and plans to expand that to Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Burma soon.

Exports currently contribute close to Rs 12 crore to Priya's Rs 70 crore turnover.

Priya is also embarking on a new marketing strategy covering 1 lakh outlets in Kolkata, with the objective of increasing brand awareness and reach.

Priya has hired Theme Ventures, a brand management company, for Priya visual merchandising.

The brand management firm from Delhi will introduce specially decorated standees for all Priya products that will be placed outside the 1 lakh outlets.

Theme Ventures will also introduce danglers, shop facia, hanging flex, continuous strips, posters, product hangers and will also create special windows for product display.

"In the present scenario where every company is cutting ad budgets, this cost-effective marketing and merchandising strategy should help Priya increase its sales volume. With specially decorates stands and windows for Priya products in outlets, consumers will be able to spot Priya products easily inside the shops," explained Agarwal.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=340367

Kawakhali: Rehab plots by December

SILIGURI, Nov. 16: The Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) will handover the first lot of rehabilitation plots to the Kawakhali land-losers by coming December, the SJDA chairman and the state urban development minister Mr Asok Bhattacharya said today.
The SJDA and the private developer ‘Bengal Universal Unitech’ is all set to develop a new township project on a 302-acre acquired land at Kawakhali in Siliguri near the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital.
Following widespread protest against the land acquisition, the SJDA is now allotting rehabilitation plots to the land-losers at the same acquisition cost. The first lottery for allotting the fully developed 425 allotment plots was held in 10 August this year, but the physical possession could not be facilitated as yet. Following a meeting of the Kawakhali Rehabilitation Committee this afternoon, minister Mr Bhattacharya announced that the first lot of rehab plots would be handed over to the respective beneficiaries by the end of December and the process would be continued in gradual progression.
During today's meeting, which was also attended by representatives of the land-losers at Kawakhali, the SJDA also modified certain provisions of the rehab package to the benefit of the affected families.
The minister also announced that the infrastructure development works at the proposed township site, which was suspended by land-losers’ protests last week, would resume tomorrow.

Statesman News Service

Dredger hope for reviving Haldia channel
Source: TOI Epaper


http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/4946/getimagele2.jpg
Kolkata: Officers of the marine department, Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT), say that the original navigation channel between Haldia and Kolkata can be revived in 10 months, should the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) allow use of its dredger, Aquarius. The Aquarius — a cutter-suction dredger of Dutch make — is one of the most efficient dredgers available in India.
For nearly nine years after Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) came up, there was a direct channel to Kolkata through Jiggerkhali. This channel shoaled up in 1986 and ships to Kolkata had to take a diverted route across Nayachar Island. The new channel came to be known as Rangaphala. Ships that berthed at Haldia could no longer take a direct route to Kolkata. Even now, they have to sail back towards Sagar Island, make a U-turn across Nayachar and take the Rangaphala channel. This results in fall in efficiency and wastage of valuable time.
“Of late, we have noticed a fresh flow of water through Jiggerkhali,” a senior officer said. “A study revealed that the original channel can be restored by dredging a mere four million cubic metres of soil. This can be achieved in 10 months, if a dredger like Aquarius is put to use. Once this channel is restored, there will be no need for capital dredging to clear the impediment between Balari and the northern tip of Nayachar. The cost of this capital dredging has been estimated at nearly Rs 1,000 crore. The quantity of soil that will have to be removed is over 20 million cubic metres”.
So far as shore disposal of the dredged soil is concerned, the state and CESC has land on the western bank. Both the government and CESC have reportedly told KoPT that they would want the level of their land to be raised by a few feet, thus solving the problem of shore disposal.
“The Aquarius has powerful pumps on board that will allow it to discharge the soil on the riverbank. If need be, booster pumps can be attached to take the soil further inland. Once the Jiggerkhali channel is restored, we can look into the opening of the western channel to Haldia. Vessels from the Sandheads can then directly take the western channel to Haldia — without having to pass through the constricted space between the southern tip of Nayachar and Mizzen Sands — and then move northward towards Diamond Harbour and Kolkata. This will solve the problems of draught in the present Haldia channel,” the officer added.
While all this may look quite promising, the KoPT management seems to be dragging its feet on the subject. One possible reason may be that the management is apprehensive of questions being raised as to why it kept on harping on funds being allotted for capital dredging when this possibility could be explored. Another possibility is that the top management does not want to take on shipping minister T R Baalu on diversion of the Aquarius from the Sethusamudram project. The project is reportedly close to the minister’s heart and the Aquarius was also damaged in 2007 while working on the Adam’s Bridge

NMDC pact kindles Rio Tinto hope

Calcutta, Nov. 18: National Mineral Development Corporation Ltd (NMDC) may bring global mining giant Rio Tinto to Bengal.

The country’s largest iron ore miner is planning to develop a large coal mine, the fifth largest in India with a deposit of 2 billion tonnes, in the state. NMDC chairman and managing director Rana Som said the corporation would induct a foreign partner in the Deocha-Pachami coal block in Birbhum.

“We have held talks with Rio Tinto,” Som said after NMDC signed a memorandum of understanding with the West Bengal Mineral Development & Trading Corporation (WBMDTC) to develop the block.

The two entities will initially hold 50 per cent each in the proposed venture. Later, the Bengal mineral corporation will sell 10 per cent to West Bengal Power Development Corporation, while NMDC will be free to induct a foreign partner with a 10-15 per cent stake.

“Ultimately, it will be a commercial decision,” Som said. Chinese firms may also join the project, he added.

The process of forming a joint venture company will begin only after the Centre formally offers the lease.

The block is spread over 9.7 square kilometres but NMDC will start with 3.2 sq km where 450 million tonnes of coal is available at a depth of 100 metres. The first task is overburdening, removing earth, mainly basalt rock, to reach coal seam.

“The coal will be used for power generation. It will take about 5-6 years to start production,” Bengal industry secretary Sabyasachi Sen, who was present at the MoU signing ceremony, said.

NMDC and WBMTDC signed another MoU whereby the former would supply iron ore and bauxite to help local steel and aluminium industries.

Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Union steel minister Ram Vilas Paswan were present during the signing of the pacts.


http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081119/jsp/business/story_10131017.jsp


_

IMRS Hospitality will spend around Rs 100 Crore to set up five boutique hotels in the eastern region. The projects have been lined up for West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa, with an investment of around Rs20-Rs 25 Crore each. The company has already started acquiring land at Rajarhat for the purpose.

IMRS Hospitality is also looking at a tie up with a European company, for which an MoU will be inked soon. The MoU is expected to provide technological assistance and will be an investor for the projects.

Source: http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/imrs-to-set-up-five-boutique-hotels-4026

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NMDC can rope in another partner

Project will help the power sector
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KOLKATA: Navratna public sector National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) will initially invest Rs. 1,000 crore to develop a coal mining project in Birbhum district in West Bengal, Chairman and Managing Director Rana Som said.

Mr. Som was here on the occasion of signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the West Bengal Mineral Development and Trading Corporation (WBMDTC) for starting coal mining activities and supplying iron ore and bauxite.

He said the Deocha-Pachami coal block in West Bengal was one of the largest coal blocks in India and NMDC proposed to make its second foray in coal mining with this virgin block. The initial investment would go mainly towards land acquisition and purchase of heavy earth moving machinery. NMDC already had two coal blocks in Madhya Pradesh. The Birbhum block was yet to be allotted. He indicated that this mine would need technology and NMDC might rope in a foreign partner if it so wanted. Spread over a 9.7-sq. kilometre, the mine had a 2-billion tonne reserve of thermal coal and was deep mine. The West Bengal Power Development Corporation would have a 10-per cent stake in this venture, while the WBMDTC would hold 40 per cent of the equity with NMDC holding 50 per cent and having the right to divest 15 per cent to bring in another partner.

West Bengal Power Minister Mrinal Banerjee said that with a proposed capacity of 10,000 MW, the state utilities would need one lakh tonnes of coal a day soon. The project would help the power sector.

The MoU paves the way for the geological exploration of the deposit to establish the project’s commercial viability, after which the joint venture would be incorporated to carry forward the project.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said industrial progress was difficult without mineral supplies and a national policy was needed for dispersing resources evenly throughout the country.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/19/stories/2008111956961600.htm

Revival of India Foils

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2037440/

Ess Dee Aluminium (EDAL) has acquired 90 per cent equity stake in ailing Kolkata-based aluminium foils company India Foils, of the Vedanta group, for Rs 130 crore, a top company official said here.

"Ess Dee Aluminium and Vedanta group entity, Madras Aluminium Company (Malco), have joined hands to revive India Foils. As a part of the rehabilitation plan, we both partners will infuse about Rs 261 crore in India Foils in the form of equity and preferential shares to repay all existing lenders of IFL, thus making it debt-free," EDAL Chairman and Managing Director Sudip Dutta told reporters here today.

The IFL acquisition will enhance Ess Dee's rolling capacity from the existing 18,000 tonnes to 37,000 tonnes spread across five manufacturing facilities, thus making it India's largest pharmaceutical foil manufacturing company.

"This acquisition will also place Ess Dee on track towards achieving self sufficiency in raw material requirements once the foil stock plant at Hoera is restarted. Addition of IFL's manufacturing facilities in West Bengal would add strength to Ess Dee's successful hub-and-spoke model of manufacturing and printing foil-based products with plants spread across the country," Dutta said. Asked about any acquisition plans, Dutta said, "We are looking at inorganic growth and if any good deal comes about, we will take it." On the reason of exit from India Foils, Vedanta Director Tarun Jain said it was not Vedanta's core business, which was mining.

India Foils is engaged in the businesses of manufacturing, processing and selling of aluminium foil and foil-based products. The company has three manufacturing facilities in West Bengal with a total foil-rolling capacity of 19,000 tonnes backed by adequate front-end conversion capacity that allows it the flexibility to offer value-added products. India Foils was declared sick and referred to the BIFR in 2006 and two plants out of three were shut down.

Edit: moved to kolkata thread

The West Bengal government has initiated the process of reviving the abandoned Chharra airstrip in Purulia district, with private participation. The transport department has invited expressions of interest from private developers to revive the airstrip into a full-fledged airport using the public-private partnership route.

Speaking to Projectmonitor, Dilip Bakshi, Deputy Secretary, Transport Department, West Bengal, said that the Chharra airstrip was lying in an abandoned state after it was last used in 1944 during World War II. Bakshi explained that land for the airport was already in possession. The defence ministry, it is learnt, recently transferred some 600 acres of land to the state government.

Bakshi also said that the West Bengal government would have a stake in the project, although the exact modalities will be worked out in due course. He confirmed that the EOI invitation was scheduled to close on December 8, without commenting on the response thus far.

The Chharra airstrip revival is part of a larger scheme mooted by the state government two years ago of reviving six abandoned airfields in Punagarh and Chharra (Purulia district), Salua and Salboni (West Midnapore), Andal (Burdwan) and Bishnupur (Bankura).

The West Bengal government has even announced plans of developing the area around the airport into a knowledge city with medical and technical colleges. SREI Infrastructure Finance is believed to be rendering project consultancy to the knowledge city project.

It is very interesting to note that the PPP route is seen appearing on West Bengal's infrastructure development landscape, at least with respect to aviation infrastructure. Traditionally a communist state, West Bengal had strongly resisted the Centre's plan to undertake the Kolkata airport modernisation project in PPP mode, on the lines of the Mumbai and Delhi airport projects. The airport modernisation is now being implemented by Airports Authority of India.

Equally appealing is the case of Kerala, also a communist state, that opted for the PPP route for the greenfield airport at Kannur, with the state government being a shareholder and AAI not envisaged to have equity stake.

Source: http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=17424&secid=41

Feature IT companies have significant expansion plans (http://www.itexaminer.com/west-bengals-it-sector-upbeat-in-spite-of-meltdown.aspx)

By Abu Mounir @ Monday, December 01, 2008 8:25 AM

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Major IT companies in Kolkata have no immediate plans to withhold or temporarily stall their investment or expansion plans even though the worldwide recession has not left Kolkata’s IT sector unaffected.

In fact, Kolkata’s IT industry in Sector 5, Salt Lake City, is all set to enter new areas such as animation and gaming software, engineering services, and security software. The IT industry in Bengal has already established itself in key IT-enabled functions such as knowledge processing, consulting and back office services.

According to the September edition of the state government’s IT Newsletter posted on the net, the staff strength of Wipro’s Salt Lake BPO unit is slowly heading towards the 10,000 mark from its present strength of 4,500 people. In view of the company’s significant expansion plans in the city, Wipro has requested 90 acres of land in the second IT park in Kolkata’s Rajarhat township.

Meanwhile, HTMT Global Solutions has plans to invest Rs 400 crore ($80 million) towards new acquisitions in West Bengal. The company’s IT unit in Durgapur, about 200 kilometres away from Kolkata, already employs 150 people. The Durgapur unit serves Bharti Airtel.

Capgemini has also earmarked Kolkata as a major IT destination. The company has drawn a massive expansion plan and aims to acquire a 200,000 sq ft facility at New Town, Rajarhat, which would employ 1,700 people.

Another leading IT consulting company, Cognizant has plans to invest Rs 201 crore ($40 million) to extend its Kolkata facility. The plan includes an extension of its office space by another 500,000 sq ft to accommodate 5,000 employees.

HCL Infosystems has chosen Kolkata as the location of the company’s consulting center in system integration. The company plans to recruit 1,000 to 1,500 people in the coming year. Besides, many well known outsourcing companies like Genpact are choosing Kolkata as their main centre for handling global clients and India-to-India business.

Meanwhile, indigenous BPO units are coming up in various small cities in West Bengal, outside Kolkata. Although these are mostly small scale Indian-owned facilities, they are certainly enhancing employment opportunities. For instance, a company named Firstsource has launched its operations in Siliguri with plans to employ 500 people. The company’s Siliguri facility serves Vodafone.

The West Bengal IT sector is marked by low salaries and relatively low productivity levels in comparison with the other IT hubs in the country. However, this inadequacy is compensated by factors such as low attrition rates, easy availability of skilled and talented workers and a high standard of English communication skills among employees.

In the face of the current global economic meltdown plaguing international businesses, there is no doubt that some of the companies aiming for large scale investment in Kolkata may adopt a wait and watch policy. However, in the long run, the IT prospects in West Bengal continue to remain strong

Chennai, Nov. 30 Ennore Coke Ltd, whose 130,000-tonne coke plant at Haldia began operations just a few months ago, is preparing a plan to put up a 1 million-tonne plant that may require over Rs 1,000-crore of investments.

Ennore Coke, listed on the BSE, is an associate company of Shriram EPC Ltd, part of the Chennai-based Shriram group, which has a 32 per cent stake in the company. It produces coke, used in the conversion of ores into metals, from coking coal that comes from mines. Coke is a key raw material in steel production.

May go for joint venture

Mr T. Shivaraman, Managing Director, Shriram EPC, told Business Line that to put up the project, it is imperative to either have possession of coking coal mines or have a company that has the mines as a partner. Depending upon how things pan out, the new project may be put up either by Ennore Coke itself or through a joint venture, he said.

Today, Ennore Coke has 410,000 tonnes of capacity under its command, half of which is through an arrangement with a company called Durgapur Projects Ltd. Ennore Coke outsources coke manufacture to Durgapur Projects. In addition, Ennore Coke recently acquired an 80,000 tonne coke plant from Wellman Incandescent, in West Bengal, for a consideration of Rs 30 crore.

The rest of the capacity comes from the newly commissioned plant at Haldia that has a 12 MW thermal power plant that produces power from waste heat from the coke plant.

Performance

The current year is the company’s first full year of operations. For the half year ended September 30, Ennore Coke achieved a turnover of Rs 20 crore and made a net profit of Rs 22 lakh.

The current price of coke is about $500 a tonne. Assuming prices remain unchanged and capacity utilisation is full, Ennore Coke could potentially achieve a turnover of Rs 900 crore in 2009-10.

Asked if work on the proposed 1 million-tonne project could begin at least by 2010-11, Mr Shivaraman said, “we are pushing for starting the next year itself.”

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/12/01/stories/2008120151090200.htm

KOLKATA: The industrial growth rate of West Bengal is 1.1 per cent higher than the national average of 10.8 per cent (2006-07), and the State
continues to move ahead on the path to development and economic progress, the Singur episode notwithstanding.

According to leading industrialists, the sectors like steel and mining, chemicals and petro-chemicals, power, agro industries and food processing, Information Technology (IT), real estate and retail have been generating a lot of interest in West Bengal.

The State is a gateway not only to north-east India besides other States like Orissa, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, but also to countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.

The growth and development is obvious in and around the capital city of Kolkata. Major real estate players like DLF, Unitech, Singapore-based Keppeland, Purvankara, Emaar Group, are all competing for a pie of the new satellite township coming up at Rajarhat, near the airport.

Besides housing estates, several budget and star hotels and conference centres, cultural centres, shopping malls, multiplexes are being built across the city.

Smaller towns like Durgapur, Haldia, Asansol, and Siliguri across the State are developing. The steel sector, recently received a boost with the foundation stone laying of the proposed Rs. 35,000 crore-Jindal Steel Plant in Salboni, in West Midnapore District, approximately 240 kilometres from Kolkata.

The other sectors that have witnessed a lot of activity are metals, mining and plastic.

With a sustained agricultural growth of over 8 per cent, the State is also finding investors in the agro-industries and in food processing.

"There is great focus in potato, other vegetables and fruit cultivation and processing. The entry of wholesale giants like Metro-Cash-And-Carry signals well for this segment," says Dr. Rajeev Singh, Secretary General, Indian Chamber of Commerce.

According to the city-based industrialist Sanjay Budhia, Chairman of the Patton Group, Kolkata finds investors because of facilities like low-cost housing compared to other metros, good sanitation and basic amenities, best clubs in the country, culture and a literate working class.

Sanjay says investors from Japan and Korean get bowled over when they see the great golf courses the Tolly club and the Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC).

In the hotel industy, Kolkata has witnessed entry of big players. The Apeejay Group is putting up a 300-room five star hotel spread over a 3.3 acre plot on the Eastern Bypass worth Rs 1.36 billion, as is the Emaar Group.

The Bengal Shrishti Infrastructure Development is building a hotel in Rajarhat worth Rs. five billion. The Hilton group has also made enquiries.

According to Samit Ganguly, Director for Sales, Hyatt Regency, Kolkata, has a corporate-driven hotel market, which is growing despite seasonal downslides.

West Bengal today is the third largest economy in the country. Its IT sector, which set off much later than other parts of the country, is growing fast with big names like Wipro, TCS and IBM finding a place in the IT hub at Sector V already.

The State, according to industry leaders, is on the right track. It has garnered new projects worth two billion dollars in the last four years. The government has offered the right incentives and even during the recent global meltdown and recession, not many see much reason to worry.

However, all emphasize that there is need for an environment for industrial growth.

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's government in West Bengal has shown the political will towards taking the State forward industrially. However, the state's merit as an investment destination and for industrial development would ultimately be decided on the basis of its work culture and the public will to see projects through.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Indicators/West_Bengal_industrial_growth_rate_higher_than_national_average/articleshow/3779918.cms

HM's small truck "Winner". After 28 years HM launched any new car. It will be manufactured from HM's Uttarpara plant.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff132/SarafIndian/3bus3.jpg

Anandabazar

The vehicle is developed jointly with Shandong Shifeng of China

To produce 1,000 vehicles a month

Plans national roll-out in nine months


http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff132/SarafIndian/2008120355521401.jpg

UTILISING EXCESS CAPACITY: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee (left) with Chairman of Hindustan Motors C. K. Birla during the launch of a mini truck in Kolkata on Tuesday.

KOLKATA: C. K. Birla-controlled Hindustan Motors on Tuesday launched a mini-truck, which, it hoped, would utilise the substantial excess capacity that the country’s oldest automobile unit had in the face of plunging sales of its flagship vehicle, Ambassador.

Talking to the media after the national launch by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee of the first new vehicle in 28 years, company Managing Director R. Santhanam said that with retail finance becoming a serious problem in the last three months, Ambassador sales had nearly halved between July and October as compared to the same quarter in 2007. The mother unit at Uttarpara has an annual capacity of 24,000 units.

“With the new car ‘HM-Shifeng-Winner’ we hope to utilise some of the excess capacity,” he said.

Production capacity for the new vehicle, developed jointly with Shandong Shifeng, a China-based automotive and agri-equipment company, is 1,000 vehicles monthly and newer variants of the mini-truck, including a CNG model for the National Capital Region (NCR), will be ready in about two months.

A national roll-out was planned in nine months, Mr. Santhanam said.

Moloy Chowdhury, Vice-President, said that while the chassis and the cabin assembly were developed by the Chinese company, the power unit, driving component and gear box were by Hindustan Motors.

Mr. Bhattacharjee said that this was a cheerful development after the very grim happenings in Mumbai.

“We condemn the happenings and pay homage to those who sacrificed their lives while performing their duty,” he said.

He said that the State had suffered a serious setback after the pullout by the Tatas. “We tried to persuade them but they left under certain circumstances. We have to try again afresh since the State needs automobile and ancillary units”. He said that he had readily agreed to C. K. Birla’s proposal to set up IT units and housing to utilise the excess land at Uttarpara. “He says he has just started developing the projects”.

Company Chairman C. K. Birla said that this was an important day for the company.

The three external divisions for forging and castings were progressing well, Mr. Birla said.

Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120355521400.htm)

^^

A small step forward after the Mamata disaster in Singur.

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee has reaffirmed his government's commitment to Dubai-based DP World for development of Kulpi Port project in the state.

According to state cabinet sources, Bhattacharjee has written two letters, one to Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman, Dubai World, and the other to T.R. Baalu, Union Minister of Shipping, on his government reaffirming the project.

Earlier this month, DP World had communicated to the CM that it couldn't wait for more than three months for the project. Based on DP World communiqué sent to the chief minister, sources have revealed that Buddhadev is busy holding talks with the Union ministry of shipping so that the agreement involving DP World can be clinched as early as possible.

A reason for delay in clinching the deal was because of the two exisitng ports - Kolkata Port Trust and Haldia Port Trust. An emergence of a third private port like Kulpi could threaten the two.

In addition, KoPT should be allowed to dredge the Hooghly around Kulpi and manoeuvre ships to the port. Hence a discussion with the Shipping Corporation of India Ltd has to be held by West Bengal. All these issues have to be sorted out before a final deal for the Kulpi Port project is clinched.

As part of the Rs 1,200-crore project, a container port and a special economic zone are scheduled to come up in South 24-Parganas' Kulpi, which is just 55 km from Kolkata. The SEZ and port will be spread over 3,000 acres, of which 300 acres will be used for the port and allied backup facilities and 2,700 acres for the SEZ.

The DP World development of Kulpi Port will include all-weather port facilities, shipbreaking yard and industrial park, all integrated in a single hub. The marine terminal will have a 450-metre quay and handling capacity of 650,000 teu.

Phase-I of the port development was supposed to be completed at the end of 2009, as per the agreement. DP World, along with Keventer Projects, comprising the joint venture company, Bengal Port, is now supposed to construct a container port and an SEZ at Kulpi.

It may be noted that an MoU was signed between Calcutta Port Trust and the state government for Kulpi in 2001. The memorandum has to be converted into a formal agreement. But then in 2001, the Dubai company was not involved in the project.

Source: http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=17505&secid=80

Lakshmi Steel Industries Ltd, with headquarters in Kolkata, plans to set up an integrated steel unit at Neturia in West Bengal. The unit, with a capacity of 3 million tpa, will be implemented in three phases. It will also include 20-mw waste heat recovery power unit. Land acquisition is underway.

Talking to Projectmonitor, a company official remarked, "Neturia is located in Purulia district of West Bengal. We have not yet finalised a builder's firm which will undertake the project's construction. At this juncture we would rather not disclose the cost of the project. However, construction work on the unit will begin in March 2009, and phase-I would be completed in October 2010."

Source: http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=17488&secid=28

HM's Winner
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff132/SarafIndian/1970.jpg

http://www.wheelsunplugged.com/ViewNews.aspx?newsid=1970

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/12/05/images/2008120551331801.jpg
Container Corporation of India’s Durgapur terminal, complete with a railway siding with connection to mainline and other facilities, is to cater mainly to the iron and steel units located in Durgapur-Asansol industrial belt of West Bengal.

Kolkata, Dec. 4 Container Corporation of India’s (Concor) Durgapur terminal in West Bengal, which is expected to be ready for operation in a month or so, is to handle 500 TEUs a month on commissioning.

Giving this information to Business Line here on Wednesday, Mr A.K. Behera, Chief General Manager, Concor, East, said, “The throughput would have been much more, but for the present economic slowdown.”

The terminal, geared to handle more than 1,000 TEUs a month, would cater mainly to the iron and steel plants, both in public and private sectors, dominating the industrial scene of the region, he said.

Spread over 29.7 acres of land acquired from Asansol Durgapur Development Authority, the terminal, according to Concor CGM, has been built at a cost of Rs 8.5 crore.

“It will be ideally suited for a number of industrial units located in and around Asansol-Durgapur industrial belt, as it is close to the National Highway 2 and will be connected to the mainline by a railway siding,” Mr Behera said, adding that that the total size of the paved area in the terminal would be more than 20,000 sq metres to facilitate loading/unloading and stuffing/destuffing of containers.

Reach stackers, fork lifts and other handling equipment would be in place shortly. “There will be several trailers to offer door-to-door service,” he said, pointing out that terminal-to-terminal and chassis-to-chassis services or combination of them too would be provided, depending on customers requirements.

The iron and steel units in and around Durgapur/Asansol area, currently despatching by road pig iron and TMT bars to northern and southern regions, should avail themselves of Concor’s services which, it was claimed, would be cost-effective.

At a meeting held in Durgapur on Tuesday, the representatives of user industries wanted to know about the cost, transit time and safety and security of containers. “On all the three counts, we assured them, the Concor services would prove to be the best,” Mr Behera said.

“Right now, the terminal will cater to the domestic traffic, but in due course we will upgrade it to a full-fledged container freight station (CFS) to cater to imports and export trade,” he added.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/12/05/stories/2008120551331800.htm

This is a forum for skyscrapers and urban development projects and you people are mouthing the same shit of industry thoroughout the entire length of this thread on w.b. Disgustingly irritating. Perhaps you have nothing to talk about other than this inappropriate topic of factories, given that there is no worthwhile construction going on in the state and if Mamatadi has her way you will have to stop the thread the altogether in the near future.

This is a forum for skyscrapers and urban development projects and you people are mouthing the same shit of industry thoroughout the entire length of this thread on w.b. Disgustingly irritating. Perhaps you have nothing to talk about other than this inappropriate topic of factories,..

:?

Delhi nod to Andal airport city

SAMBIT SAHA

Calcutta, Dec. 5: The Centre has given its final approval to the proposed airport city project at Andal in Burdwan.

The steering committee on greenfield airports headed by the civil aviation secre-tary has accepted the tech-no-economic feasibility study submitted by the project promoter. The letter of approval is expected next week.

Bengal Aerotropolis Project Ltd, the promoter company, will take about two years to operationalise the airport after the land is acquired.

The onus is now going to be on the Bengal government to settle issues with Coal India, which has objected to the project saying the land has substantial coal reserves.

Several local panchayats have pledged support to the airport city, but the Trinamul Congress remains non-committal. “We are yet to see their package. Our state leaders will take a decision,” said Prabhat Chatterjee, the party’s Burdwan secretary.

Aerotropolis is set to come up on 3,500 acres. In the first phase, the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation has to hand over 2,300 acres.

The Rs 10,000-crore project will have an airport equipped to handle Boeing 737-800 and Airbus 320-200 planes. Changi Airport of Singapore will be the operator. A city that will include IT and industry clusters will be developed around the airport.

A state government source said : “Now that Delhi has approved it, the state can move with confidence.”

The promoters plan to give a cottah for every one bigha (20 cottahs) acquired in addition to the cash compensation.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081206/jsp/bengal/story_10214531.jsp

This is a forum for skyscrapers and urban development projects and you people are mouthing the same shit of industry thoroughout the entire length of this thread on w.b. Disgustingly irritating. Perhaps you have nothing to talk about other than this inappropriate topic of factories, given that there is no worthwhile construction going on in the state and if Mamatadi has her way you will have to stop the thread the altogether in the near future.
i thought she was deported back to Kazakhstan?

Where is this park?

Kolkata foundry park to attract Rs 25,000 cr investment (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/kolkata-foundry-park-to-attract-rs-25000-cr-investment/15/41/50805/on)

The foundry park in Kolkata is expected to attract Rs 25,000 crore investment in five years from completion.

Tapash Chatterjee, chief executive officer-cum-secretary, Foundry Cluster Development Association, a special purpose vehicle for the foundry park in West Bengal, said 126 members had evinced interest in the project.

The park, spread over 926 acre, can accommodate 150 units. In the first phase, 270 acres will be required. The tendering process for infrastructure in the park is on. The first phase of the project is expected to be complete in the next 12 months. The park, once completed, will employ 30,000 people.

^^its a secret. We don't want mamata to find out do we?

Shyam Group’s steel project in West Bengal on schedule (http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/business/shyam-groups-steel-project-in-west-bengal-on-schedule_100128994.html)

December 9th, 2008 - 6:21 pm

Kolkata, Dec 9 (IANS) The City-based Shyam Group of Industries Tuesday said its 1.1-million-tonne per annum integrated steel plant project in Jamuria near Asansol in West Bengal was on schedule, and the company had already acquired 400 acres for the project.”We will complete the first phase by 2009 with a capacity of 0.25 million (250,000) tonnes steel and 250 MW of power,” Bhushan Agarwal, vice-chairman and managing director of the company told reporters.

The total capacity of the captive power plant will be 1,000 MW after completion of the project.

The investment for the first phase will be in the tune of Rs.20 billion of which 35 percent will be raised through equity and 65 percent from debt.

“We have acquired 400 acres on our own and the state government will provide us with 180 acres over and above this,” Agarwal said.

The total land requirement for the project is 1,500 acres.

The company will require three million tonnes of coal for the first phase. It has got permission to use coal blocks from Jagannathpur and is expected to get permission for Kunur block soon, he said.

It will also require 0.9 million tonnes of iron ore for the first phase, Agarwal added.

The group is also setting up a port at Baliharchandi in Orissa with 30-40-million-tonne capacity in a joint venture with plywood maker Century Plyboards.

“It is a 50:50 joint venture and the first phase will be completed within 24 months from the day we start acquiring land,” Milan Agarwal, senior executive, project coordinator of Shyam DRI Power Ltd said.

Where is this park?

Kolkata foundry park to attract Rs 25,000 cr investment (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/kolkata-foundry-park-to-attract-rs-25000-cr-investment/15/41/50805/on)

Howrah???

^^its a secret. We don't want mamata to find out do we?

:rofl:

M.S. Glass Industries Pvt. Ltd, based in Kolkata, is setting up a glass sheets manufacturing unit at Bighati in West Bengal where construction work is under way.

Talking to Projectmonitor, Zahid Dil Nawaz, Manager-Import Division, said, "Bighati offers us a big advantage in that it is rich in raw materials needed to set up such a unit and whatever we require is locally available. The town is located in Hooghly district and 30 km away from Kolkata on NH-2. The project would be set up at a cost of Rs 100 crore.”

"The construction is in full swing. Actually, it is more or less at completion stage. Production will begin in February 2009, and the capacity would be 180 tonnes per day.

The glass sheets that will be manufactured at our unit would be used for architectural purpose, making mirrors and so on. The sheets will vary in thickness to suit the purpose for which they would be used."

Source: http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=17535&secid=28

Army wants land for Dooars airstrip

11 Dec 2008, 0439 hrs IST

KOLKATA: Negotiations are on with the state government for acquisition of land to set up an airstrip in North Bengal, which the army needs close to
the Sino-Indian border, Eastern Command Major General General Staff (MGGS) Munish Sibal said at a news conference in Kolkata on Wednesday. "Talks are in progress with the government," he said.

The army needed the airstrip somewhere in the Dooars to launch unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance of the international border. While some land was already available with the army at the spot, some more would have to be acquired, Sibal said. In the absence of a suitable launching pad, the UAVs were currently being launched from airports that were also used for civilian purposes, but this was facing difficulties.

A lot of defence land is available in North Bengal. There is one view in the army that the airstrip can be set up on any of these, without further acquisition. But Sibal said these were not suitable for setting up an airstrip that would meet the requirement. "We need an airstrip close to the international border. The further away the border is from the launching pad, the lesser payload the UAV will be able to carry. It may not even be able to reach the border," he said.


CM visit sends industries dept into a tizzy

11 Dec 2008, 0435 hrs IST

KOLKATA: Call it being overwhelmed by the occasion or stress caused by shifting to a new location.

Whatever the reason, the unpreparedness of the state's industries department was there for all to see on Wednesday, with officials scurrying to purchase a shawl from a Manjusha store to gift chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee just a minute before he arrived at the department's new office at 4, Camac Street.

The CM, who stepped in to ensure that reluctant industries department employees shifted from Writers' Buildings, was visiting the new industries department office for the first time on Wednesday. A Manjusha outlet is located on the ground floor of the building, where the industries department has shifted.

The sense of bewilderment, however, did not end with the industries department. Even police joined in, restricting access to all four lifts in the building to visitors and mediapersons for the one hour that the CM was present there, even if the former had to visit other offices located on the same premises. The Camac Street address also houses the high-profile IT department, which attracts a steady stream of visitors.

Industries secretary Sabyasachi Sen was frank enough to admit that a few glitches still remained. "We still have to ensure an adequate number of computers and telephone connections, apart from ensuring that the AC works properly," he said. "All these things will be addressed shortly," he added.

The secretary, who also addressed the media who were shut out of the sixth floor when the CM held a meeting with industries minister Nirupam Sen and department officials said discussions revolved round the state's current business climate.

"We discussed the possibility of having a land bank and how to arrange coal linkages and water supply for the steel plants coming up," he said. The issues would be discussed in greater detail with state finance minister Asim Dasgupta.

"We are trying to get nine coal blocks for the proposed steel projects. We have already arranged three blocks for JSW Bengal Steel," Sen said.


Times of India

Land notice for aerotropolis

Andal: The state government on Thursday issued a land acquisition notification at Andal and Bhadu mouzas in Burdwan district for the Rs 10,000-crore aerotropolis project, which is supposed to come up on 3,500 acres.
The aerotropolis, being developed by Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited (BAPL), got the clearance from the defence ministry only a few days back and is all set to get the final nod from the Centre soon.
Changi Airports of Singapore is a 26% stakeholder in the project and will build the 3.5-lakh passengers-per-annum airport of international standard.
The project had run into rough weather when Coal India Limited (CIL) had claimed that if the aerotropolis project came up in the area, it would seriously affect coal reserves.
However, in a letter to the civil aviation ministry, Smaraki Mahapatra, CEO of Asansol Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA), had rubbished CIL’s claim after confirming from official records that only 3 sq km of the total 13.1sq km land, to be acquired for the project, lies within Eastern Coalfields Limited’s (ECL) leasehold area. “The report enclosed by Central Mine Planning and Design Institute indicates that the coal reserve is about 400 to 1200 metres deep in Tamla and Ichapur mouzas, and does not figure in the mining plans of ECL in the next 40 years,” she said.
She has also rejected CIL’s demand of announcing ADDA’s 1,616 sq-km area as a coal-bearing zone, citing IIT Kharagpur’s Vision 2025, which has stressed the need to set up a variety of industries, apart from only steel and coal. Asansol and Durgapur figures
in the top 100 fastest growing cities of the country, she added.
Rajendra Prasad Khaitan, secretary, Federation of South Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said trade unions would jointly start an agitation against CIL’s demand to declare the area coal-bearing. Landowners have also demanded details of the compensation package and want to directly interact with officials, said Susanta Dutta, a landloser.

Times of India

Aerotropolis gets clearance from Steering Committee

DURGAPUR, Dec. 12: The Steering Committee on Greenfield Airports has given clearance to the Andal Aerotropolis and some respite to the Left Front government.
The state too began the process of land acquisition through a public notification yesterday.
The Steering Committee, meanwhile, has asked the state to initiate the acquisition process by 15 December through a gazette notification. Yesterday, the Burdwan Land Acquisition Collectorate brought out notification for 2,300 acres of land in Bhadur and Andal village (JL No: 52 & 42). Dr Subrata Gupta, MD, West Bengal Industry Development Corporation (WBIDC) said: “We believe the trouble is over and the land owners may give any objections within a month of this notification.”
The principal clearance to the project was prompted only after the Ministry of Defence issued a No Objection Certificate for the country's first Aerotropolis project beside the abandoned WW-II aerodrome in Andal. The Steering Committee, in its fourth meeting at New Delhi, resolved to give the principal clearance, the officials of the Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited (BAPL) ~ the principal promoter of the project said today. Mr Bhaskar Khulbe, WBIDC advisor represented the state at the Steering Committee which is headed by the secretary, ministry of civil aviation as the chairman and his counterparts in Ministry of Defence, department of Economic Affairs and Planning Commission as senior delegates.
The Steering Committee's observation stated: “No denying there was huge dissension growing at the grassroots level due to the fact that dependence on agriculture is minimal in the site selected for this project. Most land owners see the Aerotropolis-based land acquisition as a major opportunity for immediate gainful exchange of land coupled with huge employability possibilities in the near future.”


Statesman News Service

Kolkata (PTI): Clearing the objections raised by Coal India Ltd (CIL), the first private airport in West Bengal is likely to be operational by 2011.

"We hope to begin commercial operation of the airport in 30 months of land acquisition," Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd director Partha Ghosh told PTI.

"We hope to complete the acquisition 2362.84 acre required for the first phase in the next four to six months," Ghosh said, adding that the government would complete the land acquisition notification in the next one or two days.

The process of land acquisition was delayed due to lack of clearance from the steering committee which was set by the government for the proposed greenfield project.

Meanwhile, CIL has stated that about 2,300 million tonne of superior quality non-coking coal was likely to be blocked if the project was set up at the propose site.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/004200812141180.htm

KOLKATA: India’s first ‘tea park’ is set to be launched in early-January on a 50-acre plot in Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal and is expected to give a special impetus to exports of tea from the Dooars and Terai regions in North Bengal.

Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said that the park would have a warehouse-hub and also facilities for cleaning, grading, blending and packaging tea. While land for the project has been acquired from the Railways by the West Bengal Government, the Centre would spend Rs. 16 crore to set up this infrastructure as part of the ASIDE scheme (Assistance to States for Infrastructure Development for Exports).

Mr. Jairam Ramesh said a dry port would also be set up next to that, for which another 40-acre plot has been acquired from the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority. This project would be implemented through a joint venture of SJDA and the Tea Board. Mr. Jairam Ramesh, who unveiled a logo (an elephant) for tea from the Dooars and Terai regions, said that this would help give a distinct identity to teas from this region where producers have been asked to produce orthodox tea in order to boost quality and exports.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/16/stories/2008121653561500.htm

State nets Rs 900-crore solar projects

Kolkata: In a decisive step towards becoming the country’s undisputed green energy hub, the state has bagged four projects that will manufacture key components required to tap solar energy and generate electricity.
Bhaskar Poly Silicon, Vikram Solar, Advanti-Reliance Trading Group combine and Sobha Ispat Group are pumping in Rs 900 crore to set up manufacturing units that will churn out solar photovoltaic components capable of generating 100 mw of electricity per annum.
Vikram Solar is investing Rs 500 crore in a silicon ingot manufacturing unit. It has acquired 200 acre in Haldia and work on the project is expected to being soon. The unit will be commissioned in 2010. The combine between IT firm Advanti and Reliance Trading Group has decided to pump in Rs 200 crore in a silicon wafer manufacturing unit and is on the threshold of finalising a 25 acre plot in Dankuni. This factory too will be commissioned in 2010.
The other two — Heritage group company Vikram Solar and Sobha Ispat — are setting up solar module manufacturing units with an investment of Rs 100 crore each. While the former has acquired 25 acre at Falta, the latter has acquired a similar plot at Durgapur. Both factories are expected to be commissioned next year.
When all the four units become operational in 2010, the combined annual turnover is pegged around Rs 600 crore.
Terming the developments a big stride to gaining the leadership status as a solar hub, West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation managing director S P Gon Chaudhuri said the projects would catapult West Bengal ahead of Karnataka to become the numero uno player in solar photovoltaic

Times of India

Photo cc sudipta @picasa

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Vedanta Aluminium seeks 1,200 acre land from WB govt (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/vedanta-aluminium-seeks-1200-acre-landwb-govt/15/16/51567/on)

Press Trust of India / Kolkata December 21, 2008, 15:10 IST

Vedanta Aluminium, a subsidiary of LSE-listed Vedanta Resources Plc, would seek an additional 1,200 acres of land from the West Bengal government for its proposed greenfield plant in the state.

A Vedanta official told PTI that the company had 200 acres of land under its possession at Bidhanbag in Asansol region.

"We require another 1,000 to 1,200 acre. The government will facilitate in giving us the land," he said.

Vedanta Aluminium was in the process of setting up a alumina plant with a capacity of 6.5 lakh tonne and a 1,500 Mw power plant in the state in the first phase.

In the second phase, the alumina production capacity would be ramped up to one million tonnes and power generation capacity would also be augmented by another 1,500 Mw.

The total investment for the project was around Rs 25,000 crore.

Vedanta was also setting up a similar greenfield facility at Jharsuguda in Orissa, where the alumina smelter capacity would be two million tonne per annum.

Purulia is one of the most backward districts of West Bengal with hardly any industrial or agricultural activity due to a variety of reasons. West Bengal Government is believed to have initiated a move to set up a cargo airport with an air cargo complex there, preferably in private partnership. The location too has been identified: an abandoned airstrip of the Second World War. The size of the airstrip, estimated at several hundred acres, is not small. However, the State Government’s initial effort in this regard has not been much of a success. The EoIs invited by the State transport department from private firms are believed to have evoked poor response. There was only one response. But this is not surprising, considering the past experience. There is no dearth of abandoned airfields in the State and from time to time, the State Government will come out with its pious wishes for developing them for one purpose or the other, though not with much headway so far. But the poor response to the Purulia project has not dispirited the State Government. Undaunted, it is mulling floating a global tender.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/12/22/stories/2008122250160600.htm

Darjeeling tea estates to get AEZ status (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Markets/Commodities/Darjeeling_tea_estates_to_get_AEZ_status/articleshow/3876699.cms)

KOLKATA: Come January 1, 2009, some 87 tea estates in Darjeeling are poised to get the agri-export zone (AEZ) status. This will enable them to
access a number of central and state government incentive schemes to improve productivity and enhance export revenues through value addition.

The move comes at a time when the Darjeeling tea industry, whose revenues solely depend on exports, is trying to find ways to make a headway into export markets in the backdrop of the global financial meltdown.

The first flush and second flush Darjeeling teas fetch premium prices in world markets, while the rains teas, which come later in the season, generally do not find ways in global markets.

The muscatel flavour of second flush teas attract buyers from Japan, the US and North America. The first flush teas are generally bought by the European countries.

“The Tea Board of India and West Bengal Industrial Development Corp will sign the MoU by the month end for declaring Darjeeling tea region as an AEZ. A steering committee will be formed, which will be headed by the chief secretary of the state. This committee will be responsible for implementing the AEZ scheme for Darjeeling tea,” a senior Tea Board official told ET.

The decision was taken by state commerce and industry secretary Sabyasachi Sen at a meeting on Monday, which was attended by the Tea Board chairman Basudeb Banerjee and Darjeeling Tea Association chairman Sanjay Bansal.The Union commerce ministry is also planning to set up a tea park for Darjeeling teas in Kolkata in a 10 acre plot owned by Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT). For this, Tea Board has held a round of talks with officials of KoPT.

“KoPT has asked us to submit a formal proposal,” said the Tea Board official. When contacted, Mr Bansal said: “AEZ will help Darjeeling tea industry at a time when exports are likely to suffer due to the impending financial crisis. It will enable the industry to address the rising cost of production and help in value addition of teas. In fact, in the current season, we have got feelers from foreign buyers to hold back shipments.

This is a major setback for us.”Incidentally, the Rs 212.65-crore agri export zone in Darjeeling will be set up with assistance from Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). India produces 10 million kg of Darjeeling tea. Of this, nearly 50% comprise first and second flush, which are sold at a premium in the export markets.

CESC set to get addl Haldia land in Jan

Sumali Moitra

Kolkata: Call it the perfect New Year gift! Haldia Development Authority (HDA) plans to allot an additional 80 acres to CESC Ltd in January 2009 for the company’s proposed 600 MW power plant in Haldia (2x300 MW). HDA had already given CESC 200 acres earlier.
Sources familiar with the developments said the 80 acres which are now being planned to be given to the RPG Group flagship company next month had originally been handed over by HDA to some other organisation.
“Since this company which originally held the land had left the plot idle for many years, HDA intends to take it back from them and hand it over to CESC. Land would be given to CESC the moment transfer formalities are completed since the plot has to be first returned to HDA,” sources said. “The additional land would prove of huge help since it is contiguous to that allotted to CESC in the past,” they added.
Normally, a company needs at least 0.4 acres for every 1 MW of capacity it intends to generate. By that token, CESC would require at least 240 acres if it intends to restrict the project size to 600 MW. CESC had originally indicated its keenness to generate 2000 MW at Haldia.
Speaking to TOI, CESC managing director Sumantra Banerjee confirmed that the company is hopeful of getting additional land at Haldia shortly. “Setting up a power plant takes time and thus, the quicker we can move, the better it is,” he said. Usually, a power plant needs 30-36 months from the date construction begins to actually start generation. HDA chief executive officer Ghulam Ali Ansari, though, did not comment on the quantum of additional land being given to CESC.
“BHEL has sought some clarifications from CESC on the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) terms. Once this is done, technical bids would be invited for selecting the EPC vendor,” sources said. “Provided these things move smoothly, financial bids should be sought by early February and a EPC vendor chosen in February itself,” they added. Staterun BHEL and two Chinese companies are in the fray for bagging the EPC contract.
Work on the financial closure for the project would begin only after the EPC vendor is selected. Actual construction at Haldia would begin between April and June 2009. During July-September 2008, CESC’s net profit climbed 33% to Rs 124 crore from Rs 93 crore in the corresponding period posted in 2007. Volume increase of 3.8% contributed to the rise in profit.

Times of India

Locals support aerotropolis

29 Dec 2008, 0503 hrs IST, Debajyoti Chakraborty

ANDAL: A day before chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee meets union civil aviation minister Praful Patel in Kolkata, Andal residents who gave up their land for the aerotropolis project have banded together to voice their support for the project and combat any move to excavate new coal mines in the area. There is a rider though. The locals want a higher price and better compensation for their land.

Their organization, Andal Bhoomi Rakshak Ebong Krishak Sartha Roksha Committee, has raised a six-point charter of demands which includes no permission for greenfield coal mines in the area, rechristening the project Andal Aerotropolis (from Durgapur Aerotropolis), a higher price of land and a better compensation package. The committee has already put up placards in Andal raising its demands.

Susanta Dutta, spokesperson of the committee, said on Sunday, "The villagers stand united on the aerotropolis project. We have sent a deputation to the chief minister expressing our objection to ECL's greenfield coal mines as the pollution level in the area is already quite high. But we also want better compensation and the rechristening of the airport's name as the largest portion of the land was given from Andal," Dutta added.

The project is among Bengal's largest after the Tatas pulled the plug on the Nano plant in Singur.

Burdwan DM Manish Jain said no one from the panel had contacted him so far and that if they wanted to discuss their demands, they should do so immediately. Recently, Raniganj Chamber of Commerce president Kanaiha Singh has written to prime minister Manmohan Singh, requesting him to lend his ear to the demands of Andal residents. "If locals don't want coal mines, the Centre should not go ahead with this plan," he said.

Times of India

Aerotropolis: CM, Praful meet today

Kanchan Siddiqui

DURGAPUR, Dec. 28: The fate of the proposed Aerotropolis project at Andal will be decided at a meeting between chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Union civil aviation minister Mr Praful Patel on Monday.
Mr Patel's meeting with Mr Bhattacharjee has become more significant after the Union coal ministry's fresh suggestion to shift the project to a non-coal bearing zone. Union minister of state for coal, Mr Santosh Bagrodia, in a letter on 19 December to Mr Patel stated: “It would be prudent to ensure the availability of such energy source (coal) by not constructing infrastructure facility on coal bearing areas and to take steps to develop these on the adjacent non-coal bearing zones. Intervention in the matter of proposed location of the aero-complex at Andal is to be reviewed, keeping in the view the enormous demand for domestic superior grade coal and thermal coal from Raniganj Coalfields for various industries and proposed power plants mainly in West Bengal.”
The state power minister, Mr Mrinal Banerjee, however seemed unperturbed with the fresh letter from the coal ministry. He said: “Our plants are forced to run with acute coal shortage throughout the year. But there must be several alternatives to tackle the situation. This entire industrial hub has immense underground coal reserves. Then would it be worthy to remove the factories, colonies and localities to help Coal India to extract coal? As far as my knowledge goes, the CIL didn't have plans to mine the proposed Aerotropolis site. They have started debating only after the Aerotropolis project was given clearance.” The villagers at Andal today held a mass meeting where the residents refused to accept any mining project there.

Statesman

Work to begin at Vedanta’s aluminium project in Bengal shortly

Monday, Dec 29, 2008

The Vedanta Group is likely to begin work on its Rs.25,000 crore(USD 5.1BN) aluminium project in West Bengal shortly. Vedanta's foray into West Bengal will be through a now-defunct unit of Aluminium Corporation of India set up in 1952 at Asansol.

The project coming up at Bidhanbag in Asansol, West Bengal includes a 3,000 MW power plant and a 6.5 lakh tonne smelter, will be built in two phases. The phase I involves an investment outlay of Rs.14,000 crore.(USD 3BN) Currently, the company is in the process of developing 280 acre that it has acquired for the project .

While the project is scheduled to be completed within three years, phase I is slated to be completed by 2011.


http://www.yourmetalnews.com/work+to+begin+at+vedanta%E2%80%99s+aluminium+project+in+bengal+shortly_19622.html

Jai Balaji gets land for West Bengal steel project

Kolkata (IANS): The West Bengal government on Monday allotted 748.97 acres to Jai Balaji Industries for setting up a five-million-tonne integrated steel plant at Raghunathpur in Purulia district.

"We will get another 250 acres over and above this within the next 10-15 days," company chairman and managing director Aditya Jajodia said after receiving the land allotment order from state industries minister Nirupam Sen.

Altogether 3,700 acres are required for the project.

The first phase of the Rs 16,000-crore project comprises a two-million-tonne steel plant, a 400 MW power plant and a one-million-tonne cement plant, Jajodia said.

The total investment for the first phase will be Rs 4,000 crore, out of which Rs 1,500 crore will go towards setting up the power plant, Rs 200 crore for the cement facility, and the remaining Rs 2,300 crore on the steel plant.

"The total project cost has come down by 30 per cent and that of the first phase by 25 per cent because of developments in domestic and international markets," he said.

The company expects additional turnover of Rs 5,000-6,000 crore from the first phase, which will be completed within 36 months of the start of the project. "We will start working on the project within 15-20 days," Jajodia said.

The total project will comprise a five-million tonne integrated steel plant, three-million tonne cement plant and a 1,215 MW captive power plant.

Jajodia said the project involves a debt-equity ratio of 2:1, with a Rs 700-crore loan having already been secured from a consortium of 20 banks.

Non-coking coal, which will be supplied by the West Bengal Mineral Development and Trading Corp, will constitute 60 per cent of the total coal requirement.


http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200812291718.htm

A Job For Each Landloser Family: Company

Kolkata: Bengal’s industrial drive marked another milestone on Monday when the state government handed over close to 750 acres of land in Raghunathpur, Purulia, to the city-based Jai Balaji Group for its integrated steel, power and cement project.
Balaji bosses said work at the plant site would start immediately in the first phase of its Rs 16,000-crore project. It has also assured of jobs in the plant to one member of each family that gave up land. The total land required for the project is 3,700 acre.
State industries minister Nirupam Sen said the government has also identified land for steel projects of Adhunik Group and Shyam Steel. “We shall start land acquisition for those projects soon. They have assured us that they will start work as soon as we hand over land,” he said. “Despite economic problems, Jai Balaji has decided to go ahead with the project. We shall help them fully. WBIDC will hand over another 250 acres in the next 15 days,” he said.
Aditya Jajodia, chairman and managing director of Jai Balaji Industries, hopes to complete construction of the first phase in 36 months. Jai Balaji is setting up a 2 million tonne steel plant, a 400 MW power plant and a one million tonne cement grinding plant
in the first phase. “We shall invest Rs 4,000 crore in the first phase. The steel plant will require an investment of Rs 2,300 crore and the remaining Rs 1,700 crore will be on the power and cement plants,” he said.
Jajodia pointed out that starting the project during the current economic problems would save over 30% of the project cost. “Initially, we had estimated a project cost of Rs 16,000 crore. It later escalated to Rs 20,000 crore. But due to the slowdown, it has again come down to the earlier estimate,” he said. The group has tied up with a consortium of banks led by SBI for Rs 800 crore for the project, Jajodia said. On rehabilitation of landlosers, Jajodia said the plant would generate 5,000 jobs in the first phase and will accommodate at least one member of each family that gave up land.
Incidentally, the 748 acres of land handed over on Monday was owned by 2,300 farmers. Later, Sen said the state government will start a skillbuilding programme for the landlosers so that they can be absorbed in the project. “A majority of the land WBIDC acquired for the project is barren. The landowners are happy that industry will come up in the area,” he added. Sources in WBIDC said it has paid compensation at the rate of Rs 4.5 lakh an acre.

Times of India

Despite the current economic downturn and recessionary trends, Haldia Petrochemical Limited (HPL) plans to go forth with its capacity expansion plan, project Supermax by May-June next year bouyed by an upward trend in demand since November.

Speaking on the sidelines of a press conference organised by Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dipak K Chatterjee, senior general manager for business development, HPL, said “There was a slag in demand in the August-October period which had put some pressure on our inventory levels, but November onwards there has been a pick up in demand which would help bring back the inventory levels to normal in another seven days.”

He pointed out that the industry demand for polymer products across the range of products HPL produces is around three lakh ton per annum in the eastern region.

We would be increasing our current capacity by around 30 per cent across all products, even in the downstream units to meet the requirements, said Chatterjee. HPL's present production capacity is 5,40,000 ton of ethelene per annum which would be increased by another 30 per cent across all products.

This apart in a bid to increase the application and consumption of polymer products in West Bengal especially in retail , agricultural and food packaging, the group is also in talks with big retail giants and is involved in product development and high-end research in association with them.

“We are working on increasing the usage of leno bags, thermofoam containers and flexible inter mediate bulk containers and other varied applications of plastic in different sectors which are practised in other parts of the world making the per capita consumption as high as 30 kgs compared to our meagre 5kgs per capita,” said Chatterjee.

There is a demand for 10 crore leno bags in West Bengal which is the second largest user of potatoes and onions, which lies untapped, he added.

Earlier it was reported the company wants to achieve 15 per cent growth in polymer sales in the eastern region this fiscal.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/haldia-petrochem-expansiontrack/22/06/344697/

CNG: Durgapur beats Kolkata to it (http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=22&theme=&usrsess=1&id=238686)

DURGAPUR, Jan. 1: When it’s a matter of debate and doubt in Kolkata, it’s a reality in Durgapur. The state managed to flag off CNG auto services in the industrial city today in eight routes with specified fare charts amidst no resistance or controversy.
In last September, Asansol had succeeded in registering CNG auto-rickshaws, but commercial services in that city is yet to commence.
In a bid to phase out two-stroke petroleum-run autos, the Burdwan district administration had conceived the idea of introducing CNG autos in last June. Twin cities of Asansol-Durgapur reeling under severe air pollution was chosen to be the destination for a pilot traffic system based on alternative fuel. Successful extraction of Coal Bed Methane through vertical wells at Suryanagar in Asansol by Great Eastern Energy Corporation helped easing the process. The Burdwan administration initially had set 1 December, 2008, as the cut off date to help complete conversion of two-stroke autos to four-stroke CNG versions. “Due to lack of adequate infrastructure we couldn’t initiate actions accordingly,” said Mr Haridas Chakraborty, ARTO, Durgapur.
In Asansol, 160 CNG autos have already been registered since 17 September. Durgapur, according to Mr RN Basu Roychowdhury, SDO, "will accommodate 80 such autos. Today 27 have been put on road in the first phase. When Kolkata has been failing to introduce CNG autos despite several attempts, Durgapur managed to roll out successfully and the response from the operators are overwhelming. We are planning complete phasing out of two-stroke autos within this financial year.” The services were flagged off by Mr Biprendu Chakraborty, CPI-M leader and MLA, Durgapur-II.
Mr Chakraborty said: “This is the first time that Durgapur is going to have auto services with duly prescribed fare chart with minimum fare at Rs 3.00 and maximum at Rs 5.50.”
The ex-showroom price of a new CNG auto rickshaw in West Bengal is Rs 1.28 lakh and it will cost Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000 to help converting a petrol-run auto rickshaw into a CNG system. The West Bengal Pollution Control Board incidentally has agreed to fund Rs 50 lakh as gross subsidy to Burdwan district which, according to Dr AN Basu, chairman, WBPCB “would be distributed to the buyers of CNG auto-rickshaws in the district equally. This would further help reducing the conversion prices or prices of new CNG autos.”

^^Lessons for Kolkata

Kolkata, Jan. 4 Taking lessons from the unplanned and haphazard urban construction in areas such as Behala, Dum Dum and parts of Garia, the West Bengal Government is trying to finalise a master plan for construction on the fringes of the developing area of Rajarhat – Newtown.

The master plan, to be prepared by the Bhangar Rajarhat Area Development Authority (BRADA), would contain guidelines for private developers on construction norms as well as modalities of common infrastructure development to be fulfilled.

The notification for the master plan has already been issued, Mr Sunil Roy, Principal Consultant, Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO), Government of West Bengal, said here on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the signing of a Memorandum of Co-operation between delegates from the Wuhan Building Decoration Association of China and members of the Bharat Chamber of Commerce, Mr Roy said, “A master plan would be laid for construction in nearly 4,000 hectares to the east of Rajarhat falling outside the purview of HIDCO.”

Unlike in the case of HIDCO, in the new plan, the developers would need to acquire the land by themselves, he observed. It will also be made mandatory for the developers to either contribute to development of common civil infrastructure such as roads, sewage by BRADA or develop it themselves.

Already, 10-12 developers, keen on construction in the area, have agreed to abide by the guidelines, he added.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/01/05/stories/2009010550531300.htm

Unitech clears land hurdles in Bengal (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/unitech-clears-land-hurdles-in-bengal/10/25/346003/)

Unitech, the realty and infrastructure company, has managed to clear land acquisition problems in west Bengal and restart work at its projects here.


In spite of some initial hiccups due to problems in land acquisition, the real estate projects by Unitech in West Bengal were now on track.

After facing delays due to problems in land acquisition, work at the proposed logistics hub on Kona Expressway had started. Earlier, a major part of the construction work was affected due to problems caused by land acquisition linked to the widening of Kona Expressway, one of the five highways out of Kolkata. Officials involved in the project could not give any time frame for the completion of the project, but reiterated that the project was on track after taking into account the initial delay.

"The project has been subject to the slowdown in the real estate sector like any other project. There has been no unusual delay in executing it," said sources in Unitech. Another project of the same group- the Kolkata West township located on a huge plot close to the Kona Expressway, had also overcome initial land acquisition problems.

It was yet to be completed.

While the two residential clusters of the township would be available for possession by April-May, construction work for another two clusters would be over by the year end, said sources.

However, construction work on the major public part of the project, that included hospitals, shopping malls, school and other amenities, were yet to commence. The project was slated to be completed by 2011.

Company officials maintained that land acquisition problems earlier faced in executing both the projects have been overcome.

The DLF township project at Dankuni was at present in limbo due to land acquisition problems.

Land acquisition problems had become such a major issue in Bengal that even government agencies were reworking their strategies to take projects forward. With the slowdown in the real estate sector impacting some of the big public private partnership (PPP) projects, the Kolkata Metropoliton Development Authority (KMDA) recently decided to focus on fully government-owned projects.

KMDA sources said it was no longer in favour of auctioning any land in its possession in the coming days. It would be increasingly focusing on projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Recently, the authority submitted projects worth Rs 500 crore under Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP) of JNNURM to the Centre for approval. The Central sanctioning authority was expected to meet on January 15 for assessing the projects.

Last year, the Centre had sanctioned 208 projects in West Bengal under JNNURM, involving a cost of Rs 5,890 crore.

Business Standard

Source: TOI EPaper (http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArchiveView.asp?Daily=TOIKM&AppName=1&login=default&Enter=true&Skin=TOI&GZ=T&BaseHref=TOIKM%2F2009%2F01%2F15&Page=13)


BETTING ON BENGAL
PepsiCo lines up Rs 250 cr addl spend on state unit
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kolkata: PepsiCo India on Wednesday announced its intention to invest an additional Rs 250 crore at its snack division unit in Howrah’s Sankrail as part of the global major’s strategy to expand its presence in this country.
A team led by Sanjeev Nanda, PepsiCo India’s chairman, India region, and Vivek Bharati, executive director, conveyed the decision to chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee during the day. PepsiCo India has already invested Rs 500 crore in West Bengal.
Following the expansion, this plant would possibly become the company’s biggest unit in Asia. Frito-Lay, which is the snacks division of PepsiCo India Holdings, has two more units in India — in Punjab and Maharashtra.
Once the Sankrail plant is expanded, production will triple. The company’s report card in West Bengal has been excellent so far with a 15% growth in the snacks division and 35% growth in the soft drinks division.
The PepsiCo team told the CM that around 4,000 farmers were involved in their procurement of potato and the company was responsible for 50% of their monthly income. The farmers were from the districts of Hooghly, Howrah, Burdwan, Bankura and Birbhum. More farmers will be involved once the expansion comes through because the factory will then need to procure 20,000 tonnes of potato.

:rock:
Source: NewKerela (http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-73980.html)


West Bengal Government promoting river tourism in a big way

By Ajitha Menon, Kolkata, Jan.13 : 'Ganga Kutir' lies along the banks of the Ganga in the pastoral hamlet of Raichak-on-Ganges, about an hour and half's drive from Kolkata, West Bengal. This 12-crore property sprawling over two acres symbolizes the potential of River Tourism in the state.

It's no wonder then, that the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation is foreseeing an investment of Rs 150 crore in the next couple of years just for promoting river tourism. The investment would go towards renovating 'heritage ghats' along the Ganges as well as developing a Marina with speed boats, para-sailing and cruise boats facilities.

There is no doubt that river tourism targets the high-end tourists. For example, 'Ganga Kutir' caters to an exclusive set who can drive down from Kolkata to enjoy a couple of days of total relaxation in the lap of luxury.

The resort has 16 rooms priced at Rs 12000 onwards, a library, a bar, a Spa, a swimming pool which seems to merge into the river, river cruise facilities and an excellent restaurant. According to Mr Harshvardhan Neotia, even though Kolkata was lacking is such weekend tourist spots, this segment is now really catching up.

Neotia's Ambuja Realty first set up the five-star hotel 'Fort Raichak' with conference facilities on the river side at Raichak. The property continues to have over 60% occupancy through the year with 100% occupancy in the four months of Oct, Nov, Dec, January as well as during the holiday season. Neotia says that 'Fort Raichak's success propelled him to set up 'Ganga Kutir' - a more exclusive retreat on the river side. In just two months from its launch in November, 'Ganga Kutir' has been such a success that Ambuja Realty is planning to add another 12 rooms to the property. The total project area now extends to about 70 acres and the projected investment is Rs 100 crore.

The superb Spa facility with Swedish, Thai, Javanese, Ayurvedic treatments and reflexology and stone therapy is common to both 'Fort Raichak' and 'Ganga Kutir' and is a compelling reason for the clients to take the trip. The very fact that Sri Lankan architectect Channa Daswatte was called in to design 'Ganga Kutir' in traditional Bengal Ashram style indicates that promoters are sparing no efforts to provide world class resorts which re-define luxury.

West Bengal has the right specifications to become the river tourism destination in India with the magnificent delta Sunderbans with its mangrove forests and the pilgrimage point Sagar Islands where the Ganga Sagar Mela is held every year, points out Manabendra Mukherjee, West Bengal Minister for Tourism. The government has already announced a new tourism policy with a positive approach towards river tourism. The policy offers several incentives, grants and subsidies to investors wanting to invest in this segment.

Though the budgetary support to tourism is only Rs 35 crores, the minister makes it clear that the government was actively seeking private investment
in this sector. The government is expecting about Rs 4000 crore private investment, including FDI, in tourism and infrastructure.

Private promoters like Ambuja Realty, who offer private ferry rides to Sunderbans Delta and Sagar Islands from its project at Raichak say that development in river and road infrastructure would go a long way in attracting tourists.

According to Mr T V N Rao, Managing Director, West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation, there was great scope for investment in river tourism in the state starting from hotels along the banks of the Ganges, river entertainment, infrastructural development of the Sunderbans Delta area, which is still very undeveloped etc. There is also tremendous potential for investment in Tea Tourism in the Dooars in North Bengal which has over 350 Tea Gardens and Hill Tourism in Darjeeling.

Growth in West Bengal Tourism is on the positive side despite the recent recession, according to Mukherjee. Both inflow of tourists into the state and outflow is higher than the national average and West Bengal figures in the top five states of the country in tourism.

From 1,14,064 foreign tourists in 1991, West Bengal saw an inflow of 6,38, 256 foreign tourists by June alone in 2008. The total tourist inflow into the state in the first six months of 2008 touched 12076102 from a mere 3225502 in the whole of 1991. Total tourist inflow into Kolkata alone stood at 48,59,961 in 2007.

Considering that the state has rivers, hills, tea gardens and a delta - only thing missing being a desert - it can be safely assumed that the state will go a long way as a tourist hub with support from the private sector.

Some breathtaking photographs of Ganga Kutir and Ganga here

http://www.gangakutir.com/gallery/photo-gallery.asp

thats intelligent

i mean recently there have been more initiative from the government to promote tourism(the ads on TV)

see i went to kerala
the landscape of banana trees and coconuts(there its more like plantation) was so similar to bengal
river tourism and the calm serene experience will definitely work

plus u have got tea gardens in darjeeling
terracotta in purulia district and historical buildings and museums in calcutta
however some places still suck with the poor tourism infrastructure
places like digha for eg- the place is dominated by old hotels built in the 80s but it has so much potential
for calcuttans planning weekend getaways

thats intelligent
plus u have got tea gardens in darjeeling


they are the original hotspots for tourists coming to Bengal..
but sadly due to the political turmoil (which is now going on for more than an year :() it has had an adverse affect..
lets see when the situation goes back to normal..

WB is atleast going strong in this area : Green Energy

Source: ET (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Energy/Power/West_Bengal_power_department_plans_renewable_power/articleshow/4003875.cms)


West Bengal power department plans renewable power

19 Jan 2009, 2327 hrs IST, Debjoy, ET Bureau

KOLKATA: The West Bengal power department plans to introduce a penalty clause on power distribution companies failing to source and wheel out at
least 10% of the power distributed from renewable sources.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the 18th International Photovoltaic Science & Engineering Conference & Exhibition (PVSEC), state power minister Mrinal Banerjee said: "We plan to increase the minimum volume of renewable power that a distributor mandatorily needs to source and wheel to consumers from 4.8% now to 10% in the next three years."

"As the minimum level is raised to 10%, the state is likely to introduce a penalty clause in case utilities fail to source the minimum required from renewable energy sources," said Mr S P Gon Choudhury, special secretary, West Bengal power department.

Currently, a distribution company has to mandatorily source 4.8% of power from renewable energy sources. However, the government has not introduced any penalty clause since the state does not generate the necessary volume for these utilities of source.

"West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Co (WBSEDCL) wheels about 20,000 million units per year. But it is unable to even meet the statutory 4.8% requirement (read: 960 million units) due to paltry renewable energy linked generation levels. However, with Rs 5000 crore of investments expected to flow into the state's renewable energy sector, generation capacity from renewable sources is slated to rise to meet the higher 10% requirement by 2012. It is estimated that the demand for power by 2012 will touch 26,000 mw while generation from renewable sources is slated to be at least 2600 mu by that time," said Mr Gon Choudhury.

"As generation capacity from green sources becomes sufficient, we will implement the penalty clause in case utilities do not source at least 10% of power supplied to consumers, from renewable sources," he added.

"West Bengal is one of the states that has announced a policy for solar energy, where the government pays Rs 10 per unit of power generated from solar energy, and that is the reason for so many private companies have shown interest in setting up units in the state.

"The state has already attracted a total investment of Rs 4000 crore in the solar power segment all of which is slated to go on stream by 2012. Of this, about Rs 2,600 crore have been in the solar equipment manufacturing segment including solar photovoltaic cells and modules. The investment has come from companies like Bhaskar Polysilicon (Rs 2000 crore), Vikram Solar (Rs 200 crore) and Webel SL Energy (Rs 100 crore) . The balance has gone into setting up of 30mw solar energy generation capacity from companies like Videocon Industries, Astonfield, Hyderabad-based Titan group of industries," said Mr Gon Choudhury.

Source: BS (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/west-bengal-begins-land-acquisition-for-countrys-first-aerotropolis/11/26/345927/)


West Bengal begins land acquisition for country's first aerotropolis
Press Trust Of India / New Delhi January 12, 2009, 1:11 IST

The first airport city project in the country will come up near Durgapur in West Bengal by 2011 as the process of acquiring 2,363 acres of land has begun with the issuance of a notification to this effect recently.

The aerotropolis, or an airport city, proposed to come up in the Andal-Faridpur block of Bardhaman district will have an airport and related infrastructure spread over 650 acres, an IT and industrial park on about 550 acres, a housing project on 650 acres and a hospital, schools, community shopping areas and other structures on another 450 acres.

Despite the stiff resistance to land acquisition in Singur and Nandigram affecting industrial projects in the state, the process of land acquisition for the aerotropolis was initiated by the Bengal government by issuing a notification a few weeks ago.

“The notification has been issued... There is no resistance from the people as their dependence on land and agriculture is far less than in other parts of the state. Most of the land here is barren,” Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL) Director Raj Shekhar Agrawal said here.

While the total project cost would be about Rs 10,000 crore, BAPL and its partners would be putting in about Rs 600 crore in the first phase in which the airport and related infrastructure would be developed by 2011, he said.

The aerotropolis would be constructed by BAPL, which has entered into a technical services agreement with Singapore’s premier Changi Airports International.

The state government has also given the green signal to West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) to pick up a stake in BAPL, Agrawal said.

BAPL has appointed IL&FS Infrastructure Development Corporation as its project development adviser and L&T Ramboll Consulting Engineers Ltd as technical consultants for the airport project.

Maintaining that WBIDC would purchase the land identified for the project, he said it would acquire the entire land in six months and transfer it to BAPL on lease for 99 years.

To questions on rehabilitation of those who sell off their land, Agrawal said a major package, “far better than any other proposed so far”, had already been worked out.

Besides employment to locals, vocational training and housing schemes for them, there would also be “land for land as well as payment of annuity, that is a fixed amount on an annual basis, to them”.

Agrawal said some land plots inside the 2,363-acre project area would be given to those eligible.

“We have had several rounds of discussion with the local people, most of whom either have jobs or small businesses. Most of them do not till the land, a vast part of which is not arable,” the BAPL Director said, adding “we are creating a stake in the project for the land owners”.

Talks on land acquisition in the area near Durgapur were carried out even during the peak of Nandigram and Singur violence and there was “no opposition”, he said.

The only problem which has now cropped up regarding acquisition of land is that the Eastern Coalfields Ltd have filed an objection with the local authorities saying there were coal deposits in the area, Agrawal said.

This issue has to be resolved by the Centre and the state government, he said, adding that currently there were no plans for coal projects in the area.

Agrawal expressed hope that when the project comes up, it would turn Durgapur into an alternate urban financial centre in West Bengal vis-a-vis Kolkata, like Pune in Maharashtra.

Source: BS (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/west-bengal-begins-land-acquisition-for-countrys-first-aerotropolis/11/26/345927/)

^^This project is heating up. We can include this in a separate thread in airport forum once the issue with the coalfields is resolved and some renders are available. From the looks of it, there may not be any opposition to land acquisition, but you never know didi bai.

^^This project is heating up. We can include this in a separate thread in airport forum once the issue with the coalfields is resolved and some renders are available. From the looks of it, there may not be any opposition to land acquisition, but you never know didi bai.

is there still any resistance from CIL..
AFAIK this issue was resolved and go ahead was given by coal ministry??

^^This project is heating up. We can include this in a separate thread in airport forum once the issue with the coalfields is resolved and some renders are available. From the looks of it, there may not be any opposition to land acquisition, but you never know didi bai.

is there still any resistance from CIL..
AFAIK this issue was resolved and go ahead was given by coal ministry??

CIL is a bit cool now. Hope they will not create much trouble.

CIL is a bit cool now. Hope they will not create much trouble.

^^I thought CIL issue was resolved, but it keeps coming up in every report related to this project, so not sure. And one must watch out for MB. She is the type that can raise a dead man from his grave and help him demand his rights.:shifty:

GEECL commissions natural gas pipeline in West Bengal (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/02291922.htm)
NEW DELHI: Great Eastern Energy Corp (GEECL) said on Thursday said it has commissioned its first natural gas pipeline at Asansol in West Bengal. The 11.8-km pipeline would be the first pipeline to transport gas extracted from below coal seams - known as Coal Bed Methane (CBM), a company statement said here.

The 12-inch pipeline can carry one million standard cubic meters per day of gas at 15 bar pressure and would cater to the requirements of customers in Burnpur and Asansol area.

“This pipeline can feed other pipelines connecting Kulti towards the west and Durgapur in the east,” it said. GEECL Chief Operating Officer Mr Prashant Modi said: “GEECL is delighted to commission its first trunk pipeline connecting its Gas Gathering Sta tion to its Central Gathering Station, thus achieving a milestone in the construction of its pipelines.”

The company has received the right of user (ROU) permission from National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for laying a pipeline from Asansol to Durgapur, a 57-km stretch, and has started laying the pipeline on that route. - PTI

Food Processing and Horticulture Development Corporation Ltd, West Bengal, and Central Warehousing Corporation will invest in a mega food park project in Pranab town of Jangipur in Murshidabad district of West Bengal. The project will come up on 50 to 60 acres of land.

The project, estimated to cost Rs 165 crore, will be executed on a public-private partnership basis for which the private partners will be selected later. The public-private venture will have five nodal centres or sub-centres, primarily to ensure uninterrupted supplies to markets. The corporation is in the process of setting up sub-centres for the park at Kaliachak in Malda, Beldanga in Murshidabad, Ayushpur in Burdwan, Rampurhat in Birbhum, and Katwa in Nadia.

The corporation has set aside Rs 15 crore for land acquisition and Rs 150 crore will be spent on infrastructure. The Centre has provided Rs 50 crore, Rs 33 crore will be raised through equity from developers, and Rs 82 crore as loans from nationalised banks.

State officials are conducting a survey on the site of the park which will be finalised soon. The developers plan to acquire the plot directly. The park is one of 20 cleared by the Centre across the country in November 2008.

Work on the project is expected to start early June. The park will mainly process rice, potatoes, mango, pineapple and vegetables.

Source: http://www.projectsmonitor.com/NEWPROJECTS/jangipur-to-get-food-park

After driving out Tata Nano, Miss Mamata gears up to stop more projects. Singing, dancing, painting along with her usual violent activities - the talented Miss Mamata is now turning "environment" friendly.

:lol:

Nayachar race before elections

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090207/jsp/bengal/story_10498601.jsp

The Centre’s final nod to the Nayachar chemical hub may trigger a tussle between the government and the Opposition before the Lok Sabha elections, leaders from both sides indicated today.

Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee made it clear that she would oppose the hub even in Nayachar. “We will leave no stone unturned to oppose a chemical hub in the state,” she said at her Kalighat residence.

This time, Mamata cited environmental concerns.

Meanwhile here trade union set a new record in the state which would put even the useless left front trade unions to shame

Dunlop Plot

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090207/jsp/bengal/story_10498604.jsp

Workers affiliated to the Trinamul Congress-controlled Dunlop Banchao Committee today fenced off 30 acres outside the Sahagunj factory premises and announced the land would be distributed among employees of the closed unit.

Around 300 workers led by Tapan Dasgupta, the working president of Trinamul in Hooghly, planted pegs on the land that belonged to Dunlop.

Dasgupta said the land would be divided into two-cottah plots and distributed among the 1,000 jobless workers.

West Bengal is indeed blessed.

I dont see how mamata can stop the project on environmental grounds.The centre has passed the Nayachar project by making an exception in the Coastal regulations.How can she oppose a decision which has been duly examined and cleared by all central commitees?Central government has even released some 2100cr to develop the basic infrastructure in the island according to newspaper reports.

Mamata's magic wand continues to bless West Bengal

PepsiCo’s expansion plan faces Singur-like snag

Two small factories backed by opposition Trinamool Congress have refused to move out of the allotted plot

http://www.livemint.com/2009/01/15221724/PepsiCo8217s-expansion-plan.html

Frito-Lay India, which makes Uncle Chipps, Lay’s potato chips, Kurkure and Quaker Oats, was allotted a four acre plot in Sankrail—an hour’s drive from Kolkata—by the West Bengal government three-and-a-half months ago to expand its existing unit in the area.
The firm had planned to invest Rs100 crore on expanding the unit, which has been in operation since 2006. But even after having paid for the plot and completing the legal formalities, Frito-Lay has not been able to take possession of the land because two small factories, backed by Mamata Banerjee’s opposition Trinamool Congress, have refused to move out.

And though they have no legitimate right to occupy the plot, the West Bengal government is willing to rehabilitate these factories because it doesn’t want to pick a fight with the opposition.

Frito-Lay, whose officials in the Sankrail factory have been subjected to occasional intimidation by locals in the recent past, wrote to West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on 22 December, seeking “immediate intervention” to ensure the situation didn’t go out of hand.
In that letter, seen by Mint, Frito-Lay said it would have to “rethink the justification of our investment in this project” if the administration couldn’t ensure the safety of its employees and properties.
The Trinamool Congress is opposing the expansion of Frito-Lay’s factory because it would oust two small industrial units, said Sital Shankar Sardar, the party’s Sankrail legislator. “When two landowners had opposed, the fencing shouldn’t have happened.”
Surprisingly, the state government is trying to buy peace with the encroachers.
“One of the units has claimed to be a manufacturer of telecom tower components though the DM (district magistrate) doesn’t think so. Yet, we are willing to give them land in an industrial estate if they can produce a detailed project report.” Subrata Gupta, managing director of West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), said.
An official of the state’s commerce and industries department said these two units had not been able to produce any documents to show they manufactured anything at all. Even the ownership of one is questionable, according to this official, who didn’t want to be named because he isn’t authorized to speak to the press.
“Between them they occupy about 2.5 acres of the 4-acre plot allotted to Frito-Lay. WBIDC is hopeful of striking a deal with these people by rehabilitating them elsewhere or by offering a cash compensation of around Rs40 lakh per acre,” said the official.
Asked about the stand-off, Frito-Lay’s spokesperson Mrinal De issued a statement saying: “In line with our growth plan and further investments in West Bengal, we had requested for additional four acres of land adjacent to our existing manufacturing plant in the food park. The land was allocated to us by WBIDC towards the end of last year. Since then, we have completed payments and following which we expect a smooth handover of land.”

Mamata Banerjee = Sarah Palin of India. :lol:

I dont see how mamata can stop the project on environmental grounds.The centre has passed the Nayachar project by making an exception in the Coastal regulations.How can she oppose a decision which has been duly examined and cleared by all central commitees?Central government has even released some 2100cr to develop the basic infrastructure in the island according to newspaper reports.

How can she oppose? Just because she is Mamata "the agni kanya". That's why.

Don't you know that the center is in the pocket of Buddhadeb and aiming to harm Bengal and Mamata. Also because Manmohan Singh is pseudo-leftist or some such bizarro logic.

Mamata Banerjee = Sarah Palin of India. :lol:

Dont insult sarah palin by comparing her to mamata.
I dont know about you but i think Sarah is ahead of mamata in the looks department.:)

I dont see how mamata can stop the project on environmental grounds.The centre has passed the Nayachar project by making an exception in the Coastal regulations.How can she oppose a decision which has been duly examined and cleared by all central commitees?Central government has even released some 2100cr to develop the basic infrastructure in the island according to newspaper reports.

Well, mamata and her guns will create a problem for a vital part of this project i.e the Barasat - Raichak ex'way.

Well, mamata and her guns will create a problem for a vital part of this project i.e the Barasat - Raichak ex'way.

I thought that the access will be through the west bank of Hooghly river (via Haldia).

a bridge has to be built over Hoogly between Raichak and Kookrahati which is the vital link from Kolkata to Haldia as well as Nayachar to make the journey faster than that of West bank link(via Haldia)

I do not think it is up to the Buddhadeb govt to stop her and her cronies. There is more trouble ahead now that the nayachar hub is in advanced stages of approval. Perhaps pressure tactics from the center can help since she cannot understand reason.

I do not think it is up to the Buddhadeb govt to stop her and her cronies. There is more trouble ahead now that the nayachar hub is in advanced stages of approval. Perhaps pressure tactics from the center can help since she cannot understand reason.

They don't have to take much land at Nayachar. They should start work first and slowly acquire remaining land.

I thought that the access will be through the west bank of Hooghly river (via Haldia).

As Samrat said the project may not be viable without that ex'way and the bridge. This ex'way and the bridge can cut down the distance by 2 hours.

Dont know if this land bank will work

Source: Indian Express (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/no-more-singurs-wb-to-have-land-for-industri.../421620/)
No more Singurs; WB to have land for industries on fingertips

A long-standing demand of the Opposition to have a land use map for West Bengal, which would make the task of finding sites for industries easier, is set to be met with the Land and Land Reforms (L&LR) Department of the state Government finally starting work on the project.

The map would give online all required information on a plot that is being considered as a site for industry. The digitisation of the map is being done by the National Informatics Centre of the Government of India.

"We have covered some blocks and we are working fast to finish it," a senior official of the L&LR Department told The Indian Express. West Bengal has 341 blocks and 37,910 villages.

Impressed with the idea, the Union Ministry of Rural Development is planning to set up a centre in Kolkata to train officials of other states in preparation of similar maps. Last month, Rita Sinha, Joint Secretary in the Ministry, visited Kolkata to take a look at the project's progress.

West Bengal has a total of about 8 million hectares of land, of which 63 per cent is agricultutral land. West Bengal's Minister for Land & Land Reforms Abdur Rezzaq Mollah said his department would try to finish the job as early as possible. "Once the digitisation is over, it will be easy for the Government to find land for industries," he said.


.

I do not think it is up to the Buddhadeb govt to stop her and her cronies. There is more trouble ahead now that the nayachar hub is in advanced stages of approval. Perhaps pressure tactics from the center can help since she cannot understand reason.

As if she would listen to center. I think she is trying all these shenanigans with an eye towards election. Perhaps she thinks that creating anarchy is a good way of getting elected. This is not the first time she tried this.

As Samrat said the project may not be viable without that ex'way and the bridge. This ex'way and the bridge can cut down the distance by 2 hours.

Can you build that bridge without affecting shipping? I think the river channel between east bank and Nayachar is what ships to and fro Haldia and Calcutta ports use.

Can you build that bridge without affecting shipping? I think the river channel between east bank and Nayachar is what ships to and fro Haldia and Calcutta ports use.

Why not? They had a plan to build the bridge 3 times taller than Howrah bridge. The tallest ship can enter through such a bridge. Land is the main problem again.

KOLKATA: Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s Bengal was well ahead of Narendra Modi’s Gujarat in attracting foreign direct investment between January and
October 2008 and, in fact, achieved the top slot in FDI approvals during the period. This should be further solace to the chief minister after the approval of PCPIR in Haldia.

But Bengal’s glory, a historic first, was possible for a single FDI proposal of more than Rs 3,000 crore by MCC PTA Ltd, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Chemicals. The company is pumping in the money to increase the capacity of its Haldia plant by 8 lakh tons.

According to figures of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), the state attracted Rs 3,700 crore during the period, which is 27% of the total FDI in the country in these 10 months.

But for FDI injection by MCC PTA, the story would have been different for Bengal with its second biggest FDI approval being only for Rs 191 crore in the financial services sector by Societe Beaujon Paris, an AXA group company. Besides, there were FDI approvals of proposals from Carlsberg of Denmark, one of the leading beer companies in the world, Transcend Infrastructure of Singapore, a company promoted by NRIs, Microsec and Bharat Connect.

Nevertheless, the DIPP statistics has assumed great significance as the share of the state in FDI inflow from April 2000 to October 2008 was only a meagre 1.57%. The combined FDI inflow to West Bengal since 2000 is only Rs 5,209 crore. The 2008 figure is almost 70% of the total FDI inflow to the state in nine years. Financial experts feel that West Bengal may continue its good run in 2009 if PCPIR materialises.

Elaborating on the details, DIPP sources said that after being on top for many years, Maharashtra has been swept to the second spot with an FDI inflow of Rs 3,165 crore. Delhi is in third place with Rs 2,277 crore.

Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat have managed 4th and 6th spots respectively.The joint MD of MCC PTA, D P Patra, said it proves the commitment of the company towards Bengal. Parag Mitra, the joint venture partner of Carlsberg, said that it is a remarkable development because it is the first FDI in liquor industry in the entire region.

Times of India

Kolkata: The Chief Executive Officer of Changi Airport Authority of Singapore, which holds a 26-per cent stake in Bengal Aerotropolis, Wong Woon Liong, met Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Friday to review the progress of the country’s first airport city, aerotropolis, that is coming up on an area of 2,362 acres in Andal in Burdwan district.
The project, which will also house an industrial park and an IT park, will incur a cost of Rs 10,000 crore and is expected to be completed by 2015.

This is the first time Changi has got involved in a greenfield airport. On Saturday, Liong will visit the project site with his officials.

The state government has already issued notice for acquisition of land there and hearing is going on at Andal. “The Changi officials who have come here with a view to visiting Andal tomorrow today made a courtesy call on the chief minister. We have discussed all aspects of the project,” said Sabyasachi Sen, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Industries Department, after the meeting.

The Asansol Durgapur Development Authority has been asked to make a map of the land and adjoining areas. “Restriction on construction of high-rise buildings around the area has to be imposed and notice has to be issued accordingly,” said one official.

The state government will have to remove a high-tension power transmission line and it will cost Rs 50 crore. “The decision was taken in yesterday’s meeting of the cabinet sub-committee,” an official said.

The government has another problem with Coal India which wants the project site to be shifted as there was coal reserve under about 140 acres of land. “The issue will be sorted out with Coal India amicably,” Sen said.

Indian Express

Purulia, Feb 17 : An integrated steel plant, with a capacity to produce 1.1 million tonnes steel per annum, 150 MW power and one million tonnes cement per annum, will come up at Ragunathpur, nearly 45 km from here.

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today laid the foundation stone of the Shyam Steel Industries Pvt Ltd, set up with an investment of Rs 3,425 crore.

The Chief Minister assured that 2,110 people will get direct employment at the project, while more than 11,000 people will get jobs through ancilliary industries.

The unit, spread over nearly 1,265 acres of land, is among the very few projects for which the feasibility study had been approved by an expert committee appointed by West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation.

Mr Bhattacharjee said 74 acres of land had so far been acquired directly and the rest would be done subsequently through direct purchase by the company.

State Government will assist to acquire land for the proposed steel park, to be handed over to the company by next month.

''The Opposition is always creating trouble to set up industry in the state, but we will carry on with our endeavour to develop the state's industrial sector,'' the Chief Minister said.

He also asked the the authorities of Shyam Steel Industries to start the construction work as soon as possible.

Purulia MP Basudev Acharya, Chairman West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation Subrata Gupta and Chairman Shyam Industries Pvt Ltd Shyam Sunder Beriwala were also present on the occasion.

source: http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-95240.html

KOLKATA: Whatever the obstacles and attempts to stall progress, the West Bengal government is committed to carrying forward its agenda of greater industrialisation, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said .

“Jobs cannot be generated without new industry. Some are asking why this emphasis on industrialisation. But what do we leave behind for those aged 18, 20, 22, 24? Do we tell them ‘Forgive us, the State government was busy fighting the Opposition so we could not achieve what we had wished’?”

Mr. Bhattacharjee was laying the foundation stone for a 1.1-million tonne per annum Greenfield Integrated Steel Plant of Shyam Steel Industries at Raghunathpur in Purulia district.

source: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/02/18/stories/2009021859891100.htm

Press Trust of India / Purulia (wb):The West Bengal government has drawn a new land acquisition strategy for large industrial projects to minimise hurdles and boost downstream and ancillary units around the mother plant.

The model is being first experimented in Purulia district where three major steel projects of total capacity 7 MT are coming up, with the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) deciding to allocate land for industrial parks and not to individual companies.

The Purulia model began with land acquisition for three large private sector projects -- Jai Balaji Industries, Shyam Steel and Adhunik, said WBIDC managing director Subrata Gupta said here today.

Each company would be the anchor investor in respective steel parks and support downstream units, Gupta said on the sidelines of a foundation stone-laying ceremony for a 1.1 MT integrated steel plant for Shyam Steel Ltd.

Gupta said that 15-20 per cent of the land would be earmarked for ancillary and downstream units out of the total land allocated to industrial parks.

WBIDC is developing three steel parks in Raghunathpur in the district -- 2,500 acre for Adhunik, 3,600 acre for Jai Balaji Industries and 1,200 acre for Shyam Steel.

In the three steel parks these three would be the main anchor industry with a cluster of ancillary units surrounding them, Gupta said.

The idea, he said, was to create common infrastructure in the area such as roads, rail and water.

Though the anchor industry did not have big employment opportunity, clubbing the ancillary units would have tremendous potential.

"We wish to create an environment to woo ancillary investors here so that both the mother plant gets a readymade buyer and the ancillary units benefit from practically zero raw material transportation costs," he said.

The Purulia model would be followed in other major proposed projects such as Bhushan Steel project in Salanpur and Videocon Project in Jamuria.

"We have introduced stricter norms to companies which want land for setting up industry. An expert committee will regularly supervise developments," he said.

source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bengal-draws-land-acquisition-plan-for-large-projects/19/19/55221/on

seems that singur mistake will never forgive us.:ohno:

Kolkata: The row over land acquisition in Singur and the pullout of the Nano project by the Tatas might have dealt a blow to the image of West Bengal. The United States India Business Council (USIBC), which was scheduled to come to the state in September last year, cancelled its trip due to the instability.
At an interactive session on enhancing Indo-US business cooperation organised by the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, the US Consul-General in Kolkata, Beth Payne, said as much.

“The USIBC had initially been very excited about coming to Kolkata. However, after the Singur imbroglio, a majority of the members of the trade mission cancelled the trip stating that if the Tatas could not do it then how can any US company come and invest,” said Payne.

“Some members of the trade delegation confirmed that it was the Singur imbroglio that compelled them to think twice before coming during that time,” she added.

According to Payne, though it was difficult to state what each and every US company thought of, every company looks for an educated workforce, low attrition rates, low cost of living, a streamlined government along with a predictable political situation before investing in any state.

“US companies look for stability and predictability in the state where they are planning to invest. Because if after heavy investment, the company cannot produce its products then the entire investment is lost. Tata, which comes from India may be comfortable taking the risk, but some US companies are not. However, the perception can change any time when the situation shows that many other companies are not only investing here but also gaining benefits,” said the US Consul-General.

According to Payne, US is not always getting the right picture and she urged the business community to reflect the reality and if the reality is not good then to change it.

Stressing that the perception of all companies in USA are not the same, Payne, however, said with the economic crisis looming large there was a need for all countries to come together.

“Despite the global meltdown, the prospects of initiating bilateral trade is high. We need to find solutions to fight the crisis and we need to work with all nations. US recession is placing challenges but India is expanding and is better placed than some other countries even in such times,” Payne added.


source: Indian Express (http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/us-joins-chorus-with-ratan-tata-singur-heat-put-us-off/425954/)

Feel like wringing mamatas neck!

^^ Now come election time, Mamata will whine/complain/throw temper tantrum about WB being not attracting industries. :bash:

Perhaps Mamata's slogan will be: Kicking Tata out of Singur; Change You can Believe In!!!

my dad recently visited cal
he came back with grim news
TMC is going strong he says
there are cutout posters of The witch at places where cpm have dominated for the last 4 decades
can someone really tell us what the local opinion on industry ....coz if she does well in the general elcetions
she is bound to become more adamant

does anyone have any idea about the status of Kulpi Port?

my dad recently visited cal
he came back with grim news
TMC is going strong he says
can someone really tell us what the local opinion on industry ....coz if she does well in the general elcetions
she is bound to become more adamant

A CNN-IBN projection shows a pretty good gain by Mamata Bannerjee and her party TMC in the upcoming Parliamentary elections.

The report suggested a high satisfaction rate (69%) with the Left Front government's performance (Rajdeep Sardesai attributed this to Buddhadeb's image).


West Bengal Projections - Voting share - 2009:

Left Front (Buddhadeb Bhattacharya): 46%
Congress I (Sonia Gandhi): 15%
TMC (Mamata): 27%

___________________________

West Bengal - satisfaction with Left Front Government performance - 2009

69%

__________________________

Left Front gains and losses

Urban poor voters: -13%
Rural poor voters: -6%
Urban rich voters: +7%
Rurarl rich voters: +3%

__________________________



But they are not projecting the number of seats that the parties will be winning. It could be a 50-50 between Left and Opposition combine.

The report is here:

http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/85842/left-bastions-in-danger-cong-tmc-surge-ahead.html

The West Bengal related discussion starts from part 4.

____________________________________

Interestingly in the last Parliamentary elections when the Left Front swept to victory in WB, the voting percentages were like this:

The Left secured 50.2 percent, its opponents got 49.7 percent. Of the second figure, the share of the Trinamool Congress (26.3 percent) and the Congress (14.9 percent) was 41.2 percent although they were not allies.

Jai Balaji starts alloy making unit

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/jai-balaji-starts-alloy-making-unit/12/24/55497/on

Jai Balaji Industries Ltd (JBIL) said in a release that it has commissioned its 0.45 million tonne Alloy & Stainless Steel division at its Integrated Steel Plant at Durgapur, West Bengal.

The new facility entails an investment of Rs 225 crore out of a total outlay of about Rs 2,000 crore.

The division is capable of producing a wide variety of value-added alloys and stainless steel products that are directly or indirectly consumed by Railways, Defence, the forging & engineering industry, capital equipment and auto components.

The Jai Balaji group has nine manufacturing units, six of which are in West Bengal. The group also has a presence in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa.

The group is now going ahead with its Purulia, West Bengal project, consisting of a 5-million-tonne-per-annum integrated steel plant, a 3-million-tonne cement plant and 1215Mw power plant. The Purulia project will see a total investment of Rs 16,000 crore, the release said.

Ramsarup Wire Plant

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090222/jsp/business/story_10573700.jsp

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee inaugurated a wire plant by Ramsarup Industries.

The capacity of the new unit is 30,000 tonnes per annum, taking the overall wire capacity of Ramsarup Industries to 300,000 million tonnes per annum. The plant was set up at an investment of Rs 275 crore.

Ashish Jhunjhunwala, managing director of Ramsarup Industries, sought incentives from the government to overcome the tough economic situation. The chief minister said he would take up the matter with stand-in Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee.

A CNN-IBN projection shows a pretty good gain by Mamata Bannerjee and her party TMC in the upcoming Parliamentary elections.

The report suggested a high satisfaction rate (69%) with the Left Front government's performance (Rajdeep Sardesai attributed this to Buddhadeb's image).


West Bengal Projections - Voting share - 2009:

Left Front (Buddhadeb Bhattacharya): 46%
Congress I (Sonia Gandhi): 15%
TMC (Mamata): 27%



Hmm....if you add up Left front, Congress and Mamata the total is 88%, thus their must be around 12% or so undecided. The election might very well be decided by that 12%. General rule of thumb is that Left always gets a couple of percentage extra due to their organization.

Also, these surveys sometimes have biases arising from where the sample was taken and what sample size was used for the survey. And a survey this early is never a good indicator. I would say a 69% satisfaction for the government in general is a good omen.

I still remember during 2001, Mamata was the favorite (declared by all the news media) and she got a good drubbing. Anarchy doesn't sound too appealing in a democracy, and all Mamata is promising is anarchy (just like she did in 2001). Could very well be another 2001.

Now back to WB development discussion (I guess nowadays it may be virtually impossible).

Hmm....if you add up Left front, Congress and Mamata the total is 88%, thus their must be around 12% or so undecided. The election might very well be decided by that 12%. General rule of thumb is that Left always gets a couple of percentage extra due to their organization.

Also, these surveys sometimes have biases arising from where the sample was taken and what sample size was used for the survey. And a survey this early is never a good indicator. I would say a 69% satisfaction for the government in general is a good omen.

I still remember during 2001, Mamata was the favorite (declared by all the news media) and she got a good drubbing. Anarchy doesn't sound too appealing in a democracy, and all Mamata is promising is anarchy (just like she did in 2001). Could very well be another 2001.



Well the (anti left and ultra left) media has been rooting for Mamata for a long time. They make her smallest wins look like huge wins. Rarely do they mention that her party just holds one seat in the parliament. Also she rarely does anything for the state (except disruption and violence). What exactly is her contribution to the state's or India's development? Even when she was the Union Railway Minsiter, she entertained the whole nation with her resignation dramas and kept poor Mr Vajpayee on tenterhooks.

I think the people of West Bengal have to bear her violent nonsense till the next Assembly elections. If she does well in upcoming Parliament elections, she will assume that her politics of violence has brought her dividends. So she will indulge in more violence. If she doesn't do well in Parliament elections, then she will blame it on rigging and then indulge in more violence. So no matter how her party fares, there is more violence in store for West Bengal from Miss Mamata.

Establishment of National Institute of Biomedical Genomics at Kalyani, West Bengal

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=47824

The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to the establishment of National Institute of Biomedical Genomics ( (NIBMG) at Kalyani in Nadia District of West Bengal as an autonomous institution under the aegis of Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology with the budgetary provision of rs.210 crores. The institute will be a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, and will be governed by the Governing Body.

The Institute has emphasis towards enhancement of knowledge on human health & disease through genomics and translate the knowledge using appropriate technologies for promotion of well being and improvement of genomics-based health-care in India. NIBMG will create necessary physical infrastructure and build capacity to serve as the expert base for the establishment of principles and practice of biomedical genomics and promote cutting-edge research in biomedical genomics for better understanding and reduction of public-health burden in India. The grand vision is to provide personalised, predictive, preventive and therapeutic healthcare through the use of genomic knowledge.

NIBMG will usher in the genomics era explicitly in the areas of medicine and public-health. It will undertake novel research, translational, educational & training programmes, network with relevant institutions through star alliance, and seed biomedical genomics activities in hospitals, medical school and other health-care institutions.

Miss Mamata and her gang of intellectuals' contribution to West Bengal

West Bengal slides from rank 4 to 13 in industry list of investment hotspots

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/west-bengal-slides-from-rank-4-to-13-in-industry-list-of-investment-hotspots/426917/

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has just confirmed West Bengal’s worst fears: the state slipped from rank 4 in 2007 to rank 13 in 2008 in terms of industrial investment plans.

The ASSOCHAM study attributed the reason for the sharp dip in investment plans by corporates to the “social unrest” in Nandigram and Singur. This is what D S Rawat, ASSOCHAM secretary general, observed: “Nandigram and Singur unrest are entirely responsible for this shocking development as corporates seem to have desisted coming to West Bengal.”

The ASSOCHAM study meter tracked that “robust investment” plans worth Rs 2,43,489 crore were made by India Inc. for Bengal in 2007. But it fell to Rs 90,095 crore in 2008, a fall of 63 per cent during January-December 2008, compared to the corresponding period in 2007.

Independent inquiries by The Indian Express also showed that for the first time in five years, actual investment in industrial projects in the state dipped sharply. While in 2004, industrial projects implemented totalled around Rs 2,244 crore, it climbed to Rs 5,072 crore in 2007. But until February 2009, actual investments in the state fell to around Rs 3,600 crore, down by over Rs 1,400 crore.

Some more bad news it seems :bash:

Tatas may drop another Bengal plan

Less than five months after Tata Motors relocated its Nano project from West Bengal to Gujarat over land issues, another Tata group company, Tata Metaliks, is reviewing its expansion project in the state on similar grounds.
The West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), which has been acquiring land in Kharagpur for Tata Metaliks’ diversification project, has already initiated dialogue with the company. But land prices remain a contentious issue.

Subrata Gupta, managing director, WBIDC, said that land prices in the last three years have doubled. Prices, which were around Rs 3.5-4 lakh an acre three years ago when WBIDC started acquiring land, have now doubled to Rs 8 lakh.

Gupta said the company has been asked to pay a higher price. “Tata Metaliks has sought 15 days to respond,” he said, adding that WBIDC officials had recently met a Tata Metaliks team after the company expressed its intent of withdrawing the project from the state.

Harsh K Jha, managing director, Tata Metaliks, confirmed that the company has sought time, but did not elaborate on the details. However, the company’s board has decided not to wait for the land indefinitely. The company has already waited for four long years to get the required land, Jha said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had promised Tata Metaliks on February 26, 2005, that the state would allocate land on a “priority basis”. The company had applied for land on March 15, 2005.

Tata Metaliks, a pig iron producer, had initially sought 500 acres for its diversification into billets, but the land requirement was later scaled down to around 300 acres as contiguous land was not available.

Gupta said more than 150 acres has been acquired by WBIDC and the company has made an initial payment of Rs 9 crore for the land.

He also added that WBIDC would go ahead with land acquisition irrespective of the Tata Metaliks’ decision. “Even if they do not set up the project, we will develop an industrial park,” said Gupta.

WBIDC has decided not to acquire land for individual companies. Instead, it will set up industrial parks where companies will become anchor investors in a bid to maximise employment.

Tata Metaliks has also held discussions with the Karnataka government for an iron ore mining lease and for setting up of a plant. A high-level clearance committee of the state has already given approval for a steel plant in Haveri district.

At present, Tata Metaliks has pig iron facilities at Kharagpur in West Bengal and Redi in Maharashtra. The company has an annual capacity of 650,000 tonnes. Even though the diversification plan at Kharagpur is under the cloud, the company has lined up expansion of the existing plant. A sinter plant is being set up which will be commissioned in 2010.



Source: Business Standard (http://businessstandard.co.in/india/news/tatas-may-drop-another-bengal-plan/03/06/349963/)

Miss Mamata and her gang of intellectuals' contribution to West Bengal..

But you know it is still Left's fault... :)

On a more serious note, this year is probably a good time to take a back to basics approach. Most of the western economy is cliff diving, financial market is pretty much frozen. So FDI is probably at premium. I have a feeling that BPO/IT will take a hit at some point, so don't depend on it. Invest for a more diversified economy, create infrastructure for that.

But then there is Mamata and her gang of know-nothing intellectuals...and some of left's ancient theocrats.

Oh well one can hope.

KOLKATA: West Bengal Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta on Monday announced schemes worth Rs. 5,106 crore for several sectors, including a Rs. 1000 crore scheme for housing for the rural and urban poor.

Making these announcements at the State secretariat, Mr. Dasgupta said that the main objective behind rolling out these schemes at this juncture, was to provide some relief during the recession.

“This is not vote-politics,” he stressed.

Rs. 25 crore for IT sector


A Rs. 25 crore allotment has been made for bailing out the State IT sector which is suffering due to drying up of overseas orders in the wake of the economic meltdown..

The package included setting up new schools and universities, hiking (and at times doubling) the pay of teachers, para teachers and part-time teachers in schools and colleges and increasing the assistance to workers in closed industries.

A land bank was also proposed to be set up for medium and small industries, he said.

These schemes would be rolled out within the current fiscal year, Mr. Dasgupta said.

The State government proposed to allocate Rs. 370 crore for selling rice at Rs. 2 a kg to families in the BPL group.

It also planned to improve health infrastructure and bringing unorganised sector workers within the ambit of health insurance.

For the region-specific development councils within the State, an allocation of Rs. 200 crore was being made. He said that Rs. 50 crore had been allocated for boosting production of some specific crops


The Hindu (http://www.thehindu.com/2009/02/24/stories/2009022455210700.htm)

“This is not vote-politics,” he stressed. The Hindu (http://www.thehindu.com/2009/02/24/stories/2009022455210700.htm)

Yeah sure.

:lol:

Bengal tax mop-up on the rise

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090225/jsp/business/story_10587450.jsp

Income tax collection (net of refund) in the Bengal circle, which includes Sikkim and the Andaman and Nicobar islands, has gone up 23.8 per cent to Rs 10,316 crore till the end of January in the current fiscal.

“Income tax collection in the circle has trebled in the last five years,” chief commissioner T. K. Chatterjee said.

“The growth in tax collection in the current financial year so far came on the back of a 22 per cent increase in corporate tax collection and a 32 per cent growth in personal income tax collection,” he said.

Companies paid Rs 7,022 crore tax on their profit earnings in the first 10 months of the current fiscal, an increase of 22 per cent over the year-ago period. “We made a tax refund of Rs 1,307 crore to the corporate sector till December 2008 compared with Rs 1,148 crore in the previous corresponding period,” Chatterjee said.

He said personal income tax collection in the current fiscal so far had grown 32 per cent to Rs 2,954 crore. “The primary reason for this is wider applicability of TDS (tax deducted at source),” Chatterjee said. TDS collection rose 35.07 per cent to Rs 3,714 crore against Rs 2,750 crore in the same period in 2007-08.

However, tax refunds to individual income tax-payers were lower at Rs 234 crore against Rs 333 crore in 2007-08.

“Advance tax payment and tax paid through self-assessment grew significantly. Advance tax payment till January 31, 2009 was higher at Rs 5,237 crore (Rs 4,807 crore), while tax paid under self-assessment was Rs 1,349 crore (Rs 898 crore),” the chief commissioner said. The total number of tax-payers in Bengal circle is around 24 lakh and is growing at the rate of 10 per cent every year.

But the income tax department is facing a severe shortage of manpower. “The sanctioned number of joint and additional commissioners for the Bengal circle is 128. But the number of joint and additional commissioners is only 42. Similarly, the sanctioned number of assistant and deputy commissioners for the circle is 220 while we have only 141 of them working at present,” Chatterjee said.

Rs 2200cr paper mill deal signed (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090228/jsp/bengal/story_10604086.jsp)
Calcutta, Feb. 27: The Bengal government and the Emami Group today inked an agreement to build the state’s largest wood-based paper mill at Kultikri, West Midnapore.

The Rs 2,200-crore project will cover 1,400 acres, half of which is already with the government. Emami will buy the remaining 700 acres directly from farmers.

“Officials of the group have developed a good rapport with the people (of Kultikri) as they have been regularly visiting the place for a long time. They will hopefully have no problem in getting the land,” industries secretary Sabyasachi Sen said after the deal was signed. Recycled water from the mill be used for agriculture, he added.

The project is expected to create direct employment for 1,000 people and 4,000 more indirectly. “We shall start construction within a year so that production can begin in three years after that,” said R.S. Agarwal, joint Emami chairman.

The plant will be part of a paper and allied products park being developed by the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) about 185km from Calcutta.

With a capacity of 600 tonnes a day, it will require around 6 lakh tonnes of pulpable wood. Emami director Manish Goenka said the state had promised 1.8 lakh tonnes of wood.

Bengal sells all its wood to outsiders in the absence of a wood-based paper producer.

The company also plans to undertake social forestry in Orissa and Bengal for raw material. “The chief minister has told us to explore the possibility of using jute stems as raw material,” Goenka said.

Sen and WBIDC managing director Subrata Gupta represented the state in today’s deal. Agarwal and the other Emami chairman, R.S. Goenka, were on the other side.

“Such a huge (paper) pro-ject is coming up for the first time in Bengal,” chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said.

Bengal ranks 18th in India in terms of GDP: Debroy

Kolkata, Feb 26 : Noted economist Bibek Debroy has said West Bengal, with a per capita state GDP of Rupees 29,457, is now ranked 18th the country.


Referring to a research report titled 'Five Diseases of Governance in West Bengal', Prof Debroy, in a statement here today, said the documentation of the state's economic and social decline was an attempt to empower people with information to base their choice on setting up an agenda for change.

The report has been prepared by Prof Bibek Debroy and Laveesh Bhandari, Founder-Director of Indicus Analytics.

Mr Bhandari has described West Bengal as a ''case of missed opportunities'', saying that the state ''failed to match the galloping speed of the country's progress.'' ''After decades of falling behind, the people of West Bengal today have an opportunity to capitalise on. We believe it will take at least five years of progressive governance to bring the state back on track,'' Mr Bhandari noted.

--- UNI

^^What is UNI?

Bengal is 18th in per capita GDP partly because of its huge population.It is i think 5th overall(in total gdp).

Bengal ranks 18th in India in terms of GDP: Debroy

Kolkata, Feb 26 : Noted economist Bibek Debroy has said West Bengal, with a per capita state GDP of Rupees 29,457, is now ranked 18th the country.



--- UNI

It is an interesting report. However the report was funded by a Trinamool Congress leader.

Bengal ranks 18th in India in terms of GDP: Debroy



However, Kolkata alone ranks 49th among top 100 cities in the world by GDP (above Delhi/Banglaore/Hyderabad/Ahmedabad). Kolkata apparently contributes $94 billion to India's GDP. The data is from 2005 and I am sure in between economy-wise Kolkata did not decline that much.

I am sure the good professor is aware of this famous quote: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."

statistics are authentic
however under delhi..noida and gurgaon aren't counted
plus calcutta's informal economy is huge (things which i don't i don't think can be discussed in SSC)
and accounts for 40% of the gdp

as for West Bengal's Gdp
(per capita, 000s Rs)
it is 29
bihar 9
Up 11
orissa 19
jharkhand 23

this shows that the entire east has stagnated

compare that with the south

TN 36
Ap 30
Karnataka 35
and our communist friends in kerala: 37

*gulp*

Kolkata is by far the richest city in India....if it weren't for the immigrants and the migrants. However...we love them, because they make for awesome nannies and maids.

However, Kolkata alone ranks 49th among top 100 cities in the world by GDP (above Delhi/Banglaore/Hyderabad/Ahmedabad). Kolkata apparently contributes $94 billion to India's GDP. The data is from 2005 and I am sure in between economy-wise Kolkata did not decline that much.

I am sure the good professor is aware of this famous quote: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."

The ranking of West Bengal as 18th in per capita income is correct. What the report doesn't mention is the fineprint from RBI - "Owing to differences in methodology of compilation, data for different States / Union Territories are not strictly comparable".

Having glanced through the complete report, it seems like you are reading an election manifesto of Trinamool Congress rather than a "whitepaper".

New industries on abandoned sites

TOI epaper

Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee wants to set up industrial units at abandoned factories in the state that have been remained closed for years.

Inaugurating a garments park, Paridhan, on Canal South Road on Sunday, Bhattacharjee said more than 8,000 people would get work here. The CM added that his government has been trying to utilize the closed factories, but was facing obstacles.

“Sometimes, the Opposition asks us why we are not reopening the closed factories. Monetary disputes in banks, High Court rulings or the like constrain us. There are 218 closed factories in North 24-Parganas alone. Our industrial reconstruction department is looking for such abandoned factories,” he said.

Bhattacharjee said his government wants the Centre to either set up industrial units in the closed factories in the state by itself or to hand them over to the state government. “They could either set up industries by themselves or hand over the units to us. There is a need to develop the textile and silk industry soon,” he said.

Small scale and cottage industries minister Manabendra Mukherjee said, according to the policy that has been framed, the garments industry could give jobs to 10 lakh people in the next five years. “Eight textile parks for the state are in the pipeline. A silk park is coming up in Malda and 50 handloom clusters have been identified in the state,” he said.

Commerce and industries minister Nirupam Sen said the
state government had wanted to buy the abandoned factory lands owned by the Centre, but the latter had refused. “They said they would auction these lands. There are several such plots in the state and many new industrial units could have been set up if we had received those,” he said.

^^What is UNI?

"United News of India", a government controlled news agency primarily in English, Hindi and Urdu languages.

Bengal is 18th in per capita GDP partly because of its huge population.It is i think 5th overall(in total gdp).

It is the 3rd largest economy in the country.

^^^^
Latest figures say its 5th
it may actually be 3rd now..recession has affected it in ap and factories in TN

i don't think gross gdp matters
i mean u can't call UP with second highest gdp in the country to be economically successful

^^^^
Latest figures say its 5th



Do you have a link?

http://mospi.nic.in/6_gsdp_cur_9394ser.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_between_Indian_states_and_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)

thats all i got..
should be posting more

http://mospi.nic.in/6_gsdp_cur_9394ser.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_between_Indian_states_and_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)

thats all i got..
should be posting more

I do not know how they calculated to reach the figures shown in the above source

there is many anomalies in the chart which can't be believed. for instance, according to those figues, India is 75.98 times of the size of West Bengal and West Bengal is only 18% of Bangladesh's GDP. Who is going to digest this?

We all know, West Bengal is about 10% of India's economy. But here it says WB is 1.32% of India's economy. Again, Maharashtra, the largest economy of India, is about one fourth of India in terms of GDP but here it says India is 41.48 times bigger than that of Maharashtra. Who is going to buy this?!:ohno:

The second link doesn't seem to work.

The RBI hasn't reported any data for WB for the last two years (2006-2007; 2007-2008) I believe.

I do not know how they calculated to reach the figures shown in the above source

there is many anomalies in the chart which can't be believed. for instance, according to those figues, India is 75.98 times of the size of West Bengal and West Bengal is only 18% of Bangladesh's GDP. Who is going to digest this?

We all know, West Bengal is about 10% of India's economy. But here it says WB is 1.32% of India's economy. Again, Maharashtra, the largest economy of India, is about one fourth of India in terms of GDP but here it says India is 41.48 times bigger than that of Maharashtra. Who is going to buy this?!:ohno:haha....what a fake wiki

McNally Bharat Bengal unit on stream

http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/04/stories/2009030455781400.htm

B. M. Khaitan group company McNally Bharat Engineering Ltd (MBEL) has commissioned the first phase of its greenfield project at Asansol in West Bengal on schedule.

Company officials said that the first phase, comprising a forging unit, has been set up with an investment of Rs. 27 crore on 25 acres acquired from the Asansol Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA). MBEL, which is now the focus company within the diversified B. M. Khaitan group, is into manufacturing and turnkey projects. It has manufacturing units in Kumardhubi and Bangalore.

However, company sources said that the second phase of the project might have to be reshaped in tune with the emerging market conditions.

First step to film city (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090306/jsp/calcutta/story_10633212.jsp)
Have a film to shoot? Drive down to Chandrakona. This sleepy village in West Midnapore — a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Calcutta — is the address for what is being touted as Bengal’s first “state-of-the-art film city”.

Prayag Film City, a Rs 570-crore project with a five-year deadline for completion, is an initiative of the Prayag Group, which has business interests in real estate, fertilisers and fisheries.

Spread over 2,300 acres, the film city will apparently boast 50 set locations, 60 floors, a digital colour laboratory, facilities for pre- and post-production work, and a film institute.

“We are venturing into entertainment because it is profitable. Our state-of-the-art film city will be better than the Ramoji Rao Film City in Hyderabad. Bengali films apart, Bhojpuri and Assamese films will also be shot here,” claimed Prayag Group owner Basudeb Bagchi.

Work is already on to build an artificial sea, an airport with an aeroplane, a helipad, railway station with bogies, golf course, swimming pool, tree-house, restaurants, cottages and manicured parks.

“The intention is good. Let’s wait and see how far it goes. The Bengali film industry will greatly benefit if the film city happens,” said Bollywood actor Om Puri, who along with singer Alka Yagnik and a team of Tollywood actors drove down to Chandrakona on Thursday for laying the foundation stone.

“The film city will be a dream come true for us. We won’t have to pack our bags for Hyderabad anymore,” said actor Rudranil Ghosh, who was part of the Tolly team.

^^ No mention of land acquisition? Also does WB need one? It does not make anywhere near the number of films made in the south.

^^ No mention of land acquisition?

Well here you go. Another project lost due to the "land" issue - aka Mamata Effect

Tata Metaliks shelves expansion plan in WB

http://www.mydigitalfc.com/companies/tata-metaliks-shelves-expansion-plan-wb-829

Tata Metaliks has decided to shelve its proposed expansion plan in West Bengal due to the failure of the state government to provide the required land. The company’s managing director Harsh Jha said, "We have recently intimated to WBIDC that the company will not go ahead with the proposed expansion plan near the existing facility at Kharagpur."

He said that the company had been waiting for land from the state government for the last four years for which an advance payment of Rs 9.5 crore had been already made.
Jha said that the wait could not go on indefinitely. "So we have intimated that the company would not go ahead with the plan."
While TML had sought 500 acres for expansion, the government had offered only 350 acre.

Jha said that TML had secured the consent of the Karnataka government for setting up a greenfield unit 300 km away from Bangalore.
The Karnataka government had offered 900 acres of land with water and power supply connection, the company MD said adding that however, for setting up the plant in the state there is a condition upon getting iron ore mining licenses.

Jha said that if the expansion was to come up in West Bengal, then investment in the region would hover around Rs 700-800 crore.
Further, he said that the decision regarding West Bengal is not an impulsive one, but is a considered opinion and the company wished not to pursue with it any longer.

And they are unable to provide electricity to New Town thanks to the goonda raj in the state created by the Mamatas and Subhases.

Meanwhile the JSW project has suffered a set back due to the global economic situation

JSW Steel's Rs 35,000-crore West Bengal project deferred

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200903062011.htm

The Rs 35,000-crore West Bengal project of JSW Steel is set to be delayed by an year due to slackening demand of the commodity amid the global industrial downturn.

"Construction work on the West Bengal project has been deferred by an year. We hope things to improve by that time," JSW Steel Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Sajjan Jindal told reporters at an Assocham conference here on Friday.

JSW Steel, the country's largest private sector steel producer, was to start construction work at the site of its proposed 10-MTPA plant in November 2008.

However, faced with liquidity crunch the company cut the investment for the first phase of the project by a third to Rs 4,000 crore and has now postponed the construction work.

Meanwhile the Kulpi port is held up thanks to objections by an inefficient and corruption ridden Kolkata Port Trust - a central government agency.

Bid to hasten Kulpi port

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090305/jsp/business/story_10627125.jsp

Bengal has asked the Centre to sort out the disputes over the proposed container port at Kulpi within two weeks.

State chief secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti has requested Union shipping secretary A.P.V.N. Sarma to talk to Calcutta Port Trust to ensure that the proposed port gets a clearance from the CPT within a fortnight.

“I urged him to persuade the CPT to give Kulpi port the necessary clearance. I also told him that two additional dredgers would be required in Haldia right now as the water draught was falling,” he said.

Chakrabarti has also talked about the need to set up an “independent authority” to supervise the waterways, which was under the CPT. “This is an issue that needs dialogue. However, it would be good to have an independent authority to look after the waterways. Otherwise, everything will depend on the CPT,” he said.

The CPT has been demanding that Kulpi port, in which DP World of Dubai is a partner, should share the dredging cost for maintaining the Haldia channel though ships going to Kulpi would not use that path. The state government has suggested that ships coming to ports — Haldia, Calcutta or Kulpi — should pay for the dredging cost.

“The independent authority should charge ships using the waterways to maintain them — be it dredging or any other way,” Mahendra K Jalan, director of Bengal Port, the promoter of Kulpi container port, said.

The CPT had suggested to the state that the width of the proposed Raichak-Kukrahati bridge be at least 5.5 metres. “I don’t know the reason behind this. I will discuss with the department concerned,” Chakrabarti said.

Some hope

Power plant near Jhikurkhali ploughs ahead

Statesman News Service

RPG flagship CESC Ltd is setting up a 2,000 MW greenfield thermal power plant in Haldia. The plant will come up in Baneswar Chawk, near Jhikurkhali, East Midnapore district.
The first phase ~ to be completed by December, 2011 ~ will generate 600 MW from its two units. Of the 375 acres of land required for this first phase, 287 acres have already been acquired, according to a CESC spokesperson.
CESC have announced that a three million tonne annual coal deal has been settled with Orissa's Mahanadi Coalfields (MCL), to fuel the first phase 600 MW power plant. CESC looks likely to opt for power-grade coal in the D or E categories, based on availability and boiler technology.
The Haldia super-thermal station is distinctive for being directly executed by CESC. Two upcoming greenfield thermal projects in Jharkhand and Orissa, shortly to be floated by the Goenkas, will be executed by two CESC-controlled SPVs.
A spokesperson for the CESC said: “Following the land acquisition dispute at Nandigram, land allotment at Haldia is not occurring by lot. We are looking to acquire the 800 acres needed for the plant by other means.”
Mr Srikumar Taraphdar, additional district magistrate for Haldia, said: “The company has already mobilised its manpower and equipment at the plant site and are working in a dedicated manner, round-the-clock. We hope that the first phase of the CESC’s project will be completed by schedule.”
The site project manager has high hopes for the power plant: “Industry in Haldia will benefit from the plant, which will supply power through the West Bengal State Electricity Board. Currently, the company is engaged in construction work, and will soon start setting up a system to pump water from Latpotia area, near Geonkhali.”

Tata Metaliks' new pipe facility comes up at Kharagpur

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Indl-Goods--Svs/Metals--Mining/Tata-Metaliks-new-pipe-facility-comes-up-at-Kharagpur/articleshow/4239041.cms

Tata Metaliks Kubota Pipes Limited (TMKPL), a joint venture between Tata Metaliks and Kubota Corporation of Japan, has inaugurated a 1.1
lakh tonne per annum ductile iron (DI) pipe facility in Kharagpur, West Bengal. TMKPL plans to raise its capacity to two lakh tonne within the next six months as part of its expansion plans in phase two of the venture.

The new company plans to tap a growing market for DI pipes which are primarily used for transportation of drinking water. Through its link with Kubota Corp, one of the global leaders in DI pipes, TMKPL is also poised to prise open a crucial export market in countries like Southeast Asia and the Middle east.

"We will export 20% of production from TMKPL as per our agreement with Kubota Corporation," Harsh K. Jha, chairman, TMKPL and managing director, Tata Metaliks Limited said. He was speaking after the formal inauguration of the plant at Samraipur, Kharagpur on Saturday by B Muthuraman, managing director, Tata Steel. The domestic market is growing at 10-12% per annum given the large infrastructure projects and the emphasis on water distribution from both the Centre and state governments. TMKPL will be competing for marketshare with established DI pipe manufacturers like Electrosteel Castings and Jindal Saw.

Tata Metaliks has 51% stake in TMKPL, with Kubota Corporation holding 44 % of the equity, while the remaining 5% stake is held by Metal One, one of the largest steel trading companies globally with a turnover of around $35 billion. In fact, TMKPL’s association with Metal One will go a long way in establishing its products in the world market, Mr Jha added.

The plant has been set up within the premises of Tata Metaliks’ pig iron plant at Kharagpur. The plant was constructed in less than a year of commencement of site work. The plant inauguration ceremony was attended by Fujio Samukawa, consul general of Japan, Kolkata, Daisuke Hatakake, chairman, Kubota Corporation, Yasuo Masumoto, president, Kubota Corporation, Hiromi Fujikawa, division COO, Metal One Corporation and H.M. Nerurkar, chairman, Tata Metaliks Limited.

Who opposed the Tata Metalliks project ?
With recession and the sword of mamta looming large, any news in the present tense is welcoming and relieving.

Kolkata, March 13 : After the Singur jolt, the West Bengal government is slowly making arrangements to house the state's first auto components park in Guptamoni in West Midnapore district.

A special purpose vehicle (SPV), floated by the developers of the project, has now started buying land directly from land owners in Guptamoni, some 127 km from here, a top official of West Bengal Industrial Infrastructure Development Corp (WBIIDC) told IANS Friday.

"The project started around a year back. The SPV is now purchasing land directly for the project from the land owners," the official said.

It is a joint venture project by WBIIDC and Bengal SREI Infrastructure Development.

WBIIDC is an organisation of the West Bengal government for development of trade, commerce and industries in the state.

Bengal SREI is a joint venture between West Bengal Industrial Development Corp (WBIDC) and SREI Infrastructure Finance Ltd.

WBIIDC and Bengal SREI would develop the infrastructure and then invite auto component manufacturers to set up manufacturing units over there.

Asked when the project would be completed, the official said: "It is too premature to talk about it now. We are still purchasing land."

The park would be spread over 500 acres.

The state government suffered a huge setback when global auto major Tata Motors pulled its Nano car project out of the state due to violent protests by farmers, who alleged that their land had been taken by the state government forcibly. The protests were led by the state's principal opposition party, the Trinamool Congress. At Rs.100,000 ($2,000) Nano has been advertised as the world's cheapest car.

Tata Motors acquired 997.11 acres at Singur in Hooghly district to construct the Nano car factory in 2006, out of which 400 acres were earmarked for building auto ancillary units.

"No auto component company has approached us yet. The project is still at a nascent stage and the economic condition worldwide is also not very conducive," the official said.

--- IANS

http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-2910.html

Kolkata: Kolkata-based Vibgyor Allied Industries Ltd has decided to invest Rs 660 crore over next two years to set up a two-wheeler manufacturing facility at Dhulagori in Howrah. The 7-year old company is also looking to set up another manufacturing base in the southern part of the country in next two years.

Read more (http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Vibgyor-group-to-invest-Rs-660-crore-to-set-up-a-2wheeler-unit-in-Bengal/433931/)

Nice updates.Bengal is still getting a steady stream of viable projects and investment.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/15/stories/2009031555251200.htm

Special Correspondent

1.4 billion tonnes of prime Raniganj coal will be blocked if the scheme is implemented

Rs. 10,000 crore to be spent in four phases. CIL to press for relocating three steel projects

KOLKATA: Following a high-level meeting between officials of the State Government and Coal India Ltd (CIL), it has now been decided to rework the proposed airport-city project at Andal near Durgapur in West Bengal.

With their stand being vindicated, the Navratna public sector unit has now decided to press for a re-look at three more industrial projects, which they claim, are proposed to be set up on areas bearing prime quality coal.

A study done by the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) had revealed that coal reserves of about 1.4 billion tonnes of prime Ranigunj coal will get blocked if the aerotropolis project, proposed by a consortium of companies for setting up an airport and a mini-township in the Andal-Fardipur block in Burdwan, is implemented.

The study revealed that about 350 million tonnes is under the licensed area of Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL), a CIL subsidiary.

The reworked project will also have to take into account the Sharpi ‘longwall mining’ project of ECL which is being developed by a U.K.-based company on a contract-basis.

“This is the best project of ECL using longwall mining technology and this should not be disrupted in the interest of increased coal output from underground mines,” a CIL official said.

The commissioning of the CMPDI study came after CIL received the detailed map of the airport project which is proposed to be implemented as a private project assisted by the State’s apex industry promotion agency. While the airport would come up by developing an existing airstrip at Andal near Asansol, a mini-township is proposed to be set up.

Bengal Aerotroplis Projects Ltd (BAPL), a special purpose vehicle which has been floated for this purpose, proposed to spend Rs. 10,000 crore in four phases over seven years to create this infrastructure, with the airport coming up in 30 months from getting the land. It also planned to replicate the model in other States.

At the meeting, which was chaired by the State Chief Secretary, it was decided that of the 3,500 acres required for the project, 2,300 acres were required for the airport, around 500 acres would have to be taken out of the project area, in order to protect existing coal reserves of ECL. Further modification of around six sq. km may be required to protect coal reserves outside ECL’s leasehold area.

CIL officials will now study this new plan and a meeting has been scheduled later this month.

However, CIL is keen to follow-up in a similar manner the coal reserves, which they feel will get blocked if three steel projects of Bhusan Steel, Videocon and Abhijeet group come up in the same region.

It now proposes to press the government for relocating these units too in order to protect the coal reserves.

The move comes ahead of elections, with sanctioned funds lying unused as work has been put on hold

Romita Datta

Kolkata: In an indication that the West Bengal government is bending over backward to restart stalled infrastructure projects ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, it has offered to pay Rs7.5 crore for the acquisition of a 2.56 acre plot in Dankuni that it needs to build a railway overbridge.

The compensation—Rs2.92 crore an acre—is the highest the state government has ever paid. The offer, which has recently been cleared by the state’s finance department, was made after two years of negotiation with some 236 owners of the 2.56 acre plot failed, according to Kshiti Goswami, West Bengal’s minister for public works.
Compensation for acquisition of another small plot needed for a similar railway overbridge at Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district is also being raised “substantially”, Goswami said.

In Singur, which is a few kilometres from Dankuni, the state government had paid around Rs140 crore, or Rs14 lakh an acre on an average, to acquire 997 acres for Tata Motors Ltd’s now abandoned small car factory. The compensation offered to farmers in Singur was widely seen as inadequate, and was held responsible for the unrest that forced Tata Motors to move its Nano car factory to Gujarat. Since then, several industrial and infrastructure projects in West Bengal have ground to a halt because the state government couldn’t acquire land.

Road works across West Bengal have stopped, and the worst hit are two national highways—NH 34 and NH 35— that were to be broadened, according to Goswami, who blames opposition parties in the state for holding up these projects.
However, an official in the public works department said it was the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPM, that backed the people who held up the railway overbridge in Dankuni for two years.

“Had the area not been a CPM stronghold, the state government wouldn’t have offered such high compensation,” added this official who did not want to be named because he isn’t authorized to speak to the media.
Dankuni has traditionally been a CPM bastion. The state government has abandoned DLF Ltd’s proposed 4,840 acre housing project in Dankuni because it didn’t want to take on locals.

(Work on roads across the state has stopped; NH 34 and NH 35, that were to be broadened, are the worst hit)
At least Rs358 crore of sanctioned funds from the Union government and the Asian Development Bank are lying unused because of stalled road projects, said T. K. Mazumdar, chief executive officer of West Bengal State Rural Development Agency, an arm of the state government that builds rural roads. “Work on more than 100 roads is in trouble because people wouldn’t part with even small plots of land,” he added.

In 2008-09, the state could build 900km of new roads to connect only 400 villages under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, or PMGSY—a funding scheme of the Union government for building rural roads—whereas it had planned to spread rural road connectivity to 1,704 new villages at the beginning of the fiscal year, according to Mazumdar. The target during the current fiscal year was to build around 1,600km of rural roads, slightly higher than what the state had built in 2007-08.

Road works under PMGSY were worst-hit in districts such as East Midnapore, West Midnapore, South 24 Parganas and Hooghly that have witnessed unrest over land acquisition for industrial projects, Goswami said. “Even construction of railway overbridges, which typically need very little land, couldn’t be done because of (the unrest in) Singur and Nandigram,” he added.

romita.d@livemint.com

source:http://www.livemint.com/2009/03/16002144/West-Bengal-looks-to-restart-s.html

Source: Times EPaper


Essar pledge for Bengal
Kolkata: The Essar group on Wednesday expressed interest in setting up a fertiliser plant in the state at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore. Essar Steel CEO P R Dhariwal discussed the project with chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and commerce and industries Nirupam Sen during the day.
Sources said the Essar group is interested in setting up the plant at Durgapur or Ranigunj.
“Essar is looking for the land that is lying inside the HFCL factory at Durgapur. It is presently looking for about 600 acres,” they said.
There is 750 acres inside the HFCL factory, which is closed since February 2003. Due to outdated technology, HFCL started making losses since the 1990s. About 1300 employees were working at the time of closure.

KOLKATA, March 21: After the Nano pull-out, the state government has finally woken up to the fact that setting up of proper infrastructure is key in motivating private investors to set up industry in the state.
According to the economic review 2008-09, published by the state government, developing both social and physical infrastructure has been given emphasis after a joint study by World Bank and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) cited “poor infrastructure” as one of the major problems faced by the state.
The study report had identified that it was low productivity rather than labour militancy that should be blamed for the low rate of industrial growth in the state. It may be recalled that Tata Motors chose the fertile lands of Singur to set up their small car plant because of its locational advantage and physical infrastructure such as the Durgapur Expressway. Critics had pointed out that lack of physical infrastructure like roads and bridges had come in the way of setting up the plant in the dry districts of Bankura, Purulia and Midnapore West.
In the last eight years, between 2000 and 2007, investments in infrastructure amounted to Rs 30,700 crore out of which Rs 6,553 crore has been spent on roads and bridges, Rs 13,036 on power projects and Rs 3,555 crore on railways. Although the state industries department is promoting the non-arable lands in Bankura, Purulia and Midnapore West for industrialisation, road and bridge projects taken up by PWD in 2007-08 reveals that there are only two projects each for the districts of Purulia and Midnapore West.
The state government also claims that it is giving importance to developing power infrastructure in the state and “substantial investment is underway.” The economic review also states that the state government has taken up a programme to maintain surplus power situation in coming years and increase capacity by around 2970 MW.

source:http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=6&theme=&usrsess=1&id=247811

KOLKATA: West Bengal has decided to borrow 40% more in 2009-10, despite Reserve Bank of India's warning that the state may face repayment pressure
from 2017 onwards.

The state government has pegged its annual gross market borrowings for 2009-10 at Rs 14,947.51 crore, which is a good 40% higher than what it budgeted for the previous fiscal at Rs 10,740.20 crore.

The revised gross borrowings stood at Rs 12,397.46 crore. This would put additional pressure on state finances. Although the state has never defaulted in repayments, the absence of the Fiscal Responsibility Legislation (FRL) in the state speaks against the government. Only West Bengal and Sikkim don t have the FRL in place.

We don t believe in FRL as it restricts the government from developmental spending. The Centre has realised this now after the economic slowdown and fiscal deficits will be widening, West Bengal finance minister Asim Dasgupta said, responding to ET s query, after the state s budget session.

West Bengal has started relying on huge market borrowings since 2007-08 as loans from the National Small Savings Fund (NSSF) have dried up following a sharp fall in the state s small savings collection. According to RBI, large repayment obligation will start from 2012-13 onwards due to high amount of borrowings between 2002-03 and 2004-05 under the debt-swap scheme.

The repayment obligations will more than double in 2017-18 over the preceding year on account of the large magnitude of borrowings during 2007-08 to meet the NSSF shortfall, the banking regulator warned a host of states including West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu in its annual report for 2007-08.

These states have already been shouldering significant interest burden as they borrowed a chunk of their funds from the market at 8.25-8.55% rate during 2007-08, compared to 7.86-8.25% in the preceding fiscal. The average cost of borrowing was 6.45% in 2004-05.

On the net basis, the state s budgeted market borrowings have been pegged at Rs 14,000 crore, compared to Rs 9,886.30 crore in 2007-08.

The revised net borrowings stood at Rs 11,543.54 crore. The state has proposed to meet half of its total budgeted capital receipts via net market loans. The net borrowings will be one-fifth of the state s total receipts.

source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Bengal-to-borrow-40-more-from-market-despite-RBI-alert/rssarticleshow/4304205.cms

http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/24/stories/2009032455461100.htm

West Bengal’s industrialisation drive dampened
State’s image tarnished before the world

Kolkata: The commercial launch of Nano from Mumbai rather than Singur in West Bengal was a sad day for the people of the State, West Bengal Minister for Commerce and Industry Nirupam Sen said. Addressing a press meet at the party office here on Monday, he hoped that the people of West Bengal would definitely respond against the ‘destructive politics’ practised in Singur and which culminated in the ouster of the project from the State.

“Nowhere in India, this type of destructive politics is played,” he said. The momentum that the proposed project had imparted to the State’s industrialisation drive was dampened by the exit, he said.

To a question, he said it was unfortunate that a national party had tied up with such a political party. He said there was a need to analyse how the people of West Bengal benefited either by the agitation or the subsequent exit of the small car project. “An evaluation is necessary.”

Responding to another question on the main Opposition leader’s indifference to the exit of the Nano project from the State, Mr. Sen said this clearly showed the dichotomy between the slogans now being raised by that party in favour of development in the State and the stark realities. “The role of the Opposition party and some of its allies during that agitation was dangerous as it was unfortunate,” he said.

Mr. Sen rued that the dreams of the State’s youth were shattered, adding that the irresponsible action of the political party had tarnished the State’s image before the world. Answering a question on land acquisition in Singur, he refuted the suggestion that the Land Acquisition Act was applied mindlessly, saying that everything was done in a transparent manner. “Has anyone applied the RTI Act to find out what concessions the Gujarat government offered to locate the Nano project in the State?” he asked.

He said the Tatas had said they would take between 10 and 12 months to dismantle their structures at Singur. He also hoped that future investment by the Tatas in the State would not be hampered.

wish we had better polical system in WB,showing a nice chemistry between leading and opposition parties which leads to community development.but what we are watching here is a 3 D destructive movie of WB's future economy.the director is our dear mamta di, and producer ???????we all know:bash: jai ho. . .

Kolkata As Tata Motors rolled out Nano from Mumbai on Monday, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said she did not care about the car and demanded that 400 acres from the Singur site be returned to dispossessed farmers.
She said that she is concerned about the people’s interest and not for Nano car.

“There is no factory in Bengal or Gujarat. So is Nano coming out of a shopping mall?:lol: We do not care whether it is Nano or No No :nuts:and from where it is launched. We care for the people,” said Banerjee. When asked whether she regretted that Tata Motors had withdrawn its plant from Singur, the Trinamool chief reacted vociferously and said: “You are asking me an unethical question. I am not a businessman. I do not care whether it is Rs 1 lakh or one crore car. We are against the forcible land acquisition. The government forcibly took away the land from unwilling farmers.”

She questioned the manner in which Tata Motors left Bengal. “Why did the Tatas leave Bengal? Why did the state government not adhere to the agreement they signed with us before the Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi,” she said.

She stated that the demand of returning 400 acres of land to the farmers is a part of Trinamool’s election manifesto.

She also asked why the proposed plants have not taken off in Bengal. “There is no opposition against the Jindal project in Salboni. Why has this project not taken off? Why has work not started at Basumati? Why has Dunlop not opened?” she said.

When told that the entire world is looking at Mumbai today, she retorted, “For us the world is for people.”


http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/nano-or-no-no-i-dont-care-at-all/438245/

hope mamata di & her emerging party is sleeping at the moment. KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Monday made a strong pitch to bring in investments from Singapore during his
hour-long meeting with Philip Yeo, special advisor for economic development in the Singapore’s Prime Minister’s office.

He also discussed the proposed chemical hub in Nayachara island, which is slated to attract investments in excess of Rs 90,000 crore.

Interestingly, the CM’s meeting with Mr Yeo is of strategic importance. As the date coincided with the commercial launch of the word’s cheapest car, the Tata Nano, from Mumbai. A car that was originally scheduled to roll out of the Tata Motors Singur plant, but was not to be after the Tatas exited Singur last October after mounting agitation by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress left the fate of project in the lurch.

Tata Motors' subsequent decision to relocate the Nano project in Sanand, Gujarat, from Singur has undoubtedly left one of the deepest scars on the CM’s industrialisation drive.

Talking to newpersons after the meeting, Mr Yeo said: "This is my first visit to West Bengal and I am impressed with the kind of economic development that has taken place here. The CM has told me that the state government wishes to create jobs for the people through the setting up of industries. I have shared with him my experience with Singapore’s industrialisation programme. He has sought our expertise in the economic development of the state."

A senior official in the CM’s secretariat said Mr Bhattacharjee has also told Mr Yeo to send him a list of areas where both West Bengal and Singapore can collaborate for the development of the state. Mr Yeo was accompanied by Prasoon Mukherjee, co-promoter of New Kolkata International Development (NKID) which is setting up a spate of infrastructure projects including the mega chemical hub on Nayachara island.

Mr Mukherjee said: "Mr Yeo and David Ling, chairman of Jurong International, who had visited the Nayachara island on Sunday, have found the location ideal for the proposed chemical hub. At the meeting with the CM, all infrastructure projects being set up by NKID were discussed at length.

In addition, the CM also discussed the broader industrialisation plans of the state."



source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Economy/WB-CM-pitches-for-investments/articleshow/4306353.cms

Source: Times EPaper


Gas bounty headed for Bengal in 2012

Kolkata: The city may finally get rid of the monster called automobile pollution after a wait of just three more years.
The country’s leading oil giants — Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) — are confident of bringing West Bengal within the ‘central gas grid’ by March 2012.
This will bring in CNG, cut out LPG shortage and leave no excuse for owners of polluting vehicles to dodge the green fuel switch.
What’s more, it will increase power production and improve commercial transport.
RIL has already applied for a gas distribution licence for Kolkata.
RIL will connect Haldia with Kakinada to bring gas from the Krishna-Godavari basin to the east through a pipeline that will be laid
by 2012. GAIL will bring Hazira gas to Haldia through its proposed pipeline from Jagdishpur to Haldia.
Going by even conservative estimates, the gas supplied by the two would be enough to generate over 8,000 MW of power — enough to ensure uninterrupted power supply in Bengal. What’s more, it could take care of the CNG requirements of the entire commercial transport fleet in the state, including buses, taxis, autos and goods vehicles.
Sources said RIL has submitted applications to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) for gas distribution licences in four cities of Bengal — Kolkata, Haldia, Burdwan and Durgapur. The detailed plan could include CNG outlets in the city.
The 800-km pipeline proposed by GAIL is supposed to bring 16 million cubic metres of gas to Haldia from Jagdishpur in Uttar Pradesh.

Crores for city gas network


Kolkata: Gas Authority of India Limited (Gail) and Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) could put an end to Bengal’s pollution and power woes.
Gail, which plans to bring 16 million cubic metres of gas to Haldia from Jagdishpur in UP, would divert a trunk pipeline to Kolkata from Panskura, 42 km from the city, say sources. “Gail will use the pipeline to flow the gas both ways —Jagdishpur to Haldia and Haldia to Jagdishpur. Once the Krishna-Godavari basin gas of RIL is available, then the flow from Haldia to Jagdishpur will be activated,” said an official.
RIL plans to bring 20 million cubic metres of gas per day which can generate 5,000 MW of power, said sources. “To start with, we shall bring gas from the Krishna-Godavari basin. Later, the same pipeline will be used to bring gas from the Mahanadi basin,” said an official. RIL has estimated an investment of over Rs 10,000 crore for the 1,100-km Kakinada-Haldia pipeline. Apart from this, RIL had announced that it could invest over Rs 2,500 crore for the gas distribution project in the city.
Gail, too, had signed an MOU with Indian Oil Corporation for a gas distribution project in Kolkata two years back. It is learnt that gas companies have requested the state government to ensure demand for at least 10 million cubic metres of gas per day in order keep the prices affordable. This is enough for generating 2,200 MW of power.
The replacement demand in these areas of the state is close to 3.5 million cubic metre at present. Currently, Gail operates around 6,800 km pipeline for handling 150 million cubic metre gas. The future pipeline expansion plan of the PSU gas major includes around 5,000 kilometre additional pipeline in India to handle over 300 million cubic metre natural gas.
RIL’s Reliance Gas Transportation Infrastructure (RGTIL) has laid 1,300-km pipelines in the country and plans to add 1,600 km more.
Reliance and Gail have drawn up a plan for city gas distribution in 200 cities across India. Gail plans ‘green highways’ by setting up 2,000 CNG stations along major routes.
Experts feel the expansion of the gas network would not only reduce pollution but also reduce foreign exchange outgo by reducing demand for high speed diesel and motor spirit.

Source: Times of India Epaper


New channel hope for chemical hub
Udit Prasanna Mukherjee & Jayanta Gupta | TNN

Kolkata: The fate of the proposed PCPIR in Nayachar depends on how soon the new western channel along Jellingham becomes operational. Thanks to negligence of the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) management and ignorance of the state government, draught in the original channel outside Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) fell to such an alarming level by end-2008, that port operations were threatened.
The KoPT management initially went into denial mode. Under pressure from all circles, it finally succeeded in getting seven dredgers into operation at the channel. The dredgers have just about managed to keep the port operational. Draught of the channel has remained around seven metre in the last few months — allowing vessels with a smaller parcel load to enter the port. The management has now accepted that they have not succeeded in increasing the draught, but simply managed to arrest the fall. Even a drop of a few inches below seven metre will result in the closure of the port.
All is not lost, though. The marine department of the port has identified a fresh stream in a channel close to the west bank. Experts believe the new channel may have a draught of nearly 10 metre, even during the lean season. There is some work that needs to be done in the channel, like removal of impediments. While the KoPT management wants to wait for a ‘season’ and test the efficacy of the channel, officers in Haldia believe that it can be made operational even before that.
There is reason for their urgency. Jurong has made it clear that the PCPIR at Nayachar cannot become a reality till the draught in the Haldia channel is at least 9-10 metre. Jurong chairman David Lim wrote to New Kolkata International Development (NKID) that port facilities and road connectivity should be studied for import of raw materials. He had mentioned that ‘creating access to deep water’ may be an expensive affair.
Estimates say capital dredging of the Haldia channel will cost over Rs 930 crore. Officials of PCR Chemicals — the joint venture between NKID and West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation — believe that the Centre should fund the project. “The PCPIR is a central project. Unlike an SEZ, the PCPIR will not get any tax exemption. The least the government can do is raise the draught of the channel,” one official said.
Development of the western channel will cost much less. Dredging at the Jellingham and Auckland bars will have to continue with greater intensity, port officers said. A fresh flow has also been noticed in the Jiggerkhali channel — the original channel west of Nayachar — that was taken for ships bound for Kulpi, Diamond Harbour and Kolkata. Should the Jiggerkhali channel become operational, ships bound for Kolkata from Haldia will no longer have to use the Rangaphala channel.

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kolkata: If not Nano, then Proton would suffice. Determined to make up for the loss of the Tata’s iconic project to Gujarat’s Sanand, the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government has now set its sights on Malaysia’s No. 1 carmaker to ensure that auto investments don’t give Bengal the go-by.
As a fall-back measure, the state is also trying to woo Perodua, a Malaysian-Japanese joint venture, to brighten its prospects of getting a slice of the Malaysian capital that may flow to India.
Apart from Bufori which specialises in hand-crafted automobiles. To provide a boost to its general industrial scenario, the state, in addition, is attempting to develop links with DRB-Hicom which maintains a strong position in Malaysia’s automotive manufacturing, assembly and distribution industry through its involvement in passenger cars, and the national truck and motorcycle projects, among others.
On Monday, state commerce and industries secretary Sabyasachi Sen — in Malaysia on a Bengal hardsell mission — held meetings with senior Proton officials to convince them about how a presence here would benefit the company, and the state’s resolve to walk the extra mile to make the firm feel at home.
Established in 1983, Proton is Malaysia’s largest automobile manufacturer, and produces cars to suit a range of consumer demands and preferences.

http://http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2009/04/02&PageLabel=16&EntityId=Ar01608&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

Let us hope that this gets through without any hurdles or is it too much to ask for?

Some update on the Nano plant. Seems not all is lost..
Source: Forbes Aisa (http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/04/01/ap6239185.html)


Nano's abandoned factory in Bengal to be revived
By VIJAY JOSHI , 04.01.09, 01:41 AM EDT

A senior Indian official said Wednesday that Tata Motor's abandoned factory in the Indian state of West Bengal will be revived to produce Nano, the world's cheapest car, as a farmers' protest against it is tapering off.

The factory is 85 percent complete with all the machinery and equipment installed, said Sabyasachi Sen, the top bureaucrat in West Bengal's industry ministry.

"Sooner rather than later, the Nano will be produced from there," he told The Associated Press in an interview during a visit to Malaysia. The factory "won't become a white elephant."

Tata Motors (nyse: TTM - news - people ) has been unclear about its plans for the plant and said it would talk with the state government about future plans.

"We have our sheds there. We have the land there which is leased to us. We do not have any more information to share at this point," said Tata Motors spokesman Debasis Ray. "We will discuss whatever plans we have with the West Bengal government."

Last year, Tata Motors was forced to shut down the $350 million project in Singur, West Bengal, after weeks of violent protests by farmers whose land was acquired by the government for the factory. With production deadline approaching, Tata opened another plant to manufacture the Nano in the western state of Gujarat, thousands of miles (kilometers) away.

It introduced the Nano, a pint-sized vehicle with a price tag of about $2,200, on March 23.

Kolkata, April 1: The West Bengal Electronics Industry Development Corporation Limited (Webel) will develop an IT special economic zone (SEZ) at Kalyani in Nadia district within next five years at an estimated investment of Rs.4,000-5,000 crore (Rs.4-5 billion), a senior company official said here Wednesday.



'The IT SEZ in Kalyani will be developed in PPP (public-private-partnership) model on 100 acres of land at an investment of Rs.4,000-5,000 crore over a period of five years,' N.R. Banerjee, chairman of Webel, told reporters.

Webel is the nodal IT agency of the state government.

'We have floated an Expression of Interest and received bids from three to four companies till now. We are going to open the financial bid by June 2009,' Banerjee said.

He said 50 percent area in the IT SEZ will be developed by the private developers as an IT park and the rest would be developed by the company for ITes (information technology enabled services) operations .

'A total of 20-25 lakh (2-2.5 million) square feet area will be developed in the project,' Banerjee said.

Asked whether the company has acquired land for the project, he said: 'We are in the process (of acquiring land). It is being done by the land and land reforms department of the state. They have assured us of the availability of land.'

Webel has appointed SREI Infrastructure Finance Ltd as a consultant for the project.

Webel as a group had a turnover of Rs.1.5 billion in 2007-08. Apart from the Kalyani project, Webel is also developing IT parks in Siliguri and Durgapur.

The company is set to go for a restructuring and has received the government's nod for it. 'We are waiting for the implementation of the recommendations,' Banerjee said.

--- IANS



source: http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-14167.html

WEST Bengal, a state in the northeast of India, is keen to have Malaysian carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd as one of its main car manufacturers when it develops its automotive cluster, says a senior state official.

The state's principal secretary from the commerce and industries department, Dr Sabyasachi Sen, said Proton has also expressed interest, during meetings, in expanding its business to India.

"Proton is interested in a joint venture in India where it can introduce the car to the market and assess its competitiveness, following which it may go into manufacturing there," he told Business Times in an interview.

"(On our part,) we feel that it is better for Proton to invest during the current global economic downturn as it would give the carmaker some lead time if it wants to put the car on the Indian road by 2012 when our economy is hopefully back on a 10 per cent growth track," he added.

In the case of DRB-HICOM Bhd, Sen said he is interested in its manufacture of auto components and its partnership with the South Korean and Japanese markets.

West Bengal is keen to develop an automotive cluster in the state, similar to those in Pune (west), Gurgaon (north) and Chennai (south).

"India will become a market supplying components for the regional and global automotive market. It has also developed a high level of engineering skills and can contribute to the research and development inputs. West Bengal fits (the bill) in this regard," Sen said.

He also said Tata Motors' recent decision to pull out its Nano project, which involves making the world's cheapest car, from West Bengal was a temporary setback to the state government in terms of investment enquiries, but it was a one-off incident.

He said it was the first time the state government was faced with a "fertile land issue", but he has assured investors that the state would undertake consensus building six months ahead of any project.

Other automotive players in West Bengal include Ural India Ltd, the Indo-Russian joint venture for off-road cars used for mining and Salim group of Indonesia and India TVS Motor Co for motor-cycles.

source:Business Times (http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/rup1000b/Article/index_html)

West Bengal to develop an IT SEZ in five years

Kolkata, April 1: The West Bengal Electronics Industry Development Corporation Limited (Webel) will develop an IT special economic zone (SEZ) at Kalyani in Nadia district within next five years at an estimated investment of Rs.4,000-5,000 crore (Rs.4-5 billion), a senior company official said here Wednesday.

Rs.4000- 5000 crore means Rs.40 - 50 billion. 1 crore = 10 million and 1000 million = 1 billion

^^ fully agree. now they have to make sure the correct investment amount.

BS Reporter / Kolkata April 07, 2009, 13:56 IST
Venu Srinivasan, the newly appointed CII president will meet West Bengal chief minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, today to discuss issues related to allowing contract farming in a state that is opposed to such a practice now.

The Left Front government in West Bengal does not allow contract farming by multinationals in the state.

“We are keen to work with West Bengal to promote its image among other states and also bring back the manufacturing industry in the state. We will also advice the chief minister to allow private sector investments in agriculture”, Srinivsasan said addressing the press here.

Wherever contract farming has been allowed, be it in the case of Pepsi in Punjab or the ITC e-chaupal network in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, it has proved to be beneficial to farmers, said CII officials. “All states should adopt the Model Agricultural Marketing Produce Committee(APMC) Act”, said Kurush Grant, deputy chairman of the CII eastern region.

This apart the CII is also mooting for state governments going in for creating transparent land banks. “State governments acquiring land transparently and giving it to industry is very critical. Various states follow different models to do this, and we want that state governments go in for creating transparent land banks as it is not possible for industry to acquire large tracts of land”, Srinivasan said.

CII has created a task force for coming up with recommendations in this regard. “The report will be ready by July this year and will be submitted to the new government that comes into power”, he added.


source:http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/cii-chief-buddha-to-meetw-bengal-image-revamp/58155/on

many new ways to develop the state but what about the willingness of the government and specially the present opposition and even the exreme leftists who must raise their eye brows hearing pepsi and such private companies getting contracts on poor farmers' land.

Source: TOI Epaper


State to get its first film city in Dooars
Jhimli Mukherjee Pandey | TNN

Kolkata: The state is all set to get its very own film city. Slated to be as plush and picturesque as the sprawling Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, the Rs 400-crore project will come up in the Dooars in next 18 months. Quite expectedly, it has been christened Dollywood!
Located 17 kilometres from the New Mal station, Dollywood will come up in Chalsa, close to the Gorumara forest, on 270 bighas of sylvan land surrounded by rivers Jaldhaka and Diana. The location has a full view of the Bhutan hills. The project is being developed by city-based Vibgyor Group.
“We toured the length and breadth of North Bengal before selecting this spot. While Tollywood shoots in North Bengal rampantly, both directors and the cast face tremendous problems of accommodation, food, etc. Hence, we thought of this project,” said Raja Bhadra, managing director of Vibgyor.
Just like Ramoji Film City, Dollywood will also boast of separate indoor and outdoor zones. For outdoor shootings, a European zone will imitate the settings of a bustling European city, a village zone will provide a typical rustic set-up of Indian country life. There will also be another zone to showcase modern Indian urban lifestyle.
For indoor shoots, about 45,000 square feet space is being developed. Here, the ceilings will be as high as 80 feet to facilitate aerial shooting. There will also be a star resort to accommodate shooting teams.
While Bollywood biggies like Om Puri and Rekha have been roped in as advisors to the project, from Tollywood, director Raja Sen and actors Saumitro, Tapas Pal and Satabdi Roy are amongst those chosen to guide the film city team. “We are negotiating with a top Bollywood star to become our brand ambassador,” Bhadra said, not willing to divulge the name yet.
“We wanted expert advise so that we could provide all top-notch facilities that a modern film city must have. It is for their long-standing experience in the film industry that we approached Rekha and Om Puri to be a part of our project. We want to be second to none,” Bhadra said.
The film city has created quite a stir in Tollywood. “You cannot imagine the kind of problems we face when we go for outdoor shoots. Due to lack of proper infrastructure, we sometimes spend hours travelling to the shooting location and all the way back to the hotel. Dollywood will come as a huge relief,” said Satabdi Roy.
“We were waiting for something like this since long. We had even requested the state government to develop something like this in Salt Lake, but that didn’t materialise. With Dollywood around, we can go in as a unit and come out only after completing a film — something that Tollywood couldn’t think of doing before,” said actor Tapas Pal.
“Since a large number of film shootings happen in North Bengal, we were planning a film city near Siliguri but it petered out because of the ongoing trouble in Darjeeling,” said Asok Bhattacharya, state minister for urban development and municipal affairs. As CPM’s MLA from Siliguri, he is the key man for all matters related to North Bengal and heartily welcomed the news.

Source: TOI Epaper


Videocon, Abhijeet groups want state to ensure land contiguity
Sumali Moitra & Udit Prasanna Mukherji | TNN

Kolkata: A day after the state government promised Coal India that it would realign three proposed steel ventures in addition to the Aerotropolis venture to protect coal assets, two of the affected projects laid the onus on the state to ensure that the proposed change did not present contiguity-related problems.
Videocon and Abhijeet groups — whose steel ventures in the Burdwan district would be impacted by the move — said the location shift by about halfa-kilometre should normally not prove too big a hurdle if the government took care to ensure that doing so did not result in some of the plots ending up not being adjacent to each other.
“On the face of it, the realignment shouldn’t pose much of a problem if contiguity isn’t affected. What we will want to know is the starting point from where the half kilometre shift would take place as that would determine whether there will be any issues we will have to contend with after this development,” senior Videocon official Goutam Sengupta, who heads the group’s affairs here, told TOI on Thursday.
Sengupta said Videocon’s proposed facility includes a 3 million tonne steel plant, a 1200 MW power plant and a 2 million cement unit, which envisages a cumulative investment of Rs 20,000 crore. The group needs slightly over 4000 acres for the project, he added.
“The new land should be contiguous as otherwise, the project would be impacted,” Abhijeet Group director Abhishek Jayaswal said. Abhijeet has outlined its interest in setting up a 2 million tonne steel plant and 850 MW captive power unit at a cost of nearly Rs 11,000 crore.
On his part, though, state commerce and industries secretary Sabyasachi Sen reiterated that the government would take care to ensure that none of the ventures being realigned were hit adversely. “West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) will sit with the companies and Eastern Coalfields to find out the quantum of coal in that area and take necessary steps. No venture would face any problems as it only involves a minor change,” he said.

yo, go and vote for india on the front page section.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=846884

Pankaj Doval & Sumali Moitra | TNN

New Delhi/Kolkata: Tatas may have been forced out of West Bengal but another auto biggie, TVS Motor, remains confident on the Left-ruled state and plans to roll out two-wheelers from its new plant in the next three to four months.
TVS, whose vehicles would be manufactured in the state as part of a contract manufacturing tie-up, remains optimistic about its prospects despite the troubles faced by Tata Motor at Singur. “We are confident about our plans in West Bengal and believe it is a good place to be in,” said Venu Srinivasan, CMD of TVS Motor who is also the president of apex industry chamber CII.
Srinivasan told TOI he has been in touch with the West Bengal government and met chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee recently.
TVS, however, will not be making any direct investments for the project but will be giving licence manufacturing rights to its partner Mahabharat Motors Manufacturing Co Pvt Ltd, which is a joint venture between Indonesia’s Salim Group and Prasoon Mukherjee’s Universal Success Enterprises. The factory is coming up on a 64-acre plot at Uluberia in Howrah district, around 50 km from Kolkata.
“We hope to start production there by the end of this quarter or early next quarter,” Srinivasan said. The new facility will help the company target eastern India more effectively as well as efficiently. “We hope to derive cost savings by producing the vehicles in West Bengal. The savings are expected to be around 4-5%,” he said.
TVS was, however, not the first choice for the facility. A Chinese company was originally scheduled to roll out its products from the plant in partnership with Mahabharat Motors and the bikes were supposed to be called “Arjun”, a name suggested by the CM.
Srinivasan said the initial production capacity from the plant would be around 25,000 units annually that can be ramped up further, as and when required.

source:e-paper, Times of India

Source: Business Standard (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bengal-government-to-takeport-projects-post-elections/354894/)


Bengal government to take up port projects post elections
Sohini Das / Kolkata April 13, 2009, 0:09 IST

The West Bengal government will take up its two port projects on the Hooghly channel post-elections and is hoping to start work within this year, said commerce and industry secretary, Sabyasachi Sen.

The state government has been planning two ports, one container terminal at Kulpi, around 55 kilometers from Kolkata, and the other a deep water port in the Hooghly river estuary.

"We had a meeting with the chief secretary recently and both the projects are likely to move ahead after the elections are over. Work could start within this year", state industry secretary Sabyasachi Sen said.

The deep water port will have a depth of 21 metres and will enable bulk carriers to offload cargo for the state's petrochemical hub project in Nayachar island near Haldia. The Rs10,000 crore project would take around five to six years to build.

"The PCPIR developer would also build this port as it is part of the chemical hub project. It is not possible to run a refinery at Nayachar without a dedicated deep draft port", Sen told Business Standard.

The Denmark Hydraulic Institute, a consultancy firm on ports, has done a study on the project and given its nod. The state government has chosen New Kolkata International Development (NKID), a special purpose vehicle, promoted by the Salim group of Indonesia, Universal Success group and Unitech to develop the chemical hub project. "NKID is in the process of getting a technical feasibility study done by L&T Ramboll", Sen said. Sources in the industry department, however, indicated that L&T could also build the port.

Industry sources said, Bengal needed a deep water port as it was facing problems with the draft in the channel. Dredging costs are moving up by the day. CII president Venu Srinivasan said on his recent visit to the city that Bengal had not built a greenfield port for years now and it was the right time to invest in infrastructure. As for the Rs 1,200 crore container terminal and special economic zone in Kulpi,the agreement between the state government and the Kolkata Port Trust (KOPT) on pilot sharing and dredging related issues is yet to be signed.

"The project, as a result, had not achieved financial closure as of now. But we expect to get things moving after the elections", said Mahendra Jalan, a director of Bengal Port, the company that partners DP World on the Kulpi port project. Dubai-based DP World is developing the container terminal at Kulpi that is expected to do 0.4 million twenty equivalent units(TEU) in the first year of its operation. Phase-I of the port development was supposed to be completed at the end of 2009, as laid out in the MoU signed between KoPT and the state government in 2001. The memorandum is yet to be converted into a final agreement, but the developers and the industry department were hopeful to start work by the end of this year.

13 Apr 2009, 2022 hrs IST, Sutanuka, ET Bureau
KOLKATA: First Automobile Works (FAW) of China has evinced an interest to set up an automobile manufacturing unit in West Bengal. A FAW delegation on Monday called on chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at Writers' Buildings.

Earlier in November 2008, senior FAW officials had visited the Tata Motors' abandoned project site at Singur to explore the possibility of setting up an automobile unit there. FAW can also hold talks with the Tata Motors to take the abandoned Nano site in future.

A senior official of the chief minister's secretariat told newsmen after the meeting: "FAW is yet to submit a formal proposal to the state government, but it is interested in setting up an automobile unit in West Bengal. The company officials have already visited Singur and liked the site. They have informed us that around 600 acres would be needed for setting up the unit. They can also hold talks with Tata Motors to take the abandoned facility of the latter at Singur."

However, since the state government leased over the 645.67 acres for 90 years to Tata Motors at Singur, FAW could not directly take over the land from Tata Motors. If Tata Motors returns land to the state government FAW can approach the state government for possession of the land. However, state commerce and industries secretary Sabyasachi Sen said that if Tata Motors wanted to continue the lease, which is renewable in every year, the state government will not have any objection. Tata Motors will have to pay its annual lease rental by mid-June.

Regarding the visit of five-member FAW delegation, Sen said, "The company is now conducting a study on the Indian market. After completing the study, FAW will submit a proposal to the state government."

FAW manufactures small cars, trucks as well as buses. The company has already signed an agreement with the Ural India for setting up an automobile
unit to manufacture small cars, trucks and buses in West Bengal. In the first phase the company is keen to manufacture trucks and buses in the first phase. In the second phase, the company wants to introduce a Rs1.6 lakh small car in the Indian market.

Ural India chairman J.K. Saraf, who accompanied the FAW delegation during the meeting with the chief minister, said, "FAW will manufacture low floor buses and mini trucks in collaboration with the Ural India now. The buses and trucks will be manufactured at Ural India's existing facility at Haldia. We have sought additional 300 acres land adjacent to our existing facility from the state government." The low floor buses will be launched in the market by first week of June. A FAW delegation will revisit West Bengal in 10 days.


source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Infrastructure/Chinas-FAW-keen-on-auto-manufacturing-unit-in-West-Bengal-/articleshow/4396717.cms

source:http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=355591 (http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=355591)

Press Trust Of India / Kolkata April 20, 2009, 0:29 IST

The global financial crisis has come as a roadblock to the Rs 5,500-crore integrated solar power complex, possibly the world's largest and the country's first polysilicon project, in Haldia in West Bengal.


"The project would be executed in phases. The financial closure for the first phase is yet to be achieved due to the global financial crisis," lead promoter of the project Bhaskar Silicon Ltd Managing Director Jyoti Poddar said. The proposed investment for the first phase was estimated at Rs 3,100 crore.

"The project would be funded in a mix of debt and equity. We are looking at foreign debt to meet our import component for the project's plant and machinery which would be around 250 million euros," he said.

The company and the West Bengal government had announced that the first phase would be completed by 2009.

This, however, seems unlikely as only the land development work has begun. Srei Infrastructure, also a major partner in the project, said the company would bring in equity and arrange debt once financial closure was achieved. "We have not finalised the equity and debt participation as the project is yet to reach that stage," Srei Infrastructure Chairman and Managing Director Hemant Kanoria said.Poddar, however, expressed confidence in maintaining the target in execution of the project

He said the Centrotherm Photovoltaics AG has been awarded execution of the project on a turn-key basis. The German company was also expected to pick up minority stake of 10-15 per cent in the project.

US-based Perseus may also partner with the solar energy project. The project has acquired 200 acre for its current phase and is in talks with the government for another 600 acres for the other phases. The plant proposes to produce 2,500 tonne of polysilicon at an investment of Rs 2,500 crores.

The plant would also produce wafers in the subsequent phases. The project aimed to make all stages of production of solar panels. It was expected to play a significant role in contributing to the central government's target of having 5,000 MW of solar power by 2012.

The plant would also help to manufacture semi-conductor chips and benefit information technology industries.

The project would not only help in developing green energy, but also hardware and electronics for the IT sector of the state, according to West Bengal Industry Minister Nirupam Sen.

Kolkata, April 24 West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Friday said a factory to be built on the land in Singur that Tata Motors had abandoned would 'generate more employment' than the Nano project and that a decision on this would be taken after the Lok Sabha polls.

"As you all know, Chinese automobile company FAW (First Automobile Works) has seen the plot. They met me also. They are ready to come to the state at any point of time," Bhattacharjee said in an interview to a regional news channel.

"We are keen to use that plot of land for industrial purposes. We have plans to make such a factory over there that will generate more employment than the Tata Nano project," he said.

Global auto major Tata Motors planned to roll out the Nano, the world's cheapest car, from its factory at Singur, 40 km from here in Hooghly district. But from May 2006, when the state government announced the Tata Nano project, Singur turned into a battleground for about two-and-a-half years.

The opposition Trinamool Congress led a sustained campaign against land acquisition in Singur, forcing Tata Motors to scrap its plans to bring out the peoples' car, priced at Rs.100,000, from Singur. Tata Motors shifted the project to Sanand in Gujarat as the automobile group was against relocating any of the ancillaries in the integrated project.

Bhattacharjee rued the fact that he failed to make the opposition understand the meaning of ancilliary units and the integrated nature of the Nano project. Nano was unveiled March 23 in Mumbai.

The chief minister said the government was now waiting for Tata Motors to return the land in Singur, which they had taken on lease from West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC). He, however, ruled out any possibility of Tata Motors returning to Singur in the near future.

Bhattacharjee said that the opposition was now trying to act against the petrochemical hub coming up in Nayachar island in East Midnapore district that was shifted from Nandigram district following widespread protests.

"The opposition parties are trying to repeat in Nayachar what they did in Nandigram. But we have got clearance from all the departments for the petrochemical hub," he said.

The chemical hub would be set up as a joint venture project of the WBIDC and New Kolkata International Development.

--- IANS

source:http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-27111.html

^^ I hope Buddha is not bluffing here. OTOH, if this new project indeed materializes, I will pay good money to see Mamata's head exploding from this new..ahem..."outrage". :)

It would be interesting if the Tatas just waited for some time and revived the Singur project.

BTW Miss Mamata has threatened to oppose the airport city project in Andal. I guess she is upset that the back handed way of using Coal India to oppose thge project failed.

Mamata threat

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090428/jsp/bengal/story_10886947.jsp

Mamata Banerjee today said she would oppose land acquisition for the airport city in Andal, planned across 4,500 acres.

“Only 600 acres are required for an airport. Why is the government acquiring 4,500 acres?” she said at an election meeting in Jamuria near Asansol, 230km from Calcutta. “If it tries to acquire 4,500 acres, we will oppose it,” she said.

The airport and the city, however, are part of the same Rs 10,000-crore project.

Is there anyone who wants to vote for Trinamool Congress ???

She seems to be an expert in aviation projects as well after proving her expertise in automobile ...

Other non-so-experts who works for aviation industry says a full fledged international airport requires at least 5000 acres of land (you can read many such articles). In that respect, Andal is quite a small project. Kolkata airport has around 1200 acres and we know how small it is compared to other well known international airports around the world.
But, anyway who are they to comment when we have such a b****y expert in our state.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090428/jsp/bengal/story_10886947.jsp

Mamata threat

Durgapur, April 27: Mamata Banerjee today said she would oppose land acquisition for the airport city in Andal, planned across 4,500 acres.

“Only 600 acres are required for an airport. Why is the government acquiring 4,500 acres?” she said at an election meeting in Jamuria near Asansol, 230km from Calcutta. “If it tries to acquire 4,500 acres, we will oppose it,” she said.

The airport and the city, however, are part of the same Rs 10,000-crore project.

Is there anyone who wants to vote for Trinamool Congress ???



Apparently a lot of people for whom it is A-OK to vote for Mamata. All in the name of anti-CPM.

Mamata di is a total failure. She just knows how to spoil an ongoing project:bash:. It's not only in the state, we know how she was unsuccessful to handle our Indian Railways during NDA government:ohno:.
why she was born in WB:rant:, wish she was born in the UP as an opponant of Godess Mayawati.

Is there anyone who wants to vote for Trinamool Congress ???

She seems to be an expert in aviation projects as well after proving her expertise in automobile ...

Other non-so-experts who works for aviation industry says a full fledged international airport requires at least 5000 acres of land (you can read many such articles). In that respect, Andal is quite a small project. Kolkata airport has around 1200 acres and we know how small it is compared to other well known international airports around the world.
But, anyway who are they to comment when we have such a b****y expert in our state.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090428/jsp/bengal/story_10886947.jsp

take this
Source: TOI Epaper


No objection to aerotropolis, says Mamata

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Raniganj: Who said Mamata Banerjee is against all the proposed investments in the state? The Trinamool Congress chairperson is all for the Rs 10,000-crore Bengal Aerotropolis project in Andal. At least that is what she claimed at an election meeting.
Addressing the meeting organized in support of Moloy Ghatak in Raniganj on Monday evening, Mamata said: “If local people are willing to give up their non-fertile land for the project, we don’t have any objection.”
She, however, taunted the LF government over the proposed Bhushan Steel Plant in Salanpur. “The first memorandum of understanding was signed by Bhushan Steel. But it has not shown any interest about investing in Salanpur yet,” said Mamata.
Her announcement has also brought relief for Ghatak as the people from Barakar to Panagarh are in favour of the airport project. “Trinamool is not against all industrial projects in the state and Mamatadi had made it very clear about her stand on Andal at the meeting. We are only opposing those projects where fertile agricultural land is being acquired,” he explained.
The Andal project is the first pilot project of the country and the future of all Aerotropolis projects in India would depend on its performance, claimed aviation industry experts. This venture is a dream project of both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and civil aviation minister Praful Patel.
The project — now the biggest venture of the state after the exit of Nano — first ran into rough weather when Coal India Limited (CIL) raised objections, saying it was coming up at a place which had a sufficient amount of good quality coal underground. But the matter was finally resolved after CIL and the state government met in Kolkata recently and decided that a slight realignment of the problem would do. Of course this was possible due to the timely intervention of the PMO and chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
So far, Trinamool’s official stand on the Andal airport project is yet to be made public. Though there was no opposition from the local Trinamool unit like in Singur, Nandigram, Katwa and Salanpur, it was not clear what Trinamool will do in future. Also, the state government has issued the final notification of land acquisition for the project recently.
“With the clearance from CIL and now from Mamata, we think the cloud over the Andal project has lifted at last,” said Rajendra Prosad Khaitan, secretary of the South bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Changi Airports of Singapore has evinced interest in setting up the airport in Andal. The project will also have a theme park, integrated township, IT park, industrial park, etc. The entire project will come up in seven years and the airport will start functioning within three years.

^^ can't digest. koi Hajmola do plzzzzzzzzz. it will be a gr8 reward for WB state if she don't protest as she did in singur.

May be she figured that all the hissy fits are losing her votes. But I am not sure she is that smart or for that matter anyone in Trinamul is. May be she is the modern version of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". :)

ABG Infralogistics wins bulk cargo-handling deal (http://www.livemint.com/2009/04/30225347/ABG-Infralogistics-wins-bulk-c.html)

Bangalore: A year after it emerged the successful bidder, Mumbai-listed ABG Infralogistics Ltd has been awarded a 10-year contract to operate and maintain two bulk cargo handling berths at the Haldia dock of the Union government-owned Kolkata port in West Bengal.
“We received the letter of intent for he contract from Kolkata port on Wednesday,” Saket Agarwal, managing director, ABG Infralogistics, said.
The price proposal submitted by ABG Infralogistics was approved by the port’s board last week.
In the public auction in April 2008, ABG had quoted an average rate of Rs75 per tonne for handling coal and iron ore. According to the deal, Kolkata port will collect user charges fixed with the approval of the Tariff Authority for Major Ports , the tariff regulator for 11 of the 12 Union government-owned ports, and share Rs75 per tonne out of this with ABG, which had quoted the lowest price in the auction.
Kolkata port is not required to make any further investment at these berths.
This is the responsibility of ABG, which will have to invest some Rs200 crore to buy and instal cargo-handling equipment such as mobile harbour cranes at the berths to double the cargo handling capacity.
ABG beat two others—Sical Logistics Ltd and a consortium comprising Ripley and Co. Ltd and TM International Logistics Ltd—to win the deal. ABG operates similar bulk cargo handling facilities at Union government-owned Paradip and Visakhapatnam ports.

1 May 2009, 0518 hrs IST, Krishnendu Bandyopadhyay , TNN
KOLKATA: Compressed natural gas (CNG), which has revolutionised transportation in Delhi and improved its ambient air to a great extent, might reach
Kolkata by the end of the year. The Great Eastern Energy Corporation Limited (GEECL) has been successfully drawing coal bed methane (CBM) from the Asansol-Raniganj coal belt and selling it to automobile owners in Asansol.

GEECL is all set to hit Durgapur with CNG in a month or two. It has almost completed laying the pipeline till Durgapur. "Durgapur is the biggest urban hub nearest to our generation point. So, Durgapur would be our test case before our final acid test in Kolkata. The city, being the biggest market in eastern India, we have to be prepared to take all aspects into account," said a GEECL official. Indian Oil Corporation is the strategic partner of GEECL.

GEECL is holding talks with some PSUs for using the pipeline to carry CNG to the city. "The pipeline is the best possible option that can ensure uninterrupted supply of CNG to the city. Otherwise, CNG can be carried to the city in caskets by road. But that would hardly suffice for the huge demand in a metropolitan city," said a source.

Both transport and environment departments of the state are keen on bringing CNG to Kolkata. Besides GEECL, Reliance and GAIL (Gas Authority of India Limited) are also planning to bring this fuel to the city.

"We will start supplying CNG to Durgapur shortly. From there, our next destination would be Dankuni. We are also studying whether we can use the DPL (Durgapur Projects Limited) line that runs from Durgapur to Kolkata," said another official.

Going by pure economics, CNG is an automatic choice. It is the cheapest of all fuels. In Asansol, CNG is sold at Rs 30 per kg. One kilo of CNG is equivalent to 1.45 litre of petrol. Moreover, CNG can be used both in petrol and diesel vehicles, simply by adding conversion kits to their engines.

Unlike CNG, coal-bed methane has the least impurities like hydrocarbons, propane and butane. So, you always get 100% combustion. The carbon monoxide emission, which is a matter of concern in Delhi, is almost absent in CNG.


source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com//Cities/Kolkata-/CNG-may-help-city-breathe-easy-by-year-end/articleshow/4469609.cms

1 May 2009, 0519 hrs IST, Suman Chakraborti, TNN
KOLKATA: The state government's initiative to use eco-friendly green jute carry bags instead of the conventional plastic bags has attracted the
attention of the some other state governments as well.

The Pollution Control Board of Delhi recently requested the West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation (WBGEDC) to send a few jute bags so that they could check out their efficacy.

WBGEDC managing director S P Gon Choudhuri said two such bags have already been sent to Delhi. "They wanted to see the product. They have plans to introduce such bags in the Delhi region, too."

Just last year, Indian Sweets the Dalhousie outlet of a reputed confectionery chain started selling its sweet products in these eco-friendly bags instead of plastic carry bags. Gon Choudhuri said many more shops have taken to packing their products into these recyclable jute bags, a WBGEDC conception.

"Many sweet shops and book stores in College Street have started using these bags. The response has been quite encouraging," Gon Choudhuri said, adding that WBGEDC was also holding talks with owners of several retail stores in malls to introduce and promote the use of these eco-friendly jute carry bags.

It was earlier this year that WBGEDC had come up with the idea of introducing eco-friendly recyclable green jute bags at malls and other commercial establishments in the city to tackle the increasing environment hazard caused by conventional plastic carry bags.


source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com//Cities/Kolkata-/Bengals-green-jute-bags-a-hit-outside/articleshow/4469610.cms

Many of West Bengal's self declared intellectuals/human rights activists like Suananda Sanyal who had opposed the Tata Nano factory for political (read pro Mamata pro Mao intellectuals) and ideological reasons, were also deeply involved in fabricating negative stories about the Tatas to get international attention. They succeeded in driving out the Tatas from West Bengal. Some of these 'intelletcuals' were also behind a human rights report issued by FIAN.

Today FIAN issued an apology

http://www.fian.org/news/news/apology

In September 2008, FIAN published a report entitled: "Governments, Corporations and Human Rights in India - The House of Tata" (the Report). It contained a number of allegations concerning the Tata Group and was published without FIAN first putting any of the allegations to the Tata Group. These allegations have been challenged by the Tata Group and FIAN formally withdraws all such allegations relating to the Tata Group.

FIAN has withdrawn the Report from publication and has undertaken not to repeat the offending allegations. All parties to whom the Report was distributed or by whom it was downloaded are requested to remove from their own publications the Report and any allegations defamatory of Tata Group derived from it.

FIAN apologises unreservedly to the Tata Group for publishing the allegations in the Report and for any damage which the Tata Group it has suffered as a result of the publication of the Report.

The West Bengal chapter website however doesn't say anything about the apology.

^^ those self declared Buddhijivies of WB have already caused a chronic trauma in WB's economic health which is incurable as it seems to be. Even their apology won't do any benefit after such a big drama...


Road construction using plastic waste begins in West Bengal

7 May 2009, 2143 hrs IST, Ratna Ganguli, ET Bureau
KOLKATA: Though a belated move, experiment with using plastic waste in road construction, as one of the solutions to plastic waste disposal has
finally begun in West Bengal. Such experiments are already underway in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Leading the initiative is Indian Plastic Federation (IPF) which for sometime has been eying suitable partners to undertake the experiment. Of late, it has been successful in convincing the Kalyani municipality to launch a pilot project in using plastic litter in road construction.

Under the joint initiative, the project will be executed by Kalyani municipality with technology support from IPF. The West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) has been also been roped in as an associate.

For starters, a 1 km road within the Kalyani municipality area will be laid using polymer blended bitumen. One of the unique features of the project is that waste laminated plastic bags/ pouches, largely used for food packaging, would be used for the first time in road construction. Used plastics in shredded form will be procured by the municipality from a private plastic goods recycling unit.

IPF president KK Seksaria said the industry body, representing plastic goods manufacturers, is keen to see the success of the project to spread the scheme to other municipalities. If other municipalities follow in the footsteps of Kalyani municipality and take similar such initiatives, it would go a long way to solve the long standing problem of environmental pollution by plastic goods, he added.

Usage of plastic waste in road construction also helps cut down road building cost. Using of plastic waste to the extent of 10-15% of the total concrete mix, inclusive of bitumen, would save road construction cost significantly with bitumen price moving currently between Rs 35-40 per kg.

Earlier, similar such experiments on a mini scale has been undertaken at IIT (Kharagpur) campus and within the area of Haldia Petrochemicals. In a show of the industry’s responsibility of disposing of plastic litters, IPF collaborated with several municipalities in the state in garbage collection in a scientific way, approved by WBPCB.

The technology for blending polymer with bitumen in road has been pioneered by Dr. R Vasudevan, head, department of chemical engineering, Madurai University. Later, the Delhi-based Indian Centre for Plastics in Environment has come forward to spread the technology across the country.

source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/ET-Cetera/Road-construction-using-plastic-waste-begins-in-West-Bengal/articleshow/4496447.cms

Durgapur, May 11: The government will acquire within two months 500 acres from farmers in Burdwan who had themselves offered their single-crop land for industrialisation two years ago.

When the district administration issued a notification for the acquisition recently, none of them raised any objection. In a newspaper ad yesterday, it announced the decision to take over the 500 acres.

Around 3,000 acres will be gradually acquired for an industrial complex in Ausgram and Kanksa blocks of Burdwan, about 200km from Calcutta.

“We’ll verify the ownership documents within the next two months and announce the compensation package,” said additional district magistrate (land acquisition) Asim Bhattacharya.

While pledging their land for industry in a memorandum submitted to district magistrate Manish Jain in June 2007, the farmers had sought a job for every landloser family besides cash.

Samsuddin Biswas, 62, who owns over three acres, said he did not want his two science graduate sons to become farmers. “I did not pay for their studies to make them farmers. It will be better if they get jobs in the factories that would come up.”

He was among those who had petitioned the administration for the industrial complex. “We are happy that the government has finally decided to set it up here,” Biswas added.

District officials said the administration had held nine all-party meetings to gauge the mood on the ground and the possible compensation package before issuing the acquisition notice, but Trinamul Congress representatives attended only one of them.

The party’s Durgapur president, Prabhat Chatterjee, declined comment.

Only about 50km away, in Burdwan’s Katwa where a 1,000MW power plant had been planned, Trinamul leaders also skipped all-party meetings and later fanned anti-acquisition protests. The government has managed to acquire only 350 acres of the 1,000-odd required. In Andal, not far away, the party is resisting acquisition for a Rs 10,000-crore airport and city.

However, Ausgram and Kanksa are known to be CPM bastions.

Kohinoor Ganguly, a member of the Ausgram II panchayat samiti who had represented the party at the meetings, said everyone there had agreed to the hub. “We had discussed compensation between Rs 8 lakh and Rs 10.8 lakh an acre. Surveys have been carried out to find out how many youths were eligible for jobs and vocational training.”


source:http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090512/jsp/bengal/story_10951934.jsp

TIL Ltd’s Kharagpur plan on track

Kolkata: TIL Ltd is going ahead with its plan to set up an engineering equipment manufacturing facility at Kharagpur despite the economic slowdown.
The firm registered a marginal growth in net profit to Rs 32.27 crore in 2008-09 from Rs 32.24 crore in 2007-08. It also reported a 16% jump in turnover to Rs 876 crore in 2008-09.
TIL vice-chairman and managing director Sumit Mazumdar said the firm has already bought 140 acres for its proposed facility near Kharagpur. “Land acquisition in the state is tough, but we still could buy 140 acres, of which 80 acres is contiguous,” he added.
TIL will undertake the project in phases to beat the slowdown. “Initially, we had planned to buy 200 acres. But now, TIL will do it in phases. The first phase will come up on 80 acres,” he said. TIL would invest close to Rs 60 crore in the first phase.
TIL has forged a technical tie up with United States-based Nacco Corporation to manufacture the Hyster brand of fork lifts. Besides, it is also planning to have a road making machinery unit at the facility in technical collaboration with Aztec of the US.

Times of India

"The dream of a developed West Bengal": R.I.P.

"The dream of a developed West Bengal": R.I.P.

Don't worry man. Everything will be OK.. Sad though. :ohno:

OMG....TMC won.

HOW?

you can't trust these voting machines. They lie. I am very sure that the national government UPA screwed with it.

and who deleted my post on how I am going to take over WB?

Mamata even demanded for an early state elections:ohno:....
I now wonder how the people of West Bengal think about Mamata and what they are actually expecting from her..... poor Buddha. I feel he demands a big change in policies of left front... even he refused to join the left reevaluation meeting...

Lok Sabha Elections 2009 - Vote share percentage

UPA(AITC+INC+SUCI) = 44.62% + SUCI
Left Front (CPM+CPI+RSP+AIFB) = 43.3%
NDA (BJP) = 6.14%


___________

Voting share Party wise

CPM - 33.10%
AITC - 31.17%
INC - 13.45%
BJP - 6.14%

____________

Seats

AITC - 19
CPM - 9
INC -6
CPI - 2
AIFB - 2
RSP - 2
SUCI - 1
BJP - 1

Investment & industry on new MPs’ lips

TOI epaper

Kolkata: Newly crowned Trinamool Congress and Congress MPs are in a ‘do-it-now’ mode. With the expectations of the people pushing them on, they also realize that it is only through development that they can hope to realize their dream of ousting the Left from the Assembly.
After being branded by CPM as ‘anti-industry’ for forcing the Tata Nano out of Singur, Trinamool leaders have to build a progressive image before the electorate, particularly young voters.
Dum Dum MP Sougata Roy said getting investments for the state is topmost on the party’s mind. “But not a Nano kind of investment where the terms of trade did not go in favour of the state. We would get people to invest here but on terms that will benefit the people. The mandate is so clear that one knows that no one is blaming the Trinamool for the Nano fiasco,” he asserted.
He would try and get special projects from the Centre to improve the infrastructure, he said. “We need better roads and rail connectivity, better power, better airports and ports to get business from outside. I will devote the next five years towards that.”
Deepa Das Munshi, Congress MP from Raiganj, has been promising a specialty hospital on the lines of Delhi’s AIIMS. “This was sanctioned in the last budget and Rs 500 crore has been allotted for it. I will expedite the process. I will also expedite the Rajiv Gandhi Electrification Project and will ensure that no labourer is left out of the 100 assured workdays, which is a signature project of the Congress government,” Das Munshi said.
The legacy of ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury looms large on Malda North MP Mausam Noor. Chowdhury, her maternal uncle, is still remembered for wresting many prize projects from the Centre for Bengal, like the NTPC Farakka project, the embankments on Ganga and Mahananda that saved Malda from annual floods, and most importantly getting North Bengal featured prominently on the map of the Indian Railways.
“My uncle generated thousands of jobs for the people of Malda and Bengal as a whole. I will try and carry on the good work. I will also concentrate on road building, alleviating the water crisis in tribal belts and most importantly, on getting new industries here,” Noor said.
Kalyan Bandopadhyay, MP from Serampore, wants a “review” of the project in Dankuni industrial zone. “I will check whether people of the area have faith in those projects. If they do not, we will scrap them,” he said. Hooghly MP Ratna De Nag will concentrate on the revival of Dunlop. Barrackpore MP Dinesh Trivedi said he would use his experience as Rajya Sabha MP to “set the ball rolling for Bengal”. “My first task would be to see that the state is back on the track of development.”
Howrah Sadar MP Ambika Banerjee has his eyes on a range of issues. “There are problems galore — closed factories, pollution, lack of basic amenities. I will tackle them all,” he said.
Diamond Harbour MP Somen Mitra is also tackling basic issues. “The people of my constituency still do not get clean drinking water. It is a shame in the 21st century. Immediately after going to Delhi I will try and get special allotments to set up a water treatment unit. Health is a major concern and I will try and channelise central funds towards building primary and secondary health centres. I will also bring in private investments to my constituency.”

Pradeep Gooptu / New Delhi May 18, 2009, 1:42 IST
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee needs to decide on two major projects in West Bengal where her local party units were opposing land acquisition.

The first was the airport-township project of Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL) promoted by a Kolkata-based infrastructure group close to Civil Aviation minister Praful Patel with support from Singapore’s Changi Airport at Andal, 220 km west of Kolkata.

Centred around an abandoned airport, the project entailed acquisition of farmland and the process had been completed by the district magistrate of Barddhaman. A majority of the local community had boycotted the acquisition process under the Trinamool Congress leadership, demanding better price for land and direct interaction with the promoters.

The rehabilitation package at Andal was seen to be good, promising cash compensation, a sort of annuity and small plots in the commercial zone inside the project site to land losers.

The second project was the 1500-Mw thermal power station at Katwa, a prosperous farming area at the confluence of the Hooghly and Ajoy rivers, 100 km north of Kolkata, where the TC unit said it preferred shifting of the project to less fertile areas, besides better pricing and a comprehensive compensation and rehabilitation package.

He admitted though that Banerjee established the huge incentives given to the Nano project by the state, which compared poorly with the relatively paltry compensation given to the 13000-odd farmers who lost their land in the 1000-acre plot at Singur near Kolkata, under the Land Acquisition Act of 1898 used by the state.

“It is not her fault that the state bureaucracy is so incompetent that it has not been able to prepare a map of non-fertile or waste land in the state in three years where Mamata Banerjee wants industry to be located”, said one industrialist unwilling to be named.


http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/mamata-faces-two-immediate-challenges/358442/

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee likely to step down by August (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Buddhadeb-Bhattacharjee-likely-to-step-down-by-August/articleshow/4548328.cms)

KOLKATA: Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is likely to step down latest by August. CPM’s core insiders are trying their level best to hold him back till
then. Information suggests that Buddhadeb is so "extremely upset emotionally with the party’s performance in the state" that he is convinced that the party needs a new leader now.

The mental shock of the party’s terrible performance in the Lok Sabha elections is believed to have also had its impact on Buddhadeb’s health. On Monday, he had complained of some physical discomfort. The house of CPM is in total disarray and nobody is quite sure of how things will turn out from here on. If Buddhadeb steps down, as many within the party consider is a certainty, it is most likely that industry minister Nirupam Sen will be asked to take up the mantle.

Sen, who manages Burdwan district in one of his roles as a key party functionary, has been one of the very few in the present crop of leaders who has been able to retain all three Lok Sabha seats in the district. Besides, as Buddhadeb’s second-in-command and a politburo member, Sen has also been intricately involved in the industrialisation efforts of the CPM government.

Alimuddin Street insiders on Monday told ET that the chief minister was "shell-shocked". An extremely emotional person by nature, Buddhadeb had offered to resign also after the Nandigram incident. Even earlier, after a difference of opinion with Jyoti Basu the then chief minister, he had actually resigned on August 27, 1993 and the party had to persuade him to stay back.

After the Lok Sabha debacle, Buddhadeb is understood to have become so enormously upset, that he is believed to have told his inner circle that he would like to step out of the politburo as well. Interestingly, the chief minister has not attended Monday’s politburo meeting in Delhi.

Though Bhattacharjee skipped the politburo meeting on Monday, he met veteran Marxist Jyoti Basu at his Salt Lake reasidence and held a closed door meeting with the former chief minister for more than half an hour. Though it is not learnt what Bhattacharjee has told Basu and what Basu’s suggestion to the chief minister was, it is certain that the two leaders have discussed the party’s performance in the current Lok Sabha elections.

But Bhattacharjee’s meeting with Basu has created a ripple in the political circles, specially after the chief minister’s decision of not attending the politburo meeting in Delhi. However, it is learnt that this was Buddhadeb’s second meeting with the 95-year old Jyoti Basu after the poll results came out.

A visibly upset Buddhadeb, however, attended office at Writers’ Budildings during the day, but avoided the media, which was very keen to know about his plans.

I guess Buddhadeb should resign and call for early state elections. If Mamata's party wins and gets control of the state so be it.

Party cadres are asking him to stay back.Mamata taking control is not a comforting thought.

i am confused. whats a state election as opposed to assembly election.

oh india

i am confused. whats a state election as opposed to assembly election.

oh india

Indian Parliament(Sansad) has two houses - Lok Sabha(Lower House) and Rajya Sabha(Upper House). The month-long election was held for the Lok Sabha (house of people's representatives) seats. It is held every five years unless there is a premature dissolution of the government. The Congress-led UPA has come out victorious and is going to form the federal government(central government) in New Delhi(15th Lok Sabha, since independence in 1947).

Lok Sabha has a total 543 seats of which West Bengal has a share of 42 seats. In this elections, Congress + Trinamul Congress have 25 seats(6 and 19 respectively) whereas the left has only 15 seats. BJP has got only one.

On the other hand, every state has its own assembly or Bidhan Sabha. The election is also conducted every five years but dates varies from state to state.(the election of state assemblies of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa was also held simultaneously with that of Lok Sabha)

The current left front government in West Bengal has noting to do with the Parliamentary election in which the left performed very badly. But certainly it worries the state government fearing the popular mood in WB as the swing goes to anti-left.:)

Looks like Trinamool MP will try to have this project scrapped!

Nayachar hub in doubt

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Tamluk: The future of the proposed chemical hub at Nayachar is in doubt, claimed former CPM MP Lakshman Seth on Tuesday. Even Subhendu Adhikari, who defeated Seth in the recently concluded Lok Sabha poll from Tamluk, said he would urge the Centre to cancel the project’s clearance.
The chemical hub, originally slated to come up in Nandigram, became the focal point of state politics after 14 villagers were killed on March 14, 2007. The state government shifted the chemical hub to Nayachar, but the project has again met with stiff resistance from the Opposition. An area of 11,000 acres has been marked for the hub.
Seth’s comments on Tuesday came at a meeting of the East Midnapore district Left Front to discuss the poll debacle. “The chemical hub is not certain any longer. It will depend on what shape the Centre-state relationship takes,” he said. “The government is still keen on the industrialization process. If the new MP seeks our cooperation, we will give all help,” he added.
That, however, looks unlikely. Adhikari’s comments gave credence to Seth’s apprehension. “The state government had misled the Centre and received the clearance for the chemical hub at Nayachar. We won’t allow that to happen. We will present the facts before the Centre and request them to cancel the clearance,” he said.
The chemical hub at Nayachar was the focal point of the poll campaign in East Midnapore. For CPM, it was the main plank to woo voters. Trinamool firmly opposed it, saying a chemical hub at Nayachar would spell disaster for the Haldia port, reducing navigability. They had also said that the waste generated from the hub would destroy marine life.

^^It is not the urban but the rural uneducated masses who are more easily fooled by slogans and promises. What can happen is TMC start talking pro development, CPM doing a complete U turn by opposing everything ( taking revenge!) and then TMC pointing the blame to CPM when something big ( for example Singur) totally fails. Eventually it is the people who lose. This is something of a common mandate for post political parties in India who bank on the lack of education and illiteracy levels to garner votes.

you are right. the CPM is already blaming Buddha for being too pro-development and thus loosing the election. With buddha planning to resign, i am afraid the dirty CPM members will come back to their old way of bandhs and pro-poor attitudes.

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/622/kolkataconsumption.jpg (http://img38.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kolkataconsumption.jpg)

Back to the happy old days of status quo?

LS election backlash could hit industrialization in West Bengal

http://www.livemint.com/2009/05/21232437/LS-election-backlash-could-hit.html?h=B

The land and land reforms department, headed by minister Abdur Rezzak Mollah, acts as a facilitator for most industrial projects in the state by acquiring land.
An officer at the land and land reforms department department said Mollah had decided to put on hold proposals to acquire land for Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd, which was to build a township integrated with an airport 180km from Kolkata; a 125-acre information technology hub on the north-eastern fringes of Kolkata; and a thermal power plant in Purulia district, for which 900 acres have already been acquired. The state cabinet had cleared proposals to acquire 2,300 acres for the township project, and 700 acres for the power plant.
“The only major land acquisition proposal that the minister (Mollah) has cleared is for an irrigation project, which needs around 3,000 acres of land. A few land acquisition proposals from the public health engineering department for supply of drinking water in North and South 24 Parganas districts have also been cleared. But he has asked us to go slow on everything else,” added this official, who did not wish to be named because he isn’t authorized to speak to the media.

KOLKATA: The Left Front government in West Bengal is likely to be more circumspect in acquiring land for industries and infrastructure development projects, in the light of the Lok Sabha election debacle.

The Cabinet, which met on Thursday for the first time after the results were declared, decided to set aside, for now, plans for creating a city centre on 120 acres at Kharagpur in Paschim Medinipur district, after some ministers expressed reservations about the project.

More details needed


Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee told his Cabinet colleagues that there was need for more details of the nature of land, and for an assessment of job opportunities the project would generate.

It was also decided that the Land Use Board, tasked with the preparation of a map delineating land-use patterns, be brought under the Land and Land Reforms Department, instead of the Industries and Commerce Department.

Leaders of the Left parties and some ministers felt that the political implications of the debate on acquisition of farmland for industries were evident in the poll outcome.

Apprehensions of land-grabbing seemed to have weighed heavily on the minds of the rural electorate, especially the minorities, and affected the Left Front’s performance.

That State-specific issues played a critical role in the elections, despite the wave across much of the country in favour of a stable secular government at the Centre, has been underscored by the leadership of the all Left parties in a preliminary assessment of the results.

Political consensus

To ensure a political consensus on the issues on hand, it was decided that the Chief Minister prepare a note on all works awaiting implementation in the next two years of the government’s term.

The note would be placed before the Cabinet after discussions by its core committee so that the ministers representing the various Front constituents could order their priorities and determine their line of action.


http://www.thehindu.com/2009/05/22/stories/2009052260821600.htm

KOLKATA: If history is being made in West Bengal, it is now. For the first time ever, the state has got so many representatives in the Union
government. Information is that Trinamool Congress is likely to have a possible 7 in the council of ministers ultimately, and Congress from West Bengal, a maximum of three.

In 32 years of Marxist rule, the closest that West Bengal has ever come in terms of maximum representation in the Union council of ministers at any one given point of time, was 3 in 1991 during Narsimha Rao’s government. The state then had three ministers in the Rao government - Pranab Mukherjee, Mamata Banerjee (then in Congress) and Debi Pal.

Otherwise, different Congress leaders from the state had at various times also become ministers in the Union government like Ghani Khan Choudhary, Pranab Mukherjee, Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, Ajit Panja or Ashok Sen. The communists have never been a part of the Union government.

This time, Pranab Mukherjee and Mamata Banerjee are all set to get finance and railways. Five more Trinamool MPs are already known to be in the reckoning for ministers of state. Speculation is that a sixth, C M Jatua may also squeeze in the same category.

From the Congress side, apart from Pranab Mukherjee, atleast two more, Mausam Benazir Noor and Dipa Das Munshi, are slated to be inducted. If all this happens, West Bengal will in the second UPA government of Dr Manmohan Singh have as many as 10 ministers to start off with.

For West Bengal this is of immense significance, not only in terms of bolstering of the Opposition forces in the state but also for development of the state in case the selected ministers are given relevant portfolios.

Obviously, with the state elections due in 2011, the Trinamool Congress-Congress combine will try its level best to bring about changes across the state in terms of actual development. In case they do so, it will also in a way help the CPM government in the state to finish some of the projects that are pending.

With Mamata’s second innings as railway minister, West Bengal can expect more railway projects in her budget. This will also help Mamata to bolster her votebank in the state, something which she needs to do if she has set her mind on Writers’ Buildings. With her in the railways, and her gangmen in various ministries of state, the lady from Trinamool will be very well equipped to make life for the Left Front government, a torture.

Although the portfolios have not yet been announced, information within West Bengal Trinamool is that MP, Sultan Ahmed will perhaps get independent charge of minority affairs department as minister of state. This, if it happens, will also be of great significance to the state.

"I know the problems of the minority population in West Bengal and I will try my best to improve their conditions not only in West Bengal, but also the entire country," Ahmed told ET from Delhi over telephone.

The predominant minorities in West Bengal have this time, largely voted against the CPIM government in the Lok Sabha polls. Having Sultan Ahmed strategically in that department will undoubtedly increase Mamata’s chances of retaining the huge minority vote base till the assembly elections.

If Ahmed works hard in the coming years, it will be very difficult for the CPIM to bring back the minority votebank to its fold. Ahmed has been elected from Uluberia and he was twice elected to the state assembly in 1987 and 1996. He was also elected to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) in 1985.

Trinamool camp information also is that Mathurapur MP, C M Jatua has a distinct possibility of being inducted as a minister of state in the home ministry. A retired IPS officer, Jatua is tough and with him in saddle, it might be easier for Mamata to combat what she describes as "state-sponsored terrorism" in West Bengal, more effectively.

Jatua’s possible appointment, if at all, may help the Trinamool leader also to neutralise the political bias among a huge section of police officials for the CPIM - an allegation that she has been consistently making. Jatua’s appointment is also likely to help Mamata hasten the pending CBI investigations in the Chhoto Angaria case, where several people were reportedly killed by by two CPIM leaders Tapan Ghosh and Sukur Ali.

After 30 years, Sougata Roy of Trinamol Congress is likely to get a berth too and information with the local Trinamool camp is that he will perhaps be minister of state for tourism. Roy was minister of state for petroleum and chemicals in 1979 and is known to be a very efficient parliamentarian. If Roy indeed gets the tourism portfolio, he will have to work very hard to fulfill Mamata’s dream of turning West Bengal into a tourist friendly state.

Dinesh Trivedi is another Trinamool Congress heavyweight who is likely to get the post of minister of state, and the buzz is that he might get health. A Rajya Sabha member since 1990, Trivedi this time defeated CPIM heavyweight Tarit Topadar in Barrackpore. This is Trivedi’s first victory in Lok Sabha elections. A former Congressman, Manmohan Singh government will also depend on him to fulfil its commitment of setting up a number of super-speciality hospitals in West Bengal including one in Roygunj.

Trinamool’s Nandigram strongman Sisir Adhikary is likely to serve the Manmohan Singh government as a minister of state. Speculation is that Mamata has wanted the rural development ministry for Adhikary, who has a longtime experience with basic rural masses. Adhikari was the chairman of the Contai municipality in East Midnapore where Mamata Banerjee’s party has recently established its control over the zilla parishad. Mamata would be depending a lot on Adhikary to bring about rural reforms in backward districts like Purulia, Bankura and west Midnapore.

Mukul Roy is another likely contender for a minister of state berth. He is currently a Rajya Sabha MP and in charge of Trinamool in Delhi. There is a strong wind in favour of Roy also getting the MOS home instead of Jatua, largely because he is very close to the Trinamool leader.

Congress circles in West Bengal are not very much optimistic about getting more than two ministries including the finance. Congress MPs Deepa Dasmunshi and Mausam Benazir Noor are among those few parliamentarians expecting to find place in the Union government. However, there is no indication at all if they will indeed get a berth and if so in which department.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/West-Bengal-creates-history/articleshow/4566951.cms[/URL (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/West-Bengal-creates-history/articleshow/4566951.cms)

A health care project in Bardhaman
source : newkerala.com

Faith Healthcare launches Rupees.1,000-crore Health City project in West Bengal

New Delhi, May 21 : Faith Healthcare Ltd today announced the launch of a Rupees 1,000-crore Health City project in Bardhaman, West Bengal.


''The project will be developed through a special purpouse vehicle (SPV) Bengal-Faith Health Care Ltd in partnership with Bardhaman Development Authority and Bengal CES Infratech,'' Faith Healthcare Chairman SS Chakraborty told reporters here today.

The company will be the single largest share holder in the said project, he informed.

The project will be completed in three phases spread across five years, he said.

Once completed the Health City will comprise of a state of art 500 bed specialty hospital, center of excellence for various super specialities, pharmacy, medical college and residential areas for the working staff and doctors.

''The first phase will be completed with the inauguration of the Trauma Center which will be completed in ten months time, the phase also includes a 150 bed hospital and OPD and involves an investment of Rs 70 crore,'' Mr Chakraborty said.

The project, spread over an area of 60 acres, will also provide employment to about 1,400 people, he added.

The entire project will be funded through equity and loans, he said when asked about the funding of the project.

The company is also in talks with various medical equipment manufacturers to set up environment friendly manufacturing units in the project, he said without divulging any further details.

--- UNI

Miss Mamata and her gang of intellectuals and self styled environmentalists don't want Nayachar chemical hub for supposed "environmnetal concerns". Their hypocrisy is exposed (just like the Left Front's) when they oppose phasing out of polluting vehicles.

Opp win may hold up auto phase-out

Statesman News Service

Officers of Kolkata police and a section of the city-based environmentalists feel that the conversion of two-stroke auto rickshaws into four-strokes LPG mode might get delayed as the Opposition parties ~ who had earlier opposed phasing out of two-stroke auto rickshaws from Kolkata ~ would now oppose the drive with more enthusiasm, having put up an unbelievable show in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls.
A senior Kolkata traffic police officer said they were apprehensive of further delay in the conversion process because of a change in political scenario in the city. This was evident when Mr Sovandev Chattopadhyay, Trinamul Congress leader and president of auto-rickshaw operators union, threatened to launch a fresh agitation, should police start a drive to seize two-stroke auto rickshaws.
His party colleague and MLA for Bishnupur Assembly constituency too intervened and has urged the state government to initiate discussions with the auto rickshaw operators first.
The officer also recalled how Opposition party leaders had put up resistance when a drive to phase out two-stroke auto rickshaws was undertaken in the city a few months back. The intensity of the Opposition’s movement was such that all two-stroke auto rickshaws that had been seized for flouting a ban imposed by the Calcutta High Court against plying, had to be released.
Police have also learnt about the preparedness of auto rickshaw operators under the banner of Opposition parties to launch a large-scale movement, if a fresh drive to phase out two-stroke polluting auto rickshaws from the city is taken up.
An officer said since the Trinamul Congress has bagged both the seats in the city in the Lok Sabha election, the party’s stand on phasing out two-stroke auto rickshaws will not alter.
Auto rickshaw operators bearing allegiance to the Trinamul Congress would remain firm on their stand of opposing the drive of phasing out two-stroke auto rickshaws.
Although Calcutta High Court had fixed 31 July as the extended dateline for conversion of polluting two-stroke auto rickshaws into four stroke LPG mode ones, only 2,000 such vehicles could be converted till date.

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/7731/kolkataconsumption2.jpg (http://img29.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kolkataconsumption2.jpg)

Miss Mamata and her gang of intellectuals and self styled environmentalists don't want Nayachar chemical hub for supposed "environmnetal concerns". Their hypocrisy is exposed (just like the Left Front's) when they oppose phasing out of polluting vehicles.

Opp win may hold up auto phase-out

Statesman News Service
^^I sincerely hope Statesman & other companies refrain from publishing the "thought processes" of public spokespersons such as environmentalists, officers etc. A couple of months back there was a report that 1700 green autos hit the roads in March and yesterdays report stated that there are only 2000 compliant autos. Which is true, which is false, nobody will come to know. Media in West Bengal has gone to dogs.:mad:

Source: Times EPaper
Centre’s go-ahead for Cals project
Kolkata: Cals Refineries Ltd has informed the stock exchanges that the company has received environment clearance to set up 5 million tonne per annum (MTPA) refinery at Haldia from the ministry of environment and forests.
It has also said that the government of West Bengal has approved a special package of incentives under the West Bengal Incentive Scheme 2004 subject to certain terms and conditions. Sources in the state government said that Cals will get sales tax concessions and some other incentives.
It may be noted that Cals Refineries had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Haldia Development Authority (HDA) and WBIDC in March 2008 to set up a 20 million tonne per annum capacity refinery project at Haldia and Nayachar in three phases at a cumulative investment of Rs 20,000 crore.
The MoU was signed at Writers’ Buildings here in the presence of the West Bengal chief m i n i s t e r Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, and the state’s minister for industries & commerce Nirupam Sen, among others. The first phase of the project envisages the setting up of a 5 MTPA capacity refinery in Haldia at an investment of Rs 4,000 crore.
It will cover 400 acres and provide employment to 1,500 people directly and indirectly. It is expected to be commissioned by the first quarter of 2010.

^^ They recieved environment clearance, but the actual test would be that Mamata gives them the authentic clearance. She will die , but won't let the project establishment.
But on the other hand. it's glad to know that the proposed project has got clearance from the center. We can see a race between I will do(Buddha) & i won't let u do(Mamata).:lol:

“West Bengal will soon become one of the most attractive IT destinations in the country” (http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20090525/1000thissue09.shtml)

30 Minute Interview
Siddharth, Principal Secretary, Department of IT, Government of West Bengal talked to Joy Roy Choudhury about the state’s readiness in supporting IT growth and its roadmap for the future

Siddharth
How is the state in terms of IT readiness when compared to other IT destinations in the country?

The State has the complete ecosystem required for the exponential growth of the IT/ ITES Sector. Studies by several international consultants have revealed that Kolkata is an attractive investment destination in comparison to the other IT hubs in the country. The city has a huge reservoir of talent and offers the lowest cost of operations. The attrition rate is the lowest in the country as certified by NASSCOM, the availability and quality of power is best according to Gartner, making it the most preferred IT destination in the country today.

Studies and surveys reveal that in terms of average salaries, cost of living and consumer price index Kolkata has outclassed other IT destinations in the country. All these are backed by a strong social infrastructure network.

Besides, the State Government has pursued a very attractive IT Policy. In addition to the usual incentives the State Government has declared IT as a Utility Service for the state and has provided for a training subsidy and a Venture Capital Fund (VCF) to assist entrepreneurs setting up units in the state.

Has the West Bengal IT industry been affected by the global recession?

The country as a whole is experiencing the impact of a global slowdown. Obviously, our State cannot remain untouched by this phenomenon. Like IT, several other sectors too have been affected by this economic downturn. However, there are neither pink slips flying around nor an increased number of closures. Of course there is a slowdown in projects and some staggering in fresh recruitments. At the same time, I believe that this is a big opportunity for the Indian IT industry.

Few nations have such a vast reservoir of resources and a huge market, we have to take advantage of the current world economic situation and look at the opportunities in the domestic market. Additionally we can emphasize on innovation, improving quality research and development during the period. I feel that this is a passing phase and I am optimistic about the future and feel that things will improve by the next year.

What steps has the State’s IT Department has taken to develop manpower for the IT industry?

The initiative for starting the WEBEL Finishing School was taken up with a view to the imminent future shortage of human resources. We have set-up two schools so far, one each at Kolkata and at Durgapur. These schools function more like a department store where you have fixed courses as well as a provision for tailor made courses. These schools are also envisaged as training cum placement centers where students from small colleges of moffussil towns can be trained for the IT industry and companies are invited to make campus recruitments. These schools are being professionally run with the help of the industry and faculty from IIT Kharagpur. It is our endeavor to open more such Finishing Schools in different parts of the State including Siliguri, Kalyani, Durgapur, Kharagpur and Haldia.

Additionally, a training subsidy has been conceived as an incentive to IT companies to get their employees properly trained. If an IT company hires professionals in the State, trains and retains them for over six months, then the company is eligible to get an employment generation or training subsidy up to Rs 20,000 per candidate. The idea is that if a company is willing to hire and train people on the job in the State the Government is willing to share part of the training cost.

Has the State IT infrastructure kept pace with the growth of IT industry?

The IT infrastructure has kept pace with the growth of IT companies in Kolkata. At present we have about 7-8 million square feet of office space available for the IT/ITES industry and about 20 million square feet of office space is currently under construction exclusively dedicated for the IT industry which will be added over the next 2-3 years time. It will create more than 200,000 job opportunities.

The IT Department through WEBEL is currently developing two mega projects for the IT sector in the vicinity of New Town Rajarhat. Under the integrated IT Township Project called ‘Kolkata Links’ it plans to develop on a PPP model an IT Township over approximately 1,600 acres. Out of the entire area half of the land will be kept exclusively for IT companies and on the remaining land social and institutional infrastructure will be set-up. The State Government has already signed MOUs with Infosys and Wipro offering them 90 acres each in this project.

The other IT Hub will be developed at Jagdishpur Mouza over 330 acres of land where 160 acres of land will be allotted to IT companies and social infrastructure projects will come up on the remaining area.

Both of these projects will have state-of-the-art infrastructure and facility. These two projects will totally change the face of the IT industry in West Bengal which will certainly become one of the most attractive destinations in the country.

The State IT Department is creating a new IT belt on the outskirts of Kolkata. Can you give us some insights into it?

It has always been our endeavor to have more inclusive growth in the State and not keep the IT industry confined to Kolkata. Accordingly the IT Department commissioned PriceWaterhouseCoopers to conduct a study and identify potential IT hubs in the State. The report indicates Durgapur, Siliguri, Kalyani, Kharagpur and Haldia have the potential and required infrastructure facilities to support the growth of IT industry.

In fact the initiative has already yielded results as several companies have set-up operations in Durgapur with 4,000 employed in the town. Siliguri also has some IT companies operating there and more are to follow suite.

On part of the Government, initiative has been taken to develop IT Parks on PPP model at Siliguri and Durgapur. Additionally WEBEL itself is setting up incubation centers at Durgapur and Siliguri. It has floated the EOI for selecting a partner for developing an IT specific SEZ at Kalyani over 100 acres of land.

In Kharagpur the IT Department is setting up an Advanced IT Park for which the land is being acquired. In Haldia a private initiative to set up a 41-storied IT building has already been taken. All these five places have got STPI earth stations providing the required connectivity to fuel the growth of the IT industry.

Shriti Developer are busy constructing projects in the State of West Bengal

Haldia International Sports City
http://www.shristicorp.com/images/HALDIA_Centre.jpg

Raniganz Square
http://www.shristicorp.com/images/raniganj.jpg

Shristinagar, Asansol
http://www.shristicorp.com/images/shristanagar.jpg

Krishnagar Centrum
http://www.shristicorp.com/images/KRISHNANAGAR_Centre.jpg

NRI Villas, Shantiniketan
http://www.shristicorp.com/images/nri.jpg

http://www.shristicorp.com/main.html

^^ have they got the land for that..
if no lets assume we never knew about these projects..
if yes than the ugly duckling won't let them see the light of the day..
god knows what kind of POA does she have when she says of turning kolkata into london.. :ohno:

I guess Buddhadeb should resign and call for early state elections. If Mamata's party wins and gets control of the state so be it.

He's a politician first , will never give up power just like that.

Source: TOI Epaper


Minister releases Bengal travel guide
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kolkata: Tourists looking for information on their places of interest in Bengal now have a ready reckoner. The first official travel guide on the state was released by tourism minister Manab Mukherjee on Wednesday.
From the Sunderbans to Bishnupur, Murshidabad, Dooars and Darjeeling, the book provides exhaustive information on most tourist destinations, complete with their history. “So far, we did not have a travel guide. This one is excellent. Let us hope this turns out to be the first step towards restructuring our tourism facilities and infrastructure,” said Mukherjee.
The West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC), the minister added, is now in the process of upgrading tourist lodges and renovating its water vessels. Nine lodges were being upgraded to three-star standards. Work is complete at Digha, Santiniketan and Bishnupur.
The WBTDC has also decided to introduce integrated package tours in the next three months. It has also planned tourism plazas that will be developed by the government.
“Despite the recession, the flow of tourists to Bengal has remained largely unaffected,” added the minister. The tourism department will appoint consultants to promote West Bengal.
Apart from listing destinations, the travel guide also mentions the routes and transportation available. “I had to travel extensively for the book. The facilities have improved vastly and the state could definitely be marketed as a prime tourist location,” said Swati Mitra, who compiled the guide.

Bengal IT dept shortlists 3 cos for Rs 5000 crore Kalyani project


Three companies--Mahindra Lifespace, Raheja group, and Paharpur Cooling Towers--have evinced interest in the Rs 5,000 crore Kalyani Infotech Park, following a tender floated by the West Bengal Electronics Industry Development Corporation Ltd (Webel), the state's nodal IT agency.

State IT department sources said,"The three shortlisted bidders are Mahindra Lifespace, a Mahindra & Mahindra group company, Paharpur Cooling Towers and K Raheja Corp, owners of Shoppers Stop.We hope to finalise the private partner from the shortlisted bidders by June."

The 100 acre IT park is expected to be operational in five years from the zero date.

Webel floated the tender on September 12, inviting expression of interest (EOI) for the proposed IT park at Kalyani to be developed in public-private partnership mode. The department received several bids but shortlisted three firms.

The state needs to augment its infrastructure, around 30 new IT companies have come to Bengal in the first half of this year till date, mainly export oriented, for which infrastructure would have to be upgraded, said Debesh Das, state IT minister.

At present, the total IT space available for the IT/ITES industry in the state was about 7-8 million square feet of office space and another 20 million square feet of office space was currently under construction dedicated exclusively for the IT industry, which will be added over the next 2-3 years' time.

“With the financial meltdown, the completion date might be delayed by another year or two,” said Das.

One of the main problems because of which many of the IT projects in Bengal had made little progress was inability to get land.

Wipro and Infosys signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with the state government last year but were yet to get possession of the 90-acre land (each) that they sought for. “The department is in the process of getting the land. It will take some time,” said Das. In 2007, DLF had announced it would develop a state-of-the art world class facility on 25 acres for IT/ITeS workspace. The project had got SEZ status, but the company has applied for a denotification and has been allowed to go forth with the IT projects sans SEZ status.

“Definitely infrastructure projects are going slow in the state because of the recession, but DLF's decision to denotify the Rajarhat IT SEZ project will not affect infrastructure scenario.Now the company will get more domestic clients in place of those involved in IT exports, a major requisite for SEZs. Both ways, we stand to gain. Sector V is not an SEZ, but it has attracted many a big players,” said Das.

source : Business Standard 05.06.2009

The Hindu Business Line (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/09101005.htm)

Rlys to set up modern wagon trolley factory in Bengal

NEW DELHI: Indian Railways is planning to set up a Rs 100 crore high-axle load wagon trolley factory in collaboration with the US in West Bengal.

“Steps are being undertaken to set up a modern wagon bogey factory with US technology in West Bengal. An MoU will be signed with the US for setting up the 25-tonne axle load wagon soon,'' said a senior Railway Ministry official. There has been a growing demand for high axle load wagon trolley and the proposed factory is expected to cater to the demand.

Asked why West Bengal was selected for setting up the factory, the official said “majority of wagon manufacturing units are in the State. It is in the interest of the system that wagon trolley factory is also set up near these units so that the transport ation cost for assembling a wagon is minimum.'' Once the factory with the state-of-the-art technology is set up, it will be first of its kind in the country.

The factory is expected to produce 5,000 wagon bogies in a year. Besides, the modern factory, Railways is also planning to acquire the wagon manufacturing factory in Burnpur in West Bengal. - PTI

China’s FAW to start trial runs from August
Source: Times EPaper

Kolkata: The small car may have eluded Bengal. But a large people carrier could soon roll out from the state. J K Saraff-led Motijug group has tied up with a Chinese auto major FAW to assemble modern city buses in Haldia.
The low-floor, air-conditioned buses carrying the First Automobile Works (FAW) badge, will compete with domestic manufacturers Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland as well as with international players like Volvo and Mercedes-Benz.
Group chairman JK Saraff said the first lot of buses would be assembled at a makeshift facility within the Ural India truck manufacturing factory and would be forwarded for mandatory certification to Automobile Research Association of India (ARAI), Pune, by July-end.
Once approved, Motijug will approach the government for 300 acre to set up a fullfledged bus assembly facility with a capacity of 12,000 units per annum.
“In early August, we will give two buses to West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation for trial runs. If the government does purchase buses from us, we will offer annual maintenance contract so that the fleet are in proper condition and do no get condemned through poor maintenance. Our mechanics and technicians will do the job at their workshops and train the engineers there,” group director Anirudh Kanoi said. Once the city buses take off, the group proposes to introduce inter-city luxury coaches from the FAW stable.
Targeting insitutional sales, primarily bulk orders from state transport corporations, Saraff is eyeing orders from various bus companies in Bengal. The state is set to modernise its bus fleet and purchase 1,300 buses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) programme.
“Being home manufacturers, we are betting big on Bengal and hope to grab a lion’s share of the orders. Karnataka offers a similar advantage to Volvo and Tamil Nadu to Ashok Leyland,” Saraff said.
His team is also in talks with transport departments in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra for a slice of the JNNURM fleet modernisation pie. Kanoi said the vehicles would be extremely price competitive. The FAW buses will be priced below Rs 40 lakh, a trifle more expensive than Tata and Leyland and lower than Volvo that costs over Rs 70 lakh.
The buses with floor height of 280 mm will have a carrying capacity of 75 passengers. Seats will available for 36 persons. The rear-engine buses will sport a host of safety features.

^^If its only 300 acres they need, Singur will be ideal

China’s FAW to start trial runs from August
Source: Times EPaper

Kolkata: The small car may have eluded Bengal. But a large people carrier could soon roll out from the state. J K Saraff-led Motijug group has tied up with a Chinese auto major FAW to assemble modern city buses in Haldia.
The low-floor, air-conditioned buses carrying the First Automobile Works (FAW) badge, will compete with domestic manufacturers Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland as well as with international players like Volvo and Mercedes-Benz.
Group chairman JK Saraff said the first lot of buses would be assembled at a makeshift facility within the Ural India truck manufacturing factory and would be forwarded for mandatory certification to Automobile Research Association of India (ARAI), Pune, by July-end.
Once approved, Motijug will approach the government for 300 acre to set up a fullfledged bus assembly facility with a capacity of 12,000 units per annum.
“In early August, we will give two buses to West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation for trial runs. If the government does purchase buses from us, we will offer annual maintenance contract so that the fleet are in proper condition and do no get condemned through poor maintenance. Our mechanics and technicians will do the job at their workshops and train the engineers there,” group director Anirudh Kanoi said. Once the city buses take off, the group proposes to introduce inter-city luxury coaches from the FAW stable.
Targeting insitutional sales, primarily bulk orders from state transport corporations, Saraff is eyeing orders from various bus companies in Bengal. The state is set to modernise its bus fleet and purchase 1,300 buses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) programme.
“Being home manufacturers, we are betting big on Bengal and hope to grab a lion’s share of the orders. Karnataka offers a similar advantage to Volvo and Tamil Nadu to Ashok Leyland,” Saraff said.
His team is also in talks with transport departments in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra for a slice of the JNNURM fleet modernisation pie. Kanoi said the vehicles would be extremely price competitive. The FAW buses will be priced below Rs 40 lakh, a trifle more expensive than Tata and Leyland and lower than Volvo that costs over Rs 70 lakh.
The buses with floor height of 280 mm will have a carrying capacity of 75 passengers. Seats will available for 36 persons. The rear-engine buses will sport a host of safety features.

^^If its only 300 acres they need, Singur will be ideal

Its really a good news for WB and if it becomes a reality I will be very happy:cheers:

I think the floor height of the bus is 280 cm and not 280 mm.

^^there are a lot more good news for WB..in the TOI paper


River cruise from Kolkata to varanasi (international tourism for buddhists)
2 trains daily to Digha.
100 crore central fund for Kolkata Police. hi tech gears and surveillance

I think the floor height of the bus is 280 cm and not 280 mm.
280 mm = 28 cm(almost the length of a ruler our teacher used to hit us :ohno:) is appropriate for a Low floor bus. 280 cm = 2.8 m is much higher than present Kolkata buses...

280 mm = 28 cm(almost the length of a ruler our teacher used to hit us :ohno:) is appropriate for a Low floor bus. 280 cm = 2.8 m is much higher than present Kolkata buses...

Which reminds me, I am around 1.8 m tall while standing straight. So 2.8 m, or around 9 feet (a little less maybe), is not exactly low floor.

It has to be 280 mm (28 cm).
________________________________________________________
Far infrared sauna (http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1617393)

280 mm = 28 cm(almost the length of a ruler our teacher used to hit us :ohno:) is appropriate for a Low floor bus. 280 cm = 2.8 m is much higher than present Kolkata buses...

did you sue the shit out of ur teacher? i would.

i hate american teachers who still pursue such old-school methods of discipline. Spanking is not cool!

did you sue the shit out of ur teacher? i would.

i hate american teachers who still pursue such old-school methods of discipline. Spanking is not cool!

Hey man.. welcome to India :hammer: :lol:

Which reminds me, I am around 1.8 m tall while standing straight. So 2.8 m, or around 9 feet (a little less maybe), is not exactly low floor.

It has to be 280 mm (28 cm).

o.k. thanks fred the cute guy:). sorry, it was my mistake as I took the floor height of the bus and not the height of the floor from the surface level of the road which is little less than a foot(1 foot = 30.48 cms)

TOI EPaper


TOI l Exclusive
Solar Power Breakthrough In Bengal
Abandoned Thermal Power Plant In Asansol Converted Into 2MW Solar Unit, Nanotech To Cut Costs
Subhro Niyogi | TNN

Jamuria (Raniganj): An abandoned thermal power plant in Asansol has been converted into a mega solar power generating station — perhaps the only instance in the world where a high-carbon power unit has been replaced by a zero-carbon one.
What’s more, the 2-MW project marks the first time in India that a solar project has crossed the megawatt threshold and is poised
to give a huge fillip to India’s renewable energy ambitions.
It’s being considered the first significant climate-responsive project in South Asia and marks the culmination of solar man S P Gon Chaudhuri’s lifetime dream. Six years ago, the diminutive man who is a giant figure in the Indian solar space, won the Ashden award, better known as the Green Oscar.
“This is empowerment of India in green energy and demonstrates the country’s intent and ability to be climate responsive in the energy sector. It has already catalyzed commercial interest in solar power that has been shunned by private companies till now due to high capital investment and a longer break-even period,” said Gon Chaudhuri, managing director of the West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation.
In a few years, with the use of nanotechnology, the cost of setting up a solar power plant will be reduced by half, thereby negating the argument that mass producing solar power is cost prohibitive.
At present, capital investment in a solar plant is Rs 15-18 crore per mega watt — four times that of thermal energy at Rs 4-5 crore/ MW. The cost is expected to be slashed by half and efficiency doubled when nano technology is integrated in solar cells in 4-5 years.
The project is located in Jamuria, 20 km from Asansol and 210 km from Kolkata, in the heart of India’s coal belt. A 6-MW coalbased thermal power plant of Dishergarh Power Supply Co (DPSC) once stood on the 8-acre plot that is now the site of the solar project, comprising 9,000 crystalline type solar modules of 230 watt each. The plant will generate 3 million units of electricity a year, enough to light up 2,000 rural or 500 urban households.
The facility will save a whopping 7 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide emission a day — the CO 2 that a 2-MW thermal project emits daily. The power the solar plant will generate will be fed into DPSC’s grid for distribution to customers in the Asansol-Raniganj belt.
DPSC will purchase the power at Rs 5 per unit and MNRER will pay Rs 10 per unit as generation incentive. WBGEDC can earn a further 97 paise per unit through the sale of carbon credits that the project will accrue. Annual revenue is pegged at Rs 4.8 crore. Only the US and EU member states have such large solar power units. Tech will halve project costs, double efficiency
Jamuria (Raniganj): S P Gon Chaudhuri’s mega solar power project in Jamuria will enable Bengal to reclaim its pioneer status in power sector after nearly a century. Way back in 1897, India’s first hydel project of 600 KW was set up at Sidrapong in Darjeeling.
Half the project has been completed with the 4,500 solar modules generating 1.25-MW electricity. WBGEDC is in the process of vetting proposals from several private firms that have evinced interest in setting up the other half.
Till now, solar’s high capital cost has deterred private investment. Vital support from the Union ministry of new and renewable energy resources has made the project viable. Capital cost may reduce by half and efficiency double once nano technology is integrated.
The project will play a crucial role in achieving the Solar Mission of 15,000 MW under Prime Minister Climate Action Plan. That is imperative with the Planning Commission projecting a capacity addition of 6.5 lakh MW from thermal, nuclear, hydel and gas by 2030, leaving a deficit of 1.5 lakh MW that only solar can meet.
“Solar energy can generate 8 lakh MW by utilizing wastelands across the country. This technology demonstration should give companies the confidence to invest in solar power. We’re keen to bridge the day-time deficit through solar wherever possible,” said MNRER director B Bhargava.

TOI Epaper


WIDENING PORTFOLIO
Ural to roll out more trucks

Subhro Niyogi & Udit Prasanna Mukherji | TNN

Kolkata: Ural India Ltd — the subsidiary of Russian truck major Ural — will roll out four more truck models over the next nine months to offer a comprehensive product portfolio to customers.
At present, Ural India has only one truck, a 25 tonne tipper that is popular in the mining industry. But with customers demanding a wider range, Ural has lined up a slew of products for introduction by next April. It will roll out a 40 tonne tipper followed by a tractor trailer and a 49 tonne truck this year. Next year, two more 25 and 40 tonne trucks will be launched.
“Though we have been present for two years, our single product offering has been a constraint as we have been restricted to the mining industry. Most customers require a range of trucks for various applications,” Ural India director Anirudh Kanoi said.
Introduction of the tractor trailer will allow it to compete in the inter-state goods transport business. So will the 49 tonne truck. The less powerful trucks to be introduced early next year will be positioned for intra-state goods transport.
“A lot of transport companies are waiting for the rollout so that they can purchase a chunk of the fleet from us. Given Ural’s proven track and competitive price, we expect good business,” Kanoi said.
The firm is confident of carving portion of the civilian truck market but is unable to tap the defence market due to the absence of a test track at the factory grounds in Haldia.

Telegraph (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090615/jsp/business/story_11112246.jsp)


ACC keen on Bengal plant
SAMBIT SAHA

Calcutta, June 14: Cement major ACC Ltd has expressed interest in building a 2-million-tonne plant in Bengal.

The company, owned by Swiss cement giant Holcim, has held talks with state government officials on the project.

The estimated investment could be in the range of Rs 300-500 crore, depending on the product mix.

Apart from a grinding unit, ACC may also set up a ready-mix concrete plant.

When contacted by The Telegraph, ACC managing director Sumit Banerjee confirmed that the company had looked at a site near Kharagpur, though it was yet to firm up plans.

“We do look for land for strategic reasons at different sites. At present, we do not have any firm plans for a grinding unit in Kharagpur. It is one of the many possible sites. However, it must be said that Bengal and Calcutta, in particular, are important to us. In the long term, we would love to move closer to this market,” Banerjee said.

In Bengal, ACC has a 0.5mt grinding plant in Durgapur and two ready-mix concrete units.

The development comes at a time when the ruling Left Front government’s industrialisation drive has met with stiff opposition, both from within the party and outside. Many big ticket projects in the state are now showing little signs of progress.

The poor show of the Left Front in Bengal at the Lok Sabha polls has largely been attributed to the state government’s land acquisition policy.

However, if ACC chooses to go ahead with its plan, it may not have to face any land-related problems.

The West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) had been able to acquire a plot surrounding the Tata Telcon project near Kharagpur.

“We have identified 150 acres for ACC in an industrial park which the WBIDC is building around the Tata Telcon project near Kharagpur,” Subrata Gupta, managing director of the WBIDC, said.

The state agency has acquired around 900 acres in the area and is in the process of acquiring another 100 acres.

It has paid Rs 10 lakh on an average to the owners who willingly gave up the land.

“We are now developing the plot to lease out to prospective investors. Apart from ACC, mining firm PH Minepro have also shown an interest,” Gupta said.

The WBIDC had conducted a socio-economic survey of around 3,000 people who had given up land for industrial purposes.

The study revealed that the land owners aspired for roads, good sanitation, electricity and health centres.

Investors in the park will be asked to take up some of the social projects. Tata Telcon has donated a school bus to villagers and promised to build a school to provide training on handling earth-moving equipment.

The West Bengal government forcibly acquired 1,000 acres of farmland in Singur, in Hooghly district, despite its high agricultural productivity

Kolkata: West Bengal’s finance minister Asim Dasgupta says land acquisition for industrial projects is better handled by business leaders than the government, a statement that goes against the policy of the state’s Marxist-ruled government.
“Very often, industrialists can handle it (land acquisition) better (than the state government),” Dasgupta said at Mint’s Clarity Through Debate conclave in Kolkata on Friday, citing the example of “hundreds of small and medium” industrial units in the state for which farmland had been acquired by the owners on their own.
If large tracts are needed, industrialists and the state government should only consider sites in “the arid regions in the western parts” of the state, where agricultural yield is low, and not in the fertile Gangetic plains in the south of West Bengal, added Dasgupta, who set the tone for the discussion by saying, “Let’s not try to defend ourselves too much.”
It’s the first time that Dasgupta has spoken out against the West Bengal government policy. His views come against the backdrop of the Left’s 20-seat loss from the eastern state in the April-May general election that dealt a severe setback to the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPM, and its allies.
The West Bengal government forcibly acquired 1,000 acres of farmland in Singur, in Hooghly district, despite its high agricultural productivity. The land was meant for Tata Motors Ltd to set up a factory to manufacture its Rs1 lakh small car, the Nano.
But the project didn’t take off. The factory in Singur was almost ready when, in October, Tata Motors pulled the plug on it and shifted the project to Gujarat in the wake of violent protests by locals led by the Trinamool Congress—West Bengal’s main opposition party.
Call for change:West Bengal finance minister Asim Dasgupta. Indranil Bhoumik / MintThe state government has maintained that it is difficult for industrialists to acquire land on their own, and has offered help to everyone who asked for it. But almost all projects for which it has tried to acquire land, such as in Singur and Nandigram, in East Midnapore, where Indonesia’s Salim Group had proposed setting up a chemical hub, are either stuck or had to be abandoned.
Land acquisition should be “completely left to market forces”, said Abhirup Sarkar, professor of economics at the Indian Statistical Institute, or ISI, in Kolkata.
“So far, the state government’s argument against this was that middlemen would deprive farmers of fair valuation, but farmers understand very well what price their land could fetch. The government should not get into this—it shouldn’t become a land acquiring agency—and instead, focus on building social and industrial infrastructure, which has been its classical role.”
Land is scarce in West Bengal because of high population density which, according to Dasgupta, is the highest in the country—at 980 people per sq. km. “For anyone to get land in West Bengal is difficult…yes, we need industry, but less land-intensive industry,” he said. Sarkar, however, said the size of the plot is not the problem in itself. “People have resisted acquisition of small plots as well.”
Dasgupta criticized West Bengal’s bureaucrats, too. “Entrepreneurs are facing real problems with procedural delays (in obtaining clearances from the state government)…we have to change, no doubt about it.”
Admitting that the so-called single window for government clearances that West Bengal had set up “is not effective at all”, the state’s commerce and industry secretary Sabyasachi Sen said, “We have recommended to the state planning board that because there are various departments—some 21 or 23—that give these clearances, the rules should be simplified, and that if not one window, there should be six-seven windows that give these clearances.”
Dasgupta, meanwhile, reiterated the state government’s willingness to resolve its longstanding dispute with The Chatterjee Group, or TCG, over the ownership and management of Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd (HPL)—a firm promoted jointly by them.
“I was closely connected with HPL initially and I know exactly what problems are cropping up... Both sides (TCG and the state government) should bend (over) backwards and accommodate (each other). We should and if we do that, we can solve it.” He was addressing Aniruddha Lahiri, TCG’s president, who was also a speaker at the conclave.
TCG and the state government are battling court cases over the ownership of HPL after they failed to conclude a deal on transfer of ownership a few years ago.
West Bengal’s commerce and industry minister Nirupam Sen said in a recent interview that the state government was willing to sell its stake in HPL to TCG, provided its entire 43.27% equity interest was acquired at one go. A 2005 deal fell apart because TCG wanted to buy the stake in instalments.



http://www.livemint.com/2009/06/21233025/West-Bengal-minister-says-land.html?h=B

KOLKATA: At a time when West Bengal government’s industrialisation drive has suffered a major jolt, PepsiCo India is poised to make its Frito-Lay
manufacturing unit in the state its largest in the country by 2011-12.

PepsiCo India has acquired an extra 4 acres near its existing factory in the state to ramp up production of Frito-Lay -- the food division of the company.

Talking to newsmen Mr Animesh Banerjee, vice -president (operations) at PepsiCo India Holdings Pvt Ltd (Frito-Lay division), said: "The West Bengal facility will emerge as the largest factory by calender 2011. The factory’s capacity will increase from 25,000 tonne per annum to 50,000 tonne per annum by 2011-12. However, the expansion plan will largely hinge on the demand curve in the next two years."

Incidentally, apart from West Bengal, Frito-Lay has manufacturing facilities at Channo in Punjab and Ranjangaon in Pune.

PepsiCo India had initially invested Rs 140 crore in its West Bengal facility, which is located at Sankrail Food Park. "In addition, the company will invest another Rs 110 crore in a phased manner to enhance the factory’s capacity," Mr Banerjee said. The unit produces two of its major brands - Frito Lay and Kurkure.

Frito-Lay uses around 1.5 lakh tonnes of potatoes per annum for its products, 50% of which comes from contract farming. PepsiCo has partnered with more than 10,000 farmers working in over 12,000 acres across Punjab, UP, Karnataka, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Kashmir and Maharashtra for the supply of potatoes. The company aims to collaborate with 25,000 farmers in next five years time for procuring potatoes.

Frito-Lay India on Monday launched a new brand Aliva in the baked savoury cracker category. "It is being manufactured at our Ranjangaon facility. With the launch of Aliva, the company aims to create a new sub-segment of great tasting savoury crackers in the greater than 1500 tonne biscuit category. Our aim is to make Aliva much bigger than Kurkure," said Mr Vidur Vyas, executive vice-president (marketing), Frito-Lay India.


http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Cons-Products/Food/PepsiCo-India-to-make-Bengal-unit-the-largest-in-India/articleshow/4688980.cms

People of Bengal enjoy anarchy. Let industrialization process shut down and force bengalee's to move to other states as bonded labor. Root cause of this anarchy is excessive democracy. Unemployed people can not afford democracy . Scope of democracy must be restricted at all cost. This culture of anarchy was introduced by left front itself many years ago and now it is hitting them back. History comes to a full circle!

Bengal Ambuja, Siliguri

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/9004/silil.jpg (http://img198.imageshack.us/i/silil.jpg/)

^^ Nice photo Sun. :cheers:Siliguri looks like a western city. I hope that the Unitech Kawakhali project also become a reality. Please post the photo to our Bengal Cityscape thread.

Nice photo Sun. :cheers:Siliguri looks like a western city. I hope that the Unitech Kawakhali project also becomes a reality. Please post the photo to our Bengal Cityscape thread.

Bengal Ambuja, Siliguri

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/9004/silil.jpg (http://img198.imageshack.us/i/silil.jpg/)

http://www.livemint.com/2009/06/21233025/West-Bengal-minister-says-land.html?h=B

This is a fraudulent 'interview'. The original has been tampered with as has been confirmed by the industries minister.

Nobody for that matter believes that private corporations can manage to acquire substantially 'large tracts of land'.

KOLKATA,10 June, 2009: Ramsarup Industries Ltd announced that it has commenced production of 500 TPD DRI plant in West Bengal and Waste Heat Recovery Boiler in Kharagpur.The plant was set up using German Outokumpu technology. Its WHRB will generate 20 MW of power along with gas generated from the blast furnace.The release added that “Ramsarup is taking necessary action to sell approx 11 MW of power through the exchange which will give them approx INR 4 crores per month of revenue. Moreover, the Company has received approval from UNFCCC for carbon credit to the tune of 114,000 CER per annum for the next 7 years. The Company will now be in a position to sell the carbon credit at current rates, and this will generate extra revenue of INR 1 crore per month for the next 7 years.”Mr Ashish Jhunjhunwal CMD of Ramsarup Industries Ltd said that "Commencing production of 500 tonnes per day DRI plant at Kharagpur is another milestone in our steady towards improving our topline and remaining a forerunner in our field.

A very interesting discussion

http://www.livemint.com/2009/06/22004148/Debate--State-bankers-indus.html

ADB agrees to extend loan tenure for road project

Suman Chakraborti

Kolkata: Much to the relief of the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has given a one-year extension to the time over-run state corridor development project. The deadline for the first phase of this project was June 2009.
The project includes widening and strengthening of some major state highways and 14 new feeder roads in the state that call for acquiring land in some areas.
State PWD minister Kshiti Goswami said ADB has agreed to release funds for the extended time frame. “We were having some trouble with contractors. The project got stuck after considerable progress,” he added.
The funding bank had earlier threatened to stop loans for the delayed project, sending a flutter in the corridors of power. State officials were annoyed with the threat because ADB funded Rs 350 crore for the first phase.
“The initial progress was very slow, lagging far behind the time frame. The ADB team, overseeing the work, was reluctant to release loans beyond June 2009,” a project official said.
The first phase includes widening and upgrading of some state highways and constructing 14 new feeder roads that would connect with NH-34 at several points. The major work involves connecting a 108-kilometre stretch from Gajol in Malda to Hili in Balurghat along the Indo-Bangla border. There was a proposal to build roads spread over five to 10 km.
Nearly 200 kilometre of the road is scheduled to be built in the first phase. The entire project was planned nearly two-and-a-half years ago to develop effective road links with NH-34 so that all important areas of the state are connected with this corridor.
State officials became confident of the time extension soon after Pranab Mukherjee became finance minister. Officials, however, kept their fingers crossed given the Left’s recent relations with the Congress.
Officials said work could not be taken up for some time at a few places in time due to problems over land acquisition. “Some land needs to be acquired for the work. However, we are trying to solve the problem,” said an official.

WHAT’S THE PROJECT ABOUT?

To widen and strengthen select state highways and construct 14 new feeder roads that would connect NH-34. About 200 km of the road is scheduled to be constructed in the first phase

MAJOR PLANS:

* To connect a 108-km stretch from Gajol in Malda to Hili in Balurghat
* To set up link roads from many places that would link with NH-34
t GRANTS SANCTIONED BY ADB SO FAR: Rs 350 crore
t EARLIER DEADLINE BY ADB TO FINISH WORK: June 2009
t LOAN EXTENSION AGREED: Till end of 2010


Times of India

Bengal Ambuja, Siliguri

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/9004/silil.jpg (http://img198.imageshack.us/i/silil.jpg/)

Looks fantastic :cheers:

Source: TOI Epaper


BULLISH ON BENGAL
Changi to pump in Rs 100 crore at Andal
S’pore-Based Firm May Lift 26% In BAPL
Udit Prasanna Mukherjee, Subhro Niyogi & Swati Sengupta | TNN

Kolkata: Changi Airport Group deputy CEO Eugene Gan landed in Kolkata, carrying with him a kitty of Rs 100 crore that has the potential to turn the state’s investor-hostile image around.
The faith of financiers that had ebbed to a new low after the Singur debacle, soared on Wednesday evening as news of the Changi Airport Group’s investment in Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL) spread in business circles. BAPL is the promoter of the airport city proposed at Andal in the south Bengal industrial belt.
A senior government functionary said the top official from the Changi Airport Group would sign a joint venture agreement with BAPL and pick up 26% stake in the company at an investment of Rs 100 crore. The remaining 74% is held by a consortium of investors comprising Pragati Social Infrastructure & Development Ltd (JV between Pragati47 and Hudco), Citystar Infrastructure Ltd and Lend Lease Co.
Asansol Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA) and West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) are also partners in the project but have no equity commitment. The Rs 10,000-crore plus project is proposed between Durgapur and Asansol over 2,182 acre that is currently being acquired. The airport, that is the main component of the project, will be spread over 650 acre and comprise maintenance, repair and overhaul facility; cargo, supply chain and logistic hub; and night parking facilities. An aviation academy is also proposed. It will have a single runway, 45 metre in width and 2,800 metre in length that will accommodate all aircraft below the size of Airbus A320-200.
On the non-aviation side, Aerotropolis will house integrated facilities for hi-tech enterprises, standard design factories, IT park, housing, hospital, school, theme park and commercial centre.
The investment will go a big way in boosting investor confidence that had taken a beating after Tata Group chairman pulled out the Nano project from the state last October.
RPG Group vice-chairman Sanjiv Goenka said; “I have no doubt that this will have a positive rub-off.” Bengal Ambuja MD Harsh Neotia and ICC president V Saran , too, felt likewise. The Changi Airport Group, formed this July as a result of corporatisation of Singapore Changi Airport, manages the world’s sixth busiest international airport in Singapore.

Another update on ANDAL

Source: TOI EPaper


Andal airport likely to start ops in 2011-12
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kolkata: Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL) — in which Singapore’s Changi Airports International (CAI) has lifted a 26% stake at a cost of $20 million (Rs 98 crore) — said on Thursday it remained hopeful that its proposed airport at Andal in Durgapur would be operational in 2011-12.
BAPL — which inducted CAI CEO Wong Woon Liong and deputy CEO Eugene Gan as directors on its board — said land acquisition for the airport city project encompassing an area of 2182 acres was on track and construction would start by March 2010. The airport itself would take up 650 acres.
“The project will be a showcase one for India and we are expecting attractive returns in the medium-to-longterm,” Wong said, adding that the arrangement would not prevent Changi from exploring other opportunities within India.
The Bengal Aerotropolis venture envisages a cost of Rs 10,000 crore spread over a fiveyear period. On the non-aviation side, it would have industrial and IT parks, a logistics hub and housing facilities. BAPL officials, though, parried questions on how they would fund the project.
The CAI investment pegs the enterprise value of BAPL at nearly Rs 380 crore. At a debt:equity ratio of up to 4:1, BAPL would have to raise nearly Rs 1600 crore to kickstart initial operations. Apart from CAI, other investors in BAPL are Pragati Social Infrastructure & Development Ltd, Citystar Infrastructure Ltd and Lend Lease Co.
BAPL chief executive & director Subrata Paul — who claimed that arranging the money would not prove a huge obstacle — said the project would not result in massive relocation of people. The firm had ensured that the facility came up on either fallow or single crop land. “We have been in touch with all stakeholders at the ground level, including political parties, and tried to convince them of the benefits that would accrue to them.”
BAPL director Partha Ghosh said the company had worked out a land-for-land formula, as well as annuity returns and guaranteed employment for at least one adult member of project-affected families to ensure greater buy-in for the venture. “The problem with Coal India has been sorted out after we agreed to reduce our project area by 400-450 acres,” he added.

Uluberia bike factory gets into gear - Mahabharat Motors Set To Launch Production In August, To Roll Out TVS Star Bikes
Source : Times EPaper

Kolkata: Singur, Nandigram, the recession, and the Lok Sabha drubbing. Brand Bengal is slowly trying to overcome these setbacks, and what better way to make a comeback than the Salims’ first announced project in the state, the much-hyped two-wheeler factory? The factory doors will be thrown open next month for the commercial launch of the bikes, manufactured by Mahabharat Motors.
The commercial production may well become chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s showcase in the months to come. But, having suffered its own setbacks, the Salim Group’s first major project, which was launched in October 2005, will finally take shape next month. The date of the formal launch could be August 14.
“This is indeed a big event for Bengal and we are happy that the motorcycle factory is now ready for its commercial launch,” industries secretary Sabyasachi Sen told TOI.
The project received a major boost in June last year when TVS, the country’s third-largest two-wheeler makers, forayed into Bengal with a manufacturing contract with the Salim Group.
Sen refused to hazard a guess, but his department is excited about the launch, since it will mean thousands of jobs and involve an investment of Rs 430 crore. Mahabharat Motors, a joint venture of the Indonesian Salim Group and its Indian partner, Prasoon Mukherjee’s Universal Success Enterprises, have been setting up the factory on a 65-acre plot at Uluberia in Howrah, some 50 km from Kolkata.
With the Chennai-based TVS providing all the technical support, Mahabharat will, for now, produce 100cc motorcycles under the TVS Star brand. The models to be rolled out from the factory next months are Star, Star City and Star Sport. In the next phase, TVS might produce brands like Fiero, Centra, Victor, Flame and Apache. So, these brands and not “Arjun”, — as christened by chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee while laying the factory’s foundation in 2006 — will roll out of the Uluberia factory. While flagging off the project, the chief minister had said that the factory had the capacity to produce 500,000 motorcycles and 6,000 jobs.
Mahabharat had received its first jolt towards the end of 2007 when its initial technological partner, the Zongshen Industrial group of China, withdrew. After the deal fell apart because the Chinese company didn’t find the market lucrative enough, the industries department roped in TVS, a two-wheeler manufacturing giant, projecting a 100,000 annual production in early 2009.
But the project went behind schedule following an agitation by local Trinamool Congress activists, who tried disrupting the Uluberia factory’s work a few months ago.
Sources said the Trinamool activists had demanded that TVS recruited locals and had also sought better compensation for landlosers.

AMU team meets WB CM, visits Murshidabad for AMU centre (http://twocircles.net/2009jul22/amu_team_meets_wb_cm_visits_murshidabad_amu_centre.html)

New Delhi: A five-member team of Aligarh Muslim University led by AMU Vice Chancellor Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis made a three-day visit to Kolkata and Murshidabad and discussed various issues relating to establishment of the AMU Centre at Murshidabad with the Chief Minister, Minister of Higher Education, Finance Minister and other officials of West Bengal.

In a meeting with the West Bengal Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Prof. Abdul Azis explained that the University will replicate AMU Model that blends school system with that of higher and professional education including provision for girls’ polytechnic and a Women’s College. The Aligarh model also reflects modern education and secularism as its philosophical ethos. The Vice Chancellor presented a memento of Sir Syed’s photograph inscribed on it to the Chief Minister, said Dr Rahat Abrar, Public Relations Officer.


http://lh6.ggpht.com/_XbJJ801AbSA/SmcPjLvapYI/AAAAAAAAIfE/9wZXsZnIt0Y/s400/AMU%20VC%2C%20discussing%20issues%20with%20Mr.%20S.C.%20Tiwari%2C%20Principal%20Secreatry%2C%20MHRD%2C%20Govt.%20of%20West%20berngal%20and%20others%20at%20Murshidabad.jpg
AMU VC, discussing issues with Mr. S.C. Tiwari, Principal Secreatry, MHRD, Govt. of West berngal and others at Murshidabad


Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has welcomed the AMU move to establish the Murshidabad Centre and promised all possible help including financial assistance. The Chief Minister informed that it is he who has requested the Union Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherji to provide a financial package to the AMU’s Murshidabad Centre so that it can become operational. He urged that the new Centre should also reflect the culture of the region.

Your browser may not support display of this image. The AMU team, which comprised of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis, Prof. Pervez Mustajab, Controller of Examinations and Admission, Prof. N. A. K. Durrani, Media Advisor, Prof. Ikram Husain, former Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technology and Prof. Jawed Akhtar, Dean, Faculty of Management Studies, also held discussion on various parameters with Minister for Higher Education, Mr. Sudarshan Roy Choudhury and Finance Minister, Dr. Asim Kumar Dasgupta who were accompanied by Principal Secretary for Higher Education Mr. Satish Choudhury Tiwari and Alia University Vice Chancellor Dr. Syed Shamsul Alam.

Prof. Abdul Azis while thanking the overwhelming response the University is receiving from all quarters in the state of West Bengal said that if the state government transfers the land free from any encumbrances within a month, the AMU will start its operation from 2010-2011 session. It may likely to begin with Secondary or Higher Secondary level and subsequently will introduce other levels in a phased manner, and all these after conducting a survey of the educational need of the region. Prof. Azis further pointed out that there is no reservation for Muslims presently in AMU. The institution keep its doors open for all communities irrespective of caste, creed and religion, Dr Abrar added.

Telegraph (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090731/jsp/bengal/story_11304131.jsp)


Coal towns to be shifted
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi, July 30: The cabinet committee on infrastructure today approved a master plan to relocate Jharia and Raniganj towns at a cost of Rs 9,657 crore to save the areas from underground.

A fire has been burning under the Jharia coalfields for nearly a century. Buildings and roads have caved in because of the slow-burning fire whose fumes cause breathing disorders among the local people.

Burdwan’s Raniganj, the oldest coal mining area in the country, is less affected by the fires but the long-term danger to the area is as much.

The fires can start at rather low temperatures but if not checked early can burn for many years.

TOI Epaper (http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2009/08/03&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00402&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T)


Singur station to be upgraded
Jayanta Gupta & Falguni Banerjee | TNN

Singur: Railway minister said on Sunday that a PSU had approached the railways with plans for the coach factory project at Kanchrapara on a PPP basis.
She also announced that the nationwide ‘Kisan Vision Project’ would start from Singur. Announced in Parliament
on Thursday, this project proposes to use six bighas of railway land in Singur to set up an agricultural hub. “This area is known for potato and other vegetables. Farmers can use this hub to sell their produce and transport it to other parts of the country. There will also be facilities for food processing. I have also spoken to Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee to set up a textile cluster at Dhaniakhali (next to Singur),” she said.
Mamata also announced a grant of Rs 50 lakh for upgrading Singur station. Many other stations in Hooghly will also be refurbished.
“The doubling of tracks between Singur and Nalikul has been completed. I have
sanctioned doubling work between Nalikul and Tarakeswar. New tracks will also be laid between Singur and Nandigram. We have completed nearly 17 km of the Tarakeswar-Bishnupur section. We shall start running local trains on this stretch soon,” Mamata added.



more on the Singur issue from TOI
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2009/08/03&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00401&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2009/08/03&PageLabel=1&EntityId=Ar00103&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

TOI Epaper (http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2009/08/03&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00402&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T)




more on the Singur issue from TOI
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2009/08/03&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00401&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2009/08/03&PageLabel=1&EntityId=Ar00103&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

^^ if one has to start learning the basics of abuse of power, it has to be from our railway minister.

IOC gears up to meet LPG demand in state
Source: Times Epaper

If auto drivers who have opted to switch over to LPG are now faced with irregular supply, things may just get better by the end of the year. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is expanding the refining capacity at its Haldia refinery, which would increase the production of LPG. Going by conservative estimates, the augmented LPG capacity will be good enough to run the entire auto fleet of the state.
Public sector oil companies are now gearing up to increase the number of outlets to match the supply. IOC officials made it clear that supply of LPG is not a constraint now and, after December, green fuel would flood the region. “The only problem is to have an adequate number of outlets to match the supply,” said an oil industry official.
Now, there are only 15 LPG outlets across the state. Officials said they have already approached the state government for land to add to the number of LPG outlets. “We have requested the government to give surplus land of different state transport corporations and CTC for LPG outlets. Most of the existing petrol pumps do not comply with safety norms for LPG,” said an official.
According to IOC officials, the production of LPG would increase to 800 tonne per day from the current level of 650 tonne per day by end-2009. Incidentally, IOC is expanding the refining capacity at Haldia from 6 million tonne per annum to 7.5 million tonne per year at an investment of Rs 3,000 crore. “LPG production will increase following the expansion of refining capacity. Besides, there will be a new hydro cracker unit, which will also generate some LPG,” an official added.
According to IOC figures, the combined demand of LPG from the transport sector is now only 20 tonne per day, which is less than 5%
of the total production at Haldia. The rest goes to the domestic sector and other states in the eastern region. “We are producing over 15,000 tonne per month at Haldia. The total sales in six IOC outlets per month is only 224 tonne per month. Four Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) outlets consume 75 tonne and five HPCL outlets consume 74 tonne,” said a source.
It is learnt that oil companies are planning to add eight LPG outlets in the next two months. IOC and BPCL would add three each and the rest will be by HPCL.

^^ if one has to start learning the basics of abuse of power, it has to be from our railway minister.

Now beat this :hammer:


Having driven Tata Motors away from Singur, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday unveiled her own industrial plan for the abandoned site in Hooghly district. It won’t be Nano, but Singur could be manufacturing railway wagons.
..
Mamata said the Railways was prepared to set up industry in the public-private model, provided 600 acres of the 1,000 acres land acquired for the Tata plant was given to the Railways. The remaining, contested 400 acres would be returned to the farmers from whom, she claims, land was forcibly acquired. It was on these grounds that she had protested against the Nano plant.


http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Nano-year-over--Mamata-now-talks--industry--in-Singur/497325

^^ and guess what..the state govt could not have acted dumber..

TOI Epaper (http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2009/08/04&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00400&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T)


BACK ON TRACK?
Mamata’s Singur factory plan finds takers in govt
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kolkata: A wagon factory in Singur? Is it really possible? Could Mamata Banerjee’s Singur “andolan” end up in a wagon factory? Perhaps, it could.
The state commerce and industry department saw a renewed hope around the abandoned 1,000-odd acres of Singur land from where Tata Motors was forced to withdraw its Nano project, courtesy Mamata’s agitation around this time last year.
Officials said Ratan Tata may not object to returning the land back to the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), knowing that Mamata wished to set up a railway coach factory there.
The railway minister’s announcement while flagging off the Andolan local in Singur on Sunday created quite a speculation in the corridors of power on Monday. “So what, if there is no Nano? The people of Singur could still have the railway wagon factory,” said an official cheerfully.
“Industrialists would not want to rub politicians the wrong way. In any case, why would the Tatas hold on to the land when the project has been abandoned?” echoed another. Buying that logic, state commerce and industries secretary Sabyasachi Sen said: “The idea is positive. The proposal to set up a railway wagon factory is very welcome.”
The Tatas have cleared its dues (lease payment) for the second year for the 645.67 acre in Singur. The land, therefore, is now in their possession. It is supposed to be that way for the three-year lock-in period and will have to be returned to WBIDC only if the Tatas fail to set up the factory.
A section of officials argued that Tatas may not give up the land simply because their factory had been complete and were forced to abandon the project due to political reasons. Another group have, however, reasoned that Tatas may not feel the need to keep the land since the factory project is now history. “The Tatas have already removed their equipment and parts of their unit. Now they have no use of the land. They would naturally return it back to the Bengal government at some point,” said an official.
But the big question was the annexure with Mamata’s proposal. At the Andolan flagging-off, the Trinamool supremo also reiterated her old demand: return of 400 acres to unwilling farmers. This was her catch — as it had been in Nano’s case — that the factory comes up only if the 400-odd acres earmarked for ancillary units is returned to the farmers.
Refusing to be daunted by that, a senior official said: “The proposal is positive. But there are several issues that must be sorted out. They will be with the right political will.”
Land and land reforms minister Abdur Rezzak Mollah poohpoohed the idea, though. “Not even 100 acres of land — as was agreed upon between Mamata and the state government in front of the Governor last October — can be returned as per law. According to Land Acquisition Act, 1894, land once acquired can only go back to the government and not to individuals (farmers),” he said on Monday.

Let that land in Singur rot like a decaying tree! People of Hoogly district must be punished economically. Anybody with some sense in a civilised society would not support Singur andolan and Mamta must pay the price in future. Political adventurism of the people of Bengal must come to an end or they should go to hell!

^^i agree with you completely. the people of Singur must be punished and once they realize their grave mistake and do some propaganda work for industrialization should they be inducted into the civilized world and treated equally.

This is an encouraging news from West Bengal.:) The state has ample supply of skilled manpower, quite suitable for aerospace industy. Also Barackpur -HAL complex used to service WWII vintage Spitfire fighter since 1940s. This plant was neglected and remained under utilized so far. Now at least it got its due attention.

www.dailyexcelsior.com/99aug13/busi.htm
Bangalore helicopter centre being shifted to Barrackpore
CALCUTTA, Aug 12: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has decided to shift its entire helicopter centre from Bangalore to Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
HAL, Barrackpore, a branch facotry under the control of overhaul division of Bangalore complex since independence, has drawn up an ambitious expansion project to become the only centre of excellence for helicopters in the country.
Official sources said HAL’s Barrackpore branch, which had already been recognised as the Centre of excellence for helicopters in the north east zone had made considerable progress in acquiring land for the expansion project.
The sources said the company had a series of dialogues with the West Bengal Government and was hopeful of acquiring additional land soon.
The Barrackpore unit, which is one of the oldest factories of HAL, operating since 1940’s had been earmakred by Harzell of the USA to be the only service centre in South Asia.
As an upgradation measure, the Bureau of Standards of India (BSI) has awarded ISO-9002 certification to HAL’s Barrackpore unit and Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Calcutta, has given authorisation for acceptance of civil customers for undertaking overhauling and repair jobs from all over the eastern zone.
The soureces said HAL, Barrackpore had incorporated advance technology since 1988 by undertaking servicing of Indian airforce transport aircraft an-32 along with Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.
The company also adopted new servicing technology of various types of propellers and CSU from various civil customers and Government agencies like Tata Tea, ONGC, Coal India and different State Governments and Indian Iirlines.
Sources said the unit has potential for growing into larger business centre for servicing/maintenance for aviation industries including helicopters, hartzell propeller and light weight aircraft.
The unit has achieved the highest turnover of Rs 20 crore in last fiscal and was gearing up for upgradation of helipad in the premises.
The new helipad after completion would accomodate more helicopters for flight test at a time and field servicing operation. (UNI)

If West Bengal could get rid of noisy politicians it would have a bright future!

is it just me or does it seem like every college and hospital building in Haldia looks beautiful and very elegant?

to see them click here: http://www.icare-haldia.org/colleges.html

Haldia Institute of Technology (HIT)
http://www.hithaldia.in/galary_images/hit_galary%20(4).jpg

http://www.hithaldia.in/galary_images/hit_galary%20(14).jpg

http://www.hithaldia.in/galary_images/hit_galary%20(2).jpg

http://www.hithaldia.in/galary_images/hit_galary%20(12).jpg

http://www.hithaldia.in/galary_images/hit_galary%20(6).jpg

http://www.hithaldia.in/index.html

Haldia Law College (HLC)
http://www.hlc.in/lawcollege.jpg

is it just me or does it seem like every college and hospital building in Haldia looks beautiful and very elegant?

to see them click here: http://www.icare-haldia.org/colleges.html

You are right. If West Bengal society could be disciplined by putting economic pressure on bangalee bhadralok the whole state would have been like Haldia/Durgapour.Too many useless politicians making lot of noise. They have to go!

A few months back I received a pleasant surprise from the muncipilaty of our town. There used to be a wide open canal running across the town alongside one of the main roads. Everytime I passed by it I found myself thinking that if the authorities covered this drain the the road, which is hopelessly narrow like other roads in burdwan, could be widen upto thrice of its present width. I felt very strongly about the idea. ( You know I am mayor of several prosporous cities in simcity4).
To my pleasant surprise last month I found work had been started in covering up the drain converting it into an underground sewage channel. I could not help but feel vindicated.
Now I feel the authorities should think seriously about widening the road network around the town. And it is not possible without raging down buildings. So I doubt if any action would be taken in this direction. If our polticians win even by a margin of over 1 lakh votes they are afraid to antagonise a handful of voters. This is really ridiculous.

I know the town of Burdwan very well, I used visit there very frequently in my childhood. Those drains were like Damodar river in monsoon season!
I think populist democracy as practised in W. Bengal now must come to an end. It is creating more harm than good! Some day a small section of population will understand that !

Source: Times Epaper

Mitsubishi arm to start 2nd unit in Oct
Kolkata: MCC PTA India Corporation Pvt Ltd (MCPI), a subsidiary of Japan’s Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, will formally inaugurate its second Haldia unit in October once it is satisfied with the progress of the trial runs that have already started.
MCPI’s second facility — which would come up adjacent to its existing plant — would have a capacity of 800,000 tonne and cost Rs 1,800 crore to build. The unit’s commissioning would push up the firm’s total capacity at Haldia to over one million tonne.
The MCPI decision would give the beleaguered government something to crow about as it would be the first project to go on stream since the Left’s shock drubbing in the just concluded Lok Sabha polls cast a shadow of doubt over the state’s industrialisation agenda.
State commerce and industries minister Nirupam Sen has already lost charge of the Land Use Board to land reforms minister Abdur Rezzak Mollah — a person who had never hidden his reservations about the land acquisition policies being pursued by the government prior to the general elections.
With the Left facing its biggest challenge in 2011 when it takes on a combined Opposition in the state Assembly polls, the government has made it clear that it is no longer prepared to go the whole hog to obtain land for industry. Inept handling of the land issue, incidentally, is being considered one of the primary causes that contributed to the Left’s electoral reverses.
“MCPI wants to ensure that the second unit has stabilised and all glitches ironed out by September so that it can have the formal inauguration the following month,” a source said, adding that some of the senior-most officials of the Japanese parent would be present at the October function.
However, the source could not elaborate on whether chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee would also attend the ceremony. The CM has not attended any local chamber of commerce function since May 16, the day the Lok Sabha results were announced.
The second plant would help MCPI to significantly raise its turnover.

Guys, is there a site listing prices for this project.
Phase II is undeway?
They have a phase III also.
I couldn't figure out much details from Ambuja realty site.:bash:

Margaret Williams / Kolkata August 17, 2009, 0:40 IST



The West Bengal Tourism department has sought Rs 75 crore from the Union ministry of tourism for developing tourist circuits, focused on boosting the infrastructure framework.

Speaking to Business Standard, T V N Rao, managing director of West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Limited, pointed out, “In order to boost tourism infrastructure in the state, the West Bengal tourism department has proposed four major circuit development projects. Another nine projects are in the pipeline which is expected to be proposed within the next two months. We expect most of it to be sanctioned by the union ministry.”

The four major circuits' development project which have been proposed are Western Dooars tourism circuit worth Rs 8.99 crore, Ahiran Villa worth Rs 8.04 crore, Kandi-Behrampore tourism circuit worth Rs 8.01 crore, Islampur-Lalbagh-Jiagunj Circuit worth Rs 8.34 lakh.

On the pipeline were Purulia circuit project worth Rs 8 crore, Gateway to North Bengal project worth Rs 5 crore, Malda circuit project worth Rs 8 crore, North 24 Parganas project worth Rs 8 crore, illumination of heritage monuments in Kolkata worth Rs 5 crore and Maithon tourism development project worth Rs 5 crore, informed Rao.

These circuit destination development project entails building signages, interpretation centers, illumination of monuments and historical sites, public amenities facilities, information centres, lodges, last mile connectivity and so on.

Meanwhile, work on the ambitious Rs 22 crore Ganga Heritage River Cruise project has began. "Work in four locations is expected to begin later this month. Tenders for four destinations- Behrampore-Lalbagh, Plassey, Barrackpore and Jiagunj have been floated, work orders have been issued. We expect work to start this month. Tenders for the remaining eight more destinations will be floated soon,"informed Rao.

The Ganga Heritage River Cruise project is a showcase project of the state tourism department which will promote all the heritage sites on both the sides of the Ganga and river tourism.

This includes setting up exclusive jetties for river tourist in the selected destination, setting up tourist lodges, tourist amenities and other facilities.

It has been sanctioned Rs 22 crore by the Union ministry of tourism.

This apart, the state tourism department has also identified some sites in every district, which they planned to use for tourism projects either independently or in PPP mode.

Birbhum and Bankura were two of the most important sites both of which have immense potential in village and heritage tourism. Some of the other places are Jalpaiguri, the two 24 Parganas, Digha and Mandarmoni.

Complete Story (http://www.livemint.com/2009/08/19222831/Bengal-sweetens-deal-for-farme.html?h=B)


Bengal sweetens deal for farmers with more compensation per acre
The state government is deciding the compensation through discussion with landowners
Romita Datta

Kolkata: Singed by fierce resistance to farmland seizure in the past three years, which cost West Bengal key industrial projects such as Tata Motors Ltd’s small car factory in Singur, the state government has generously raised the price it is offering for land it is currently acquiring in the Burdwan, Purulia and Bankura districts.

In Andal in Burdwan district, where 2,300 acres is being acquired for a township integrated with an airport, the state government is now offering Rs7.5-11.24 lakh an acre, whereas until a few months ago it was offering Rs1.5-2 lakh.
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