This thread is intended to discuss projects and developments in West Bengal. It has started to happen, and lets hope it continues.

As reported by The Statesman...

Quoting from there:
"A dry port at Siliguri; upgrading Bagdogra; a food park and a Special Economic Zone on the outskirts of Siliguri; adventure sports in the hills – investments in the state seem to be hitting the North Bengal route."

Details are available at: http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=6&theme=&usrsess=1&id=73983

Surely that was under "cityscapes" but not "projects" directory?

If I am not correct, I would be quite happy to have this thread deleted by the moderator and the contents merged into the other one! :)

If you can contribute and keep the thread running it is fine. Not so sure how much news we can collect outside metro Kolkata considering everything is Kolkata centric.

The TN threads are running fine because of enthusiasm shown by some forumers. But the Andhra thread has languished for whatever reason.

Lets see... I anyway expect this thread to be a very slow one, since I am jolly well aware that WEst Bengal development is Kolkata centric. Maybe this will be around 2 posts per month thing. Of course, everyone is most welcome to post here :)

Well, it will be slow but should be fine because there are projects in Haldia, Durgapur and siliguri. I dont know wat happend to that Sahara's Sunderban project. HEard thats been shelved..

I guess we can use this thread for watz happening regarding the Highways in Bengal including HAldia expressway, The proposed north - south expressway and ofcourse the proposed port at Sagar island

Well, it will be slow but should be fine because there are projects in Haldia, Durgapur and siliguri. I dont know wat happend to that Sahara's Sunderban project. HEard thats been shelved..

I guess we can use this thread for watz happening regarding the Highways in Bengal including HAldia expressway, The proposed north - south expressway and ofcourse the proposed port at Sagar island

I think the Sahara project is gone. Environmentalists have opposed it. They managed to pull in big names like author Amitav Ghosh too in their campaign.
But of course we have a tendency to get over awed by big names. They are always considered right. After all who dares to question the likes of AG or Vandana Shiva or Arundhuti Roy.

Here's an article by AG.

http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/2004-October/004397.html

Crocodile In The Swamplands
Amitav Ghosh

Sahara's misconceived hotel project can only be an ecological disaster
for the Sunderbans and a nightmare in the marshes for any tourist who
might be lured by its foolish design.

AMITAV GHOSH

In 2003, the business group Sahara India Parivar submitted an
ambitious plan to the government of West Bengal proposing the creation
of an enormous new tourism complex in the Sunderbans. Although the
details of the plan have not been made available to the public, the
broad outlines are described on the Sahara Parivar website. According
to the site, the project will include many different kinds of
accommodation, including "5-star floating hotels, high-speed
boathouses, land-based huts, luxury cottages" and an "eco-village".
Landing jetties are to be built and the project is to be serviced by
hovercraft and helicopters.


"Exclusive, beautiful virgin beaches" are to be created and hundreds
of kilometres of waterways are to be developed. The facilities will
include "a casino, spa, health, shopping and meditation centres,
restaurant complexes and a mini golf course", and tourists will be
offered a choice of "aqua sports", including scuba diving. The total cost
of the
project will be somewhere in the region of six billion rupees (155
million US dollars). In short, an industrial house that has no special
expertise in ecological matters is proposing a massive intervention in
an area that is a designated World Heritage Site and Biosphere
Reserve.

The precise status of the project is not clear. For a while, to the
dismay of environmentalists everywhere, it was thought that the West
Bengal government had already given the project the go-ahead. But
recent statements issuing from Writers Building suggest that the
authorities are currently re-evaluating the Sahara Parivar's proposal.
This is a welcome development, not least because it provides an
opportunity for a public discussion of the project and its merits.

To begin with, it is worth asking whether the project is feasible even
on its own terms. What, for example, are the chances of converting a
stretch of the Sunderbans into an arena for water sports and a haven
for beach lovers? This is an area of mud flats and mangrove islands.

There are no 'pristine beaches' nor are there any coral gardens. The
Ganges-Brahmaputra river system carries eight times as much silt as
the Amazon and the waters of this region are thick with suspended
particulate matter. This is not an environment that is appropriate for
snorkelling or scuba diving. In the water, visibility is so low that
snorkellers and scuba divers would scarcely be able to see beyond
their masks. What is more, these waters are populated by estuarine
sharks and marine crocodiles. A substantial number of villagers and
fishermen fall prey to these animals every year. Snorkellers and
divers would face many dangers and, in the event of fatalities, the
Sahara Parivar and the West Bengal government would be liable to
litigation.

Even swimming is extremely hazardous in the Sunderbans. The collision
of river and sea in this region creates powerful currents, undertows
and whirlpools. Drownings are commonplace and boats are often swamped
by the swirling water.

Swimmers who accidentally ingest water would face another kind of
hazard. Consider, for example, the experience of an American woman who
visited the Sunderbans in the 1970s: she dipped her finger in a river
and touched it briefly to her tongue, to test its salinity. Within a
short while she developed crippling intestinal convulsions and had to
be rushed to hospital. Bacteria and parasites are not least among the
many life forms that flourish in the waters of the Sunderbans.

The location the Sahara Parivar has chosen for its project lies
athwart the entrance to the Hooghly River, in the vicinity of Sagar
Island. This spot has the advantage of commanding direct access to the
Bay of Bengal while also being easily accessible from Calcutta. But
when the weather is taken into account, these apparent pluses are
quickly revealed to be an uncompounded tally of minuses.

A quick glance at a map is all it takes to see that the chosen
location is directly exposed to the weather systems of the Bay of
Bengal. What would happen if the complex were to find itself in the
path of an incoming cyclone?

The Bay of Bengal is one of the most active cyclonic regions in the
world: two of the most devastating hurricanes in human history have
been visited upon the coast of Bengal, in 1737 and 1970. Each of these
cyclones claimed over 3,00,000 lives, a toll higher than Hiroshima and
Nagasaki combined. The toll might have been higher still if not for
the Sunderbans. The mangrove forests have historically absorbed the
first shock of incoming cyclones: they are the barrier that protect
the hinterland

This is why the people who live in this region have generally been
wary of creating settlements that abut directly on the sea.

That this region will be hit by another devastating storm is a near
certainty, in this era of global warming. Much of the destruction
caused by cyclones is the result of 'storm surges'â?"the massive tidal
waves that precede an incoming storm.
What would happen to Sahara's 'floating hotel' with its restaurants,
helipads, shopping arcades, meditation centres, etc, if it were to be
hit by a 15-metre-high tidal wave and 200 kmph winds? Suffice it to
say that the damage would be enormous and many lives would be lost.
And what of the casualties? There are no advanced medical facilities
in the Sunderbans: where would survivors be treated? Tourists who are
harmed or injured are almost certain to initiate litigation. Who will
be liable for damages: the Sahara Parivar or the Government of India?

And what of the question of insurance, which appears to have been
ignored by the government and by the Sahara Parivar alike? The
'floating hotel' will need to be insured, like any seagoing vessel.
Considering the pattern of cyclonic activity in the region, no
reputable firm is likely to provide insurance for this project. If
they did, the premiums alone would make the project unprofitable.

If there is no insurance, the government will be fully liable for all
damages. If indeed there is a major catastrophe here, the entire
tourism industry in India would suffer a crippling blow to its
reputation. The risk simply is not worth it.

The Sahara Parivar claims that it will open 'virgin' areas to
tourists. But the islands of the Sunderbans are not 'virgin' in any
sense. The Indian part of the Sunderbans supports a population of
close to four million peopleâ?"equivalent to the entire population of
New Zealand. The Sunderbans are an archipelago of islands, large and
small. Many, if not most of the islands, have been populated at some
time or the other. In fact, several islands were forcibly depopulated
in order to make room for Project Tiger.

In 1979, the Left Front government evicted tens of thousands of
refugee settlers, mainly Dalits, from the island of Morichjhapi. The
cost in lives is still unaccounted, but it is likely that thousands
were killed. The eviction was justified on ecological grounds: the
authorities claimed that the island of Morichjhapi had to be preserved
as a forest reserve. It is scarcely conceivable that a government run
by the same Left Front is now thinking of handing over a substantial
part of the Sunderbans to an industrial house like the Sahara Parivar.
It runs contrary to every tenet of the Front's professed ideology.

The Sahara Parivar's project would turn large stretches of this very
forest, soaked in the blood of evicted refugees, into a playground for
the affluent.

Although forgotten elsewhere, in the Sunderbans the memory of
Morichjhapi is still vividly alive: would it be surprising if the
people there took this project to be an affront to their memories and
a deliberate provocation? And if indeed there were to be protests and
disturbances, how would the government ensure the safety of the
tourist complex? Piracies and water-borne dacoities are daily
occurrences in the Sunderbans. The government is powerless to prevent
these crimes. To police the winding waterways of the Sunderbans is no
easy matter and the police presence in the region is minimal anyway.
How will the authorities provide security to tourists in a region
where the machinery of state has not so much withered as never been
properly implanted?

It is clear then that even within its own terms, this project is
misconceived. Its chances of profitability are so slim as to suggest
that some other intention lurks behind the stated motives for
embarking on it. Certain other business houses are also said to be
interested in expanding into the Sunderbans, and this may well have
something to do with recent rumours concerning the possible discovery
of oil in the region.

But what would happen if a large-scale tourist project were actually
to take shape in the Sunderbans? What for example, would be the
environmental impact?

It needs to be noted first that the Sahara Parivar's project has not
been subjected to a rigorous environmental impact appraisal. However,
several independent groups have conducted preliminary studies and
their conclusions suggest that the effects may be disastrous.

For instance, the floating hotel is sure to have an impact on the
patterns of sedimentation in its vicinity. The consequences are
impossible to predict. It is quite conceivable that the structures
will have the effect of retarding the flow of silt out of the Hooghly
into the Bay of Bengal. This in turn will lead to increased siltation
upriver and it might even cause a blockage in the rivermouth.

The floating hotel and its satellite structures will also disgorge a
large quantity of sewage and waste into the surrounding waters. This
refuse will include grease, oil and detergents. The increased level of
pollution is certain to have an impact on the crabs and fish that live
in these waters. Very high levels of mercury have already been
detected in the fish that is brought to Calcutta's markets. A sharp
increase in pollution could have a potentially devastating effect on
the food supply of the entire region.

The polluting effects would not be restricted to sewage and waste:
there would be light and noise pollution as well. The hotel's lights
would disorient certain species. Olive Ridley turtles, for instance,
would not be able to find their way back to their nesting places.

The Sahara Project also envisages the deployment of a large number of
speedboats and other high-powered watercraft, possibly even including
jet skis. Fast moving craft such as these pose a great danger to
marine mammals, particularly to such endangered species as the
Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris). The high-pitched noise
produced by speedboats disrupts their echo-location systems, often
resulting in casualties. In January 2000, I myself came upon the
carcass of an Irrawaddy Dolphin on the banks of the Matla river. A
huge hole had been gouged out of its head, probably by a propeller.
Increased traffic in these waters will result in many more such
casualties.

Historically, the waters of the Sunderbans were home to great numbers
of whales and dolphins. British naturalists of the 19th century
reported the area to be "teeming" with marine mammals. Very few of
these animals are to be seen in these waters today. Their fate is
unknown because there has been no major census or survey.

There is limited expertise in this field in India and the Sunderbans
being a border region, foreign researchers have not been allowed to
conduct surveys for reasons of security.For all we know, the cetacean
population of this region has already dwindled catastrophically. It
would be nothing less than an outrage if an area that has been closed
to zoologists should now be thrown open to tourist developers.

These are just a few of the project's possible ecological
consequences: there are sure to be many others.

Tourism is the world's largest industry and it is already one of
India's most important revenue earners. Clearly, every part of the
country will have to reach an accommodation with this industry: it
would be idle to pretend otherwise. There is no reason why tourists
should be excluded from the Sunderbans, so long as their presence
causes no harm to the ecology or to the people who live there. But if
tourism is to develop here, it should be on the model of other
ecologically sensitive areas, such as the Galapagos islands, where the
industry is held to very high standards. The Sunderbans deserve no
less and it is the duty of the Government of India and the government
of West Bengal to ensure that this unique ecosystem and its
inhabitants, animal and human, receive their due.

The Sahara Parivar is not the first to conceive of a grandiose plan
for this region. In the early 19th century, the British dreamt of
creating a port on the Matla river that would replace Calcutta and be
a rival to Bombay and Singapore. In 1854, Henry Piddington, a
pioneering British meteorologist, wrote an open letter to Lord
Dalhousie, begging him to reconsider the project. In his letter,
Piddington warned that in the event of a cyclone (a word he had
invented), the new port would probably be swept away. Lord Dalhousie,
secure on his proconsular throne, paid no attention to this lonely
voice: the port was built and took its name from Lord Canning. But
Henry Piddington was soon vindicated: Port Canning was swamped by a
storm in 1867. It was formally abandoned by the British five years
later.

Over the last few months, due to the efforts of a small group of
concerned people, many letters have been sent to the chief minister of
West Bengal asking him to re-examine the Sahara Parivar's project. It
falls to him now, as a democratically elected leader, to show better
judgement than did his lordly predecessors in Writers Building.

(The Sunderbans form the setting of Amitav Ghosh's most recent novel,
The Hungry Tide.)

(http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20041018&fname=Col+Amitava&sid
=1)

Certain other business houses are also said to be
interested in expanding into the Sunderbans, and this may well have
something to do with recent rumours concerning the possible discovery
of oil in the region.


Now this is something interesting, almost out of nowhere... Oil in Sunderbans... Details with anyone? I wasn't aware of this thing!

West Bengal department of tourism is planning promote tea tourism as well as general tourism in the state. A report at rediff ( http://in.rediff.com/money/2005/apr/16wb.htm ) states the following:



The West Bengal department of tourism has taken up the development of select destinations like Bishnupur, Cooch Behar, Santiniketan and Mukutmanipur as well as the promotion of 'tea tourism' in the Dooars and Darjeeling areas.

TK Burman, principal secretary of the tourism department, said clearance from the Centre for the tea tourism project was expected shortly.

The project will involve development of cottage at tea estates in the Hila and Murty regions. The department will also undertake infrastructure development at areas surrounding Balabari More in the Dooars.

"The department will be concentrating on developing infrastructure for tourists in the region of Balabari More along with cottages at two tea estates," said Burman.

The overall cost of the project is around Rs 7.98 crore (Rs 79.8 million), he added.

In 2003, domestic and foreign tourists visiting West Bengal numbered 1.13 crore (Rs 11.3 million) and 7.05 lakh respectively, accounting for around 3.5 per cent and 10 per cent share of respective tourist categories in India during the same year.

In 2004, the growth of tourist inflow in the state was 15 per cent. The number of foreign tourists rose mainly in the Sunderbans region, Darjeeling and Mayapur, Burman said.

In an effort to attract more domestic tourists, the department will open a tourist information centre in Mumbai very soon in addition to a similar office existing in New Delhi.

The building in Mumbai housing the Bengal tourism centre will also have the tourism offices of Jharkhand and Orissa.

Indian Oil Corp has set its eyes to build a chemical hub at Haldia. Full reports are available at:
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050420/asp/bengal/story_4637510.asp

Excerpt from the report:

Indian Oil Corporation will develop a chemical hub at Haldia.

IOC chairman Sarthak Behuria met Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at Writers’ Buildings today and assured him of all assistance in this regard.

Officials said the move was a compensation for the Haldia port, which is set to lose substantial revenue once IOC starts a pipeline to transport crude oil from Paradeep. “IOC today said it will start the pipeline in a year. By expanding the Haldia refinery, it will compensate us for the loss of traffic that is bound to happen,” said commerce and industries secretary Sabyasachi Sen. The Centre has already formed a panel to ascertain if Haldia can be turned into a chemical hub.

Shristinagar the New Asansol Township launched on March 5 2005. Foundation Stone laid By Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Somnath Chatterjee.

http://www.bengalshristi.com/dcc/default.asp

Its a pretty good website

http://www.flonnet.com/fl2207/images/20050408000808601.jpg

Dont know whether these have been posted before.. Since this s a WB thread with WB projects. I am putting it up here.
http://www.bengalshristi.com/images/projects/asansol_project%5B2%5D.jpg

Few More Links... This one about Siliguri
http://www.indiaonestop.com/bengalit/siliguri.htm

Siliguri Jalpaiguri development Authority

http://www.sjda.org/
http://www.sjda.org/Social_Sector_Projects/New_town_development/new_town_development.html
Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority has decided to develop an area of around 500 acre of land near North Bengal Medical college as one of the new expansion zones of Siliguri town.

The area is now being opened up for development after construction of 3rd Mahananda Bridge with Approach Road which will overcome the physical barrier (Mahananda river) on the western side of Siliguri Town.

Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority has already initiated process of acquisition of land for 506 acre in which 306 acre in Jalpaiguri district and 200 acre in Darjeeling District. An area of 200.00 acre is proposed to be taken within this for CRPF for their new Group Centre.

Total population of about 60000 will be accommodated in the new township concept. Plan of this will be finalized within one month.

Great work, Tintin. Keep it up :)

Yes, the Asansol-Durgapur Shristi thing was already posted in one of the relevant threads, but since this thread is relevant too, and is expected to continue with project development discussions in WB outside Kolkata, it is extremely helpful to have this posting here as well for future reference!

The Siliguri development is a great news. North Bengal needs Siliguri to develop as its virtual capital. 500 acre is a good fraction if it is compared to the Rajarhat area. Hence if properly developed, it should be easily able to have a provision for more than the sixty thousand odd mentioned there. Two-and-half to three lakhs would be more futuristic...

http://www.flonnet.com/fl2207/images/20050408000808601.jpg

So Durgapur's tallest building is nearing completion!
Good job Tintin27!

An interesting article

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1089316.cms

For the last 10 years, Bengal's domestic product has jumped 7.1 per cent every year, ahead of Karnataka's 6.4 per cent, Gujarat's 6.1 per cent or Haryana's 5.8 per cent. Helped by relatively low population growth, the average Bengali's income has grown 5.5 per cent, the fastest in India.

Consumption has grown a lot. India's largest Pizza Hut outlet is in Kolkata. So is the top-ranked Sony World franchisee by sales. But splurging goes well beyond city slickers. Last month Asim Dasgupta, the Finance Minister told a stunned assembly that rural Bengal spent Rs 17,000 crore last year on non-farm goods and services. To serve the hinterland, little-known companies like Oscar, Panorama and Santosh churn out stuff at rock-bottom prices. A Santosh colour TV retails in villages for as little as Rs 3,500.

Clearly, farm tenancy reforms implemented in 1978 have paid off. In India, people who actually work 85 per cent of all farmland own only 33 per cent land. In Bengal, tillers own 80 per cent of farmland. Unsurprisingly, holdings are hugely productive, churning out four crops a year. For about 10 years, farm output has jumped more than 5 per cent annually, the fastest clip in the country. Long India's biggest rice producer, Bengal is now the largest grower of pineapples and vegetables, the second-largest producer of potatoes and a big grower of quality mangoes. Companies like PepsiCo, doubling its initial Rs 80 crore investment in potato-processing this year, are betting on cold chains and better transport infrastructure to invest in fruit farming. Dabur has a fruit-processing outfit in north Bengal. Last week, four French projects lined up investments in food processing.

Over the last 13 years, according to the Planning Commission, Bengal has got a staggering Rs 27,000 crore worth of private industrial investment, second only to Gujarat, ahead of Maharashtra. That shook sceptics used to the idea of a moribund economy mired in worker militancy. Across the former rust belt of Bankura, Burdwan, Howrah and Hooghly, new iron and steel projects, each worth between Rs 50 and Rs 1,200 crore investment, are sprouting. Near the southern coast is a petrochemical cluster. Mukherjee's favourite IT complex on the eastern fringe of Kolkata now exports about Rs 1,400 crore software and BPO services.

Unlike other regimes attempting reforms, the Left doesn't have to keep looking over its shoulder. It has a vice-like grip on power, running networks of cadre and workers at every level of society. "What we want to do, we can do, all the way to villages", says Dasgupta candidly.

But hassles persist. Manufacturing investors face pressure from lawmakers, local dadas , policemen and opposition netas to hire chamchas and sons of the soil. Negotiations can turn violent. Workers hired on patronage soon become a drag. The fear of worker militancy refuses to go and helps explains why Bengal's employment growth has lagged other states. While Gujarat and Maharashtra found jobs for 1,40,000 and 1,50,000 folks from investments through 1991-2004, Bengal could create only 70,000 jobs. This year, the government admits to 7 million unemployed. "The pattern of investment here has been capital intensive", confesses Dasgupta. Some new investors import captive — and docile — workers from other states and keep them within the factory's walls with little interaction with outsiders. "These are sweatshop conditions. Even chaiwallahs outside these plants get no business, because workers can't come out", frets a senior CPM leader in Delhi. As Bengal's CPM leaders dream big — they're planning to turn it into a hub servicing Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, the north-east, Bangladesh, Myanmar, South East Asia, and even China — they'll have to reckon with the Delhi-based leadership. The latter, with little experience in governance and overdosed on Lenin, are high on ideological chastity. They don't want overseas investment in retail; their comrades in Kolkata would love dollar-funded malls.

Airports in Kolkata, Bagdogra or Malda will need large investments. Can private investors get in? Mantris in Kolkata say the central leadership is still debating this. Apart from 22 months of United Front rule eight years ago, this is the first time in nearly 30 years that Bengal's Left Front has a friendly regime in New Delhi: the UPA is supported by 60-odd Left lawmakers. Everybody in Writers' Building, the 300-year-old red brick structure that houses the government, knows this is the sweet spot, a chance to rebuild Bengal into an economic powerhouse, India's gateway to the Far East and China. Will Lutyens' Leninists give them the chance?

:)

Lets hope for the best!

There seem to be still a string of difference between Bengal and Center Leftists... Lets hope the gap bridges. A shine would do any place good, and Bengal is no exception!

Waste Bengal (2005) --> Best Bengal (2025).

Yep, let's hope for the best. :)

The one thing is the economic activity is being restricted (as of now) to areas in and around kolkata...(correct me if am wrong).....Bengal also needs some second rung cities with siginicant economic activity...

The one thing is the economic activity is being restricted (as of now) to areas in and around kolkata...(correct me if am wrong).....Bengal also needs some second rung cities with siginicant economic activity...

Grossly speaking, you are not wrong, mostly right. West Bengal development is too much Kolkata-centric in general. But recently I have observed (felt the inception of) a "small" change in the mindset of the great leaders. Probably they have realized that there is more to West Bengal than Greater Kolkata. There are four major contenders outside the Kolkata-Howrah zone (Greater Kolkata) that can be second-rung places. They are:
1. Silliguri-Jalpaiguri (and with the new international highway proposed to pass through it, it has a bright chance).
2. ADDA (Asansol-Durgapur zone): This zone is showing signs of industrial recovery.
3. Haldia: With all those chemical plants...
4. Surprisingly, Midnapur-Kharagpur zone, with the govt having suddenly identified/realized its potential as industrial zones with proximity to Jharkhand and Orissa, proximity to IIT Kgp, and plenty of (barren) land.

Then places like Malda, Bardhaman, Coochbehar (not sure how to spell it) and Bolpur/Shantiniketan are always there for breathers of different dimensions.

There was (and is still) always a very neglected goldmine in West Bengal: tourism. Proper desire, planning and development could have made it into a heaven for tourists with its proximity to South-East Asia via Air, Water and Land (every possible means) and wide natural variety (a state with almost everything but a desert and a big waterfall). Sad work so far by the big noses in this segment...

Waste Bengal (2005) --> Best Bengal (2025).

Yep, let's hope for the best. :)

I would say Waste Bengal (1991) -> Better Bengal (2005) --> Best Bengal (2025).

BTW Nova did you make that up? I thought I had a copyright on that phrase - "Waste Bengal to Best Bengal"...

:)

The one thing is the economic activity is being restricted (as of now) to areas in and around kolkata...(correct me if am wrong).....Bengal also needs some second rung cities with siginicant economic activity...

As Fred said there are roughly four major urban areas that the govt is concentrating on.

ADDA - over a million population - lots of investments in mini iron and steel plants. Many planned townships.

Haldia - petrochemicals and port. A couple of planned townships.

SJDA - Tourism/Food procecessing - agricluture related industries - planned townships (finallly) u/c.

KMDA - Kolkata, Howrah, Kalyani...

Efforts to make Kharagpur - Midnapore a new centre of activity are on.

I would say Waste Bengal (1991) -> Better Bengal (2005) --> Best Bengal (2025).

BTW Nova did you make that up? I thought I had a copyright on that phrase - "Waste Bengal to Best Bengal"...

:)

I heard it on this forum; so I must indeed have got it from you. Don't sue me. ;)

Russian truck-makers to start Haldia operations?
Item: http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=12&theme=&usrsess=1&id=75579


Russian truck manufacturer Uralaz will set up an assembling unit at Haldia to turn out all-terrain trucks with imported auto components.
The company, the first foreign car maker to show interest in setting up an unit in West Bengal, will join hands with a local partner for the project, Mr Said Zabitov, senior consul of the Consulate General of Russian Federation, Kolkata, told reporters here today.
Mr Zabitov said the company has almost completed the trials for three trucks imported from Russia to gauge their performance on Indian roads.
“The trials so far are quite successful. After getting the final results, the company will firm up its plans for the plant,” he said.
The unit will initially import all the components from Russia but would later source some components from local manufacturers.
Earlier, speaking at a conference ‘Trade with CIS countries’ organised by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations, Mr Zabitov said Russia is keen to extend assistance and expertise to India in sectors such as coal, energy and inland waterways. A Russian delegation from Kemerovo region was likely to visit the country later this year to study the areas of cooperation.
In the coal sector, he said Russia had technological adequacy and equipment to assist India in exploring underground mines in an efficient way.
Mr Zabitov, however, dismissed apprehensions about dwindling market for Indian tea in Russia after the disintegration of the USSR, saying the annual consumption in his country has remained at the same level of about 60,000 tonnes.

Bengal agri-processing sector update from e-paper daily Indiatimes:

Bengal expects investments in the agri-processing sector to exceed Rs 1,000 crore soon, state food processing industries and horticulture minister Sailen Sarkar said on Thursday.
“Frito Lay, Dabur and Calypso have already started operations and there are several others like Pailan and Pataka which have expressed an intention to pump big money into this arena,” Sarkar said on the sidelines of a seminar jointly organised by Ficci (eastern region) and food processing ministry.
Last month, 2AMIS of France and the Pataka group signed a deal to form a joint venture for establishing a Rs 250-crore venture that would initially produce glucose syrup for supply to beverage makers, and later add biscuits and toffees to its portfolio. In April, Pailan also inked an agreement with 2AMIS for a Rs 150-crore potato flakes project.
Sources said there was a possibility of a food processing ministry official visiting the US soon as part of an Indo-American Chamber of Commerce delegation to hardsell the advantages of doing business here.
“We will definitely like to scale up our presence in Bengal once our project reaches a critical mass,” Pepsico India Holdings (Frito Lay division) V-P (operations) Animesh Banerjee said.
Banerjee said Frito Lay, which has already pumped Rs 80 crore into its Sankrail facility, would wait for a year before taking a decision on the capacity upgradation.

Mango news relay from The Telegraph: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050509/asp/calcutta/story_4712807.asp

I personally quite like the idea of foreigners tasting Himsagar and Langra mangoes, I feel they taste quite nice if properly grown and nourished :)


Mangoes grown in Bengal may make it to the tables of Malaysia, Singapore and China, thanks to a vigorous campaign.

Only Calcutta consumes all of 112,320 tonnes of mangoes in just six months — from March to August (in addition to the local supply of another 10 per cent).

And yet, foreigners have been denied the taste of locally-grown mangoes, such as himsagar, produced in orchards around Calcutta, lakshmanbhog, a speciality of Malda, and langra, unlike the produce from elsewhere in the country, such as the popular Alphonso.

One reason for this is that the quality of the locally-produced varieties need to be improved, and better marketing strategies need to be implemented to fetch the right price.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority will take up an extensive campaign in Southeast Asia and China to promote Bengal mangoes. The state government is behind the effort to spread the word around in the global market.

By the end of this month, China will be the first country to get a taste of Bengal mangoes. The focus will then shift to Singapore in the second week of June. The final leg of the campaign will be in Malaysia.

For this, 10 exporters (most of them from Calcutta, who deal almost exclusively with mango export), and farmers growing mangoes will be flown over to these places to participate in the “promote Bengal mango campaign” to undergo a “know-your-market” programme.

“We will tie up with some well-known departmental stores in all of the destinations, where mangoes from Bengal can be displayed for four to five days. People can actually buy on the spot, and it would also mean there are deals settled with clients who buy in bulk,” Ranjit Mondol, regional manager of the export promotion authority said on Sunday.

Prospective buyers will be able to taste samples free. Buyer-seller meets will be organised.

Mangoes will be served as pickles, fresh salad, with daal, lamb or chicken, as a beverage, in chutney, sandesh, rasogolla and ice creams. “The sheer variety is sure to attract the buyers,” an official said.

Bengal looks hungry, with the CM leading from the front!

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=22&theme=&usrsess=1&id=76529

I read both about mango and fish also in a Bengali daily (Anandabajar). The bigger guns of the state govt seriously seems to mean business. A great sign, that. :cheers:

The Telegraph: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050524/asp/business/story_4778691.asp

The tone of the report seems to indicate a _competition_ between Gujarat and Bengal. I personally would prefer _collaboration and growth at both places_ unless economically or otherwise not viable...

State unveils Rs 5000-cr infrastructure agendas

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1119549.cms

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051110/asp/frontpage/story_5459186.asp


The Kalaikunda air force station is for hire. Singapore’s air force has asked for use of its facilities and is negotiating a price with the Indian government.



The following part is interesting. I personally know one or two such airbases. In fact I had even ridden on my bicycle on what was then a 'take-off road' (finding it tough to call it a "runway" because of its small length) for small airplanes!

During the Second World War, the British established several such airbases in the eastern region to conduct raids against advancing Japanese and also for operations to transport aid to parts of China.

Eastern and northeastern India have a number of abandoned airfields built by the British. Kalaikunda was never allowed to run into ruin.


Btw, there would be many such small strips in India. Can we find photos/statistics of them?

In and around Kolkata

France to invest $1 billion in West Bengal

http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=13981568

Haldia: France would invest at least $ 1,000 million in two plants in and around Kolkata very soon. This information was given by French trade commissioner in Kolkata, Robert Igier to the press here after addressing about 200 prospective investors attending the investors' meet.

''The Government of France considers West Bengal as a better destination for investment in the country due to its seven per cent annual growth rate in the last five years. Cheap labour, friendly trade unions and a stable government are the main considerations. Out of our choice of investment in 25 countries we consider five countries as the best, India being one of them", said the French Trade commissioner.

As to the location and type of plants to be set up by the French Government, Igier said this would be disclosed later for security reasons.

US Consul General in Kolkata Henry Jardine informed the investors that his government also considered India and specifically West Bengal as a very encouraging field for investment, specially in banking, insurance, atomic energy and others.

Tisco JV gets 180 acres at Haldia
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=204413

Hoogly Met Coke and Power Co Ltd, a joint venture between Tata Steel and West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), has been allotted 180 acres of land for its proposed metallurgical coke and power plant project at Haldia. The company was given possession of the required land at Haldia, last week.

The company has also issued a letter of intent to Beijing Sino Steel Industry and Trade Group (SSIT) for sourcing technology from Shanxi Provincial Chemical Design Institute, as well as setting up the coke oven project on a turnkey basis.

The project with an envisaged outlay of Rs 700 crore in the first phase was expected to go onstream by early 2007.The joint venture company proposes to set up a merchant coke oven plant at Haldia with a capacity of 0.8 million tonne of coke annually at the completion of phase one.

The project is intended to supply high quality metallurgical coke to the international as well as to the domestic customers. It would also cater to the requirement of Tata Steel. The entire coking coal requirement would be imported.

The company would also generate 60 MW of electricity by utilizing the sensitive heat of the hot fire gas from the coke ovens. The power will be sold to West Bengal State Electricity Board (WBSEB).


BHEL to set-up eco-friendly power plant at Haldia
http://www.business-standard.com/bsonline/storypage.php?bKeyFlag=BO&autono=12127

Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) has bagged a Rs 130 crore order from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to set up an energy efficient and environment friendly co-generation power plant at IOC's Haldia Refinery complex. The plant is scheduled to be commissioned in 22 months.


IOC sets up clean petrol unit at Haldia
http://in.today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=businessNews&storyID=2005-11-09T143638Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-222722-1.xml

Indian Oil Corp. (IOC) has set up a new unit to produce low-sulphur petrol at its 120,000 barrels per day (bpd) Haldia refinery. The refinery can now produce 0.35 million tonnes a year, or about 8,100 bpd of petrol conforming to Euro-III standards, which allow sulphur content of 150 parts per million (PPM). Fuel from the refinery will also have lower levels of pollutants. The project to make cleaner petrol was implemented in 18 months at a cost of 3.59 billion rupees ($78 million).

Haldia wants Singapore federation to develop SEZ
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=108009

Haldia Development Authority is trying to rope in the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) as the developer for its proposed special economic zone.
HDA chairman Lakshman Seth said, the federation’s marketing manager Richard Khoh, who came to Haldia on October 17, expressed his interest in developing the SEZ if the government approved it as a multipurpose one.

SBF wants to promote SEZ with pharmaceutical and bio-tech parks apart from the proposed chemical hub. Mr Khoh has proposed an investment of Rs 1,000 crore. IL&FS had proposed to develop the SEZ following a memorandum of understanding with HDA in February this year but later on it roped in SBF.

Japfa plans to make India its export hub
http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=13980264

Japfa Comfeed India Ltd (JCIL) - a joint venture between the $ 1.5-billion Japfa Comfeed International Pte, Singapore (JCI) and Adijaya Guna Satwatama, Indonesia - plans to make India its export hub.

It's West Bengal plans include the addition of a breeding farm and chicken meat processing plant at its newly created Haldia feed plant. A breeding farm was also likely at Siliguri in North Bengal.


The Haldia Development Authority (HDA) has created a land bank of at least 1,500 acres so that they can provide land to investors with industrialisation and urbanisation projects.

The HDA chairman, Lakshman Seth,said that a 1000 Megawatt power station will be constructed by the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) and a 10,000 acre mega chemical industrial township is also coming up.

Seth also said that a 2,500 acre Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was in the pipeline. “The Singapore Business Federation has expressed interest in developing and investing in the SEZ,” Seth stated.

“Another 2,500 acre Free Trade Warehousing is also slated to come up under the aegis of a joint effort by the IL&FS Investment Limited and MMTC Limited,” he added.

Seth also said that a Belgium-based industrial group had expressed their interest in setting up a Rs 2,000 crores lime manufacturing unit in Haldia.

The HDA has also planned to extend the Haldia port by constructing more jetties.

Jusco gets Haldia project - Company spreads wings
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051014/asp/jamshedpur/story_5350519.asp

Jamshedpur Utilities and Services Company (Jusco), a subsidiary of Tata Steel, will, for the first time, make its presence felt beyond the steel city.
Jusco, along with France-based Veolia Water India, will now be entrusted with the operation and maintenance of the water supply system at Haldia in East Midnapore district of West Bengal. Jusco signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Haldia Development Authority (HDA).

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051110/asp/frontpage/story_5459186.asp




The following part is interesting. I personally know one or two such airbases. In fact I had even ridden on my bicycle on what was then a 'take-off road' (finding it tough to call it a "runway" because of its small length) for small airplanes!


Btw, there would be many such small strips in India. Can we find photos/statistics of them?

meanwhile, at Kalaikunda....

http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/56107210.jpg?x=x&dasite=GettyImages&ef=2&ev=1&dareq=ED088CD8491B143A1882B1356C9E1AA3781CF461BB6606AD

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2499/051108f0000s0108en.th.jpg (http://img166.imageshack.us/my.php?image=051108f0000s0108en.jpg)

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/4787/051108f0000s0201en.th.jpg (http://img166.imageshack.us/my.php?image=051108f0000s0201en.jpg)

umm, small strip, Fred?

^^ Lol, the commie cadres were left gazing at the planes and forgot to protest :lol: :hilarious:.

meanwhile, at Kalaikunda....

umm, small strip, Fred?

Fred is not talking of Kalaikunda, but of small abandoned bases mentioned by the Telegraph article. Hope that clears the confusion.

:)

Xenitis plans two-wheeler foray
http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=9118&CatID=4

Xenitis group, known for its low-priced personal computers, is foraying into two-wheelers segment and is also planning to launch a Bengali news channel by next year.

The company has plans to make two-wheelers by the end of the current financial year and has tied up with Gongsu Motors, a Guangjo-based company owned by the Chinese government, for the project. The company is investing Rs 250 crore and had appointed KPMG for the two-wheeler project. The factory will be set up in Chinsurah.

Videocon proposes Rs 100 crore investment in Siliguri

Videocon has submitted a proposal entailing an investment of Rs 100 crore in Siliguri. The new Videocon unit would cater to the Northeast and markets in neighbouring countries. Initially, the company plans to manufacture around 1 lakh television sets a year. Getting government approval for the project should be a formality.

Germans gauge WB as food processing hub
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=156367

A 15-member business delegation from Germany arrived here this morning to review the potential of the state as a destination for investment in food processing. The delegation will interact closely with local business houses to explore possibilities of joint ventures and strategic business alliances in the state.

“The market for food processing and food products in West Bengal amounts to an estimated Rs 120 million Euros. Food is the craze in this part of the country. So, meet, greet and eat, I say,” said Gunther Wehrmann, the consul general for Germany in Kolkata, at an inaugural seminar at a city hotel today.

No, I was not talking of Kalaikunda then, but an almost-forgotten small airstrip at a place in Birbhum district. It is called "Suruchuya"/"surichuya" by the local people, and the nearby subdivisional town is Rampurhat (~60 km north from Bolpur-Shantiniketan, the famous Tagore's place).

Meanwhile, the Raichak-Kukrahati bridge seems to have finally come back in track :)
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051111/asp/frontpage/story_5463675.asp


Japan has agreed in principle to fund the Raichak-Kukrahati bridge on the Hooghly, which will shorten the distance between Calcutta and the port town by about 50 km.

The "port town" mentioned here is Haldia.

Fred is not talking of Kalaikunda, but of small abandoned bases mentioned by the Telegraph article. Hope that clears the confusion.

:)

lol, I figured, i was just pulling his leg! :)

NOW, what is this! Reference: Times e-paper today.



Go-slow advice for Haldia


By Subhro Niyogi/TNN



Kolkata: Haldia’s rapid industrialisation is threatening the town’s survival. A futuristic assessment of Haldia’s environment in 2013 by TERI has drawn up a horror scenario if the pace of development is not eased.
The two-year study commissioned by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board warns of air pollution due to massive hike in emission loads, river pollution due to rise in dumping of untreated biological waste, water scarcity due to overdrawal of groundwater and soil contamination due to increase in solid and hazardous waste.
Preparing an Area-wide Environmental Quality Management plan for Haldia, the study assessed the extent of development possible without adversely effecting the environment. It concluded Haldia Development Authority must arrest the pace of development to prevent an ecological catastrophe. A grid-wise emission inventory conducted by TERI revealed petrochemical units emitted substantial SO2 and SPM pollutants. In comparison, battery, pesticide, detergent and edible oil plants were less polluting.
The AEQM predicted a seven-fold increase in SO2 level and eight-fold hike in suspended particulate matter in Haldia’s air if existing refinery, petrochemicals, coke oven, vanaspati and fertiliser units undertook a 100% capacity expansion by 2013 and proposed units in steel, power and cement sectors increased capacity by 50%.
“The impact of development will not only be felt close to the industrial belt in the north but also in residential areas in the south,” the report stated. It also warned of fugitive dust emissions from the projected two-fold increase in vehicles unless roads are improved and tailpipe emission standards strictly enforced.
This level of growth would also put enormous pressure on resources like water. Against the existing requirement of 24.11 million gallons of water per day, the study projects water demand to rise to 270 MGD by 2013.
Similarly, the 50% increase in population during this period would lead to an increase in municipal solid waste from 83 tonne per day to 662 tonne per day. The corresponding rise in hazardous waste generated by industries would be over 2 lakh tonne per annum against the current figure of 29,099 TPA. In case of 50% capacity addition in existing industries and addition of new sectors like steel, SO2 and SPM concentration would grow by five and six times, respectively.

I wonder how many of such proposals really get implemented..


Europe Israel group lines up Rs 10,000 crore investment
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=206854

Europe Israel Group (EIG), one of the leading corporate groups in IT, telecom, bio tech and infrastructure in Israel, is lining up Rs 10,000 crore investment in India, a majority of which would be in West Bengal. A delegation of the company led by group chairman M Zisser met the chief minister of West Bengal, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, on Monday with its investment proposals.
EIG is likely to submit a formal proposal to the state government regarding investment in a week.

The promoter of Laxmi Relators Ltd, and the local partner of the group, Indrajit De, said EIG was keen to invest in West Bengal as it was impressed by the quality and availability of human resources.

De, a NRI, was instrumental for bringing EIG to West Bengal. He said in another 2-3 months, the detailed roadmap of the proposed Rs 10,000 crore investment in India would be finalised. According to De, EIG would take up the medical equipment plant in the first phase. "We shall float a special purpose vehicle for the medical equipment plant. It would be a joint venture between Laxmi group and Europe Israel. There could be a third partner in the venture," he said.

EIG currently had a joint venture outfit with GE called Elbiet Medical Imaging.

According to the Laxmi group promoter, the group was likely to invest Rs 1,000 crore for the medical equipment project. EIG sought land for a bio-technology park in the state. Commenting on this, De said EIG required around 100 acres for the project.

Earlier, the chairman of EIG, M Zisser, said the group was a large investor in R&D in the bio-tech sector He said besides West Bengal, the group would also look at Bangalore for exploring opportunities in IT and telecom.

Laxmi group along with EIG, was one of the bidders for the Rs 2,500 crore convention centre project at Rajarhat, the new township coming up in eastern Kolkata. The Unitech group won that bid.

Rs 8,000 crore IISCO upgrade cleared
http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=11790&CatID=4

The Union government on Monday sanctioned the Rs 8,000-crore modernisation and upgradation of Indian Iron and Steel Company (Iisco), to be undertaken by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), after the former's merger with SAIL.

Once the merger, for which SAIL shareholders have already given the go-ahead, and modernisation of IISCO is complete, it will add 2 million tonnes of crude steel capacity to SAIL's existing capacity of 13 million tonnes.

Union minister of steel Ram Vilas Paswan said in Parliament on Monday that the government had approved the Rs 8,000 crore investment for Iisco, and that the modernisation will be complete by 2011, co-terminus with SAIL's Corporate Plan 2011.

The biggest gain for SAIL, after the merger of IISCO, will be in terms of raw material linkages that can be established between the two companies. In reality, the biggest attractions for SAIL are Iisco's prime coking coal mines and washeries at Chasnala, Jitpur and Ramnagore. All steel companies have been fighting shortage and high global prices of coking coal. SAIL imports about 8 million tonnes of coking coal a year for its plants.

West Bengal government plans to draw Rs 1 lakh crore investment
http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=174338&cat=India

The West Bengal government is chalking out ambition plans to line up an investment of over Rs 1 lakh crore by 2012 for the economic development of the state.
The state government expects Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the tune of more than 50 per cent of the total investment, which is expected to cross Rs 100,000 crore. Most of these investments would be in line with the India's 'Look East' policy.

Bengal is hungry for FDI in food and farms: Buddhadeb
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=82915

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today invited “massive foreign direct investment (FDI)” in food processing and the agriculture sector at a conference attended by top executives of international companies dealing in food and food-processing products.

“We need private capital, both domestic and foreign direct investment. Without FDI, we cannot progress,’’ he said at a three-day Foodworld India 2005: The Next Link in the Global Food Value Chain conference organised by FICCI and the ministry of food processing.

He announced plans for a Rs 1,000-crore investment in a mega food park and pushed for FDI in four crucial areas of agriculture: diversification in agriculture, improving infrastructure, improving marketing networks and technology upgradation. ‘‘We also welcome investments in research and development (R&D) activities... We invite investors to develop a marketing mechanism,’’ he said.

After inviting FDI, he told delegates that West Bengal had crossed 4% growth in agriculture as compared to the the 1.1 per cent national average. He attributed this to the success of land reforms.

Delegates were also given snippets of success stories in West Bengal: from West Bengal exporting roses to Netherlands to Fritolays setting up a potato processing plant and Dabur a pineapple-processing unit. The state is also setting up multi-purpose cold chains at Kolkata and North Bengal airports.

Ambuja Cement to invest Rs 115 cr in Farakka unit
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=159379

Ambuja Cement Eastern Ltd (ACEL) will invest Rs 115 crore in its new 1 million tonne cement grinding unit in Farakka. The investment will be a combination of internal accruals and debt.

ACEL, a subsidiary of Ambuja Cement India Ltd, has decided to use Farakka unit’s production for the North Bengal and North East markets, according to Harshavardhan Neotia, the managing director of ACEL.

ACEL, with a cement producing capacity of 1.8 mt, has klinker and grinding plants at Bhatapara in Chhattisgarh and a grinding unit at Sankrail in West Bengal. The company’s second grinding unit will use the fly ash of NTPC thermal plant at Farakka.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051203/asp/business/story_5553646.asp


Putting months of speculation at rest, Pawan Ruia has finally bagged the ailing tyre maker, Dunlop.

In a deal signed today, Ruia clinched Dunlop, profit-making Falcon Tyres and India Tyre Co, a trading company, beating other contenders like Hero Group, Metro Tyres and Apollo Tyres.

The transaction that marked the exit of Chhabria-owned Jumbo Group from the tyre business in India is valued at Rs 200 crore.

When contacted, a Jumbo Group spokesperson confirmed the development.

“The tyre business of Jumbo Group has been sold to Pawan Ruia in an offshore deal,” the spokesperson said. The companies, which held stakes in Dunlop and Falcon, have now been sold to Ruia, he added.

The exit from the tyre business is in line with Jumbo Group’s policy to concentrate on its core business — electronics.

“We have tried to revive the company for long but without any result. The group was looking at some company which has a long-term interest in the tyre business,” he added.

The key factors that went in favour of Ruia are that he stumped up more cash than others and showed eagerness to buy Dunlop that others were not ready to touch. Moreover, he has the experience of turning around Jessop, which was an ailing public sector unit.

Pawan Ruia could not be reached for comment. Ruia group spokesperson said an announcement would be made only tomorrow.

While the share transfer agreement between the two parties has been sealed, the deal has to be vetted by the Board For Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR).

For a BIFR company, which Dunlop is, takeover is not completed without the board’s approval. The share transfer may take place, but it needs BIFR blessing. Without it, the deal is not consummated. For instance, the government sold its stake in Jessop to Ruia Cotex, but it came into effect only after the BIFR okayed it.

However, there will be no hurdles to acquiring Falcon Tyres, which is a profit-making company.

If Ruia manages to win the BIFR approval and convince the banks and financial institutions to get along with him, he would face the uphill task of reviving Dunlop. When Dunlop was closed in 1998, it had 5,000 people on the rolls. Now the workforce at Sahagunj in Bengal stands at 2,700.

In an exclusive interview with The Telegraph a week ago, Ruia had said he might not need more than 1,000 workers to run this plant.

“I may need to put in Rs 50 crore to start operations at Sahagunj,” he had said.

His total investment could be much more because Dunlop comes with a huge liability in its books.

The situation at the Ambattur facility in Tamil Nadu is said to be better and operations can start soon.

It is to be seen whether Ruia can persuade the state and the trade unions to agree to his plan to right size the workforce.

He had expressed hope that operations at Sahagunj factory could start within three to four months after the completion of all the formalities. However, this would depend on approvals from all quarters: the unions, the government, banks, financial institutions, the BIFR and the AAIFR.


Lets see how this heritage organization moves forward... :)

West Bengal's bid to make up for late start in IT


New policy initiatives attract the big players to the State

KOLKATA has a huge talent pool. It offers the lowest cost of operation

WEST BENGAL has been a late-starter in the IT sector. It was content to service the sector through its Industry and Commerce department till the Nineties and it was only in 2000 that a separate department was set up to look after this new economy sector.

The perception of a State under long years of Left rule helped little. Images of a poor work-culture, militant trade unionism and resistance to computerisation did not inspire confidence in prospective investors.

But the scenario has been changing rapidly. The dynamism ushered since 1994 (when the new industrial policy was announced), the IT policy and the ITeS policy in 2002, and the fresh air brought in over the last five years of the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government have all led the IT companies to queue up for investing in a State that they had avoided till a few years ago.

Many eager investors

About 235 IT companies including major ones — IBM, Wipro, TCS, Cognizant, PwC Skytech, Computer Associates, NIIT — are already here. The built-up space under occupation, by the IT and ITeS industry, is poised to leap to 13.3 million square feet in 30 months from 1.8 million now. More software technology parks are set to be added to the six existing ones. The IT hub at Sector V of Salt Lake in Kolkata is India's first fully integrated electronics complex. Satyam and ITC Infotech have announced their plans to invest in the State while Reliance Infocomm plans to set up a call centre. Also in the queue are ICICIOne Source, Hinduja TMT and Mahindra BT.

The roadshows held by IT minister Manab Mukherjee, himself a science graduate from St Xaviers College, and his team of secretaries have had their impact and investors have astutely weighed the balances in their favour.

The city has a huge talent pool. It offers the lowest cost of operations. It has the lowest attrition rate and good power availability — prerequisites that make a city a preferred industry destination. IT department officials said that in the ITeS sector West Bengal actually has the lowest attrition rate of about 20 per cent against 30-40 per cent in cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi.

Emboldened by these positive parameters, West Bengal (with 2004-05 exports at Rs. 2,200 crore) which now has a mere three per cent share in the country's software exports plans to catapult itself to a position from where it can contribute 15 per cent of India's total IT revenue and 20 per cent of ITeS revenues by 2010. " It's steep", admits State IT secretary Dr Gautama even as he expresses confidence that it is achievable. "We do not market others' weaknesses but only our strengths," he says adding : "The city is poised for an exponential growth in IT space, given its strengths."

http://www.hindu.com/biz/2005/12/05/stories/2005120501241800.htm

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051207/asp/nation/story_5563799.asp

It’s exciting and the curve is great.

But before you start wondering if it’s some kind of sleazy invitation, it’s not. Just a tip from an insider who knows where to byte.

Kiran Karnik, the man who heads Nasscom, the apex body of software and services companies, says the city is the place to be. “If you’re a businessman, Calcutta is a very exciting place to be right now. The information technology sector here is showing a great growth curve, as compared to the rest of the country.

“With a proactive government which means business, Calcutta is the gateway to the east and the Northeast, which has tremendous, and unfortunately, untapped potential.”

Kolkata seen as genomics discovery hub
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu2&leftindx=2&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=207933

http://www.igib.res.in/cbtimage.gif

Kolkata should evolve from becoming the information technology (IT) enabled services (ITeS) hub to IT enabled discovery (ITeD) hub of the nation with one of the largest pure science talent pool in the country.

Speaking at the sidelines of Infocomm 2005, Samir K Brahmachari, director, Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology (IGIB) said that West Bengal missed the first reverse engineering or the generic 'bus' when the biotechnology boom was happening in the other states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka but now with the pure science graduates becoming increasingly rare breed in southern states, the state should utilise this talent pool and IT skills to explore and unravel new frontiers in biotechnology.

The global biotechnology industry is worth $ 50 billion while in India the business ranges between $250 million to $ 1 billion. According to a Nasscom survey this sector could grow to 10 per cent of the global biotechnology business by 2010.

The Chatterjee Group has interests in companies and projects like Chembiotech Research Private Limited, Institute of Molecular Medicine, a project with the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) titled Centre for Population Genomics and Silicogene, another company on Bioinformatics. Brahmachari outlined that IGIB has also received a $1 million grant for an IT enabled system for structure, dynamics, control and design as well as a Genome Application Centre from the Chatterjee Group. The institute is also collaborating with ISI in Kolkata on analysing and developing novel computing tools.

The planing commission on the other hand has given Rs 25 crore for a genotype to phenotype mapping and another Rs 43 crore for a revolutionary indigenous clinical drug trial model. Brahmachari claimed that if successful would no longer make it imperative for Indian companies to take the help of their foreign counterparts to conduct trials. IGIB has 50 branded biodrugs in India though a majority of them are based on reverse engineering.

The sector requiring huge start up investments with unpredictable outcomes, usually face a lot of apprehension from the venture capitalist (VCs) with only $70 million having come from VCs out of which 20 per cent were for start ups according to a Nasscom study.

The lingering doubt over the patent regime though changed recently still lingers coupled with the efficacy of application of legislation and the growing public opinion against genetically modified crops and the likes.

Brahmachari pointed out that there were more bio-IT rather IT products patented and often smaller companies actually go through the whole process of sustained research and application rather than the industry biggies.

SAIL to invest Rs 11,000cr in Bengal plants
http://www.business-standard.com/bsonline/storypage.php?bKeyFlag=BO&autono=12587

As part of the Rs 35,000 crore mega growth plan, Steel Authority of India (SAIL) is planning to pump in Rs 11,000 crore to increase production at its three production units in West Bengal including Durgapur Steel Plant (DSP) and Indian Iron and Steel Company (IISCO).

The company has decided to invest Rs 11,000 crore in the next five-six years to jack up hot metal production capacity of DSP from the present level of two million tonne to 3.2 million tonne by 2011-12 and IISCO's capacity to 2.5 million tonne from the existing 0.8 million tonne.

Apart from increasing hot metal production, an investment of Rs 3,000 crore in DSP would also ensure that finished steel production of the plant go up substantially from a meagre 0.7 million tonne to 2.63 million tonne by 2011-12.

CTS planning investment in city

CTS is planning to acquire 10-15 acres of additional land in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) area in West Bengal. In Kolkata, in 2005 the company has already recruited 1,000 professionals taking the total strength to 3,200 in the city.


Acclaris to scale up headcount

Acclaris Business Solutions Private Limited (ABSPL), a 100 per cent subsidiary of US based Acclaris Inc., would be enhancing its manpower to 1000 in India within two years, John West, president and chief executive officer, Acclaris Inc. said in Kolkata today.

Speaking on the sidelines of the inaugural function of its fourth service centre in India, and the third in Kolkata, West said the headcount would double within 2006 from current figure of 300. Of these, around 250 were working at the Kolkata centre and the remaining at Vizag. Apart from these four centres, ABSPL was also evaluating the opportunity for setting up service centres at Durgapur and Silliguri. Kalyan Kar, managing director of Acclaris India, informed.

IT realtor eyes more acres - 400,000 sq ft office space ready by 2007

Ascendas, Asia’s leading provider of business space solutions, has sought more land in Calcutta from the state government, besides the 20-acre plot it is developing in Rajarhat.

Chong Siak Ching, president and CEO of the company, called on the chief minister at Writers’ Buildings on Monday. “We apprised and updated him on the progress of the IT park we are developing,” said Harminder Singh, senior vice-president of Ascendas India.

“We also discussed the possibility of being allotted some more space. We’d be happy if it’s adjacent to the plot we are working on in Rajarhat.”

According to government officials, the company wants to develop the park into a special economic zone. The chief minister asked Ching to table a formal proposal in this regard.

The Singapore-based company’s Rs 400-crore project in Rajarhat’s Action Area II — the single largest such investment in the city — is likely to yield around two million sq ft of office space.

“The project is in the planning stage and we are in talks with local authorities like Hidco for the clearances and approvals. We intend to start work on the first phase by April 2006, which should be completed in 12 months.”

The first phase — likely to generate 400,000 sq ft space — should then take three more months to be ready for companies to move in. “We are tapping both our existing clients and new ones for renting space in the new IT park,” Singh said. The company’s client list includes IT and IT-related companies such as IBM, Intel, AOL and TCS.

“We plan to add around 13.3 million sq ft of IT space to the existing 1.8 million sq ft in the next 30 months,” said state IT secretary G.D. Gautama. “We will do this through 13 IT parks in and around the city, and Ascendas’s is one of them.”

Satyam to come to Kolkata?

http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=185332&cat=Business

Software biggie Satyam Computer Services would set up a software development centre in Kolkata, Mr B Ramalinga Raju, the founder and chairman of the company said. However, Mr Raju declined to give further details about the project.

''We have allocated 2.5 acres of land in Saltlake sector V to Satyam and they would start construction in January,'' West Bengal IT Minister Manab Mukherjee.


New software park with SEZ status coming up in Bantala
http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=62829

A new software park with Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status is coming up in the Bantala area of West Bengal.

''130 acres of land will be alloted to the national and international IT companies which want to set up shop in the state,'' Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya chairman of M L Dalmiya and Co, developing the land, said.

''We have already developed the land and it will be leased out for 99 years,'' the former BCCI president said. ''The rate of the land will be much lower compared to Rajarhat standard,'' he added. ''We have invested Rs 240 crore for developing the land,'' he said.

Bengal to get prominence on Tata map

Calcutta, Dec. 10: The Tata group will give priority to Bengal as an investment destination. The group, which is present in software, tea and steel sectors in the state, is now looking at setting up an automobile or auto ancillary unit here.

Addressing the consular corps business seminar in Calcutta today, group supremo Ratan Tata said Bengal has emerged as a business-friendly state and the Tatas would look at an auto unit while expanding its steel business in Kharagpur.

The group will also donate a cancer hospital and research centre to the state, he added.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051212/asp/frontpage/story_5589633.asp


Bengal tap for Reliance gas
- Plan to lay pipeline to Haldia


Huge gas finds by Reliance off the Orissa coast could mean a windfall for Bengal with the Mukesh Ambani company planning to lay a pipeline to Haldia where a chemical hub is being developed.

Reliance and partner Niko Resources of Canada have made six gas discoveries in a row — whose size could be 2 to 3 trillion cubic feet — in an offshore deepwater block named NEC-25.

The consortium plans to ferry the natural gas to markets near Calcutta, 240 km to the northeast from the site of the finds, through an undersea or overland pipeline.

In either case, the pipeline is likely to go through Haldia, southwest of Calcutta, which already has petrochemical and chemical industries.

Reliance, India’s largest petrochemical company, has already told the Bengal government that it plans to invest in the proposed chemical hub at Haldia.

The Centre is setting up two such parks in the country, and Haldia has been chosen because it’s a port town.

Once the gas starts arriving, many energy-intensive industries may consider switching from coal and furnace oil to natural gas because it is cheaper and environment-friendly.

With at least two special economic zones slated to come up in Bengal — one at Kulpi and the other at Haldia — there will be no dearth of demand for Reliance.

Birla Corporation starts new Bengal cement plant
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=209596

With the commencement of commercial production of its new plant, Durga Hitech Cement, at Durgapur on December 24, Birla Corporation Ltd of the M P Birla group, has become one of the largest cement manufacturers in the eastern region. The combined capacity of its two units was now at 1.6 million ton. The chairman of Birla Corporation, R S Lodha, stated that BCL was proud to be a part of the industrial resurgence of West Bengal. "The state is becoming one of the most favoured investment destinations in India," he said. Durga Hitech Cement with an installed capacity of one million ton, had been equipped with the latest equipment to produce high quality cement on a sustained basis, he said in a media release. "With Durgapur Cement Works installed capacity of 0.6 million ton, the combined capacity of the company's Durgapur facility has become 1.6 million ton, making it the largest single location cement unit in West Bengal," he said.

Plans for ACEL plant in Farakka

Farakka: Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee laid the foundation of a Rs 115 crore cement grinding unit promoted by the Ambuja Cement Eastern Ltd, a joint venture between Gujarat Ambuja Cement Ltd and Holcim, the worlds largest cement company. The one million tonne capacity plant, to be commissioned by September 2006, will source 3.5 lakh tonnes of flyash from the NTPC Farakka plant and provide direct employment to over 2000 people.

Mitsubishi plans Rs 1,665cr PTA plant in Haldia
http://www.business-standard.com/bsonline/storypage.php?bKeyFlag=BO&autono=12904

MCC PTA India, a subsidiary of Japan's Mitsusibhi Corporation, is planning to set up its second purified terepthalic acid (PTA) plant in Haldia with an investment of Rs 1,665 crore.

Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, chief minister of West Bengal, said today that he has received a letter mentioning that the board of Mitsubishi Corporation has approved the project. Speaking at the AGM of Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry here, Bhattacharjee said the second plant would be set up with a capacity of eight lakh tonne per annum. The first plant was set up with an investment of Rs 1,475 crore, and has a capacity of 4.7 lakh tonne. "Mitsubishi chairman would be arriving in February to meet me and hold further discussions in this regard," Bhattacharjee added.

Mahindra-British Telecom opens development centre in Kolkata
http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=74535

Kolkata: Mahindra-British Telecom, one of the largest software exporters and solutions providers to telecom companies in the world, today announced the opening of its state-of-the-art software development centre in Kolkata. The centre, fifth in India, was inaugurated by West Bengal Information Technology minister Manabendra Mukherjee. Located in Salt Lake Technology Park, the new centre can accommodate approximately 400 software professionals and MBT has invested Rs 10 crore on infrastructure in this centre. Hailing "Kolkata as an important part of MBT'S growth strategy", Mr Vineet Nayyar, CEO and MD, MBT, said in the second phase of expansion, MBT planned to invest in an additional five acre facility that will house 2,000 people with an investment figure going upwards of Rs 75 crore. This is the fifth city where the company has initiated development operations -- the other four being Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.

Tata Motors is looking at Bengal for production. If I am right, they have two locations now: Jamshedpur and Pune. In that case, this would be the third if it materializes :)


http://in.rediff.com/money/2005/dec/29tata.htm


Leading automobile manufacturer Tata Motors Limited has shortlisted West Bengal as the possible location for setting up a greenfield truck manufacturing unit.

A Tata Motors spokesman told PTI that the company is looking at various locations for a new unit, adding that West Bengal is one of them.

He, however, said that the idea was at a 'very preliminary and exploratory stage.'

The comment by the Tata Motors spokesman comes in the wake of reports that top officials of the auto major would be coming down to Kolkata to hold discussions with the state authorities in this regard.

The spokesman, however, refused to speak when asked to comment on the reports.

On the other hand, the state industry department officials also expressed their ignorance about reports of Tata Motors officials' plan of holding discussions with the government.

West Bengal Industry Development Corporation managing director Gopal Krishna said, "I am not aware whether officials of Tata Motors are coming for holding discussions."

Special secretary in the industry department Dipak Chakraborty also echoed the same view.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060112/asp/bengal/story_5711082.asp


Chandrakona Road, Jan. 11: State industries minister Nirupam Sen announced today that the government would set up a Rs 100-crore biotechnology park at Kharagpur in collaboration with the IIT there.

Sen said the biotechnology park, which would come up on about 100 acres in Kharagpur’s industrial area, will house a state-of-the art laboratory.

“We want to set up the biotechnology park for investors in the drug and cosmetics industry, who will be able to avail of the research facilities there.

“We will expand the industrial area from Kharagpur to Lodhashuli, 20 km away. We also have plans to set up a modern township on 300 acres in Kharagpur,” Sen said while inaugurating a cement factory here in West Midnapore, 170 km from Calcutta.

Officials said the Centre’s department of biotechnology has agreed to provide Rs 38 crore and the state government would pitch in with another Rs 10 crore. The Centre’s research and development wing and the IIT will provide the rest of the funds.

“We have identified the required land and are in the process of buying it,” the minister said. The site is around 130 km from Calcutta.

IIT director Sisir Kumar Dubey said: “We are giving final shape to the project and are in talks with the state government.”

IIT officials said work on the laboratory, which would cost Rs 50 crore, is expected to start after six months.

'Garment park' coming up in Kolkata
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/14211301.htm

KOLKATA: With a view to promoting the growth of garment, hosiery and apparel industry in the State, the West Bengal government is setting up a multi-functional 'Garment Park' at a total cost of Rs 45 crore.

Announcing the state-of-the-art project to be completed by 2007, West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) Chairman and State Industries Minister Nirupam Sen told newspersons here last night that the State Government had already acquired abo ut 8.5 hectares land at Beliaghata in South-East Kolkata for this purpose and WBIDC and ICICI Winfra had been appointed as Project Consultant.

He said under the project a five-storey Standard Design Factory (SDF), meant for setting up manufacturing units, and a three-storey Common Facilities Building (CFB) would come up as common service and logistic support units for the manufacturers.

Claiming that the location of the park was ideal for the garment industry having good connectivity with airport, Kolkata port, railway stations and national highways, Mr Sen said a scheme had also been drawn up to widen and beautify the approach road to the park and its adjoining canal.

"The park will be built in two phases," Mr Sen said, adding phase-one of the 'dream project' would comprise three SDF buildings, the common facility building, a working women hostel and other auxiliary service buildings.

Altogether, about 70 manufacturing units would be allocated space in the first phase of the project. After phase two was completed the park would accommodate around 100 more units, which was estimated to generate employment for 8,000 workers.

The construction of the project has already commenced and the first phase is likely to be completed by September 2007.

__________________________________

At CII meet, CM sells his dream of a new Bengal
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=86208

In his 20-minute interaction with trade representatives and entrepreneurs, the West Bengal CM proved that he is a master dream merchant. Health cities, two airports, four ports (Kulpi included), multi-lane highways connecting Kolkata with the neighbouring districts of Howrah and the two 24 Parganas, rural Bengal prospering with food processing units and export of vegetables outside the state. All these will be a part of Bengal’s new landscape in the next five to ten years, he promised. Although some of the projects are still in the feasibility report stage, the CM assured entrepreneurs that industrialisation would be the primary focus of his government.

With just months to go before the Assembly polls, Team Buddhadeb, including Industry Minister Nirupam Sen, sold the dream of the Left’s industrialisation plan to the CII, the country’s top industry association.

Buddhadeb invited the participation of entrepreneurs based in Singapore and Dubai in developing the state’s infrastructure.

Ruia group in fray to acquire MAMC
http://sify.com/finance/equity/fullstory.php?id=14124601

The Kolkata-based Ruia group is leading the race for acquisition of the closed Central Government PSU Mining and Allied Machinery Corporation (MAMC) at Durgapur in West Bengal. Built with Russian technology, MAMC was originally a part of the Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC), Ranchi, and was closed a few years ago after the BIFR had issued a winding up order. The company is currently enmeshed in liquidation proceedings.

The State Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Nirupam Sen, said that a number of industry houses had approached the State and Central Governments during the past few years regarding MAMC. Based on the Ruia group's proposal the State Government had recently discussed the possibility of re-opening the company with the Union Heavy Industries Minister, Santosh Mohan Dev. Sen, however, made it clear that any such acquisition, if comes through, will be a long-drawn affair. "We as a State Government have always been interested in re-opening MAMC and have repeatedly taken it up with the Centre. However, it has now gone to the official liquidator. Also, there are a number of court cases filed by the creditors including State Bank of India. Accordingly, there is no easy way out for reopening the facility."

Earlier, the State Government had tried to take over the sprawling township of the closed company for development purposes. The proposal found favour with the Centre and it was decided that the township would be handed over to the Asansol Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA). In return the State Government agreed to waive mounting dues of MAMC to ADDA and power utility Durgapur Projects Ltd. However, the deal could not be concluded as SBI went to court challenging the decision. State Government sources clarified that the Ruia group's proposal for acquisition would be limited to plant and machinery.

GBC to make computer hardware in Kolkata
Tuesday January 31 2006 00:00 IST
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEB20060130095418&Page=B&Title=Business&Topic=0

KOLKATA: The Global Concept (GBC), a Kolkata-based company will manufacture computer hardware, for the first time in Eastern region in collaboration with, TXYCO, a Chinese company. Apart from producing hardware, the GBC will start making of desktop and laptops in collaboration with TXYCO, the Chinese company in Kolkata. There are already two companies in West Bengal, which have been manufacturing computers. But they assemble the hardware from foreign countries like China and Korea.

‘‘But, for the first time in this region, we will manufacture computer hardware in West Bengal’’, said Basab Dasgupta, director of GBC. He said that initially they would bring computer hardware from China and assemble them in West Bengal. But from 2008, GBC will start manufacturing hardware in the state.

Sagnik Roy, director and Tang Tianfu, general manager, TXYCO said the joint venture company, will sell 50,000 computers in the first year of production. Initially the company will invest around Rs 50 crore, they said. The GBC will invest Rs 20 crore. The rest will be mopped up from the capital market, through equity and debenture. The company is also planning to apply to West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) for its equity participation.

Bengal dreams..
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=168339

Tata Motors Ltd has finalised its plans to invest in West Bengal. The West Bengal Industrial Development Corp told that the Tatas have already identified close to 3000 acres in Haldia near the proposed mega chemical hub being promoted by the state government. Officials said Tata Motors would assemble its popular heavy and light commercial trucks in Haldia and that the group has no plans to make automotive parts. Tata group head, Ratan Tata had earlier said the group would explore opportunities in assembling of vehicles or manufacturing auto parts in Bengal. On Thursday, addressing executive committee members of Ficci, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said Tata Motors has already finalised its plan to set up a unit in Bengal.

Bhattacharjee also said that headway has been made in persuading the Hinduja group to invest in the state. The Chief Minister told reporters it was only a matter of days before Ashok Leyland took a final decision on its intention to set up a new assembling plant. WBIDC officials, however, said no definitive progress has been made although the Ashok Leyland managing director, R Seshasayee, had met state government officials during the CII Partnership Summit last month.

The Chief Minister announced a slew of new projects in the state, including Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Life Science’s keenness to acquire 20,000 acres for a bio-technology project.

Also Mr Anil Ambani will meet the Chief Minister on February 15 to finalise the setting up of an institute of advanced learning.

The Chief Minister said an Indonesian company is planning to set up ‘the country’s largest shopping mall that will sell only imported goods’. The project will come up opposite Science City.

Eastward Ho! Capgemini to open office in Kolkata soon
http://www.indiaoutsourcewatch.com/displaynews.asp?id=news205

World leading IT consulting and outsourcing service major Capgemini, which has cornered close to $590 million worth of IT outsourcing contract from General Motors' $7.5bn mega outsourcing deal is all set to open its ninth site in Kolkata as early as March this year. This was stated by Paul Spence, global CEO, Capgemini. It already has centres in Mumbai and Bangalore and has over 4,000 employees on its payroll.

Satyam, Bharti Tele to launch projects in Kolkata
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/15061601.htm

Satyam will open a development centre here while Bharti Tele-Ventures has planned to set up a regional telecom hub for eastern and north-eastern cellular operations in the city, West Bengal IT Secretary G D Gautama told PTI here on Monday. Bharti is poised to kickstart their project on a three acre plot at Nonadanga on the eastern fringes of the city on February 8 while the software firm is likely to lay the foundation stone for its project later this month, he said.

Volvo buses for Kolkata Puri route
http://www.ibnlive.com/article.php?id=5086&section_id=3

Volvo buses have finally rolled into Kolkata. The company is all set to run inter-city buses between Kolkata and Puri in association with the Calcutta State Transport Corporation but will initially provide just two buses. The buses will ply between the two cities from February 15. The 12-hour air-conditioned ride is pegged at Rs 714 giving Shatabdi Express serious competition. Set to give trains a run for their money, the Volvo buses, connecting Kolkata with Puri will also connect the Kolkata with Ranchi, Benaras and Siliguri in a few months time.

Century Textiles plans cement plant in Bengal
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=214643

With Kumar Mangalam Birla set to take charge of the Rs 2,500-crore Century Textiles & Industries, the company is planning to set up a cement grinding plant in north Bengal.

“We are setting up the factory in north Bengal. I feel there is a good market for cement in north Bengal as well as in the Northeast, which we shall tap,” said Century Textiles Chairman Basant Kumar Birla.


DA-IICT in Kalyani
http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/17AEB727D802AE75652571100043DAA5?OpenDocument

ADAG chairman Anil Ambani would call upon West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee tomorrow to sign a MoU with the state government for setting up the Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DA-IICT) here. Ambani would meet the chief minister at Writers' Buildings, the state secretariat, in the afternoon after which the MoU would be signed. DA-IICT, a deemed university, already has a campus at Gandhinagar in Gujarat, is considered as a launching pad for students pursuing specialised courses in IT and communications. ADAG plans to locate DA-IICT centre at Kalyani in West Bengal.

West Bengal to get India's largest sugar plant
http://www.newkerala.com/news2.php?action=fullnews&id=4671

Kolkata: West Bengal will soon boast of India's single largest sugar manufacturing plant with Shree Renuka Sugars Ltd announcing Tuesday the unit would be commissioned at Haldia near here in March. The Rs.2.5-billion sugar refinery will produce 2,000 tonnes a day and form a strong manufacturing base for sugar in West Bengal and an export hub for the regional market, said Narendra Murkumbi managing director of Shree Renuka Sugars. "We selected Haldia (a port town near Kolkata) as the location on account of strategic benefits that it offers, being a port and well connected by rail," Murkumbi told a news conference.

Hindustan Construction gets Rs3.96bn dam contract in West Bengal
http://www.indiainfoline.com/news/news.asp?dat=75414

Hindustan Construction Company has bagged the contract awarded by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) worth Rs3.96bn for construction of the Teesta Low Dam hydroelectric power project in West Bengal. It was awarded the contract for construction of the Low Dam hydroelectric power project, Stage IV, over the River Teesta in West Bengal's Darjeeling district. The scope of work included construction of a 511m long concrete gravity dam along with spillway, roller compacted concrete (RCC) dam, intake structure, surface powerhouse, tail race channel, switch yard, diversion arrangement and other associated civil works.

SAIL to infuse Rs 8,017 crore to revive IISCO
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200602090365.htm

State-owned SAIL has embarked on a plan to invest Rs 8,017 crore for revival of the ailing Indian Iron and Steel Company (IISCO) as part of merger of the two PSUs, the West Bengal Assembly was informed on Wednesday.
Replying to a question in the House, Industrial Reconstruction Minister Nirupam Sen said the merger of the two PSUs was undertaken following an initiative by the state government. Allocation for the revival was sanctioned through SAIL's Corporate Plan 2005-2012. The merger of IISCO with SAIL would help the steel giant procure raw materials internally and this, in particular, would help its Burnpur plant for modernisation and capacity programmes.

Great Eastern Energy drills in West Bengal
http://www.sharecast.com/cgi-bin/sharecast/story.cgi?story_id=610276

Great Eastern Energy, the India focused Coal Bed Methane group, started commercial drilling of CBM wells in West Bengal on 14 January, it said today.
The AIM-listed company said the first well has reached a depth of 203.75 metres and the surface casing to that depth has been set. The anticipated target depth is around 1,200 metres. Great Eastern has become the first company in India to commence commercial drilling of CBM wells in India, with the estimated investment outlay for the first 100 wells at 5.75bn Indian rupees, or £73m. Joint managing director Prashant Modi said, “We are delighted to have begun commercial drilling of the first CBM wells in an initial 100 well programme over a four-year period. We expect first gas sales from these wells to commence in Q1 2007.”

Haldia to have world`s largest PTA unit
Mitsubishi to set up 800,000t plant
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=214732

Toyo Engineering India Limited (TEIL) has been awarded a contract to build the world's largest purified terephthalic acid (PTA) plant with capacity of 800,000 MTPA by MCC PTA India Pvt Ltd (MCPI) at the eastern coast seaport of Haldia in West Bengal. The total investment for this new project is expected to be around Rs 1,660 crore ($370 Million). MCPL was established by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation of Japan, a Fortune 500 company, in 1997 in association with West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) and five other reputed Japanese trading companies.
MCPI is already operating its existing PTA plant of capacity 470,000MTPA in Haldia since 2000.

Gail, IOC form Rs 300-cr gas JV
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1406965,curpg-2.cms

Gas transmission major Gail (India) has decided to form a joint venture with the country’s largest oil marketing company, Indian Oil (IOC) for a Rs 300-crore city gas project in Kolkata.

The natural gas needed for this project is proposed to be sourced from coal bed methane in the Asansol- Jharia region. The available gas will be used to supply CNG for the transport sector and piped cooking gas for city households.

CNG may be supplied through retail outlets of existing players like IOC and IBP. The state government’s share is likely to be in the form of land for setting up CNG dispensing stations. Gail is also planning to invest around Rs 700-800 crore to construct a 200-km pipeline between Asansol and Kolkata to transport the CBM gas to the proposed JV between GAIL (India) and IOC for the city gas project. It would then need to be brought over to Kolkata through a pipeline to be constructed by Gail (India).

Bharti fixed line service in Kolkata by April
http://www.business-standard.com/iceworld/storypage_link.php?chklogin=N&autono=214614&lselect=2&leftnm=lmnu9&leftindx=9

Telecommunications conglomerate, Bharti will be launching fixed line in Kolkata by April, said Rajan Mittal, joint managing director, Bharti Enterprises.
To start with the company has set a target of 50,000 subscribers. The company was making Kolkata its hub for operations in the eastern region and the land was handed over to the company today. The company has been allotted land in Nonadanga in eastern Kolkata. Mittal said the decision to make the hub followed the increasing business potential of the region.
The company has till date invested Rs 980 crore in Kolkata in cellular operations which would be scaled up to Rs 1,900 crore this year. In the eastern region, investment would be increased from Rs 700 crore to Rs 1,800-1,900 crore this year. Mittal said, the hub would showcase technology across different areas of operations.

Anil Ambani Group signs MOU with Bengal Govt for IT University
http://www.newkerala.com/news2.php?action=fullnews&id=7320

Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Enterprises(ADAE)chairman Anil Ambani today joined hands with the West Bengal government for setting up the Rs 100 crore "Dhirubhai Ambani Advanced Institute of Communication and Technology", opening a new window of opportunity for the country's burgeoning IT professionals. The proposed institute would be the first full-fledged private university in the eastern region. It would be set up on a 50 acre land at Kalyani, about 60 km from here, in Nadia district. When completed the Adavance study Centre would be the second such international institute after the one set up by the Group at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The initial outlay of Rs 100 crores would be provided by the Reliance Group.

Speaking to newsmen after signing the agreement Mr Ambani,who assumed charge of Reliance Communication Ventures just two days ago, said, ''Work for this fast track project will begin soon and the entire project is targetted to be completed within the next 18 months so that the first academic session with about 3,000 students can be started from from July 2007.

Ural India Planshttp://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/11/stories/2006021102610300.htm

Ural India Ltd, a joint venture of the Kolkata-based Motijug Group, the West Bengal Government and Uralaz of Russia, will soon start assembling heavy-duty and high-capacity trucks, dump trucks and tippers at its manufacturing facility that is currently being set up at Haldia at a cumulative investment of Rs 550 crore.

The West Bengal Government holds 11 per cent of the equity stake in the joint venture company while the Indian and Russian partners each hold 44.5 per cent of the equity stake in Ural India Ltd. While, initially, the trucks made by Ural India Ltd would be imported from Russia in CKD (completely knocked down) versions, 100 per cent indigenisation would be achieved when the plant would operate at full capacity by 2009, Mr J.K. Saraff, Chairman of Ural India Ltd, told Business Line. At full capacity, the plant would be equipped to manufacture 40,000 units of heavy-duty trucks, dump trucks and tippers that would find applications in the army as well as sectors such as infrastructure, mining, road construction, etc. The vehicles would be fitted with diesel engines in the 240-330 horse power range. The West Bengal government has allotted 300 acres of land at Haldia where the plant is being set up. The company has requested the state government for an additional 200 acres of land for accommodating the test track.

Mr Saraff said Uralaz was Russia's largest automobile company with a presence in over 70 countries globally. Heavy-duty trucks manufactured by Uralaz are purchased regularly by the Indian Army, too. "The Indian army buys, on an average, 1,500 trucks every year from Uralaz and is among the single-largest buyer of Uralaz trucks in the world", Mr Saraff said, and added that Ural India would address the Indian Army's requirements in this regard.

According to him, Ural India has targeted sales of 7,000 truck units in the fiscal 2006-07. These trucks would be sold under the Ural brand name.

Graphite India raises capacity to 78,000t p.a.
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=213888

Graphite India Limited completed expansion and commissioning of capacity at its graphite electrode plant at Durgapur in West Bengal from 14000 tonne to 34000 tonne at a capital expenditure of Rs 170 crore.

With this, the company became one of the top five companies in the world in the field of graphite electrodes with a combined capacity of 60,000 tonne in India and 18,000 tonne in Germany.


Siemens to acquire 50% stake in Flender
http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=242584&cat=Business

Siemens Ltd has received the board's approval to acquire 50 per cent stake in Flender Ltd with its manufacturing facility at Kharagpur (West Bengal). Siemens Ltd's managing director J Schubert told reporters here that Flender's unit in Kharagpur manufactures industrial gearboxes and related accessories.
The acquisition would strengthen Siemen's automation and drives division and expand its drive technology portfolio by adding gear systems, Mr Schubert said. The other 50 per cent stake held by Flender AG was globally acquired by Siemens AG in August 2005.

Videocon plans Rs 200 cr electronics unit at Siliguri (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=215161)

The combined turnover of the group is more than Rs 11,000 crore. Videocon recently bought the colour television unit of Philips at Salt Lake in Kolkata.

Dhoot had earlier unveiled plans to invest Rs 300 crore in the state.

While the Rs 100 crore was proposed for the plant at Taratola in Kolkata for manufacturing desktop and laptop computers and special glass for television picture tubes, Rs 200 crore was proposed for the project at Salt Lake Electronics Complex.

Tata Steel bets big on Haldia coke plant
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060219/asp/business/story_5866743.asp

Tata Steel plans to invest Rs 1,550 crore in a new coke oven plant at Haldia to meet its captive requirement. The company has procured 180 acres of land at the port town and hopes to start production by April 2007, Tata Steel deputy chairman T. Mukherjee said. The company has placed orders for most of the equipment. It would be using the Chinese technology to reduce the cost of production by Rs 1,000 a tonne. The company has signed a contract with Beijing Sino Steel Industry and Trade group to source technology from China. At present, Tata Steel will use the coke from this unit exclusively for steel making in Jamshedpur.

Bengal gets another motorcycle plant
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=170806

Six days after Indonesia’s Salim group unveiled a project near Kolkata to make motorcycles, home-grown entrepreneur Santanu Ghosh of Amar PC fame detailed his plans for a similar project in collaboration with China’s Guangzhou Motor Co. The group had set up a company called Global Automobiles Pvt Ltd, which formed a joint venture with Guangzhou Motors in November 2005.The venture has located its factory near its PC motherboard manufacturing facility in Hooghly district.

Xenitis, better known for having created a brand in assembled personal computers, will roll out the Xoom motorcycle by this July from the Rs 300 crore plant. Ghosh said he aimed to sell 1.5 lakh motorcycles a year to achieve a turnover of $80 million or Rs 350 crore.

The best part is that all this might lead Hoogly to emerge as an industrial area once more, after the jute sector collapse :) Would be a great revival if it happens!

Satyam logs on to city tech centre
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060225/asp/business/story_5893920.asp

Satyam Computer Services Limited will set up a technology centre in phases that will have a staff strength of 2000. The company will also set up a business process outsourcing (BPO) arm soon. It will ramp up its headcount at the city centre to 10000 in the next few years. “We have taken a 2.77-acre plot, which would be developed in two phases — the first would involve 800 people. The company plans to employ 2000 people by 2008,” Satyam Computer managing director B. Rama Raju said at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the centre. The company would also be looking at more land after a year when its operations would be in full swing. “We are currently present in five cities in the country and Calcutta is the sixth. Going by the availability of trained manpower and infrastructure coupled with the state government’s co-operation, the Calcutta centre will emerge among the top three in the country,” Raju said.

Nice to know the following:
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060306/asp/business/story_5930216.asp


CBF Manufacturing, a mid-size US engineering company, is planning to set up a speciality foundry-based manufacturing base in Bengal.

Rahul Sarkar, an Indian-American co-promoter, is currently camping in the city to work out the details to set up a foundry, forging and stamping unit.

Sarkar and his partner Paul McMahon also met the commerce and industry minister Nirupam Sen to discuss their project.

Indiana-based CBF Manufacturing specialises in component manufacture, procurement and supplies to heavy-duty automotive trailer manufacturers and transportation industry.

The company recently turned to India for procuring iron castings and forged items from its original sources in China.CBF placed orders worth $4 million with Indian foundries and forging units.

Boom or not, it is anyway moving in the forward direction. That counts!

http://in.rediff.com/money/2006/apr/25wb.htm


The real estate boom in Kolkata and its suburbs is gradually extending to the rest of West Bengal. Modern townships with all the amenities and luxuries you can dream of are set to become a reality in the state's tier II cities.
The latest to get off the runway is Bengal Shrachi Housing Development, which has signed a deal with the Bardhaman Development Authority to develop a new township on 257 acres in Goda, adjoining Bardhaman city.

If the masterplan is any indication, besides the usual malls and multiplexes, it will have large water bodies - and condominiums, row houses, duplexes, mullti-storied apartment blocks and bungalows overlooking these water bodies.

On similar lines, Asansal Durgapur Development Authority has tied up with Bengal Shristi Infrastructure Development to develop the region, which comes under the Bardhaman district.

Durgapur City Centre, an urban plaza with commercial, retail, residential and entertainment amenities, is already functional, and construction has started on Shristinagar, an 88-acre township project (for which Sembcorp of Singapore is the engineering and management consultant).

Other than these two, Bengal Ambuja Housing Development has come up with two large-scale residential projects - Urvashi in Durgapur and Ulhas in Bardhaman - for which it has tied up with Bardhaman Zilla Parishad.

The company is also developing Uttorayan in Siliguri, which is a 400-acre development spread out over undulating landscape on both sides of National Highway 31.

Private sector developers are looking beyond Kolkata as industrial activity is picking up in these areas, and the government is helping development with its own projects.

There's a 48-acre Export Promotion Industrial Park coming up and a Software Technology Park in ADDA territory. There is an STP planned in Siliguri, and the BDA proposes to get private participation for an 11.5-acre IT park.

While government departments like ADDA and BDA are happy to get private sector funds and expertise for development, developers are happy to tap the new market opportunity that smaller cities present.

Praxair to build industrial gas plant
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1518018.cms
FRIDAY, MAY 05, 2006

Praxair India, industrial gas producer, has said it has bagged a contract from SAIL to build and operate an on-site industrial gas plant at its steel plant in Durgapur. The plant to be built at Durgapur would have a capacity of 700 metric tonnes per day to meet SAIL's gaseous oxygen requirements and would be commissioned by 2008, a company statement said here.

Chinese firm in deal to maintain India power plant
http://www.ndtvprofit.com/homepage/news.asp?id=247894

Chinese power equipment maker Dongfang Electric Co. has signed a long-term maintenance deal for a 600-megawatt thermal power unit it is building in West Bengal, officials said on Friday.

"We are glad they are handling it," Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the state's chief minister told Reuters. The plant is being built for the state-run West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd.

The first phase of the 25-billion-rupee project in Sagardighi, 240 km north of the state capital, Kolkata, will be commissioned by January 2007 and provide 300 MW of power, said state secretary Sunil Mitra.

The second phase should be completed three months later.

Dongfang has also bagged a contract for an 11.36 billion rupee power plant expansion project from Durgapur Projects Ltd. The plant, located in Durgapur, about 178 km north of Kolkata, is being expanded by 300 MW from 401 MW currently. Officials said state-run Power Finance Corporation and the Rural Electrification Corporation were funding the projects along with the West Bengal government.

Malls, Malls and Malls
http://www.myiris.com/newsCentre/newsPopup.php?fileR=20060502094120043&dir=2006/05/02&secID=livenews

Pantaloons Retail (India) Ltd is expanding in the east, and it is the tier-II towns where most of the expansion will take place. Haldia will get its Big Bazaar by June-July this year, while the one in Barddhaman will open some time in September or October 2006. In the next two years, Big Bazaars will also reach Kharagpur and Siliguri.

The mall in Haldia will be spread over 40,000 square feet and will be located in a shopping complex on Durga Chowk, while in Bardhaman, it will be situated in the Dhiraj Promoters` retail-cum-entertainment project being built on Jailkhana More.

In Kharagpur and Siliguri, the Big Bazaars will be part of the malls being developed by Kshitij, the asset-management venture of Pantaloons.

A Big Bazaar has been operational at the Durgapur City Centre for over a year, and according to Agarwal, has been doing very well.

With footfalls of 3,000 on weekdays going up to 5,000 on weekends, a conversion rate of 60 per cent and average billing of around Rs 500, the Durgapur store compares quite favourably with the two stores in Kolkata with conversions of 55 per cent and average billing of Rs 625.

The company has plans to increase the presence of all its formats -- Pantaloons, Big Bazaar, Food Bazaar and other speciality formats to 40 or 50 stores in the region.

A number of these will be in and around Kolkata itself, a city where the company began its journey with the first Pantaloon store in Gariahat. Pantaloons will stamp its presence on all the new malls coming up all over the city, including the Riverside Mall, the South City Mall and the Calcutta Central mall, to name a few.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060531/asp/bengal/story_6292149.asp


Infosys, keen to set up a 100-acre campus in the city, surveyed a plot in Rajarhat today.

Two company representatives had a look at 750 acres owned by the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) about half an hour’s drive from the airport.

When the price of land in the city and on its outskirts is being perceived to be one of the main roadblocks to IT investment in the state, the WBIDC plot is expected to turn the tide favourably.

Government sources said the corporation is likely to be more flexible with the land rate than Hidco (the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation), which has refused to go below Rs 2.16 crore an acre.


And so on... Let's hope something good comes out of it fast.

Tata, Mukesh, Airport, Buddha on a roll as says Indiatimes e-paper of today.

Brand Buddha is on a roll. After the spectacular electoral success, industry top guns are queuing up with investment proposals. First the Tatas came calling with their Rs 1-lakh car project. Videocon followed. Then came the Jindals.
Now, it’s the turn of yet another giant — Reliance Industries. The Mukesh Ambani-controlled company proposes to set up a mega agro-products retail chain in Bengal, with facilities in every district.
Talking exclusively to TOI on Tuesday, an upbeat Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee disclosed that Mukesh would call on him next month to finalise the Rs 3,000-crore project. The chief minister hinted that the talks would also touch upon the group’s other plans in Bengal. Once the chain gets off the ground, it will employ about 40,000 young men and women. This, he added, will benefit the rural economy. For, the group will directly procure agricultural produce from farmers and set up logistics hubs at various places. City-based industrialist Harsh Neotia will be Reliance’s business partner in this venture.
The CM made it clear he would now go all out to rope in investors — both Indian and multinationals. He confirmed he had received an invite to visit the US just before the end of the Assembly polls to address an august gathering of 450 people, including top industrialists and academics.
“Politically, there’s no problem in my going to the US and I am ready to woo investors there. But I will decide on the dates only after my groundwork is ready and I establish enough contacts with American businessmen keen on investing here.”
Bhattacharjee said he had asked chief secretary Amit Kiran Deb and industry secretary Sabyasachi Sen — who are scheduled to visit the US for interactions with petrochemical majors early next month — to complete the groundwork needed for US investments in Bengal.
The state, he added, was looking for US investments in petrochemicals, IT, infrastructure and in building townships. Deb and Sen will be part of a delegation from four states where US majors are keen to set up chemical hubs. Bengal, he said, tops the list and experts from Indian Oil will accompany the officials this time.
Spelling out his strategy for wooing Chinese capital, the CM said he was in touch with the Chinese embassy and CII’s Shanghai office to draw up a list of majors looking for business prospects. “Besides, I have told CPM general secretary Prakash Karat to use his contacts in the Communist Party of China to send the message that Bengal is the place to put in funds.”
On the contentious issue of the upgrade of Kolkata airport, Bhattacharjee made it clear it had to be modernised without delay. “There’s no other way but to put it on a par with top-class international airports. This is the need of the hour and we’ve to do it under any circumstance. Our party says since Airports Authority of India has the requisite expertise and funds, it should be allowed to do the job.”

Second airport on CM radar


Kolkata: The second airport is very much on Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s radar. The chief minister has dropped broad hints that Delhi-based Consulting Engineering Services will be asked to conduct the feasibility study within a stipulated time so that construction of the second airport somewhere between Sagar and Kulpi — where two ports will be set up — could be taken up without delay. Considering the rapidly growing trade ties between east India and south-east Asian countries, the second airport is an immediate necessity, he said.
He added, however, that he had never written to civil aviation minister Praful Patel on the city airport’s modernisation as reported in a section of the press.
While he sounded confident of turning Bengal into an industrially prosperous state, he made it clear his government would work overtime to offer adequate land to investors.
“I promise it won’t be a problem,” the chief minister said. He said his Cabinet colleagues in charge of industry and land revenue had been asked to hold meetings with districts magistrates of both the 24-Parganas, Hooghly, Howrah and West Midnapore to identify land which may be handed over to major investors.

Dabur to invest more in Siliguri

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060601/asp/business/story_6295501.asp

Dabur Foods, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dabur India, will invest Rs 100 crore over the next three years to modernise and expand capacity at its existing fruit processing and packaging plants in Nepal, Bengal and Jaipur. Close to 50 per cent of the funds will be invested in the Siliguri plant.

The fruit processing plant of Dabur Foods was set up in Siliguri in 2004 at an investment of Rs 25 crore. The Siliguri plant has exported goods worth Rs 15 crore in 2005-06. The Burmans are planning to ramp up exports from this facility to Rs 100 crore by 2010. The plant processes pineapple fruit pulp and concentrate, which have a huge demand in the global market.

First inland port comes up in Bengal
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=184441

The Rs 70-crore PDP group has set up an inland container depot in Durgapur, the first dry port in West Bengal, at a cost of Rs 20 crore, facilitating the single window clearance of all the required port formalities for import and export. It would be handling around 6 per cent of the total containers handled by the Kolkata Port Trust at its two dock systems in Kolkata and Haldia.

The dry port, Allied ICD Services Ltd, will be functioning as a joint venture company between PDP Group and the German company, Peter Rothman. The port is built on six acres which has been allotted by the Asansol & Durgapur Development Authority for Rs 70 lakh. For the Rs 20-crore project both the companies have funded a total of Rs 3 crore from their internal accruals, and the balance amount was provided by State Bank of India as loans.

The company has plans to expand the dry port on another nine acres at an additional investment of Rs 20 crore. AISL has a capacity of handling around 1200 containers or 2500 TEUs at a time which would ease the pressure of the Kolkata Dock System.

Pramod Srivastava, director of the company, said the dry port would start operation with ready container cargos from Philips Carbon Black and Graphite India. It expects to get electrodes, ferro chromes, scraps, refractories and plastic products as container cargos from industries in Durgapur and Asansol.

The region, he said, generates more than 4000 containers per month with goods worth around Rs 1000 crore. With the facilities of cargo transhipment and faster customs clearance, the ICD expects to draw cargos from North India. Allied ICD has the banking operations and electronic weigh bridge facilities within its premises. The company is expecting to handle goods worth around Rs 400-500 crore per month, Mr Srivastava said. He said PDP is exploring the possibility of laying a private railway track connecting Durgapur ICD with the ports in Haldia and Kolkata

IT, ITeS exports from West Bengal rise 28 per cent
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200606022110.htm

Kolkata, June 2. (PTI): IT and ITeS exports from West Bengal have risen by 28 per cent during 2005-06 at Rs 2,800 crore, a senior Government official said today.

Meanwhile, a total of 13 companies were putting up 13.3 million square feet of built-up space in IT parks at Salt Lake and Rajarhat. This area would be available in the next 30 months, he said. Some of the major companies involved were DLF, Keppeland, Ascendas, Infinity Benchmark and Technopolis among others.

A thing I always wonder about. We do have a lot of service sector software companies and service sector IT companies in Kolkata, but where are the product companies? Any product company coming to Kolkata? Would love to see the base grow, for, without base (product), nothing (say, service) can float in the air! Would like to see the list of product compaies currently in Kolkata as well...
I think there are the following:
Interra Systems.
Alumnus Software.
Ixia (Network).
Wipro (I think) has a product division in Kolkata.
Dynamic Digital Technologies (branch out of Polaris).
LSI Logic.
What else?

Rs 2,000-cr project to widen NH-34
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1585836.cms

Looking into the growing importance of the 443-km long National Highway-34 that connects Dalkhola in North Bengal with Kolkata, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken up a mammoth project of widening and developing the highway.

Funded primarily by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the project cost is pegged at Rs 2000 crore.

NHAI chief general manager R P Indoria said they started working on the NH-34 development plans after receiving a proposal from the state government. “We are preparing a detailed project report. We will appoint consultants to carry out a survey into the present condition of the highway. We will chart out the project according to the findings of their report,” Indoria said. The state public works department (PWD) will assist NHAI in implementing the project. The Centre and state governments will have to bear some amount of the cost.

According to the project plans, the existing two-lane highway will be widened into a four-lane high-speed corridor. All the damaged parts along the 443-km-long stretch will be repaired to last the next decade or even more. What’s more, both sides of the highway would be beautified to give those driving down the stretch a pleasant ride.

Special care would be taken to develop parts of the highway that pass through town areas, such as Chakdah, Shantipur and Krisnanagar. The planners have to take into account the local traffic that would intersect with the high-speed highway traffic and ensure that there are no snags or bottlenecks.

The proposed Eastern and Southern Expressway will connect NH-34 with the help of several state highways and link roads. The Belghoria Expressway is also to meet the highway near Madhyamgram on Jessore Road. This linking of roads will integrate the entire Kolkata Metropolitan Area. State highways are also being improved for this purpose.

The PWD has already entrusted Mackintosh Burn to improve and strengthen the 41-km State Highway-1 that connects NH-34. ADB has granted Rs 80 crore for the repair of this highway. Work on some other state highways like SH-10 has also started. "Several of these state highways are connected with NH-34 and we want to improve the national highway for better road network," said a senior PWD official. As per PWD plans, eight other link roads connecting NH-34 will also be improved.

http://www.persquareyard.com/viewad_search.aspx?cid=205225

Does this mean, Globsyn Crystals is havng to sell out space in the internet? That is, demand-supply gap in the sense supply exceeding demand? I had hardly expected this sort of ad...!!!

http://www.persquareyard.com/viewad_search.aspx?cid=205225

Does this mean, Globsyn Crystals is havng to sell out space in the internet? That is, demand-supply gap in the sense supply exceeding demand? I had hardly expected this sort of ad...!!!

Weren't they already selling space on the internet?

http://www.globsyncrystals.com/

They have to compete with DLF, Unitech, Godrej, Ascendas, Keppel. 13.3 million sq ft of IT workspace is coming up in the next two years.

It is a joint venture between Globsyn Technologies and real estate players Sureka and Shrachi groups and will have 600,000 sq ft of workspace.

Weren't they already selling space on the internet?

http://www.globsyncrystals.com/

They have to compete with DLF, Unitech, Godrej, Ascendas, Keppel. 13.3 million sq ft of IT workspace is coming up in the next two years.

It is a joint venture between Globsyn Technologies and real estate players Sureka and Shrachi groups and will have 600,000 sq ft of workspace.

They were selling space through their website, that was great. But this website (persquareyard) is not something that belong to the same class. The profile of the site (not bad or something but I thought would serve to a somewhat different class of consumers) is what surprised me. Competetion is understood and is great, of course.

They were selling space through their website, that was great. But this website (persquareyard) is not something that belong to the same class. The profile of the site (not bad or something but I thought would serve to a somewhat different class of consumers) is what surprised me. Competetion is understood and is great, of course.

With all these projects, as you said, there could be a demand lag. I sometimes don't understand why IT compnaies need acres and acres of land for their development centres. Why not build modern, tall buildings in our land starved cities instead? Is it because they want to create land banks as assets just in case business someday goes bad?

With all these projects, as you said, there could be a demand lag. I sometimes don't understand why IT compnaies need acres and acres of land for their development centres. Why not build modern, tall buildings in our land starved cities instead? Is it because they want to create land banks as assets just in case business someday goes bad?

Possible. Quite possible. Also the IT guys seem to have in their mindset some "lush campus" concepts. Myself being in the IT industry, I see this mindset around me a lot (but also possible because I work in a company that can afford to have more and more assets; don't know how it would be in a smaller one).

This takes me to the next question I have since last year, since the time the IT companies cried out foul on high land prices in Rajarhat and wanted to start negotiation. I understood HIDCO asked the IT to pay aroun 2 crore INR per acre of land. companies cried out that land is way way way way more cheaper even in Bangalore (they claimed Bangalore acres tagged at INR 60 lakhs, Pune 35-40 lakhs etc, as per newspaper rates). Thing is, if I know correctly (I may be wrong at this very point) then 1 acre = 60 kattah. That makes INR 2 crore per acre as INR 3.33 lakhs per kattah. 1 kattah is 720 sq ft, so one can do the per sq ft maths oneself. This also means, Bangalore is offering at INR 1 lakh per kattah or so and Pune at around INR 60 thousand per kattah. WHAT am I missing here? To me the Kolkata prices look reasonable and the said prices of Bangalore and Pune (and it also said Delhi, Mumbai and Hyd somewhere between the Pune and Bangalore range) seem somewhat absurd to me. Can Sun or someone confirm my maths?

Another possible glitter for Haldia...

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060615/asp/nation/story_6355177.asp


Having roped in Indian Oil Corporation as anchor investor for the 10,000-acre chemical hub in Haldia, the Bengal government wants the Salim Group to be the anchor developer of the centre and an equally sprawling special economic zone next to it.

Benny Santoso, the second-in-command of the Indonesia-based conglomerate, will visit Haldia tomorrow. He will meet chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee the day after to renew talks on the projects in the pipeline.

The visit will be Santoso’s first after the elections. In the run-up to the polls, Bhattacharjee had put the proposed projects on the backburner following the controversies over acquisition of farmland.

The land to be acquired in Haldia is mostly low-lying.

“The Salim Group has evinced interest in Haldia. The government is also looking for an anchor developer for creating the physical infrastructure of the chemical hub and the adjacent special economic zone,” commerce and industries secretary Sabyasachi Sen said.

A greta proposal from Buddha. If this materializes, it is going to be too good!


Kolkata: A 90-km elevated road will connect Madhyamgram to the Bangladesh border at Bongaon in a few years. The proposal comes from none other than chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
Bhattacharjee mooted the proposal at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday in a bid to facilitate trade with Bangladesh.
The idea came up when Jairam Ramesh, Union minister of state for commerce, called on Bhattacharjee at Writers’ Buildings last Tuesday. The Union minister told the CM that Bengal could contribute more than its current share of 10% to exports across the border by improving the roads between the two countries. Ramesh suggested an elevated stretch passing through Jessore Road. The CM presented the proposal before his Cabinet colleagues. Bhattacharjee will now write to the Centre for funds for the feasibility study of the project. A reputed consultancy firm will be commissioned for the survey.
But, public works department minister Kshiti Goswami said the government was considering changes in the proposal, like alternate routes along Basirhat in North 24-Parganas and the border areas at Murshidabad, Cooch Behar and Malda.
The route suggested by the Union minister will overlap with an existing project by the National Highway Authority of India. The NHAI was already into a project for broadening the roads along Madhyamgram upto the border. Goswami said, “While discussing the proposal for the elevated road, we realised that it would overlap with the NHAI project. So, we have decided to divert the route to Basirhat in North 24-Parganas. The project (of establishing better connectivity with Bangladesh) could be replicated at Mohodipur in Malda, as well as in Murshidabad and Cooch Behar.”
The PWD minister said, “Since we have more geographical knowledge of our state than the Centre, we could always work on a more practicable route for building the elevated road to Bangladesh.”
While discussing the proposal, the chief minister reportedly told the Cabinet, “Trade with our neighbours will assume greater proportion now that the Nathu La Pass will be opened on July 6.”

Possible. Quite possible. Also the IT guys seem to have in their mindset some "lush campus" concepts. Myself being in the IT industry, I see this mindset around me a lot (but also possible because I work in a company that can afford to have more and more assets; don't know how it would be in a smaller one).

This takes me to the next question I have since last year, since the time the IT companies cried out foul on high land prices in Rajarhat and wanted to start negotiation. I understood HIDCO asked the IT to pay aroun 2 crore INR per acre of land. companies cried out that land is way way way way more cheaper even in Bangalore (they claimed Bangalore acres tagged at INR 60 lakhs, Pune 35-40 lakhs etc, as per newspaper rates). Thing is, if I know correctly (I may be wrong at this very point) then 1 acre = 60 kattah. That makes INR 2 crore per acre as INR 3.33 lakhs per kattah. 1 kattah is 720 sq ft, so one can do the per sq ft maths oneself. This also means, Bangalore is offering at INR 1 lakh per kattah or so and Pune at around INR 60 thousand per kattah. WHAT am I missing here? To me the Kolkata prices look reasonable and the said prices of Bangalore and Pune (and it also said Delhi, Mumbai and Hyd somewhere between the Pune and Bangalore range) seem somewhat absurd to me. Can Sun or someone confirm my maths?

In most other cities, like Hyderabad, Bangalore etc, the lush campuses are located quite far from the airport/CBD. If the IT companies expect land prices in Rajarhat (state of the art infrastructure, future CBD,right next to the airport) to be the same, it is unfair. If they want to build large campuses, they should shift far from the city, where land is cheaper. Why not build a campus in Kharagpur, or Bardhaman, or Durgapur ? The state government should encourage that by offering tax breaks and other incentives for such companies. Also it should build adequate infrastructure, like transport, roads etc. In the long run it can decongest Kolkata and Howrah.

In most other cities, like Hyderabad, Bangalore etc, the lush campuses are located quite far from the airport/CBD. If the IT companies expect land prices in Rajarhat (state of the art infrastructure, future CBD,right next to the airport) to be the same, it is unfair. If they want to build large campuses, they should shift far from the city, where land is cheaper. Why not build a campus in Kharagpur, or Bardhaman, or Durgapur ? The state government should encourage that by offering tax breaks and other incentives for such companies. Also it should build adequate infrastructure, like transport, roads etc. In the long run it can decongest Kolkata and Howrah.

Durgapur, Barddhaman and Khargapur are not too far from Kolkata. Excellent road and rail communications with Kolkata. But I don't think too many IT companies will be interested in going there. Kolkata itself is a "new" experience for them.

Maybe they can use the opportunity to develop Dankuni. With completion of second Vivekananda Setu and Belghoria Expressway - airport connectivity will be a breeze. They will have to sell this point.

Today's Anandabazar also confirms Buddha's proposal for Bangladesh-bound elevated road. Something must be really happening - even if a study. The frame of mindset is the best news in the whole story. People are really thinking forward!

Regarding land prices, yes, Dankuni might be a good spot to set focus on. What Sudipta said about Bangalore/Hyderabad is perfectly true. For instance, Gachibowli of Hyderabad was way out of city, and now the city is growing towards Gachibowli and the software zone there. Apart from Dankuni, maybe Bantala, Baruipur/Sonarpur and Bata Nagar can be thought of.

A nice read on West Bengal's economy -

Wheels do turn, even of Fortune. West Bengal is the latest case in point. The state, which for 35 years had suffered the ignominy of be-ing treated as an outcast due to flight of capital and reluctance of in-dustry stalwarts to invest, is now once again on the upswing. And what a spectacular comeback!

Read more here - http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1696595,curpg-1.cms

Hopefully CPI(M) will not make same mistakes as it (and other numerous communist countries around the globe) did in its first 23 years of rule in WB.

A nice read on West Bengal's economy -

Wheels do turn, even of Fortune. West Bengal is the latest case in point. The state, which for 35 years had suffered the ignominy of be-ing treated as an outcast due to flight of capital and reluctance of in-dustry stalwarts to invest, is now once again on the upswing. And what a spectacular comeback!

Read more here - http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1696595,curpg-1.cms

Hopefully CPI(M) will not make same mistakes as it (and other numerous communist countries around the globe) did in its first 23 years of rule in WB.

I like this part

The cupboard still contains skeletons enough and relics of the old block that believed implicitly in the theory that capital formation is anti-people. Given a chance, they might still want to pull West Bengal back to the pro-labour, anti-capital days of the ‘70s and ‘80s.

The only problem is that the team which now controls Writers Building has just got an unprecedented mandate a few months back and it has suddenly become very clear even to hardliners and dim-wits that people want a change in the overall scene.

can someone tell me what is this near haldia petro chem ? on the island ?
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/3936/haldia6mh.jpg

durgapore has some potential in it , I know its not the correct place to post it but I am not also sure where to .

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/7701/durgapur1aa.jpg

look at this beautiful sundarban image by google. Sundarbans is a really beautiful place full of flora and fauna with a huge diversity.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/4276/sundarbans4vc.jpg

what is this going on behind the bherries in kolkata ? can you put some light it seems as big as half of rajarhat sector I,

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/2904/behindthebheries3or.jpg

what is this going on behind the bherries in kolkata ? can you put some light it seems as big as half of rajarhat sector I,

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/2904/behindthebheries3or.jpg

That is most probably the Bantala Industrial estate developed by Dalmiya.

http://www.dalmiya.com/

can someone tell me what is this near haldia petro chem ? on the island ?
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/3936/haldia6mh.jpg


that island is definitely "nayachar", also known as meen-deep. part of the island is owned by fisheries department, govt of wb. the facility maybe artifical ponds to breed fish. the haldia dock comlex and indian oil refinery can be seen (at a higher zoom level) across the river.

The Salim Group is in the news again.

This time they may build ten townships along a 100 km expressway..

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060706/asp/nation/story_6441616.asp

Ports, highway in two years, says Buddhadeb (http://business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=97651&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

The chief minister of West Bengal, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, is hopeful that proposed mega infrastructure projects like a deep sea port at Sagar, the Kulpi minor port, the four-lane expressway between Barasat via Raichak and the Kukrahati bridge to Haldia port would be in place in two years.

He expressed this hope while laying the foundation stone of the fourth unit of Patton Ltd at the Falta special economic zone on July 8.

The chief minister said that the state government was confident it would be able to finish these projects within two years.

He said the government was planning two SEZs at Haldia, one for chemical sectors and another would be a multi-sector SEZ.

Besides, more industrial units were necessary as "we have to turn to industry from agriculture, though some are making it a issue without knowing the facts," he said.

Citing the example of China, Bhattacharjee pointed out that the share of agriculture in its GDP was down from 70 per cent 30 years ago to six per cent now, but "China is not starving due to this.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060720/asp/nation/story_6501527.asp

Reliance after Tata Cancer hospital...


Anil Ambani has shown interest in setting up a healthcare facility in memory of his father on the outskirts of the city.

The proposed Dhirubhai Ambani Health City will be housed on 60 acres at Kalyani, near the plot in Haringhata where Anil’s infotech institute (a deemed university) is coming up.

“Anil has written to the chief minister seeking 60 acres for a health city near his IT project. The details will be thrashed out when he visits Calcutta and meets chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee later this month,” said a senior government official.

The Dhirubhai Ambani University of Information Technology and Communications is coming up on a 50-acre plot near Haringhata.

“The Nadia district magistrate had been asked to carry out a land survey for the healthcare project. He has sent his report, saying 60 acres of government land is available in Kalyani,” a health department official said.

In an ironic twist, the site was earmarked in the late nineties for a hospital to be built with assistance from the Centre, but the project never took off.

Anil’s is the latest in a string of private sector proposals, including from Ratan Tata and the Salim Group, the government has received in the health segment.

The Association of Hospitals of Eastern India (AHEI) has plans to set up a Rs 20,000-crore health city along the proposed Eastern Expressway. The health city on six acres will have 50,000 beds and over 100 separate hospitals. Indonesia’s Salim Group will develop the infrastructure for the hospital and take care of maintenance.

Tata is setting up a Cancer Hospital at New Town in Rajarhat. The 150-bed super-speciality hospital is the first such Tata group project outside Mumbai, where it has set up the Tata Memorial Cancer Research Institute. The Rs 92-crore hospital will come up on 10 acres.

The Hyderabad-based Global Hospitals, which specialises in organ transplants, is also in talks for a Rs 60-crore unit in Rajarhat.

Telcon to set up plant in Kharagpur

Telco Construction Company Ltd. (Telcon), the 60:40 joint venture between Tata Motors and Hitachi Construction Machinery, Japan, is setting up a new manufacturing plant at Kharagpur, 125 km from Kolkata. The investment envisaged is around Rs. 250 crore.

Telcon is the largest manufacturer of construction equipment and has two manufacturing plants — at Jamshedpur in Jharkhand and at Dharwad in Karnataka. The new facility will be spread over 60 hectares with additional facilities for a vendor park. The new plant will generate employment for about 500 people, both direct and indirect jobs. Construction work for the new plant will start in December 2006 and the operations are expected to commence in March 2008.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/28/stories/2006072801731800.htm

Another and most recent news on Infosys coming to Kolkata !!!
Why don't they go to the suburb like Kalyani or something like that. Then along with the proposal they can ask government to setup IT complex there and good road infrastructure with Kolkata etc. etc. That would be good for West Bengals's economy as well. They should not expect a price of 8 lakhs to 30 lakhs per acre in Rajarhat. This is unfair.

Anyway, here is the story:
Infosys Technologies will formalise the rollout schedule of its 100-acre software campus in Kolkata after the West Bengal government comes up with a formal proposal that defines available land options and the price of such land. This was indicated by Infosys co-founder and chief operating officer (COO) Kris Gopalakrishnan on Friday.

FULL STORY:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1822956.cms

^^
I have never understood why Infosys needs huge tracts of lands to build campus style projects in our land starved country. While it is their prerogative as to what they want to build, they should re-examine their opposition to highrise office towers.

BTW the Salim Group is in news again...

West Bengal Govt. unveils infrastructure projects
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200607311763.htm

The West Bengal Government today signed an agreement with a consortium led by Indonesia-based Salim group to set up the largest infrastructure project in the state on nearly 40,000 acre of land, while assuring to protect the interests of the poor and marginal farmers.

The agreement between the State Government, West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation and the New Kolkata International Development Pvt Ltd (NKID) -- a special purpose company promoted by the Salim group, the Universal Success group and Unitech -- was signed at a function in the presence of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

Among other things, the agreement envisages setting up of a chemical industrial estate, a multi-product SEZ and a small and medium enterprises industrial estate, an expressway and a bridge.

While declining to quantify the investment pending preparation of the detailed project report (DPR), the Chief Minister said that Rs 4,000 crores would be spent on building the expressway connecting North 24 Parganas district with East Midnapore, including the bridge over the Hooghly between Raichak in South 24 Parganas and Kukrahati in East Midnapore.

"It is not possible to quantify the investments right now because DPRs will have to be made for each component of the projects," Industry Minister Nirupam Sen told newsmen after the signing ceremony.

He said that another Rs 3,430 crores would be pumped in for building social infrastructure and increasing land productivity.

March Towards Glory
Has Kolkata emerged as the next manufacturing hub in the East?
http://www.dqindia.com/content/special/2006/106060903.asp

We have reasons to believe the answer's yes! Let's look at some facts. Kolkata today has five PC brands among the 25-30 PC brands in the country. These include Amar PC, ISyn, Waves, Chirag, and Vintron after Supertron Electronic acquired the exclusive rights to market and manufacture the Vintron range of PCs.

Kolkata-based Supertron Electronics has been in the game for a long time. One of the largest distributors from the region, Supertron launched its own brand of PCs under the brand name SuperComp way back in 1997. MK Bhandari, the director of Supertron, has been in the distribution game since 1993. Branded PCs is no rocket science, of course. Bhandari was quick to realize potential and the requirement of the branded PC market. Says Bhandari, “The most important part of manufacturing branded PCs, is to source the key components.” Brand SuperComp could not make the kind of impact in the PC market that Bhandari would have liked. After Supertron acquired the Vintron range of PCs in 2004, it withdrew SuperComp PCs from the market and currently, distributes and markets PC components under the SuperComp umbrella.

Vintron had an existing market and was a far more recognized brand. Says Bhandari, “We were able to access a readymade market post acquisition.” With a turnover of Rs 145 crore, Supertron now plans to dig into deeper pockets in the North and West, where the Vintron brand has been fairing well.

Xenitis remains the biggest of them all as a brand. Though the single-largest player, in terms of size, market dominance, and branding from the East, Xenitis is more than just another regional player today. With Mera PC and Aamchi PC, Xenitis is aggressively charting a national presence for itself.
Xenitis Infotech stormed into the branded PC market with its sub-10K Amar PC brand and the rest is history. Historically, Xenitis sold PCs under a brand called Indus Computers, which was almost non-existent in the local market in terms of identity. Today, Xenitis Infotech's contribution to the group's revenue is by far the largest. While Xenitis prefers to be identified as a national player today, as far as its infotech business goes, the company has also launched its component manufacturing facility at Sugandha in the Hoogly District of West Bengal. This production facility will manufacture computer cases, keyboard, mouse, power supply, speakers, and home theatres. Xenitis plans to start monitor manufacturing very soon. Says Tathagata Dutta, MD, Xenitis, “We see huge opportunity in fundamental manufacturing for Xenitis and are looking to be a matured OEM supplier.” Although Xenitis is unwilling to put a number to the size of the opportunity, it is easier to gauge the opportunity from what Dutta has to say, “In component manufacturing, we would like to be what Infosys is today in software services.”

ISyn is today one of the other significant PC brands from Kolkata. After being in the regional market for over a year now, Milon Chakraborty, MD, SynTech Informatics, is now planning to take the ISyn brand to the national level. SynTech's experience with branded PCs started in five years back when it was the integrating partner for Samsung PCs. Says Dilip Banerjee, director, Marketing, SynTech, “At that time, Samsung had 18% of the market share in the East after HCL, which was the leading brand in this part of the region.” After Samsung pulled out of the market, SynTech partnered with leading brands such as IBM, HCL, and HP. The Samsung association was a learning experience for Chakraborty and team. The withdrawal of the Samsung brand created a huge void at the entry level and that is an opportunity that SynTech discovered. Says Milon Chakravorty, “We work with very sensitive customers and have built a relationship over the years in the lines of the experience we gathered from selling Samsung PCs.” Today, SynTech sells around 1000-1200 PCs a month in the East. SynTech is also a selected partner in the East for the government assisted PC program Gyandeep and Gyanbriddhi in association with Microsoft and Intel. Under these programs, students PCs and people's PC targeted towards students and government employees at special prices would be made available. While the full-fledged launch of the scheme is awaited, SynTech sees huge opportunity in the scheme for itself. A new production plant has come up at Aamtola in Kolkata, where the current production capacity is around 5,000 PCs a month. The capacity is likely to go up to 10,000 a month by the end of this year. SynTech is also looking to redefine service with the help of embedded applications that will solve problems by themselves. SynTech is targeting corporates starting December this year. Certain certifications required to tap the corporate sector is being awaited currently.

Chirag is the newest entrant from Kolkata region in the branded PC space. Interestingly, the biggest impact Chirag has made, is to splash Kolkata with hoardings. So the name has definitely made significant impact in terms of brand awareness. Incidentally, Chirag is an offshoot of RP Communications that is in the business of billboards. Says a competitor, who was unwilling to be named, “It's the billboard business that allows Chirag the luxury of advertising.” The fundamentals appear fairly simple: Every time there is no booking for an RP Communications billboard, a Chirag hoarding fills up the empty space and the Kolkata skyline as well. Chirag has adopted a sales strategy fairly untested as far as the industry is concerned. Unlike PC vendors, who prefer to take the channel route to distribution and sales, Chirag has gone for a complete retail sales strategy where Chirag PCs are being sold at exclusive Chirag outlets.

Waves, another small-time brand in the PC space from Kolkata, is largely focused towards the SMB space. In the PC business for the last eight years, SK Loharoka, the CEO of Waves sees more and more customers in the SOHO and SMB segment, shifting to branded PCs in the recent times, something that explains the launch of Waves PCs last year.

The local PC industry has been the hotseat for newer regional brands in the last two years. While Supertron and Waves have been around for close to a decade, it is only in the last two years that both have looked at a new strategy in the branded PC market-Supertron's acquisition of the Vintron range of PCs in 2004 and Waves rebranded itself last year with a more focused strategy. Last year also saw the launch of the ISyn brand of PCs and Chirag. And, you can't miss Xenitis, of course.

The emergence of five branded PC players in the last two years is a record of sorts. So what's fuelling the trend? One, the need to exist in the market. Says Chakraborty, “You need a brand to survive in the market. Otherwise, chances are that an MNC brand will completely wipe you out.” That's one part of the story. Loharoka sees a growing preference among customers towards branded PCs. Typically, the accountability of an assembler is far lower as compared to a vendor in the branded space and after-sales service becomes a critical issue.

Bhandari has a different take. “Entrepreneurship is growing in the State and there is a strong support from the government.” That there is strong political backing for the likes of Xenitis and SynTech, is a known fact in the industry circles of the region. The overall opportunity in terms of what the IT industry in the State has to offer has also grown significantly. In addition the growth in the SMB segment and the enterprise is also growing by leaps and bounds. There is huge corporate opportunity for IT, ITeS, telecom, and infrastructure companies. Bhandari also sees a sharp rise in indirect sales.

The Kolkata PC story is on a great high. The PC industry is clocking a growth of 35% y-o-y according to IDC reports. Sums up Loharoka, “It's a huge market, both at the regional and the national level. There's something for everyone.”

^^
I have never understood why Infosys needs huge tracts of lands to build campus style projects in our land starved country. While it is their prerogative as to what they want to build, they should re-examine their opposition to highrise office towers.

BTW the Salim Group is in news again...

West Bengal Govt. unveils infrastructure projects
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200607311763.htm

I totally agree. Employee per acre of land is very less for infosys. If they wish they can easily create highrises with all modern amenities they currently have, ample parking space etc. etc. But, still they waste hundreds of acres of land in our country.
I guess they plan to go to real estate business someday :)

I guess they plan to go to real estate business someday :)

Maybe they are saving for the rainy days. Unfortunately if West Bengal doesn't give them the land, someone else will. The anti Left media will immediately pounce on the issue. It's damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Why is Infosys buying so much land?
http://www.rediff.com/money/2006/jul/25infy.htm

Ten thousand employees work in the twin buildings for Bell South in America. More than 5,000 work in a single office complex for AT&T. Then why does Infosys need thousands of acres of land? If Wipro and IBM can work out of rented offices in Bangalore, why can't Infosys?' writes an angry blogger about Infosys.
It is not just bloggers, many people in Bangalore say they fail to understand why the software giant is acquiring land not just in Bangalore, but all over India.

Infosys is today said to be the largest owner of land among IT companies in India, and not everyone is happy about this. Last year, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda took on Infosys, levelling charges of 'land grabbing', accusing the company of doing little for Bangalore's growth as an IT hub.

So why does Infosys need so much land?

Officially, Infosys says the company believes in building its own facilities to enhance productivity and maintain a young, collegial culture for the organisation.

How many acres of land does Infosys own?

The company declined to reveal the figure, saying it is "in the silent period before the quarter results."

But rough estimates -- provided by sources at Bangalore-based builder Sobha Developers, the real development firm that is in charge of executing Infosys campuses -- indicates that the company owns hundreds of acres of land across India, where it has built, and is continuing to build, huge campuses.

"Is Infosys a real estate company or an IT firm? I fail to understand why they are greedy for land," says agitated social activist K Krishna Raghav, who supported an agitation by farmers who protested against the Karnataka government's decision to give land to Infosys reportedly at a throwaway price in Bellandur, a village on the outskirts of Bangalore.

"Why does Infosys need lots of land? Why do they need a golf course at their campus when people do not have living space in Bangalore?" asks Raghav.

Two years ago, Infosys came under attack from villagers in Bellandur who alleged that the IT major was buying wetland at rates much lower than prevailing market rates.

According to the villagers, the price of land in the Bellandur area ranged from Rs 40 lakh (Rs 4 million) to Rs 1.5 crore (Rs 15 million) in 2003. But the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board agreed to sell 100 acres to Infosys at a uniform rate of Rs 9 lakh (Rs 900,000) per acre. However, it was not executed because of the controversy.

Currently, Infosys owns only 80 acres of land in Bangalore where it employs nearly 25,000 people.

But the company has applied for 845 acres of land on the outskirts of Bangalore and requested KIADB to acquire the land after securing zoning requirements from the government and complying with the law. The land is being acquired on a consent basis and after paying the market price to the landowners.

The land in Bangalore has been sought as two different plots. On one plot of land, a software development center will be set up, which will generate employment for 25,000 people.

The second plot of land is being sought, a short distance away, to provide residential facilities for our employees and to set up essential amenities like a school and a hospital. This will provide Infoscions with a better quality of life and avoid long commutes.

Both the plots will be fully utilised for the purpose of the company as per the government requirements, with a proposed investment of Rs 1,500 crore (Rs 15 billion), in the first phase.

"Does Infosys need to provide more than 1,500 square feet of office space per employee?" asks Reghu Kumar, a Janata Dal-Secular politician in Bellandur. "They have built a golf course on their campus while people do not have any place to sleep in the city," said Kumar, whose party, the JD-S, rules Karnataka in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The second largest Infosys campus, after Bangalore, will be in Hyderabad. The company is building a huge campus in the city spread over 550 acres of land. Infosys already has a campus over 50 acres in Hyderabad. Early this year, the Andhra Pradesh government sold 550 acres of land to Infosys at Rs 12 lakh (Rs 1.2 million) per acre: a low price in booming Hyderabad.

Infosys officials say the company is acquiring so much land because it is strapped for space. The company these days is building an additional space of 31,76,400 square feet at various development centres across India.

So where, in India, is Infosys building space?

Bangalore: The Electronic City is the company's global headquarters. It is the world's single largest software development facility among IT services companies.

Two software development blocks of 426,000 sq ft with 4,130 seats and a Multimedia Centre of 26,000 sq ft with 110 seats have already been completed at the Bangalore centre.

In addition, a software development block of 196,000 sq ft with 2,500 seats, a food court of 61,000 sq ft, an employee care centre of 264,000 sq ft and a multi-level car park of 310,000 sq ft are under construction. The existing capacity at the Infosys Bangalore campus comprises 20,84,836 sq ft with 14,465 seats.

Pune: Last year, two software development blocks of 250,000 sq ft, with 2,400 seats, were completed in Pune. A food court of 50,000 sq ft and two software development blocks of 374,000 sq ft with 3,000 seats, are under construction.

Together, the Infosys campuses in Pune have a built-up area of 848,647 sq ft. with 5,931 seats.

Bhubaneswar: A software development block of 95,000 sq ft, with 800 seats, and an employee care centre of 100,000 sq ft, have already been completed. Currently, a software development block of 139,000 sq ft, with 1,300 seats, is under construction.

The campus has a built-up area of 384,000 sq ft with 2,000 seats.

Chennai: An employee care centre of 75,000 sq ft has been completed. Currently, the campus has a built-up area of 496,317 sq ft with 2,976 seats. For the second campus in Chennai, work is under construction for two software development blocks of 250,000 sq ft, with 2,400 seats and a food court of 50,000 sq ft.

Hyderabad: A software development block of 154,000 sq ft of 1,100 seats has been completed. Civil works are in progress for the Enterprise Solutions University, including employee care facilities, of 300,000 sq ft. Currently, the campus has a built-up area of 616,000 sq ft with 3,965 seats.

Mysore: The 441,000 sq ft Global Education Centre, capable of training 4,500 professionals at a time, an employee care centre of 110,000 sq ft, 2,350 residential rooms of 110,000 sq ft and a food court of 36,000 sq ft, have been completed.

Two software development blocks of 420,000 sq ft, with 4,200 seats, 258 residential rooms of 141,900 sq ft, a food court of 39,000 sq ft and a multiplex building of 56,000 sq ft are under completion. Currently, the campus has a built-up area of 2,206,630 sq ft with 1,734 seats and can train and house 4,500 employees.

Mangalore: Infosys is buying 25 acres of land in Mangalore for expanding. Plans to invest Rs 300 crore (Rs 3 billion) in the Mangalore centre, which has topped in customer satisfaction and employee satisfaction among other Infosys centres.

The Mangalore centre, which celebrated its 10th anniversary, recently has grown from 20 employees in 1995 to more than 1,600 employees currently, servicing over 42 clients across the United States, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

Chandigarh: Work is in progress for a software development block of 330,000 sq ft with 3,100 seats, a food court, a health club and employee care centre of 1,74,500 sq ft.

Thiruvananthapuram: Interiors have been completed in the leased space of 22,000 sq ft, with 220 seats. Infosys has acquired 50 acres of land to build its own facility in Thiruvananthapuram.

Somehow i am not able to agree to the comments of Reghu Kumar. "Everybody is suffering , so u dont enjoy" logic sucks


"Does Infosys need to provide more than 1,500 square feet of office space per employee?" asks Reghu Kumar, a Janata Dal-Secular politician in Bellandur. "They have built a golf course on their campus while people do not have any place to sleep in the city," said Kumar, whose party, the JD-S, rules Karnataka in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Somehow i am not able to agree to the comments of Reghu Kumar. "Everybody is suffering , so u dont enjoy" logic sucks

But note that every piece of property in a city must be used according to some plan. Suppose I buy a few acres of land in the middle of manhattan from govt for business. Then finally if I just grow cabbage in acres of left over! I am not sure how much of revenue that perticular campus golf course produce.

I have a vague feeling that when this IT business will hit a bear market all these realty will be used as a cusion. And in few daceds we will have to re structure the whole infrastructure of these places in a different way. But I guess its a sign of progressive economy, which learns from mistakes.

Nobody who could afford to buy acres of land in manhattan would have bought it with a business plan of "throwing garbage on it".

Worst Case: Even if they have a cusion (after IT hits bear market) and put it good use that will improve the economy, I be happy. That better than the govt holding these lands and putting it to improper use today.

Nobody who could afford to buy acres of land in manhattan would have bought it with a business plan of "throwing garbage on it".

Worst Case: Even if they have a cusion (after IT hits bear market) and put it good use that will improve the economy, I be happy. That better than the govt holding these lands and putting it to improper use today.

At the end of the day, thousands of acres of land is going to some private owners who is not making use of those lands most efficiently. It may sound bit socialistic, but let me clarify, I am neither a typical socialist nor a communist supporter.

But, we all should agree that India does not have luxary to waste land. Government may not utilise the land properly (atleast it has not been prudent in the past), but government can lease such land for park or industry or many different activities to other private promoters. Atleast that piece of land could be used for some public interest. It seems to be idealistic, but today only Infosys is such land hungry. Just think, if tomorrow all other big companies starts pressurising goverments for big chunk of land, can India really afford that ?

So, atleast for the easy solution, governments must not transfer the ownership of the land. It should only lease the land for specific business purpose. If tomorrow Infosys is out of business, they should return the land back to government. They should not be allowed to make profit out of that land what they once bought at one-tenth of the market price.

Bengal inks Rs 90,000-cr deal with Indonesian co. :runaway:


Kolkata: West Bengal government’s agreement with a consortium of Indian and foreign promoters on Monday for building India’s biggest infrastructure-cum-industrial project is estimated to cost up to Rs 90,000 crore.
Indonesia’s Salim group is teaming up with India's realty major Unitech and Universal Success Group for taking up the project, to be completed over the next 15 years, sources in the know of the development said here.

New Kolkata International Development Pvt Ltd, the SPV floated by the private partners, will among other things build a chemical industrial estate spread over 10,000 acres, a multi-product SEZ on 12,500 acres and a SME industrial estate on 400 acres, besides an expressway and a bridge.

The 170-km expressway, connecting North 24 Parganas district with East Midnapore, is alone expected to cost Rs 1,700 crore and the four-lane road bridge over river Hooghly between Raichak in South 24 Parganas and Kukrahati in East Midnapore another 1,700 crore, sources said.
Besides, another Rs 3,430 crore would be spent on social infrastructure and increasing land productivity.
The consortium promoters are to pay Rs 500 crore to the state government as guarantee money within the next 45 days and also pay upfront for land acquisition. Initial investment for the project is likely to come from internal accruals, sources said.

Although the equity structure of the partners in the SPV is likely to be decided only in the next few weeks, they said that the holding would be more or less on equal keel.
The project, which when fully completed would take up 40,000 acres of land, also involves development of a residential-commercial complex on 5,000 acres in Kukrahati, a residential complex on 3,750 acres in Baruipur and a township in Bhangar, South 24 Parganas district.
New Kolkata International Development Pvt Ltd would also develop commercial blocks, including stalls, to be handed over to marginal farmers among the land losers.
Institutes to impart training to land losers would also be set up and run by the consortium for five years, besides reserve five per cent of beds in hospitals in Health City in Bhangar township for land losers and BPL families.
Five per cent of seats would also be reserved for members of families who have lost their land to the project. PTI

GREEN SIGNAL


Indonesia’s Salim group is teaming up with Unitech and Universal Success Group for taking up the project
The partners will build a chemical industrial estate spread over 10,000 acres, a multi-product SEZ on 12,500 acres and a SME industrial estate on 400 acres, besides an expressway and a bridge
Around Rs 3,430 crore would also be spent on social infrastructure. Institutes to impart training to land losers would also be set up

But, we all should agree that India does not have luxary to waste land. Government may not utilise the land properly (atleast it has not been prudent in the past), but government can lease such land for park or industry or many different activities to other private promoters. Atleast that piece of land could be used for some public interest. It seems to be idealistic, but today only Infosys is such land hungry. Just think, if tomorrow all other big companies starts pressurising goverments for big chunk of land, can India really afford that ?


Well eventually, maybe in a couple of decades thats what would happen 5% of the population will control 80% of the assets.


If tomorrow Infosys is out of business, they should return the land back to government. They should not be allowed to make profit out of that land what they once bought at one-tenth of the market price.

That would be a good clause to add...I was thinking they would have already had such type of clauses in there, not sure though.

Somehow i am not able to agree to the comments of Reghu Kumar. "Everybody is suffering , so u dont enjoy" logic sucks

True..but if you want to enjoy it should not be at the expense of someone else's suffering. If infy wants large chunks of land to build golf courses, they better pay the price for it. Govts should not pay peanuts to farmers for their land and give them to Infy at low rates.

In the case of WB, if Infy is not ready to pay the price for the land in new town, they can look at cheaper options further from the airport / city center with bad roads etc. Those 100 acres in new town will definitely not remain vacant. The likes of DLF,Unitech etc would gladly set up highrise complexes that can efficiently accommodate thousands of employees. I do not see any reason why the price of land should be subsidised for Infy.

Somehow i am not able to agree to the comments of Reghu Kumar. "Everybody is suffering , so u dont enjoy" logic sucks


Reghu Kumar is a politician. So he is just speaking in populist terms.

As far as Infosys is concerned, it is in the driving seat in the land deals. Most governments will try to give land to Infosys because of its reputation as a great company. The high end employment they provide and the stunning campuses are something that no government can ignore. It's a boost to a local economy to have an Infosys campus.

But Infosys too should be ready to pay market prices. It is a rich company and the money it will spend, if it buys land in New Town, will be used for development of the city only. Otherwise it should be ready to buy land in the outskirts of the city at lower prices.

In an interview, I read that highrise buildings are a taboo for Infosys. Not sure why.

Infosys does need to be flexible in its approach towards office space. In metro areas it should try building highrise towers instead of low rise campuses.

Why cannot Infosys give India some of the best skyscrapers in the world? After all it has given India some of the best office campuses and other companies have followed the trend.

Anyone in Infosys management listening?

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060813/asp/bengal/story_6606211.asp


A health city spread across 70 acres and situated just outside Siliguri is on the cards.

State urban development and municipal affairs minister Asok Bhattacharya today announced this after attending a board meeting of the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority.

“It will be a health and education city spread over 70 acres,” he said. “We have found a plot adjacent to North Bengal Medical College Hospital.”

The health city, about 8 km from Siliguri, will be close to a satellite township that the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority is planning to bring up.

“We have received a number of proposals from persons attached to the health sector,” Bhattacharya said. “The Birla Heart Research Centre has expressed interest in setting up a centre here. There is also a proposal for a children’s hospital on the health city campus.”

“ There is no medical facility in north Bengal where cardiac surgeries can be done, though we have a lot of private nursing homes and government hospitals.” Bhattacharya said. “The health city should address this problem.”

The health city would also have education facilities, like courses on medicine and nursing and paramedic training.

Bhattacharya also said the government has shortlisted three areas for the Reliance Group to set up an agro-based retailing and trading unit.

Reghu Kumar is a politician. So he is just speaking in populist terms.

As far as Infosys is concerned, it is in the driving seat in the land deals. Most governments will try to give land to Infosys because of its reputation as a great company. The high end employment they provide and the stunning campuses are something that no government can ignore. It's a boost to a local economy to have an Infosys campus.

But Infosys too should be ready to pay market prices. It is a rich company and the money it will spend, if it buys land in New Town, will be used for development of the city only. Otherwise it should be ready to buy land in the outskirts of the city at lower prices.

In an interview, I read that highrise buildings are a taboo for Infosys. Not sure why.

Infosys does need to be flexible in its approach towards office space. In metro areas it should try building highrise towers instead of low rise campuses.

Why cannot Infosys give India some of the best skyscrapers in the world? After all it has given India some of the best office campuses and other companies have followed the trend.

Anyone in Infosys management listening?



No doubt the campuses of Infosys are the best in India with all the landscaping, waterbodies etc in the campuses, but again , in a space strapped country like India, companies should typically go for high rises rather than sprawling campuses.

In WB, the debate over land to Infy has been going on for a year now and Infosys is still in the negotiation mode with the govt. One reason for the 'I am in no hurry' attitude could be that the company already has a big campus in Bhuvaneshwar which is being expanded as well. It can get the required talent from middle/eastern/north-eastern india into its Bhuvaneshwar campus

Yes, as we have seen the presence of Infy is always good for the local economy, but may not be that significant from the company standpoint

No doubt the campuses of Infosys are the best in India with all the landscaping, waterbodies etc in the campuses, but again , in a space strapped country like India, companies should typically go for high rises rather than sprawling campuses.

In WB, the debate over land to Infy has been going on for a year now and Infosys is still in the negotiation mode with the govt. One reason for the 'I am in no hurry' attitude could be that the company already has a big campus in Bhuvaneshwar which is being expanded as well. It can get the required talent from middle/eastern/north-eastern india into its Bhuvaneshwar campus

Yes, as we have seen the presence of Infy is always good for the local economy, but may not be that significant from the company standpoint

I am not really sure what is the corelation between a software co and a landscaped campus ? I have always seen that they have one such. for exmaple the sipcot in chennai has xansa's wonderful building and a beautiful landscaping. Its huge , have a canal and beautiful grass and plants everywhere. Now the sipcot is not far from cherucery or airport for that matter when the MRT will be built. Then we will have an island of paradise ( for xansa ) and middle class people hoping to get a few hundred square feet for their dig near the work. I dont know what chennai will do then i am sure the population is not going to remain at the level it is at this time. Instead a building in mount road would have been welcome.

the potato sales in west bengal goes online. now the farmars can trade their stocks through internet. I think that is a major development for the rural parts of the state.


According to a study by MCX, there is scope for a turnover of Rs.45 billion in potato trade annually. As the Kufri Jyoti variety is produced in abundance, it was chosen for online sale.


the full story is here.....
http://www.teluguportal.net/modules/news/article.php?storyid=10570

I thought Kolkatta like other metros had one of the best health care services in India.here is an article which says bengalis flock to chennai for health care services.
Any particular reason ?

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE920060907021226&Page=9&Title=Chennai&Topic=0&


Chennai hospitals offer solace to Bengali patients
Thursday September 7 2006 12:33 IST
CHENNAI: It’s like a mini Bengal in the heart of the city. At Apollo Hospitals on Greams Road, 30 percent of the total out-patients and 35 percent of in-patients every month are Bengalis, seeking medical assistance in a range of departments, like cardiology, neurosurgery and oncology, among the rest.

A cacophony of women in impeccably-starched cotton sarees, speaking in rapid Bengali, with the bengali babus accompanying them, are a common sight at some of the leading hospitals and nursing homes in the city. And it has been decades that
Chennai has been a health hub for Bengalis seeking medical treatment at premier medical institutes in the city.

Why is it that people from West Bengal overlook hospitals and nursing homes in their own state and head towards Chennai? An indignant Shirish Mukherjee (name changed on request), a heart patient from Kolkata, points out, ‘‘Government hospitals
in West Bengal are doing a worthless job. And the private nursing homes are out there to mint money at the cost of patients. Hence, I decided to pay a visit to Apollo in Chennai.’’

R Gopalakrishnan, head of the department of Orthopaedics, Apollo Hospitals, says, ‘‘The Bengalis believe in perfection in all avenues of life. They come to Apollo because of the perfection in health care.’’

Similar is the scene at Sankara Nethralaya, one of the prime eye hospitals in the country. Sources in the Patient Relations department at the hospital say, ‘‘Even for simple cataract operations and eye checkups, Bengalis come here.’’
A common feature among all the major hospitals here is a special group of Bengali staff to cater to their needs.

The Patient Relations department claims that the information cell which the hospital has arranged at Central Railway Station is aimed at catering to the needs of the plethora of patients who arrive in town aboard the Coromandel Express
from Kolkata.

On a visit to MV Diabetes Specialities Centre, you can see a lot of Bengali patients queuing up at the reception. Sivaranjani, secretary to the general manager, says, ‘‘To cater to the innumerable Bengali patients who come to us, we have trained our staff to interact with the patients in Bengali.’’

Along the length of Greams Road, one can observe a number of medical shops with Bengali name boards. Shanil of Sri Krishna Medicals explains, ‘‘Our shop is inundated with prescriptions from Bengali patients. There are patients who stay in the city for six months. In fact, there are Bengalis from Assam, Bangladesh and the Gulf countries who are patients at the Apollo.’’

The shop also has a Bengali newspaper kiosk that sells leading dailies from Kolkata, like Anandabazaar and Pratidin. Though the charges per copy are automatically hiked, the shop sells more than 400 copies a day.

To provide accommodation at nominal rates for the Bengalis, Baquer Iqbal, proprietor of New Bengal Mess on Greams Road, informs that there are a host of lodges and messes tucked away at a corner of Greams Road, that cater to the middle-class communities. According to Iqbal, who also has a travel business, when the patients are completely cured, they head to pilgrimage places in the state and other nearby places.

I thought Kolkatta like other metros had one of the best health care services in India.here is an article which says bengalis flock to chennai for health care services.
Any particular reason ?

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE920060907021226&Page=9&Title=Chennai&Topic=0&
Chennai hospitals offer solace to Bengali patients


As the article says Government hospitals in West Bengal are usually hopeless. There are more unionized staff than doctors and nurses in the government hospitals.The Government has simply given up despite its so called "pro poor" slogans. In fact it is inviting the private sector to build hospitals (contrast this with the opposition to privatization of airports). There were also just a few private hospitals which were seen as minting money but not providing quality services.

For medical treatment, Chennai has been the city of choice for many Bengalis (who can afford the expenses) because Chennai hospitals and doctors are considered more competent and efficient. It's been like that for a long time now and people who have come back from treatment there have spread the good word about Chennai. Other popular destinations are Vellore, Pondicherry, AIIMS - Delhi and Tata - Mumbai.

Things are however slowly changing in Kolkata. Apollo has already come in and so has Sankara Nethralaya. Several other private sector hospitals have opened. I have heard people say that the Apollo in Kolkata is good but the "real" thing is in Chennai. So even if they get good treatment in Kolkata, there is always this dilemma that maybe they would have had better treatment in Chennai.

The new hospitals in Kolkata will need time to build a positive reputation. Chennai already has built an excellent reputation over the last few decades.

Thanks Sun for the detailed explanation. It was really a news to me.

Videocon gets nod to set up IT, biotech SEZs in WB

KOLKATA: The Videocon group has finalised its proposed IT and bio-tech special economic zones (SEZs) with the West Bengal government. The consumer electronics and home appliances major is also keen to set up three more SEZs in the state.

Videocon group chairman VN Dhoot met West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Friday evening to discuss the proposed SEZs. After the meeting, Mr Dhoot said: “The state government has given a green signal to our proposed IT and biotech SEZs which will come up at Siliguri.

The CM has assured me that the government will shortly arrange land for the other three SEZs which will be either multi-product or single product.”

The state government has allotted 100 acres in Siliguri for the proposed biotech and IT SEZs. “The government will assist Videocon to identify land. I have asked the commerce and industry department to look for land, ” the CM said.

The Videocon chairman arrived in the city on Friday morning and went around visiting the sites of the SEZs. Braving the rains, Mr Dhoot travelled to three such sites in around Kolkata. “We have already applied to the central government for our proposed SEZs. We are hoping to get clearance soon,” added Mr Dhoot.

Apart from the two SEZs proposed to come up at Siliguri, Videocon wants to set up a multi-product SEZ at Kharagpur. For this, the company will require 2,500 acres. The other two would be single-product SEZs, one of which may come up in Uluberia-Sankrail area. One of the two SEZs may only deal with electronic goods.

At the 45-minute meeting, Mr Dhoot also discussed about his proposal to takeover state-owned Webel. The company is keen to set up a finishing school for IT engineers and picture tube manufacturing unit there.

SA Ahmed, special secretary to the CM, said: “We have told Mr Dhoot that the matter is now lying with the state IT ministry. It is under active consideration of the government and we are hoping to come out with a workable formula for Webel takeover.”

Good job Budhdhadeb & Co. :applause: Next target is Infosys.

Statesman News Service
KOLKATA, Oct. 17: After more than a year’s squabble with the state government, Wipro Technologies has compromised on location to acquire land at a lower price for its second centre in the state.
Wipro has accepted 50 acre of land near Vedic Village at Rajarhat extension, which it had earlier rejected, at the rate of Rs 50 lakh per acre. The company had asked for land in Rajarhat at a price much lower than that offered by the state government. Even after the state government had brought down the price of land in Rajarhat from Rs 2.15 crore per acre to Rs 1.5 crore per acre, the company said it was ready to pay no more than Rs 60 lakh to Rs 70 lakh per acre, a rate that was on a par with Hyderabad and Bangalore. Mr Sudip Banerjee, president, enterprise solutions, Wipro Technologies, had earlier said that Vedic Village did not have the communication facilities as had Sector V or Rajarhat.

FULL STORY: http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=22&theme=&usrsess=1&id=133484

[QUOTE=cncity;9479883]Bengal inks Rs 90,000-cr deal with Indonesian co. :runaway:
[/QUOIE]

I dont quite understand the hypocrisy of left , when it comes to foreign investments :dunno:

Good job Budhdhadeb & Co. :applause: Next target is Infosys.



FULL STORY: http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=22&theme=&usrsess=1&id=133484


Yaay!!! I am happy with the whole event. Happy with Wipro and way happier - really really happy - that the WB Govt has behaved with Wipro. If a company wants land, it may get some discount but not FREE.

I take Hyderabad as an example, since I stay there right now. Companies are getting land at 1 lakh per cottah (which is 60 lakh per acre - an acre is 60 cottah). And people who stay there? They have to buy the same land for Rs 10-12 lakh per cottah. Tonnes of black money get generated as a result - all go to a handful few. In India, people (the rich) apply policies to whiten their black money. The rich gets richer, the poor get poorer. That is NOT development. That is anti-urbanization. One may want to attract companies by giving reasonable discounts, by giving reasonable tax-holidays, but should not spoil them by giving anti-competitive edge. It is the deeper impact of this fact that I see so much corruption around.

Development is great. But not at expense of a select / underprivileged few. We see this happen most often in India. In most of the developed countries what would be a right of violation of human rights is considered as "competetion" in India.

Tata Power plugs into Bengal
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061101/asp/business/story_6942840.asp

Tata Power will set up a 120-mw plant in Haldia for Hooghly Met Coke and Power Company Limited, involving an investment of Rs 120 crore.
The project is being set up on the 200-acre waste land of the now defunct Hindustan Fertiliser Corporation Ltd.

Bengal’s rural purchasing power growing
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=205092

The market in West Bengal is developing as the purchasing capacity of rural people is growing by 8 per cent per annum, according to Gautam Deb, the state housing & public health engineering minister.

Deb, while inaugurating the Consumer-2006 fair organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, said, “Currently the rural population is spending Rs 20,000 crore a year to buy products, which has made West Bengal an attractive destination for investors.”

The state has received around Rs 30,000 crore worth industrial investment in 13 years and projects involving Rs 9000 crore investment are under implementation.

The growth has reduced the BPL (below poverty line) population in the state from 56 per cent in 1977 to 21 per cent in 2006. In another three years this would come down to 10 per cent, Deb said.


Asim paints a rosy picture
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=207757

If state finance minister Asim Dasgupta is to be believed, the market and not the state will rule eventually.

“We have to remove government monopolies and bring in more competition; be it services or industry,” Dasgupta said at an interaction session organised by the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BNCCI).

And he puts a disclaimer: “Where the market wouldn’t work, the state will go for social intervention.”

He also talked of greater decentralisation of power.

“Panchayats are not the last word; there is centralisation of power even at that level and we need to remove it. This will lead to greater people’s participation,” the minister said.

He promised that within five years, West Bengal would be a lot better place to live in for the poor and the small farmers.

Dasgupta unveiled his grand vision for 2010: the percentage below the poverty line would fall to 10 per cent from the present 22 per cent; 80 per cent of agricultural land would be irrigated, up from 71 per cent now; self-sufficiency in production of oilseeds and a significant reduction in dependency on other states for wheat and pulses would be achieved; agriculture to grow from present 3.6 per cent to 4 per cent; one multi-purpose cold storage in every district would be set up.

Tackling the fish shorage...

Project to plug Bengal’s diet deficit, give direct and indirect jobs to 30,000
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061103/asp/bengal/story_6953474.asp

The Salim Group is casting its net wider in Bengal: the Indonesian company is planning a fishery foray for which it may need as many as 25,000 acres.
On Salim’s radar now are a fish farm and a fish processing-cum-export unit in Howrah. Estimated to cost $2 million (Rs 9 crore), the project is expected to give direct and indirect employment to as many as 30,000 people.

Benny Santoso, the executive director of the group, met state fisheries minister Kiranmoy Nanda today to discuss the project. According to officials, the Indonesian investor has sought 25,000 acres at Amta in Howrah for the project. The group proposes to produce 1 lakh tonnes of fish a year. “Bengal produces 12 lakh tonnes of fish annually, but we still need to buy 70,000-80,000 tonnes from other states because of the immense demand. If this unit comes up, we will be self-sufficient in fish. They also plan to export processed fish from here,” said Nanda.

The state now has a fish-processing unit at Chakgheria, off the EM Bypass, from where marine products are exported. The fisheries minister said his department would buy the land directly from farmers. “We have identified low-lying land along the Damodar river for the project. Since the area is low lying, it gets flooded every year. It is not agriculturally significant, hence the farmers will not be averse to selling it,” Nanda said. A team of experts from Indonesia will soon visit the site to assess the project feasibility. If implemented, the project will be the largest of its kind in the state. Around 40,000 hectares of waterbodies are now exploited for fishing in Bengal.

Santoso will meet chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee tomorrow and finalise the 100-km Barasat-Raichak Expressway as well as the Raichak-Kukrahati bridge projects.

Bengal plans malls on Ganga (http://business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=263666&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

The government of West Bengal is planning at least 4 mobile shopping malls on the river Ganges with an investment of close to Rs 14 crore per mall.

"Shopping malls and multiplexes enjoy maximum footfall these days. A similar structure on Ganges would be innovative as well as attractive," claimed Subhas Chakraborty, minister of transport and sports, government of West Bengal.

The mobile shopping malls on Ganges would move about the entire river stretch.

They would be six storeys high, added Chakraborty.

The state government would also build overhead 'ring road' in Kolkata where vehicles can get off at all points.

"We are also looking at building overhead 'light railway system' that would connect Sodhpur to Joka. Another similar overhead railway system would connect Esplanade to Baruipur," said Chakraborty.

Tram tracks, that cover upto 76 km in Kolkata, would be concretised soon. Already 46 km of tram track has been concretised, claimed Chakraborty.

"We are also building truck terminals at Barasat, Budge Budge, Dankuni, and Rajarhat so that bigger vehicles carrying heavy merchandise cannot enter Kolkata. This is to ensure that heavy vehicles cannot damage Kolkata roads," said Chakraborty.


What a dumb idea. Total waste of money and its only going to pollute the Ganges even more. Narrow visioned as usual.

Bengal plans malls on Ganga (http://business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=263666&subLeft=1&leftnm=3)

What a dumb idea. Total waste of money and its only going to pollute the Ganges even more. Narrow visioned as usual.

You will be wasting your time if you listen to comrade Subhash Chakroborty. He is the official party jester plus toughie. From 90 storey towers in Rajarhat to floating gondals to Howrah station, he is very popular with the press core for he is always willing to share sound bytes on every topic under the earth.
Floating Malls - don't think it will happen, just like the confeence centre under the second Hooghly Bridge.

Salim ropes in Zongshen
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?autono=263743&leftnm=1&subLeft=0&chkFlg=

The Indonesia-based Salim group has roped in Chinese motor-cycle manufacturer Zongshen Motorcycle Company for its two-wheeler project in West Bengal.

Zongshen is one of the 200-odd motorcycle companies in China with an annual capacity of 20 lakh motorbikes.

The industry secretary of West Bengal, Sabyasachi Sen, said the Mahabharat Motor Manufacturing Company, the two-wheeler outfit of Salim group in India, would be a three-way joint venture between Salim, Universal Success of Bengali non-resident Indian Prasun Mukherjee and China’s Zongshen Motorcycle.

Arjun would be the brand name of Mahabharat Motor products.

A team from Zongshen Motorcycle today met West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and industry minister Nirupam Sen along with Salim group chief executive Beni Santosa to discuss details of the project.

Later, Sabyasachi Sen said the Salim group had asked for more land for the motorcycle project. The group had initially purchased 68 acres in Uluberia, 40km west of Kolkata.

Bhattacharjee inaugurated the project in February of this year. According to the state industry secretary, Salim group today asked for an additional 100 acres for the project.

“The Salim group had earlier estimated production of 150,000 motorcycles per year at the Uluberia factory but now its Chinese partner wants to raise the capacity to 500,000 a year. The motorcycle is likely to be rolled out in one year,” he added.

Realty sector on high growth curve in West Bengal
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/10/30/stories/2006103000780200.htm

The real estate sector in West Bengal never had it so good, and things are getting better by the day. This is primarily due to the unique and innovative public-private partnership model that has been put in place by the West Bengal Government.

The model, whereby joint sector companies have been formed with organised real estate developers in the private sector and the West Bengal Housing Board (WBHB) as partners, has helped unlock vast tracts of urban land, the development of which would otherwise not have been possible on account of urban land ceiling laws.

The cross-subsidy model provides for creation of housing stock for those belonging to higher, middle and even low-income groups. For housing stock for higher income groups, developers are permitted free pricing while for the middle-income groups, they have to be sold at no-profit-no-loss basis. For lower income groups, the housing stock has to be sold at lower-than-cost.

While the evolution of the real estate industry has been gradual, it has lately attracted large foreign and domestic players and venture capitalists. It's growth has been propelled by the burgeoning IT sector in the State.

Says Mr Rahul Todi, Managing Director, Bengal Shrachi Housing Development Ltd, one of the eight companies that has formed a joint venture with WBHB: "Earlier, real estate was never considered a full-time, organised business. It was more of a past time of those whose main business interests lay elsewhere.

Besides, real estate developers lacked credibility in the eyes of the general public. Transparency and trust was also lacking. With organised and professional players joining hands with WBHB, the industry now is transparent and accountable. Consequently, its acceptability among the people has gone up."

According to Mr Todi, the cross-subsidy model has been very successful. Importantly, it has found acceptance across the political spectrum. His company has already executed projects valued at Rs 40 crore even as the value of projects under implementation has been pegged at around Rs 300 crore.

Interestingly, the real estate boom is not confined to Kolkata and its periphery, where the burgeoning IT sector is seen as the main propeller of demand for commercial space and housing stock.

In tier II cities such as Durgapur, Siliguri and Bardhaman, too, there is a growing demand for housing stock, commercial space and space for niche requirements of sectors such as retail, education, hospitality, medical, etc.

The PPP model has brought to the fore the latent potential in real estate development in smaller towns and cities. Bengal Shrachi is developing a 10 million sq.ft township in Bardhaman while Bengal Ambuja Housing Development Ltd is developing housing stock and retail space in Siliguri, Haldia and Shantiniketan. Bengal Shristi had joined hands with Asansol Durgapur Development Authority for Asansol and Durgapur.

Besides the boom in the IT sector, several other factors are cited for the growth of the West Bengal's real estate scenario. They include access to quality housing - with amenities such as lounges, clubs, gyms, swimming pools, spas, etc - a growing middle class, double-income and nuclear families, high disposable incomes, access to easy home finance and upwardly-mobile lifestyles and growing aspirations.

"Seven years ago, the first-time home buyer was in the 35-40 age group. Today, he is barely 27-28," says Mr Todi, adding that "earlier the norm was one car park for every two flats. Today, it is the other way round."

In the commercial space, the accent is on large-format offices.

Says Mr Pradeep Surekha, President of Credai Bengal and Managing Director of Bengal Park Chambers, another joint venture with WBHB: "Given the strict guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India, raising debt will become increasingly difficult.

Hence, companies will have to go in for borrowings from the private sector and also seek equity participation from venture capitalists."

Recently, a New York-based fund, New Vernon, picked up a 50 per cent equity stake for Rs 30 crore in an infrastructure development company where his Surekha Group is a stakeholder. Besides developing housing stock and workspaces for IT companies, Bengal Park Chambers is also setting up service apartments for IT professionals in the Salt Lake Electronics Complex, the city's IT hub. According to Mr Sumit Dabriwala, Managing Director of Riverbank Holdings Pvt Ltd, Kolkata has emerged as a major "actual user market" where more people buy real estate for their own use than for investment purposes. He attributes the real estate boom "fundamentally to the rise in the real incomes of people". He, however, stresses upon the importance of what he calls `employment anchoring'. "You cannot sell real estate unless they are bundled with shopping malls, IT parks, etc". Mr Dabriwala's company is setting up a township - with dwelling units, IT park, hotels, malls, golf courses - spread over 260 acres of land at Batanagar at an estimated investment of Rs 1,800 crore.

Mr Dabriwala is sanguine that the "action in Kolkata is still to happen".

The balanced development of infrastructure, industry, IT and the services sector will only augur well for "the inclusive real estate development model adopted by West Bengal where social housing is also an integral part", he says.

Bengal today moved a step closer to finding a place on the country’s nuclear map after the central site selection committee said it would recommend Haripur in Contai, about 200 km from here, as a location for the eastern region’s first nuclear power plant.

“We have found that Haripur has good potential for setting up a nuclear plant,” committee chairman S.K. Jain said after meeting chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at Writers’ Buildings today. Jain is also chairman of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India.

FULL STORY: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061120/asp/frontpage/story_7025136.asp

KOLKATA: Tata Motors’ managing director Ravi Kant has scotched speculation about shifting the small-car project outside the state by saying the company would go ahead with the plant at the disputed site in Singur.

His remarks came on the eve of Trinamul’s mass agitation against the project. Kant said he was confident of land being handed over within weeks. Two months ago, he had said Tata Motors would have to relocate if land acquisition wasn’t completed soon.

“The government has received consent letters for 927 acres — over 90% of the 997-acre plot that was identified for the plant,” he said. Though the company initially sought land by November, the government wanted time to allow paddy harvesting.

Expressing confidence about meeting the deadline committed by company chairman Ratan Tata, Kant said the Rs 1 lakh car would roll out of the plant in 2008. “Construction work for the project will begin as soon as the government hands over land.

Work on the car is underway as per schedule in Pune. Prototypes are being tested. Orders for plant and machinery have been placed. Half of the 60-80 vendors have been selected.”

Pointing out that the automobile industry was a major economic growth-driver, Kant said auto hubs had sprung up in all regions except the east. “Chennai, Bangalore, Pune, Nashik, Halol and Gurgaon have emerged as major auto hubs. West Bengal, the leading state in the east, should also have a hub.”

^^

The Trinamul Congress and Mamata didi seem to be on the wrong side of the popular mood again. The two big media houses which advise her on agitations and strikes and other tamashas like dancing on the Governor's car need to get better editors and advisors. The poor lady was actually wise enough initially but these two media groups have been egging her on to carry out the 'janata' agitation. She had to bring in 45,000 people from other districts to make her rally look big. The BJP and the Congress (I) seem to be supporting her too from the shadows.

All these crocodile tears for farmland and people by Mamata and her supporters is hogwash. Her own partyman's constituency is home to some of the largest illegal ghettos and bonded labour units in the state.

Most of the farmland is being anyway illegally (and sometimes legally) converted into urban and industrial estates. At least the Tata project will ensure some planned development and will also bolster the DLF Dankuni project.

The politics of opposition in the country is such that all political parties in the opposition will oppose anything without proper discussion of merits and demerits. So while the CP(I)M is 'pro industrialization' wherever it is in power, it is opposing it wherever it is in opposition. Ditto with the other parties.

Hopefuls! Will they materialize?

Bharat Forge heads for Bengal
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1065158

Bharat Forge is setting up its tenth worldwide unit at Durgapur in West Bengal, state government sources have said.The plant would be Bharat Forge?s third facility in the country. The company will invest Rs 800 crore for this purpose. The 60% of the unit output would focus on the non-automotive segment. The plant is expected to boost exports to China and Southeast Asia. Repeated attempts reach the officials of the 1,600 crore automotive forging company failed. An email query remained unanswered for two weeks.


Great Eastern Energy enters into a JV with Indian Oil
http://www.myiris.com/newsCentre/newsPopup.php?fileR=20061122142848094&dir=2006/11/22&secID=livenews

Great Eastern Energy Corporation is planning to form a joint venture with Indian Oil Corporation for marketing and distribution of city gas and compressed natural gas (CNG) in the Durgapur-Asansol industrial belt in West Bengal.

The company is exploring coal bed methane (CBM) in Ranigunj block in West Bengal and has recently completed drilling of the first 20 wells resulting in a production of 350 mcfd. The commercial production of CBM is expected beginning June 2007, earlier than scheduled.

The city gas and CNG projects are undertaken to widen the customer base and despite the fact that the industrial demand in the area far outstrips the projected production of GEECL, said Y.K. Modi, Chairman and CEO of GEECL.

Jindals may set up steel plant in Bengal
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061129/asp/business/story_7065463.asp

Bengal is set to attain a cutting edge in steel, with the Jindals close to signing a deal next month for a Rs 10,000-crore integrated steel plant in the state. Sajjan Jindal-owned JSW Steel and the state government are putting the final touches to a memorandum of agreement (MoA) for possibly the largest integrated steel plant in the state. The company has zeroed in on Salboni in Midnapur as the site for the unit.

?We have made good progress on the project. An agreement will be signed next month,? B.N. Singh, joint managing director and chief executive officer of JSW Steel, said here today.

Promoters likely to approve Kulpi port project on Dec 18
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/642211.cms

Kulpi port might soon become a reality. The promoters of Bengal Ports, the operator of Kulpi, are expected to approve the detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed port complex and the adjacent special economic zone (SEZ) at its board meeting on December 18 at Dubai.

Kulpi port is jointly promoted by DP World, Keventers Agro and West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC). If the DPR is approved, Bengal Ports will then formally approach the West Bengal government to acquire 3,200 acres at Kulpi, close to Diamond Harbour in south 24 Parganas.

The cost of land is expected to be about Rs 150 crore.
The proposed port will be built over 700 acres, while the SEZ will come up on the balance 2,500 acres. Total investment planned is around Rs 700 crore. The project will be built in phases, with the two jetties coming up in the first phase. The Keventer group holds 44.5% in Bengal Ports. DP World holds another 44.5%, while WBIDC holds the rest 11%.

Videocon plans to log on to PC market
http://www.business-standard.com/iceworld/storypage.php?leftnm=lmnu9&subLeft=5&autono=267040&tab=r

Consumer durables major Videocon Industries is staging a low-key debut in the personal computer (PC) market. The MUmbai-based Dhoot family-controlled company plans to cater to the West Bengal market, exclusively, with its PCs to be sold under the Videocon brand.

Videocon Industries Chairman and Managing Director Venugopal Dhoot told Business Standard the company had already started production of PCs – 3,000 a month – at its Taratola facility in Kolkata. The company had acquired the factory from Philips India a few years ago. Dhoot said the new product, comprising CRT (cathode ray tube) and LCD (liquid crystal display) monitors in an equal proportion, would be priced at 10 per cent lower than the prevailing market rate.

In West Bengal, Dell's are the most widely sold Pcs.

He said it did not require Videocon to invest much for the PC production as the company made "good use" of the Taratola facility's PC production line, which had been lying idle. The PC production is currently providing employment to 300 workers. Relationship of Videocon, a trusted brand in West Bengal, with the sate government began in 1998 after it had taken over the Philips' TV manufacturing plant in Salt Lake. In 2005, the company acquired Philips' lamp manufacturing plant at Taratala and revamped it to start the production of Videocon appliances. Videcon is putting a full-fledged marketing team for the sale of its PCs.

Hopefully despite Mamata-Medha-Maoist-BJP-Congress opposing Singur's industrialization, things will roll on

Sumitomo in Tata footsteps
From TOI

The wheels of fortune are on a roll around the Singur small-car factory. When chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee finally hands over the 997 acres to Ratan Tata, he will have secured a very bright future for Brand Bengal. With the fencing over and the plot ready to be handed over to Ratan Tata, the state government is now busy roping in more automobile majors to pursue its goal of “holistic growth in the area”. The projected employment generation is around 10,000. The latest to join the big brand wagon is Sumitomo. While the government holds talks with the $20-billion Japanese firm (which can conceive a full-fledged automobile unit and produce ancillaries), wellknown auto-component players like Lumax and RBH Automobiles are almost ready to step into the 300-odd acres scooped out of the 997 acres for ancillary units. Well-known autocomponent players like Lumax and RBH Automobiles are ready to step into the 300-odd acres scooped out of the 997 acres for ancillary units at Singur. “Lumax, which makes lighting parts for automobiles, is an European company which has a business partner in India. RDH manufactures engine parts and it is based in France,” said an official.

: Exports from the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) is set to grow by 30 per cent this fiscal over last year’s Rs 100,809 crore.

Exports from Bengal are expected to go up from Rs 2,500 crore in 2005-06 to Rs 3,500 crore in 2006-07.

“Bengal, which ranks eighth in terms of exports by registered STP units, currently comprises around 2.5 per cent of the nation’s exports. This is because the state was a late starter. But the proactive state government, along with STPI, is making efforts to make up this lag. We hope that it will bear fruit in the years to come,” said S.N. Zindal, director-general of STPI.

The software technology park at Haldia is set to become operational within the next two months.

Besides the STPI complex in Haldia, Bengal has another three at Durgapur, Kharagpur and Siliguri.

Two units each have set up operations in Durgapur and Siliguri, while at Kharagpur, companies are yet to come and lease space.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061209/asp/business/story_7116621.asp

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/JSW_to_invest_Rs_10000_cr_for_a_plant_in_WB/articleshow/903491.cms


JSW to invest Rs 10,000 cr for a plant in WB

KOLKATA: JSW Steel on Friday formalised plans to invest Rs 10,000 crore in a mega steel plant in West Bengal. It will also invest an undisclosed sum in a 600 mw captive power station in the state. On Friday, JSW Steel vice-chairman Sajjan Jindal gave assurances to West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee that the company would ink a memorandum of agreement (MoA) on January 11 for setting up the mega steel plant and captive power station at Salboni in the West Midnapore district.


all this is very good but I have two questions :

1) where are they going to get the iron from ? orissa is ofcourse not lending iron to WB or it has changed its stance ?

2) is salbani ( the project venue ) really that barren ? will it not raise the same issue as singur ? esp since this time they acquire 5000 acres.

2 and half ) what about the enviornmentalists ? what types of powerplant they have in mind ? if it is coal based thermal then surely the green bench will be offended :)

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/JSW_to_invest_Rs_10000_cr_for_a_plant_in_WB/articleshow/903491.cms


JSW to invest Rs 10,000 cr for a plant in WB



all this is very good but I have two questions :

1) where are they going to get the iron from ? orissa is ofcourse not lending iron to WB or it has changed its stance ?

2) is salbani ( the project venue ) really that barren ? will it not raise the same issue as singur ? esp since this time they acquire 5000 acres.

2 and half ) what about the enviornmentalists ? what types of powerplant they have in mind ? if it is coal based thermal then surely the green bench will be offended :)

West Midnapore is definitely less fertile than the gangetic plains. However, it is not that barren..there are forests of Sal trees. (that's the origin of the name Salbani, I guess).

Not sure where they will get the iron ore from.

Environmentalists will definitely try to play spoilsport. Soon you will find the Medha Patkar et al roaming around in Salbani !

Poor Mamata, Medha, Buddha and West Bengal!

Mamata will have to be on fast forever if this project gets signed.

:lol:

Medha will have to buy a new house in West Bengal and a helicopter to shuttle between Orissa and Bengal.

:lol:

Buddha will be strained dealing with all the madness going around.

:ohno:

The people of West Bengal will suffer with Mamata, Sonali, Medha, Arundhuti, Vandana, Naxalites, and the thousands of "socialist" NGOs and "environmentalists" calling for blockades, strikes, court cases and what not. And of course there is the BJP and the Congress - two parties in the state which are rudderless and brainless (even more than the Left).

Mamata even forced her partymen (TMC) to bare for her cause yesterday. :nuts:


photo cc rghts nandini

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5688/mamatakolkatavn5.jpg

With these kinds of fools taking centrestage, it may as well be goodbye to development. I wonder why she is not losing weight despite two weeks of fasting till the "end".

photo copyright udayshankar

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/4255/mamatadidibj0.jpg

she definitely looks very strong when she walks in the parades, I guess by now she is only feeling a tiy bit of hunger.:lol: (of course I am concerned for her dont get me wrong )

Maybe Manmohan will speak to her and she will oblige by stopping the fasting drama..Anyway I heard that she has some kind of special drama for Manmohan's visit. A day after her partymen bared their torsos, the party women will parade with kitchen utensils during Manmohan's visit.

:lol:

Meanwhile Naxalites and ultra left students from elite colleges like Presi, JU and JNU are in Singur trying to start a "revolution" they read about in books. Not sure how tough they are finding life on the fields instead of the canteens.

PM to flag off IISCO expansion tomorrow

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061223/asp/business/story_7175317.asp

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will flag off the Rs 9,600-crore modernisation and expansion programme of IISCO at Burnpur on Sunday. Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Union steel minister Ram Vilas Paswan and information & broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi will accompany the Prime Minister. The investment will increase IISCO Steel Plant’s (ISP) capacity from 0.5 million tonnes to 2.5 million tonnes by 2010. ISP is now a part of the Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL).

IISCO is the oldest integrated steel plant in the country, which started operations in 1874. It was nationalised in 1972 and became a wholly owned subsidiary of SAIL in 1978-79. Before its fortunes declined, IISCO was a blue-chip company and had its shares traded on the London Stock Exchange.

The company turned around in 2003-04 following implementation of a revival plan prepared by SAIL. ISP started in February 2006, following the merger of IISCO with SAIL. Burnpur-based ISP has the capacity to produce 4.26 lakh tonnes of saleable steel, mainly structurals and bars and rods, and 2.54 lakh tonnes of pig iron annually. The plant also produces a large number of special steel sections used for fabrication of rail wagons and for construction of barrages and bridges.

bunch of drama. she is not fasting. i thought you all knew the calibre of our politicians...below the belt man...

DP World poised for new investments in India
http://www.gulfnews.com/business/Shipping/10091988.html

Dubai: DP World will invest more than Dh500 million in the first phase of a new port in the Indian state of West Bengal. The company inherited the greenfield Kulpi Port project as part of its acquisition of P&O in February 2006.

DP World CEO Mohammad Sharaf told Gulf News yesterday that the first phase development will cost about $140 million (Dh513.8 million). "The first phase will have a 450-metre quay and a handling capacity of 650,000 TEUs," Sharaf said. DP World has a 40-year concession for Kulpi Port. The second phase will add 450 metres of quay and increase the container handling capacity to 1.3 million TEUs.

DP World's partners in Kulpi Port are Indian firm MKJ Enterprises and the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC).

With Mamata, Medha, Naxalites and the Jamaat e Hind strangulating West Bengal's industrialization plans, things have not been going too well.

Saw two advts in the TOI though after a long time - foundation stone laying at least

Burdwan Health City

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/5589/burdwanhealthcitytibv7.jpg

Himachal Emta

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/9052/emtahimachlsdg5.jpg

Desi group scores over Videshi group
TOI epaper

Delay Dogs Mahabharat Motorcycle Project, But First Xenitis Bike To Roll Out Soon

It’s a study in contrast: A multi-billion-dollar MNC failing to kickstart a motorcycle project while a desi minnow gears up to roll out its two-wheelers record time. On the eve of last year’s Assembly elections, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee went into an overdrive to lay foundation stones for projects that ranged from power plants to townships. The one that attracted everyone’s attention was a Rs 250-crore motorcycle plant. It was small in terms of investment, but significant in its potential to accelerate Bengal’s industrial revival. The first personal auto unit in 60 years promised to put West Bengal back on the auto highway.

Two commercial units have been set up in the last two years— a truck plant at Haldia and a tractor unit in Hooghly.

In February 2006, the foundation of Mahabharat Motorcycle Manufacturing Co was laid. The bike that would roll out was christened Arjun. The government went in for quickfire acquisition. Last February, it handed a 65-acre plot in Uluberia to the group. During the handover, Salim group chief Beni Santoso said the first bike would roll out in a year. In the first phase, the manufacturing capacity was pegged at 60,000 units per annum. A year later, the plot remains deserted with no sign of activity. Even a boundary wall is yet to be constructed. “The project has run into a technological hurdle. Mahabharat Motorcycles is yet to find its technology partner,” admitted industry secretary Sabyasachi Sen. Talks are on with Chinese firm Zong Shen but no agreement is in place yet.

In contrast, home-bred Xenitis group drew up its motorcycle project — Global Automobiles — in November 2005, a month after Salim group. The announcement came in February 2006, days after Mahabharat Motorcycles was flagged off. However, unlike the latter, Global Automobiles was prompt to enter into a tie-up with Guangzhou Motors Co of China for assembly line, production process and service network. A year on, a swank factory is in place on the 25-acre plot in Chinsurah. The Rs 300-crore project is ready to deliver. Next week, the chief minister will flag off the first made-in-Bengal bike. By December, Global Automobiles hopes to sell nearly 200,000 units and clock a turnover of Rs 250-275 crore.

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/184/zentistoismf9.jpg

Poor Mamata, Medha, Buddha and West Bengal!

photo cc rghts nandini

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5688/mamatakolkatavn5.jpg

We do not expect these in a nation poised to become a developed nation...when will the mindset of these fools change :ohno:

Hope they are not in the process of causing damage to the LIC currently undergoing renovation :bash:

^^^ Besides isn't it a violation of the law to deface the Indian tricolor for any purpose let alone advertisements and propaganda.

^^^ Besides isn't it a violation of the law to deface the Indian tricolor for any purpose let alone advertisements and propaganda.

That's the party flag.

i don't think the Anti-Developmebt brigade will be as ruthless for the healthcity as they have been in the past, bc this is essentially a project to build world class hospitals and health infrastructure.

or, who knows?, maybe they will come up with a new formula: why is the gov't letting such anti-ppl projects take place which only serve the rich; the govt should help in setting up free medical hospitals and camps for poor.................there is no limit to their stupidity, outmodedness, etc etc....

Bengal Shrachi to develop retail space in Durgapur
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=154740

Bengal Shrachi Housing Development Ltd is creating a 4,00,000 sqft area of retail space called Junction in Durgapur. Located at City Centre, the commercial heart of Durgapur, Junction is spread over six floors and a basement, providing shopping and entertainment experience to the people of the industrial town.

The amusement zone promises to offer innovative and novel concepts of shopping and entertainment, while the glitzy mall, designed by architect Stephen Coates of aCTa International, will house cafes, departmental stores, a multiplex, international fashion labels, home electronic stores, gaming zones, restaurants and host of other entertainment facilities.

The foundation stone was laid by state municipal affairs minister Asok Bhattacharya on Tuesday.

BSHDL director SK Todi said, "We, at Bengal Shrachi, are glad to set our footprints in the emerging industrial belt of West Bengal---Durgapur---with a premium entertainment destination, Junction. It is our endeavour to make a mark in the retail and realty landscape of West Bengal and also penetrate into the mini metros and towns."

Junction aims to redefine the shopping experience of the discerning consumers of Durgapur by combining the right mix of products with the right services."

West Bengal's first motorcycle plant was inaugurated today.

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/5058/xentisactorytoiek7.jpg

And although a month old news, it is still relevant

Ural rolls out growth plans
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070118/asp/business/story_7275893.asp

Ural India Limited has started commercial production of trucks and plans to make engine parts and axles at its Haldia plant from this year.

Ural India is a joint venture between Calcutta-based Motijug Group, West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) and Uralaz of Russia to manufacture heavy duty trucks.

The project will entail an investment of Rs 550 crore, of which Rs 100 crore has been invested in the first phase.

“We are currently importing the completely knocked down (CKD) version from Russia with a localisation rate of 30 per cent. This would increase to around 50 per cent by next year when we start manufacturing components at our Haldia plant. The company plans to increase the localisation level to 80 per cent in five years,” said Anirudh Kanoi, director, Ural India.

The company started its commercial production in May 2006, but it took six to eight months to get the approval from the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) for the vehicle.

The company has already sold five heavy duty and capacity trucks to the mining industry. It has set a target to sell 3,000 vehicles in 2007-08. The capacity would be ramped up to 40,000 vehicles in five years.

Ural India has also received enquiries for these trucks from neighbouring countries of Nepal and Bangladesh. The company already has orders for 50 to 60 vehicles.

Of the target 3,000, Ural expects to sell 1,500 vehicles to mining and construction companies and the rest to the armed forces. These trucks, with prices starting from Rs 30 lakh when manufactured and assembled in Haldia, are 40 per cent cheaper than the imports from Russia. The Haldia plant requires 500 acres, of which 100 acres has been provided by WBIDC. The Haldia Development Authority is likely to hand over another 100 acres next month.

The Bengal government holds an 11 per cent stake in the joint venture, while the Indian and Russian partners hold 44.5 per cent each.

Motijug Group has also formed a 50:50 joint venture with the Slovenia-based Gorica Industries to manufacture the rear body of all kinds of trucks.

“We have taken over a sick unit and given 20 acres for this manufacturing project, which would entail an investment of Rs 100 crore. This unit will start operations in the second quarter of 2007-08 with a capacity of 10,000 units per year,” Kanoi said.


http://uralindia.com/trucks.html

:bash: SHAME ON NASTY POLITICS FROM MAMATA :evil:
Allies of Buddha are not good either
BUDDHA LOST THE BATTLE
I wonder if anything good can happen in West Bengal !!!
SO DISAPPOINTING !!!

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1934988,0008.htm

Faced with stiff and prolonged resistance, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has decided not to set up his pet Special Economic Zone project at Nandigram and has asked his party and his officials to find an alternative site.

The decision was taken after leaders from East Midnapore unit of the party reported that the people of Nandigram would not accept eviction particularly because setting up the SEZ would mean demolition of religious sites of the minorities. The police are yet to enter the troubled area for over a month now as all approach roads to Nandigram still remain cut.

Party insiders said priority was being given to find the alternative site in the East Midnapore district itself or else the entire string of projects including the other SEZ to be set up in Haldia, the Expressway connecting Barasat and Raichak, the bridge connecting Kukrahati and Raichak as well as several townships and a biotech park and health city along the Expressway would become futile. The SEZ and the expressway as well as the townships along it were to be built by the Salim Group of Indonesia.

“Nandigram was an awesome mistake,” the chief minister told RSP leaders on Thursday during a bipartite meeting attended also by other top CPI(M) leaders. “I will strictly follow the decisions to be taken by our four Left parties on the SEZ,” the chief minister told CPI leaders during a bipartite meeting on Wednesday. He repeated it during the meeting with RSP.

Though upbeat that industrial climate “has been looking up in the state since 2005,” the chief minister, however, said that his party would prepare a comprehensive note on the direction his government wanted to take and would finalise it only after discussing it in the Left Front to avoid controversies in future. The government would also place a land map in the coming session of the assembly to demarcate the plots the government would acquire in future for industries and infrastructure, he said.

The CPI, RSP and the Forward Bloc, during separate meetings with the CPI(M), have objected to the proposed SEZ project in Nandigram. They have also opposed the chief minister’s efforts to relax land ceiling in the state to make setting up of new industries such as IT and Biotech easier.

Facing stiff opposition from within the Left Front itself, the chief minister has decided not to place amendments to the Land reforms Act in the coming session of the assembly beginning next month.

:bash: SHAME ON NASTY POLITICS FROM MAMATA :evil:
Allies of Buddha are not good either
BUDDHA LOST THE BATTLE
I wonder if anything good can happen in West Bengal !!!
SO DISAPPOINTING !!!



http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1934988,0008.htm (http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1934988,0008.htm)


This is a set back no doubt for Mr Buddhadeb. While Mamata may have played spoilsport, I think there are other reasons too.

The area is a stronghold of CPI which is basically an also ran party despite its strong trade union membership across India. It doesn't want to lose its last stronghold to unpopular decisions.

The Jamaat was fast gaining popularity by claiming (unsubstantiated claims) that only minorities were being forced to give up land. This allegation has put the "secular" leftists on the backfoot. 30% of West Bengal's population is minority population - most of whom are in rural areas. The Left has traditionally won a majority of their votes. It cannot upset that apple cart.

The Leftist intellectuals of JNU type who populate every human rights type organization and almost mechaically condemn "western imperialism", "Hindu fascism" and "neo liberal capitalism" are not happy with "reform" minded Buddhadeb. Buddhadeb doesn't distinguish between "Hindu fascism" or "Muslim fascism" or "Christian fascism". This is a big No No for India's leftist intellectuals and Maoist terror groups. Buddha is also seen hobnobbing with Ambanis and Tatas - another big No No for weepy leftist intellectuals. Buddha is even planning to visit the USA and welcomes FDI. Oops that has the leftists intellectuals all agitated. The intellectuals are also opposed to SEZs because that will mean industrialization and employment. Employed people will get money in their pockets and get better lifestyles. They will start questioning the intellectuals. The intellectuals are afraid of this. So Buddha is facing an uphill battle with these leftist intellectuals.

Buddha is doing too many things and has more on his plate than he can handle. He has probably realized that he cannot steam roll changes over an unwilling, laid back population and a dinosaur set of intellectuals.

So maybe he is doing the right thing by calling off the SEZ. He needs to concentrate on Singur, Dankuni and Shalboni for now. If he can pull off those then it will silence the critics and also force the laid back population to wake up and see the positive side of urbanization and industrialization.

It's going to be a difficult task though.

It is kind of an anti climax

Indonesia's Salim Group's investment proposal approved

The Indian cabinet Thursday approved a $500-million investment proposal by Indonesia's Salim Group to set up infrastructure projects, including a special economic zone and industrial park, in communist-ruled West Bengal.

The Salim Group, a leading business conglomerate in Asia, is investing in a project to develop an integrated township in Kolkata in a joint venture. It will have 40 percent equity in the New Kolkata International Development Private Limited (NKID), said Finance Minister P. Chidambram after a Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

He said the NKID, incorporated in West Bengal, has entered into an agreement with the state government and the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation Ltd to act as developer for the proposed New Kolkata Project.

The project includes development of integrated infrastructure comprising townships, housing, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), industrial parks and other related infrastructure, Chidambaram said.

The other promoters of the company are Sriputra Group of Indonesia and Prasun Mukherjee, a NRI.

Chemical hub must in West Bengal: CM
http://www.saharasamay.com/samayhtml/articles.aspx?newsid=70675

Buoyed by the Centre giving clearance to Indonesia-based Salim Group's infrastructure projects in West Bengal, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said that a chemical hub would have be set up in the state.

"We will have to set up a chemical hub in the state on the instruction of the Centre. We will decide later where it will be located," Bhattacharjee told reporters at the state secretariat here.

Bhattacharjee said the Centre had given clearance to the Salim Group's investments in West Bengal.

Haldia and Nandigram in East Midnapore district, where the Salim Group's SEZ and chemical hub were proposed to be located, has witnessed violent protests against the acquisition of land for the projects.

Following violence at Nandigram in early January and sporadic incidents since then, Bhattacharjee had said the chemical hub and the SEZ would not be set up at Nandigram if the people there were opposed to the projects.

The Centre, during the day, cleared a Rs 2,250-crore FDI investment proposal of the Salim and Ciputra Groups for infrastructure projects in the state.

The proposal of the New Kolkata International Development Private Limited (NKID), which is promoted by the Salim and Ciputra Groups, was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

The state government signed an agreement with a consortium led by the Salim Group on July 31 last year for the state's largest infrastructure projects. This included a chemical industrial estate, a multi-product SEZ, a small and medium enterprises industrial estate, an expressway and a bridge.

This is a set back no doubt for Mr Buddhadeb. While Mamata may have played spoilsport, I think there are other reasons too.

The area is a stronghold of CPI which is basically an also ran party despite its strong trade union membership across India. It doesn't want to lose its last stronghold to unpopular decisions.

The Jamaat was fast gaining popularity by claiming (unsubstantiated claims) that only minorities were being forced to give up land. This allegation has put the "secular" leftists on the backfoot. 30% of West Bengal's population is minority population - most of whom are in rural areas. The Left has traditionally won a majority of their votes. It cannot upset that apple cart.

The Leftist intellectuals of JNU type who populate every human rights type organization and almost mechaically condemn "western imperialism", "Hindu fascism" and "neo liberal capitalism" are not happy with "reform" minded Buddhadeb. Buddhadeb doesn't distinguish between "Hindu fascism" or "Muslim fascism" or "Christian fascism". This is a big No No for India's leftist intellectuals and Maoist terror groups. Buddha is also seen hobnobbing with Ambanis and Tatas - another big No No for weepy leftist intellectuals. Buddha is even planning to visit the USA and welcomes FDI. Oops that has the leftists intellectuals all agitated. The intellectuals are also opposed to SEZs because that will mean industrialization and employment. Employed people will get money in their pockets and get better lifestyles. They will start questioning the intellectuals. The intellectuals are afraid of this. So Buddha is facing an uphill battle with these leftist intellectuals.

Buddha is doing too many things and has more on his plate than he can handle. He has probably realized that he cannot steam roll changes over an unwilling, laid back population and a dinosaur set of intellectuals.

So maybe he is doing the right thing by calling off the SEZ. He needs to concentrate on Singur, Dankuni and Shalboni for now. If he can pull off those then it will silence the critics and also force the laid back population to wake up and see the positive side of urbanization and industrialization.

It's going to be a difficult task though.

I wish him success! Because his failure will be a huge setback for the entire Nation. His success will definitely impede the clout the leftist intellectuals currently enjoy at the Center. And that can only be good for the country.

Nice analysis on Buddha-FDI-Intellectuals-Ruling Parties-Opposition, Sun.

I think people gets what they deserve. Poorer states of India are poor because majority of the population are so weak and illiterate that they cannot identify what is good for them and their next generations. Politicians only take advantage of it. People can only blame themselves.

Same thing is true for West Bengal. Most of the population of West Bengal are afraid of change. Even educated people has mind set of archaic age, leave aside uneducated mass in Nandigram. They can be molded whatever way the politicians want them to be with little or no incentive.

In this tussle, the only loser is small group of progressive minded Bengalis. If situation goes like this, it is not far away when this small group will be as extinct as Dodo.

This is a set back no doubt for Mr Buddhadeb. While Mamata may have played spoilsport, I think there are other reasons too.

The area is a stronghold of CPI which is basically an also ran party despite its strong trade union membership across India. It doesn't want to lose its last stronghold to unpopular decisions.

The Jamaat was fast gaining popularity by claiming (unsubstantiated claims) that only minorities were being forced to give up land. This allegation has put the "secular" leftists on the backfoot. 30% of West Bengal's population is minority population - most of whom are in rural areas. The Left has traditionally won a majority of their votes. It cannot upset that apple cart.

The Leftist intellectuals of JNU type who populate every human rights type organization and almost mechaically condemn "western imperialism", "Hindu fascism" and "neo liberal capitalism" are not happy with "reform" minded Buddhadeb. Buddhadeb doesn't distinguish between "Hindu fascism" or "Muslim fascism" or "Christian fascism". This is a big No No for India's leftist intellectuals and Maoist terror groups. Buddha is also seen hobnobbing with Ambanis and Tatas - another big No No for weepy leftist intellectuals. Buddha is even planning to visit the USA and welcomes FDI. Oops that has the leftists intellectuals all agitated. The intellectuals are also opposed to SEZs because that will mean industrialization and employment. Employed people will get money in their pockets and get better lifestyles. They will start questioning the intellectuals. The intellectuals are afraid of this. So Buddha is facing an uphill battle with these leftist intellectuals.

Buddha is doing too many things and has more on his plate than he can handle. He has probably realized that he cannot steam roll changes over an unwilling, laid back population and a dinosaur set of intellectuals.

So maybe he is doing the right thing by calling off the SEZ. He needs to concentrate on Singur, Dankuni and Shalboni for now. If he can pull off those then it will silence the critics and also force the laid back population to wake up and see the positive side of urbanization and industrialization.

It's going to be a difficult task though.

Its all happening.. The loss of Nandigram and the approval of the SEZ are definitely an anticlimax. As part of Salim's projects I guess Kolkata West Intl city at Howrah is not facing any issues since it involves large land acquisitions...


Brand Buddha is probably playing it safe since 10000 acres is too much a gample in comparision to 1000 acres at Singur.While Singur is a reality, Dankuni will be closely watched since DLF would be requiring almost 5000 acres for their mega townships.....

Nice analysis on Buddha-FDI-Intellectuals-Ruling Parties-Opposition, Sun.

I think people gets what they deserve. Poorer states of India are poor because majority of the population are so weak and illiterate that they cannot identify what is good for them and their next generations. Politicians only take advantage of it. People can only blame themselves.

Same thing is true for West Bengal. Most of the population of West Bengal are afraid of change. Even educated people has mind set of archaic age, leave aside uneducated mass in Nandigram. They can be molded whatever way the politicians want them to be with little or no incentive.

In this tussle, the only loser is small group of progressive minded Bengalis. If situation goes like this, it is not far away when this small group will be as extinct as Dodo.

I would differ on that. Benagl is not exactly 'poor'. There are a few others who definitely fall in that category.
But the mindset change which should happen is absent amongst the vast majority and this is not with Bengal alone, but affects most states in varying proportions.

Its all happening.. The loss of Nandigram and the approval of the SEZ are definitely an anticlimax. As part of Salim's projects I guess Kolkata West Intl city at Howrah is not facing any issues since it involves large land acquisitions...


Brand Buddha is probably playing it safe since 10000 acres is too much a gample in comparision to 1000 acres at Singur.While Singur is a reality, Dankuni will be closely watched since DLF would be requiring almost 5000 acres for their mega townships.....

in that case rule out dankuni project from the must happen list, as far as I know dankuni is a highly "minority" populated places and they have a very strong hold there. and cpm/cpi have strong hold even there!

in that case rule out dankuni project from the must happen list, as far as I know dankuni is a highly "minority" populated places and they have a very strong hold there. and cpm/cpi have strong hold even there!

:ohno:

Problem with West Bengal is, ruling party and its allies itself have many opposing faces. Even if there was no opposition from Mamata/Medha, I have doubt if Buddha could implement all the projects considering history of his own party and allies.

Lets see what future has in its store for West Bengal.

Wish Buddha, his team and all good citizen of West Bengal good luck.

as i see it, Buddha is the one guy who's finally putting WB back on the map, and he's being crucified for it.. it's a really sad state of affairs, and sadly it's the same scenario no matter where you go in the country..

- Recently Mahindra-Renault-Nissan together announced a car project with total invetsment of 8000 Cr at Chennai. For that they required 1000 acres.
- Hyundai at chennai manufactures santro,Accent,Tucson,Verna and Getz and its campus is of 500 acres.
- Ford chennai is located at 200 acres plot.

Compared to these car projects Tata's singur project is very small.
It seems to be Tata is going to invest 1K Cr at Singur for their small car project. For that Tata is demanding 1000 acres. Why does it need such a huge land for manufacturing small cars with 1000 Cr investment?

- Recently Mahindra-Renault-Nissan together announced a car project with total invetsment of 8000 Cr at Chennai. For that they required 1000 acres.
- Hyundai at chennai manufactures santro,Accent,Tucson,Verna and Getz and its campus is of 500 acres.
- Ford chennai is located at 200 acres plot.

Compared to these car projects Tata's singur project is very small.
It seems to be Tata is going to invest 1K Cr at Singur for their small car project. For that Tata is demanding 1000 acres. Why does it need such a huge land for manufacturing small cars with 1000 Cr investment?

I think about 700 acres is for the plant while 300 acres would be utilized for setting up a auto hub. I think the numbers they are looking at annually could be more than versions of Ford and Hyundai put together.

However I am not aware of any formal announcements on the numbers yet.

I think about 700 acres is for the plant while 300 acres would be utilized for setting up a auto hub. I think the numbers they are looking at annually could be more than versions of Ford and Hyundai put together.

The plans are to also have ancilliary units in that zone.

The plans are to also have ancilliary units in that zone.


I think that should be in the 300 acres allocated to it.

Sun: good analysis. one thing that stood out to me: buddha looks at Hindu, Muslim, and Christian fascism on the same page!!! if Buddha was in a more centrist Cong or NCP type party, i would def vote for him, regardless of the fact that i am a rightist.


and if he ever jumps to Congress and runs for the PM's post, i would vote for him. and hopefully he can do a China in India. but coming back to WB, the laid back attitude is nothing new in India. it took somebody like Naidu in AP to change that. he whipped the corrupt bureaucracy to the level that it either performs or perishes. Buddha should do that in Bengal, but since many in his own party oppose such moves, it is a huge task for him.

Bengal wooing Boeing to set up repair hub (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/03/09/stories/2007030903181100.htm)


The West Bengal Government is doing its best to attract Boeing to set up an aircraft repair, maintenance and overhaul hub in the state. The US aircraft major has already announced plans to set up its first such unit in Nagpur.

And to give the cause a big push, the US India Business Council (USIBC) has organised a meeting here between Mr Ian Thomas, President of Boeing India, and the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, next week. The Council has also invited the Chief Minister and the State Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Nirupam Sen, to join the 32nd anniversary celebrations of USIBC in the US, to be attended by the US Secretary of State, Ms Condoleezza Rice. The Boeing chief is also expected to attend.

Investment bid

Making a strong pitch for promoting US investment opportunities in the state, the USIBC President, Mr Ron Somers, said, "I am sure that during the visit some potential investment opportunities will be concretised."

Mr Somers, who is a key member of the US business delegation now visiting the state, described West Bengal as the best investment destination. "I cannot imagine a greater business opportunity," he said. The visiting delegation expressed interest in investment opportunities in the proposed deep-sea port in Haldia, transport and logistics sectors among others.

Elaborating the uniqueness of West Bengal as an investment destination, he said that apart from chances of more gas find in the Bay of Bengal and a huge potential in agriculture, the state has pioneered a "socially sustainable economic reform".

Later, briefing newspersons, Mr Nirupam Sen said the two-day discussions with the USIBC members were `highly fruitful'. He said the state was keen to attract US investments in high-tech manufacturing, chemical and petrochemicals and agri-processing.

Bengal signs land lease pact with Tata for Singur (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/03/10/stories/2007031001871100.htm)


The West Bengal Government on Friday signed the much-awaited land lease agreement with Tata Motors for the latter's small car project at Singur, about 35 km from here.

The West Bengal Industry Secretary, Dr Sabyasachi Sen, signed the agreement on behalf of the State Government while Mr Debashish Som, Managing Director of West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), signed on behalf of WBIDC. Mr R.S. Thakur, Vice-President (Finance), Tata Motors, signed on behalf of the company.

Speaking to newspersons later at Writers' Buildings, Dr Sen said a 90-year lease agreement had been signed with Tata Motors for the project. While 645 acres of land would be earmarked for the mother plant, 290 acres would be set aside for auto ancillary units that would be set up there. WBIDC would retain 47 acres with it for development of infrastructure and 14.5 acres had been earmarked for a 220 KV electric sub-station.

Dr Sen declined to mention the price Tata Motors would have to pay for the 90-year land lease. He pleaded his inability to provide further details of the lease agreement since the State Assembly is now in session.

He, however, mentioned that Tata Motors would invest Rs 1,500 crore on the mother plant even as a further investment of Rs 500 crore would be made in auto ancillary units in the area. Earlier, the Tatas had pegged the investment at the proposed small car plant at Rs 1,000 crore.

No formal ceremony was held for the signing of the land lease agreement.

State to get more power
From TOI epaper

A total of 1,570 MW will be added to the power generation capacity of West Bengal this year, which will improve the power situation in the state, power minister Mrinal Banerjee said in the Assembly on Wednesday in reply to a question.

Among the power plants to be commissioned this year are Sagardighi thermal power plant and the Purulia pump storage scheme, he said. In Sagardighi, two units of 300 MW each will be set up. The first unit would be fired up in April and commercial production will begin in July. The second unit would be commissioned in another two months’ time. In Purulia, four units of 225 MW each are being set up. The first unit would be commissioned on April 15 and the other three would start production in three months’ intervals of each other.

The West Bengal Government on Wednesday scrapped the chemical hub project in Nandigram and announced its decision to relocate the same to a new place.

Making the announcement at a public rally here, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee also owned up responsibility for the violence in Nandigram.

"I own up responsibility for the lapses in Nandigram on behalf of the state government. I don't want any more deaths (irrespective of party affiliations of people)," the Chief Minister said.

As many as 14 people were killed in an incident of police firing on protesters, who had opposed the SEZ project in Nandigram on March 14. The activists of Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee have been resisting land acquisition in the area by the state government for setting up a chemical hub and an SEZ.

The government said a new location for the SEZ will be announced within a week's time after getting the nod from the Centre.

Stating that violence over land acquisition issue and the "Opposition's role" had earned a bad name for the state, Bhattacharjee regretted the Nandigram people's "unwillingness" for the setting up of a chemical hub which, he claimed, could have changed the economy of the area.

The Chief Minister said there should be no clashes and bloodbath for the sake of industry. "We want development and industrialisation of the state on the basis of our success in agriculture," he said.

The Chief Minister also urged the Opposition to uphold the state's interest by supporting the industrialisation process.

Reacting to the announcement, Trinamul Congress leader Mamata Banerjee said she doesn’t believe Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

“I don’t believe in what Buddhadeb says. People also don’t believe in him. He has been saying that government won't go into Nandigram for a long time now. Yet he moved the administration inside,” she claims.

The Trinamul Congress also demanded that Buddhadeb should resign immediately for triggering the bloodbath in Nandigram.

The decision of the Left Front Government comes days after party veteran and former chief minister Jyoti Basu questioned the state government's land acquisition policy in an article in Ganashakti, the party organ.

The Nandigram project had become a symbol of the West Bengal Government's bid for an industrial resurgence in the state by attracting foreign investment and top industrialists to set up units in the state.

Reacting to the move, senior CPI-M leader Basudev Acharya, however, denied that the move to scrap the Nandigram project marks a setback for the West Bengal Government.

"The government has maintained all this while that the chemical hub project will not be implemented in Nandigram if the local people don't want it. This decision was, in fact, taken some two months back," he claims.

"After seeing the public protest in the area, the state government has now decided to scrap the project," Acharya said.

Buddhadeb appealed to Opposition parties spearheading the movement against the acquisition of farm land for industry in Nandigram not to resort to armed violence and attack Left Front workers.

"I would like to appeal to Opposition parties not to sharpen their weapons. Members of the Left Front are also human beings," he said.

He said the state received investment proposals worth Rs 32,000 crore last year and there had been more proposals worth Rs 78,000 crore this year.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/03_2007/west-bengal-scraps-nandigram-project-37188.html

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/03_2007/west-bengal-scraps-nandigram-project-37188.html

In Nandigram - the Naxalite-Mamata-Medha-BJP-Jamaat politics won in the battle of politics and economics. The people of Nandigram caught in between are the losers.

Hopefully economics will win over politics in the other hotspot - Singur where the Tatas are building a car plant.

Economics trumps politics? Mamata men get Tata work contracts
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/26769.html

Politics may have put economics on hold in West Bengal’s Nandigram but less than two hours away, in Singur, at the site of the Tata’s Rs 1-lakh car plant, it’ seems to be the other way around.

Members of Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress — a party which opposes the Tata project — run at least three of the six “syndicates” that supply, besides construction material, a total of about 2,000 labourers who are working 24 x 7 at the site. The deadline for the project is next April.

Each syndicate constitutes 10-30 local residents whose land was acquired. They have pooled their compensation funds and secured contracts from Shapoorji Pallonji, the construction major which is the main contractor for the plant’s civil works.

Not just as contractors, many of the daily-wage labourers at the site are also the landless who worked as illegal sharecroppers on the acquired land and joined the anti-industrialisation campaign. West Bengal’s Industries Director M V Rao, who has played a key role in land acquisition and disbursal of compensation, says that at least 60% of the labourers are among those who initially opposed the Tata project. At an average wage of Rs 70 a day, an estimated Rs 10 lakh is being paid as wages each week.

But Mukul Roy, Trinamool MP, claims he has no such information. “As far as the TMC is concerned, we will not allow the Tata project to come up in Singur.” Perhaps, he should meet some of the following:

• Sheikh Shahidul Islam is a staunch Trinamool member who refused the government’s compensation cheque for 1 bigha in his wife’s name that was acquired for the Tata plant. Two years ago, Islam was in New Delhi working as a goldsmith. After coming back to his birthplace at Chak Kalikapur village near the Tata project area, he had been jobless. (He did not farm his own plot). Now, this Trinamool member has joined a syndicate to supply bricks, sand and stonechips to the Tata project site.

“I invested Rs 300,000 of my own money in this business, and we are happy working with Shapoorji Pallonji,” Islam said,

• Also supplying material for construction is Probir Ghosh, a Trinamool leader whose elder brother had been murdered, allegedly by CPM cadres three years ago in Singur. Ghosh gave 1.5 bighas of family land to the project and is left with 2.5 bighas.

“I got around Rs 4 lakh as compensation and I have invested the entire amount in my syndicate,” says Ghosh. “It’s a very profitable business. Those who are giving us contracts are not checking our political credentials.”

• Dwarik Ghosh is a local Congress leader who gave 2.5 bighas to the project. Left with 6 bighas outside the Tata boundary wall, Ghosh has formed a “syndicate” to supply labour for the project work. Ten members of his syndicate are landlosers. Ghosh and his partners have to supply at least 200 labourers a day for the civil work.

• The story does not end with landlosers. There are many landless labourers attached to the plots that were acquired for the 997-acre Singur project. For example, Soumen and Ranjan Dhara, two brothers in their 20s, from Madhusudanpur village, one of the epicentres of the anti-project campaign. They carry headloads of bricks being used in the main construction area.

“We are Trinamool supporters,” says Soumen Dhara. “We were among those who gheraoed the Tata officials when they first visited the plant site last year. But we need work.”

Soumen Dhara says there are many like him who are hesitant about coming forward since they had taken part in the initial protests. “But they will soon join us in this work,” he says. Now, the brothers are each earning Rs 70 a day. “This is very important to us for running our families,” says Ranjan Dhara. The brothers have three dependents.

Says P K Dasgupta, Shapoorji Pallonji’s senior general manager, eastern region: “In consultation with the government, the company has adopted a policy of giving priority to landlosers and daily-wage earners of Singur while allotting jobs. We don’t look at anyone’s political identity.”

politics,politics.............dirty little politics....!!!!! as you said sun, in the end the people are the losers..........

nevertheless, i feel that buddha has now lost the trust of the people of west bengal..........and it's time for him to make amends to neutralize the damage caused by this political blunder ////////

nevertheless, i feel that buddha has now lost the trust of the people of west bengal

It is very doubtful that he has lost the trust of the people of West Bengal. Yes, people are shell shocked by what happened but unlike the anti Left media or anti Left political parties and a handful of jhola bags (intellectuals), most people are probably willing to cut him some slack/ give him a second chance. If the people of West Bengal have tolerated useless people like Jyoti Basu and Mamata Bannerjee for so many decades, I don't think they are going to dump Buddha anytime soon.

..........and it's time for him to make amends to neutralize the damage caused by this political blunder ////////

The only amends he can make is stop land acquistion for industrial and urban projects. That will have a ripple effect throughout eastern India (already Orissa dumped Kalinga SEZ close on heels of WB dumping Nandigram SEZ). That may be good for Naxalites and Mamata but it will be no good for the state. He has to use the party machinery to convince the people about the importance of industrialization. But then his own dinosaur party is undecided about the benefits of industrialization and planned urbanization.

Tata Metaliks cuts Rs 150 cr deal with Japanese firm
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Indl_Goods__Svs/Metals__Mining/Tata_Metaliks_cuts_Rs_150_cr_deal_with_Japanese_firm/articleshow/1830503.cms

The Tata group has announced fresh investment plans for West Bengal. Towards this end, Tata Metaliks has forged a Rs 150-crore joint venture with Kubota Corporation of Japan to manufacture ductile iron (DI) pipes that are widely used in water supply.

The project cost will be funded through an equal mix of debt and equity. Of the equity portion of Rs 75 crore, Tata Metaliks will pick up 51% and Kubota Corporation 44%, while the balance 5% will be held by Metal One of Japan. The joint venture was approved by the board of Tata Metaliks at its meeting on Thursday.

The new company will be a subsidiary of Tata Metaliks. The manufacturing unit will come up on 40 acres in Kharagpur, West Bengal, adjacent to Tata Metaliks’ existing facility which produces foundry grade pig iron.

T Mukherjee, chairman, Tata Metaliks, said: “The new company will manufacture 1.1 lakh tonnes of DI pipes per annum at Kharagpur. Our partner Kubota Corp is a world leader in DI pipes. Together we hope to garner a significant share of the growing market for DI pipes in the country.” The new venture will use liquid pig iron from Tata Metaliks and is likely to be operational by 2009.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/04_2007/nandigram-sez-to-be-set-up-in-haldia-37501.html

I am wondering if they have considered land acqisition?

The Videocon Group on Friday unveiled a slew of projects for the state. These include assembling LCD unit at Taratala, creating two IT and biotech SEZs in Siliguri and Kharagpur, building a 32 lakh sqft IT tower in Salt Lake, setting up a semiconductor facility near Kolkata.

The full article is available here:
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_f...tent_id=161127

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Indl_Goods__Svs/Petrochem/RIL_to_invest_Rs_8000_cr_in_gas_pipeline_to_WB/articleshow/1918796.cms

The first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the east is expected to come up in Haldia.

The Rs 1,000-crore project is one of the first big-ticket investments to be firmed up in Bengal after the Nandigram flare-up.

The project has been proposed by SRM Exploration, owned by the promoters of low-cost airline SpiceJet. The Haldia Development Authority has already earmarked 100 acres for the plant.

The promoters plan to bring natural gas from West Asia in liquid form and sell the fuel to domestic industry. LNG, a popular source of energy in the US, is a cheaper and cleaner option than coal, naphtha or diesel.

“We have allotted the land to the company. It has paid the money for it as well,” said Lakshman Seth, chairman of the Haldia authority and local MP. Seth has been at the centre of the land controversy in Nandigram with many blaming his overdrive for the backlash that ended in bloodshed.

The MP was speaking at the foundation ceremony of a Rs 150-crore bio-diesel plant, also the first in the east, by Emami Group.


Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070425/asp/frontpage/story_7694542.asp

Bengal has lost the claim to its biggest bragging point in recent times: of being a power-surplus state.

Power minister Mrinal Banerjee today admitted that the electricity generated by the state was way below its own demand. Only a couple of years ago, Bengal used to sell surplus power to other states during off-peak hours.There would be no respite from power cuts till July, said Banerjee. The demand has gone up by 460 mw over 2006, but the generation has remained the same over the past six years.

The first 225-mw unit at the Purulia hydel project is expected to start generation by the third week of May. The situation will slightly improve then.

Others in line are:
Chinese company Dong Fang is building a 300-mw unit at Sagardighi. The 210-mw Bakreswar plant and a 250-mw one at Santaldih are being built by Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd.

More info:http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070425/asp/bengal/story_7694828.asp

Some good news for the Jindal Steel project ... still some more hurdles to be cleared...
The government today said only 158 acres of the 4,600 earmarked for the Jindal steel plant is a forest.

The forest department, which carried out a survey with the land department at Salboni, West Midnapore, over the weekend, had earlier said 500 acres of forest and 1,400 acres earmarked for social forestry figured on the Jindal site map

Info:http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070424/asp/bengal/story_7689477.asp

NRI ties up with London firm for mini-townships

IANS[ MONDAY, MAY 14, 2007 08:09:41 PM]

KOLKATA: Foreign investment in the booming real estate sector of West Bengal gets a boost with a London-based company joining hands with an NRI entrepreneur to invest $20 million in two mini-townships here.

London-based REIT Asset Management, which plans to create $1 billion assets in India in the next three years, has tied up with Eden Realty Ventures Private Limited, led by US-based Indrajit De, to set up the projects at Bonhooghly in north and Maheshtala in south in greater Kolkata area.

"The cash investment in the two projects is $20 million besides collaterals for bank finances," Eden Realty managing director Sachchidanand Rai told media agency.

"REIT India chairman David Cohen finalised three projects in India out of 140 proposals and of the three two are developed by us here," said Rai, an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur.

REIT, the London-based real estate management trust, owns $6.8 billion worth assets in Europe. The twin project in Kolkata in collaboration with Eden is their maiden venture with an Indian partner since their other project at Pune is a 100 per cent FDI.

According to David Cohen, the chairman of REIT property Management India, the projects are the beginning of "a long-standing relationship with the state and the city". "We are proud to be associated with REIT," said Indrajit De, the NRI entrepreneur, from USA.

Rai said of the two projects in Kolkata might be the state's highest cash investment in the form of FDI by any foreign company on real estate.

In the northern project at Bonhooghly, to be known as Bonhooghly Tenement Scheme, 18 acres of area would be developed after the same was obtained from the West Bengal government's Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation Department.
"We will be giving about 800 flats free to the equal number of refugee families living there now in a deplorable state. The flats would be much bigger than they are living now and they would also be provided open parking space for 200 cars besides community facilities like club, gym, treated water, good sewerage.
"While 6 acres would be for rehabilitation with not even stamp duty fee, the remaining 12 acres would be commercially developed with 25 tall buildings offering 1476 flats. We will also beautify the lake inside," said Rai.

Source (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Infrastructure/NRI_ties_up_with_London_firm_for_mini-townships/articleshow/2045751.cms)

Ambuja Realty developing 4 high-end luxury hotels in Bengal (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/06/07/stories/2007060700631100.htm)


Ambuja Realty Development Ltd (ARDL) plans to invest nearly Rs 1,000 crore to develop four "high-end luxury" hotels with a combined capacity of 1,000 rooms in West Bengal over the next three years, according to Mr Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman, ARDL.

Mr Neotia told Business Line, "we plan to develop hotels in Kolkata, Siliguri, Haldia and Shantiniketan. We also have plans to set up a hotel in the hills of Darjeeling."

Bengal plans Open Source Software Development Centre (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/06/09/stories/2007060903261100.htm)


The IT Department of West Bengal has planned to set up a centre for Open Source Software Development and Training. A budgetary allocation of Rs 2 crore has already been made for the purpose, Dr Debesh Das, West Bengal's Minister for Information Technology, said at a seminar on `Open Document Format & Service Oriented Architecture' organised here by CII (Eastern Region) on Friday.

Dr Das said the proposed centre would be engaged in development and training in open source software. School and college teachers, and government employees would be trained with a view to making them conversant with open source software and platforms.

The State Government's e-governance programmes would be focussed on deployment of software that run on open source platforms. Tenders for the proposed chip design centre here would be floated soon, he said.

Open Document Format is an ISO-approved standard and is fast-emerging, as an open standard to facilitate interoperability and collaboration in the format for editing of documents, interchange, storage and retrieval in many countries.

Among those who attended the seminar were representatives of Free Software Foundation and IBM India.

Mahindra plan for SEZ
A STAFF REPORTER
Calcutta, June 12: Mahindra and Mahindra is planning to set up an automobile ancillaries special economic zone (SEZ) in Bengal.

A six-member team from the company’s infrastructure venture, Mahindra World City, today went scouting for land for the proposed 500-acre SEZ in Burdwan district.
“The team was escorted by our officials to survey three sites in the district. They have reacted favourably to the sites and said they would get back to us later,” said Burdwan district magistrate, Manish Jain.

The visitors were first shown around 700 acres of land at Rajbandh, 10 km from Durgapur. Some of the land there belongs to the Asansol Durgapur Development Authority, while the rest is farmland but is not agriculturally significant, said district administration officials.

Another plot measuring around 500 acres was shown on NH 2 near Asansol town, of which the majority belongs to the development authority and the rest is wasteland, which is not under cultivation.

A third plot was shown at Andal near Ranigunj, which is privately held. The three plots do not have much agricultural land, said the development authority chairman and Asansol MP Bansagopal Chowdhury.

“In areas where there is agricultural land, it is mostly single-crop and not very fertile,” he said.

State government officials said the company would only develop the land and build infrastructure. It would then invite top manufacturers of automobile ancillaries — both from India and abroad — to set up units here.

Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had earlier tried to get the automobile giant to set up shop in Bengal, but the state government’s efforts had then failed.

If the project materialises, the company will have a pan-Indian SEZ network. Last year, the company signed a deal with the Maharashtra government for an SEZ in Pune for high-end electronics, computer hardware and information technology. The company already has a presence in south and north India through Mahindra World City projects at Chennai and Jaipur.


http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070613/asp/bengal/story_7916144.asp

Third Industrial hub
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070614/asp/bengal/story_7919068.asp

Industries minister Nirupam Sen today said Kharagpur was poised to become the third-largest industrial hub in the state after Haldia and Durgapur.

After inaugurating a pig iron plant of Rashmi Metaliks here, Sen said: “Kharagpur is going to emerge as the third-largest industrial city of Bengal. The 35-km stretch between Kharagpur and Jhargram will soon be dotted with industrial units.”

The minister said the Tata car accessories plant would come up in Kharagpur and the Jindal steel plant would be set up at Salboni nearby.

A biotechnology park is being constructed by the Indian Institute of Technology, while several iron and steel plants would come up in and around Kharagpur, he added. “With all this, Kharagpur will be the nerve centre of industrial activity in West Midnapore.”

The minister said the Kharagpur-Midnapore Development Authority has been asked to take steps for the construction of a “planned, modern” township and the IIT’s expertise would be tapped for the purpose.

“Industrialisation will not benefit a political party but people of the state. I appeal to Opposition parties to cooperate with the government,” Sen said.

Third Industrial hub
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070614/asp/bengal/story_7919068.asp

Ministers keep saying anything possible! Let something start happening...

BUT, given that it happens, the location would be one of the better ones within West Bengal for the following reasons:
(1) Barren lands are more frequent in those locations than others like Singur etc. Hence, some people will find one less reason to protest (have to be more inventive to think up a reason to protest).
(2) Proximity to Kolkata-Chennai/Mumbai highway would act as the road link for fast connectivity.
(3) Haldia port isn't far away.
(4) IIT Kgp being right inside the core of the industrial area, technology availability might shoot up.
(5) The barren lands, particularly in the south-west of the site, will make this industrial belt extensible if it flourishes. So, what may start with 35 km today can potentially become 70 km tomorrow.
(6) This is my own pet liking: I don't see any real reason to make big cities bigger ones. For example, if tomorrow Kolkata has a population 4 crores, Mumbai has 4 crores and Delhi has 3.5 crores, people are going to lose more than gain. Making new cities in such barren lands is the best idea. Making green cities (God help our planners) is an even better idea...

So, if the line starts becoming silver at the end of it, it should go more and more silver - it could become golden!

^^

In relation to the land related stuff, here is a personal report. It is kind of upbeat and that must make the Medhas, Mamatas, Arundhutis, Gurudases and the Maoists (Naxalites) see red and try even harder to stop progress.

MY WEEK
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?autono=287198&leftnm=4&subLeft=0&chkFlg=

Ishita Ayan Dutt

SATURDAY

Sajjan Jindal makes the most unexpected announcement of giving free shares to land-losers in his steel project at Salboni in West Midnapore. Clearly I need to visit Salboni to see how the farmers feel about it.

The heat is oppressive and the very thought of a 160 km drive to Salboni seems daunting, that too at 6:30 in the morning. But how wrong I am. The roads are fantastic and we reach in just two hours and fifteen minutes. What follows is another surprise. The mood in Salboni is upbeat, a far cry from my last field trip which happened to be Nandigram.

In Salboni, people are quite happy to give up their land. Not surprising, given that most of it is barren. The land-losers are overwhelmed by the free shares being offered. The people I meet at the gram panchayat office are discussing how the project will change their lifestyle, for the better! What a contrast from Nandigram, where subsistence agriculture was also the mainstay and yet no one wanted to give up their piece of land.

In fact, the block development officer has told the Jindal officials that villagers won't spare them if, for some unforeseen reason, the project does not come up! The acres and acres of barren land explains just one part of the puzzle. Perhaps the proximity to Kolkata also has something to do with it.

SUNDAY

One would have thought that after a day out at Salboni, and early in the morning at that, I’d be allowed to catch up on some extra sleep. But that doesn’t happen. I wake up at 8 to the loud ring of my mobile phone. And I keep getting calls after that. Some of the reactions to my Salboni story are complimentary, some are not.

It will be unfair not to print the varying reactions. In any case, I’ve had to sacrifice valuable sleeping time hearing people out, so it’s an even better idea. We decide to run a story on what becomes a heated debate on most of the local Bengali television channels by the evening.

FRIDAY

The story that began last week with Jindal’s announcement of the compensation package has now become bigger. But since by now, everyone has expressed their opinion on the free shares, the story’s probably running to a close.

But more surprises are on their way. What is expected to be just another initial public offering press conference, where almost everything has already been announced in roadshows held elsewhere, turns out to be a bag of revelations. DLF says it will offer alternative land to land-losers, something that has not been announced in Bengal before by any other company! And this is apart from a firm commitment on jobs.

I suppose a company whose raw material happens to be land (a land bank of 10,255 acres), should know how to handle it best. Or should we ask the farmers? Does that warrant a visit to Dankuni?

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070627/asp/bengal/story_7980528.asp


Nandigram may be simmering, but up in Siliguri, a small 25-acre biotech special economic zone will soon take off.

On Friday, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee will lay the foundation stone for the Videocon group’s proposed SEZ.

Videocon Group chairman Venugopal Dhoot said his company was in the process of acquiring the land and has sought approval from the commerce ministry for SEZ status.

State municipal affairs and urban development minister Asoke Bhattacharya, also the chairman of the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA), said the SEZ would come up in Phulbari, near Siliguri.

“It was housing department plot which is being handed over to the SJDA through the land reform department. The order to hand over the land to the SJDA came today. Following this, the land will be leased out to Videocon,” Bhattacharya said, not forgetting to mention that the area was not farmland.

In East Midnapore’s Nandigram, the Salim group’s proposed chemical hub, which would have spanned 25,000 acres, has run into land acquisition trouble with farmers refusing to give up their plots.

Videocon has proposed four more SEZs in Bengal — multi-product and IT.

The state has cleared them and the Centre has given the in-principle nod, but these are yet to start.

The biotech zone will be the sixth SEZ in Bengal, after Falta (multi-product), Manikanchan (gems and jewellery), Wipro (IT) and two at Bantala (IT and leather).

Videocon will partner a Thai company, Thailand Biotech International Ltd, and Rabo Bank and work on herbs and medicinal plants grown in the Himalayas. “We ourselves will occupy large part of the land for biotech, marking Videocon’s foray into this sector,” Dhoot explained.

Rabo Bank, which has expertise in the agro and biotechnology industry, will rope in investors who would set up units at the SEZ.

According to the commerce ministry’s guidelines, SEZs that span up to 25 acres, especially in the case of IT and biotechnology, would not need to go through the two-stage approval process.

Bengal commerce and industry secretary Sabyasachi Sen said a company could directly apply to the board of approval under the ministry of commerce once they have the land.

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=170182

ASANSOL, JUL 15 : India got its first coal bed methane (CBM) based compressed natural gas (CNG) station on Saturday with Great Eastern Energy Corp Ltd (GEECL) starting commercial production of CBM, 14 years after it started exploration in the Raniganj block.
GEECL had entered into a licence agreement with Coal India Ltd in 1993 for exploration and development of CBM over 210 sq km in the Raniganj coal fields.

After the CBM administration was transferred to the ministry of petroleum & natural gas from the ministry of coal in 2001, GEECL had got into a production-sharing contract with the ministry of petroleum & natural gas.

Chairman YK Modi said GEECL in its first phase of work has so far made 23 vertical production wells, which will produce 7,60,000 cubic feet of gas per day. This will go up 35 million cubic feet per day once GEECL completes drilling 100 wells in the next three years.

The company will drill 200 more wells in the second phase, which is expected to be completed by 2014-15.

Modi said a total of Rs 3000 crore investment will be made to complete the two phases. GEECL has so far invested Rs 175 crore. This will reach Rs 800 crore by 2009 with the completion of the first phase.

For sales and distribution of CBM as piped natural gas, the company has already signed a memorandum of understanding with Indian Oil Corp Ltd and is trying to rope in GAIL (India) Ltd as well.

Modi said gas will be supplied at Rs 30 per kg in and around the Asansol area as it has a number of steel & sponge iron plants, ceramic industries, alloy steel plants, bakeries, glass factories and chemical industries.

The company is also looking into supplying CBM-based CNG to vehicles plying in the region. For using gas, all the plants and vehicles will have to install the CNG version. Although it will require a formidable investment, it will save at least 40% of production cost.

While the investment for plants and factories will depend on their size and amount of fuel consumption, for a petrol car it will cost Rs 30,000, and Rs 22,000 for an autorickshaw to add the CNG version, Modi said.

He said GEECL got the distribution licence from the West Bengal government on Friday and has decided to set up six CBM-based CNG retail outlets between Durgapur and Barakar within the next 3-4 months, costing Rs 2 crore each.

Of the six, one station will be the gathering point of gas from all the wells. The rest five will be supplied gas in cascades.

The company will have to make a 120-km internal pipeline network for linking the 100 wells, and a 80- km external pipeline initially for taking it up to the city, which will cost around Rs 200 crore. The pipeline network will be extended to industries according to the demand, Modi said.

West Bengal industry minister Nirupam Sen, who inaugurated the company's station, said GEECL can opt for DPL's pipeline, which is not being used.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200707160324.htm

Videocon to set up semiconductor unit in India
New Delhi, July 16 (PTI): Consumer electronics major Videocon has said it will set up a semiconductor unit in India with an initial investment of Rs 2,500 crore and is currently working on finalising the location for the same.

"Indian labour, being cheapest in the world, combined with technological capability, (creates) scope for semiconductor unit here," Videocon Managing Director Venugopal Dhoot said.

He said currently the project is at a conceptualisation stage and details, including location for the plant, are yet to be worked out.

"It is just being conceived and it will be inappropriate to announce the details now but one thing is for sure that we will set up a semiconductor unit in India," Dhoot said.

On the investment front, he said a full range fab would require a minimum initial investment of about Rs 2,500 crore. "That is the initial amount of investment we are looking at."

Asked about reports of the company setting up its semiconductor facility in West Bengal, he said the state government was offering attractive package but it has not been finalised yet.

"The state (West Bengal) is progressing very fast. We are having two units there and have never lost a single labour day We think that it is very good proposal," :) he said refusing to divulge the exact location, but added the project would require only 100-150 acre of land.

On the possible technology partners for the project, he said Videocon was in touch with a variety of companies.

"We have done homework and have identified several companies who will be joining us in India," Dhoot said, but declined to take names.

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=11&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=25479

WB govt fixes Rs 1.94 lakh/acre for JSW unit

Press Trust of India / Kolkata July 16, 2007



The West Bengal government has finalised the land rates for JSW Bengal Steel's 10 million tonne integrated steel plant at Salboni in Midnapore district. Biswadip Gupta, CEO, JSW Bengal Steel said production is expected to start from April 2011.

Gupta said 4,500 acre would be required for the plant, and 4,000 acre would be taken from the government at Rs 1.94 lakh per acre - a rate fixed by the land and land reforms department. "We are expecting a government order on this to be issued this week," Gupta said.

He said the remaining 500 acre would be acquired from private holders at rates varying between Rs 2.50 lakh and Rs 3 lakh per acre.

The union environment ministry would hold a hearing in Delhi on August 17 on granting of environment clearance for the project, Gupta said adding that Jindal group chairman Sajjan Jindal would be present at the hearing.

Replying to a question, he said the company had not faced any resistance from the locals about locating the factory at Salboni. "In fact, they are very enthusiastic in having the factory there."

http://www.business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?leftnm=1&subLeft=1&chklogin=N&autono=291417&tab=r

Bhusan Steel likely to acquire land directly

Ishita Ayan Dutt / Kolkata July 17, 2007

Bhushan Steel is likely to purchase land directly from the owners for its proposed steel plant in Bengal, spread over 2,500 acres.

The company would start discussions with the land owners over the next two months. “We would like to purchase land directly from the people. We will start talking to them in the next two months,” said Rajiv Agarwal, vice-president, commercial, Bhushan Steel. The land is for setting up a 2 million tonnes plant. The project is set to come up near Asansol and the land has already been identified. The entire site, comprising 2,500 acres, is on private land and is barren. Agarwal said the company would talk to the land owners first and if it faced any resistance, it would seek the government support.

If the direct purchase happens, it will be the second instance in Bengal, where a company is directly acquiring land from the people, the first being JSW Steel. The West Bengal government has so far discouraged direct land purchase by companies. The state government prefers the land to be acquired by a government agency and then leased out to the company.

However, Agarwal said Bhushan’s memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government had both the options and the company would prefer buying land directly from the people.

Bhushan’s direct purchase of land may set the trend in West Bengal. Recently, Videocon Chairman Venugopal Dhoot also expressed the willingness to go for direct purchase of land for its proposed special economic zones (SEZs) in the state.

The land acquisition is expected to be completed in six months. The company would come up with a compensation package after talking to the people.

“We don’t know what their demands are, we will find out after talking to them,” said Agarwal. The compensation would be mostly in cash.

According to the terms of the MoU, Bhushan would also set up a training institute. “We will absorb people on merit,” he said.

Apart from the steel plant, Bhushan would also set up a cold rolling facility. Agarwal said the company was shown land in North 24 Parganas, but it wanted it within 30-35 km from Kolkata. Bhushan requires 70-80 acres for the rolling facility.

The West Bengal government plans to increase potato storage facilities in the state. It is the country’s second-largest potato producer, but faces a peculiar situation when it comes to storage of potatoes.

"We will grant approval to everyone wishing to open new cold storages in the state," Mohanta Chatterjee, minister in-charge of food processing and horticulture, said here on Monday.

"Apart from central and state assistances, the government will provide other facilities as well," he added.

Despite an average annual production of nearly 80 lakh tonne of potato, West Bengal has a storage facility of only 43 lakh tonne in its around 375 cold storages. Around 20 lakh tonne of local produce is consumed in the state per annum.

But a good amount of low priced variety from other states enter West Bengal markets. This makes it difficult for around 20 to 25 lakh tonne of locally produced potato to find room in cold storages. This leads to black marketing of cold storage bonds and distress sale by farmers.

The problem is more pronounced in north Bengal districts compared to south Bengal. Six North Bengal districts have storage facility of only 2 lakh tonne against production of around 15 lakh tonne while south Bengal has almost 41 lakh tonne of storage facility.

As a common practice, influential people mint money by buying bonds at premium and potato from farmers at throwaway prices during peak season and sell this stock at high price during lean season. "We are not aware of black marketing. However, our department will investigate it. The new cold storages will minimise the troubles," the minister said.

"Any new initiative for major storage capacity increase will involve high-level ploys to keep the profit chain of influential rackets intact," a senior administrative official said, adding "The state government needs to be very calculative while allowing new projects," he added.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Services/New_West_Bengal_tourism_policy_soon/articleshow/2211441.cms

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Energy/Power/TPC_acquires_power_plant_from_group_co/articleshow/2211929.cms

TPC acquires power plant from group co
18 Jul, 2007, 0018 hrs IST,Nevin John & Prince Mathews Thomas, TNN

MUMBAI: TATA Power Company (TPC) has acquired a Haldia-based 90MW power plant from Tata Steel’s subsidiary — Hooghly Met Coke & Power Company — for an undisclosed amount. Though a Tata Power spokesperson declined to disclose details, she said the transaction was an all-cash deal.

The power plant, which is scheduled to be commissioned later this year, has an investment outlay of Rs 410 crore. Hooghly Met Coke & Power is a JV between Tata Steel and the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation. The Tata company holds 98% in the JV.

While Tata Power’s shares were down 3.8% at Rs 667.50 on the BSE on Tuesday, Tata Steel shares were down 1.9% at Rs 680.

“The Haldia project will utilise coke oven gases to generate power,” TPC said in its latest annual report. “A part of the power generated from the plant will be sold to the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company,” adds the report. TPC will set up an additional 30MW plant near the upcoming units by mid-2008, with an investment of Rs 130 crore.

Hooghly Met Coke & Power is setting up a coke oven at Haldia with an annual production capacity of 1.6MT. The company had planned to use the excess heat produced in the process to produce electricity. The company’s operations will begin in 2008.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Services/New_West_Bengal_tourism_policy_soon/articleshow/2211441.cms

KOLKATA: West Bengal will soon announce its new tourism policy inviting private investments and announcing new incentives for developing the state into a tourism destination in the East.

The draft tourism policy will be ready within a month, state Tourism Minister Manabendra Mukherjee told the Assembly on Tuesday.

Observing that the state government would have to adopt an aggressive tourism policy, Mukherjee said the plans and programmes would be finalised after the submission of the report by Ernst and Young, an international consultant engaged to study the areas of tourism development in the state.

Expressing the government's firm determination to develop the Sunderbans, declared a world heritage, he said the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) had been moved to provide necessary advice in this regard.

UNWTO's report was expected within a few months, he said, adding the state government had already decided to undertake projects for development of beach tourism, hill tourism, tea tourism and adventure tourism hitherto untapped in the state.

There were plans to invest Rs 300 crore with Asian Development Bank's assistance to promote beach tourism, he said adding the Centre had already asked United Nations Development Programme to study the entire east coast.

The project has a vast potential at Digha, the Sunderbans, Mandarmani and other spots, he added.

Jessop lists metro plans
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070719/asp/business/story_8078186.asp

Calcutta, July 17: Jessop & Co is planning strategic alliances with overseas companies to make coaches for metro and other mass rapid transit systems.

The company also plans to set up a facility at its premises in Durgapur for the new business initiatives.

“We are in talks with some leading companies in Europe and China to jointly manufacture metro coaches and a few other items,” Jessop chairman Pawan K. Ruia said after the 75th annual general meeting of the company here today.

He ruled out equity participation by the foreign partners. The alliances will be limited to technical collaboration and supply of components.

Texmaco eyes partners for metro, coach making projects; to set up food park

http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=businessNews&storyID=2007-07-18T182222Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_India-285428-1.xml&archived=False

Engineering firm Texmaco Ltd. is scouting for technical partners for its metro railway and freight coach manufacturing business, a senior official said on Wednesday.

The company planned to spend 2.25 billion rupees over two years on manufacturing metro railway and freight coaches, and expanding its steel foundry capacity, he added. It would expand capacity by 10,000 tonnes to 25,000 tonnes in two years.

Plans were being drawn also to set up a food park jointly with LMJ International in the West Bengal state.

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=246619

Kolkata, July 18: The Jindals on Wednesday began the process of buying out land directly from farmers at Salboni for its mega steel plant to be set up here. Twelve farmers of Salboni’s villages, who had volunteered their land, were handed cheques in the presence of district administration officers. These farmers, among whom were a beaming Nitai Mahato and Bidyut Roy, have also been made shareholders of the company.

Jindal Steel is coming up with an ambitious Rs 35,000-crore project that will produce 12 milion tonnes of steel a year. On Wednesday, the Salboni block development office was a buzz of activity as the company bought 12 acres of ryat (private ownership) land directly from these farmers. This is the first major move after the Tata Motors’ small car plant at Singur, in which the government has decided to stay out of the land acquisition business and let the entrepreneur deal directly with farmers.

Of the 4,200-odd acres the Jindals need, only 570 acres will have to be purchased from farmers since the rest is land vested with the government and has already been given to the company. District Magistrate Bhabani Prasad Barat said the government had previously set up a cross-functional team headed by the SDO to verify ownership details and do the groundwork of explaining the project to affected villagers. The project was completed and a detailed list of farmers was handed to Jindal Steel authorities, based on which the dealings were undertaken on Wednesday.

Barat said, “The farmers are very happy. They were once again briefed about the compensation package that inludes company shares. They were requested to put the money in banks. They can sell the shares after three years. We played the role of a facilitator.”

JSW Steels Vice President Rajesh Gupta handed over the cheques to farmers of Gamaria, Srikrishnapur and Asnasulia villeages in Shalboni. The company paid Rs 3 lakh per acre for agricultural land and Rs 2.75 lakh for semi-agricultural land in Salboni.

Farmer Nitai Mahato said, “I am very happy with the compensation. Moreover, the company has promised a job for a family member. I am banking on the shares as people say they will shoot up.”

CEO Biswadip Gupta explained the share business. He said, “If a farmer is given Rs 100 for his land then he will be given free shares worth Rs 100 as well. Local people will be the owners of this plant. They will also benefit from development in the area.”

Spread over 12 years, the investment will cover a steel plant, a dedicated port, a coalmine and a power project, taking West Bengal into the big league of steel producing states like neighbouring Jharkhand and Orissa. It will take 48 months to commission this project and the plant is expected to create 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=43ec265c-7907-4973-a997-eb080956b8aa&ParentID=dc9ce285-f04f-46f5-a4fa-4a3c52e9e45f&&Headline=A+candid+moment+with+Buddhadeb

Q: After being in power for more than a year after the 2006 elections, in which the Left Front was voted back to power with a huge majority, what are your areas of satisfaction?

A: We have to think of how to consolidate our success in the agricultural sector. We have achieved self-sufficiency in foodgrains, particularly in rice. A new area is emerging – horticulture. West Bengal's vegetable production was 11.6 million tonnes, the highest in the country last year. We have to consolidate our success and create more job opportunities.

After we were elected for the seventh time last year we set up an Agricultural Commission to improve our productivity. Though we produce the highest quantity of vegetables in the country, we lack a market mechanism. A lot of vegetables perish in the fields, so we have to see how to set up cold storage and cold chains.

68 per cent of agricultural land in West Bengal is irrigated and the government wanted to extend it to other areas. They were difficult areas bordering Jharkhand, and try water harvesting and other systems. India's agricultural growth rate had come down sharply but West Bengal maintained a 4% growth rate.

Moreover, ten years ago we had no idea we could send flowers from the Kolkata market to the Netherlands. We now export mangoes to the United States.

But now we have to set our eyes on industrialisation. When Jyotibabu charted our industrial policy in 1994 there were a lot of doubts. It took some years to convince foreigners and the corporate houses in our country to invest in Bengal. Now things are changing. Major corporate houses are taking interest in our state. The Birlas, the Tatas, Reliance and Videocon. I requested Videocon to go to North Bengal, a difficult area, to set up their first electronic SEZ. Japanese FDI is highest in West Bengal. The Americans are very active in the IT sector --- IBM has a big presence in the state. The Russians have come to Haldia to manufacture trucks --- the Urals --- for the Indian Army. The Germans have come; Italians are here in the leather industry. The French are taking interest in food processing.

So the industrial scenario is encouraging both in manufacturing and knowledge-based industries. We are stressing on the SME sector. We want job creation. We don't want jobless growth.

Four big steel plants are coming up simultaneously --- the Jindals are setting up a Rs 35,000-crore plant, the largest in India. They will create downstream industries like machine tools, engineering, etc.

But we need to speed up the process of industrialisation because new proposals are coming. We cannot just wait. If I miss the trend, I will miss the bus. Because (investors) cannot wait for West Bengal for months together. They will just move to another state. There is keen competition between states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and West Bengal. Therefore, time is an important factor.

Moreover, the young generation is waiting for us. We have a a three-fourths majority in the Assembly, but I have to perform. Now we have 460 colleges, 68 engineering colleges, 18 universities. The boys and girls coming out of these institutions need jobs. Earlier, people who earned engineering degrees had to wait for two or three years for jobs. Now companies are recruiting them from from campuses. We cannot kill time.

Q: Isn't the speed at which you are moving creating apprehension among the people?

A: What we learnt from Nandigram is that we should move fast, but very cautiously. We have to take people into confidence. We failed to reach out to the masses in Nandigram. We failed to explain what it was all about, what the chemical hub was, what benefits they would get. The opposition successfully misled the people.

But the fact remains that the chemical hub is absolutely esstial for the state. It will have to come up around Haldia. If I fail, it will go to Gujarat.
West Bengal beat seven other states to win the huge chemical hub project, whose anchor investor is Indian Oil Corporation. The project would spawn downstream industries like polymers and rubber.

Q: Why has Singur become such an emotive issue?

A: When we fought for the rights of the farmers, it was anti-feudal, it was against the zamindars, the landlords. The consensus among all Left-mind people was that the system should be abolished. But now it is a new situation. Now we are moving from agriculture to industry. We successfully implemented land reform: 84 per cent of our agricultural land belongs to poor and marginal farmers. But when we try to move from agriculture to industry, there seems to be problems. For a section of the Left parties and Left-minded intellectuals this is something new.

The car project in Singur will create 4,000 jobs. It will change the entire economy of that area. It will change the quality of life in that area. Moreover, there would also be ancillary units and this would attract other automobile manufacturers to come to the state. Therefore, Singur is very important for us.

Q: But what is the way forward on the Singur issue?

A: I think Singur is now a closed chapter. They have got the message that I just cannot roll back the project. But Nandigram was a mistake, not only administrative but also political.

But we have to go forward with industrialisation. Haldia was a fisherman's village 30 years ago, like Nandigram. Now it is an industrial city. There are more than 106 factories there. On the other side of the Haldi river is Nandigram. We thought we would build a bridge over the river and create another Haldia. All the panchayats in Nandigram are run by the CPM and the CPI. But we went wrong there. I could find scapegoats but I thought this is my responsibility. Before we could reach the masses the opposition had successful misled the people. This is not the real picture of West Bengal, this is an exception. But we have learnt our lessons. We have to move very cautiously. First we have to take people into confidence, at the administrative level, the political level, and then go ahead.

Q: But a dialogue with Opposition is a must to resolve the Singur issue…

A: The opposition in our state is very difficult to deal with. Look at Gujarat, look at Maharashtra, even Tamil Nadu. Political parties have different views, ideologies. But when a project comes up there is total consensus. Here they have become a champion of farmers' interests. When we organised the farmers' struggle, Congress was on the other side of the barricade. Now they are opposing this.

I am trying again and again to talk to the opposition. I have written at least six letters to Mamata Banerjee, to discuss and try a dialogue. I have not written six letters to any of my friends, boy or girlfriends, in my college days. But Banerjee has not responded.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Stocks_News/Dunlop_to_raise_Rs_350_cr_to_come_out_of_BIFR/articleshow/2217834.cms

KOLKATA: Dunlop India Ltd (DIL), which was taken over by Pawan K Ruia in 2005 but is listed before BFIR as a sick company, is likely to see capital infusion of Rs 350 crore for revival.

"We have applied with the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) sometime back and we are waiting to get deregistered from there," DIL chairman P K Ruia said here today at the AGM.

"We are also in the process of putting a strategy in place by which we can raise resources for full-fledged functioning of the company," he said.

The company would require about Rs 350 crore to be pumped in for resumption of commercial production in both the plants at Ambattur, Tamil Nadu and Shahagunj in West Bengal.

"We require Rs 200 crore in working capital and Rs 125-150 crore for liabilities and refurbishment of plant and machinery," Ruia said.

Ruia said the company was negotiating with three to four UK based foreign funds to mop up the required fund. But for that pulling the company out of BIFR is essential, the company said.

He said the company has already infused Rs 260 crore in the company since takeover.

It posted a net profit Rs 478.35 crore for the year 2006-07 as against Rs 71.94 crore during the previous year.

The profit jumped due to sale of assets worth Rs 335.66 crore during the year.

http://www.hemscott.com/news/latest-news/item.do?newsId=46868830896891

MUMBAI (Thomson Financial) - India's Tata Metaliks Ltd, a unit of Tata Steel Ltd, said it has signed a joint venture agreement with Japanese companies Kubota Corp and Metal One for setting up facilities to manufacture ductile iron pipes in India.

The joint venture company formed is called Tata Metaliks Kubota Pipes Ltd and total project cost is 1.50 bln rupees, the company said.

Tata Metaliks owns a 51 pct stake in the company, 44 pct is held by Kubota and 5 pct is owned by Metal One, Tata Metaliks' general manager and company secretary Subhashish De told Thomson Financial News.

De said the plant will be located in Kharagpur in the the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, and will begin production in early 2009. The plant will have an initial capacity of 0.11 mln tonnes of ductile iron pipes and the company aims to increase its production to 0.2 mln tonnes soon.

Kubota Corp is an agricultural machinery manufacturing company and Metal One is a steel products supplier.

Tata Metaliks is the largest producer of foundry grade pig iron in India.

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=31&theme=&usrsess=1&id=163316

Sharing ideas on the forthcoming plans of promoting Bengal as a preferable tourist destination.
GD Gautama,IAS principal secretary of tourism and
cottage and smallscale industries West Bengal, in
conversation with Swaati Chaudhary

Darjeeling, Dooars, Purulia and the Sundarbans are
the potential
eco-tourism sites and we are trying our best to offer a boost to the tourist hotspots of Bengal



Q. Although West Bengal has a huge tourism potential but has not taken off as a popular tourist destination over the years. Your comments please.

A: Bengal is the only state that prides in having delta, beaches, snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. It has the World Heritage Site of the Sundarbans and Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Nearly two-third area of the Sundarbans lies in Bangladesh and the remaining one-third is in India. The state forms the gateway to South-East Asian countries. In a major move to promote the state tourism potential, the state tourism department is coming up in a big way by adopting professional marketing. We are working on four principal issues of tourism like investment, infrastructure, policy and marketing. The state tourism department is identifying the segmented areas of tourism. In order to encourage a rapid tourist influx into the state, it is highly desirable for us to beef up the tourism infrastructure. We are looking forward to promote tea, heritage, eco and medical tourism in the state along with others. The state tourism department has made its presence at the biggest tourism exposition at ITB, Berlin held from 6-11 March 2007. India was a partner country at the tourism and travel fair at Berlin this year. We showcased Bengal as a preferred tourist destination in the fair.

Q. What strategies have been adopted to promote the state as a tourist destination?

A: Tourism sector is one of the largest employment generator in the world. The economy of any region is depended on the development of tourism and related activities. India’s GDP is growing at a rate of more than 9 percent right now. West Bengal is witnessing a huge growth. However, we have not been able to harness the potential, which our State possesses in the tourism sector. The state has much to offer to tourists and is blessed with the snow-capped Himalayas, sea beaches and coastal areas and many other
landscapes, which are a delight to the visitors. The state tourism department has also flagged off a Tourism Promotion Investment Board. River tourism has a huge potential and there are exciting heritage sites on the banks of the river Ganges offering glimpses of the Colonial era right from Kolkata to Murshidabad. The Central government is going to appoint a consultant for the Sundarbans delta, which will address issues related to tourism, ecology, infrastructure and related activities.

Q. Infrastructure is an integral aspect of tourism development. What kind of
infrastructure development are you planning to increase the tourist influx?

Infrastructure is key for the development of tourism. We are addressing the issues of infrastructure so that the tourism potential of the State is harnessed to the full extent.

Q. Which are the new destinations explored in areas of eco-tourism, tea and heritage tourism in the state?

A: Darjeeling, Dooars, Purulia and the Sundarbans are the potential eco-tourism sites. There are plans to popularise heritage and river cruise tourism along Kolkata, Hooghly, Murshidabad, Chandannagar, Malda and Bishnupur .

Q. Do you have any plans to transform the historic landmarks of Bengal into tourist spots?

A: There are some interesting plans to showcase the historic battlefield of Plassey and exhibit the artistic works of our terracotta craftsmen at Birbhum and Bankura. The age-old imperial buildings of Kolkata and the fabulous heritage sites at Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia and Bishnupur are no less remarkable.

Q. What are your plans to improve the infrastructure in the beach resort of Digha?

A: The Central government has sanctioned a project to develop the tranquil beach resorts of Shankarpur and Digha. Another project to promote the Buxa Dooars has received approval from the Central government.

Q. Bengal is experiencing resurgence in its economy. What prospect
tourism holds in the state?

A: Tourism offers a plethora of potential and is the biggest employment provider in the world. We are trying our best to offer a boost to the tourist hotspots of Bengal. The state is witnessing huge growth and tourism is going to play a vital role in positioning the state as an economic powerhouse.

Q. How would you visualise tourism growing as an industry after two years?

A: Being the largest employment provider, tourism is a part of service industry that can change the face of any economy. Infrastructure has to be beefed up along with other strategies on which we are continuously working. We are very hopeful that soon we shall be able to position Bengal on the tourist map of the world.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Kolkata/8_firms_shortlisted_for_port_project/articleshow/2225503.cms

KOLKATA: Like chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, too, is keen on setting up a deep sea port in West Bengal.

Eight consultancy firms have been shortlisted by the Centre to study the feasibility of setting up a deep sea port in the state. One among these eight will be selected within the next few months for the feasibility study by ILFS-the agency appointed by the Centre. "ILFS will prepare the terms of reference for the feasibility study. Once these are framed, the shortlisted firms will be asked to submit bids and, finally,one of them will be selected to undertake the feasibility study," said chief secretary Amit Kiran Deb.

It will take about a year to complete the study. Earlier, the Delhi-based Consulting Engineering Services (CES) conducted a pre-feasibility study for the project.

Bhattacharjee discussed the project with the Prime Minister during a recent visit to Delhi. The meeting also discussed the status of several projects, including the second international airport and the light rail transit. The state government wants to bring the project under the Centre's Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM) scheme.

The proposal to set up a deep sea port near the Sagar Islands was mooted by the state government a few years ago to meet the increasing pressure and growth in overall container traffic in the Kolkata Port area. Officials feel a deep sea port is necessary as big ships are unable to enter Kolkata and Haldia ports because of the shallow water.

The exact venue of the port, however, has not been determined. "A survey is on to find a suitable location for the project," said an official. However, the state government now wants the Sagar Island, within the Sunderbans range, out of the project's purview so that it does not disturb the forest area.

CES will conduct a feasibility study to set up a bridge from the main land to Sagar Islands. "The bridge will ease a lot of pressure and consequently induce growth in container traffic because of the shorter turnaround time for vessels," said CES managing director S S Chakraborty.

WBSIDC plans to set up 40 industrial estates (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/07/25/stories/2007072550832300.htm)


West Bengal Small Industries Development Corporation (WBSIDC) plans to set up nearly 40 industrial estates for small scale industries (SSIs) over the next two years, according to Mr Moinul Hassan, Chairman, WBSIDC. “We are trying our best to develop industrial estates for SSI units in the State. Currently, there are about 25 multi-product industrial estates in the State. But this number is insufficient. We plan to develop another 40 estates over the next two years,” Mr Hassan said at a seminar on ‘Indian small scale industry at the crossroads’ organised by the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce.

On investment, Mr Hassan said the proposed estates would attract investment of Rs 15-30 crore per estate depending on their size. They would vary between 15-200 acres. WBSIDC would seek Centre’s assistance to fund these projects.

They would house SSI units from different industries, including leather, jute, silk, jewellery, food processing and toy making.

WBSIDC will develop four jute parks including three mini jute parks in Cooch Behar, Murshidabad and North Dinajpur and one large jute park, of about 400 acres, in Haringhata.

According to Mr Hassan, Cooch Behar in North Bengal is the “thrust area” for WBSIDC, where the corporation has recently acquired nearly 50 acres.

To set up a $5 million manufacturing unit in West Bengal over a 120,000 square foot area

Kolkata : Bucyrus International, Inc., Wisconsin-based company with an annual turnover of around $2 billion, engaged in the design and manufacture of mining equipment, is setting up its India operations headquarters at Kolkata. The company is also actively considering setting up a manufacturing unit in the state. The company is on the lookout for an abandoned facility in West Bengal to set up a $5 million manufacturing unit. Over the next 5 years they plan to scale up the India operations and make it a 500-employee company.

Bucyrus plans to design and source parts and components from Kolkata that are required for the Indian mining industry as well as for their global requirements. Bucyrus India Ltd, a 100 percent Indian subsidiary of Bucyrus International, Inc. already has a facility at Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh & Bangalore. According to Timothy W. Sullivan, president and CEO of Bucyrus International, by the end of 2007 the company will have 3 other offices in India in Singareni (Andhra Pradesh), Singrauli (MP) and Southeastern Coalfields (Chhattisgarh).

Coal India Ltd (CIL) is the company's largest customer.In Bangalore, Bucyrus, works in collaboration with Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML).

Source: http://machinist.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=203&Itemid=2

Steel manufacturers Jai Balaji Group will invest Rs 16,000 crore to set up a steel plant, a cement manufacturing unit and a captive power plant at Raghunathpur in Purulia district, minister for commerce and industries Nirupam Sen today said in the state Assembly.

In a written statement, the minister said, while the steel plant will have an annual capacity of 50 lakh tonne, the cement unit will produce 30 lakh tonne annually. The captive power plant will produce 1,250 mw power annually.



In the first phase, which is expected to be completed in three years the steel plant will produce 20 lakh tonne annually while the cement factory will produce 10 lakh tonnes every year. The power plant will have a capacity of 400 mw during the first phase for which the total investment will be Rs 8,000 crore.

For the project the company has sought 4,000 acre of land and the state government has started identifying land at Raghunathpur. “The land is fallow and has no irrigation project going on in it. The district administration as well as the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) have started identifying the land and once it is over, the government will start acquiring the land. In some cases proposals for buying the land directly from farmers are being considered,’’ the statement mentioned.

While the Balaji group will bring iron ore from other states for the project, the state government will help the group procure the required quantity of coal. The state will also help it arrange water for the project, the statement mentioned.

Source: http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=247675

From TOI EPaper today:


Gede: From a ramshackle, tin-shed platform to a swanky, airport-style international terminus, the makeover of Gede railway station is nothing short of magical.
In the last couple of months, this nondescript railway station in Nadia, 116 km from Kolkata, has witn e s s e d
unbelievable
change — that too on
a war footing. Gone are the encroachments and banana plantations that lined the sole platform of this last station on the Indian side of the Indo-Bangla border. Now there is a swanky building with the latest water coolers and purifiers. Computers and X-Ray machines will be brought in over the next few weeks.
Only the fenced up platform, with gates on either end, and the barred windows of the building give away that fact that Gede station has actually been turned into a hitech fortress and is awaiting the start of passenger train services between Kolkata and Dhaka, possibly in September.
When the Dhaka Special chugs into Gede, it won’t be for a five-minute halt but a three-hour-long “sanitisation process”. The entire train will be emptied of passengers, who will be put through a rigorous security check. There will be four counters each for
customs and immigration — much as in an airport. There will be a separate area for frisking and security checks. While passengers are going through all this, the empty train will be pulled back from the station and thoroughly searched.
“While passengers are waiting at the station, they will have almost all facilities available at an airport. There will be comfortable seats and food counters for 300 people. We have managed to set up all the facilities in just two months,” said S K Mandal, divisional railway manager, Sealdah.
Internet facilities will also be made available, he said. “We plan to have 30-35 counters on the platform itself. By then, a second platform and foot overbridge will have been constructed to accommodate local traffic. We have already spent Rs 3 crore here. A further
Rs 3 crore
has been sanctioned for a new
station building, widening of the platform, creating accommodation for officials and procuring X-Ray machines. Once everything is completed, the total expenditure will be around Rs 33 crore,” said Mandal.
“Though India has two other cross-border train links (with Pakistan), this will be the first train that will actually cross over into a foreign soil with passengers. Both in Punjab and Rajasthan, passengers have to get down at the border and board another train to Pakistan. In this case, the whole train will go to Darshana where there will be a change of locomotive only,” said G K Mohanty, chief passenger transportation manager, Eastern Railway, adding that high-level talks will be held in Kolkata next Monday and Tuesday to finalise the frequency and fare structure. India is not too keen to start off with a daily service between Kolkata and Dhaka due to infrastructure constraints. There are regular EMU services between Gede and Sealdah. A daily passenger train to Bangladesh along this single-line section will throw local train schedules haywire as the only platform will have to be out of bounds. As a result, officials want the Indo-Bangla train to run only on Sundays till a second platform can be constructed at Gede.
Officials here also want to start with a maximum of five coaches. The present infrastructure at Gede will allow for immigration, customs and security checks of only 300-odd passengers. This will take nearly three hours. If the train was to have more coaches, the process would get delayed.
“The total running time for the 406-km journey will be 12 hours, of which three hours will be spent at Gede alone. There will also be some checking at Dhaka. The train will not stop anywhere in between. Only end-to-end tickets will be issued,” Mohanty said.

RPG group company CESC Ltd plans to invest a massive Rs 18,000 crore in power and retail sectors, and will explore various avenues for raising funds for expansion, vice-chairman of the company Sanjiv Goenka said.

Goenka told reporters on the sidelines of the company's annual general meeting here today a final decision on how to raise and the quantity to be raised from the market would be taken by October this year.

CESC would explore all avenues like GDRs, follow-on public offer, institutional buyers and rights issue. A part of the funding would also come from internal accruals, he said.

Outlining details, he said CESC would invest Rs 8,000 crore for Haldia power plant and Rs 1,000 crore for Budge Budge. In Orissa, the company would invest Rs 4,000 crore for a 1,000 MW plant, and the same in a Jharkhand project.

In the retail business, the company had earmarked an investment of Rs 1,200 crore.

Meanwhile, the Godrej group had made an exit from the joint venture formed for setting up a mall in the city. The property would now be developed by CESC Properties, he said.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/CESC_to_invest_Rs_18000_cr_for_expansion/articleshow/2239015.cms

In A bid to make food processing economically sustainable for entrepreneurs and farmers, the state will soon house a mega food park to boost the food processing industry. The Union minister of state for food processing industries, Subodh Kant Sahay, announced this on Monday here.

Speaking at a seminar on ‘Unleashing the potential of food-processing industry in West Bengal’, organised by the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce, Sahay said, “The ministry is planning to set up 30 such mega food parks across the country for which it proposes a grant of Rs 50 crore per project.”

Sahay added that the country would have an independent body--Food Authority of India, if the proposal is approved in the 11th five-year plan. The Authority will meet international standards as far as food quality control is concerned.

These parks will be situated at catchment areas of two or three districts. Facilities like procurement, processing, packaging, cold storage and logistics distribution will be available.

Sahay said, “Existing food parks have not been very successful as they are basically stand-alone ventures.” He added, “Private investors will be invited this time. A public-private partnership (PPP) model will be followed, in case, the state provides the land to set up the park.”

Sahay praised the efforts of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for showing interest in promoting the food-processing sector in the state. Emphasising the need to make the agriculture sector demand-driven, Sahay seconded Bhattacharjee’s initiative to introduce contract farming in the state. He said, “Our party should not object to the proposition. Let him do what he wants.”

Joint secretary of the West Bengal Food Processing and Horticulture department, Ravi Inder Singh said the department is also looking forward to setting up its first food processing training institute. The institute will start within the next one-and-a-half years at Bamanghata in South 24-Parganas.

Voicing the concerns of food-processing entrepreneurs in the state, MP Sudhanshu Seal said the refrigerated containers, hired to export perishable products, create problems for entrepreneurs as they face lot of inspections with respect to their export consignments.

Source: http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=248500

A Shanghai- and Rotterdam-like deep sea port would soon become a reality on Indian shores, attracting interest from ship-building companies, oil cos and chemical giants from across the globe. The ministry of shipping has shortlisted Moffatt & Nichols, Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick, Sandwell Engineering, Louise Berger Group, Royal Haskings, Mouchel Parkman and Cullen Grummitt & Roe as consultants for the Rs 2,000-crore port project.

The selected consultant would prepare a project report for the proposed deep-water port. It is also learnt the state government wants to build the largest chemical hub in West Bengal. The port could provide infrastructural support to the project, an official in the ministry of road transport & shipping said. According to official estimates, the project, expected on public-private partnership (PPP) model, would attract an investment of over Rs 50,000 crore after its completion.

“First, the consultant will submit its report to us and then tenders would be invited on PPP model for developing the port,” he said. The consultant will also choose the site for the development of the proposed port apart from providing traffic projection and the kind of vessels the port will handle.

A pre-bid meeting would be held with the shortlisted consultants next week, he added. The proposed port, which will have a capacity to handle 50-million-tonne cargo and a draught of 16 m, will cost Rs 2,000 crore for development. It is estimated only six of the country’s 12 major ports have such capacity.

The West Bengal government had earlier suggested developing a deep-sea port in the state as the two ports, Kolkata and Haldia, could not handle large cargo vessels and container carriers.

West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to apprise him of the progress of the project. It is learnt Mr Singh was keen on having the high-capacity port in the country to accommodate large-sized vessels and ships.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Transportation/Shipping__Transport/MNCs_drop_anchor_for_deep-sea_port/articleshow/2258047.cms

For everyones info, http://www.carbonyatra.com/news_detail.php?id=710
cheers,
sauman das gupta

DLF may be sole bidder for Durgapur township project

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Services/Property__Cstruction/DLF_may_be_sole_bidder_for_Durgapur_township_project/articleshow/2281168.cms

Realty major DLF is believed to have emerged as the sole bidder for an integrated township project in Durgapur that entails a cost of Rs 4,000 crore.

The project is spread on 90 acres in Durgapur. It was put on auction by Asansol Durgapur Development Authority and DLF may been the only bidder, industry sources said. A DLF spokesperson declined to comment as the bidding process has not been completed.

The Authority had floated the Expression of Interest for the project over two months ago. The last date for submitting preliminary bids was yesterday. The project involves building low-income, middle-income and high-income flats and schools.

DLF has also got in-principle approval for a textile SEZ in West Bengal in June this year. In February, it entered into an agreement with Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority to build a township in Hooghly district.

Recently, DLF also received environmental clearance for developing the Mall of India project, for a cost of up to Rs 2,000 crore.

SAIL bets big on Durgapur unit

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070813/asp/business/story_8185845.asp

Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) is planning to invest Rs 5,549 crore to upgrade the facilities of Durgapur Steel Plant.

SAIL chairman S.K. Roongta said the aim was to raise the share of finished products in the total output to 95 per cent from 45 per cent.

Officials said value addition would increase Durgapur Steel’s profitability, which stood at Rs 244 crore in the first quarter of this financial year.

The funds will be used to build a sinter plant, upgrade the first blast furnace and set up four bloom-cum-round casters.

Also on the anvil are a medium structural mill, wire rod mill and a merchant mill. This will take the output of structurals to 1.25mt and merchant products to 1mt.

The capacity of the wheel and axle plant, which supplies to Indian Railways, will be raised to 2.5 lakh tonnes of wheels a year from 58,000 tonnes. Axles output will go up to 50,000 units a year.

There were plans to modernise Alloy Steel Plant, which is also in Durgapur.

The PSU plans to invest Rs 15,000-17,500 crore on expanding the capacities of its facilities in Bengal.

Already the SAIL board has sanctioned projects worth Rs 10,330 crore for the state. The bulk of funds will go towards upgrading IISCO Steel Plant at Burnpur in the state, while Rs 738 crore has been allotted for a wire rod and bar mill at Durgapur Steel Plant.

Clearance for Reliance project

Statesman News Service

The food processing depots to be set up by Mr Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Group on about 100 acres of land each at six places in the state have got the food processing department’s clearance, though the land and land reforms department is yet to vet the scheme.
Mr Rezzak Molah, minister for land and land reforms, today said there shouldn’t be any objection from his department. The depots are to be set up at Asansol, Falta, Haldia, Kharda, Malda and Siliguri.
On the other hand, the Jindal Group was upbeat with the progress of its integrated steel plant project at Salboni where a public hearing will be held on 17 August by the Union environment ministry to ascertain if there’s any objection from any quarters for possible adverse impact of the factory on the environment.
Mr Biswadip Gupta, joint MD of the Group, met with chief minister today and briefed him on the preparations being made for the hearing, said to be a major step for setting up the factory.
So far, 100 families have collected cheques for 80 acres of land bought for the factory for which prices varying between Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh per acre have been paid depending on the level of the land.
About 4,600 acres of land will be needed for the factory of which about 430 acres are to be bought from land owners, while the rest belong to the state government. Staff quarters would be built on an additional 350 acres. In yet another development, it was decided that a leather product and a foot wear unit would be set up in the Bantala leather complex, while a training institute for quality control would be built by the state government at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore within the complex.

More on the Durgapur project

DLF forays into Durgapur

Statesman News Service

DURGAPUR, Aug 14: The country’s largest real estate company DLF is set to develop a new township on 95 acres at City Centre in the heart of Durgapur city, according to local development authority sources.
An official at Asansol Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA) said: “DLF has agreed to purchase the land reserve at the rate of Rs 35 lakh per acre which was satisfactorily higher than the other offers.”
In April this year, ADDA invited expressions of interest (EIO) for the development of a new township on the prime land plot at City Centre. A senior ADDA official said: “Although 23 builders and real estate companies had purchased forms only 12 companies participated in the bid. After primary inquiries four companies were short listed and the EOI submitted by DLF appeared to be the best of the lot.”
Also included in the neck-to-neck bidders was Sapoorji-Palanji, another Delhi based real estate major.
ADDA acquired 108 acres of land from SAIL’s Durgapur Steel Plant in the eastern front of City Centre last year. The authority decided to float a new residential hub mainly to help accommodate the LIG and MIG segments.
ADDA CEO Mr N S Nigam said: “We have proposed 900 plots for LIG and 500 plots for the MIG segment. About 120 plots have been asked to be reserved for the cooperative societies. Since the demand for residential housing is increasing heavily in this stretch of Durgapur we have attempted to accommodate the maximum possible heads, taking into consideration the financial capability proportionate to the changing demography.”
According to ADDA the new township will be completed within the next four years.
An ADDA official said: “DHL has voluntarily agreed to reserve 990 plots for the LIG.” Each LIG unit will have a 450 sq ft plinth area and DLF, according to the proposed MOU would be allowed to charge maximum Rs 550 per sq ft during hand over to the possession holder. Five hundred 750 sq ft plinth area MIG units will have a limited price of Rs 1200 per sq ft during the hand over. The cooperative plots, according to ADDA will be worth a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh per cotta.
Since DLF will have to bear the cost of the subsidies for the MIG and the LIG units, the company will be allowed to sell certain HIG units and some commercial plots at a price to be fixed by the company itself. ADDA chairman Mr Bansogopal Chowdhury, said: “The new township will give Durgapur city another facelift. On 17 August the matter is likely to be cleared by the ADDA board.”

http://www.livemint.com/2007/08/18015331/West-Bengal-set-to-clear-priva.html

The West Bengal government is amending its Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act of 1972, to allow for private partnerships in farming, in a reversal of its recent stance, even as the state has been racked by protests over the entry of organized retailers, who are pushing for such partnerships.
The state, ruled by the Left Front government, has been among the few that has not amended the rules governing the distribution and cultivation of fresh produce. Under existing laws, there is no provision for private business firms to get into a partnership with local farmers to produce fruits and vegetables.
A Reliance Fresh outlet in Noida. The chain plans to open five outlets in Kolkata in a week
A Reliance Fresh outlet in Noida. The chain plans to open five outlets in Kolkata in a week
The draft amendments will also allow corporate players to enter agri-retail and procure farm products directly from the farmers through contract farming, which is being rephrased as “partnership farming”.

1.5 km shift for a village, a giant leap for West Bengal
http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/211292.html

Bakreshwar (West Bengal) August 18: On the map, it is just a 1.5 km shift. But away from the heat and dust of Nandigram and Singur, the decision of villagers of Manoharpur in Birbhum district to willingly relocate marks a much larger change.

All the 82 families in the village, located about 40 km from Santiniketan, voluntarily decided to surrender their land and accept the compensation and re-location package offered by the West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd (WBPDCL), for expansion of the Japanese-funded Bakreswar Thermal Power Plant.

The relocation, which started sometime ago, was wrapped up last week. Post-Nandigram and Singur, Manoharpur is the only site where villagers have willingly given away their homes and land for a government project.

It is also unique in the way the whole exercise was planned, with care being taken to ensure that the “pattern” of the 200-year-old village was not disturbed.

Apart from retaining the old village name ‘Manoharpur’ at the new site, plots have been allotted so as to keep the relative position of the neighbours the same. Families living in adjacent houses in the old Manoharpur continue to do so in the new one. A pond for a pond, a school for a school and even a mosque for a mosque —- it’s as if the entire village has been lifted and placed at the new site.

Few can take umbrage at the few visible “changes” —- pucca houses now stand in place of mud ones. With the compensation money given by WBPDCL, villagers decided to construct pucca houses on the plots allotted to them. Some of the houses are still under construction. While they already had electricity lines, the new village has also been promised roads, parks and tubewells.

The only structure that the villagers left behind in the old Manoharpur’s rubble was a small mazaar. While WBPDCL set aside Rs 2 lakh for construction of a mazaar at the new site, identical to the old one, the Imam refused to abandon the place. The villagers have now managed to extract a promise from the WBPDCL authorities that the structure will not be pulled down.

“Our families had been neighbours even before the times of our fathers-in-law. Our husbands had grown up together as brothers, so we are quite happy with this arrangement,” say two of the villagers, Rezina Bibi and Jyosna Bibi.

So is the district administration. “We have given importance to social capital. The idea was to recreate the old surroundings so that villagers don’t feel out of place,” says SDO Dipankar Mondal.

A little over 95 acres has been acquired for the new unit of the Bakreswar Thermal Power Plant, most of which comprised human habitats and only a very small percentage farmlands. WBPDCL has also promised to provide permanent jobs to members of families which see a substantial loss of income. While 26 villagers have already found employment as casual labour, the rest are waiting for future recruitments.

Sheikh Hossain, 26, is among those who has found a job. “I am looking forward to my Rs 4,000 salary. I am better off now as my lottery business did not do well,” says Hossain.

“We have faith in the administration,” adds Sheikh Rafiq. “Whatever we asked for — roads, power lines, tubewells, school buildings — we have got.” “Someone had to make the sacrifice for a greater good,” they add, pointing at the new thermal power plant unit.

Bengal switches on green power firm

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070821/asp/business/story_8215408.asp

The Bengal government is setting up a company to generate power from renewable energy.

The Green Energy Development Corporation, the name of the new entity, will be the second outfit in this sector in the state.

Green Energy would not only operate renewable power projects but also pick up equity stakes in other projects.

The company will be involved in solar energy, wind energy and the generation of power from biomass. It will also participate in small hydel projects.

At present, about 56 mw of power in the state comes from non-conventional sources. This is expected to go up to 100 mw in 2009 and to 250 mw by the end of the Eleventh Five Year Plan. A bulk of the power will be generated by the private sector. The state government has already approved private sector projects of 150mw capacity at an investment of Rs 700 crore. There are projects worth Rs 11,000 crore under various stages of negotiation and implementation.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

New Delhi: DLF Ltd, India's largest real estate firm, has clinched the deal to develop the Rs.40 billion ($975 million) integrated township in the heart of Durgapur in West Bengal.

"The public-private participation project, envisaged by the Asansol Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA), is expected to be completed in four years," DLF said in a statement.


Based on a cross-subsidy model, the Durgapur project, which will be spread over 95 acres, will cater to all segments and comprise cooperative housing plots, residences for low, middle and high income groups as well as bungalows, individual plots and commercial space.

DLF intends to use the services of leading architecture and engineering firms to design the township, which will have large green spaces, wide roads, attractive retail space, a recreation club and an entertainment zone.

"The township will have multiple environment protection measures such as solar lights, rainwater harvesting, water recycling, use of waste water for toilet-flushing, irrigating green area and also a sewage treatment plant," DLF said.

DLF, which competed with some 30 companies for the deal, already has a 5,000-acre township and textile economic zone at Dankuni, two information technology parks at Rajarhat, and luxury, budget hotels and service apartments in Kolkata.

Rs 41,200-cr projects get nod in Bengal (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/08/23/stories/2007082352562100.htm)


The West Bengal Cabinet today met and cleared investment proposals worth Rs 41,000 crore received from four industrial groups. A total of 11,350 acres would be required in three districts – Purulia, Bardhaman and North 24 Parganas – for setting up the proposed projects.

The proposals cleared by the State Cabinet today include Adhunik Steel’s proposal to invest Rs 6,400 crore on setting up a 11-lt per annum steel plant and a 10 lt per annum capacity cement plant in Raghunathpur Block II in Purulia district. A power plant is also proposed to be set up there even as the total land required for the entire project is 2,400 acres.

The Jai Balaji group has proposed to invest Rs 1,600 crore in Raghunathpur Block I of Purulia district for setting up a 50 lt per annum steel plant and a 30 lt per annum cement plant. The total land required has been pegged at 3,800 acres.

Bhushan Steel has proposed to invest Rs 8,400 crore on steel and power projects that are proposed to be set up in Bardhaman district. The company has also proposed to set up a cold rolled steel manufacturing unit in North 24 Parganas district.

The Abhijt group’s proposal to set up a 20 lt per annum capacity steel and power unit at Bardhaman district an investment of Rs 10,800 crore has also been cleared. The land required for the project has been pegged at 2,500 acres.

Speaking to newspersons later, the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, said an all-party meeting has been convened on September 3, to discuss the proposal and likely location of a chemical hub that is proposed to be set up in the State. He said the Centre had cleared the setting up of a deep sea port in the Bay of Bengal. He also informed that he would take up the issue of modernisation of Kolkata airport with the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Praful Patel, during the latter’s visit to the city in early September.

Mr Bhattacharjee skipped the CPI (M) party’s central committee in New Delhi today to be present here when the State Cabinet discussed and cleared the investment proposals.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stopped in the city for five hours on Thursday with a promise—he told Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee that his Government will explore opportunities for stronger involvement in the state’s various sectors.

Abe’s grandfather Nobusuke Kishi was the only other Japanese leader of such stature to have visited Kolkata way back in 1967. But when Kishi visited Kolkata, he was a “former PM”, not the one in office.

The most significant investment proposal came from the Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation which has set up a Rs 4,000-crore joint venture here to manufacture purified terephthalic acid. The Mitsubishi Corporation said on Thursday the company will increase production and make fresh investments.

The team accompanying Abe also confirmed that the Japanese Government is in talks with the Centre regarding financial assistance to West Bengal in extending the Metro railway project and other infrastructure ventures.

Japanese officials also indicated that Suzuki has elaborate plans for fresh investments all over India. “They will spread their activity and operations,” said an official. Asked if their expansion plan includes Bengal, he replied: “At this stage we can only say they have big plans.”

Abe’s engagement in the city included the inauguration of an Indo-Japan cultural centre, a visit to the Netaji Research Centre in Kolkata and also to the Rabindra Bharati University’s Jorasanko campus.

Bengal’s sweets found a new fan in Shinzo Abe, who was reportedly prodded to taste them by the CM. “While Abe and his entourage had Italian for lunch, Bhattacharjee requested them to taste sweets for dessert. Abe ate rosogollas, gulab jamun and mishti doi. He liked the gulab jamun best,” said a minister, who attended the lunch.

Bhattacharjee in his speech requested Japanese assistance in several sectors which include computer hardware, agriculture, solid waste management, disaster management, power and pisciculture.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com/story/212293.html

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s efforts to woo Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with special sweet dishes failed to get the desired result.

The CM’s wish list was endless — from funding of East-West Metro corridor to Japanese technology in disaster management and solid waste management. But, apart from a promise to triple the production at Mitsubishi plant in Haldia, very little came out of the Japanese Premier’s visit to Bengal on Thursday.

The state government left no stone unturned to show its willingness for more Japanese investments in Bengal, specially in the field of infrastructure, power and IT Hardware. The state also asked for active Japanese cooperation in the solid waste management, modern agricultural equipments and freshwater fish cultivation.

Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta wanted to draw Abe’s interest on the winds of change and how Mitsubishi had been of great help, but hardly any assurance came from Abe. However, he said that Japan would soon collaborate with IIM-C to start a new course later in the day. “I understand that Mitsubishi Corporation will triple its production by 2009 and the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, is starting a course with Japanese collaboration,” the Japanese Prime Minister said after inaugurating ‘Rabindra-Okakura Bhavan’ an Indo-Japan cultural centre at Salt Lake City.

Both Bhattacharjee and Abe did not make any media statement after the meeting. However, state PWD Minister Kshiti Goswami, who participated in the meeting, later said that “the chief minister has told the Japanese Prime Minister that Bengal’s relation with Japan dates back to the time of Tagore and we look forward to strengthening the relationship further”. Goswami said that state government has requested the Japanese premiere to extend help for infrastructure development with emphasis on the hydel electricity projects and non-conventional energy.

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=281ca6ba-6229-4ff0-8807-4e6aa39e1285&&Headline=Japan+PM+only+promises+to+triple+Mitsubishi+production

^^

why the http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/icons/icon14.gif?


The news seems to have a negative vibe about it - the sweets did no work it would seem. Quite contrary to your other post

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=14955772&postcount=199

Looks like the two reporters were in two different places.

:)

now this is an excellent example of bootlicking..
source: business-standrad.com


Kerala, Bengal get 5 rly projects in a day


LALU TAKES A LEFT TURN...
Saubhadra Chatterji / New Delhi August 24, 2007
The CPI(M) has always helped me. Everything will be sorted out: Lalu
Even as pressure from its Left allies in Parliament mounted over the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is making Left Front-ruled states major recipients of its largesse, courtesy the Indian Railways.

On Tuesday, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad promised to address Kerala’s concerns and cleared five projects for West Bengal. Four of these were sanctioned for the eastern state after 15 Left MPs met Lalu Prasad.

Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan received assurances from Prasad, whom he met today, for a new rail zone in his state.

“Kerala is my favourite state. The CPI(M) has always helped me. Everything will be sorted out,” Prasad said after his meeting with Achuthanandan.

Kerala has been protesting against reports that a new railway division will be set up in Salem in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, bifurcating the profitable Palakkad railway division, which could result in a serious political setback for the CPI (M) government in Kerala.

Sensing this as an opportunity to get concessions, Achuthanandan did not ask Prasad to cancel the bifurcation but requested a new division, which has significant job-creating potential.

Of the pending projects in West Bengal that have caught Prasad’s attention, at least two have been on the agenda for years.

The biggest and most important of them is the conversion of the circular railway lines at Dumdum airport to a metro rail to facilitate better access to the city’s airport.

Lalu also approved a new train from Kolkata to Jhansi via stations like Barrackpore, Kanpur and Meerut.

“The idea is to connect all those places associated with the 1857 mutiny and Mangal Pandey in India’s 60th anniversary of Independence. Prasad has given in-principle approval,” said Basudev Acharya, leader of the CPI (M) in Parliament.

A few days ago, the Railway Ministry had agreed to start an overnight express train connecting West Bengal’s far-flung district headquarters of Balurghat with Kolkata.

While Prasad’s Budget speech in the peaceful month of February offered three trains to Bengal, the nuclear crisis has given the state two new trains.

This apart, an important gauge-conversion project between Krishnanagar and Nabadwip, awaiting clearance for years, got priority in Tuesday’s meeting.

Prasad has also given assurances on ways in which unauthorised hawkers, a Left vote-bank, could be licensed after the Calcutta High Court had banned their entry in rail stations.

West Bengal has been a major recipient of UPA largesse in the past month. Recently, Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) approved the proposal to re-open the iron works plant at Kulti in Bardhaman district that had been closed during the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime.

Even here, the government accepted the Left’s demand that it should be taken over by SAIL instead of a private party.

source:business-standard.com


WB readies 11,300 acre for industry

...AND BUDDHADEB MEANS BUSINESS

Pradeep Gooptu / Kolkata August 24, 2007



The West Bengal Cabinet today has set in motion the process to acquire 11,300 acres for four identified steel projects in the districts of Bardhaman and Purulia.

In parallel it has announced that it would hold an all-party meeting on September 3 to acquire up to 6,000 acres in Haldia for petrochemical units.

The district magistrates of both districts are to receive instructions to set the process in motion by next week, said sources.

The land in Bardhaman was to be acquired for the proposed steel plants of the Abhijit and Bhushan Steel groups, which will need around 2,500 acres each.

Around 6,000 acres in Purulia will be acquired for two steel plants to be set up by the Jai Balaji Group (around 3,800 acres) and Adhunik Group (around 2,500 acres).

The four steel plants will bring in investment of around Rs 33,000 crore to the state according to project proposals submitted to the government.

In another move, the state government under Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is exploring options to acquire the 5,000-acre Nayachara Island in the Haldia river channel, currently managed by the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT).

This island had come up in the river over the last two decades and was unclaimed and unoccupied because of its newly-formed status and is being used as a mangrove and river studies monitoring post by the KoPT. The Nayachara Island move was not confirmed by government sources, however.

Sources in the state Left Front described the land acquisition as a normal development and a follow-up action on the commitments the state government made to investors.

However, Trinamool and Congress party sources here both described the development as one that reflected the Left’s intention to speed up the industrialisation process and establish its image as a pro-development party at a time when it was being blamed — at least partly — for the political uncertainty in New Delhi.

“It shows that the Left is keen to speed up things ahead of the imminent demise of its ‘friendly government’ at the Centre,” said a senior Trinamool leader.

Bardhaman is also the home district of Nirupam Sen, the pro-industry hardliner and the state’s industries minister.

In the last four years, nearly a hundred small and medium iron and steel units have come up there.

The all-party meeting is for the acquisition of 4,000 acres for petrochemical units at Haldia, which is already the home of Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd, Mitsubishi MCC-PTA Petrochem, South Asia Petrochem and the Indian Oil refinery.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6966251.stm

An Indian retailing firm operating Western-style supermarket stores has closed its stores in Communist-run West Bengal state after a spate of attacks. Reliance Retail stores have been attacked by supporters of left-wing parties in the past fortnight. Raghu Pillai of Reliance Retail said stores has been shut down temporarily to protect the firm's properties and its employees. Last week, the company's stores in Uttar Pradesh state were also attacked. Reliance plans to invest some $500m in opening more than 100 such supermarket stores, five distribution hubs and 14 collection centres across West Bengal. Although the biggest party in Bengal's ruling Communist coalition, the Communist party of India (Marxist), agreed to allow the stores to operate, one of its allies, Forward Bloc, has joined hands with the opposition parties to oppose the plan.

Shaken by the attacks, Reliance Retail said it was shutting its shops and putting expansion plans on hold in West Bengal. "We want to protect our company's properties and we have to ensure the safety of our employees. So we cannot open our stores at the moment", Raghu Pillai said. Opponents says Reliance threatens the livelihood of small traders. West Bengal's ruling left-wing government promised "adequate police protection" to all Reliance Retail stores after the company announcement. "All their stores will be guarded by police and those involved in violence against their stores will be booked, regardless of which party they belong to," Bengal chief secretary Amit Kiran Deb told a news conference on Tuesday.

The Forward Bloc welcomed the Reliance decision."This is a victory for the working class, the toiling peasants and the small traders involved with retail of agricultural products," said party leader Ashok Ghosh. The leader of the state's main opposition Trinamul Congress party has also opposed these stores. "More than 100,000 poor people in our state make a living from retail of agricultural products. We cannot take away their living by allowing big companies like Reliance to enter the sector," Mamata Banerjee said. West Bengal Industries Minister Nirupam Sen said the government was working on ways to solve the crisis. "Reliance has not cancelled their plans. We will have to find a way to solve this problem and we will do it," said Mr Sen.

Last week, the government in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh ordered the shutting down of 30 Reliance stores, citing reasons of law and order. The opening of stores in the state sparked protests, and some of the stores were ransacked by a group of local traders. Reliance stores, which sell fresh vegetables, fruit, flowers and other groceries, are a hit with consumers, correspondents say. Across Indian cities and towns, brand new supermarkets are rapidly cornering a slice of what is a huge market. Opposition to these stores mainly comes from the small traders and middlemen who fear that they will be edged out of the market by big supermarket chains like Reliance. Reliance Fresh is owned by Bombay-based industrialist Mukesh Ambani who has announced that his company will invest $2bn (80bn rupees) in the agri-food retail network in Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state.

What a bunch of rubbish about toiling peasants, while the self-serving politicians are busy safeguarding their personal fiefdoms and cash cows. The poor in India are like the water from ganga; no matter how heinously and selfishly the politician acts, as long as she/he remembers to invoke the name of the poor, it's all good!

Three jute parks to come up in West Bengal (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/09/01/stories/2007090151362100.htm)


The Centre has approved the setting up of three jute parks in West Bengal. An application in this regard had earlier been made to the Centre by the State Government.

Mr Manabendra Mukherjee, West Bengal’s Minister for Tourism, Small Scale & Cottage Industries, told reporters here on Friday that the Centre has approved the setting up of jute parks in Rajnagar in Murshidabad district, Raiganj in Uttar Dinajpur and one in the district of Cooch Behar.

Each of these parks would be set up on 40-50 acres of land. Jute goods and jute-based products would be produced in these parks.

Mr Mukherjee said the detailed project report in respect of the proposed jute park at Rajnagar was ready while detailed project reports of the other two proposed jute parks would be prepared soon.

Thereafter, all the three detailed project reports would be sent to the Centre.

[B][URL="http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/09/01/stories/2007090151362100.htm"]..Centre has approved the setting up of jute parks in Rajnagar in Murshidabad district, Raiganj in Uttar Dinajpur and one in the district of Cooch Behar.

Each of these parks would be set up on 40-50 acres of land. Jute goods and jute-based products would be produced in these parks.

Mr Mukherjee said the detailed project report in respect of the proposed jute park at Rajnagar was ready while detailed project reports of the other two proposed jute parks would be prepared soon.

..

I think that is Rajinagar, not Rajnagar. The place is near to Beldanga. That is my home place actually..:)

GE Equipment Services, the US-based diversified services, technology and manufacturing company, has evinced interest to invest in West Bengal's infrastructure sector.

'We are looking at opportunities in certain keys areas like port development, road infrastructure, railway and power,' GE Equipment Services president and CEO (Europe) Alan Juliano told reporters here at the state secretariat Writers' Buildings Monday.

Juliano met Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and discussed future opportunities for investment in the state where GE Equipment Services can participate.

He said the company is also targeting to grow its asset base to $8 billion by 2010 in India.

GE Equipment Services has already acquired 15 percent stake in Kolkata-based Titagarh Wagons Ltd, which supplies wagon to Indian Railways.

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/india/news/article_1351324.php/GE_keen_to_invest_in_Bengal_infrastructure_projects

Although the deabate on Reliance Retail is far from over, Rs 20,000 crore Adani group is planning to set up an agro-distribution hub in West Bengal to provide back-end support to retail chains like Food Baazar of Future group and Spencer’s Retail of RPG group. Adani Agro Fresh Ltd (AAFL), the agro infrastructure arm of the group will spearhead the initiative.

Initially, the company will source fruits from the farmers and will distribute it nationwide. The president of AAFL, Ravindra Jain said that the company will invest Rs 1,000 crore in four phases for setting up back-end support for retail chains in the country.

"We shall supply to front-end players like Reliance Retail, Spencer's, Food Baazar. Our company feels that the cold chains should be near the growing area and not near to the end customers. We shall set up distribution hub near markets," he said.

According to him, the company has installed a controlled atmosphere storage facility for apples in Himachal Pradesh for an investment of Rs 200 crore. Later on, it will set up similar facilities for orange and grapes in Himachal in the second phase. "We shall set up storage facility for mango and sweet lime in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat in the third phase," he said.

Elaborating the plan, Jain added that in three phases it will complete the back-end infrastructure for fruits. After completing fruits, it will enter the vegetable sector, he added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Kolkata/Adanis_to_set_up_agri-hub_in_state/articleshow/2338175.cms

GE Equipment Services, the US-based diversified services, technology and manufacturing company, has evinced interest to invest in West Bengal's infrastructure sector.

'We are looking at opportunities in certain keys areas like port development, road infrastructure, railway and power,' GE Equipment Services president and CEO (Europe) Alan Juliano told reporters here at the state secretariat Writers' Buildings Monday.

Juliano met Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and discussed future opportunities for investment in the state where GE Equipment Services can participate.

He said the company is also targeting to grow its asset base to $8 billion by 2010 in India.

GE Equipment Services has already acquired 15 percent stake in Kolkata-based Titagarh Wagons Ltd, which supplies wagon to Indian Railways.

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/india/news/article_1351324.php/GE_keen_to_invest_in_Bengal_infrastructure_projects



seeing as how Capitalism benefits WB, the Left's home bastion, the Left parties should stop being anti-american for every damn thing. i mean seriously, in a couple of years, when WB/Kolkata will have entered the arena of MNCs with a large number of them, it would be ridiculous of Left to still hold on to the Soviet era mentality.

seeing as how Capitalism benefits WB, the Left's home bastion, the Left parties should stop being anti-american for every damn thing. i mean seriously, in a couple of years, when WB/Kolkata will have entered the arena of MNCs with a large number of them, it would be ridiculous of Left to still hold on to the Soviet era mentality.

I agree with you pding. They should change their idiot thoughts. But I think they(specially CPI-M in WB) changed a lot in last couple of years. That is a good sign. :)

Jai Balaji to invest in Power, Steel sector.
Source: BS Website


Jai Balaji lines up projects worth Rs 16,000 crore

BS Reporter / Kolkata September 06, 2007



Kolkata-based Jai Balaji Industries has decided to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for setting up steel, cement and power plant projects at a cost of Rs 16,000 crore.

In an intimation to the stock exchanges, the company has informed that a five million tonnes steel plant, three million tonnes cement plant and 1,215 captive power plant over a period of 10 years. The projects would be located in the district of Purulia, West Bengal.

Sources said, the MoU would be signed in the third week of September. The company would require around 4,000 acre for the projects.

“The land has already been identified. Most of it is private land but barren,” said sources. West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) would acquire the land and lease it to Jai Balaji.

The company hopes to have 2,000 acres in possession by October, so that it could start work on the first phase.

The first phase entails, two million tonnes of steel capacity, one million tonne cement and 400 MW of power. Construction of the first phase would be completed in 30-36 months’ time from the hand over of land.

The Rs 2,000 crore Jai Balaji group would fund the project through a mix of debt and equity. The company could also consider a follow-on public issue for the equity part.

Sources said, the investment in the first phase would be Rs 4,000-5,000 crore.

Jai Balaji’s project has recently been approved by the West Bengal cabinet.

Seconday steel producer, the company has manufacturing facilities in Mangalpur, Durgapur, Ranigunj and Liluah in West Bengal and Rourkela in Orissa.

The Jai Balaji stock today closed at Rs 192.70 on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

New airport planned near Durgapur (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/09/08/stories/2007090852192100.htm)


Even as the first phase of upgradation and modernisation of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata is slated to be completed by June 2010, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and the West Bengal Government today announced plans to set up a new airport — along with a township, IT & logistics hub — at Ondal near Durgapur.

This was stated here at a media briefing held at the Writers’ Buildings by the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, and the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, following a meeting between the two to discuss the development of Kolkata airport and the growth of civil aviation in West Bengal.

According to Mr Bhattacharjee, the parties that would be involved in setting up the proposed airport near Durgapur include the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, Asansol Durgapur Development Authority, HUDCO and Pragati Social Infrastructure Ltd among others.

Mr Patel said the first phase of the modernisation and upgradation of Kolkata airport would entail an investment of Rs 2,000 crore. Work on the project would begin in January next and be completed by June 2010. From handling five million passengers every year at present, the Kolkata airport would be equipped to handle 20 million passengers annually when the first phase of modernisation is completed. Cargo handling capacity would also be augmented. When the modernisation and upgradation of Kolkata airport is completed, it will be capable of handling 60 million passengers annually. “When the modernisation process is completed, Kolkata airport will be comparable to airports in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore,” he said, adding that an international consortium would be awarded the contract for modernisation of the Kolkata airport on a turnkey basis.

Mr Patel said the Behala Flying Club would soon be made operational once again. Smaller aircraft may be allowed to operate from the airfield there. The district of Cooch Behar would also be connected by air to Kolkata by the month-end, when Air Deccan launches services on the Kolkata-Cooch Behar-Kolkata sector, he said.

On a request from Mr Bhattacharjee, Mr Patel said he would request Lufthansa to have daily flights between Kolkata and Frankfurt.

New airport planned near Durgapur (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/09/08/stories/2007090852192100.htm)


Even as the first phase of upgradation and modernisation of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata is slated to be completed by June 2010, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and the West Bengal Government today announced plans to set up a new airport — along with a township, IT & logistics hub — at Ondal near Durgapur.
This was stated here at a media briefing held at the Writers’ Buildings by the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, and the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, following a meeting between the two to discuss the development of Kolkata airport and the growth of civil aviation in West Bengal.

According to Mr Bhattacharjee, the parties that would be involved in setting up the proposed airport near Durgapur include the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, Asansol Durgapur Development Authority, HUDCO and Pragati Social Infrastructure Ltd among others.
Mr Patel said the first phase of the modernisation and upgradation of Kolkata airport would entail an investment of Rs 2,000 crore. Work on the project would begin in January next and be completed by June 2010. From handling five million passengers every year at present, the Kolkata airport would be equipped to handle 20 million passengers annually when the first phase of modernisation is completed. Cargo handling capacity would also be augmented. When the modernisation and upgradation of Kolkata airport is completed, it will be capable of handling 60 million passengers annually. “When the modernisation process is completed, Kolkata airport will be comparable to airports in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore,” he said, adding that an international consortium would be awarded the contract for modernisation of the Kolkata airport on a turnkey basis.
Mr Patel said the Behala Flying Club would soon be made operational once again. Smaller aircraft may be allowed to operate from the airfield there. The district of Cooch Behar would also be connected by air to Kolkata by the month-end, when Air Deccan launches services on the Kolkata-Cooch Behar-Kolkata sector, he said.
On a request from Mr Bhattacharjee, Mr Patel said he would request Lufthansa to have daily flights between Kolkata and Frankfurt.

Really good news for Coochbeher,durgapur,Behela. But how would a modernized airport be comparable with the greenful airports(b'lore,h'bad)?:rant:

Another source for the above news:

http://www.ndtvprofit.com/homepage/storybusinessnew.asp?id=40509&template=&cache=9/8/2007%2010:20:56%20AM

After deciding to modernise IISCO steel plant at a cost of Rs 10,000 crore, Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) on Tuesday said it wants to reopen Kulti Works, which was closed down in 2003.

"We are planning to reopen the Kulti works," SAIL Chairman S K Roongta told newsmen after a meeting with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

He was accompanied by ISP Managing Director Nilotpal Roy and Durgapur Steel Plant Managing Director Shyamsunder.

Kulti Works was set up in 1870 and became a part of erstwhile Indian Iron and Steel Company in 1936. SAIL had closed down the inviable unit in April 2003.

Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan had also promised to look into the matter. Roongta said as part of mega expansion plan, SAIL would invest Rs 17,000 crore in its three plants in West Bengal including IISCO Steel Plant (ISP). Roongta said the chief minister assured him of cooperation for the modernisation of works.

He also said that there would not be any problem for land for ISP's expansion since the bulk of land was with SAIL.

He said Rs 6,500 crore would be spent to modernise and expand the capacity of Durgapur steel plant.

Under the revamp plan, the plant's capacity would be increased to 3.5 million tonne from 2.06 million tonne. The wheel and axle unit would be modernised.

DSP, which at present produced almost 50 per cent semi finished products, would produce 100 per cent finished products which would increase the plant's profitability.

The company, he said, would invest Rs 500 crore for the modernisation of the alloy steel plant.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/SAIL_plans_to_reopen_Kulti_Works/articleshow/2359980.cms

Source: TelegraphIndia.com


Sagar bridge on study table

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/4434/12wbengal1bo8.jpg
A STAFF REPORTER

Calcutta, Sept. 11: The government is planning a bridge connecting Sagar Island with the mainland.

Consulting Engineering Services (CES) has been appointed to carry out a feasibility study that is expected to be complete by the end of this year.

The 3.3km bridge is likely to cost around Rs 600 crore.

CES chairman Sudhangsu Sekhar Chakraborty said it could take three to four years to complete construction after work starts. “We are looking at an alignment where only barges sail so that the bridge is not too high,” he added.

CES — headquartered in Delhi and not the US as mentioned in the paper yesterday — wants Calcutta Port Trust to be involved in the development of the bridge.

Chakraborty has met port trust chairman Anup K. Chanda to discuss the plan.

The port trust now has a pilot station and a light house there for ships heading to Haldia and Calcutta. It wants full-fledged operations on the island. “Our perspective plan involves building jetties there. If a bridge comes up, it will help,” Chanda said.

The bridge has to be strong and big enough to bear the load of large containers that are likely to be unloaded at Sagar.

The island, 110km south of Calcutta, is large — with an area of around 300sqkm. It has 43 villages and a population of over 1.6 lakh.

The bridge would be a boon for the people of the island, an official said. Water is now taken there by boats. Solar cells and diesel engines are used to meet power needs.

Chakraborty said the bridge could be built in a private-public partnership in which the port trust could play a role.

For long Burdwan has been described as a rural and boring town. But now things are set to change for the better. In recent times a lot of work is going on.Not so long ago a new township called Ullas was set up. Now another township is on the anvil.Here is a list of some ongoing, approved and completed projects.
1.Ullas-a township(completed)
2.Renaissance-a township by Shrachi developers on the NH2.It will accomodate 40,000 people,have a police and fire station and a high school.(approved)
3.A new busstand with state of the art retail establishment on NH2.(construction on)
4.A housing complex with shopping mall at Jailkhana more.height 7 flloors,6 buildings .Big bazzar will be coming.(construction on)
5.City tower-A five floor shoping mall with a hotel in its upper two floors.(completed)
6.A housing complex near Ullhas.Nine floor-2 buildings.(work going on)
7.A health city near Renaissance.(approved)
Apart from these large scale projects many other buildings are also coming up at various parts of the city. However none of them is more than eight floor high.^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

New airport planned near Durgapur (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/09/08/stories/2007090852192100.htm)


Even as the first phase of upgradation and modernisation of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata is slated to be completed by June 2010, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and the West Bengal Government today announced plans to set up a new airport — along with a township, IT & logistics hub — at Ondal near Durgapur.

This was stated here at a media briefing held at the Writers’ Buildings by the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, and the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, following a meeting between the two to discuss the development of Kolkata airport and the growth of civil aviation in West Bengal.

According to Mr Bhattacharjee, the parties that would be involved in setting up the proposed airport near Durgapur include the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, Asansol Durgapur Development Authority, HUDCO and Pragati Social Infrastructure Ltd among others.

Mr Patel said the first phase of the modernisation and upgradation of Kolkata airport would entail an investment of Rs 2,000 crore. Work on the project would begin in January next and be completed by June 2010. From handling five million passengers every year at present, the Kolkata airport would be equipped to handle 20 million passengers annually when the first phase of modernisation is completed. Cargo handling capacity would also be augmented. When the modernisation and upgradation of Kolkata airport is completed, it will be capable of handling 60 million passengers annually. “When the modernisation process is completed, Kolkata airport will be comparable to airports in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore,” he said, adding that an international consortium would be awarded the contract for modernisation of the Kolkata airport on a turnkey basis.

Mr Patel said the Behala Flying Club would soon be made operational once again. Smaller aircraft may be allowed to operate from the airfield there. The district of Cooch Behar would also be connected by air to Kolkata by the month-end, when Air Deccan launches services on the Kolkata-Cooch Behar-Kolkata sector, he said.

On a request from Mr Bhattacharjee, Mr Patel said he would request Lufthansa to have daily flights between Kolkata and Frankfurt.

burdwan is missing out to durgapur time and again, it looks like everything should be done in durgapur:bash:

burdwan is missing out to durgapur time and again, it looks like everything should be done in durgapur:bash:

Because, Durgapore is heavily Industrialized from the past. It has a good readymade infrastructure. It is also welconnected to Kolkata through Durgapore ex'way. The Kolkata-Durgapore rail connectivity is one of the best in the conuntry.

Sajjan Jindal-controlled JSW Bengal Steel plans to start construction of its Rs 40,000-crore mega steel venture in Salboni, West Bengal, by November. This was confirmed by Mr Jindal, vice-chairman and managing director of
JSW Steel, shortly after his meeting here on Sunday with the West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

Formal construction activity is likely to be preceded by a high profile foundation stone laying ceremony in Salboni where the state chief minister and the JSW Group top-brass will be present. Mr Jindal, who was in town on Sunday, also visited the project site in Salboni for a personal review of the status.

The JSW Group is setting up a 12 million tonne mega steel plant, the first phase of which involves a 3 million tonne first unit that is due to come up in four years. Accordingly, JSW Bengal will kick off production by March 2011.

The Jindal Group proposes to buy 400 acres from private landowners in Salboni. Of this, it has managed to buy about 100 acres. Remaining land amounting to 4,300 acres is being provided by the Buddhadeb gov

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Steel/SW_to_start_Rs_40000-cr_steel_project_in_Bengal/articleshow/2374971.cms

The Wadias of Bombay Dyeing may be the latest to enter West Bengal. Bombay Dyeing joint managing director Ness Wadia confirmed on Friday that his group would be interested in infrastructure, healthcare and education segments though he declined to reveal investment numbers.

Mr Wadia, who was sitting among the audience at the national executive committee meeting of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) here on Friday, actually walked up to chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to tell him about his investment plans in the state. The gesture was widely appreciated.

Interestingly, Mr Wadia’s spontaneous response followed Mr Bhattacharjee’s request to the private sector for setting up schools, ITIs and polytechnic colleges through the public-private-partnership (PPP) route. The Wadia group, as part of its social welfare initiative, had long ago entered education and healthcare.

It has established seven educational institutes including the Neville Wadia Institute of Management Studies & Research, Nowrosjee Wadia College Of Arts & Science, Cusrow Wadia Institute Of Technology, Ness Wadia College of Commerce and Modern Education Society’s College of Engineering, which are all in Pune. It has also set up two colleges — DG Ruparel College and New Law College — in Mumbai.

The group has also set up two hospitals — Nowrosjee Wadia Maternity Hospital and Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Corporate_Trends/Wadia_group_plans_to_invest_in_West_Bengal/articleshow/2370663.cms