West Bengal - Economy and Project Developments

[anan355]

PSU power major NTPC Sunday said it is optimistic of finding a "middle path" solution to the stalled 1,600 MW project at Katwa in West Bengal's Burdwan district as the state government is "keen" to see that the project takes off.

"We are optimistic that some solution will surely come out from our discussions with the West Bengal government," National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) CMD Arup Roy Choudhury told reporters on the sidelines of PanIIT here.

The Rs.9,600-crore project has failed to take off as it would need about 1,030 acres, of which West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL) has already acquired 575 acres.

But according to the state-run power firm, 550 acres is "not sufficient" for the 1,600 MW project as it needs land for the ash pond and the colony.

Earlier, NTPC had for the first time decided to buy land directly from farmers. However, owing to hurdles in the involvement of middlemen and the high prices quoted by farmers, the company decided against it.

Following this, the company urged the state power department to acquire land for it. The state government, however, did not respond to it as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took a decision to stay away from land acquisition for industrial projects.

Choudhury, who Saturday held talks with the state power department officials on the fiasco, said the company was now willing to look into different options to see that the project takes place but ruled out the possibility of shifting of the Katwa project.

"We are willing to look at our alignment, we are willing to re-look at the way we have done the layout of the plant. We are open to split locations for the project if we get separate land for ash pond and colony," he said.

"There is also a possibility that we can do a smaller capacity plant if we can fit it into the given land (550 acre)," the CMD said.

On his meeting with the government, he said, "There were certain things that we had discussed in the meeting (on Saturday). Both sides have decided that they will closely look at this project."

Initially, the project was scheduled to be set up by WBPDCL. However, after protests by the Trinamool Congress-backed 'Krishak o Khet Majoor Bachao Committee', an association of farmers who lost land to the project, it was handed over to NTPC in 2008.

Later, a memorandum of understanding for power purchase was signed with the then Left Front government in the state.

Source

[anan355]

It will be a thing to watch whether Govt can manage to get this amount of agricultural land for this project. At this point in time, acquiring 4300 acres of agricultural land seems to be an outright dream.I dont know on what basis is the irrigation minister confident.

But if the govt can get this done, not only the agricultural productivity will increase ( because of the vast potential irrigation catchment area of 52,800 hectares), it will also be able to augment the drinking water supply in many towns of Bankura.


However good news is that the long pending irrigation project of Keleghai - Kapaleshwari has started after a prolonged delay.

Surface water irrigation has been pretty neglected in Bengal for decades at a stretch. We relied too much on groundwater extraction and that has resulted in arsenic menace across the state.

Source: Bartaman, 10th December, 2012

[anan355]

Originally Posted by anan355

PSU power major NTPC Sunday said it is optimistic of finding a "middle path" solution to the stalled 1,600 MW project at Katwa in West Bengal's Burdwan district as the state government is "keen" to see that the project takes off.

"We are optimistic that some solution will surely come out from our discussions with the West Bengal government," National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) CMD Arup Roy Choudhury told reporters on the sidelines of PanIIT here.

The Rs.9,600-crore project has failed to take off as it would need about 1,030 acres, of which West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL) has already acquired 575 acres.

But according to the state-run power firm, 550 acres is "not sufficient" for the 1,600 MW project as it needs land for the ash pond and the colony.

Earlier, NTPC had for the first time decided to buy land directly from farmers. However, owing to hurdles in the involvement of middlemen and the high prices quoted by farmers, the company decided against it.

Following this, the company urged the state power department to acquire land for it. The state government, however, did not respond to it as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took a decision to stay away from land acquisition for industrial projects.

Choudhury, who Saturday held talks with the state power department officials on the fiasco, said the company was now willing to look into different options to see that the project takes place but ruled out the possibility of shifting of the Katwa project.

"We are willing to look at our alignment, we are willing to re-look at the way we have done the layout of the plant. We are open to split locations for the project if we get separate land for ash pond and colony," he said.

"There is also a possibility that we can do a smaller capacity plant if we can fit it into the given land (550 acre)," the CMD said.

On his meeting with the government, he said, "There were certain things that we had discussed in the meeting (on Saturday). Both sides have decided that they will closely look at this project."

Initially, the project was scheduled to be set up by WBPDCL. However, after protests by the Trinamool Congress-backed 'Krishak o Khet Majoor Bachao Committee', an association of farmers who lost land to the project, it was handed over to NTPC in 2008.

Later, a memorandum of understanding for power purchase was signed with the then Left Front government in the state.

Source

Now Here Comes the Telegraph Report....

Which one to Believe



NTPC today said it would not be possible for the company to start working on the proposed 1,600MW thermal power plant at Burdwan’s Katwa till it is given more land.

NTPC chairman Arup Roy Chowdhury said on the sidelines of the PanIIT Global Conference 2012: “The government has asked us to start developing the plant on the acquired land. But we need more land to develop the ash pond and other facilities. The ash pond is critical to getting the environment ministry’s clearance to start work. We are in talks with the government to resolve the issue.”

Of the 1,100 acres needed for the 1,600MW thermal power plant, 556 acres had been acquired by the Left government. But after Mamata Banerjee came to power, she refused to acquire “even an inch” of land for the project. The central power utility has failed to buy land directly from farmers.


http://www.telegraphindia.com/112121...p#.UMUpdax9LXQ

[anan355]

Not sure whether this will lead to increase in fish production, but yes, this is another step in boosting the revenue of the cash strapped Govt.

Translation:

Govt Decides to substantially increase the lease rentals for the various ponds and tanks given out to individuals for fish cultivation. 42000 hectares is the total amount of water bodies under the ownership of WB Govt and the later is also going to mandate the production from the water bodies.

Current lease holders will have the first right of refusal for the increased lease rent , in case of which lease ownership will be decided through auction.

Source

Anandabazar, 10th December, 2012
http://www.anandabazar.com/10bus2.html

[anan355]

The West Bengal Highway Development Corporation (WBHDC) has suggested to Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) to come up with a draft policy in line with the state’s existing stand on land acquisition, for the five state highways it has been assigned to survey for further development on the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
“We have proposed to the RITES authorities to suggest the draft policy before framing the report on the feasibility study they are conducting, to the board of directors and to the state government,” said B Konar, WBHDC director (technical).
The suggestion was made during a presentation on the first inception report of RITES submitted to the WBHDC and its follow-up for development of the project on December 1.
The central government enterprise, RITES, has been outsourced to check the status of state highways and to study the financial viability of the PPP model in design build operate and transfer mode for further development. It has submitted an inception report in September. According to sources at RITES, the state government does not have the updates on the five state highways stretching over 1079 kilometres across 10 districts in the state.
“Some of the stretches have been extended. In some places, there is habitation along the road and the concerned municipality is collecting taxes from the occupants in some places. We said at the last meeting that the land would have to be acquired by the state government so that the existing highways may be extended to four and six lanes,” said an officer in the survey team of the RITES. The agency plans to chalk out a detailed and long-term route map for development of highways.
To the WBHDC board officers, acquisition of land for extension of roads is a distant proposition for the government. “We will have to place the draft policy with the government for final approval. We have conveyed that it should be according to the state’s existing policy. We will cross-check the technical side of the survey report,” said Konar.
WBHDC officials have told RITES that they should frame their study for a short or mid-term development where land acquisition for the four of six lanes is next to impossible.





“We have told them that we need to develop the highways in existing two lanes and develop the riding quality. Long-term planning may not be viable because the government might change the toll tax policy one day,” a PWD official said.
Sources at Writers’ Buildings said nine other agencies on Wednesday evinced interest in conducting feasibility study for the 14 other state highways.


http://portal.thebengalpost.com/inde...92871355070072

[anan355]

I really cannot understand what is the policy of the state govt regarding roads? Do they have any policy at all?

If they have plans of no acquisition, then how is the acquisition for NH-34 happening or how is the Kalyani Expressway getting widened?

[NiladriG]

Originally Posted by anan355

I really cannot understand what is the policy of the state govt regarding roads? Do they have any policy at all?

If they have plans of no acquisition, then how is the acquisition for NH-34 happening or how is the Kalyani Expressway getting widened?

NHAI have paid a lot of money as compensation. State govt. has not done anything.

[Rajarshi77]

I think the state policy is whoever wants to acquire land has to acquire it directly. The state government will not acquire land and hand over to the interested parties.

[anan355]

Originally Posted by Rajarshi77

I think the state policy is whoever wants to acquire land has to acquire it directly. The state government will not acquire land and hand over to the interested parties.

Your justification seems logical.....perhaps thats the policy....But then WBHDC can float bonds and start raising money directly from the market , do the acquisition and build the road and later collect toll.....What is the problem?

[debayanlahiri]

Originally Posted by anan355

I really cannot understand what is the policy of the state govt regarding roads? Do they have any policy at all?

If they have plans of no acquisition, then how is the acquisition for NH-34 happening or how is the Kalyani Expressway getting widened?

The State Government has always, and will continue to acquire land for public projects.

The non-acquisition policy is for private projects and the govt is encouraging the private players to acquire land directly from land owners.

[debayanlahiri]

Originally Posted by NiladriG

NHAI have paid a lot of money as compensation. State govt. has not done anything.

NH-34 is a NHAI project. However, land has to be acquired by the State and handed over to NHAI.

Kalyani Expressway is a State Highway and NHAI has no role in its expansion.

[debayanlahiri]

Originally Posted by Rajarshi77

I think the state policy is whoever wants to acquire land has to acquire it directly. The state government will not acquire land and hand over to the interested parties.

...if it is for a private project.

For all public projects, State will continue to acquire land.

[anan355]

Source: Bartaman, 11 th December, 2012
http://www.bartamanpatrika.com/content/rajya.htm

Translation: State Govt Plans Intensive Therapy Unit ( ITU) every 50 km in the state. In the first phase 30 such ITUs are being planned in the district hospitals. This will entail an expenditure of Rs. 150 crore. ITUs are going to be accompanied with HIgh Dependency Unit (HDU) everywhere.

[NiladriG]

Originally Posted by anan355

Source: Bartaman, 11 th December, 2012
http://www.bartamanpatrika.com/content/rajya.htm

Translation: State Govt Plans Intensive Therapy Unit ( ITU) every 50 km in the state. In the first phase 30 such ITUs are being planned in the district hospitals. This will entail an expenditure of Rs. 150 crore. ITUs are going to be accompanied with HIgh Dependency Unit (HDU) everywhere.

If the govt. can actually setup and maintain such units, that will be the best thing they have ever done.

[niljee]

ITC to invest Rs 3,000 cr in Bengal over next 4 years
Hotels, hospitality, FMCG may be focus areas

Kolkata, Dec 11:
ITC is willing to invest nearly Rs 3,000 crore in Bengal over the next four years, the company’s Chairman Y. C. Deveshwar said here on Tuesday. He, however, did not specify the areas in which his company was willing to invest.

The ITC chairman had earlier in the day met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Speaking to reporters at Writers’ Buildings, Deveshwar said: “In the next four years we will invest Rs 3,000 crore in the State.”

According to company officials, ITC’s investments would be in sectors such as hotels and hospitality, consumer goods (including food), IT as well as expansion of its existing businesses in the State.
ITC-Infotech

To a specific question regarding the availability of land for ITC-Infotech, the fully-owned IT subsidiary of the group, Deveshwar said the matter was being looked into by the State Government.

Bangalore-based ITC Infotech has fully-owned subsidiaries in the UK and the US and an office in Kolkata. The company offers IT services and solutions across industry verticals such as banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail, manufacturing, travel, hospitality, transportation and logistics, and media and entertainment.

ITC had earlier applied to the West Bengal Government for land so that they could set up shop here. At a meeting with State Commerce, Industries and IT minister Partha Chatterjee in August last year , ITC Infotech had expressed willingness to shift its engineering design and technical divisions here subject to availability of land.

The State Government is said to have identified 15 acres in the satellite township of Rajarhat, on the eastern fringes of the city. “We are awaiting directions from the State Government in this regard,” an ITC official said.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...cle4188328.ece

[anan355]

German ambassador to India Michael Steiner on Monday indicated that if the state government wanted to attract investments , it had to open up to the world and be proactive in creating a favorable condition so that the investors could repose faith in local administration. Steiner, along with a German delegation, met chief minister Mamata Banerjee at Writers' Buildings on Monday and discussed opportunities for business in the state.

Coming out of the meeting, the German diplomat told media that his team had found the chief minister very energetic and impressive. "German companies are eager to invest in the state. West Bengal needs to open up to the outside world. I encouraged the chief minister to realize the realities of the global market," he said.

To drive home his point, Steiner gave an example of Siemens. "There are many fields where cooperation with West Bengal could be very fruitful. There are areas like food processing, vocational training, higher education and so many other areas," he said.

The ambassador also said that the German industry had proved its excellence in areas like urbanization, development of infrastructure and energy efficiency. "The distance between Berlin and Kolkata, which is about 7,000 kilometers, is not a factor now with improved communication. More important is the proximity in temperament. You have the quest for inclusive growth. I have talked to the chief minister about the German industry's willingness and she readily agreed," he said.

Steiner mentioned that if land was available and adequate infrastructure was in place, then investments can flow into any state. "If one is proactive and a favorable condition is being created, investments will come," he said.

According to the team, the German industry was keen to invest in various sectors in the state like food processing.
Only last week, a 20-member German delegation, led by German consul general Rainer Schmiedchen, held a meeting with state finance minister Amit Mitra at the state secretariat to discuss prospects for new investors. A mining exhibition was held last week where the German business delegation had participated.

Source

[anan355]

The state health department has decided to build a multifunctional superspeciality hospital (MFSSH) at Islampur in North Dinajpur district. State library minister and Trinamool Congress MLA of Islampur Abdul Karim Choudhury made the announcement. According to Islampur Subdivisional Hospital sources, the hospital buildings would be completed by the end of 2014 or early 2015.A team of senior officials recently visited the site of this proposed hospital.
Choudhury, said: “Our chief minister Mamata Banerjee has development dreams for Islampur and it has been proved by the sanctioning of the MDSSH at Islampur. Not only would it be for people in the same area, all people of the district would get proper treatment in the MFSSH.”
Samarjit Sengupta, subdivisional officer (SDO) of Islampur, said that in the upcoming year in the first period, the MFSSH buildings would be started. “We have already identified the land for the MFSSH in Islampur. Using funds from the Backward Region Grant Fund, the hospital building would be constructed,” he said.
According to sources, there is some land of the health department in Islampur and the MFSSH would be built here.
An official of the district health department said: “The final project cost has not been sanctioned yet. However, roughly we have an idea — Rs 6 crore to Rs 7 crore would be spent for the facility in Islampur. All modern treatment facilities would be accommodated in that hospital.”

Source

[Sumanb]

Multifunctional superspeciality hospital (MFSSH) in 6-7 crores - what entity will be that?

[Sumanb]

Originally Posted by anan355

I really cannot understand what is the policy of the state govt regarding roads? Do they have any policy at all?

If they have plans of no acquisition, then how is the acquisition for NH-34 happening or how is the Kalyani Expressway getting widened?

State Govt will not acquire any land be it private or public if they sense that this might create trouble. The party has come to power on that sentiment and will not try to spoil that.

[anan355]

Source: Pratidin, 12th December, 2012
http://sangbadpratidin.in/pratidin/kolkata.php