Kolkata International Financial Hub

[anirban_ban]

Originally Posted by Suncity

The land was acquired using a certain law which is controversial but legal. No wonder the Kolkata High court ruled that it was legal many years ago.

Nobody's residence was taken away as far as I know. And everybody who was legally entitled was offered compensation.

Yes there are issues about whether compensation was enough or not, whether the law was controversial or not, whether non owners also were entitled to compensation.

Politicians like Mamata ad Buddha will come and go. They will never pay any price. Bengal paid the price for the obstinacy drama of 400 acres.

I do not get it. I saw people getting beaten up in their homes.
What is the value of compensation, if tomorrow Govt sends Police to your home and beats you up for your farmland ? Industrialization is important and necessary, I do get that part. But was that the way ?

[Suncity]

Originally Posted by anirban_ban

I do not get it. I saw people getting beaten up in their homes.
What is the value of compensation, if tomorrow Govt sends Police to your home and beats you up for your farmland ? Industrialization is important and necessary, I do get that part. But was that the way ?

You saw people getting beaten up in their homes? The police just came and beat them up? or the hooligans of CPM? What was the context? Where they blocking highways? Throwing stones at police? Or just having chit chat in house and the police came in and beat them up?

I agree that the government should never use force where it is not needed. Peaceful protests that do not harm others is acceptable in a democracy. Also using guns to do crowd control is unacceptable unless of course it is some armed terror group (naxalites or external).

However the govt should have surely used force against all the politicians who blocked a national highway for days. That was a big mistake on part of the adminstration for not taking tough action. But then their hands were tied. Politicians know that they cannot be touched and that is why they incite violence, indulge in cheap drama.

[AmitavaGhosh]

Originally Posted by Suncity

You saw people getting beaten up in their homes? The police just came and beat them up? or the hooligans of CPM? What was the context? Where they blocking highways? Throwing stones at police? Or just having chit chat in house and the police came in and beat them up?

I agree that the government should never use force where it is not needed. Peaceful protests that do not harm others is acceptable in a democracy. Also using guns to do crowd control is unacceptable unless of course it is some armed terror group (naxalites or external).

However the govt should have surely used force against all the politicians who blocked a national highway for days. That was a big mistake on part of the adminstration for not taking tough action. But then their hands were tied. Politicians know that they cannot be touched and that is why they incite violence, indulge in cheap drama.

Land acquisition in the present form is absolutely unacceptable to me.Ditto, abhishek and others I don't regret the cause of the protest.Though as you say it's legal but my conscience doesn't support it,it's too heartless.You just can't evict people from their homes(mind you, it's not like slums where people have just occupied illegally;it's their ancestral property and they have been living here for ages) and rob them of their livelihood for some industry in exchange for some cash.

Problem with Buddha and his ilk is that they are too much intellectual to understand the basic needs of poor people.Sure we need land for industries and everybody wants industries, even the farmers.They why this kolaveri di?

My understanding and suggestions:
a)Money, though tangible, is essentially a very intangible asset.It cannot guarantee a future unless used efficiently.Let me start by asking you a simple question:how many of us are willing to leave their jobs for a decent sum of money?I guess, few of us, maybe more.But if I ask you to relinquish all your degrees for a sum of money, how many of us are willing to do that? I doubt if any.So robbing a farmer of his land is like taking away our degrees and making us incompetent for the rest of the life.A farmer knows no other means of livelihood except farming.
b)Money is a risky and depreciating asset,a sum of money which is sufficient today might not be 5 years hence.Land on the other-hand is a secure and appreciating asset. Everybody understands that.
So money, unless huge and impractical, cannot win you easy access to land for industry of any other purpose.So we have to think about alternatives.
Suggestions:
a) A poor farmer is essentially an insecure person.Land is the only means of his sustenance, that's the main fear of letting go his land.Also since land is fragmented so at best they can get is a few thousands and maybe a few lucky ones get a few lakhs. So why not address his basic insecurities of life first.Make a rule that whenever land is acquired each person and his family will get a health insurance and life insurance, premium of which will be borne by the govt.The cost of education of his children till graduation will be borne by the govt.
b)Each person will be given free vocational training on another means of livelihood.If possible, will be absorbed in some industry as well.
c)On top of it, he will get a monthly royalty based on the quantum of land he holds,revised every 5 years, rather than one time payment.

This has a 2 way advantage. The initial cost of acquiring the land would be low, also they can make a pack with the company that they will bear these insurance costs in the future in exemption for some taxes.

I think this will be a far more effective policy of acquiring land than what is being practiced today.

[AmitavaGhosh]

Originally Posted by AbhishekDatta

I understand if we criticize when Infosys actually decides to leave or Jindal decides to walk away..those are major happenings and should be criticized if and when it happens...but nowadays it has become a fashion to propagate expert comments to each and every things... eta hochchena,ota erokom hole bhalo hoto,dhush rongta thik manachche na,amar abar maroon pochondo,issh akhono start holo na(tarpor haturi mara chobi) .... sick of it!!!

Totally agree with you here Abhishek.Moreover,I think the impact here is much more severe than mere criticism and its repercussions.Most of the urban people here are functional voters, their current affairs interest lie in just skimming through the headlines in the morning.They take the news at face value; so it's very easy for the media to mobilize a bias among the urban young people. The case with rural voters is just the opposite, who don't read the news and judge performance solely based on actual results.They will judge on whether they got their subsidized grains or not, whether a road was built or not, whether law and order situation improved or not.
But the urban voters' bias can be mobilised by bombarding them with sensationalism like some professor got arrested, somebody threw a mug, painting a bridge in blue is her eccentricity, gifting hillary clinton vivekananda's work is a sign of banality etc etc ...nonsense.
The english media thinks it's too smart but overestimates it reach.But the point is, more the urban voters get disillusioned by the govt, more the policies will shift away from them and focus on rural areas.So by unnecessary criticism we are here more to lose than the govt, who will then bank on entirely rural votebank and give a damm about urban voters.
This is entirely the story of CPIM, while we were growing up we always heard that kolkata is against CPM but everytime they got elected to power through rural votebanks and our city kept on decaying further.

[Suncity]

Originally Posted by AmitavaGhosh

Land acquisition in the present form is absolutely unacceptable to me.Ditto, abhishek and others I don't regret the cause of the protest.Though as you say it's legal but my conscience doesn't support it,it's too heartless.You just can't evict people from their homes(mind you, it's not like slums where people have just occupied illegally;it's their ancestral property and they have been living here for ages) and rob them of their livelihood for some industry in exchange for some cash.

Did anyone in Singur lose their house?

The problem is there were a lot more landless claimants in Singur than estimated. They worked off that land so provision for all of them should have been made. But these could be resolved through discussions. Instead it was an ego issue of return of 400 acres of land. BTW why not 275 acres or 160.5 acres? Why 400 acres?

Your suggestions are good. Someone has to explore the practical side of it.

We have already had lots of dream discussions of how we can pack off industries to places where there is no infrastructure and where nobody wants to live. It sounds nice in theory but it will not happen. The investors will go to Vietnam instead. Of course we can collectively show the finger to the investors and say who cares. We are happy farming.

And when it comes to industries this is our policy - We want industries. But you cannot build them near the coast. You cannot build polluting industries. You cannot build on or near forest areas. You cannot build them in agricultural land. You cannot build them on or near mountains. You cannot build them near rivers. You cannot build them near highways. You cannot build them near populated places. With such a policy who would want to come to WB unless the govt puts out the red carpet with freebies and land?

[amibangali]

"Didi did what an aspiring politician should be doing.capitalizing on the grievances of the people"

Don't agree at all.Going by the same logic,I think you are supporting the kashmir movement, northeast separist movement even Gorkhaland movement in West Bengal. In all the cases if you hear their logic,I am pretty sure they will show you some good reason for their movement be it underdevelopments,religion, discriminations based on races;cultural difference. Tomorow if any leader stand by them and support their separation, would you just take it he is just trying to capitalize on the grevience of the people.What wrong did Raj Thakery did when he started movement against North Indian . Everybody know that in mumbai the Marathis are not very happy due to huge increase in number of people from Other state. Raj tries to capitalize on that and initially gained Vote . But do you support that? This type of movements is called Opportunism and not a sign of great leader. Opportunism politics is played based on people's grievances only to gain the "Kursi".I feel the sign of great leader is to hear both sides,see the bigger picture,go by constitution,check what is good for larger scale of people and even for betterment of people in future.

[AbhishekDatta]

Let's end this arguments and counter arguments here!!! This will again establish argumentative nature of we bengalees...

Let's move forward and wish for a better future...Gujrat had gone through this phase some years ago...and they could overcome that... negativity in Bengal is nothing compared to it... so let's do whatever small we can to propagate good vibes..

[ANILRAJ]

Very Great....

It is nice to see Kolkata's great development....

East is Best because of Kolkata....

[AbhishekDatta]

X posted:

Originally Posted by abhijitx

[anan355]

Originally Posted by AbhishekDatta

X posted:

Any idea which newspaper did this advertisement come up in? If this is only in Times Of India Kolkata edition, then giving this ad is a complete waste of money. I did not notice this advertisement in TOI Bangalore or Economic Times Bangalore.

[NiladriG]

Originally Posted by anan355

Any idea which newspaper did this advertisement come up in? If this is only in Times Of India Kolkata edition, then giving this ad is a complete waste of money. I did not notice this advertisement in TOI Bangalore or Economic Times Bangalore.

Last time they gave advt. for the hub, only one organization responded in 4 months.

[AbhishekDatta]

Originally Posted by anan355

Any idea which newspaper did this advertisement come up in? If this is only in Times Of India Kolkata edition, then giving this ad is a complete waste of money. I did not notice this advertisement in TOI Bangalore or Economic Times Bangalore.

as per the link its in TOI but not sure of which edition!!

[Suncity]

are they going to build that tower?

looks nice.

Maybe the govt should build some towers with real estate developers, improve the infrastructure and landscaping and financial institutions will then lease?

Looks like the entire country is going through a crisis of confidence in the UPA II's non performance in economic matters. That definitely affects this project as well.


In addition the drama associated with Didi government is not helping. She has been branded as anti industry and anti business. And somehow she is unable to convince the investors that she is none of those because of her obstinacy. Obstinacy about economic policies is not good for growth. The Left Front never learnt a lesson. And Didi is not ready to change her ways.

Also there are new financial zones coming up in Ahmedabad, Bangalore and other places. So there is competion.

[studdmanster]

Originally Posted by Suncity

are they going to build that tower?

looks nice.

Maybe the govt should build some towers with real estate developers, improve the infrastructure and landscaping and financial institutions will then lease?

Looks like the entire country is going through a crisis of confidence in the UPA II's non performance in economic matters. That definitely affects this project as well.


In addition the drama associated with Didi government is not helping. She has been branded as anti industry and anti business. And somehow she is unable to convince the investors that she is none of those because of her obstinacy. Obstinacy about economic policies is not good for growth. The Left Front never learnt a lesson. And Didi is not ready to change her ways.

Also there are new financial zones coming up in Ahmedabad, Bangalore and other places. So there is competion.

Comparing KIFH with GIFT or IFCI would be an act of foolishness. The Govt should get some "world class" architects and make some sexy renders, also reserve 2-3 plots for hotels, make a helipad/heliport, and upsell all these through international media and internet.
Also give hoardings at all the International Airports in India and few imp overseas locations.
tateo jodi na hoye, then present a 2-5mins video on KIFH and publish it on electronic media.
Sudhu party party na kore, they should concentrate on all these.

[Suncity]

Bid to hardsell Rajarhat financial hub

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/15609429.cms

The department has sought the Union urban development ministry's help to showcase the financial hub at a bankers' meet in New Delhi on Thursday, where state officials will interact with representatives of major banking and financial institutions and convince them to invest in the hub. The Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (Hidco) authorities are also going to invite fresh applications after altering a few terms and conditions. to attract investment.

The state government wants large financial and banking institutions to come forward and invest in the financial hub in Rajarhat which has, so far, received lukewarm response from such institutions. The state will make a presentation to showcase the financial hub to convince investors to come forward.

In the fresh applications Hidco is inviting, officials said, the basic condition requiring a financial institution to have an annual turnover of Rs 500 crore will remain the same, but now one will be able to get a plot at a fixed price. Offers will be given to public sector institutions. Some of the plots will be auctioned, but one can also get a plot at a fixed price. This was discussed at the latest board meeting of Hidco. The deadline to submit applications will be October 31 this year.

[niljee]

Originally Posted by Suncity

Bid to hardsell Rajarhat financial hub

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/15609429.cms

I dont understand these guys at all. They are fine going begging for investments in other states, but when somebody comes with an investment proposal they will play all uptight and will create hazar nautankis.

[NiladriG]

Originally Posted by niljee

I dont understand these guys at all. They are fine going begging for investments in other states, but when somebody comes with an investment proposal they will play all uptight and will create hazar nautankis.

Bcoz that has become the practice over many years. Play the poverty card, keep the state poor and obstruct potential investors. Keep talking about industries but don't encourage them.

[studdmanster]

Financial Hub Re-launched

The meeting for International Financial Hub at New Town, Kolkata was held a while ago at Vigyan Bhavan Hall 2. Saugata Roy, Union MoS (UD), Firhad Hakim MIC (UD & MA) GoWB, Sudhir Krishna Secretary UD GoI, A Singhvi Joint Secretary, Bhaskar Khulbe Pr RC WB, Asutosh Joshi Director UD GoI, ILFS, SBI, Allahabad Bank, RBI, UBI, UCO, National Insurance, SREI, IPE, SIDBI, DHFL and many others attended.
Secy Krishna gave the welcome speech. He said hat planned urbanisation needs support.
Union MoS (UD) inaugurated the seminar and gave the inaugural speech. He explained that the joint meeting was a part of Govt of India's policy of supporting satellite townships to decongest mega cities.
I gave a powerpoint presentation and a video clip of New Town. It seemed to have been received well. I requested minister Hakim that we may hold more road shows - in Mumbai and other places. I poited out that the Centre of Gravity of the World's Finances were moving towards the East (China-India) and Kolkata was emerging as one of the top three financial destinations of India as per McKenzie Report (June 2012). My proposition was : Cluster Banking + Look East Policy = Financial Hub in New Kolkata.

[saurav_68]

TMC-The Nautanki Party....
M.B-leave "nautanki" and "Rabindrik Nakamo" and do some developmental work.

[soumalya747]

Good job by Govt. Today I saw this advertisement at TOI, Mumbai edition.






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