West Bengal Govt to come up with fisheries policy

West Bengal Govt to come up with fisheries policy

Posted on August 29, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

To attract investors in the fisheriessector, the West Bengal government will offer incentives which it normallyprovides to other industries. The state government will come up with new policiesto attract investment in the fisheries sector in mid-October. State's minister-in-charge for Fisheries, MrChandranath Sinha said this at a conference 'Investment Opportunities inFisheries Sector of West Bengal' organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce.

West Bengal had no policy for the fisheriessector. The state government is working on a new policy for the sector. Therewould be a particular chapter on the incentives, subsidies, and grants in termsof what the government of West Bengal would provide the entrepreneurs investingin this sector. It could be capital subsidy, stamp duty and electricity andwhat the Government generally offers to small industries.

In its bid to welcome investments in itsfisheries sector the state government would also lease water-bodies long-termor on a PPP mode or it could also be a joint venture. Any private company,entrepreneur can also go for water management (aquaculture) on lease basisplus. We also have number of water bodies and land which we can offer once thepolicy is approved by the government. This can be on a long term lease, or itcan be a joint-venture or a PPP mode. Since there are number of support forentrepreneurs' societies.

Bengal has a large number of touristlodges, beautiful, lands and the Government will invite private companies tocome forward and promote tourism as the state has a huge potential in fishtourism.

Breaking News: The Mamata Banerjee interview

Posted on August 29, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

Q. Whatwould you list as the three major achievements of the Government?

Didi: We have had to build everything fromscratch. To rebuild Bengal and bring back the golden days, we have had to workvery hard. For good governance, we need short term, mid-term and long term planningto run a State. The Left had none. Bengal is facing financial crisis because ofthe Left. They did not follow fiscal discipline. We have implemented the FRBMsystem. A major share of our revenue has been spent on paying debt instalments,the Centre has not paid us almost Rs 1 lakh crore. If we had the money, wecould have done more developmental work for the people.

You know that the Centre takes revenues andtaxes from States. If they did not do so, we would have had more money in the treasury to work for the people. We kept increasing our revenue from 2011. Ourrevenue is now Rs 39,600 crore. But each year, even the instalment of debtrepayment has increased.

DVC has invested for a 500 MW power plant inRaghunathpur. SAIL is setting up world’s second largest industry at Durgapur. Theyhave invested Rs 20,000 crore. NTPC has set up thermal power plants at Katwa. Wegave them land

When I was Railway Minister, I announced industriesfor Haldia which has been implemented. A total of 13 railway projects have beencompleted.

We have land at Panagarh industrial park,Vidyasagar industrial park, Goaltore industry hub – investments are pouring in.United Nations wants to set up a skill development centre in Kolkata. Korea isinterested in investing in Bengal.

The growth in bank credit flow in MSMEsector has been 105% in Bengal. In States like Gujarat it is only 35%. OurManifesto said we will set up 17 clusters. We have already set up over 100clusters. Bengal is No. 1 in 100 DaysWork Scheme.

Kanyashree is now a global model. Under the scheme, we have registered 16 lakh girls andtransferred funds to their accounts.

We are No. 1 in skill development. We havecheap labour. The youth in Bengal are talented.

Q.Big manufacturing industry is not interested in Bengal because of nonavailability of land…

Didi: This is false propaganda. We have allotted1,000 acres of land at Goaltore only a few days ago. We have created land bankand land map. We are against forceful acquisition of land. Private players canacquire land directly through negotiation. Even in Singapore, we havehighlighted that we are ready to allot land from land bank.

We are developing ITI is every block of theState. We are setting up Kisan Mandis. About 1 crore people in Bengal areunemployed. To generate employment, we have to formulate some policies. That iswhy we are focusing on skill development.

Earlier, there were hardly any ITIs inBengal. Now, every block will have one. We are asking private players to adoptITIs. Companies like Raymond’s are coming to Bengal to provide training andplacement for the youth. Samsung has signed a MoU with us to provide skilldevelopment for the youth.

Q. Butthe Govt is taking loans…

Didi: No. This is absolutely incorrect. We havesigned FRBM. We have limitations. The Left took loans for even small scalesavings schemes. Revenue growth is highest in our country. We have a laxman rekha which we cannot cross. FRBMis that line. We can take loans.

GDP is the best index of economic growth ofa country. I am citing facts, not peddling lies. Anyone can crosscheck. India’sGDP growth is 4.9%. Despite our financial burden, Bengal’s GSDP growth is7.71%. We have achieved this goal. Agriculture growth for India is 4.6% whilethat of Bengal is 5.28%. In industrial production, growth rate of India is0.7% while that of Bengal is 9.58%. Service sector growth for India is 5.9%while for Bengal it is 7.8%. Those who are criticising us, should feel proud forthe progress made by the State.

Those who want to pursue maliciouspropaganda, will keep doing so. Let them do that. We will only work for thedevelopment of Bengal.

Q.Firebrand Opposition leader or Administrative Head – which role are youenjoying the most?

Didi: I enjoy both the roles. For me ideals arethe most important. Our first priority is Maa, Mati, Manush. Trinamool Congressis for the people, of the people, by the people. We left the UPA when I was the Chief Minister.This chair I sit on is the chair of the people.

Those who should feel proud that the Stateis being branded globally, are criticising us. This is sad. What is the Centredoing? They are bringing FDI in Railways.

Q. ButMr Jaitley is saying you oppose FDI but went to Singapore for investment

Didi: Jaitley ji is showing us FDI, we areshowing him PPP. There should be a way out when you have to work for thepeople. We are against forceful acquisition, but we have the alternative of landbank. When I was Railway Minister, I followed austerity measures and saved Rs2,000 crore. But the BJP is selling offeverything. Why do they need FDI? We might partner with foreign companies fortechnology. But we cannot sell off the country. Hiking fares is not thesolution.

We stand by the common people. If we allow anti-peoplepolicies, what will the man on the street eat? How will daily labourerssurvive? There was an economic crisis in America and Europe. People were incrisis. If such an economic crisis happens again, who will save the people ofIndia?

Q.Do you have the same connect with the grassroots as the CM, like you did whenyou were in Opposition?

Didi: Of course. If I had no connection tograssroots, how could we have become No. 1 in 100 Days work? How could I haveimplemented Kanyashree?

We have conducted 73 block leveladministrative meetings in the last 3 years. This is unprecedented in theworld. I have visited Jangalmahal many times. I listen to the people. Let metell you an incident. I was in Singapore, but as soon as I got the news that abarrage at Kaljani river broke, flooding many villages, I immediately orderedmy team to take necessary action.

I am still a rebel. I do not run away. Iwas on hunger strike for 26 days… I do not believe in showing off power. I amstill Didi… some people may call meMadam, but that is just protocol… I still call Pranabda Dada, with hispermission.

Q. Yousay your Government is that of Maa, Mati,Manush. But the number of crimes against Maa(women) is on the rise.

Didi: I am against any rape or any act ofviolence. But if such things happen, we have to take measures to bring aboutsocial change. I want to ask those who are talking about rapes – do they reallywant a solution to rapes? No.

We have started 26 women’s police stations.We have set up 40 women’s courts. We have re-launched 88 fast-track courts.Some media houses report about a case that was solved in 3 months. They neverreport about cases in Balurghat or Malda that were solved in one a a half month.

And, so many politicians of differentparties have made so many inciting speeches. Why did nobody protest then?

In Bengal, the number of rapes has come down by12%. These statistics are determined by the population. We do not want rapes to bepoliticised. So many cases of riots are happening in other States. We aregiving shelter to refugees.

Q. Whatdo you have to say about the rise of communalism in Bengal?

Didi: BJP is trying to incite violence in Bengal.We will not allow it. We will not allow communal riots in Bengal. People of allfaiths live in Bengal. We cannot allow this fabric of unity to be broken. Inthe 1800s and 1990s, renaissance in India began from Bengal. Bengal has alwaysled the way. Even fair price medicine shops of Bengal are a national model now.

Before daydreaming about forming governmentin Bengal, they have to win some seats. Forget 294, let them first win 5 seats!Why did we win 34 seats? Because we are always with the people. We work for thepeople.

We believe in unity. Nana bhasha, nana mot, nana poridhan. Bibidher majhe dekho Milan mohan.We always believe in the motto of brotherhood.

Q.So you are worried about the rise of the BJP?

Didi: Not at all. Why should I be worried abouttheir rise? These days, some leaders who are no longer wanted in Left, arejoining the BJP. They have only one policy – divide and rule. They want toincite violence and win votes. We will not allow that. The great land of Bengalbelieves in the spirit of equality and unity.

Q. Agrand alliance was formed in Bihar to counter Modi. Is there a possibility ofsuch an alliance in Bengal?

Didi: No one is politically untouchable. Ifthe opportunity comes, we will consider it. The alliance must be pro-developmentand pro-people. The proposal must come to us. We will take up the proposal inour party meeting. I am a worker of Trinamool Congress. People are my assets.

I congratulate Lalu Prasad Yadav, Nitishjiand Congress for their alliance. If they formed an alliance before the LokSabha polls, they would have won more seats.

Q. Some people say you are the best student ofthe Leftists…

Didi: I am always receptive to ideas. If there isa good policy, I will surely imbibe it. I have always said I am not against Leftistideology. I am against opportunist Leftists. So many of my party colleagues areLeftists. There is nothing wrong in that.

Q. Whatdo you have to say about the criticism of the Opposition?

Didi: Criticism is always welcome. But it shouldbe constructive. Our Opposition does not do that. They only peddle lies, engagein malicious propaganda. What did the Left do for 34 years? They have committedso many crimes. If you dig further, skeletons will tumble out of their closets.

In 1992, Kolkata was burning after the BabriMasjid demolition. I was out on the streets helping victims. I even rushed toWriters’ Buildings to offer help to the government. But we do not instigateriots or violence.

Q.What about the grassroots workers who are engaging in anti-social activities?

Didi: Those who are involved with dalali and anti-social activities do nothave the backing of the party. If people misuse our party’s name, we takeaction.

Our motto is that there should not be anyagitation by locking out industries. Our state in the earlier regime sufferedfrom unnecessary industrial strikes resulting in massive loss of productiveman-days. Not any more. I am happy to share with you that we have brought astoppage to bandh! We have had zero man days lost in the last fiscal.

Earlier, when I was the Railway Minister, ifthere was even one cockroach found on trains, it made headlines. Now whensomeone else is in power, even the deaths of hundreds do not make it to news.Those who engage in malicious propaganda during elections – people will givethem a fitting reply.

Q. TheSaradha scam has unravelled the Bengal political scenario…

Didi: The Saradha scam is CPM’s aamdani and BJP’s jamdani. When did the Saradha scam happen? When Left was in power.So many other chit fund scams happened during the Left Front rule – like Sanchayitaand Sanchita.

If some media house wants my time for aninterview, will I say no? Who clears new media houses? It is the Union Ministryof Information and Broadcasting. From Saradhakando to Lanka kando, it is theCPM which is responsible. They cannot counter us politically, so they arespreading lies.

We had our own MP arrested – we had theowner of Saradha arrested from Kashmir. We formed a Commission to return themoney to the people. True perpetrators must be arrested. But real culprits must notbe let off by the CBI. The SEBI, RBI must look into other chit funds.

After coming to power, we passed ananti-chit fund law. The Centre kept sitting on it. They suggested changes, wemade the amendments. Why have they still not cleared it?

We are fully cooperating with the CBI. We haveprovided all infrastructure. We want the real culprits of Saradha scam and otherchit funds to be arrested.

I appeal to people not to invest in chitfunds.

Q.Intellectuals are changing camps nowadays. Everyone seems to be in your camp.What do you have to say?

Didi: I do not think intellectuals have any camps.I believe in building relationships. Dwijenda, Sandhyadi… they were inoblivion. I only wanted them to come back to public domain again. From films totelevision, I want Bengal to prosper. We have developed Technicians’ Studio. Wehave started developing jatra. FromBollywood to Hollywood, everyone is coming to Bengal now. We have instituted somany awards – Banga Bibhushan, KhelRatna, Sangeet Samman, Jatra Awards – we are honouring the best in Bengal.When Subodh Sarkar was a Leftist, he was honoured. Now that he is supportingus, he has become a laughing stock for the Left? Why?

Q: TheOpposition says that your government is more busy organising utsav than working for development. Whatwould you say?

Didi: So we should stop utsavs? Why should we stop programmes if the Opposition does notlike it? Just because they do not like it, the clubs will not play sport? Therewill be no Sangeet Sammelan, Jatra Utsav?Will we not organise Science Fair, Krishi Mela?

People are the pillars of democracy. Howcan we leave them behind? We have to work with the people and for the people.

Q:You prefer the company of celebs… even Trinamool had star candidates for LokSabha polls?

Didi: If three people out of 42 are celebrities,why is there a problem? We have doctorate MPs, we have doctors. We have giventickets to SC/STs. 33% of our MPs are women. We have young people. There arejournalists. People have voted for them. Sandhya Roy is an MP now. I am a smallperson. How can people vote for my name? Everyone who won elections did so ontheir own merit.

Q.Last but not the least… what is your vision for Bengal?

Didi: My vision for Bengal is: Bangla abar jogotsobhay srestho ason lobe.We will make Bengal the best State in the world. Bengal’s lost glory will berestored. Bangla Ma will smile again.

Students are the future of the country: Trinamool Chairperson

Posted on August 28, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP),the students' wing of the party, organized a historic students' rally earlier today. Trinamool Chairperson Ms Mamata Banerjee address therally, which was held near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Dharmatala. The rally was held to commemorate the foundation day of TMCP.

The historic rally saw the participationof students from all parts of West Bengal. Students fromeach block of the state were present at the rally. Senior party leaders were also present and spoke on the occasion to give guidelines for the future to the student-wing of the party.

Excerpts from the Chairperson's speech:

I welcome you all. My best wishes to all myyouths and students. I was listening to the speeches of the young leaderstoday. They made me nostalgic. I kept remembering the days when I was intostudent politics in college. There was a time when women leaders could not makespeeches at rallies. I was always asked to lead them.

Earlier if Opposition conducted rallies inBengal, we were beaten up by the Left Front. I remember, on one occasion themicrophone was snatched from my hands. We have all began our political careerwith student politics.

You are the future of the Nation. You arethe future of administration. You are the future of the world. Student communitiesare filled with ideals, energy and enthusiasm. Earlier participating inanti-Left politics would be rewarded with false FIR by Govt. This has come downmanifold.

Some people are trying to incite riots inBengal. Some people are trying to instigate violence. Some people are trying todrive a wedge between Hindus and Muslims. I respect the dignity of labour. Iadmire people who work hard, with honesty and integrity. People are our pride.Students and youths are our assets. I do not believe in arrogance.

Some people will keep doing maliciouspropaganda against us. We will keep doing our work for the people. We muststick to our ideals. We must have confidence in ourselves and keep our headshigh. Students and youths are our strengths. We need your support to become theNo. 1 in India.

Nothing changed after the change ofGovernment at Centre. The Centre is taking away our revenues for debt instalmentrepayment. If the Centre did not takeour revenues away, we could have generated jobs for lakhs of people.

There were only 38 colleges in Bengal till2011. We have set up 31 colleges in last 3 years. During Left Front rule, only1 university was formed. We set up 8 new universities in 3 years. We havestarted the Kanyashree scheme forgirls. It has been recognized globally. We have also started Sikkhashree scheme for SC/ST students.We have started Yuvashree scheme forunemployed youth. One lakh people are registered in employment bank.

We have decided to give skill developmenttraining to 10 lakh youths in the next 3 years. Companies like Samsung andRaymonds will train and employ our students. A Skill Development Center of theUN is being set up in the State.

Bengal emerged No. 1 among States innational skill development competition. Bengal is No. 1 in MSME sector. We haveshown 106% growth. Our Government goes to the districts for conductingadministrative meetings. We have held 72 such meetings. I do not think anyother government anywhere functions like this.

The Centre is now taking about opening bankaccounts; we have taken the initiative to set up banks in rural areas. We havegiven Kisan Credit Cards to almost all the farmers.

The Centre talks about Women's reservation.Women already have 50% reservation in Panchayats and Municipal bodies inBengal. 33% of Trinamool MPs are women. Our actions speak louder than ourwords.

Some people think they can win over Indiawith money power. BJP got only 29% votes. It was not a mandate. My advice toBJP is to shed its arrogance. Their balloon is already punctured. They shoulddesist from trying to divide Hindus and Muslims. We will not tolerate anyviolence in Bengal. CPI(M) harmad army has now joined the BJP Bhairav vahini and is doing goondaism inBengal.

The Left incurred debts. And now we arepaying for their sins. Even though we have increased our revenues, the Centreis taking away major share of the revenue. Despite financial crunch, we areworking for development. We are setting up ITIs, polytechnic colleges. We aredelivering on the promises we made.

The delegation of industrialists, who wentwith us to Singapore, went on their own expense. Some media houses tried tospread false, malicious lies about Singapore visit. Those who interacted withus in Singapore expressed their surprise at the extent of malicious liespeddled against Bengal.

After chit fund scam, we arrested theculprit from Kashmir. We created a fund and a commission to return the money tothe people. Trinamool Congress does not run on chit fund money. We havepeople's blessings with us. We do not need money and multi-crore advertising towin elections. We speak the language of the people. We need electoral reformsin India. We must make elections state-funded.

It is my earnest dream and belief thatTrinamool Congress will emerge as the ideal political alternative for India. Wewill not live forever. The youth has to take over from us. We have to create anew generation of leaders. You must use social media to connect to the people.

Trinamool Congress is of the people, forthe people and by the people. We will celebrate TMCP Foundation Day as Chhatra Divas. I am proud to say I beganmy career with student politics.

Hope the upcoming festive season will bringpeace and happiness for all. My greetings to you all.

WB Govt to organise roadshow in Mumbai to attract investors

Posted on August 28, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

West Bengal Urban Development Minister MrFirhad Hakim will take part in a two-day business conference in Mumbai onSeptember 1 and 2. The Minister will promote the Financial Hub atRajarhat-Newtown and woo investors to invest in Bengal.

Incidentally, a number of organizationshave already applied for space in the new financial hub at Rajarhat. Mr Hakim, during his trip to Mumbai, willpromote Bengal as an investment destination, specially after the successfulbusiness trip of WB CM to Singapore. He will also take a tour of the Mumbai-PuneHighway and a model smart city.

In 2012, the West Bengal organized aroadshow in Mumbai. The State Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim, alongwith senior officials of the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation, waspresent at the meeting. Representatives of reputed institutions like EdelweissTokyo, IndusInd Bank, Yes Bank, Citibank, L&T Infra, DBS, IDBI Mutual, DenaBank, SBI Capital, ICICI, Kotak Mahindra, Future Capital and others werepresent there.

Senior party leaders to supervise Assembly bypolls

Posted on August 27, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

Trinamool Congress Chairperson Ms MamataBanerjee engaged some of her senior leaders of the party to supervisepoll-related work in Basirhat South and Chowringhee Assembly seats, that aregoing for by-elections on September 13.

Party leader from Howrah, Mr Arup Roy andRajib Banerjee and Mr Soumen Mahapatra have been engaged for overseeingBasirhat South seat. Trinamool District President of the North 24 Parganas,Jyotipriya Mullick will oversee the whole process.

Kolkata based party Secretary General MrPartha Chatterjee, State General Secretary Mr Firad Hakim, Mr Aroop Biswas havebeen given the responsibility of monitoring the Chowringhee seat along with DrSashi Panha and senior MP and Leader of the Party in Lok Sabha, Mr SudipBandopadhyay. Ms Mamata Banerjee asked the leaders to closely monitor the twoseats.

The Chowringhee Assembly seat fell vacantafter the sitting MLA resigned immediately after the Lok Sabha polls in Maywhile the Basirhat South seat fell vacant after sitting MLA died about twomonths before the Lok Sabha polls.

Meeting of WB CM with industrialists was positive: Amit Mitra

Posted on August 27, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms MamataBanerjee chaired a meeting at Nabanna with the top industrialists earliertoday. The delegation of industrialists had accompanied the Chief Minister onher visit to Singapore.

This is probably the first instance when the ChiefMinister met the delegation of industrialists at the state Secretariat,Nabanna. About 45 industrialists from various sectors were present in themeeting today.

Highlightsof the meeting

The Minister of Finance, IT, Industries andCommerce, Dr Amit Mitra addressed the press after the 2-hour long meeting. Hesaid that the meeting was extremely positive and a roadmap for future was inthe making.

“The talks with industrialists willcontinue. Structures will be developed. In the next meeting ideas will beexchanged. Representatives of several sectors were present today. A roadmap isbeing developed. We have to crystallize the ideas,” he said.

Thanking the Captains of the Industryresponded to the Chief Minister's invitation and spending two hours today forthe meeting, the Industry Minister said, “The process of industrialization haspicked up pace after Singapore trip. A lot of suggestions and proposals havecome from different sectors. We will crystalize those ideas and share onSeptember 5.”

The delegation of industrialists has toldus they are getting good feedback from Singapore. A dialogue has begun, hesaid.

Successstory at Singapore

The West Bengal Government is keeping nostone unturned to follow up the process of industrialization in the state,which also received a positive response in the Singapore Business Meet.

Singapore's Government InvestmentCorporation (GIC) will invest for a planned town in Kolkata through privateequity HDFC Property Fund, while InfraCo Asia will help develop a food park.The GIC will build a 262-acre township called 'Calcutta Riverside', which willincorporate a medical college and a corporate hospital, a school, a cricket andfootball academy, a film city, other social infrastructure, along withresidential facilities.

The sovereign wealth fund will alsoparticipate in the development of a 7.4 km elevated road (in association withL&T) that will provide vital connectivity to the south/south west ofKolkata. When complete, Calcutta Riverside will represent an investment ofapproximately USD 1 billion in West Bengal, said a statement issued by thestate government.

The InfraCo Asia of Singapore, in association with Kolkata-based KeventerAgro Ltd, will build a food park at Dankuni worth nearly Rs 1,000 crore. AxsysCompass Energy Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based engineering design, in associationwith Compass Energy Pvt Ltd, will work on ship building and oil and gas explorationsectors in Bengal

Singapore-based Williams Sonoma Inc andObeetee Inc have been vested with the responsibility to identify and promotetextiles and crafts in Bengal with a revenue goal of $10 million per year. Theinitiative involves manufacturing of home furnishings products in Bengal andinternationally retailing them through Williams Sonoma stores. The stategovernment will provide necessary assistance in identifying the relevantcentres of excellence in manufacturing.

WB Govt showcases artworks of vagrants

Posted on August 27, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

Women and Child Development and SocialWelfare department has organised a 'Bhabaghure Mela', a two days fair. The fairwill showcase products and works of the vagrants. “Vocational training provided at variousshelter homes will help them in future,” said Dr Shashi Panja, Minister ofWomen and Child Development and social welfare, at the inaugural session of thefair at Shishir Mancha.

These schemes impart vocational training tothe inmates of these homes, which includes book binding, press related works,pottery, weaving and carpentry.

The minister added that to eradicate childlabour, the implementation of the relevant laws should be done moreeffectively.

The two-day fair, 'Bhabaghure OPathashishu' is being held at Gangadera Shilpa Pradarshanshala, Kolkata. Theevent is organized by the Controller of Vagrancy, West Bengal. The fair willsell the products made by the inmates of the shelter homes.

At present about a thousand such personsare staying as inmates in ten shelter homes run by the department, which alsoensures food, clothes and medical facilities to these individuals. It is also ensured that these inmates can berehabilitated in the society through a number of schemes under BeggaryPrevention, so that they do not resort to begging in future.

These schemes are intended to preventjuvenile beggary. The department also runs 6 units in different parts ofKolkata, where children in the age group of 8 to 16 years are impartednon-formal education along with vocational training.

WB Govt clears land for 14 new projects

Posted on August 27, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

West Bengal's Standing Committee onIndustry Tuesday cleared land and space for 14 projects in four specifiedindustrial parks in the state ensuring an investment of Rs 100 crore.

Announcing this after a meeting of theStanding Committee on Industry, state Finance and Industry Minister Dr AmitMitra said that in all the state government has allotted five acres of land andnearly 56,000 square feet space for these projects.

Five-acre land has been cleared for amanufacturing unit to be set up at Vidyasagar Industrial Park, Kharagpur.

Spaces have been provided to nine unitsunder James and Jewellery Park at Ankurhati, to three units under Shilpangan atSalt Lake and one unit under Paridhan Garment Park at Beliaghata, the Ministersaid.

In another move, West Bengal Government hasalso helped finance 50 food processing projects jointly with the Union Ministryof Food Processing Industry in the past one year. This year thebusiness-to-business exhibition in Kolkata drew 90 companies and brands fromIndia and abroad. The exhibition has three main segments – food processing,bakery-confectionery and Hospitality.

The combined market growth in thehospitality, food processing and confectionery & bakery sector in WestBengal has been around 20 per cent per annum, which is one of the highest inIndia. In West Bengal, about 72 per cent of the bakery units are in theunorganized sector.

Currently, a sizable number of bakery units are undergoingmodernization. The growth forecast of the bakery industry in the State isestimated at 10 per cent in the next couple of years. With the commissioning ofthese projects, altogether 1,100 people would get employment.

The attached image is a representative one.

State on the right track for Fiscal Consolidation: Amit Mitra

Posted on August 26, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

West Bengal is on right track for fiscalconsolidation and steadily progressing towards achieving the goal, feels statefinance minister Amit Mitra. He said, “the figure itself will reveal the truththat Bengal is one of the best managed states in fiscal matters in the recentyears.”

He argued, “Though, Mr Jaitley has come downheavily on the Trinamool government for continuing with the fiscal indisciplineof Left regime, the reality is just opposite.”

Debt to GSDP ratio is decreasing

The minister pointed out that debt aspercentage of gross state domestic product (GSDP) has gone down by over 4%since the new government took over. The ratio was 39.54% in 2010-11 in actualterms and has gone up marginally to 39.62% in 2011-12. “But since then it is ona decline. The revised estimate for the debt to GSDP ratio for 201314 is35.33%,” added Mitra. The minister is hopeful that in 2014-15 it will be evenlower as per estimate to 33.73%.

He pointed out that the reduction was madepossible because the growth rate of debt stock has almost halved in the lastfour years. The growth of debt stock was 15.58% in 200910. It came down to11.75% in 2010-11, the first year of implementation of FRBM (FiscalResponsibility and Budget Management Act) in the state. In 2012-13, the firstfull year of the Trinamool government, it dipped further to 10.63%.The revisedestimate for 2013-14 was 9.16%.

Growth in capital expenditure

The finance minister claimed that there isa 'U' turn in capital expenditure, which has a multiplier effect. “From anegative growth in capital expenditure in 2010-11 of 18.74%, we have achieved agrowth of 64.53% in capital expenditure in actual terms in 2012-13. The revisedestimate for 2013-14 is 103%. These are all developmental expenditure likebuilding rural roads, schools, health facilities,” he added.

According to him, the lowering growth ofdebt stock coupled with higher level of capital expenditure and higher growthof GSDP of over 7% has resulted in shrinking fiscal deficit of the state. “Thefiscal deficit of the state has exactly halved in last four years. I do notknow about any state where this has happened,” Mitra said. The state's fiscaldeficit was 6.5% of GSDP in 2009-10, which came down to 3.38% in 2011-12. In2013-14, it was 3.08% of GSDP as per revised estimates.

Figures at a glance

Fiscal discipline yielded results

“This was possiblebecause of huge growth in revenue owing to simplification of system throughe-governance and strict fiscal discipline and higher allocation fordevelopmental expenditure. Incidentally, the state's own tax revenue has beenestimated at Rs 45,413 crore during 2014-15 as per budget estimate, compared toa collection of Rs 21,128 crore in 2010-11.”

“In 2013-14 itself, our collection was Rs39,100 crore. Mr Jaitley as FM of this country should know these facts. Itspeaks for itself,” he added.

Successful Singapore trip

Commenting on the Singapore trip, the FMwho has additional responsibility of commerce and industries department, saidas many as 13 MoUs and letters of intent were signed during the trip which inany standard is a good performance. “On August 27, a meeting has been called.Our chief minister is really eager to follow up in every level as far asSingapore trip is concerned. All the members of the business delegation toSingapore have been called for an interaction that day,” he added.

The article was first published in The Times of India on August 26, 2014

West Bengal Govt to set up Eco-Tourism Board

Posted on August 25, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

The West Bengal government has decided toset up an Eco-Tourism Board to project the state as a major touristdestination.

State Tourism Minister Bratya Basu saidthat Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee had directed the Tourism Department togo ahead with the setting up the board.

Accordingly, a task force composed of ahost of professional consultants and senior officials has been set up toimplement the decision.

“A comprehensive decision will be announcedafter the task force submits its recommendation to the government,” Mr Basusaid.

The minister said that the state governmenthad taken up developing a major tourist hub in the Dooars forest in NorthBengal.

“The work for mega tourism projects at Gazaldobain Jalpaiguri district, the gateway to the Dooars, has already started over 200acres of land identified by the state government to build a mega-tourismproject,” Mr Basu said.

“Over Rs 100 crore is lined up forinvestment in phases out of the state plan fund for infrastructure developmenton roads, power, drainage and water supply,” he said, adding it would takeabout two years to complete.

The Tourism Department is also working ondeveloping two new eco-tourism hubs at Sylee, adjacent to Malbazar, andKunjanagar near Falakata in the Dooars over an area of 90 acres.

Sylee, situated around 62 km from Siliguri,is adjacent to Sylee tea garden and surrounded by hills, a river and greenery,making it an excellent tourist spot.

Activities like trekking, bird watching andjungle safari can be an added attraction for the tourists.

At Kunjanagar, around 105 km from Siliguriand close to the Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary, visitors can get a panoramicview of the area's natural beauty.

Meanwhile, tourist resorts have come up atMurthi in the Dooars and the Tourism Department is planning to develop NatureInterpretation Centre at Tilabari and Batabari in the area.

The minister said that the department wasplanning to utilise natural resources of these areas to set up the new hubscomprising resorts, food courts, cultural centres, health centres, spa and artand craft centres.

“These will come up on aprivate-public-partnership model costing around Rs 1,000 crore,” he said.

Apart from this, eco-tourism projects willalso come up at Jharkhali in the Sundarbans and Sabujdweep (an island on theGanga) and at Jharkhand in West Midnapore district, the minister said.

The department is also going to focus ondeveloping home stays in the region to attract tourists, boost overall economyof the area and generate employment in the locality.

“We are also going to start home stays byinvolving residents of the fringe areas of different forests and other touristspots. A number of private tour operators have already introduced the conceptin the region, which we are now trying to explore by involving localresidents,” the department officials said.