Tag: Chandannagar

Bangla Govt announces funding for Light Hub in Chandannagar

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The Bengal Government has announced funding to the tune of Rs 11.5 crore for the proposed Light Hub in Chandannagar in Hooghly district. The hub is a brainchild of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had announced its creation last year during an administrative review meeting in Tarakeswar.

Chandannagar is famous for its lighting displays. During Jagaddhatri Puja in Chandannagar and during Durga Puja in Kolkata and elsewhere, the expertise of the lighting technicians is on ample display. It has been like this for as long time. A few have spread their wings to Durga Pujas outside Bengal too.

Now the government has decided to give a structured boost to this industry by creating a special zone. The government would have a comprehensive role in the hub. From training lighting technicians and helping them market their products to enable them to bag contracts for different Pujas, everything would be overseen by the government.

This would naturally lead to more and better employment opportunities, including opportunities for the experts to spread their wings to other places in India, especially where Durga Pujas take place, and even abroad.

After Mishti Hub, Muslin Hub and similar clusters comes the Light Hub. These hubs have given a huge boost to traditional small-scale industries. They provide a steady source of income for the families involved and also help in preserving the crafts.

Source: Khabar 365 Din

Initiative to declare cities along the bank of Hooghly as heritage cities

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The State Government in association with some NGOs has taken an initiative to appeal to the UNESCO to declare the old colonial cities on the banks of the river Hooghly as “Heritage Cities”.

If the appeal is considered, the cities will be featured in the World Heritage Sites of the UNESCO.

The cities like Panihati, Barrackpore, Noihati, Serampore, Uttarpara, Chinshurah , Chandannagar and Bandel have glorious pasts and are parts of historical events. Many of these cities were the colonial headquarters of European countries.

A meeting was recently held between the Information & Cultural Affairs Dept, Govt of West Bengal and other bodies. It was decided to send an appeal to the UNESCO.

The cities that may be put in the list to be sent are:

On the eastern side of River Hooghly:

• Kolkata – The former capital of British India

• Dakshineswar – Famous for the Bhabatarini Temple and Sri Ram Krishna

• Baranagar – Houses the Peneti Bagabari of the Tagore Family among other historical buildings

• Khardaha – Famous for the Shyam Temple

• Barrackpore – Historical city housing the Mangal Pandey Ghat

• Naihati – Famous for Sanskrit studies

• Halishahar – Famous for Ramprasader Bhitey

On the western side of River Hooghly:

• Belur – Sri Rama Krishna Math and Mission

• Konnagar – Birthplace of Rishi Arabinda

• Uttarpara – Famous for the age old Jaya Krishna Library that started in 1854, one of the first in Asia

• Serampore – Danish colony, Serampore College, Mahesh

• Chandanangore – French colony

• Chinsurah – Dutch colony, Imambara

• Bandel – Portugese colony, Bandel Church

Tourism gets special focus under Trinamool Government

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The West Bengal Government under the leadership of Ms Mamata Banerjee has made developments in every sector in every districts of the State. The Chief Minister has visited each district, chaired meetings across the State with the district officials from Darjeeling to Sundarbans to take stock of ongoing projects and plan newer ones. Identifying new tourist spots and creation of infrastructure for tourists have been one of the agendas of the Chief Minister during her numerous district visits.

The Trinamool Government under Ms Mamata Banerjee had rightly identified that West Bengal with its varied natural beauty has the capability to attract tourists from national and international sphere, and thus earn huge revenue. However, after 34 years of Left misrule, the tourism infrastructure in the State was in tatters. So, firstly, it was decided to renovate the existing to a quality standard and then identify the newer options.

Increased planned expenditure In Tourism under Trinamool Government

In the four year, from 2007-08 to 2010-11, the planned expenditure in Tourism under the Left Government was on an average Rs 16.88 crore only. In the first four years of the West Bengal Government under Trinamool Congress, the planned expenditure in Tourism rose to a total of Rs 331.93 crores, which is Rs 82.95 crores on an average per year. In the years 2011-12 the the planned expenditure on tourism was Rs 30.64 crores. It was increased to Rs 52.62 in 2012-13 and in 2013-14 it further increased to Rs 81.16 crores. In 2014-15, the planned expenditure (revised) was Rs 167.50 crores.

It is observed that while the past Left Government was downsizing the planned expenditure on Tourism year after year, the present Government under Trinamool has been instrumental in increasing the same.

Completed Tourism projects under Trinamool Government

As published on the Economic review2014-15, the following tourism projects have been completed since May 2011:

• Construction and renovation of cottages in different locations at Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong

• Tourism centres in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts

• Tourism centres in Cooch Behar

• Construction of Maldah Museum

• Motijhil tourism centre in Murshidabad

• Chupchar project, Batukeshwar Dutta project and Gopinath Sabji project in Bardhaman

• Ballavpur-Sharmbati project in Birbhum

• Gadiara tourism centre in Howrah

• Furfura Sharif and Chandannagar tourism centres in Hooghly

• Kashipur Mahashram, Kolkata Maidan, Police Museum, College Street, Eden Gardens and other such projects in Kolkata

• Malancha Tourist Lodge in North 24 Parganas

• Tourism projects in Gangasagar and Basanti in South 24 Parganas

• Digha Tourist Lodge in Purba Medinipur

Newer tourism projects are coming up in Bengal

The West Bengal Government has taken up a ne Tourism Incentive Policy in 2015. Under the initiative of the West Bengal Chief Minister, Eco-tourism, Home Tourism and Tea Tourism have been included under this policy.

New projects that are coming up include the Gajaldoba Mega Tourism project, Jharkhali Eco-tourism project, Sabujdwip Eco-tourism project and Jhargram Rajbari Heritage project. Besides, facilities of home-stays are being identified at Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Mukutmanipur and other places of scenic beauty.

Bottomline

The West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee has time and again given suggestions regarding different tourism projects and providing proper facilities to the tourists. The State Government is following the suggestions and also taking part in different tourism fairs nationally and internationally in order to promote Bengal and attract tourists. From Gangasagar in the south to Darjeeling in the north, special focus is being given to tourism and this will be a major success for the State in the coming years.

WB Government receives proposals for 13 new townships

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The West Bengal Government has received proposals for approval of 13 new townships across the state. Keeping in mind the various needs of the people, these proposals have come to build the townships under various themes like health, education, entertainment, handicrafts and even for senior citizens etc. These townships will have all basic facilities from healthcare, education and various other needs for day to day life.

The proposals have been received from all local entrepreneurs and the sites selected by them are Sonarpur, Baruipur, Barasat, Howrah, Domjur etc. The State Government is also promoting other areas in the state like Baharampur, Uluberia, Chinsura, Chandannagar, Duttapukur, Asansol, Durgapur, Siliguri, Maldah etc.  For these areas, the Government is thinking of giving special packages and the matter is now under the consideration of Urban Development Minister.

The new 13 proposals will be built on land measuring 50 to 185 acres and is expected to get their go ahead in the next Cabinet meeting.

From the very beginning the West Bengal Government had made it very clear the interested investors have to procure land on their own and the Government will also not handover any of its land located in various prime localities.

The two important criteria to be maintained while building these townships as set by the West Bengal Government are 25% of the housing facility should be reserved for the financially weaker section of the society and another 25% have to be invested in economic development projects.