Tag: growth

infrastructure bengal

West Bengal – ‘Power’ing ahead

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Infrastructure shapes the society and economy. Despite the economic constraints, West Bengal Government took measures to boost the infrastructure in the state. West Bengal which once faced severe power crisis is now a power-surplus state and load shedding is now a thing of past.

With a rise of 19.9% in total installed generation capacity in just two years, West Bengal has increased its installed capacity base from 8,316.8 MW in 2010-11 to 9,974.1 MW in 2012-13. This shows the efforts put in by the state government to keep the power surplus state ready for 100% electrification in the years to come. There have been some significant developments in every sphere of the power sector from generation to transmission.

Here are some of the achievements in the last 3 years:

  • 4000 km of roads upgraded to double lanes or intermediate lane. Construction of 16 big bridges and five flyovers on rail track has been completed.
  • WBHDCL will construct 3000 km road in PPP model.
  • The work of the bridge over the river Subarnarekha at Bhasaraghat is going in full swing. The flyover in the VIP road is also going on.
  • Special emphasis has been given to Jangalmahal area. 12 new school buildings and hostels, one PTTI, 74 hostels for girls. 4 new colleges, 3 new stadiums, sports academy, polytechnic, ITIs are being constructed.
  • The Government is creating 16,000 kms of rural road covering 3349 gram panchayats.
  • West Bengal is one the few states where arrangements have been made for 24 hour power supply. Target has been fixed to supply power to every household within the end of 2015-16.
  • New thermal power centres are being constructed in Santaldih, Durgapur, Sagardighi, Raghunathpur. The Katwa thermal power project is expected to invite investments worth Rs 10,000 crore. Transmission sub stations have been installed in Dalkhola, Kalna, Khatra, Kakdwio, Kurseong, Sankrial food park, Howrah and Kharagpur.
  • Power banks have been created, thus excess power produced is saved. Remote islands of Sunderbans are being supplied with power through grid.
  • There has been remarkable development in power transmission infrastructure. 343 MVA Transformer capacity and construction of 887 km transmission line have been made in case of H T line. During the same time, in case of L T line, enhancement of 2654 MVA transformer capacity and construction of new 251674 km have been made.
  • There has been development of hydel power projects in Jaldhaka and remarkable increase in capacity under ‘Tista Canal Fall Hydel Power Scheme’.
  • State Power Transmission Company has got the ‘Power Line; 2012 award as the best power transmission company of India. Power Finance Corporation, IKRA and CARE combinedly in a rating for 2013, have announced State Power Transmission Company as the second best transmission company in India.
  • The state has secured the third prize in Best State Power Utility Awards, WBSEB received the second prize for management excellence and the first prize was awarded to CESC.

 

Come to Bengal… Ride the growth: http://bengalglobalsummit.com/

 

Written by Agnivo Niyogi and Sanmit Sarkar

biswa bangla

MSME Sector: Backbone of Bengal’s Growth

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Mirco Small Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector contributes nearly 8% of the GDP nationally, 45% of manufacturing outputs and 40% of exports. They provide the highest employment after agriculture.

West Bengal has the second largest number of MSME enterprises. It has 36.64 lakh enterprises which constitute about 10% of total Indian MSME enterprises. With an output of Rs 78,880 lakh crore it represents an important sector of West Bengal’s economy.

During the last 30 months, 29,735 new industries have been set-up, with an investment of Rs 2,595 crore, This has resulted in employment generation to the tune of 2,02,245 jobs.

Actions speak louder than words:

  • Policy for medium, micro and small-scale, and textile, industries, 2013-18 has been announced.
  • More than 29 thousand new enterprises have been set up with and investment in 2595 crore and expected employment generation of more than 2 lakh people.
  • Incentives of worth of Rs 191 crore have been provided. In terms of credit allotment by banks the amount stands at 8900 crore in the first month of the FY 2013-14. Both in terms of growth (105%)of bank credit and in terms of amounts, West Bengal stands first in the nation.
  • More than 5 lakhs identity card has been issued for both weavers and artisans. More than 3.8 lakh weavers have been register in health insurance schemes.
  • Various Marketing hubs, clusters, common facility centers have been set up. Biswa Bangla Haats have been opened in Durgapur and Rajarhat and in Santiniketan, Purulia, Bishnupur, Alipurduar, Siliguri and Jhargram more haats are in the process of opening.
  • Three new industrial hubs have been opened and construction work going on for Mega Textile Park in Belur, Silk Park in Malda, Eco-tourism Park in Banarhat and World Micro Market in Santiniketan.
  • 16 Common Facility centres (CFC) have been created and 17 clusters have been created.
  • 20 lakh man days have been generated in handloom sector and Rs 194 crore has been invested for 5 lakh handloom weavers.
  • A programme has been initiated under National Fibre Mission (NFM) to invest Rs 257 crore for 17,000 artisans and weavers in 11 underdeveloped districts.
  • Technology Facilitation Centre (TFC) has been started with co-operation of CSIR in Kolkata for MSME. Design Facilitation Centre (DFC) has been created in Kolkata for handloom weavers.

 

While the country performed abysmally with a 0.7% growth rate in the industrial sector, constant focus on the MSME sector has been a major factor in West Bengal’s achievement of a 9.58% industrial growth rate in the financial year 2013-14.

Come to Bengal… Ride the growth: bengalglobalsummit.com

Economic growth: Bengal shows the way

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When the new Government came to power in West Bengal in 2011, the fiscal condition of the State was in disarray. There was a huge debt burden of about Rs 2 lakh crores and the GSDP growth rate was way below national average.

However, in the last three years, there has been a remarkable improvement on the economic front. There has been a turn of fortune for Bengal’s economy under the leadership of Ms Mamata Banerjee.

West Bengal was able to raise its tax collection during a period of economic downturn and reduced profit margins for companies because of its e-governance efforts. By making every registered dealer who has to pay tax worth Rs 2 Lakh or more to make payments only electronically, government has succeeded in increasing compliance and there by plugging out possible channels of leakages.

The numbers say it all:

  • The State revenue has gone up historically from around Rs 21,000 crore annually to around Rs 39,000 crore annually.
  • In FY 2013-14, GSDP growth  rate was 7.7%  vs national average of GDP : 4.9%
  • In FY 2013-14, growth in agriculture and allied sector was 5.28% vs national average of 4.6%
  • In FY 2013-14, growth in industrial sector was 9.58% vs the national average of 0.7%
  • In FY 2013-14, growth in service sector was 7.8% vs the national average of 6.9%
  • Total investment proposal received in the last 1000 days is in the tune of Rs 1,20,000 crore and the work in progress in the tune of 78,000 crore. Interested companies include SAIL, Ultratech cements, Reliance cements, ESSAR and others.
  • According to figures published by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), in 2014, up to 31st October, the total investments implemented are in the tune of 3581 crore which is third highest in the nation.
  • In the last three and half years, total investments implemented is in the tune of Rs 7310 crore in “Big Industry”; compared to last 4 years of Left rule it is almost 2.5 times.
  • Creation of land banks, industrial clusters, clearance under 14Y has given a boost to Industrial growth.
  • 14 new IT hubs have been sanctioned. 117 industrial units have been allotted in the government industrial park.

 

Come to Bengal… Ride the growth: http://bengalglobalsummit.com/