Pepsico to invest Rs 500 Cr in Bengal: Labour Minister

Pepsico to invest Rs 500 Cr in Bengal: Labour Minister

Posted on September 15, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

World renowned company Pepsico is investing in Bengal on a large scale.

The company has decided to invest Rs 500 crore to set up a large manufacturing unit at Asansol, Labour Minister Moloy Ghatak said.

As per the instructions of the Chief Minister, Pepsico has been allotted 40 acres of land already at Dharma mouza. Employment opportunities for 2500 people have been created initially, with scope of further employment in the future.

Labour Minister said that at the initiative of West Bengal CM, the government now gives speedy land clearance to investment proposals. He said the departments of land & land reforms and industry are coordinating in ensuring ease of doing business in the State.

Companies like Pepsico are investing in Bengal because of the new Industry Policy formulated at the initiative of WB CM, the minister opined.

This is based on a report published in Sangbad Pratidin on 15 September, 2015

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WB Govt to tap 1 lakh acres of government land for industry

Posted on September 15, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

West Bengal is planning to tap over one lakh acres of land available with the government in a bid to woo investors to the state.

State Finance, Industries and Commerce Minister Dr Amit Mitra said: “We are pro-poor and pro-business. Bengal is one case where reality is significantly better than perception. The question of land acquisition doesn’t arise. The government and its various departments have over one lakh acres of ready land, which we have decided to give to business houses to set up industries.“

Dr Mitra was in Mumbai for a road show to promote ‘Bengal Global Business Summit 2016’ to be held in Kolkata in January 2016.

“Land will not be a problem in West Bengal. WBIDC has 4,400 acres of ready land under its possession for industrial development. This is apart from the land for 6 townships in the state. Another 4000 acres of land will be made available soon,” the finance minister said.

The rest of its land bank is available with various government departments spread all over the state.

“Come and make money, come where the rising curve is happening,” said Dr Mitra, highlighting the growth benefits of investing in the state.

Among the key features offered to investors include land for greenfield projects, industrial parks and smart public administration.

Group of Ministers constituted to identify and reclaim closed industry land

Posted on September 15, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

The West Bengal Government has decided to step up its efforts to reclaim 285 acres of land acquired by public sector firm Cycle Corporation of India, at Asansol.

The decision was taken at the third meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) constituted to identify and reclaim land acquired by closed industrial units.

As per the findings of the GoM, of the 49,000 acres of land acquired by closed industrial units in Bengal, only about 7,500 acres are deemed non-litigant (not mired in litigations) by the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR).

As per preliminary findings of the panel, the land held by the Cycle Corporation of India does appear to be litigation-free.However, to be absolutely certain that the piece of land in question isn’t mired in litigation problems, the GoM, today (Thursday), set up a separate panel comprising directors, commissioners or joint secretaries of five state government departments, namely law, land, industrial reconstruction, agriculture and labour.

The panel will probe the current status of the land held by the Cycle Corporation of India and submit its report (to the GoM) on September 29, 2015,” the cabinet member said.

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‘Deemed clearance’ for conversion & mutation of land for Industry to be given: Dr Amit Mitra

Posted on September 11, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

The West Bengal Government will give `deemed clearance’ for conversion and mutation of land for industry if the department concerned fails to submit the report within the time frame.

State commerce and industries Minister Dr Amit Mitra told that CM Mamata Banerjee has taken this step to “further ease the process of doing business in Bengal“. “Earlier, it used to take 5-6 months for conversion and mutation of land but now in some cases, it is happening in 7-10 days. Conversion and mutation of land will be electronically linked,“ he said.

Earlier, addressing the annual general meeting of Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Dr Mitra said that apart from environment clearance from West Bengal Pollution Control Board, all the other clearances related to industry will be `deemed’.

To make business easier in Bengal and boost investors’ confidence, fire safety licences will now be issued online to those willing to set up new units. Fire services minister Javed Ahmed Khan said, “We have hired a company to create a dedicated portal for this. It’s expected to be operational by the end of the year.“

In June, the West Bengal Chief MinIster had declared she would move to the `next level’ of smoothing out the process of doing business here. This included 30 days for land conversion and 21 days for mutation of land. The state has already empowered industry promotion bodies like West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), Webel, WBIIDC and WBSIDC to sanction building plans for industrial purposes.

On the second Bengal Global Business Summit, Mitra said out of Rs 2.43 lakh crore proposed investment in the state, processing has started for Rs 91,000 crore.“We have started road shows. The one in Delhi was very encouraging. Industrialists have said experience of doing business in Bengal is better than in other states,“ the Minister added.

“Capital expenditure has grown by 601% in the last four years since our government took over. It was Rs 2,225 crore in 2010-11 and it went up to Rs 13,375 crore in 2014-15. The growth of physical infrastructure was also more than 330%,“ Dr Mitra pointed out.

Bengal growth story not highlighted on national scale: Amit Mitra

Posted on July 27, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Interview of Dr Amit Mitra, Hon’ble Industries & Finance Minister, West Bengal

Q: Is Bengal suffering from a perception issue?

Dr Mitra: Bengal’s reality has changed a lot. It is not being shown on national scale. Bengal’s GDP is growing at 10%. The state is surging ahead in every field, be it agriculture, services or industry. Our slogan is “Come to Bengal, Ride the growth”.

Q: Is WB Govt suffering from communication issue?

Dr Mitra: Media channels are the main source of communication. Some local media channels do not want to show the Bengal growth story.

Q: What is the sales pitch of Bengal in UK?

Dr Mitra: We will highlight all the macroeconomic parameters. Investment proposals worth Rs 84000 crore are already underway. If you take our statistics that I have submitted in the State Legislative Assembly, there will be a lot of heads turning.

Changi airport and SAIL are taking up projects which will not only help in infrastructure but also generate employment. We have land in 38 industrial parks. 4500 acres of land are ready for industries. All departments together have 100000 acres of land which can be put to judicious use.

We have an analytics park coming up at Kalyani. AIIMS-like hospital and several universities in the pipeline too. All this is coming up on government land. We have cleared 7500 acres of private land which is vested and already in the market. The largest technology park of the Central Govt is coming up in Kolkata.

Five tea estates belonging to State Government, which were lying closed for a long time, have been given out in transparent, competitive manner. The transition of the tea estates also saw 100% employee retention. Haldia Petrochemicals is receiving 95% capacity even as stake sale process is underway.

We have applied our minds and are moving ahead at a fantastic pace regarding the issue of land and SEZ. Research shows that SEZs are not sustainable in India which have become a playground for real estate.

Bengal is a power-surplus State now. NTPC is taking up power projects in the State. Bengal is water-surplus State, thanks to the Jal Dharo Jal Bharo project.

The MoUs that will be signed in London are across the board and will encompass all major small and large industries.

Q: Will you change your FDI policy?

Dr Mitra: We will not change our policy. Let me be clear because it is our commitment to the people. We have a mall in the heart of Kolkata which is the highest rated mall in India. So who is against business houses setting up shop? We welcome companies to enter Bengal.

We have eased the process of doing business. One of the biggest problems was mutation. WB CM has put a 30 days limit for the process.

West Bengal Government received award from Central Govt for e-taxation. We are the only State in India to go cheque-free in taxation.

Kanyashree is a revolutionary programme where 22 lakh girls have been registered for financial assistance to pursue education and got appreciation from United Nations as well.

No compromise on Land Bill: WB CM

Posted on June 13, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Trinamool Congress and other Opposition parties on Friday moved a motion against the land ordinance and urging for its immediate withdrawal.

Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee on Friday raised her sharpest pitch against the Centre on the ordinance dubbing it “draconian“ making it clear that her party would not comprise on this count.

The Chief Minister termed the land ordinance to be “anti-people”. “Land agitation is the right of farmers. This fact was brought to the national and international fore by Trinamool Congress. We strongly oppose the 100% acquisition clause (without consent),” she said.

It is to be noted that Trinamool is the only party which has consistently opposed the anti-people land bill. In 2006, party Chairperson Ms Mamata Banerjee even went on a 26-day hunger strike for the sake of farmers in Singur.

Bengal cabinet clears deck for developing six theme cities

Posted on June 13, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

West Bengal cabinet on Friday cleared the deck for developing six modern cities in the state.

Speaking to the press after the cabinet meeting, state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim said the location for six modern cities had already been finalised. The Cabinet had even named all the six proposed cities according to choice and importance of the place, he said adding they would have modern facilities for decent living.

Naming the theme cities

Speaking about the smart cities, Hakim said one would come up over 85 acres at Dabgram near Siliguri and would be called ‘Teesta’ after the name of a major river in north Bengal. Another city would come up near Bolpur in Birbhum district over 127 acres and christened ‘Gitabitan’ after a popular compilation of songs by Rabindranath Tagore.

A third city over 50 acres would come up near the twin industrial towns of Asansol-Durgapur covering Churulia, birth place of the poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. It would be named ‘Agnibina’, after the name of a collection of poems by the rebel poet. One more city would come up near Kalyani, developed by erstwhile chief minister Bidhan Chandra Roy, in Nadia district over 50 acres and would be known as ‘Samriddhi’.

Another city, which is yet to be named, would come up at Dumurjala in neighbouring Howrah district over 50 acres. The sixth smart city would come up at Baruipur in the southern outskirt of the metropolis over 86 acres and would be named after the famed Bengal matinee idol Uttam Kumar, the minister said.

Allotment of land

In all cases the state government has adequate land and would be developed by the state urban development department, Hakim said. Besides, the state government would also develop some thematic private township over land within ceiling at different places in the state.

The themes could range from knowledge, sports and IT and the townships would be developed by various wings of the department like HIDCO and KMDA, he said.

Hakim hoped that the projects would bring in huge investment and create a lot of employment opportunity. In all cases there would be 25 per cent reservations for the economically weaker sections.

WB Govt committed to improve transport infrastructure: Mamata Baneerjee

Posted on May 30, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said her government was committed to improve the entire transport infrastructure in the state.

Replying to a question in the state Assembly, Ms Banerjee said already several steps have been taken to improve the sector, but many more measures would be taken in the years to come to facilitate passengers.

Stating that the entire transport system had been thrown out of gear during the erstwhile Left Front regime, Ms Banerjee said her government has increased the number of buses, taxis and other modes of transport, besides removing hurdles for good administration in the sector.

A high power administrative committee has also been appointed to look after development in the sector.

Regretting that the Centre has curtailed many of its projects like Mid-Day Meal, housing for urban poor, ICDS and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana etc, Ms Banerjee said her government was trying to take up various development schemes on its own for the betterment of the people.

Replying to another question, Ms Banerjee said so far her government has issued land pattas to three lakh families in the state, while it would be given to 30,000 more families soon.

These pattas include community land patta, forest land patta and agricultural land patta, she said adding beneficiaries were selected on the basis of socio-economic class census.

Sudip Bandyopadhyay speaks on Land Bill | Full Transcript

Posted on May 12, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Full Transcript

Hon’ble Deputy Speaker Sir,

I rise to oppose the Right to Fair Compensation & Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015. Sir, a land bill was brought by UPA Government in 2013. It was debated on the August 28, 2013 and both Congress and BJP supported the Bill. There was voting. The voting result was: 268 Ayes & 19 Noes. The 19 noes were from Trinamool Congress only; this voting was on my amendment and the motion was lost.

Who was the main Speaker in Lok Sabha on behalf of BJP? Rajnath Sigh ji was the main speaker who spoke on behalf of the Bill. Who was the main Speaker in Rajya Sabha on behalf of BJP? Mr Katiyar was the main speaker on behalf of BJP in Rajya Sabha. What is the necessity of introduction of another Bill when one Bill is already passed on the floor of the House with division of votes? Everybody has now come to know that what is the role of which party.

Trinamool Congress is of the opinion that farmers are to be given more free hand so far the Land Acquisition is concerned. We are totally against at the forceful occupancy of the land. I believe that every one of us should protest the forceful occupancy of the land on the farmers. We had our own fight in our State under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee when Singur land was occupied by a very big corporate house. We have seen the struggle of hungry farmers, how they maintain their livelihood.

Sir, land is not elastic that if you stretch it, it will increase. Land is the same but the population is increasing. If the land is grabbed forcefully and all the decisions are taken in favour of the captains of industries or by the corporate houses, then gradually size of the land will be decrease and very soon there will be food scarcity in the country.

The Standing Committee made 13 recommendations when UPA brought a land bill. UPA Government accepted 11 recommendations but did not accept 2 recommendations. Trinamool Congress is in favour of all 13 recommendations made by the Standing Committee.

What were the two recommendations discarded by the then Rural Development Minister Hon’ble Jayram Ramesh Ji? Mainly it was that the private investor is expected to buy at least 80 per cent of the required land directly from the people. The government can acquire the remaining 20 per cent, according the draft. In case of social sectors it would be up to 70 percent other is to be acquired by the Government in whatever manner they deem fit.

What we raised objection at that time? That investor and the farmer should discuss among themselves and settle the price. It is totally to be left on the discretion of the farmers that whether he is interested or keen to sale his land or not. The government should not play the role of the mediator. It is not the duty and responsibility of the government to play a role of a mediator. Normally a farmer feels in such negotiations the attitude of the government is automatically favourable towards corporate houses.

We are against forceful acquisition of land. We believe 100% acquisition must be done by those who want to set up industry.

We also believe that only two types of land can be acquired -barren land and mono-crop land. We are against acquisition of multi-crop land.

Sir, Trinamool Congress has been at the forefront of land movement from the very beginning; we opposed the land bill even at the time of UPA Government. We still stick to our stand.

We believe this Bill will not serve the interest of common farmers. It will be certainly projected as anti-farmer and Trinamool Congress thoroughly opposes the Bill.

Thank you, Sir.

TMC opposes anti-farmer Land Bill in Lok Sabha

Posted on May 12, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Trinamool Congress today strongly opposed the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015 – Land Bill in common parlance – in Lok Sabha.

Speaking on behalf of the party, the leader of AITC Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha, Sudip Bandyopadhyay questioned the need for another Bill when one was already existing.

“In 2013, a Bill was passed in Parliament which was supported by both Congress and BJP. Trinamool was the only party to vote against the Land Bill of UPA,” he said.

Making a strong case for 100% consent for acquisition, he maintained that the government must not play the mediator in such cases.

“We should concentrate on barren land and mono-crop land. We are against acquisition of multi-crop land. Our stand is the same as that of 2013,” he added.

Click here for the full transcript of his speech