Statement by Derek O’Brien, National Spokesperson and Chief Whip in Rajya Sabha:
West Bengal Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim had a cordial, purposive meeting with the Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu. Many specific projects of Bengal were discussed. Funding timelines were also discussed.
However, little disappointed that Mr Naidu took political potshots at State Government before leaving Kolkata.
Please, let us keep politics out of governance.
After successfully implementing the Nija Griha Nija Bhoomi scheme for the poor people in rural Bengal, the West Bengal Government has taken the initiative to provide homes and land pattas for the poor people even in the urban areas of the State.
The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting held at Nabanna on January 13, 2015.
Nija Griha Nija Bhoomi
Landless and homeless rural agricultural labourers, artisans and fishermen families who hold no other land in any capacity and the heirs of such persons, and residing on the land of other persons not having family relation (parental or maternal or in-laws) were earlier eligible for this scheme.
Through this project, BPL card holders in urban areas can now avail the Nija Griha Nija Bhoomi scheme. Ms Chandrima Bhattacharya, State Minister of Law, Judicial Affairs and Health, said that the state municipal affairs and urban development department will provide detailed guidelines regarding this and fix the criteria for the urban poor to get the benefits under this project.
Other Cabinet decisions
The State Cabinet also took a decision to revive State Dairy Durgapur Limited, which produces and markets dairy products.
It was also decided that 200 doctors will be recruited for ESI hospitals. The state government has taken the decision to increase the retirement age from 60 to 62 for ESI doctors.
Another decision was taken today during the state cabinet meeting to set up six new cyber crime police stations in West Bengal.
Among the developing countries, India witnesses the highest urbanisation. United Nation projects that in developing countries the urban population will double itself by 2050. The fast pace of urbanisation has put tremendous pressure in the existing infrastructure and public service across the world.
In last three and half years, the West Bengal Government has brought several schemes and policies with the purpose of improving the infrastructure of the municipalities.
Here are the major achievements of the West Bengal Government in the last 3 and half years in the urban development sector:
Come to Bengal… Ride the growth: bengalglobalsummit.com
The Cabinet Friday approved the naming of six townships that will come up at Bolpur, Kalyani, Siliguri , Durgapur, Bantala and at Andal.
The township that will come up in Bolpur will be named as Nobel city while those that will be developed at Kalyani and Siliguri will be named as Knowledge city and Sunrise city respectively.
The township at Andal has already been developed and it will be named as Golden city, while the township that has been developed at Bantala will be named as Sector VI.
The township that will be set up at Durgapur will be named as Silver Township.
Although the land for setting up township is yet to be identified at Kalyani and Siliguri, the land at Bolpur, Andal and Kolkata has already been identified. Around 180 acres of land has been identified at Bolpur for setting up the township.
The township will be developed on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis.
Mr Firhad Hakim, minister in charge of urban development department said that 25 per cent area will be developed for economically weaker section (EWS).
According to him, 40 percent open space will be kept at the newly developed township.
