Rs 25,000 crore export dues still pending: Amit Mitra

Rs 25,000 crore export dues still pending: Amit Mitra

Posted on June 19, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

GST refunds to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore are still pending for exporters, the West Bengal Finance Minister, Dr Amit Mitra, has said.

Nearly 3,00,000 refund applications have been received since the roll-out of the GST regime on July 1. Around 35-40 per cent of these applications have to be physically verified since the GST Network (or GSTN) is not in place, Dr Mitra alleged.

Auto verification would have ensured faster clearance of documents and quicker refunds.

“GSTN is still not in place and delay in auto verification of documents has delayed refunds for exporters,” the Finance Minister said during a press conference organised by WBIDC in Kolkata on Monday.

Dr Mitra pointed out that physical verification of documents are now being done by officials and this can give rise to a set of “inspector-raaj”.

“We will take up the matter with the GST council. Moreover, I have been saying this for quite some time that GSTN is not at all ready. And the result is this Rs 25,000 crore export dues,” he said.

Bengal eyeing two-fold hike in export growth rate by 2021: Amit Mitra

Posted on June 19, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Bengal government has set a target of doubling the export growth rate of the state within 2021, said Industry, Commerce and Enterprise minister Amit Mitra on Monday. He was addressing a workshop with the exporters, industries and various other stakeholders at a city hotel to accelerate the process of export promotion from the state.

Despite some issues relating to the non-payment of refunds to the exporters, particularly to the small-scale ones, the state government has been able to achieve export growth rate of 11.17 percent last year.

Dr Mitra said that there was an export of 8.23 billion US dollars from Bengal in the financial year 2016-17, which has gone up to 9.15 billion US dollars in 2017-18. Products worth around Rs 62,000 crore have been exported from the state in 2017-18.

The Bengal government is taking all possible steps to double the figure in the next three years. “We have achieved 11.17 percent growth rate in exports, which is pretty high among all other states. It was around 10 percent last year.

The export growth rate of the country according to CAGR remained at 6.01 percent for a period from 2007-08 up to 2016-17. The overall export that stands at Rs 62,000 will be doubled in the next three years,” Dr Mitra said.

According to the minister, an information centre will be set up jointly by the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) and the MSME department, to disseminate information relating to the exports and various schemes.

An export cell will be set up at the district industrial centres, so that people interested in exports can gather information relating to it. Altogether 80 officers from industry and MSME sectors will be given training at the Institute of Foreign Trade in Kolkata, for a period of one month from July 5.

Among the total number of officers, around 60 would be from the MSME department, while the rest would be from industries. After returning to the district industrial centres, these officers will give answer to the quarries of the potential exports. They will be made aware on how the documentation is done.

Dr Mitra also said that a dyeing centre has come up at Nabadwip, which will meet global standards so that the exporters from the state would no longer face any problems during the certification. Around 50,000 weavers would also be benefitted from the project. There was an overall export of 825 million US dollar of iron and steel from Bengal in 2016-17 and the target is to reach up to 1,500 million US dollar within the next three years.

While gold and other precious material export remained at 711 million US dollar, with a target of 1,200 million US dollar. The Bengal government has developed a major infrastructure by setting up a Gems and Jewellery Park at Ankurhati in Domjur in this regard. In the leather sector, export stands at 687 million dollar and the target is to reach 1,500 million dollar.

Asia’s biggest leather park has come up at Bantala. The state government has allotted a Rs 400 crore investment in Bantala. Marine products and petroleum products have seen a rise in the export. The minister also reminded that apart from airport and sea port, a land port should also be set up for accelerating the exports. In case of fresh vegetables, the exporters were facing problems as they have to export the products through Vizag port. The issue would be taken up with the Union commerce minister.

Bengal Govt repairing canals in Howrah dist to prevent flooding

Posted on June 19, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

To prevent the kind of floods that caused huge damage to farmlands, houses and people in Howrah district last year due the DVC’s unannounced release of water, the State Government has started the repair and renovation of canals in the district.

The regions of Udaynarayanpur and Amta were specially affected. Hence, the blocks of Amta-1, Amta-2 and Udaynarayanpur are being given stress on. The renovation and repair of canals would cost an estimated Rs 30 crore.

The idea is to enable the flow of water from the Damodar to the Rupnarayan via these canals – about 30 to 35 thousand cusecs of water. Hence, water would not overflow the banks of the Damodar and life and property would be saved.

The filling up of the canals will serve another purpose too – vast areas of croplands would get water throughout the year.

Source: bengali.news18.com

Parts of forests in Dooars to remain open for tourists during monsoon

Posted on June 19, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Much to the delight of forest lovers, the State Forest Department, for the first time, has decided to keep selective portions of various forests in northern Bengal open for tourists during the monsoon season, that is, from mid-June to mid-September.

Usually, the entire forest areas remain closed for tourists from June 16 to September 15. On demand from many tour operators, resort owners and transport operators, who have in turn listened to requests by tourists, the department has decided to keep certain areas open.

There is something special about the natural beauty of forests during the rainy season and many tourists are keen to witness this. The green of the forests acquires a special glow during this time of the year.

Kalipur Jungle Camp, Dhupjhora Eco Tourism Camp under Gorumara National Park, Panjora Jungle Camp, Murti Jungle Camp, Hornbill Jungle Camp and Chukchuki Watchtower, which are also located in close proximity of Gorumara, will be kept open, including the route in Chapramari forest from the entrance gate to the watchtower.

The Dakshin Khayerbari Tiger Rescue Centre and Mendabari Jungle Camp under Jaldapara National Park and areas like Sikiajhora Eco Tourism Centre, Poro Eco Park, Buxa Fort, Jayanti, etc. under Buxa forest will also remain open for tourists.

It may be mentioned that the season from June to September is also the mating season for many animals. Hence, the department would ensure that no disturbance is created for the animals. Therefore, no jeep safari or elephant safari will be allowed inside the forests.

A number of species of animals like tigers, rhinoceros and elephants make their habitat in the forests of the Dooars. Other animals include various types of deer, bison, birds and reptiles.

Source: Millennium Post

Bengal Police overhauling its cyber-policing administration

Posted on June 19, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The State Police wants to introduce more modern policing methods. Towards that end, it has planned to completely re-do its website as well as remodel its social media approach.

The website is being completely overhauled. The various district police administrations as well as the State’s railway police administrations will be linked to the website. All information will be updated, including important cases solved and the list of most wanted criminals.

As for social media (Facebook and Twitter especially), the plan is to regularly post updates regarding various activities and fight fake news actively. The latter is becoming increasingly important in the field of cyber-policing.

The idea is also to examine the ways Kolkata Police has successfully built up a large following on its social media accounts and implement certain relevant ideas.

Source: Ei Samay

New vessels, jetties and special water police in Bengal

Posted on June 19, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Recently, the State Government introduced 11 modern vessels for traversing various stretches of the Hooghly and other rivers. These vessels have been built following the latest guidelines issued by the Government under the Jaladhara Scheme.

The State Transport Minister inaugurated the vessels. He also inaugurated two modernised jetties on the Hooghly – the 120m-long Telenipara Jetty in Hooghly district and the 50m-long Shyamnagar Jetty in North 24 Parganas.

The 11 vessels are MV Motibag, MV Rupashree, MV Bibek, MV Kalyaneswari, MV Sampriti, MV Motijheel-3, MV Chandeswari, MV Baitarini, MV Bhorsagar-2, MV Samabathi and the 400-passenger capacity MV Sikshashree.

Over the last seven years, the State Government has completed renovation of 47 jetties and completing another 27, built 27 permanent jetties replacing temporary ones and completing another 36, and launched 55 modern vessels of various categories and completing work on another 199.

The new guidelines for building vessels under the Jaladhara Scheme has resulting in the setting up of 37 minor enterprises for building motor boats, launches and other motorized vessels.

Under Jaladhara, the Government is also providing training to those drivers who used to pilot non-motorised vehicles to navigate the new motorised vessels.

The Government is also introducing a cadre of water police called Jalasathi. These Jalasathis would be deployed at the jetties to ensure that the vessels are following the rules passenger capacity, availability of life jackets, etc. a total of 626 Jalasathis would be deployed; 236 are undergoing training at Swami Vivekananda Police Academy in Barrackpore, who would be deployed soon.

As part of the Jaladhara Scheme, the Government has also created a standard operating procedure (SOP) to be followed by the passengers boarding vessels at all the 471 jetties along the Hooghly.

Autism township, a first in India, to come up in Bengal

Posted on June 18, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The State Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister has announced the setting up of a first-of-its-kind autism township project in Bengal.

At the press conference, he also said investment proposals worth Rs 39,000 crore have come in the urban development and infrastructure sector during the just-concluded Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS).

According to the minister, the autism township will not only be the first such in India but in the entire world. There will be a hospital, a residential complex, a school, a day-care centre, a conference hall and training facilities, all pertaining to autism, under one roof.

The township will come up on 50 acres in Shirakole on Diamond Harbour Road, near Usthi in the South 24 Parganas district. It will be constructed by a private company at an investment of Rs 600 crore, and will be ready within four years.

The joint managing managing director of the company has said that it is also planning to set up a college which will churn out qualified professionals working in the area of autism.

Source: Millennium Post

Bengal CM writes to Centre against plan to shift HSL headquarters

Posted on June 17, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written a strong letter to the Union Ministry of Steel against the Central Government’s decision to shift the headquarters of Hindustan Steelworks Limited, a profitable PSU, from Kolkata to New Delhi.

Not just that, there are also plan to lay off a large number of workers, including many permanent ones. Naturally, they are very worried and the people’s Chief Minister has not held back at expressing her deep discontent at this decision.

The issue was earlier raised by Trinamool Congress in the Lok Sabha too but no satisfactory answer came from the Central Government. The Labour Commissioner had also hauled up the management of the company for the decision of laying off workers, but the management has not responded.

Not just writing a letter, the Chief Minister has instructed her party’s MPs to again raise the issue in Parliament.

Bengal CM writes to Centre, saying it’s extremely wrong to sell off Bengal Chemicals

Posted on June 17, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written a strong letter to the Union Commerce & Industry Ministry regarding the Central Government’s decision to sell off Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a company with a long and illustrious history.

Though it was not doing well for some time, in the last few years it has turned around quite a bit. The company earned profits during the 2016-17 fiscal, which almost doubled during the 2017-18 fiscal (an increase of 97.5 per cent). In this state of things, what is needed is more help from the Centre rather than selling it off.

Hence, the Chief Minister has written in the letter that the decision to sell it off should be immediately taken back. She has also written that the Bengal Government would provide all manner of help to build Bengal Chemicals up into a Maharatna company.

The company also has units in Mumbai and Kanpur. The Centre had previously too tried to sell the company. It was mainly Mamata Banerjee’s efforts which prevented that from happening.

Another point raised by the Chief Minister in her letter is the fact that the Kolkata High Court is yet to decide on the case filed by the workers and unions of the company against the Centre’s decision to sell it off.

Then, the company is engaged in manufacturing fair-priced essential goods for the common people. Hence, it can never be termed a ‘low-priority enterprise’, as the Centre has signified it.

Mamata Banerjee in her letter has also written about the illustrious history of the company and its crucial role in the movement for Indian-made goods during the colonial period.

All in all, the Chief Minister, through coherent arguments, has clearly indicated in the letter that it is an absolutely wrong decision to sell off Bengal Chemicals, as it is a profitable company now.

Paternity leave – Bengal shows the way

Posted on June 17, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Children have been an area of special focus for the Trinamool Congress Government. Under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bengal has been among the best performers in terms of infant mortality rate, and under-5 mortality rate, and in institutional delivery too.

The State Government has a comprehensive maternal leave structure. However, the importance of fathers during the phase of the birth of a child and during the period following that has been recognised too by the Government.

Following the initiative of Mamata Banerjee, the Bengal Government has shown the way to other States by instituting paternity-cum-child care leave in 2016. A cumulative period of 30 days is granted for the purpose for all State Government employees, Panchayat & other Local Bodies, Boards, sponsored/non-Govt aided Schools and Colleges, State-aided Universities & Companies, Corporations, Undertakings, etc.

The image is representative (Source)