Mamata government receives Rs.80,000 crore investment proposals

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s West Bengal government has received investment proposals of around Rs.80,000 crore in the first nine months of its tenure, Governor M.K. Narayanan told the state assembly Thursday.

“A number of industrial initiatives have been taken by the state government since (it came to power in) May last year.. An estimated amount of Rs.80,000 crore proposals have been received in the first nine months of the new government,” Narayanan said.

Asserting that several mega projects were coming up, the governor said Matix Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited was setting up a 1.3 MTPA single stream 2,200 metric tonnes per day (MTPD) Ammonia plant and 3,850 MTPD Urea plant at Panagarh industrial park in Burdwan district at a proposed investment of around Rs.11,000 crore.

The government has also granted 45.17 acres of land to the country’s leading two-wheeler makers TVS for setting up an assembling plant at Uluberia of Howrah district jointly with Mahabharat Motors Manufacturing.

A deal has been inked with New Kolkata industrial Development – promoted by an NRI businessman – for developing Nayachar island in East Midnapore district where an environmentally sustainable industrial park, an eco-tourism park, a 2000 MW power plant and a fisheries men’s cooperative will be developed. The project will attract an investment of over Rs.19,000 crore.

In heavy industries sector, the Universal Success Group has proposed an investment of Rs.19,070 crore, Narayanan said in his opening address at the year’s maiden session of the House.

In the Information Technology sector, satellite locations away from Kolkata have been identified for development of IT hubs. “Siliguri, and Durgapur have been given priority. But more such integration centres and IT hubs are planned in Palta, Burdwan, Borjora, Purulia, Kharagpur and Haldia.”

Turning to tourism, he said high priority was being given to the sector with emphasis on using it as a tool for poverty alleviation, skill development, employment generation and community participation as also for attracting investment.

Five main locations have been chosen as thrust areas – Darjeeling, Dooars, Digha, Sundarbans and Kolkata.

“Master plans for developing the northern hills of Darjeeling and the coastal stretch from Digha to Junput have been prepared. The beaches of Digha, Mandarmoni, Tajpur, and Junput will be developed.

“Ropeways, amusement parks, shopping arcades, water sports are all part of the composite plan to develop the seas coast of West Bengal..A similar approach is being taken for the Dooars (foothills of the Himalayas known for its forests) and Sundarbans (world’s biggest mangrove forest),” he added.