Bengal’s new industry policy may fast-track projects over 100 acres

Kolkata: Bengal’s new industry policy is expected to fast-track clearances for industrial projects requiring more than 100 acres and impose stricter conditions on land use. Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari will unveil the policy on Nov 5.The state cabinet approved the policy on Wednesday after incorporating recommendations from ministers. Industry captains have been invited to Nabanna for the launch.“The industry policy was discussed at the previous cabinet meeting. Recommendations from two ministers who were part of the Group of Ministers constituted to frame the policy were incorporated,” Adhikari said, crediting finance minister Swapan Dasgupta and industry minister Tapas Roy. “I have not interfered much in the formulation of the policy,” he added.According to Nabanna sources, the policy is expected to offer incentives to investors, streamline industrial clearances through a single-window system and introduce conditions governing the allocation and use of land for industrial projects.Govt is also considering a provision requiring industries to begin production within three years of receiving land, failing which allotments could be cancelled and land reclaimed. The final provisions will be known when the policy is formally unveiled.The policy is expected to be a key component of BJP govt’s efforts to improve Bengal’s investment climate and attract large-scale industrial projects.Adhikari also announced that financial assistance under Mukhyamantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, renamed from the earlier Krishak Bandhu scheme, would be transferred to farmers on Nov 5. He will initiate the transfer at a programme in Pursurah, Hooghly, which is expected to cover more than 50 lakh registered farmers.The cabinet also directed the finance department to release the next instalment of budgetary funds to administrative departments that have spent at least 70% of their allocations on public welfare schemes.It also approved observance of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas across Bengal from Nov 11 to 18 to commemorate the birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda.InsetState clears 1,200 posts across five departmentsThe state govt has approved around 1,200 new posts across five departments, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Wednesday. The posts have been approved in animal resources development, urban development and municipal affairs, health and family welfare, fire and emergency services, and home and hill affairs. “We will issue recruitment notifications soon and conduct examinations through PSC and SSC to fill these posts,” Adhikari said.He added that the state cabinet had approved around 45,000 posts at its previous meeting. With the latest approval, the total number of posts cleared for recruitment across cabinet meetings has reached around 60,000, he said.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kolkata | Silver Rate in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Petrol Price in Kolkata | Diesel Price in Kolkata | CNG Price in Kolkata | LPG Price in KolkataStay updated with the latest Kolkata news. Download the TOI App.