West Bengal plans to expand industrial parks

Riding on the increasing demand from the industry, the West Bengal government is planning to scale up various industrial parks across the state.

The state is going to acquire fresh lands to expand the food park at Sankrail in Howrah and also a multi-sectoral park in Barjora in Bankura apart from building second phases in both toy park and gems and jewellery park at Salt Lake in Kolkata.

Nirupam Sen, minister of industry and chairman of West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) said the government was looking at all options to procure land for the industry.

"There is virtually no land available for development but the demand is strong. We are still trying to make land available for the industry and, more often than not, succeeding," Sen said.

For instance, at Barjora it started with 190 acre land. Now it is adding another 250-300 acre land. Simultaneously, the food park which started with 50 acre land is expected to be double in size.

Moreover, the government is also helping number of industry bodies and associations acquire land. Foundry and rubber associations have gone ahead with their plan to set up parks near Kolkata.

The process of land acquisition is at present mired with number of laws. The government is also looking to simplify some of them to make the procedure hassle free.

Meanwhile, the standalone units have also going ahead with their expansion plan. Sen said WBIDC has disburse Rs 54 crore to 11 units which would call for investment of about Rs 170 crore. Units are working in the area of software development, drugs and pharmaceuticals, jute and plastic among others.

The minister, who is heading for Asia Week in Milan followed by a two-day trip to Dubai, also announced that operating profit of WBIDC has gone up by 41 per cent to Rs 3.29 crore in the April-June quarter from Rs 2.34 crore same period previous year. Income from core operation has gone up by 47 per cent to Rs 4.69 crore from 3.2 crore in the same period.

"Our focus is job oriented growth. From the government point of view, small and medium scale industries are very important since they can provide employment," Sen added.