‘Bengal cleared many projects’

‘The state government had cleared several industrial projects involving 14Y clearance before the Lok Sabha elections, but could not announce because of the enforcement of the model code of conduct,’ state Finance minister Amit Mitra told an interaction organised by Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce here.

Now we are going to announce them,’ he said. Section 14Y clearance was required for land holding in excess of 24 acres under the Land Ceiling Act.

Trying to dispel the perception that the state’s industrial progress was somewhat halted, Mitra said that several companies including multinationals like H R Johnson were setting up industries in industrial parks in the state.

‘The government is absolutely geared to clear industrial projects in the shortest period of time,’ he said, adding that the state had on offer 3000 acres of land in industrial parks of WBIDC and WBIIDC.

Stating the present government was committed to ease of doing business, Mitra said there were several projects which were in the pipeline awaiting execution.

These were the cement plants of Anil Ambani-led Reliance ADAG, Emami, Rs 2000-crore integrated steel, power and cement 

plant at Jamuria in Burdwan of Shyam Group, Rs 500 crore investment by Vikram Solar, Rs 850-crore steel and power plant by Shakambari Limited and a few others, he said.

These projects would entail creation of more than 5000 jobs, Mitra added.