Chinese delegation meets Urban development department officials

The 21 member Chinese business delegation currently visiting the city met senior officials of Urban development department on Tuesday afternoon and discussed in details about the proposed theme cities.

The delegation was shown two short films on the proposed theme cities and discussion was held on their possible business opportunities. The meeting was presided over by Debashis Sen, additional chief secretary, Urban development department. The delegation showed special interest about the Teesta township in North Bengal and asked questions about the town planning system and other related issues. The township is strategically located and close to Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. Already, the Urban development has taken up a comprehensive development scheme of Jaigaon which will be converted into a commercial hub. A water supply project is coming up where water of river Torsha would be lifted and purified and then supplied to households through pipelines. The estimated cost of the project will be around Rs 100 crore and the work will be done by the state Public Health Engineering department. The UD department has engaged Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) to make a study and prepare a comprehensive report on the development of vast areas surrounding Jaigaon. The report is being studied by the UD department.

The delegation also visited Sukhobristi, a housing complex in New Town and Mother’s Wax Museum. The discussion was held in most congenial environment and the delegation had raised certain queries about the theme cities to which the UD officials would give a reply later.

The UD department has proposed to set up six theme cities in the state. The land to set them up is available. The department will develop Gitabitan township off Shantiniketan.

The state government has also come up with the township policy where the promoter will have to procure land after paying a token money  and keep the land for one year during which the promoter will do soil testing and other necessary clearances. The UD will set up the infrastructure up to the periphery of the townships.