CM announces IT hub in New Town

Bolpur: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee proposed to set up an IT hub in New Town on the lines of the Silicon Valley in the US.

Addressing senior bureaucrats and people's representatives at an administrative review meeting here on Wednesday afternoon, the Chief Minister said the proposed hub will come up on 100 acre of land in New Town. She asked Debashis Sen, Additional Chief Secretary (IT Department), to get in touch with Amit Mitra, state Finance minister and Firhad Hakim, state Urban Development minister to discuss the matter.

"If such an IT hub can be created in New Town there will be many new jobs and the entire area will be full of activity," she maintained. It may be mentioned that IT giant Infosys has registered 50 acre of land in New Town and is likely to start construction once the boundary wall is set up. The IT giant is also likely to take possession of the land end of this month.

Earlier, Infosys had paid Rs 75 crore for the plot. Another IT firm — Wipro — has also taken 50 acre and paid Rs 75 crore to Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO). Sen informed the gathering that the IT hub in Bolpur is functioning well.

Banerjee expressed her displeasure over the way Animal Resources Department (ARD) had tackled the chicken debacle in Baduria in North 24-Parganas. "What were the BDO, IC and the District Magistrate of North 24-Parganas doing? Why the ARD officials took four days to detect the matter and by then dead chicken had been dispatched and sold to different areas including Kolkata," she asked. Banerjee added that the matter could have been handled more efficiently and prompt action was required. "No incident should be neglected and remember a stitch in time, saves nine. If people would have died after consuming dead chicken, then the state government would have been held responsible." She urged people not to panic and assured that every step has been taken.

Banerjee urged the cooperative banks and nationalised banks to give loans to farmers and Self-Help Groups. Measures should be taken to ensure that the cooperative banks function smoothly. "The problems of banks cannot be ironed out by giving subsidy. The banks should earn and become self-reliant," she pointed out.

Banerjee asked the Birbhum district administration to set up watch towers in the accident-prone areas as many pilgrims die in road accidents on their way back home from Tarapith. "Thousands come to Tarapith and we should ensure safe and smooth journey," she maintained.

Banerjee said the five religious places in Birbhum are being developed. Baulbitan and Rangabitan are being developed as tourist spots.

She expressed satisfaction over the progress of work at Gitabitan township and Biswa Bangla Bishyabidyalaya. At Gitabitan township work on infrastructure building is going on and Santiniketan Sriniketan Development Authority will set up the model bungalow soon. The DPR of the university has been prepared. Both the places are being developed by the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO).