'Stringent action against syndicates creating trouble for industrialists'

Stating that stringent measures would be taken if attempt is made to disturb the peaceful atmosphere for further investment, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took a stock of the progress of investment plans in East Midnapore including that of the proposed greenfield refinery.

The TCG Group owned by Purnendu Chatterjee had proposed to set up a refinery at Haldia in East Midnapore. During the administrative review meeting at Digha on Wednesday, the state government began the work to identify additional 1,500 acre of land.

During the administrative meeting, industry secretary Rajiva Sinha informed all including the officials of the Haldia Petrochemicals Limited (HPL) that around 800 acre of land has already been identified for the project. The survey work has also begun and the report will be submitted within the next two weeks.

The setting up of the project worth Rs 20,000 crore, as announced earlier in the Bengal Global Business Summit, will help the company not to depend on importing naphtha from Gulf countries.

Ashok Kumar Ghosh, a senior official of HPL, told the Chief Minister in the meeting that the company is running successfully for the past three years after it reopened in 2014 following her initiatives and its 40 different products are meant for consumption at different factories as a result of which he floated a proposal of setting up more petrochemical downstream industries.

The Chief Minister said in this connection that such factories could come up in Haldia and other parts of the state as well.

The state government will take necessary steps in this connection. Banerjee has also directed necessary steps to organise an industrial synergy at Haldia after the state Transport minister Suvendu Adhikari informed her that they have received 10 detailed project reports to set up industries including cement factory and ancillary.

Adhikari added that the plots could be identified from the land bank and there to could be an investment of Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 crore if the projects get sanctioned by the group of ministers.

The state government is also funding Rs 4 crore for the two clusters in East Midnapore after the Centre refused to give money for the project. At the same time, the search for 2000 acre of land is going on for a major project in the district.

Besides taking stock of the progress in the industrial growth in the district, the Chief Minister also asked the Block Development Officers (BDOs) and Inspectors-in-charge about the present situation in the grassroot level.

She asked the police officers as to how a youth who was arrested on charges of posting fake photographs on social media managed to get an anticipatory bail.

The Chief Minister further said that the state government is going to introduce the third phase of the "Kanyashree" scheme for girl students in the universities.

She further directed all the officers to keep watch whether the ICDS centres were functioning properly.

At the same time the police have been directed to set up kiosks at spots including Kolaghat, Khejuri and Tamluk with "May I Help You" boards fitted on them where tourists and commoners can come for assistance if needed.

She also directed the police to put up posters with slogans like "Slow Drive, Save Life".

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday directed officials of all concerned departments to take necessary steps for timely completion of the 7.5 km-long marine bridge connecting Mandarmoni and Udaypur in East Midnapore. She directed the top brass of the Public Works Department (PWD) and others involved to take necessary measures so that there shouldn't be any delay as hundreds of people will be benefitted with its completion and the sea resort will witness higher footfall.