WB Govt enters into agreement with Salim Group

Kolkata, Jul 31 (UNI) The West Bengal government today entered into a landmark infrastructure and industrial development agreement with a consortium led by Salim Group and the Unitech group in around 40,000 acres of land.

The Salim group, the Universal Success group and Unitech group has formed a special purpose company New Kolkata International Development Private Ltd to develop the projects over a period of 15 years.

"The comprehensive project for industrial and infrastructure development will enable inclusive growth. We will avoid fertile land while taking over land for the projects after payment of compensation. The land losers will also be trained with skills that will help them get employment in industries," West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said.

The industrial development projects include a chemical industrial SEZ on 10,000 acres in Nandigram (East Medinipur district), a multi-product SEZ on 12500 acres in Haldia (East Medinipur district) and small and medium enterprises industrial estate over 400 acres in different locations in South 24 Parganas and East Medinipur districts.

The infrastructure development projects include the eastern link highway from Barasat Bypass to Raichak in about 2500 acres, the Raichak - Kukrahati bridge over river Hooghly by 2012 and the Haldia - Nandigram bridge over river Haldi among others.

The consortium would also develop residential-commercial complex on 5000 acres in Kukrahati (East Medinipur), residential complex on 3750 acres in Baruipur (South 24 Parganas) and health and knowledge city on 1500 acres in Bhangar (South 24 Parganas district) among others.

The projects for economic rehabilitation and social development for land losers include construction of 8000 stalls in South 24 Parganas and 12000 in East Medinipur.

The consortium would set up four training institutes to provide vocational training to the youths from the land loser families free of cost.

State Commerce and Industry Minister Nirupam Sen said cost for developing the social infrastructure is around Rs 4000 crore, which would be completed by 2012. The cost of other projects would be assessed after preparing the detailed project reports, Mr Sen said.

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