MOU signed for Rs 33,000 crore Dankuni World

Kolkata, Feb 19 (UNI) The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) with real estate giant DLF for the construction of an integrated industrial township at Dankuni at an estimated cost of Rs 33,000 crores.

The MOU, signed by senior KMDA and DLF officials in presence of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and state Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharya in the former's chamber at the state Secretariat, was aimed at completing the project entitled "Dankuni World" within the next decade.

Later, speaking to newsmen more about the dream project, the Chief Minister said the new township would be built on an area of 4840 acres of land of which 771 acres had already been identified.

Ruling out the possibility of any protest from any quarter during the acquisition of remaining portion of the land, Mr Bhattacharjee said a very attractive compensation package had already been worked out for the displaced people to which overwhelming response had already started pouring in.

When come up by 2016, the Dankuni World would accomodate a number of food processing, textile and light engineering units besides having a huge residential complex, some schools, a college and a number of entertainment related units for the residents.

Asked about the nature of compensatory packages for the displaced people, the Chief Minister said apart from paying adequately to all those who would willingly give up their land, provisions had been made to provide alternative accomodation to them.

Moreover, if any of the displaced people was found to be under BPL category, the person would not only be given Rs 2,000 extra for each katha of land he had given, but also an alternative land or suitable accomodation free of cost by the promoters.

About 4,000 people would also find jobs during the construction of the new township, Mr Bhattacharjee said and hoped that the township would open up a new window of opportunity for all people living in and around Dankuni area, situated about 25 km from here in Hooghly district.

UNI