The Bengal government today signed seven land lease agreements for 546 acres with industries involving an investment of over Rs 5,000 crore. The big names today included Matix Fertiliser, which is building a urea plant at Panagarh and TVS, which along with Mahabharat Motors, is building a two-wheeler manufacturing hub at Uluberia.

The meeting of the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation today was the second round in the ongoing process of the 99 lease agreements that the Mamata Banerjee government is looking to sign with the industry.

NEW DELHI, 31 JAN: The CBI has registered two cases against unknown officials and private companies for allegedly causing a loss of over Rs 1,000 crore to the government exchequer by making false declarations in transportation of iron-ore and its end use. The cases were registered against unknown officials of ministry of railways and Central Excise of Haldia Commissionerate and two private companies ~ M/s Rashmi Cement Pvt Ltd, Jhargram and M/s Rashmi Metallic Pvt Ltd, Kharagpur ~ based in West Bengal, CBI officials said.

Calcutta, Nov. 7: Industry association Assocham today urged the Bengal government to play a greater role in the process of land acquisition to set up industries. “Land holdings are highly fragmented in Bengal. If some private investor wants a big chunk of land to set up industry, they should be allowed to directly interact with the landowners. If there are some complications in acquiring land, the state government should come in as a negotiator and help both parties reach a settlement. This will be a win-win situation for all,” Assocham president Dilip Modi said.

Kolkata, 1 NOV: The Cabinet sub-committee on industry chaired by the chief minister, Miss Mamata Banerjee today gave its approval to the regularising of ceiling-excess land purchased by private investors who had signed agreements with various government departments, including Jindal Steel (JSW) and Patton, but attached a condition that the industrialists must complete their projects within the time stipulated in the deals inked with the government.

With national attention held by investigations into illegal mining in Karnataka, greater loot of higher quality iron ore in eastern India and the diversity of associated corruption have gotten short shrift. Now, a Railways' investigation has unearthed massive fraud by the Bengal-based Rashmi Group (3,000 crore turnover) in the transport of iron ore. At least one Group company has fraudulently exported lakhs of tons of ore meant for domestic consumption, and ducked Railways' freight charges.

Bhubaneswar: Tightening its noose against polluting industries in the state, the Odisha government on Monday issued partial closure notices to 26 sponge iron plants for not complying with the stipulated pollution control norms, official sources said.

The 26 sponge iron units are found not enhancing their bag filter capacity and dust handling system despite several notices. Some of them are told to scale down production or work under the capacity of their bag filter, forest and environment minister Debi Prasad Mishra told reporters here.

Bhubaneswar: IIT, Kharagpur on Monday presented the Cuttack Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) Vision 2030, to chief minister Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat here.
Prof BK Sengupta of Khargpur IIT while handing over the CDP to the chief minister also gave a presentation on the plan in detail.

The state government will develop the millennium city Cuttack to another world class urban centre after Bhubaneswar with investment of an estimated Rs 19,000 crore by 2030.

KOLKATA, 13 JUNE: Chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee (in sns photo) today urged doctors of state-run healthcare establishments to take initiative to help people to restore faith in government hospitals.
She was addressing the doctors of state-run hospitals at Town Hall this morning.

BHUBANESWAR: Orissa already among top investment destinations, the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has chalked out plans which will give industries a regulatory frame-work that is responsive, efficient, equipped with a sound enforcement mechanism and scientific at the same time.

The pollution watchdog of the State has already stitched up plans for the future by readying its Vision-2030 wh