WB State to focus on industrial growth in Darjeeling Hills

FROM THE STATESMAN

BY PRANESH SARKAR

KOLKATA, 17 JULY: After settling the issue in the hills by signing the tripartite agreement tomorrow, the Trinamul Congress-led state government is set to lay stress on bringing in industries in the three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling.

For this, the state government is likely to place a demand before the department of industrial policy and promotion of the Union ministry of commerce and industry to include the northern part of the state in the North-East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) where industrialists are given huge tax relief if they set up industries.

“It is in the roadmap of our government. Chief minister had already taken up the issue with the Centre in the recent past. Now, a fresh initiative would be taken. If our neighbouring states like Sikkim can enjoy the facility, it should be extended to the northern part of our states which has similar topography. At least three hill sub-divisions ~ Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong ~ should enjoy the facility,” the uttarbanga unnayan affairs minister, Mr Gautam Deb, told The Statesman.

Senior officials at Writers’ Buildings said that the Centre gives a package of fiscal incentives and other concessions for the industrialists who set up their units in North-Eastern states under the NEIIPP. The package was announced first in 1997 where the facility was announced for states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. In 2007, the facility has been extended to Sikkim, too.

Under this policy, industries set up in these states enjoy several facilities, including 100 per cent excise duty exemption, 100 per cent Income-Tax exemption, handsome amount of capital investment subsidy, interest subsidy on working capital loan etc. And these facilities are offered for a period of 10 years.
As per the plan prepared for undertaking development in north Bengal, the state government is eyeing to set up industries in the hills only to generate employment for local youths as well as overall development of the area. “There are several opportunities to set up industries in the hills. Industries like information technology, pharmaceuticals, bio-technology units which are based on medicinal plants and readymade garment industry can flourish in the area. These units would also generate huge number of employment for the local people,” said Mr Deb. The state government is likely to argue that if Sikkim can be brought under the policy, the Centre should consider bringing three Hill sub-divisions under the facility as it has same topography as Sikkim.