Permission to set up industry in Bengal easily available: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday said her government is keen to restore the Asansol-Durgapur belt as an industrial hub and asserted permission to set up an industry in the state was easily available.

"The government has made new industry, land, IT, and PPP policies which will smoothen the industrial process. Permissions are now easily available to set up industries in the state," she said.

The government has also initiated core committees for the industrialisation of north and south Bengal comprising ministers, government officials and industry players, said Banerjee.

"A core committee for developing industry in north Bengal has been announced to be led by state Finance Minister Amit Mitra which will review the industrial scenario in north and south Bengal regularly and I will review it once or twice every year," she said.

The Trinamool supremo said Asansol and Durgapur have been historically industrial belts and the construction of industrial hubs in these locations is nearly over.

"From April this year, the IT hub will be operational. A big industrial hub is coming up in Balagarh where about Rs.15,000 crore investments is coming," she said.

Banerjee said the Asansol-Durgapur and Bardhaman-Bankura-Purulia zone is very important for development of industry in the state and will play crucial role in the resurgence of industry in Bengal.

She said considerable investments are in the pipeline for development of north Bengal.

"The Panchami coal belt in Birbhum will attract investments worth Rs. 12,000 crore which will generate 16,000 direct employment opportunities and additional employment in ancillaries and supporting sectors. Besides, SAIL will invest Rs.40,000 crore for expansion of the Durgapur Steel plant which will generate over one lakh employment opportunities," she said.

Besides, the state is building an "alternative" road in Midnapur-Panskura-Arambagh-Burdwan-Birbum worth Rs.3,200 crore which will connect north Bengal with the southern districts. The construction will begin next year.

She also said plans are there to generate over 1,500 MW additional electricity in north Bengal.

"Investment proposals of Rs.1.5 lakh crore is already there for Durgapur-Asansol region," she said.