ITC to invest Rs 3,000 crore in 3 projects in Bengal

CM Mamata Banerjee laid the foundation stone of an integrated consumer goods manufacturing unit at Panchla in Howrah and an IT Park at Rajarhat

 

Diversified conglomerate ITC on Wednesday unveiled three projects in West Bengal, involving an investment of Rs 3,000 crore.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee laid the foundation stone of an integrated consumer goods manufacturing unit at Panchla in Howrah district and an information technology (IT) Park at Rajarhat near Kolkata.

Banerjee also pre-commissioned another consumer goods manufacturing facility at Uluberia, also at Howrah.

The first plant was expected to be commissioned by January 2017, while the other pre-commissioned one by May this year.

The IT Park would be commissioned in phases, starting 2018.

ITC Chairman Y C Deveshwar said this was beginning of a fresh chapter in the long history of the company in West Bengal.

All facilities would be world class, he said, adding if more land was made available to ITC, the company would set up a cold chain and start manufacturing frozen foods.

ITC would engage more with the farmers of the state, Deveshwar said, adding it was experimenting with the manufacture of a special variety of seeds which will not absorb moisture.

The company is also developing a special kind of potato seeds as well.

Deveshwar said the growing per capita income of the state should attract industry to Bengal.