Page 25 - West Bengal

2 receive 10-year rigorous imprisonment in 2021 Bengal bomb blast case

A special NIA court in Kolkata has sentenced two men to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment for their involvement in the 2021 Jaggadal bomb blast case in West Bengal, an official statement said Sunday. The court sent Chand alias Arif Akhtar and Rahul Pasi to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 on each offender, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said in a statement. The duo, along with one juvenile, had hurled three bombs in quick succession at the gate next to ex-MP Arjun Singh's office-cum-residence -- Majdoor Bhawan -- at Jaggadal in North 24 Parganas district on September 8, 2021, the statement said. While Akhtar and the juvenile were apprehended by the local police, the NIA, which took over the case on September 14, 2021, arrested Pasi later. The agency had chargesheeted the accused in December 2021. While Pasi and Akhtar were pronounced guilty and sentenced by the NIA special court on Saturday, the juvenile continues to be in parental custody, the

Anti-national activities high in some areas of West Bengal: LoP Adhikari

The BJP leaders in the State have been targeting Mamata Banerjee, accusing her government of giving permission to illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and Rohingya migrants to settle in the State

No progress on housing, roads, anganwadis under PM-JANMAN in WB: Centre

The Union tribal affairs ministry on Thursday said there had been no progress in West Bengal under PM JANMAN for housing, roads, Anganwadis and student hostels for PVTGs. The Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN), launched in November 2023, aims to provide basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water, education, health and nutrition, road and telecom connectivity, and livelihood opportunities to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) through 11 specific initiatives led by nine central ministries. PVTGs are characterised by pre-agricultural level of technology, stagnant or declining population growth, extremely low literacy and a subsistence level of economy. Responding to a question by BJP MP Jyotirmay Singh Mahato, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durga Das Uikey told the Lok Sabha that one key initiative under PM JANMAN was setting up multi-purpose centres with full funding from the ministry. However, the West Bengal governm

WB Budget's focus on revenue over capex signals poll-year populism: Experts

The West Bengal government's budgetary proposals for a sharp increment in revenue expenditure coupled with a marginal rise in capital outlay for the 2025-26 fiscal look like one that has its eyes clearly set on the state elections due next year, experts said. The budget, tabled before the West Bengal assembly on Wednesday, proposed significant cash dole-outs under the revenue expenditure head, pegged at over Rs 30,000 crore higher in 2025-26 than the revised estimates of the current fiscal of 2024-25, but tendered an increase of less than Rs 12,000 crore under capital outlay for the same period. Revenue expenditures of an organisation are short-term expenses used to service its ongoing operational costs, including salaries of employees, overhead costs and financing welfare schemes, while capital expenditures (capex) are funds used for one-time creation of fixed assets that are expected to generate revenue over a longer period. Figures from the state budget revealed that the Bengal .

TMC's last Budget before polls lays focus on job creation, DA hiked by 4%

Given the focus on social sector schemes, the state is planning market borrowing of over Rs 81,972 crore in 2025-26, projecting the total outstanding debt to go up to Rs 7,71,670 crore

Bengal Budget allocates Rs 1,091 cr for forest dept, Sunderbans Affairs

Emphasising the importance of increasing green cover, the West Bengal budget for 2025-26 allocated Rs 1,091.11 crore for the forest department and Sunderbans Affairs. A senior forest official explained that this allocation would fund projects like the Green India Mission, Integrated Watershed Management, Eco-tourism, afforestation efforts, the state's 100-day work schemes (in the absence of central allocations), School Nursery programmes, and the Sabujshree initiative, among others. Minister MoS (Independent) Chandrima Bhattacharya said the government is committed to enhancing ecological stability by increasing forest and tree cover and conserving wildlife. "A total of 3,584.40 hectares have been afforested under the state development scheme, with 113.34 lakh saplings distributed to the public. Under the Sabujshree initiative, 64 lakh seedlings have been distributed to mothers of newborns until November 2024," she stated in the budget. Additionally, 131.48 hectares of plantations a

Waiting for legal opinion on Tajpur port: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

"Tendering will probably happen again as there is a dispute"

West Bengal's growth driven by fiscal discipline, says Economic Review

The Economic Review for 2024-25 presented by the West Bengal government in the assembly on Wednesday said that the state had achieved growth over the years through fiscal discipline. The review said that in the last 13 years, the West Bengal economy has witnessed tremendous growth. The size of the economy, measured in terms of nominal gross state domestic product (GSDP) has reached a level of Rs 18,15,010 crore in 2024-25. In the same fiscal, the state economy is estimated to grow by 6.80 per cent in real terms. According to the review, fiscal health of the state has improved impressively in the last 13 years. The state's own tax revenue collection has risen by more than four times between 2010-11 to 2023-24. On the other hand, capital expenditure has been consistently increasing since 2011-12. Also, government spending on agriculture and allied sector, rural development and social welfare schemes has increased enormously, the review said. On account of effective fiscal consolida

West Bengal Budget 2025-26: Rs 3.89 trn earmarked to push growth, welfare

West Bengal Budget 2025: Increase in dearness allowance and welfare schemes among key highlights of Budget speech

Rs 3.89 trn Budget for FY26 tabled in Bengal Assembly, DA increased 4%

West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya on Wednesday presented the state budget for 2025-26, pegged at Rs 3.89 lakh crore, with a significant focus on social welfare, rural growth and infrastructure. The government has unveiled a series of infrastructure and agricultural development projects in its budget, allocating significant funds for rural connectivity, river erosion control, and agrarian support initiatives. In a key announcement, Bhattacharya announced that the state government would increase the Dearness Allowance (DA) by four per cent from April 1, 2025. This would bring the total DA to 18 per cent for the state employees, providing much-needed relief to them, amid rising inflation.

Parents of deceased RG Kar hospital medic meet RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

The case involves the rape and murder of a trainee doctor, whose body was found on August 9, 2024, in the RG Kar Hospital's seminar room

WB govt sets up investment synergy panel to improve ease of doing business

The West Bengal government on Saturday formed an investment synergy committee to expedite implementation of project proposals and boost the ease of doing business in the state. A notification to this effect was issued two days after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during the Bengal Global Business Summit, announced that a panel would be set up to ensure ease of doing business in the state. The State-Level Investment Synergy Committee (SLISC), chaired by the chief secretary, will act as a single-window clearance system for investment proposals, ensuring approvals within a mandated timeframe, the notification said. The initiative aims to streamline the process of obtaining necessary clearances and approvals for industrial projects and other investments in the state. The SLISC will include heads of 19 departments, including industry, commerce and enterprises, environment, finance, labour, and urban development. The chief secretary may also include heads of other relevant departments

BJP's Bengal unit hails Delhi poll results, TMC maintains silence

The BJP West Bengal unit on Saturday hailed the party's good performance in the Delhi Assembly polls, terming it a rejection of corruption and nepotism, while the TMC, which had backed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), maintained silence on the outcome. BJP state president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar said the verdict in Delhi reflected people's faith in development and would serve as a morale booster for party workers in West Bengal ahead of next year's assembly elections. The BJP is poised to form a government in Delhi after more than 26 years, with the latest Election Commission trends showing the saffron party ahead in 45 of the 70 assembly seats and AAP in 21 seats. "The people of Bengal will also vote for the BJP in the next assembly polls and reject the TMC," Majumdar said. Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, took to X to congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the victory, calling it a decisive mandate against AAP. "Huge Victory fo

World's largest curd plant coming to Kolkata as Amul invests Rs 600 crore

Amul is investing Rs 600 crore in Kolkata to set up the world's largest curd manufacturing plant, catering to Bengal's rising demand for dairy products and boosting India's dairy sector

WB emerged as 'powerhouse of growth, opportunity': Mamata after biz summit

A day after the eighth edition of her government's business summit concluded, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said the state has emerged "as a powerhouse of growth and opportunity" as 1.72 crore people have been lifted out of poverty. The two-day Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) 2025 yielded 212 MoUs and Letters of Intent with investment proposals amounting to Rs 4,40,595 crore, she said. In a post on X, Banerjee said, "Yesterday, as I stood at the Bengal Global Business Summit, surrounded by policymakers, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs and global visionaries, I saw a dream unfolding before my eyes. "1.72 crore people have been lifted out of poverty, and Bengal emerged as a powerhouse of growth and opportunity. I am proud to share that this year's BGBS has yielded 212 MoUs and Letters of Intent, with investment proposals totalling Rs 4,40,595 crore". The chief minister said that after assuming office in 2011, she vowed to steer Bengal towards a future of

Rapido proposes Rs 150 cr investment in mobility, infra segment in Bengal

Ride-sharing platform Rapido has proposed to invest Rs 150 crore in the mobility and infrastructure segment in West Bengal with majority of the investment expected to go into urban mobility, the company said on Thursday. Announcing the signing of an initial pact with the state's transport department to this effect, Rapido said as part of the partnership it will introduce a dedicated fleet of pink-coloured two-wheelers and four-wheelers, driven by women captains, ensuring a secure and comfortable experience for female passengers under its Pink Mobility Initiative, a programme designed to provide safe and reliable commuting options for women. Currently, executing 1 lakh rides per day across Bengal, Rapido's operations have become an integral part of daily commuting in the state, the company said. "As part of this collaboration, Rapido will invest Rs 150 crore towards key initiatives focused on electric mobility, women's safety in transportation, and road safety awareness. A significan

Bengal receives investment proposals worth Rs 4.4 trn: CM Mamata Banerjee

Banerjee said investment proposals worth Rs 4,40,595 crore had been received. "I am extremely happy," she said

Bengal got investment proposals worth Rs 4.40 trn in biz summit: Mamata

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said West Bengal received investment proposals valued at over Rs 4.40 lakh crore during the two-day business conclave this year, and asserted that the state remains a "prime destination" for investors. Addressing the concluding session of the summit, Banerjee revealed that a total of 212 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and letters of intent were signed across various sectors, reflecting the state's robust investment climate. "We have received investment proposals worth Rs 4, 40,595 crore during this event. This will create thousands of job opportunities in West Bengal," she said, highlighting the significance of the summit. Banerjee also credited her government's development efforts since 2011 for uplifting 1.72 crore people above the poverty line. "Our focus on infrastructure, industry, and social welfare has led to significant progress," she added. In the last edition of BGBS in 2023, investment proposals valued at Rs 3.76 lakh crore

Bengal Summit: CM Mamata unveils investment proposals of over Rs 90.51 trn

She also said that the Deucha-Pachami project would commence on Thursday with basalt mining

Sajjan Jindal-led JSW plans airport foray with Andal airport in West Bengal

The foray would be through JSW Infrastructure, which would be buying a stake from private investors in Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL)