INDUSTRY & TOURISM

Minister assures a new industrial growth centre in Cooch Behar

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 8: State cottage and small-scale industries minister Mr Manabendra Mukherjee announced that a second industrial growth centre will be developed in Cooch Behar district.

 

The minister declared that considering the importance of Cooch Behar for industrialisation and shortage of vacant plots at the existing Chakchaka Industrial Growth Centre (CIGC), the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) would develop a second industrial growth centre in Cooch Behar district. If necessary, the proposed growth centre may be developed jointly with interested private parties. Site selection process is going on but no specific land was selected till now.

 

During a meeting in Cooch Behar on Friday the minister said that the principal approval for setting up the proposed Jute Park in Cooch Behar has been sanctioned by the Central government. He hoped that the work for setting up the proposed Jute Park might begin soon.

 

Secretary of Cooch Behar District Industrialists' Welfare Association Mr Depak Mundra welcomed the minister's announcement. The CDIWA secretary requested the minister to take an initiative to change the alignment of the proposed New Maynaguri-Jogighopa railway project through the CIGC because seven industrial units of CIGC may be affected by that project. In presence of officials concerned the minister assured that after the ongoing monsoon the matter will be reviewed, Mr Mundra said.

 

Mr Mukherjee, who is also the tourism minister, visited the recently renovated Victor Palace and the Sagardighi. He said that the renovated palace would be inaugurated shortly. He instructed the persons concerned to complete the ongoing beautification of Sagardighi. At the same time he assured that toy car scheme will be added to the Narendra Narayan Park to attract visitors. Presently there is toy train facility in that park.

 

The tourism minister also disclosed that there is a plan to beautify the Cooch Behar palace to attract tourists. Required permission for the job is awaited from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Replying a question the tourism minister said if the tourists express their reluctance to go to Darjeeling, there are many beautiful spots in north Bengal to satisfy them. []