Funds torrent in north Bengal: Mitra

Amit Mitra inaugurates the 6th North Bengal Conclave in Siliguri on Friday. (Passang Yolmo)

TT, 22 Dec 2018, Siliguri: North Bengal has received industrial investments to the tune of Rs 1,800 crore during the tenure of Trinamul government and another Rs 2,700 crore will be poured into the region the coming days, Bengal minister for finance and industries Amit Mitra said here on Friday.

He was here to attend the sixth edition of North Bengal Conclave, an annual business meet hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to promote of exports, expedite logistic facilities and encourage fresh investments in the region.

"The information available with us shows that Rs 823.95 crore has been already invested in the north Bengal districts and works of projects worth Rs 971.98 crore are in progress. Also, there are investment proposal of another Rs 2,700 crores for north Bengal," Mitra said.

 The data articulated by the state finance minister with regard to investments, however, has cropped up questions within the business fraterni- ty of north Bengal. "It is great to hear that around Rs 4,500 would be invested in the region and around Rs 1,800 crores have been already invested. But it would have been more appropriate if some other information like the total employment generated out of these investments, the sectors in which these investments have been made or will be made, were shared from the state's side," said an entrepreneur based in Siliguri.

On behalf of CII, the representatives gave a presentation of some of the private investments made in the region and some other activities of the trade body, but no detail information was provided by Mitra or other government officials present at the meet.

In his speech, the finance minister tried to drive home the point that the state is putting focus in north Bengal and intend to bring in more private investments.