CII, govts settle tea park, container depot issues- two major issues faced by industrialists have been sorted out

SNS, SILIGURI,  5 DECEMBER 2020 : Officials of the Confederation of India Industry (CII) today claimed that two major issues faced by industrialists in north Bengal have been sorted out following intervention of both the Centre and the state government.

According to the CII, two of the major issues faced by industrialists here--relating to the Siliguri Tea Park and Inland Container Depot (ICD)- -have now been sorted out.

Notably, over 130 industrialists had purchased land in a the Siliguri Tea Park from the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) back in a 2008, but the land could not be mortgaged for bank loans, as it belonged to the Railways, and a no-objection certificate was not issued by the central government.

"After 12 long years of struggle, NOC has finally been issued by the Railway authorities with the intervention of the CII, creating a historic impact for the industry of North Bengal," the North Bengal Zonal Council of the CII said in a press release today.

"Now, banks can provide - loan to the organizations, - facilitating industrial development at the Siliguri Tea Park and also the ICD project can be operational within two months," it added.

"Credit goes to both the Centre and the state government and especially Darjeelng MP Raju Bista who also took initiatives. Investment of INR 1000 crores by 132 investors in the Siiguri Tea Park will facilitate to generate more than 5000 employments and bring a huge development in the economy of north Bengal,' Sanjit Saha, the Chairman CII North Bengal Zonal Council, also told a press conference in Siliguri today.

Mr Saha also mentioned that industrialists of north Bengal and surrounding areas can now export and import products directly from thc ICD in Siliguri, which he said will reduce around 60 to 70 percent expenses on logistics and also minimize the requirement of extra manpower and clearing agents.

According to him, MSME's of north Bengal and North Eastern States can also now package any product, starting from fruits and vegetables to heavy machineries, in thc containers. which would be transported to any destination by the Railways from the ICD.

"ICD will open horizons for logistics, tourism, transportation, leading to economic development of the region," said Sanjay Tibrewal, the Vice-chairman, CII North Bengal Zonal Council.