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West Bengal to set up hi-tech habitat in Durgapur

The West Bengal government will set up a high-profile hi-tech information technology, or IT, habitat in the industrial town of Durgapur in collaboration with computer giant IBM.

Officials said the government has set in motion a strategy in this respect and Chief Minister Jyoti Basu is scheduled to meet IBM officials on Wednesday to finalise the proposed project.

Even before the meeting was scheduled, the state government had earmarked 150 acres of land in Durgapur for the proposed habitat, officials said, adding that a provision had also been made to increase the area of land if such a need arose.

The meeting with the chief minister would also decide on giving a free hand to IBM to set up the hi-tech habitat.

The IT taskforce, set up by the Union Ministry of Information and Technology, envisaged the setting-up of 50 hi-tech habitats in the country to fulfil the target of exporting $ 50 billion worth of IT software and services by the year 2008, which was projected to be India's share in the $ 2-trillion global IT industry during the first decade of the new millennium.

Officials said the task force had recommended setting up 45 of the 50 habitats in backward areas as global experience showed that such hi-tech habitats flourished well. West Bengal had been awarded with two such habitats: one will be in Durgapur and the other would be in Haldia.

The remaining five habitats would be set up in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Bhubaneswar and Pune.

For the Durgapur habitat, the state government will hold its equity in land and basic infrastructure, while the private sector will provide the funds.

Officials said Durgapur scored over other districts because of its strong infrastructural facilities.

The Durgapur Development Authority had been instructed to ensure speedy clearance of proposals in this respect, officials said and added that state electricity board had been asked to see for uninterrupted supply of power to the proposed hi-tech habitats.

For purchase and sale of land in the habitat, instructions have been issued for providing relief in stamp duty, floor area ratio and amendments in other rules and regulations, officials added.

UNI

Business

West Bengal