Another big land mark in foreign investment is set to get underway in West Bengal, if the the state government’s Law Department settles the procedural issues involved with the mega-city project in Howrah District’s western side. Benni Santohso, an Indonesia-based major, which had to its credit of setting up a modern township in China, has eyed 450-acre land in west Howrah for a mega-city township project. The Benni Santohso team is coming again on July 7 to get a final word from the state government. And that’s all the more reason why the state government officials are putting their heads together to settle the procedural bottle-necks. It is not yet clear if the company wanted to take the 450-acre land on lease or purchase it. ‘‘We’re working to ease out the procedural problems on these options on both sides — lease or sell,’’ said a top official. Besides west Howrah township, the company also gave proposal to develop Dunkuni in the Hooghly district as an industrial township. According to state government sources, this mega investment would turn the tide by expanding urban Bengal to rural areas. ‘‘Besides, it would act as a deterrent to illegal promotory business in the state,’’ feels a senior state government official. Though the state government officials are not forthcoming about the exact amount of investments that would flow in, it says if things are settled as scheduled next month, West Bengal would set an example among other Indian states. ‘‘But we have to examine issues like legal hassles of sellout of the land and prepare ourselves for all kinds of situations,’’ said a senior official.
