| Particulars |
Description |
 Area |
88,752 sq. km |
 Population |
9,13,47,736 * |
 Capital |
Kolkata |
 Principal Languages |
Bengali |
Bengal finds a coveted place even in pre-historic times. At the time
of Alexander's invasion a powerful kingdom called Gangaridai ruled over
Bengal. Ascendancy of the Guptas and the Mauryas had somewhat little
effect on Bengal. Later Sasanka became King of Bengal and is said to
have played an important role in North-Eastern India in the early half
of the seventh century. He was succeeded by Gopala, who founded the Pala
dynasty, which ruled for centuries and had created a huge empire. The
Palas were followed by the Sena dynasty which was ended by Muslim rulers
from Delhi. Bengal was ruled by various Muslim rulers and governors
till the Mughal period in sixteenth century.
After the Mughals, history of modern Bengal begins with the advent of
European and English trading companies. Battle of Plassey in 1757
changed the course of history when the English first gained a strong
foothold in Bengal and India. In 1905 it was partitioned to achieve some
political returns but people's growing movement under the auspices of
Congress led to the reunion in 1911. This triggered off hectic movement
for freedom which culminated with Independence in 1947, and partition.
After 1947, the merger of native princely states began which ended
with its final reorganisation in 1956 (as per Recommendations of the
States Reorganisation Act, 1956) when some Bengali speaking areas of a
neighbouring State were transferred to West Bengal.
The land frontiers of the State touch Bangladesh in the east and are
separated from Nepal in the west, Bhutan lies in the north-east, while
Sikkim is on the north. On the west are the States of Bihar and
Jharkhand, while on the South lies Odisha.
Agriculture
Agriculture plays a pivotal role in the State's economy and nearly
three out of every four persons is directly or indirectly involved in
agriculture. The total food production in the State in 2007-08, was
16060.0 thousand tonnes. During 2007-08, the production of rice was
14719.2 thousand tonnes, of wheat 917.3 thousand tonnes and of pulses
158.0 thousand tonnes respectively. The production of oilseeds during
the same period was 705.7 thousand tonnes and of potato 9900.89 thousand
tonnes. The production of jute was 8216.0 thousand bales in 2007-08
Industry
In 2008, 187 projects with a total investment of
Rs.4060.78
crore were implemented in the State. The index of industrial production
(Base 1993-94 =100) of West Bengal has been consistently rising from
132.8 in 2001-02 to 200.8 in 2007-08. Despite economic recession,
industrial production index in West Bengal grew by 4.0 per cent in
2007-08 over previous year. Within the industrial sector the rates of
growth of manufacturing sector it may be noted, have been quite
impressive over the years. The contribution of manufacturing sector was
7.9 per cent in 2007-08.
The salient features of the State policy on industrial promotion and
economic development are to welcome foreign technology and investment,
private sector investment in power generation, improvement and
upgradation of industrial infrastructure. The thrust areas are
petrochemicals and downstream industries, electronics and information
technology, iron and steel, metallurgical and engineering, textile,
leather and leather products, food processing, medicinal plants, edible
oil, vegetable processing and aquaculture.
In the recent years the flow of investment in the districts like
Bankura, Midnapur, Burdwan and Purulia has been quite impressive. In
2007 highest amount of investment,
Rs.1532.52 crore took place in chemical and petrochemical sector, followed by
Rs.1359.62 crore in iron and steel sector,
Rs.705.13 crore in food processing sector,
Rs.471.26 crore in engineering industry,
Rs.328.51 crore in software and other services sector.
The State Government has continued its effort for accelerating the
process of industrialisation with the State implementing 42 numbers of
industrial Entrepreneur Memorandums (IEMs) with an additional employment
generation of 4535 persons in 2007, in the iron and steel sector.
Several companies like JSW Bengal, Bhusan Steel Limited, Jai Balaji,
Videocon groups will set up integrated steel, cement and captive power
plants in the State. Apart from JSW Bengal some of the important
approvals received in the sponge iron and steel sector during the period
include-5 million tonnes per annum (TPA) steel plant of Jai Balaji
group involving investment of
Rs.7737 crore at Purulia, 1.1 million TPA steel plant of Adhunik Corporation involving an investment of
Rs.1850
crore at Raghunathpur in Purulia, 0.6 million TPA steel plant at
Kharagpur in Midnapore and 1.1 million TPA steel plant of Shyam Group
involving investment of 910 crore, 2 million TPA steel plant of Shyam
Sel Limited involving investment of
Rs.1028 crore.
Apart from the above mentioned power projects of steel companies, the
State received an important IEM for setting up of 1200 MW power plant
by Bharat Aluminium Company at Raniganj.
Although the State has no linkage for iron ore supplies, the
companies have decided to set up steel plants in the State and source
the raw materials from neighboring states like Jharkhand and Odisha.
Apart from these, the State government has also been making efforts to
locate Petroleum, Chemical and
Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) in the State, which has the
potential to draw huge investments
Major investments are taking place in mine, steel plants, forging,
pig iron etc.
The easy availability of power, removal of freight equalisation, close
proximity to areas with natural resources relevant to the industry, and a
labour force, traditionally skilled in operating iron and steel units
are factors that have influenced the surge in investment in this sector.
In recent years, investment in the chemical and cement industry has
also picked up.
After the commissioning of the Haldia Petrochemicals Limited (HPL) in
2000, downstream units in the plastic and other related industries were
set up in the State and they are mostly engaged in manufacturing
plastic items like buckets, containers, moulded furniture, battery
containers, nylon nets, house wares etc. During 2008 an amount of
Rs.138
crore has been invested in 67 HPL downstream units. Thus direct
employment of 43863 persons was created till 2006-07. Indirect
employment of 80044 persons was created.
The State Government has introduced policy reforms in several areas
in conjunction with practical measures to sustain investor confidence;
the State
Government has introduced policy reforms in several areas. It has
promulgated in a quick succession its policies on the development of
industries in Biotechnology, Mines and Minerals, Information Technology
and IT enabled services sectors. These policy statements have clearly
enunciated the State Government objectives and outlined map to achieve
them. Through WBIIDC and WBIDC the State Government has set up the
leather complex, foundry, rubber, chemical, plasto-steel, light
engineering, polymer, garments and jute parks. Setting up of industrial
parks in the Paschim Medinipore, Bankura, Malda, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri
districts have been initiated.
The State Government is focused on developing Special Economic Zones
(SEZs). It encourages hassle free manufacturing and trading for export
promotion. Till March, 2008, 6 notified approvals have been issued by
the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India. Around 80 per cent
investment takes place in IT/ITES sector and 2 per cent in biotech
sector. In West Bengal, there are three 3 functional Special Economic
Zones- Falta (multi products zone), Manikanchan (Salt lake-gems and
jewellery) and WIPRO (Salt Lake-IT/ITEs).
The Calcutta Leather Complex at Bantala has already been declared as a
Special Economic Zone. It is a perfect model of public private
partnership, spread over around 1,100 acres of land and is steadily
emerging as one of the largest projects of its kind in the world.
The Food Processing Industries & Horticulture Department of the
State
Government promotes food-processing industries in the State. There is an
increasing trend towards setting up of Food Processing Industries in
West Bengal and in 2006-07, 67 projects with a total investment of
Rs.336.18 crore were implemented in the food processing industries sector.
The State has identified the Information Technology (IT) sector as a
priority sector for growth. The IT Hub at sector-V of Salt Lake is
India's first fully integrated electronic complex spread over 150 acres
of green pollution free area near airport. An estimated 15,000 new jobs
were created in 2007-08. The gross value of export under software
Technology Park in Kolkata has already touched
Rs.4000 crore during 2007-08 as against
Rs.2167 crore in 2005-06 and
Rs.3169 crore in 2006-07.
Irrigation and Power
There are 7 major irrigation projects and 34 medium irrigation
schemes being managed by the irrigation and Waterways Department of the
State Government. Teesta Barrage Project and Subarnarekha Barrage
Projects are the two major in-going schemes. A cumulative potential to
the tune of 145020 hectares has been created from the Teesta Barrage
Project upto 2007-08 against the ultimate potential of 527000 hectares.
The Subarnarekha Barrage Project envisages the utilization of the share
of water resources available from the river Subarnarekha as per the
Tripartite Agreement with the Government of Bihar (presently Government
of Jharkhand) and Odisha to irrigate an area of 99248 hectares in Kharif
and 30766 hectares in Rabi in the districts of Paschim and Purba
Medinipur of the State.
The State Government took up several Medium Irrigation Schemes in the
districts of Bankura, Birbhum, Burdwan and Purulia. Out of the 32
schemes in Purulia, 25 schemes have been completed and 7 schemes are
continuing, of which 2 schemes namely Patloi and Tatko Irrigation
Schemes are included under modified programme of AIBP. The ultimate
irrigation potential achieved through the completed medium irrigation
schemes is 43,002 thousand hectares, whereas the ultimate irrigation
potential of the on-going schemes is 8.21 thousand hectares.
The ultimate minor irrigation potential in the State has been
estimated as 44.34
lakh hectares, out of which 31.34 lakh hectares are from ground water
resources and 13.00 lakh hectares are from surface water resources. At
the end of the Annual Plan of 2008-09, creation of irrigation potentials
in the Minor Irrigation sector has been estimated to reach 40.20 lakh
hectares, of which 27.47 lakh hectares through ground water resources
and 12.73 lakh hectares through Surface Water Resources.
The electricity generating utilities in West Bengal in the State
Sector are West
Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDECL), Durgapur
Projects Limited (DPL) for thermal power generation, West Bengal State
Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) West Bengal State
Electricity Distribution Company Limited, and Renewable Energy
Development Agency (WBREDA) for non-conventional energy generation.
Besides, Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) and National Thermal
Power Corporation (NPTC) in the Central Sector, CESC Limited and
Disergarh Power Supply Corporation in the Private sector are the other
power generating utilities in the State. Total generation of power
produced by the state agencies was 16270.1 MU in 2008-09 (from April to
October). The total number of Mouzas Electrified upto October 2008 is
37416 and in 2008-09 (upto October 2008) the total number of pump sets
energized is 1,15,357.
Transport
Roads: : The length of roads as on 31 March 2002 was
91970 km including 1898 km national highways. The length of roads under
State highway is 3533 km, under PWD 12565 km and that of the district
roads are 42,479 km respectively.
Railways: The total length of railway route in the
State in 2007-08 was 4561.93 km. Howrah, Asansol, Sealdah, Bandel,
Bardhaman, Kharagpur and New Jalpaiguri are the main junctions.
Festivals
Durga Puja, West Bengal
Durga Puja is the most important festival along with
Kali Puja or
Diwali besides
Vasant Panchami,
Lakshmi Puja,
Holi,
Sivaratri,
Janmasthami,
Id-ul-Fitr, etc.
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