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NewsDesk

With rapidly developing infrastructure, vastly improved law and order, smooth industrial relations and a major pool of skilled workers, West Bengal appears to be the destination of industrial investors, both foreign and national, in the coming decades.

Barely three weeks ago, the captains of industry in the country at a conference at Roychak, in South 24 Parganas district said in no uncertain terms that West Bengal presented a classic case for investment as the State's Left Front Government besides improving the industrial infrastructure, was offering a package of incentives for new units being set up in the State.

Now the French government has come up with several proposals one of which if materialise, will culminate in investment of a few hundred crores of rupees. The French Minister for Transport Housing and Public Works, Jean Claude Gayssot at a meeting with Chief Minister Jyoti Basu expressed his Government's willingness to participate in several projects in the State. The French delegation renewed its proposal for take over of the state - owned Great Eastern Hotel in Calcutta. The proposal is hanging fire for quite some time. The management of the Acor Asia Pacific which has shown interest in the Great Eastern Hotel take-over, has been asked to submit its proposals. Trade unions too will submit their proposals, particularly on retention of the existing complement of employees and workmen in the hotel. The French are also likely to participate in renewal of the tram services in the city of Calcutta. They are showing interest also in privatised air lines too. French are likely to take up schemes relating to water supply, sewerage construction and effluent discharge network in nine municipalities outside the CMDA area in south and north 24 parganas districts. These schemes are estimated to cost around Rs. 46 crores. Garbage dumps on the line of the one is Dhapa are also proposed in Baranagar, Dum Dum, Kamarhati and Barasat and the available garbage is to be converted into fertiliser or be used for generating electricity and this garbage could be fruitfully utilized for other purposes too. The French Minister and the delegation have shown interest in renovating the circular canals in the city of Calcutta too.