The West Bengal Government has reduced the clearance process required for new industrial projects to 21 days, from the earlier 30 days, West Bengal Commerce and Industry and IT Minister Partha Chatterjee said.

Speaking at Infocom 2013, an annual IT conclave on Thursday, Chatterjee said: “Steps have been taken to reduce the clearance processes and facilitate industry. Clearances will be possible within 21 days.”

The move comes as a part of the State Government’s drive to project an investor-friendly image to help industrial development.

Apart from a single window clearance scheme and bringing down paper work, the Chief Minister has also appointed a special task force – having one member each from Industry, Land, Power, Irrigation, Environment and Finance departments – for speedy clearances.

This was followed by a decision to appoint “relationship managers” across all departments to liaison between the State Government and Industry.

Focus on Hardware Chatterjee, meanwhile, added that the State Government was developing hardware parks in Naihati (North 24 Parganas) and Falta (South 24 Parganas).

Focus will be on promoting electronic goods manufacturing.

Two IT parks – one each in Durgapur and Siliguri – have also been made operational, as a part of the State Government’s decision to promote Tier-II and Tier-III towns. Similar, attempts are being made in Kharagpur, Bolpur and Assansol.

According to the Minister, IT behemoths such as TCS and Cognizant have expressed interest to invest and work in the State.

> abhishek.l@thehindu.co.in