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IndiAgri Bureau
Kolkata: West Bengal is set for a major push in infrastructure, rural development and agriculture after a high-level review meeting chaired by Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Kolkata on Monday. The meeting, attended by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, state ministers and senior officials from both the Centre and the state, focused on removing implementation bottlenecks and fast-tracking key development projects.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Chouhan said that a developed West Bengal is essential to achieving the national vision of Viksit Bharat and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He said coordinated efforts between the Centre and the state would accelerate development across sectors.
One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the review of 19 major infrastructure projects worth more than ₹82,000 crore. These projects span roads, highways, railways, metro, petroleum and natural gas, coal, and labour sectors.
Officials reviewed long-pending issues related to land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement, forest clearances, utility shifting and inter-departmental coordination. Ministries and implementing agencies have been directed to resolve pending issues through time-bound action plans.
Chouhan also proposed the creation of a State-level Project Monitoring Group (PMG) to improve coordination and ensure faster execution of Central and state-funded infrastructure projects.
The Centre has approved more than ₹8,508 crore for rural development activities in West Bengal. Including the state's contribution, the total allocation exceeds ₹12,064 crore, which will be channelled through Panchayati Raj institutions until March 31, 2027.
The funds will support employment generation, rural infrastructure and livelihood creation under the newly implemented VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, which came into effect on July 1. The framework aims to move beyond the traditional 100-day employment guarantee by enabling up to 125 days of employment, especially during natural disasters and local emergencies.
Priority will be given to creating durable rural assets such as village roads, ponds, irrigation facilities, schools and Anganwadi centres.
The Union Minister announced interim approval for one lakh rural houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).
Considering heavy rainfall that delayed beneficiary surveys, the Centre has extended the survey deadline to August 15, 2026. Officials have been instructed to conduct surveys and physical verification simultaneously so that house allotments can begin without delay once verification is completed.
To strengthen rural livelihoods, the Centre announced financial assistance worth ₹295 crore for women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana.
The package includes:
The assistance aims to help women-led groups expand activities in production, food processing, value addition and marketing.
West Bengal's Malda district will become part of the national Clean Plant Programme through the establishment of a Clean Plant Facility.
The centre will produce disease-free planting material for mango, litchi and other fruit crops, helping farmers improve productivity and produce export-quality fruits.
Under the programme, large nurseries will be eligible for financial support of up to ₹3 crore, while medium-sized nurseries can receive assistance of up to ₹1.5 crore.
The Centre has approved several agriculture projects aimed at strengthening rice, maize and horticulture value chains in the state.
West Bengal will be developed as the Seed Hub of Eastern India, with agreements already signed for the production of potato seed, hybrid maize seed and other crop seeds.
Special projects have also been approved to promote:
These initiatives are expected to improve value addition and provide farmers with better market opportunities.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), State Agricultural Universities and agricultural scientists are jointly preparing a scientific agriculture roadmap for West Bengal.
The roadmap will recommend region-specific crop planning based on soil conditions, climate, water availability and local resources. It will also promote technology adoption and value-chain development while strengthening rice research institutions into Centres of Excellence.
The Centre announced plans to significantly expand coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) across West Bengal to protect farmers against crop losses caused by natural calamities.
Village-level camps will also be organised in collaboration with NABARD and banks to increase Kisan Credit Card (KCC) coverage and improve farmers' access to affordable institutional credit.
Chouhan said ongoing initiatives including the National Mission on Natural Farming, PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, Digital Agritech and nutrition enhancement programmes would further strengthen the state's agricultural sector.
Concluding the review, the Union Minister said the Centre would continue working closely with the West Bengal government to accelerate development and improve livelihoods through coordinated implementation of infrastructure, rural development and agricultural programmes.
