India 2018

States and Union Territories 657
is on the north. On the west are the states of Bihar and Jharkhand, while in the
south lies Odisha and the Bay of Bengal washes its southern frontiers.
Agriculture
Agriculture is the main source of income for about 70 per cent of the population.
Jute and rice are the principal crops grown in the state, along with tea, maize,
tobacco and sugarcane.
Industry
The state policy on industrial promotion and economic development welcomes
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.
Power and Irrigation
Provision of electricity is vital for the socio-economic development as it
accelerates economic growth, generates employment, eliminates poverty and
is an essential input for human development. The power sector in West Bengal
is predominantly thermal in view of the easy and cheaper availability of cost;
the state has an adverse hydel-thermal power mix of 3:97. Significant ground
has been broken in the renewable energy sector. WBREDA, the nodal agency
for implementation of technology demonstration projects in the state, have
benefited a large number of remote villages in the Sundarbans, parts of West
Midnapur and Bankura and areas of Malda, Murshidabad.
Transport
Transport Department is primarily responsible for providing better
transportation facilities both for passengers and goods by way of formulation
and implementation of policies and creation of transport oriented
infrastructures. The state transport undertakings are playing a pivotal role in
social commitment. The Department has taken some initiatives to improve the
scenario like, computerization of motor vehicles department, road safety
schemes, bus stand schemes, TOIP schemes, pollution control, replacement of
existing 2-stroke auto rickshaws by 4-stroke auto rickshaws to reduce
automobile pollution, replacement of buses of more than 15 years old, etc.
O. W.: http://www.westbengal.gov.in
Government
Governor : Shri Keshari Nath Tripathi Chief Secretary : Shri Malay Kumar De
Chief Minister : Km. Mamata Banerjee Jurisdiction of : Calcutta High Court
High Court