GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL
Department of Fisheries,
BENFISH Tower, 8th Floor, 31, G N. Block, Salt Lake,
Sector-V, Kolkata-700 091.
No. 1273-Fish/C-I/9R-2/2015 Kolkata, the 4th June, 2015.
NOTIFICATION
Whereas the Governor is of the opinion that it is necessary to formulate Fisheries Policy to extend financial support for promotion of Industries in Fisheries Sector in the State.
Now, therefore, the Governor is pleased to sanction and approve the implementation of a new Investment Policy under West Bengal Fisheries Policy, 2015 for Micro, Small, Medium & Large Enterprises in fisheries sector in the whole of West Bengal for substantive development in fisheries sector through various innovative initiatives and to promote a conducive investment climate in the State and to provide global competitive edge to this sector.
1. Title of the Policy
The Policy may be called the West Bengal Fisheries Investment Policy, 2015 for Micro, Small, Medium & Large Enterprises in Fisheries Sector (hereinafter referred to as “WBFIP – 2015 for MSMLEs in Fisheries Sector”).
2. Object
The object of the Policy is to extend fiscal incentives to encourage entrepreneurs for setting up new Micro, Small, Medium & Large Enterprises in Fisheries sector with a view to encourage the dispersal of such enterprises to lesser developed areas as well as in order to propel the growth of the Fisheries Sector in the State.
3. Definitions & Explanations:
Definitions :-
In the WBFP-2015 for MSMLEs in Fisheries Sector unless the context otherwise requires
(i) “Approved Project” means the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of a unit in the Fisheries sector. Such projects should be approved before implementation by the Directorate under the Deptt. of Fisheries, Govt. of West Bengal.
(ii) “Central Government” means the Government of India
(iii) “Eligible Unit/Enterprise” means a micro, small, medium & large enterprise in Fisheries Sector been found eligible as per terms and conditions of WBFIP-2015 for MSMLEs in Fisheries Sector.
(iv) “Capital Investment” means investment made in plant and machinery in an approved project of the eligible unit/enterprise on and from the date of publication of notification in Kolkata Gazette.
(v) “Micro Unit / Enterprise” in the Fisheries Sector means a unit/enterprise having investment of Rs. 15 lac & above upto Rs. 1 cr.
(vi) “Small unit/enterprise” in the Fisheries Sector means a unit/enterprise having investment above Rs. 1 cr & upto Rs. 5 cr.
(vii) “Medium unit/enterprise” in the Fisheries Sector means a unit/enterprise having investment above Rs. 5 cr. & upto Rs. 10 cr.
(viii) “Large unit/enterprise” in the Fisheries Sector means a unit/enterprise having investment above Rs. 10 cr.
(ix) “State Government” means the Government of West Bengal
(xi) “Year” means, unless otherwise specifically mentioned / stated and not repugnant to the context, the financial year commencing from the 1st April and ending on 31st March following.
Explanation – I
The “Capital Investment” shall be calculated as follows:—
The cost of plant and machinery as found installed at the approved location, excluding the cost of any second hand plant and machinery purchased and installed for the purpose of implementation of the project. The cost of the following items shall be excluded while calculating the investment made in Plant & Machinery:
a) Equipments such as tools, jigs. dies, moulds and spare parts for maintenance and the cost of consumable stores.
b) Installation of Plant and Machinery.
c) Research and development equipments and pollution control equipments.
d) Power generation set and extra transformer installed by the enterprise as per the regulations of the State Electricity Board.
e) Bank charges and service charges paid to the National Small Industries Corporations or the State Small Industries Corporation.
f) Procurement or installation of cables, wiring, bus bars, electrical control panels (not mounted on individual machines), oil circuit breakers or miniature circuit breakers which are necessarily to be used tor providing electrical power to the Plant and Machinery or for safety measures.
g) Gas producer plant.
h) Transportation charges (excluding Sales Tax or value added tax and excise duty) for indigenous machinery from the place of their manufacture to the site of the enterprise.
i) Charges paid for technical knowhow for erection of Plant and Machinery.
j) Such storage tanks which store raw materials and finished products only and are not linked with the manufacturing process
k) Fire fighting equipments.
Explanation – II
The “Power Subsidy” shall be calculated as follows :
The average of the last 12 (twelve) months’ electricity energy (in Kwh) consumed by the enterprise immediately prior to the date of actual commercial operation of the expansion project would be first assessed. The current electricity energy (in Kwh) consumed by the enterprise from the date of actual commercial operation of the expansion project would then be assessed. The difference between current electricity energy (in Kwh) (after actual commercial operation of the expansion project) and the average of last 12 (twelve) months’ electricity energy (in Kwh) actually consumed by the enterprise immediately prior to the date of actual commercial operation of the expansion project, would be considered for availing of power subsidy at the rate and period stipulated in the West Bengal Fisheries Policy – 2015 for Micro, Small, Medium & Large Enterprise in Fisheries Sector.
Explanation – III
The “Work Force Welfare Assistance” will be calculated as follows :
The reimbursement of expenditure specified above will be payable annually based on minimum statutory limit subject to the condition that the enterprise has paid its contribution towards ESI and EPF on due dates.
‘Employee’ will have the same meaning as defined under “Employees’ Provident Fund Act, 1952” and “Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948”.
4. Commencement and Duration:
Unless specifically mentioned against the respective items of incentives sanctioned under the WBFIP-2015 for MSMLEs in Fisheries Sector, it comes into effect on and from the date of publication of notification of effective date in Kolkata Gazette in the whole of West Bengal and shall remain in force for a period of next five years, if not withdrawn/ amended earlier by a Notification in the official Gazette to that effect.
5. Applicability of WBFIP – 2015 for MSMLEs in Fisheries Sector.
4.1 The WBFIP-2015 for MSMLEs in Fisheries Sector shall generally be applicable to all micro, small, medium & large enterprises in the Fisheries Sector which have started production on and from the the date of publication of notification of effective date in Kolkata Gazette as a fish/prawn seed producing hatchery or aquaculture unit.
4.2 The units may be in the private sector, co-operative sector and joint sector undertaking as also companies / undertakings owned and managed by the State Government and the fishery Self Help Groups or Fish Production Groups.
6. Conditions/ Eligibility for availing assistance
Under this policy the following conditions to be strictly maintained to avail incentives and concessions-
- Unit must be a fish/prawn seed producing hatchery or aquaculture unit.
- If any subsidy admissible, is not covered by any other department, will be provided from this department.
- Unit will have to strictly observe requisite pollution control compliances
- Modern/Hi-Tech Plant & Machinery is to be installed to confirm the standard productivity
- Unit will have to commit to remain in production at least for five (5) years from the date of commercial production.
- Fish Seed/ Fish production should be for authenticated fish species and should maintain hygienic practices / norms.
- Regular energy audit should be conducted and standard energy efficiency is to be ensured wherever applicable
- Unit will have to follow applicable laws/ labour laws
- Defaulting unit in payments of government revenues will not be eligible for assistance under this policy
- Any benefit by way of incentives enjoyed by any unit from any other department of the State/Central Government shall, however, be adjusted while determining the entitlement of such units under the W B Fisheries Policy-2015 and in no case the amount of incentive under different items in aggregate should exceed total Capital Investment
Continued…