The state cabinet on Monday approved an industrial promotion board, to be headed by chief minister Mamata Banerjee, to expedite the implementation of investment proposals in Bengal.

“The cabinet today (Monday) approved a decision to set up the West Bengal Industrial Promotion Board to expedite implementation of investment proposals. The chief minister will head the 16-member board,” said state industries minister Partha Chatterjee.

The board will have ministers and secretaries of departments such as finance, land and land reforms, industries, IT, MSME, tourism, and chairpersons of the WBIDC and WBIIDC.

Chatterjee said though there is a one-window system in industries and MSME departments to handle investment proposals, implementing projects got delayed at times.

“The problem is that even if the departments such as industries, IT or tourism clear investment proposals, they have to depend on several other departments such as land and land reforms, fire or finance departments to implement projects on the ground. This board will help us implement proposals on time as issues related to any proposal would be cleared at the board where (representatives of) all related departments will be present,” said Chatterjee.

Sources said there is a cabinet sub-committee where investment proposals are approved. “The cabinet sub-committee is basically a body that takes policy-related decisions. But this board will clear all hurdles in implementing investment proposals,” said a senior official.

Sources in Nabanna said the board was started as Mamata wanted investment proposals to be implemented without much delay. “Ahead of 2021 Assembly polls, she promised 1.5 crore jobs. Now is the time to deliver. So she has taken it on herself to implement investment proposals on time to generate jobs,” a source.