The West Bengal Incentive Scheme: Waiver of Electricity Duty

The Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal, introduced the Waiver of Electricity Duty on February 22, 2021. It operates as a sub-scheme under The West Bengal Incentive Scheme, which extends financial assistance to aspiring entrepreneurs with the aim of promoting self-employment and generating jobs.

Eligible tourism projects and hotel units receive a financial incentive through this sub-scheme, which remains in force until December 31, 2025. The waiver applies to electricity duty on consumption, lowering operational costs for beneficiaries.

By reducing these costs, the scheme intends to strengthen the competitiveness of businesses in West Bengal's tourism sector and support their sustainable growth. It also seeks to draw investment and encourage expansion of tourism infrastructure throughout the state.

**Registration Process:**

- Go to the official Shilpasathi portal (https://silpasathi.wb.gov.in/) and select 'Apply online'. - First-time users should click 'Create New', choose the relevant entity type (Industry / Business / Commercial / Charitable Society / Govt. entity), and provide the applicable Registration number. - Complete every mandatory field in the 'User Registration' window correctly, then click 'Register'. Those who already hold an account may 'Sign In' with their valid User ID, password, and Captcha code.

**Application Process:**

- Sign in to the Shilpasathi portal with your login credentials. - On the user dashboard, select 'ALL SERVICES' to see the services on offer. - Tick the check box beside the service titled 'Tourism Incentive'. - Select 'Create CAF' to generate a unique CAF ID, then choose 'Apply Online' to move ahead with the application. - Enter all required particulars in the common application form. - Upload every document needed for issue of the certificate, then click 'Save & Continue'. - Go through the completed application and all details entered, as a final check. - Tick the Declaration checkbox located at the bottom left of the page, then press the 'Submit' button. - SMS and email notifications will be sent to applicants at key points during processing (submission, approval, or rejection). - After every step has been completed successfully and the authority has granted approval, applicants may download the approved Registration certificate from the online system by clicking 'Download Certificate'.

**Important Note:** To receive incentives, the process runs in sequence — first a Registration Certificate must be obtained, followed by a Date of Commencement Certificate, and lastly an Eligibility Certificate from the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Limited. Only after all three certificates are in hand can eligible units apply for the various incentive types, such as the electricity duty waiver, using the relevant online forms.

Applications are submitted online via the Shilpasathi portal. An initial screening confirms that all required documents have been provided and that eligibility criteria are satisfied. The West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Limited then evaluates the project, issuing the Registration Certificate, Date of Commencement Certificate and Eligibility Certificate once it is satisfied with the project's arrangements and compliance.

Once the applicant unit has obtained all prerequisite certificates, the competent authority grants final approval for the electricity duty waiver incentive. This multi-stage verification ensures that only tourism projects that are genuinely eligible and compliant receive the benefit.