Urging industrialists to invest in West Bengal, state commerce and industries minister Partha Chatterjee assured them on Saturday that availability of land would not be a problem for development projects.
He, however, again reiterated the Mamata Banerjee government’s known stand that the state government would not acquire land from farmers and that the business fraternity would have to purchase land directly at the market price. He was addressing the Ficci national executive committee meeting in the city. Finance minister and former Ficci boss Amit Mitra also addressed the gathering. In their meeting with the chief minister on June 18, several industrialists had informed her about the practical difficulties in direct-purchase system particularly for a large project. “We have noted your concern over land. Our government is very clear on one issue that under no circumstances land would be acquired forcibly from the farmers,” Mr Chatterjee added. He pointed out that land was not the only issue for the promotion of industry. “Why only land? Poor infrastructure, poor connectivity and poor logistics are also crucial issues which will have to be addressed,” Mr Chatterjee elaborated.
He informed the industrialists that the state government was in the process for preparing a land map and setting up a land bank. He said that a committee had already been constituted which was making an assessment of the volume of land that was locked up in closed industrial units. Later at the Writers’ Buildings, the industry minister said that the state government has 3,500 acres of land in its possession.
More than 100 chief executive officers and promoter-owners representing the banking, infrastructure, health tourism, energy and chemical sectors were present in the programme.
Mr Chatterjee encouraged corporate fraternity to set up food, horticulture, textile, leather and iron and steel industries in the backward districts of the state. “I will request you to come and invest in the six backward districts in North Bengal as well as in Bankura, Purulia, West Midnapore and Sundarbans,” he told the head of corporate majors.
The state government was working out an “action plan” for continuity in transport, electricity and manpower and for forming expert committees for specific sectors. To enhance the growth of IT industries, Mr Chatterjee announced the setting up of an IT hub in each district.
Prominent Ficci members who attended the meet were Marico chairman Harsh Mariwala, HSBC head Naina Lal Kidwai, Britannia CEO Vinita Bali and former presidents of the chamber among others.
Later, a delegation led by Mr Mariwala called on the chief minister at the Writers’ Buildings.