It was a sort of get together with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee entertaining more than 200 industrialists at one of the posh clubs in south Kolkata on June 18. During the four- hour- long interaction session with top entrepreneurs over hi-tea nothing transpired as the Chief Minister was not clear about her newly formed government’s industrial policy and the investors were not convinced of what assistance they would be provided with if they would choose West Bengal as their industrial destination.
Mamata’s meeting with entrepreneurs took place within a week of the Singur bill was pushed through in the Assembly to take back the Nano plot and redistribute it among original landowners. The investors, particularly the big ones who were present at the meet were reported to have lost interest in investment in West Bengal when they were told that the government would not take any responsibility of getting land for them. Instead, they would select the land site and purchase land directly from landowners for their projects. The proposal sounded childish to them as for a large-scale project which requires a big contiguous plot of land the purchase of fragmented plots by investors directly from landowners becomes an arduous task. Besides, land brokers are sure to be operative. They would naturally purchase land at low price from original landowners and sell them to investors at higher price.
At the much publicized new Chief Minister’s meeting with industrialists, Mamata Banerjee indicated tourism, health care and cottage and small-scale industry as the thrust areas. It is to be realized that small industries cannot grow and bring about an overall industrial resurgence of a State unless it draws big industries and infrastructure of large scale industries is created. Witnessing the fate of Tata’s Nano project investors of big projects are shy. They are hesitant about the way Mamata works which relies on solution at the spot. At a meeting where entrepreneurs like Godrej group chairman Adi Godrej and ITC chairman Deveswar were present Mamata’s on the spot suggestion for industrial resurgence of West Bengal appears unconvincing.
It may be mentioned that Mamata Banerjee after becoming the Railways Minister two years ago in 2009 held a similar meeting with industrialists in the same venue in Kolkata to adopt certain schemes for industrial development in West Bengal. Till now none of the project has been implemented and realized.
Now, with Tata going to Supreme Court challenging the Singur Bill, big entrepreneurs are likely to be more reluctant to choose West Bengal as a convenient place for big investment.
ganashakti
Mamata’s meeting with entrepreneurs took place within a week of the Singur bill was pushed through in the Assembly to take back the Nano plot and redistribute it among original landowners. The investors, particularly the big ones who were present at the meet were reported to have lost interest in investment in West Bengal when they were told that the government would not take any responsibility of getting land for them. Instead, they would select the land site and purchase land directly from landowners for their projects. The proposal sounded childish to them as for a large-scale project which requires a big contiguous plot of land the purchase of fragmented plots by investors directly from landowners becomes an arduous task. Besides, land brokers are sure to be operative. They would naturally purchase land at low price from original landowners and sell them to investors at higher price.
At the much publicized new Chief Minister’s meeting with industrialists, Mamata Banerjee indicated tourism, health care and cottage and small-scale industry as the thrust areas. It is to be realized that small industries cannot grow and bring about an overall industrial resurgence of a State unless it draws big industries and infrastructure of large scale industries is created. Witnessing the fate of Tata’s Nano project investors of big projects are shy. They are hesitant about the way Mamata works which relies on solution at the spot. At a meeting where entrepreneurs like Godrej group chairman Adi Godrej and ITC chairman Deveswar were present Mamata’s on the spot suggestion for industrial resurgence of West Bengal appears unconvincing.
It may be mentioned that Mamata Banerjee after becoming the Railways Minister two years ago in 2009 held a similar meeting with industrialists in the same venue in Kolkata to adopt certain schemes for industrial development in West Bengal. Till now none of the project has been implemented and realized.
Now, with Tata going to Supreme Court challenging the Singur Bill, big entrepreneurs are likely to be more reluctant to choose West Bengal as a convenient place for big investment.
ganashakti
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