West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Wednesday that the state government plans to introduce a new industrial policy before the start of Durga Puja on October 10. The policy aims to provide incentives and measures designed to attract investment to the state. Adhikari highlighted that West Bengal is currently experiencing an “insolvent-like situation,” underscoring the urgency of these initiatives.
“The state cabinet set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Tapas Roy, state industry and commerce minister. They have already submitted a draft of the industrial policy to the state chief secretary. “The new policy will cover all aspects starting from incentives, land policy and single-window system for getting clearances, land pooling and development among others. We know they are ready to harass you. The state government will provide everything,” he added. “The CPIM-government destroyed everything. The Mamata Banerjee-government washed her hands off and asked the industrialists to purchase land on their own. This can’t be an industrial policy of a government. We are positive. We will not misuse our power and police against farmers and land-owners.
Because of the government’s negative policy, the Tata had to leave Singur. The state government’s new industrial policy will be rolled out before the Durga Puja,” Adhikari said, speaking at a government programme in Kolkata where land was allotted to 33 industries and entrepreneurs to set up various projects. Industrialists who will invest more than ₹ 100 crore, need not approach the civic bodies or panchayats to get their licenses and plans sanctioned. He alleged that more than 54,000 industrial units, including jute mills and ancillary industries, were closed down during the 34 years of the Left Front regime and the 15 years of the TMC rule.
Adhikari also said that he would hold one-to-one meetings with industrialists at least twice every month while giving a broad outline of the upcoming policy. Slamming the previous Left Front government and the Trinamool Congress administration, Adhikari said that the two regimes had a very negative approach to industries. The government is directly purchasing land for industrialists,” he said.
