Congress asks Mamata for status on land bank

Kolkata, Dec 15 (IANS) With West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee consistently trying to woo investment in the state by saying a land bank is ready for new industries, the state Congress Saturday asked her to come out with a project report on this.

“On the land (acquisition) issue, the chief minister has taken a firm stand. If she continues to remain firm on her stand, then attracting new investments to the state is very difficult,” state Congress chief Pradip Bhattacharya told a media conference here.

Banerjee, who was in Delhi to address industry heads at the annual general meeting of industry group FICCI, said a land bank was ready for entrepreneurs who wanted to invest in the state.

On land acquisition for industries, she said the government would not play any role and entrepreneurs would have to buy land directly from owners.

Earlier, the chief minister wooed industrialists at the PanIIT Global Conference in Kolkata, claiming her government had already set up a land bank.

“What is her plan on it? In which areas did the government find the land? What is the total volume of land under the bank and whether the land has required infrastructure for new industries? Nothing is clear to us,” Bhattacharya pointed out.

“Only announcing a land bank will not help the state attract investment. To attract entrepreneurs, the state has to introduce a one-window system which is already present in other states. But unfortunately, this government is not doing it,” the Congress leader said.

IANS 2012-12-15 22:26:03