Kolkata, Oct 14 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday said his government would unveil a new industrial policy after Diwali to make the state the most preferred investment destination within a year, while ensuring that industrial growth benefits people.
Giving out a “let’s go to West Bengal” call for industrialists after inaugurating Haldia Petrochemicals’ Rs 6,000-crore phenol and acetone plant in Purba Medinipur district, Adhikari asserted the new dispensation would not allow “radical” trade unionism, strikes and factory lockouts, which he held responsible for the flight of industry from the state.
“‘Chalun’ (let’s go to) West Bengal. Our government is just five months old. But I can assure you that within a year, West Bengal will become the destination of industrialists and investors,” he said.
The chief minister said his government would “overcome the problems created by 34 years of Left Front rule and the 15 years of TMC government to create a pro-people, pro-industry and business-friendly environment”.
Frequent strikes, factory shutdowns, an unfavourable land policy and the alleged growth of syndicates had driven investors away from Bengal under the successive Left Front and TMC government, he claimed.
“We will not allow radical trade unionism, strikes and factory lockouts and harassment of the management. Because of these practices, more than 50,000 industries shut down in Bengal during the Left regime,” Adhikari said. “In the last 15 years (during the TMC regime), a poor land policy, withdrawal of incentives and syndicate raj meant that no industries came to the state.”
The chief minister said a group of ministers (GoM) has submitted a draft industrial policy covering incentives, land allocation and power tariffs. “We are working on it and will come out with our new industry policy before Diwali.”
After inaugurating the Rs 6,000-crore phenol and acetone complex, the chief minister said another tranche of Rs 10,000 crore investment was in the pipeline.
“The new plant would help the country produce chemicals that were previously imported. It is a prime example of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Haldia is showing us the way,” he said.
Adhikari said Purnendu Chatterjee, the industrialist associated with Haldia Petrochemicals, has several expansion plans, including improved rail connectivity.
“He has committed a lot to us. We will help him in every possible way,” he said.
The chief minister said his government would encourage campus recruitment and skill development to help local candidates secure jobs in industries coming up in the region. The Haldia Petrochemicals expansion is expected to generate direct employment for around 400 people and indirect employment for another 1,000, he said.
“We have to make West Bengal also ‘Atmanirbhar’… we have become too dependent on dole-based support. We have to come out of it,” he added.
The chief minister also urged Chatterjee to consider setting up a data centre in the state, promising government assistance.
Announcing further investments in the region, Adhikari said the Haldia Development Authority (HDA) had provided 98 acres for a proposed PepsiCo plant, for which Cabinet approval would be sought.
Another 50 acres had been earmarked for a proposed medical equipment manufacturing unit, he said, adding that the government was also working with other companies on their proposed projects.
The chief minister also flagged the lack of adequate emergency medical facilities for industrial workers. “Labourers frequently face accidents, but they do not get primary medical treatment because there is no trauma centre with firefighting facilities and a burn unit here. Nothing was done about this for all these years,” he said.
Adhikari said the HDA had allocated Rs 18 crore from its funds for the proposed trauma centre, while Indian Oil had sanctioned Rs 5 crore under its corporate social responsibility programme. He also referred to a further Rs 5 crore allocation from the Centre’s National Health Mission for the facility.
He said the authorities had assured him that a 50-bed trauma centre with a burn unit would be inaugurated in June 2027.
“Development of Haldia is not just the lifeline of Bengal but also of neighbouring Nepal, Bhutan and several adjoining states. Its advancement is linked with the growth of India,” Adhikari said and announced he would attend a ground-breaking ceremony of a Reliance Campa Cola project in Arambagh on October 28.
The chief minister said the government intended to make industrial growth a key driver of employment and economic development in the state, while seeking to rebuild investor confidence after decades of industrial decline. PTI SCH NSD
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