Politics NewsUS impressed with Mamata, keen to invest in WB More on: Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee's mission industry has just got a leg-up. After decades of mistrust for everything American Bengal may soon see more dollars in its coffers. The US assistant secretary Robert Blake on a visit to the Chief Minister's office made America's intentions clear, that Bengal is destination next for large scale US investment. But there are hiccups like the law and order problem of the state. Blake said, "For the investors it is important that there is a good law and order situation in the state. Mamata Banerjee has assured me that the law and order aspect as well as the general investor climate is being improved upon." This came just a day before Mamata Banerjee hosts the who's who of Indian Industry who are in Kolkata for a business summit on Saturday. But many think that the recent Singur Bill and the land bill recommendations might make many investors turn cautious.  Bengal Chamber of Commerce President Sandipan Chakrabarty said, "Mamata Banerjee needs to convey the industry people that she is willing to meet them half way and that her promise of co-existence of industry and agriculture will be delivered. Right now it doesn't appear that way." The Left Front who once called Mamata Banerjee a US agent after a WikiLeaks cable showed US wanted to cultivate her, is watching the developments closely. 15 Reasons to buy GoldGold, two steps ahead: how the rich keep getting richer. New gold rptWealthdaily.com/Gold_Report Ads by Google
All comments will be published after moderation CM lends ear, draws line Offer of help but firm on land | |||||||||||
| DEVADEEP PUROHIT AND SAMBIT SAHA | |||||||||||
Calcutta, June 18: Mamata Banerjee today heard industry out and promised that her government would also do so every fortnight, the chief executive of the state offering all help but the politician in her not shy of iterating the known stand on land. The first interaction between industry and the chief minister since the mammoth mandate sent out a message that the government was willing to accommodate the concerns of industry. Mamata also used the opportunity to suggest investors should be prepared for some parameters within which the new government will function. On land, she gave the impression that the government's hands-off stand would not be diluted, at least not in the immediate future. Ignoring demands for a government role in land acquisition, the chief minister said the administration would steer clear of acquiring land for private industry. "You will have to solve these problems," Mamata said with a smile when Sumit Mazumder of Tractors India Ltd pointed out that industrialists were facing problems in acquiring larger tracts of land. During the question and answer session, Mazumder mentioned that industry's attempts at directly buying land from farmers were not always feasible. ITC chairman Y.C. Deveshwar echoed him, saying that his company's plans to roll out a food-processing venture in the state had hit the land hurdle. In his carefully crafted but candid observation, Deveshwar sounded a word of caution: "It is going to be difficult to attract investment if buying land becomes difficult." Mamata listened to the observation with full attention but did not say anything. She had bared her mind during her keynote address. "It is better that you directly purchase land. You may agree or not agree with me," said Mamata, who had received recommendations on land policy earlier this week from a panel that suggested the government stay off acquisition for private investors. Mamata has been pursuing such a stand at the Centre, too. It would have been unusual if the chief minister had said anything contrary to her known stand but some industrialists appeared to have been nursing hopes that she would dilute her stand at the meeting. But Mamata promised to revisit the issues discussed today after six months and said a land cell would be set up to help industry. The more realistic among the industrialists pointed out that today's was an "acclimatisation" exercise and specific issues were expected to be taken up later at other sessions with the government. "We got to know each other well. The nitty-gritty can be discussed later during closed-door meetings," an industrialist said. Mamata did promise to hear out industry further and announced a mechanism for interaction every fortnight. Her policy of "do it immediately" — which she explained with care — charmed the audience the most. "I don't want to sit quietly for years without doing anything…. Even Subhas Chandra Bose had said there is a right to make blunders," said Mamata. If Mamata had on her mind the Singur land ordinance, which had to be replaced by a bill because the House was in session when the temporary measure was readied, it was an audacious gesture at an interaction with industrialists. The Singur issue did not come up even once during the discussion as the industrialists vied with one another to congratulate her on her thumping election victory. As sceptical voices were muted in the euphoria over Mamata's commitment to provide all other support such as prompt response to complaints, some businessmen praised the chief minister for her clarity. "It is good that she did not give any false hope. She made the rules of the game clear to everybody without keeping any ambiguity on the subject," said a city-based industrialist after the two-hour interactive session at a railway auditorium in Alipore this afternoon. The A-list of Bengal Inc attended the programme during which Mamata — along with industries minister Partha Chatterjee and finance minister Amit Mitra — fielded questions from the audience. Although the preparations, done in haste, had raised some apprehensions earlier, industry did get an opportunity to get across its views as a patient Mamata ensured that all had their say, intervening at one point to let a speaker take time to finish his question. Adi Godrej of Godrej and Shivinder Singh of Fortis were among the notable guests from outside Bengal. "A dilution of her stand on land may have earned her brownie points but she likes to set the rules that suit her," said a close aide of Mamata. She set the rules several times during the two-hour interaction as she told the industrialists to make her industries minister and department secretaries work harder to solve their problems. The chief minister sent out a message on land use. When Mamata said "land is there with certain industrial groups but they are not doing anything. Jindals in Salboni…", minister Chatterjee said something to her. "I know they have asked for time," Mamata then said, referring to the steel plant proposed by the group. When the menace of extortion was raised by an industrialist, Mamata said there would be an administrative shake-up in the area soon but also requested industry to ensure that they did not encourage the mafia by paying them. She introduced a host of secretaries — industries secretary Deepankar Mukherjee, power secretary Malay De, WBIDC managing director Subrata Gupta — to the audience and said her officials would be available to solve any problem. Her attempt to promote industry — with focus on IT, tourism and agro and food-processing industries — drew a huge round of applause from the audience. She made it a point to request the audience to have tea and snacks before leaving the venue. "There is a freshness all around and there is hope," summed up Adi Godrej, chairman, Godrej Industries.
HIGH POINT Eye-catchers Not seen Surprise appearance Best observation Best of Mamata Most candid observation Sensitive moment Takeaways from the meet The big laugh Big yawn Heard but off the record The other side | |||||||||||
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