Industries just do not gel with West Bengal

Bengalis love poetry and it is difficult to imagine one who loves his pen to take up cudgels of machines – the two just not gel and, as experience has shown, the results are not what one would have liked.
Bengal is basically an agriculture based area where paddy fields swaying in the breeze are what one wants to see.
Therefore, when one wants to change track, one has to go in for some sort of sacrifice. One cannot get something from nothing. Unfortunately, the leaders have forgotten that simple basic.

The conflict surrounding the industrialization on West Bengal hinges on availability of land – the state keeps on talking about a sort of land bank but the investors appear to be a confused lot just like the administrators. There are vague ideas about the land scattered in small pockets and that does not appeal to the investors.
Mamata did not want industries to come up on agricultural land. Her agitation, on behalf of a section of farmers, was a big gain for her and her Trinamool Congress TMC because it led to the fall of the Left Front government and she came to power. She promised to ensure return of land to the unwilling owners but, that was, practically, a pipe dream because Tata Motors had constructed their workshops and the land was unsuitable for agriculture.
Mamata Banerjee’s land policy is now her Achilles’ heel because, when industries are categorically advised to procure land on their own by interacting directly with the landowners, it opens up the doors of corruption. Her land policy has still not changed even after being four years in power and, the net result is disappointment on the industrial front in spite of putting up a brave front.
It has been reported that she has now roped in Sourav Ganguli, the cricketer, to promote industries in her state through a reality show. Reality shows of songs, dance and even laughter do have audiences but, how far it will help the state to improve its image and raise its head is a matter of debate. Yes, Sourav Ganguli does have an enormous fan following and it remains to be seen how far he can influence industrialists to invest in West Bengal. (to be continued …)

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