Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee warns against extortion in 1st industry meet after Lok Sabha poll victory
Times of India | 14 June 2024
KOLKATA: In her first interaction with industry after the Lok Sabha polls, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday made it clear that she would not tolerate any illegal activity or extortion coming in the way of industrialisation.
Banerjee also assured industry captains that land would not be a hindrance to industrial progress.
Earlier, Banerjee had promised land to those who came up with investment proposals.At Thursday's meet, SRMB Steel put forward a proposal of a steel plant on 300 acres, at an investment of Rs 1,100 crore. A toy park was also proposed, in which more than 500 MSMEs were willing to invest, it was learnt.
Sources said that the state may soon organise a Biswa Bangla Shopping Festival to boost tourism and give the economy a push. It was learnt that the festival was likely to start from the Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan and gradually spread out all over the city, as well as some other towns, over 15 days.
The meeting was attended by principal chief adviser to CM Amit Mitra, commerce and industry minister Shashi Panja, KMC mayor Firhad Hakim, power minister Arup Biswas, chief secretary B P Gopalika, home secretary Nandini Chakrovarty and industry secretary Vandana Yadav.
Some of the big names who attended were Ambuja Neotia Group chairman Harsh Neotia, Emami director Aditya Agarwal, Patton MD Sanjay Budhia, Luxmi Group MD and FICCI chairman (ER) Rudra Chatterjee, Dhunseri group chairman C K Dhanuka, Bharat Chamber president and partner Khaitan & Co, NG Khaitan, Merlin chairman and Credai West Bengal president Sushil Mohta, MCC president Namit Bajoria and vice-president Priti Sureka, vice-president of Bengal Chamber and advisory leader of PwC, Arnab Basu, Graphite India chairman K K Bangur, Tega India MD Mehul Mohanka, Woodlands MD & CEO Rupak Barua, Shiv Siddhant Kaul of Nicco Group and Titagarh Rail Systems deputy MD Prithish Chowdhary.
The Bengal Global Business Summit is not likely to be held this year, however, due to Lok Sabha polls. Sources said it would be organised early next year.
Bharat Chamber President N G Khaitan called the meeting "very positive". "There were many investment proposals," he added.