NITI Aayog’s Ashok Lahiri Urges Heavy Industry Boost in Bengal
Times of India | 27 July 2026
Kolkata: The only solution to Bengal’s financial crisis is to set up heavy industries, said NITI Aayog vice-chairperson Ashok Lahiri in Kolkata on Monday. He was speaking at a seminar themed ‘Resurgence of Bengal in the Context of Viksit Bharat’, organised by Bangla Worldwide.
“To set up heavy industries, large tracts of land are needed. But this is not easily available in Bengal. We must think about changing the land ceiling laws and acquire large plots of land,” Lahiri said.
While stressing the need for heavy industries, Lahiri said arrangements must first be made for the development of small and medium industries. “A deep seaport must also be built in the state very soon,” he added.
Referring to post-Partition Bengal, Lahiri said, “Pangs of Partition and migration issues hit the Bengal community hard.” He then went on to praise the Marwari community in Bengal for their entrepreneurial spirit.