Even as it has decided to extend full support to West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s industrialisation drive, Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) will impress upon him the need to leave land acquisition to the ‘buyers and sellers’.
This issue is likely to figure during the talks to be held between Mr. Bhattacharjee and an Assocham delegation led by its President Swati Piramal. “The Chief Minister has the full support of the industry,” Assocham Secretary General D. S. Rawat told reporters ahead of a summit on ‘West Bengal – an investment destination’ being organised by the apex industry body here.
Mr. Rawat said the chamber favoured land acquisition being left to the market forces whereby the industry and a land-owner negotiated matters. The Assocham felt that the role of the State government should be that of a facilitator.
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The delegation would also urge Mr. Bhattacharjee to take up with the Centre, the issue of iron ore exports from India. “The chamber would urge the Chief Minister to request the Centre to discourage iron ore exports as many jobs could be created by setting up steel plants based on domestic iron ore resources – we want to enlist his support,” Mr. Rawat said.
The chamber also plans to release on January 7, a paper on the State’s double digit growth. Mr. Rawat said that proposals to the tune of Rs. 5-lakh crore had been received by West Bengal and domestic as well as international corporates were keen to locate their industries here.