No dearth of land for industries: Mamata

Kolkata, Jan 8 (IANS) Countering allegations that her government's hands-off policy in land acquisition was hindering West Bengal's industrial development, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday said land was "easily available" throughout the state.

"Fifteen urban cities have been announced. We have identified some land also," Banerjee said at the two-day Bengal Global Business Summit here.

She said the Trinamool government has "kept" 100 acres of land each in Bolpur (in Shantiniketan) of Birbhum district and Kalyani in Nadia district.

Also, plots for industrialisation and urbanisation of the state have been identified in Durgapur (Burdwan district), Haldia (East Midnapore district), Siliguri (Darjeeling district) and Rajarhat.

"For instance in Kalyani, an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) or an IIIT is coming up... there also, we have kept 100 acres of land for a smart city," she said.

"From Rajarhat (in Kolkata's northeastern outskirts) to Salt Lake to Durgapur to Kalyani to Haldia, there are so many places (for industrialisation)," she said.

Banerjee assured people from the industry that neither "local people" nor "villagers" will create any problem in their quest for land and the state government will stand by the businessmen.

"We will give you full cooperation," she said.

Though the chief minister said her government has created a "land bank" for the industry, she reiterated her stand on not allowing Special Economic Zones (SEZ).

"Basically, we don't agree with this SEZ proposal because of political compulsion... you go for other options," she said.

Banerjee also said her government will look into what "advantages" can be given to the IT sector wishing to invest.

The Trinamool chief had recently opposed the Land Ordinance issued by the central goverment.

Soon after coming to power, the Trinamool government had announced that industrialists would have to purchase land from the owners and the government would not get involved in it.