Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has indicated that Singur — the Hooghly district site once earmarked for Tata Motors’ Nano project — could soon see a fresh industrial investment, with the state holding early discussions with Ashok Leyland.
The announcement came as the BJP government unveiled a new investment-promotion policy aimed at attracting manufacturing and creating jobs.
A New Plan For Singur
Speaking in New Town after launching the policy, Adhikari said his administration was exploring a vehicle-manufacturing project on land previously associated with the Nano plant. He made clear that the government wanted real investment rather than announcements that remain on paper.
“We would do something on the land in Singur which was given to Tata for the Nano factory. We had some words with Ashok Leyland. But we don’t want to be limited to signing MoUs only,” he said.
Industries Minister Tapas Roy had earlier indicated that the government had specific proposals for Singur, as reported by NDTV.
The chief minister also sought to reassure farmers, saying that industrial development would not be pursued through coercion. “Farmers will not be fired upon for the sake of land acquisition for industry,” Adhikari said.
The Shadow Of 2006
Singur became a turning point in West Bengal politics after the Left Front government acquired farmland for Tata Motors’ proposed Nano factory in 2006. Mamata Banerjee, then leading the opposition, campaigned against the acquisition, arguing that the plots were fertile and multi-crop agricultural land.
The protests forced Tata Motors to shift the project to Gujarat in 2008. After Trinamool Congress came to office in 2011, the state moved to return land to farmers who had opposed the acquisition, and the Supreme Court later cancelled the original acquisition arrangement.
Jobs And Incentives
The chief minister linked the proposed Singur project to West Bengal’s wider employment challenge, saying the state had nearly 2 crore educated unemployed people and that about 70 lakh migrant workers had left for other states because of a lack of opportunities.
The new policy promises special incentives for units using eco-friendly energy, a separate package for large industries, and additional benefits for companies employing women. It also offers grants for hostels for working women and financial assistance linked to State GST for manufacturing units.
Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta said the government was building a large land bank. “Land has been a very touchy issue over here in Bengal. There are lands available for the short term. The chief minister has already spelt it out,” he said.
On longer-term reforms, Dasgupta added: “We will need to review the entire ceiling system of small holdings so that agriculture can be improved, but at the same time industry, when necessary, and infrastructure projects can be done.”
Adhikari also pledged a cleaner business environment, saying: “During the tenure of the previous government, the industrial belts of Chittaranjan and Haldia were completely devastated. Syndicates and extortion rackets will no longer be tolerated in Bengal. Every promise made in our election manifesto will be fulfilled.”