Buddha calls for cautious industrialisation

Despite Singur and Nandigram, the West Bengal government was able to acquire 6,500 acres for industrial projects, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, said, today.

“Even after Singur, we managed to acquire land in Raghunathpur, Andal and Naihati. Farmers have welcomed the projects,” Bhattacharjee said at the inauguration of the new West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) office.

The chief minister, who claimed to have learnt his lessons from Singur and Nandigram, called for a balance between agriculture and industrialisation.

“Compensation is the most important part. Our compensation in Singur is unparalleled. The new Land Acquisition Act should have guidelines on compensation, rehabilitation,” Bhattacharjee said.

In what seemed like a justification for Singur, Bhattacharjee said, “Eighty-ninety per cent of the people had given consent for the project. Was it a mistake on their part? Actually the Singur farmers had realized that they had to move on from agriculture. For a handful of people with vested interests the project did not come up.”

Negative events like Singur and Nandigram, had apparently, not affected the investment flow. In 2009-2010, investments in Bengal added up to Rs 8,500 crore. “That is much higher than the Rs 3,500-4,000 crore average investment,” Bengal commerce and industry minister, Nirupam Sen, said.

In agriculture, the state has clocked in a growth higher than the national average. “Our growth rate in agriculture is four per cent, but we need industrialization, as well,” the chief minister said.

After a possible slip-up yesterday, Bhattacharjee said, “We will remain in power. We cannot transfer to an irresponsible and indisciplined party. We cannot let down the people of Bengal.” Bhattacharjee had expressed doubts yesterday on whether the party would be in power after the assembly elections.