Mamata takes charge of Bengal industry core committee

Holds a meeting with city industrialists promising the release of long-pending industrial policy of the state over next few weeks

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday took over as the chairman of industry core committee from state industry minister Partha Chatterjee and held a meeting with city industrialists promising the release of long-pending industrial policy of the state over next few weeks.

The long-pending industrial policy is aimed to address some of industry's concerns. However, sources say, in her first meeting as the chairman of the core committee for industry on Wednesday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee apprised industrialists about the government's limitaions over providing large scale of land for manufacturing industry.

ITC chiarman YC Deveswar, Harshavardhan Neotia of Ambuja Cement on Wednesday attended the meeting along with representatives from local chambers and three national bodies - CII, FICCI and ASSOCHAM.

However, the fact that Mamata Banerjee herself took over as the chairman of the committee, was seen as a welcome move by the industrialists.

Also, Banerjee has restructured the Core Committee on Industries, she had created soon after assuming office on May 20, 2011.

Several ministers like urban development minister Firhad Hakim, panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee, labour minister Purnendu Basu, transport minister Madan Mitra and tourism minister Krishnendy Chowdhury have been newly inducted in the company.

"This initiative of bringing all the relevant government departments and the industry under one roof to discuss and deliberate on the industrial development of the state is a great move and would go a long way in shaping the overall growth and development of the state," Sudhir Deoras, Chairman, CII Eastern Region said after the meeting.

Earlier, the committee used to comprise industry minister Partha Chatterjee as the chairman and only two other ministers -- Fianace minister and SME minister as government representatives.