Bengal woos investors with govt land

State FM Amit Mitra was speaking during a road show to promote Bengal Global Business Summit, which will be held in January

With increasing competition amongst states to capture industrial development, West Bengal plans to offer over one-lakh acre land that is lying with various departments of the local government to industries.

"Scarcity of land in Bengal is a myth," said Amit Mitra, finance minister, government of West Bengal, at a road show to promote Bengal Global Business Summit, which will be held in January.

"We also have additional 4,400 acre land available with industrial parks to offer," he said. The state government received Rs 2.43 lakh core of investment commitment at the maiden event this year and claims that out of this, about Rs 91,000 crore is already at various stage of investments.

The state government is expecting investments for IT, cement, fertilizers, steel among other industries. It has also chalked out plan to attract startups to the state.

Mitra cited Tata Consultancy Services plans to build a facility for 20,000 employees in the state. The investor summit gains significance with the state going for poll in 2016 in which Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress will contest to retain power.

The summit also signifies regional a party's attempt to grab development agenda which helped BJP win in general election of 2014.