Suvendu lays foundation stone of Shyam Steel project in Bankura, vows Bengal's industrial revival

Bankura (WB), Jul 17 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday promised an investor-friendly ecosystem with improved law and order, easier land availability and employment-linked incentives, while accusing the previous TMC government of driving away investments and leaving the state industrially stagnant. Laying the foundation stone for Shyam Steel Group's Rs 15,000-crore integrated steel plant expansion at Mejia in Bankura, Adhikari pitched the project as the BJP government's biggest industrial initiative since assuming office and unveiled a broader investment roadmap, saying the Adani Group, RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group and Flipkart were among companies planning fresh investments in the state. Addressing the gathering, Adhikari said industrialisation of western Bengal was essential to reverse decades of migration from districts such as Bankura, Purulia, Paschim Bardhaman and Birbhum. "I have come here to bring investment. If industries do not come to these districts, infrastructure will not improve, and ancillary industries will not grow. Thousands of young people leave every village for jobs outside the state. They will return once industries come," he said. The chief minister said the BJP government was committed to creating an investor-friendly ecosystem and assured industrialists that the state would provide the environment they sought. "We will ensure law and order. There will be no syndicates, no extortion and no cut money. If anyone locks factories or vandalises industrial units, strict action will follow. We will not forcibly acquire land. Tell us how much land you need, and we will facilitate its purchase. Incentives will not depend merely on investment size but on the number of jobs created," he said. The Shyam Steel project, part of the group's steel division expansion programme, will entail an investment of around Rs 15,000 crore and generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, according to the company and the state government. The expansion aims to transform the existing integrated steel plant into a larger, more modern manufacturing hub, with officials saying it is expected to spur ancillary industries, transport and MSME growth across Bankura and neighbouring districts. Seeking to project West Bengal as an emerging investment destination, Adhikari announced that several major corporate groups had either committed or expressed interest in investing in the state. He said RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group had proposed new investments, including a battery plant, while e-commerce major Flipkart would make a major investment at Haringhata before Durga Puja. He also said industrialist Gautam Adani had expressed interest in investing in the proposed deep-sea port project at Dadanpatrabar, while another Rs 4,000-crore investment was expected in Durgapur after August 15. The chief minister also announced that an Amul dairy plant at Dhulagarh in Howrah would be inaugurated virtually by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday. The industrial pitch, however, was accompanied by sharp political messaging aimed at the previous Trinamool Congress government. In a swipe at Mamata Banerjee, Adhikari invited the former chief minister to visit the Mejia plant and alleged that her politics had discouraged investors. "I would request the former chief minister to come and see this plant. She often branded Hindi-speaking businessmen, particularly Marwaris, as outsiders. She should come and see who is investing in Bengal," he said. Claiming that industries had begun returning only after the change in government, Adhikari alleged that many investors had earlier planned to shift to neighbouring Odisha because of corruption and an adverse business climate. "Had there not been a change in government, all these investments would have gone to Odisha. Investors are returning because the situation has changed," he claimed. The remarks marked the BJP government's latest attempt to contrast its industrial policy with that of the previous TMC dispensation, which the saffron party has consistently blamed for driving away industries since the Tata Motors' exit from Singur. Industries Minister Tapas Roy sharpened that attack further, accusing the previous government of neglecting industrial development for years. "After taking charge as industries minister, I realised I had virtually become a startup minister because nothing had been left behind. Decades of neglect have hurt Bengal. The previous government did nothing for industry. The relationship between this government and industrialists is one of partnership, not master and servant," Roy said. Taking a dig at earlier business summits organised by the TMC government, he alleged they had generated more publicity than investment. "The business summits of the past were all hype. We are interested in projects on the ground, not announcements," he said. Roy said the government wanted to create employment within the state so that migrant workers could return home. "Why should people leave West Bengal in search of work? We will create opportunities here. Our objective is an industrially prosperous West Bengal where migration is reduced, and employment is generated at home," he said. The Shyam Steel expansion follows recent investment announcements, including projects at Dankuni and by Lux Cozi, and forms part of the BJP government's effort to signal a revival of industrial activity in the state after taking office in May this year after defeating the 15-year-old TMC regime. PTI PNT MNB