Bengal CM rules out forcible land acquisition, promises land banks for investors

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday unveiled the state's new Investment Promotion Policy, promising government-backed land banks, investor-friendly incentives and faster industrial approvals, while ruling out both the Left Front's forcible land acquisition model and the Trinamool Congress's approach of leaving industries to arrange land without government assistance.

Adhikari said the state was positioned to facilitate fresh investments of around Rs 1 lakh crore over the next few months, citing the availability of industrial land and several projects in the pipeline. However, he acknowledged that the government was not currently in a position to clear an accumulated industrial incentive backlog of nearly Rs 50,000 crore.

"We will neither have a forcible land acquisition policy like the Left Front nor will we have a flawed land policy like the TMC, asking industries to buy their own land without any support from the government," he said.

Emphasising that the new policy would protect landowners' rights, the Chief Minister said decisions on land acquisition would be taken through negotiations rather than coercion.

"Decisions will be taken through discussions, not by force," he said.

𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆

Adhikari said the government had examined land acquisition policies followed by Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat before formulating its approach.

Under the new framework, officials would hold direct discussions with landowners, and those willing to sell their land could receive compensation above prevailing market rates.

The government would also purchase land for future industrial requirements and develop dedicated land banks to ensure that investors could obtain suitable plots without prolonged delays.

Discussions were underway with HUDCO, NABARD, the Asian Development Bank and other financial institutions to mobilise funds for the initiative, he said.

Adhikari added that land would be made available through existing industrial parks, recovered plots and the proposed land bank.

Recalling the controversies surrounding land acquisition in Nandigram and Singur, the Chief Minister criticised both the Left Front and the previous TMC administration.

"No notification for land acquisition was issued during Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's tenure. As a result, people witnessed incidents like those in Nandigram and Singur," he alleged.

He also accused former chief minister Mamata Banerjee of pursuing a land policy that discouraged industrial investment.

𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲-𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝘀

The Chief Minister said companies that had received industrial land under the previous administration but failed to utilise it had been directed to initiate project-related processes within three months.

Those unwilling to proceed would be required to return their plots, with the government refunding the original purchase price.

The measure is intended to recover unused industrial land and make it available for fresh investment proposals.

Adhikari said his administration had adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards extortion and other practices that discouraged businesses from investing in the state.

"We have a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of extortion from industry. Strict action will be taken against anyone found involved in such activities," he said.

"Our government follows the policy of 'Na khaunga, na khane dunga' (Will neither take bribes nor let others take them)," he added.

Accusing previous governments of contributing to Bengal's industrial decline, Adhikari alleged that aggressive trade union politics under the CPI(M) had damaged several industrial centres.

"The Left destroyed the jute mills, Haldia and Chittaranjan. Mamata's tenure saw an industrial drought in Bengal. Extortion and the syndicate raj continued unabated," he claimed.

He further alleged that nearly Rs 20,000 crore in state revenue had been siphoned off by "anti-nationals and mafia" during the previous administration.

𝗥𝘀 𝟭 𝗹𝗮𝗸𝗵 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲

Outlining the government's investment plans, Adhikari said land had already been handed over to 33 business groups and that the administration was capable of meeting the current demand for industrial plots.

"We are currently in a position to facilitate investments of around Rs 1 lakh crore over the next few months," he said.

The government had offered two plots measuring 15 acres each to Amul for ice-cream manufacturing units, while the Vedanta Group had selected a plot belonging to the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority.

Land arrangements had also been made for Campa Cola and Reliance projects at Haringhata and for Matrix's expansion at Panagarh.

Adhikari said the administration had facilitated land for proposals involving the Sanjiv Goenka Group in Haldia and recovered plots belonging to several closed industrial units in the Barrackpore industrial belt.

Among ongoing projects, he cited Lux Cozi's Rs 600-crore manufacturing unit and Amul's Rs 700-crore project.

Steel expansion work in Medinipur and an Amit Metaliks unit at Raghunathpur were also progressing, he said.

The Chief Minister added that JSW Group chairman Sajjan Jindal had proposed a groundbreaking ceremony in January for the second phase of the company's power plant at Salboni.

The Reshmi Group was also planning similar ceremonies for a second plant at Kharagpur and two projects in Purulia.

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀

The Investment Promotion Policy seeks to accelerate industrialisation and generate employment by offering incentives, particularly in less-industrialised regions of the state.

The framework provides higher assistance to industrial units operating in identified thrust sectors and priority areas.

It also promises fixed timelines for regulatory approvals and incentive payments, aimed at improving predictability for investors.

Adhikari said the government intended to create an industry-friendly environment and ensure that investment proposals moved forward without unnecessary administrative obstacles.

He criticised the investment summits organised during Banerjee's tenure, alleging that they had failed to translate into substantial industrial activity.

𝗥𝘀 𝟱𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗼𝗴

Despite outlining an ambitious investment programme, Adhikari acknowledged that the state faced significant financial constraints in clearing outstanding industrial incentives.

He said the accumulated backlog stood at approximately Rs 50,000 crore, an amount beyond the government's present financial capacity.

The new administration had accepted responsibility for incentive commitments falling due after May 9, 2026, but could not immediately assume the accumulated liabilities inherited from the previous government.

"The previous government cheated industrialists and investors. Had it paid Rs 7,000-8,000 crore in incentives every year, such a backlog would not have accumulated," he alleged.

Adhikari said the government recognised the outstanding commitments as a legacy issue and would work towards addressing them as the state's financial position improved.

He maintained that the administration remained committed to restoring investor confidence, facilitating industrial projects and creating employment opportunities through the new policy.