WB: Industrial growth centres to take care of infrastructure

Kolkata: The West Bengal government has finally decided to wash its hands off industrial growth centres in the state. It has served notices to entrepreneurs in the existing 12 growth centres, asking them to run the infrastructure of these centres on their own.

If these entrepreneurs fail to respond within a certain time frame, the state government will appoint a consultant to tide over the problem. The government feels that the entrepreneurs should take a decision within next six to eight months time.

Confirming the move, Sabysachi Sen, principal secretary (commerce and industry) told ET: “It has become increasingly difficult for us to maintain the infrastructure (mainly water and roads) of growth centres. We have raised the issue with entrepreneurs of the growth centres several times. But they have not responded to our request.”

There are 12 growth centres in the state now. Developed by West Bengal Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBIIDC), the growth centres are located at Kalyani (phases I, II, III), Falta, Uluberia, Bishnupur, Raninagar, Coochbehar, Malda, Dabgram, Haldia and Kharagpur. ET spoke to a few entrepreneurs of the state’s growth centres. While some described the government’s move as ‘draconian’, others find a logic in the government’s move.

An entrepreneur of Uluberia growth centre told ET on condition of anonymity, “Entrepreneurs of those growth centres who are performing well can maintain their own infrastructure. But those, who are not performing well, are not in a position to shoulder such a burden. The state should come up with an alternative model for them.”

For the new growth centres that are coming up in the state, the government’s vision is clear. “We will only allow those units in growth centres who agree to maintain the infrastructure on their own,”said Mr Sen.

WBIIDC is setting up four new growth centres at Jalpaiguri, Malda (phase -II), Bolpur and Falta (phase-II).
The corporation has already acquired 105 acres of land for the Jalpaiguri growth centre. Acquisition For the Malda growth centre, it has acquired 52 acres of land and development work has started.

The second phase of Falta growth centre is spread over an area of 260 acres. WBIIDC has already acquired 80 acres of land and development work is in progress. In the Bolpur new growth centre, 131 acres land has been acquired. Land acquisition process is on for further 70 acres of land.