Kolkata: As the Bengal Global Business Summit kicks off with much fanfare, showcasing West Bengal as an investment destination, questions loom large over the state's ability to deliver on its industrial promises. The government’s inability to allocate land for industrial projects announced years ago highlights the yawning gap between rhetoric and reality.
A stark example lies in Rajarhat, where the proposed Sourav Ganguly Sports University has faced years of delays due to land allocation hurdles. Despite commitments made during previous summits, the project remains stalled, mirroring the plight of several other industrial ventures in the state.
Critics argue that such summits often turn into public relations exercises, with little concrete progress on the ground. The Mamata Banerjee-led administration has faced backlash for its lack of a clear land policy and inability to attract large-scale industrial investments.
The CPI(M), the opposition party, has hit out at the government, alleging that these summits are mere spectacles aimed at showcasing the illusion of progress. “Industries and employment generation remain mere promises, as the government fails to take any real action,” they stated.
As investors and dignitaries converge for this year’s summit, the state’s industrial stagnation raises uncomfortable questions about whether West Bengal can truly become an economic powerhouse or if it will remain stuck in a cycle of lofty declarations and unfulfilled aspirations.
