The Hindu Business Line : Bengal Govt to exit growth centres

The West Bengal Government is planning to scrap its policy of promoting growth centres for attracting investments, primarily in the medium sector. The State Government has also decided to exit from the existing 12 such growth centres and hand over the management to an industry association or co-operatives of the respective growth centres.

"We have already told the industries in the growth centres about our intention to hand over the responsibility. If they fail to come out with takeover proposals, we will appoint a consultant to suggest ways and means for the same," a senior Government official told Business Line, adding that the maintenance of the growth centres has proved to be a loss-making venture for the State Government.

Little success

According to him, the policy of setting up growth centres has achieved limited success, as all but three such centres have failed to attract much of industrial activity. Also, a large number of industries, which had set up shop in these centres turned sick owing to over-dependence on the then available subsidy scheme. There are also serious inadequacies in selection of site and quality of infrastructure.

"The entire growth centre scheme was heavily tilted in favour of the industries and has become unsustainable in today's environment," the official said.

Promoted through the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation , the State has growth centres at Kalyani (phases I, II, III), Falta, Uluberia, Bishnupur, Raninagar, Coochbehar, Malda, Dabgram, Haldia and Kharagpur. The growth centres at Falta, Uluberia and Kharagpur succeeded in attracting a fair number of industries.

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