West Bengal's industrial fraternity on Friday lauded Ms Mamata Banerjee on completing her first year in Government.

While industry captains saw an improvement in the State under her leadership, city-based chambers of commerce said her one-year-old Government was on track to meet pre-election promises.

Mr Sanjiv Goenka, Chairman of RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, said an ‘optimistic' environment over the previous year had been ‘conducive' for business.

“While there was a remarkable stability in the State's law-and-order situation, a distinct improvement was noticed in day-to-day Government activities. There's an air of enthusiasm and expectancy all around. Such an optimistic environment is always conducive to growth in trade and commerce. It will also be helpful in attracting long-term industrial investments here,” Mr Goenka said.

Mr Harsh Neotia, Chairman of Ambuja Realty Group, too, echoed similar sentiments. “The Government has shown urgency and energy to push for peace in Junglemahal and Darjeeling. This will create a positive climate for development,” he said.

According to him, the Mamata Banerjee Government's move to amend certain laws to hold land in excess of ceiling limit for approved industrial projects was practical.

Mr Sumit Mazumdar, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of TIL, said: “In principle, I believe in the policy of industry buying land directly.”

However, some industrialists opined differently.

According to Mr Harsh K. Jha, President, Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Government has been largely silent on the path that needs to be traversed to create revenue. The Trinamool Government, he added, had hardly been able to change the perception about the safety of investments made in West Bengal.

>ayan.pramanik@thehindu.co.in

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