Mamata invites investors, says land no issue

Claims that the economy of the state is growing at a faster rate than that of the country

Pitching for public-private partnership, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday invited investment into the state, assuring potential investors that land would not become an issue.

"Land will not be a problem, we have land banks. I urge investors to come to us with their proposals and the government will be their equity partner -- land being the equity," Banerjee said, while inaugurating the Andal airport in Burdwan district.

The airport has been christened Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport after the Bengali poet, musician and revolutionary.

Banerjee said commercial operations at the airport were expected to start early next year.

Claiming that the economy of the state was growing at a faster rate than that of the country, Banerjee asserted that her government was committed to building infrastructure, and investors will be offered sops and tax benefits for their projects.

Asserting that several big ticket industrial projects have been lined up, Banerjee said it was a "new era" in the state, and that developmental projects will generate a large number of employment opportunities.

Deriding the erstwhile Left Front government for hindering West Bengal's development by pursuing the politics of shutdowns and strikes, Banerjee warned that her government would not tolerate any such disruptive ploys.

"I have always said that we are against this politics of shutdowns and strikes. We will not tolerate any such disruptive ploys. I urge all stakeholders to come and work together for the development of the state," Banerjee said.