Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Monday said the state government will, during the monsoon session of the assembly that opens Tuesday, table its rehabilitation policy for land losers.

"We need to have an alternative policy on land acquisition, rehabilitation and compensation. We are in the final stage of discussion within our party about the policy and will place it in the monsoon session of the state assembly," Bhattacharjee said at the 80th annual general meeting of Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) here.

"We must come up with a comprehensive rehab policy and we've almost finalised it. There are lot of apprehensions among the land losers about the compensation package of the state government," he said.

Talking on industrial resurgence, Bhattacharjee said: "In 2007, West Bengal received major investments in steel and petroleum sectors. Seven steel companies are coming to the state and the petrochemical hub project at Nayachar is also in progress. We are giving importance to the manufacturing and the SMEs (small and medium enterprises) sector also."

"We are identifying newer investment areas. But all land acquisition issues need to be resolved fast. If the government fails to do that, people will have a wrong impression about us," he said.

"We have achieved a growth rate of eight percent. We can raise this figure to nine percent in the coming 11th five-year plan. Growth has taken place but we need to ensure whether the wealth created is reaching the poor. About 30 percent of our total population is still below the poverty line," the chief minister added.

 

Source : IANS