Tata investment proposal

As our newspapers do not normally cover these types of news stories concerning West Bengal, there is every chance of our readers being confused by such reporting. Viewers of Kolkata Bangla channels like 'Star Ananda' & others will know that the statement is not true. The truth is WB government not only accepted Tata's investment proposal of setting up of a low cost vehicle plant but also agreed to provide them with alternate agriculture land near a high way (as requested by Tata) at Howrah, instead of an earlier remote agriculture land proposed by the WB govt. in another place.

Also, it is to be noted that the WB govt. has formulated a detailed guideline to compensate the affected land owners properly. These are adequate cash compensation, suitable alternate land for their housing, provision of providing at least one member of each affected family with job in the set up industry etc.

As future foreign investments inflow to Bangladesh depends a lot on our decision about Tata's investment; all concerned should be careful to avoid presenting facts that are not true. The government should be careful to avoid a 'Kafco' like curse in Bangladesh. Pricing of gas should get utmost priority and under no circumstances Tata should be supplied with subsidised gas. To get this Tata investment thing moving, the govt. should constitute a committee of experts/economists to guide the govt. team on gas pricing.

In the said news item there were also some comments by some participants that the govt. should flatly refuse any Tata investment proposal. This should of course not be the case.

Let us be practical and not parochial. Let's choose the right path for the nation.