An investment climate survey undertaken at the behest of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) here shows “Brand Buddha” reigning at the helm (16.1 per cent), notwithstanding the rumblings over the Nandigram killings and the Singur land acquisition controversy.
Interestingly, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi beat his counterparts in Maharashtra, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and New Delhi to gain the second slot, with his state bagging the third position on the investment index.
About 150 industrial houses in West Bengal were chosen as respondents to assess several political and industrial issues with regard to future investment opportunities in various states.
West Bengal figured fifth on the investment index, after Karnataka. Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu bagged the first and second places respectively. With the land acquisition row as a major roadblock to industrialisation, the business community in West Bengal have come out in favour of proper rehabilitation packages for the displaced farmers, to avoid a Singur-like scenario in future.
The Investment Climate Survey Report, a recent study by  the ICC, pointed out that 80 per cent respondents from the business community felt the state government “must chalk out suitable rehabilitation packages” for the displaced farmers before formally handing over land to industrial units.
However, the good news for “Brand Buddha” is that a significant section of the respondents who participated in the survey felt that the state government must not stop land acquisition for promoting industrial growth in West Bengal.
Major concern
While 60 per cent felt that the land acquisition is a major area of concern in the state, close to 33 per cent opined that the recent political disturbances jolted the industrial process and harmed the image of Bengal.
“We have already had a discussion with the state government regarding this particular issue. We have suggested the government to prepare a complete land map identifying all single crop and barren land,” ICC president H K Jha told newsmen here on Wednesday after releasing the report.
“This will help reduce further disputes over the land acquisition process in West Bengal,” Mr Jha said.