West Bengal is set to overhaul its land procurement policy for industry, with the new framework to be finalised only after direct consultations with industrialists and trade bodies, state Commerce & Industries Minister Tapas Roy announced on Saturday, 8 August. Roy made the assurance while addressing an industry seminar in Kolkata, attended by senior business leaders from across the state.

Key Meeting Called at Nabanna on August 11

Roy confirmed that a high-level meeting to finalise the blueprint of the new ‘land for industry’ policy has been convened at the state secretariat Nabanna on 11 August. “I welcome all industrialists and representatives of industry associations to be present at that meeting and give their valuable suggestions. Your suggestions will be crucial for finalising that policy,” the minister said.

The consultation-first approach marks a deliberate departure from how land policy has historically been handled in the state, where industry bodies have long complained of being sidelined in regulatory decisions.

Minister's Critique of the Previous Government

Roy launched a pointed attack on the preceding administration, alleging years of industrial neglect. “Nothing was done for industrial development not only during the last 15 years but also before that. This sector had remained neglected for years,” he said, adding that he inherited no land bank, no land policy, and no active incentive framework.

He further alleged that the previous regime’s bureaucratic delays — including a wait of nine to ten days to obtain a no-objection certificate — eroded investor confidence. “As many as 6,688 companies, small, medium and big, left West Bengal during the previous regime. Why they left is known to everyone,” Roy said.

On Incentives and Extortion Practices

The minister stressed that investments in the current economic environment are not viable without a robust incentive policy, which the state is now working to restore. He also claimed that the new government has taken “definite steps” to eliminate extortion practices that he described as a major disincentive for fresh capital.

“So, I am asking all of you to get involved in the new state government’s endeavour for industrial development,” Roy said, calling on the business community to engage actively with the policy process.

What This Means for West Bengal Industry

The proposed policy overhaul comes at a critical juncture for West Bengal, which has struggled to attract large-scale industrial investment compared with peer states such as Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Telangana. The absence of a functional land bank — a pre-identified pool of industry-ready land — has been cited repeatedly by investors as a structural barrier.

If the 11 August meeting produces a credible draft, it could signal a meaningful shift in the state’s investment climate. The finalised policy is expected to address land acquisition timelines, compensation frameworks, and single-window clearance norms. All eyes will now be on whether the consultation process translates into a binding, actionable framework.