Click to play videoKolkata: Strong protests over acquisition of farmland for industrial purpose has taught the Bengal government a lesson or two.
Instead of approaching farmers, the government is in the process of acquiring farmland from a Kolkata-based private developer.
In an innovative barter deal with this developer, the state IT department will get 600 acres of farmland for free. In return, the department has promised to develop infrastructure for the rest of the company’s land.
And on this government-acquired land, Infosys would build a multi-technology, multi-servicing SEZ over a 90-acre plot at an initial investment of Rs 500 crore. The company promises to employ 5000 people.
“We've always been saying that we want to be here, we want to be here and finally we are here. So it's a great day for us today," said Infosys MD and CEO S Gopalakrishnan.
The state government says their plan could be successfully replicated across the country.
"This is a unique PPP model not only in West Bengal but also in the whole of India,” said IT Minister, West Bengal Debesh Das.
This smart land acquisition arrangement by the West Bengal Government has helped it get past the land scarcity in Kolkata for IT development.
And it's not just Infosys; Wipro too will get its share of the cake.
Wipro officials met the Bengal Chief Minister separately and expressed satisfaction at having received a 90-acre chunk to expand its existing facility.
The company would invest over Rs 500 crore in next few years and even expressed its wish to be a part of the development of the proposed IT Park.
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