scan: What! Comrade Buddha speaks the unspeakable

Comrade Buddha speaks the unspeakable
Sunday June 6 2004 00:48 IST

KOLKATA: The CPM top brass in New Delhi should have been there. Chief 
Minister of West Bengal Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Saturday made a 
strong pitch in favour of private and foreign capital to change the 
quality of life of the people in the state.

He was inaugurating Kolkata' unique ``multi-use City Centre in Salt 
Lake,'' designed by Charles Correa and built in 22 months over 5.5 lakh 
square feet showcasing shops by a range of foreign retail brand names: 
from Nike to Kentucky Fried Chicken!

This is a project of Bengal Ambuja Metro Development Limited, a 
collaboration between the state government and Harsh Neotia's Gujarat 
Ambuja Cements Limited.

``We are a Leftist government but we are a pragmatic government,'' said 
Bhattacharjee. ``We will have to rope in private capital in urban 
development. And if you want faster development, there has to be inflow 
of private capital. I would even invite and welcome foreign investment 
to come and join in this government initiative for development,'' he said.

Bhattacharjee then went on to show how this had scripted success: how 
West Bengal was one of the first states to go in for joint-sector 
projects in housing; and how multinational companies based in Malaysia, 
Indonesia and Singapore have been showing interest to build new 
townships in the state.

``We will not be able to move ahead with time if we try to keep private 
capital out,'' said Bhattacharjee. ``Even in health we have started this 
PP policy,'' a reference to ``private-public partnership policy.''

He said joint venture projects are underway in healthcare in setting up 
a neurology center and a TB hospital.

The chief minister however, pointed out that the poorer sections of the 
people should not be left behind. While the city center caters to the 
urban population, one has to think about the 1.7 million of slum 
dwellers who also live in Kolkata. ``Their quality of life has to be 
improved too,'' he said.

Said architect Correa: ``The City Centre's message to the world is that 
a Leftist government and private partnership can work together 
successfully.''

Incidentally, this week Bhattacharjee was ``authorised'' by the Left 
Front to be the ``face'' of West Bengal in all dealings with the Centre 
on issues relevant to the state.