THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY Durgapur Steel Plant O ECONOMIC WEEKLY Durgapur Steel Plant ONE is amazed at the...
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THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY Durgapur Steel Plant O NE is amazed at the Bengali's capacity of saying " n o " to anything and everything. In Cal- cutta, even a polytechnic student is expected to be familiar with the modern trends in art and literature. But the Bengali has become poly- technic-conscious. He is in favour of rapid industrialisation. He is aware that West Bengal must in- dustrialise or perish. But when the Government introduces a Bill for the industrial development of West Bengal, the Assembly debates it clause by clause; the people dis- approve of the measure. There was a time when the Gov- ernment in West Bengal could evoke sympathy by insinuating New Delhi's apathy to the development of West Bengal. It is significant that Dr B C Roy, West Bengal's Chief Minis- ter, has impliedly made similar in- sinuations without evoking much support of the people. Not the average Bengali, but Calcutta's Marwari industrialists seem to lend support to Dr Roy in his implied stand that New Delhi is obstructing his plans for the industrial develop- ment of West Bengal. Nothing would please a Bengali more than the construction of the Ganga Barrage at Farakka, or the erection of a soda ash and of a coke oven plant at Durgapur, or a steel plant at Durgapur. All these pro- jects are essential for the economic, agricultural and industrial progress of West Bengal. Recent develop- ments indicate that the prospects for the Ganga Barrage at Farakka and for the steel plant at Durgapur are now better. But the average Bengali is not happy about the way in which these projects are being planned. CHIEF MINISTER'S PLANS Dr Roy is a tall person. He now rules West Bengal from the tallest building in Calcutta. He is surpris- ingly active and agile for his age. He has no following among the people or in the West Bengal Con- gress Party. But he manages to continue as the Chief Minister of the Congress Government in West Bengal because of lack of any effec- tive, combined opposition from the various Congress groups. He domi- nates his Cabinet. He exploits the comfortable Congress majority in the Assembly to secure the sanction for the measures he formulates. His plans look sensible on paper. There is no doubt about his inge- nuity. When he finds New Delhi opposed to his plans, he replies that he will push his projects through with the help of resources mobilised from within the State. So, in spite of New Delhi's reported opposition, his Government invites international tenders for the coke oven plant at Durgapur; he introduces a Bill in the Assembly for forming a Corpo- ration, with powers to raise loans and issue shares, to execute his grandiose projects. " NO," THE PEOPLE SAY His predecessor would not have pursued some of his tactics. But his predecessor could have evoked en- thusiastic support from the people for the policies and schemes which Dr B C Roy now pursues without any popular support or backing. All this because Dr Roy is widely suspect as the most non-Bengali Bengali. His alleged association with the Marwari business community is the main reason behind his unpopu- larity. He is openly accused of sell- ing West Bengal to the Marwaris. So, the average Bengali says " n o " to whatever he does or proposes. This explains why the report that plans are well under way for start- ing a steel plant at Durgapur by the Birlas, in combination with a Bri- tish firm, has not evoked much enthusiasm in West Bengal. Yet. there was sincere disappointment throughout West Bengal when it became known that New Delhi had accepted Rourkella as the site for the third steel plant in preference to Durgapur. Here, it is necessary to put on record that there is more enthusiasm even for. Dr B C Roy's plans for a coke oven plant at Durgapur than the BirIa-British pro- posed steel combine at Durgapur. T H E BIRLA PROJECT A team of Russian steel experts is now in New Delhi. These Russian experts are having discussions with their opposite numbers in India on the proposed second State-owned steel plant in this country. There are unconfirmed reports that this plant may be located somewhere in Madhya Pradesh, In Calcutta, New Delhi's decision to choose Rourkella in preference to Durgapur as the site for a steel plant is not endorsed fully. There is resentment in some circles that Durgapur is to be by- passed even for the second State- owned steel plant. There is, at the same time, sur-, prise that, if New Delhi is of the opinion that Durgapur is not a suit- able location for a steel plant, how could the Government sanction the Birla-British proposal for erecting a steel plant at Durgapur? According to reports, this private steel concern, sponsored by the Birlas in combina- tion with a British firm, will receive financial aid from the recently-form- ed Development Corporation. Al- though the Government is not direct- ly concerned in providing financial help to the proposed Durgapur steel plant, the question is being asked as to how the Government could sanction the location of a private steel plant at Durgapur while it is against starting a State-owned steel plant there. DURGAPUR STEEL PLANT Wider issues are involved in the reported plan for erecting a private steel plant at Durgapur. These issues relate to the problems of de- marcation between private and public sectors of the economy. Far more intriguing is the joint public. and private enterprise in any single industry. But the average Bengali is not as much interested in these problems of mixed economy as in the fact that non-Bengali private interests are proposing to start a steel plant at Durgapur. He is in favour of a steel plant at Durgapur, But he would prefer such a project to he State-owned so that he can have the maximum scope and op- portunities for employment. To avoid any possible misunder- standing, it is necessary to add a footnote. One of the most vital objectives of a correspondent is to interpret the people about whom he is reporting. This page is devoted to analysing the socio-economic events and their reactions among the people in this Suite. It is this writer's concern, and aim, to dis- cern the people's responses to such developments. Observations made here do not necessarily imply that this writer accepts the popular theories and arguments, or that he endorses the people's responses to socio-economic developments with- out question, or that the people's reactions are always right. 1323
Transcript of THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY Durgapur Steel Plant O ECONOMIC WEEKLY Durgapur Steel Plant ONE is amazed at the...
THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY
Durgapur Steel Plant ONE is amazed at the Bengali's
capacity o f saying " n o " to anything and everything. In Calcutta, even a polytechnic student is expected to be famil iar w i t h the modern trends in art and literature. But the Bengali has become polytechnic-conscious. He is in favour of rapid industrialisation. He is aware that West Bengal must i n dustrialise or perish. But when the Government introduces a B i l l for the industrial development of West Bengal, the Assembly debates it clause by clause; the people disapprove of the measure.
There was a time when the Government in West Bengal could evoke sympathy by insinuating New Delhi's apathy to the development of West Bengal. It is significant that Dr B C Roy, West Bengal's Chief Min is ter, has impliedly made similar i n sinuations wi thout evoking much support of the people. Not the average Bengali, but Calcutta's Marwar i industrialists seem to lend support to Dr Roy in his implied stand that New Delhi is obstructing his plans for the industrial development of West Bengal.
Noth ing would please a Bengali more than the construction of the Ganga Barrage at Farakka, or the erection of a soda ash and of a coke oven plant at Durgapur, or a steel plant at Durgapur. A l l these projects are essential for the economic, agricultural and industrial progress of West Bengal. Recent developments indicate that the prospects for the Ganga Barrage at Farakka and for the steel plant at Durgapur are now better. But the average Bengali is not happy about the way in which these projects are being planned.
CHIEF MINISTER'S PLANS
Dr Roy is a tal l person. He now rules West Bengal from the tallest building in Calcutta. He is surprisingly active and agile for his age. He has no following among the people or in the West Bengal Congress Party. But he manages to continue as the Chief Minister of the Congress Government in West Bengal because of lack of any effective, combined opposition from the various Congress groups. He dominates his Cabinet. He exploits the comfortable Congress majority in the Assembly to secure the sanction for the measures he formulates.
His plans look sensible on paper. There is no doubt about his ingenuity. When he f inds New Delh i opposed to his plans, he replies that he w i l l push his projects through w i t h the help of resources mobilised from w i t h i n the State. So, in spite of New Delhi's reported opposition, his Government invites international tenders for the coke oven plant at Durgapur; he introduces a B i l l in the Assembly for forming a Corporation, w i t h powers to raise loans and issue shares, to execute his grandiose projects.
" NO," THE PEOPLE SAY
His predecessor would not have pursued some of his tactics. But his predecessor could have evoked enthusiastic support from the people for the policies and schemes which Dr B C Roy now pursues without any popular support or backing. A l l this because Dr Roy is widely suspect as the most non-Bengali Bengali. His alleged association w i t h the M a r w a r i business community is the main reason behind his unpopularity. He is openly accused of selling West Bengal to the Marwaris . So, the average Bengali says " n o " to whatever he does or proposes.
This explains why the report that plans are well under way for starting a steel plant at Durgapur by the Birlas, in combination w i th a Br i tish f i rm, has not evoked much enthusiasm in West Bengal. Yet. there was sincere disappointment throughout West Bengal when it became known that New Delh i had accepted Rourkella as the site for the t h i rd steel plant in preference to Durgapur. Here, it is necessary to put on record that there is more enthusiasm even for. Dr B C Roy's plans for a coke oven plant at Durgapur than the BirIa-British pro-posed steel combine at Durgapur.
T H E BIRLA PROJECT
A team of Russian steel experts is now in New Delhi . These Russian experts are having discussions w i t h their opposite numbers in India on the proposed second State-owned steel plant in this country. There are unconfirmed reports that this plant may be located somewhere in Madhya Pradesh, In Calcutta, New Delhi's decision to choose Rourkella in preference to Durgapur as the site for a steel plant is not endorsed fully. There is resentment in some
circles that Durgapur is to be bypassed even for the second State-owned steel plant.
There is, at the same time, sur-, prise that, if New Delhi is of the opinion that Durgapur is not a suitable location for a steel plant , how could the Government sanction the Birla-British proposal for erecting a steel plant at Durgapur? According to reports, this private steel concern, sponsored by the Birlas in combinat ion w i t h a British f i r m , w i l l receive financial aid from the recently-formed Development Corporation. Al-though the Government is not directly concerned in providing financial help to the proposed Durgapur steel plant, the question is being asked as to how the Government could sanction the location of a private steel plant at Durgapur while it is against starting a State-owned steel plant there.
DURGAPUR STEEL PLANT
Wider issues are involved in the reported plan for erecting a private steel plant at Durgapur. These issues relate to the problems of demarcation between private and public sectors of the economy. Far more intr iguing is the joint public. and private enterprise in any single industry. But the average Bengali is not as much interested in these problems of mixed economy as in the fact that non-Bengali private interests are proposing to start a steel plant at Durgapur. He is in favour of a steel plant at Durgapur, But he would prefer such a project to he State-owned so that he can have the maximum scope and opportunities for employment.
To avoid any possible misunderstanding, it is necessary to add a footnote. One of the most vi tal objectives of a correspondent is to interpret the people about whom he is reporting. This page is devoted to analysing the socio-economic events and their reactions among the people in this Suite. It is this writer's concern, and aim, to discern the people's responses to such developments. Observations made here do not necessarily imply that this writer accepts the popular theories and arguments, or that he endorses the people's responses to socio-economic developments w i t h out question, or that the people's reactions are always right.
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