Land acquisition, Nandigram nix Infy’s West Bengal entry

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Kolkata, Nov 29 : The tardy pace of work in the West Bengal government and the Nandigram issue have come as stumbling blocks for the $4.9-billion IT major Infosys Technologies to set up a centre in Kolkata.

Member of the Infosys board TV Mohandas Pai, who was here to participate at the National Conference on HR, said that the slow pace of work by the government is hurting the state and Infosys has not yet been offered any land in West Bengal.

An industry, which has recruited 3.80 lakh people last year and projected a requirement of Rs 4.30 lakh in the current year needs quick decisions, Pai said.

Asked what impact Nandigram would have on the future of IT in the state , Pai said, “It has created a misconception in the minds of clients and acts as a fear psychosis.”

“We have to look at the risk factor,” Pai added, while replying to a question whether Infosys is ready to set up a centre if the state government offers land right now.

Pai clarified that he doesn't want to blame anybody. “In fact, I admire Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee as a chief minister. It is the state government that has invited us and they should fulfil their obligation,” he said.

On the current status of the project, Pai said it is neither off nor on. He added that in the current fiscal, Infosys is setting up a centre in Jaipur which will be on a 200-acre plot under an SEZ facility.

The IT major will also pump in around Rs 1,500 crore to build a one million square feet training centre in Mysore.

"The Rajasthan government has allocated it in two days flat ," said Pai.

In September 2005, the Bengal government invited Infosys to Kolkata and the IT company asked for 100 acres in February 2006. Infosys planned to invest Rs 250 crore with an employment potential of around 5,000 people.

From the beginning, the issue of land price and finding a suitable location within the city limits posed a problem.

A few months back, the Bengal government offered land in Kalyani, a Kolkata suburb.