West Bengal must become self-sufficient to be dependent on doles, says CM Suvendu Adhikari

West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari during Durga Puja inauguration of 4-Palli Community Puja Committee on October 13, 2026 | Photo credit: PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday (Oct 14, 2026) inaugurated Haldia Petrochemicals Limited’s (HPL) ₹ 6,000 crore phenol and acetone plant in Haldia, stressing that the state must become self-sufficient so that it is not dependent on mines.

Addressing a rally in Haldia, Mr. Adhikari said that Haldia Petrochemicals made the country self-sufficient, but since then it has become “bhata nirbhar” (dependent on doles) and needs to return to “atma nirbhar” (independent).

The chief minister’s remarks come in the context of promoting West Bengal as an investment destination and pointing out that the previous government only encouraged a culture of handing out gifts to the people.

Mr. Adhikari said a committee headed by a group of ministers of the state has come up with a draft industrial policy detailing the incentives the government is introducing for industry as well as the land policy. The Chief Minister said that the new industrial policy of West Bengal will be unveiled before Diwali.

He said the BJP government will come out of the policy of militant trade unionism of the 34-year-old Left Front government and the withdrawal of incentives for industries by the Trinamool Congress government. Referring to other projects in the pipeline, the Chief Minister expressed hope that within a year, West Bengal would become an important investment destination in the country.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Adhikari appreciated the contribution of Purnendu Chatterjee, Chairman, HPL, and said he had a vision for the plant.

“It’s a historic day for us. It’s a God-given day,” he said while inaugurating the new facility in the state’s Purba Medinipur district.

Developed under HPL subsidiary Adperma Private Limited, the facility will be home to two firsts for India – the country’s first purpose-built propylene plant based on olefin conversion technology and the country’s largest phenol unit.

“Seeing this project come to life in Haldia is deeply gratifying. It reflects our long-standing belief in the industrial potential of West Bengal and I believe Adperma will prove a strong foundation for the next phase of chemical growth – one that will create real and lasting value for the region and the country,” said Dr. Chatterjee, who is also the chairman of The Chatterjee Group.

With an annual capacity of 345,000 tonnes of phenol and 215,000 tonnes of acetone, the facility is the largest of its kind in India and was built at a cost of ₹6,000 crore. At present, about 50% of India’s total phenol demand and about 40% of acetone demand are met through imports.

The chief minister also referred to industrial accidents at several facilities in Haldia and promised to set up a 50-bed state-run trauma center in the city by June 2027.

Published – 14 Oct 2026 15:59 IST