Tata gone but Bengal manages to retain German firm

Kolkata: The Forward Bloc-dominated Agricultural Marketing Board in West Bengal has finalised conditions for renewing the licence of German wholesaler Metro Cash and Carry.

However, it will prevent the German firm from moving into large format retail in agricultural produce.

The licence will be issued on October 10.

The renewal follows a pullout threat by Metro Cash and Carry, which led to chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's special intervention.

Stating that the Chief Secretary A K Deb had shot off a letter to the secretary of Agriculture Marketing Department which said the Metro Cash and Carry management had met the Chief Minister and expressed their anxiety over the inordinate delay in renewing licence under West Bengal Agriculture Produce Marketing Regulation Act.

He said the district magistrate of South 24-Parganas, as a follow-up wrote a letter to the District Regulatory Marketing Committee to take appropriate action in this regard.

The Forward Bloc leader said that the matter was reviewed by the Chief Minister and after the review he was "pleased" to direct the licence of Metro be renewed.

He said that till the letter was withdrawn, four Forward Bloc ministers would not attend the state secretariat from Monday.

"How could Chief Minister give such directions before the scheduled bilateral meeting between CPI(M) and Forward Bloc on the issue on Sunday?" he asked.

Ghose said shop-owners and small traders would be hit by the entry of retail giants in the sector.

"West Bengal is the vegetable producing state and the foreign capitals will not be allowed for which Metro Cash and Carry would not be allowed licence," the Forward Bloc leader added.

When asked for comments, Metro Cashand Carry spokesperson said they have not received any official intimation from the West Bengal government so far, so they have nothing to comment at this juncture.

The wholesale giant has been facing opposition from Left Front partner Forward Bloc on renewal of licence to buy farm product directly from farmers for Kolkata store.

(With inputs from PTI)