Kolkata: CM Suvendu Adhikari met Reliance Industries chairperson Mukesh Ambani and director Anant Ambani in Mumbai on Monday to discuss expansion of the group’s businesses in the state and potential investments in IT, semiconductors, biogas and other sectors.The discussions also covered the possibility of a Vantara project in Bengal, sources said. The Ambani family is exploring the potential for a wildlife sanctuary in eastern India, while Adhikari had recently announced plans for Bengal’s first wildlife sanctuary in Purulia.The state govt is keen on the Vantara project and may offer locations in the Terai-Dooars region of north Bengal and forested areas of Purulia, Bankura and Jhargram, the sources said.Adhikari had left for Mumbai on Monday afternoon. On Sept 11, he said Anant Ambani had invited him to the family’s Ganesh Puja celebrations and that he would meet the Ambanis to seek investments for Bengal.Reliance has already been allotted land at the Bengal Silicon Valley Hub in New Town for a data centre. Adhikari has also said the group would invest in a semiconductor hub in the state.Ever since it assumed office in May, the BJP govt in Bengal has been seeking large scale industrial investments, with the CM as well as commerce and industries minister Tapas Roy reaching out to major business groups.Industry circles said any major investment by Reliance could send a signal about the state’s efforts to attract large projects.
