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NATION AUGUST 27, 2021 | The Indian Eye 11

dy,” he said. if done wrong, it can backfire. said Basu. the private sector begins to use
Kaushik Basu, an economist “I am not close enough. Have “So, you bring in the pri- it. This done well can actually
from India and Professor at Cor- not seen the details to be able to vate sector, you almost you rent be pretty good. No doubt about
nell University, compared the tell you which way to go. But it it out you lease it out you give it because the private sector
National Monetization Pipeline is important to understand what them. You take money from the brings its efficiency in the state
(NMP) with Goods and Ser- is being done basically is a form private sector; you retain the continues to own it,” said Basu.
vices Tax (GST) and said that it of public-private partnership,” ownership of these assets and In a related move, lashing
is a good idea but risks too are out at the Centre over the pro-
involved in its implementation. posed National Monetization
The economist pointed out Pipeline (NMP), West Bengal
that big assets like airports, Chief Minister Mamata Baner-
highways, railways which are jee on Wednesday said she is
languishing would be used well “shocked” by the plan. Speak-
enough through National Mon- ing to media at Nabanna, the
etization Pipeline. In an exclu- Chief Minister said the Central
sive interview with ANI, Basu government can’t sell the coun-
said, “National Monetization try’s assets.
Pipeline is barely 24 hours old. “These are not Prime Min-
I do have a view and the view is ister Narendra Modi’s or BJP’s
that there is a plus side to it but assets. These assets belong to
there is a risk and a very big risk. the country. Prime Minister
I think this is a bit like GST.” can’t sell the country’s assets.
Replying to a question on the This is an unfortunate decision
intent of the policy, or the pur- Congress supporters wearing masks of PM Narendra Modi, Union and I’m shocked by it,” she said,
pose, Basu said that the move Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and MDs of Reliance and Adani Banerjee added that many peo-
to monetize its brownfield infra- group during a protest against the Central Government over the National ple will join her in condemning
structure assets is desirable, but monetization pipeline in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI) this decision.

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