Reform in Buddha’s sacred land reform

Admitting that the amendment bill is ready to be introduced in the state assembly, Mollah told The Indian Express, ‘‘It is going to be a revival package for the sick industries across the state. The land will be used for trade and business purposes.’’

The Central government has been asking every state to bring in a comprehensive land-use policy to kick-start Manmohan Singh government’s ambitious Urban Renewal Mission. So much so that a number of major urban development schemes have been linked to incentives to carry out the urban reform process. Without which, officials here said, land for the next generation urban reform plan — for mass rapid transport projects, segregated roads, airport expansion, housing, slum resettlement — would not be available.

However, the West Bengal government has surprised many by the speed with which it has moved. It could set an example for the Maharashtra Government which seems to be locked in political battles over the ambitious Mumbai revival project.

Mollah said the decision was taken after a survey found that as much as 1.5 lakh acres were locked up in sick and closed industrial units from which neither the state government nor the corporations earn a single penny.

Once the virtual prohibition on sale of industrial land — given by the state after independence for development of industries — is relaxed, these sick industrial units can enter into joint ventures to develop the land or sell it for commercial use.

After the Act is amended, the owner of the industrial units would be in a position to enter into agreement for future development of the unused land. However, the part of the money accrued from joint ventures and commercial exploitation of land would have to go towards settlement of dues of the workers of the sick units, the Minister said.

Not just this amendment, the state government is also finalizing the draft of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. West Bengal Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharya said that a Bill would not be required for this—‘‘only an executive order would be enough’’ to put it in place.

The state government, sources said, is also worried by the fact that non-availability of land has resulted in largescale transfer of agricultural land for non-agricultural use, fuelling illegal promoting of land.

The unused land locked in sick industrial units is mostly mortgaged to banks or lending agencies. So, the money recovered from sale/development of unused land would be used for settlement of dues and restarting of non-hazardous trade/business units.