Govt nod to regularisation of excess land with industrialists

While the ceiling for urban areas is 7 acres,it is 24 acres for rural areas. According to Section 14Y of the Land Reforms Act 1955,people can buy land above the ceiling,only if they set up a mill,factory or workshop at the plot. A person willing to set up one of these things is supposed to apply to get the exemption under Section 14 Y of the Land Reforms Act.

As many of the industrialists bought land in excess of the ceiling limit,the possession remained illegal and the industrialists were demanding regularisation. They also seek the right to sub-lease the excess land.

“By doing this,we have regularised the land belonging to a lot of industrialists. They will have to give a nominal amount to the government which in turn will vest the land with it and give it back to them,” Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh said today.

Ghosh,however,could not spell out the quantity of land to be vested or the number of industrialists who will benefit from the government move.

However the discordant note heard in the cabinet was that of Rezzaq Mollah,the Land and Land Reforms minister who wanted the industrialists pay the government full price of the excess land.

But his voice was stifled by Commerce and Industry minister Nirupam Sen. “The industrialists have already paid for the land. Why should they pay once again,” Sen told the media persons.

Mollah also objected to the government’s mover to allow industrialists sub-lease the land. “I don’t know what will happen to my objection,” Mollah said.