Bengal to change land policy, focus on jobs and industry

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday said his government would soon introduce a comprehensive investment and land policy to provide land for industries without “forcibly” acquiring it from farmers.

Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Amit Metaliks’ Rs 4,000-crore greenfield integrated steel plant at Raghunathpur in Purulia, Adhikari said the state was planning changes to its land policy based on successful models followed by Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

He said the government would move quickly on the proposed policy changes after receiving recommendations from a group of ministers headed by Industry Minister Tapas Roy.

Adhikari also said the state government would change its incentive framework, with employment generation becoming a key criterion instead of focusing only on the size of investment.

Key points:

• A comprehensive investment and land policy will be introduced soon.
• Land for industries will be provided without “forcibly” acquiring it from farmers.
• The proposed changes will draw on models followed by Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
• Recommendations will be submitted by a group of ministers headed by Industry Minister Tapas Roy.
• Employment generation will become a key criterion in the state’s incentive framework.
• The announcement was made at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Amit Metaliks’ Rs 4,000-crore greenfield integrated steel plant at Raghunathpur in Purulia.