No agri land to Salim without adequate employment : Molla

Kolkata, Mar 10 (UNI) West Bengal Land and Land Reforms Minister Abdur Rezzak Molla today assured the Assembly that the state government accorded high priority on safeguarding sufficiency in foodgrain production and no agricultural plot would be given to the Indonesian Salim group for setting up of industries without a guarantee for high returns in terms of employment.

"We will examine the Detailed Project Report of the Salim group and assess whether we would stand to gain or lose. We can consider giving land only if it ensures adequate employment. If it does not, we will not give," he said during the question hour session.

Mr Molla said the Salim group had sought agricultural land in the vicinity of Kolkata. "But we told them that protecting our self sufficiency in food is our priority. We asked them to give a DPR, which is yet to be presented," he said.

Mr Molla said he had always been by the side of farmers and would continue to protect their interests.

UNI KDG PL RN 1543