LF to raise land ceiling for industrial growth

Kolkata, Nov 24 (UNI) Setting aside controversies, the West Bengal government has decided to increase the ceiling on agricultural land to make way for industrial growth.

Announcing this in the assembly here today, Land and Land Reform Minister Abdul Rezzak Mollah informed CPI(M)'s Jane Alam Mian that the the government would bring a bill in the ongoing session to include allocation of agricultural land,if necessary,for the growth of commerce and industry in the state.

He said under the present provisions of the Land Ceiling Act the government provided concessions to eight categories, including country planning, dairy and tea gardens, with maximum limits ranging between 12 acres and 24 acres each.

But under the proposed amendment in the act, to be placed before the House on November 27, the government had decided to extend similar concessions with provision for higher ceiling for the development of infrastructure, industry and commerce in tune with the state's current industrial rejuvination programme, the minister informed.

Later replying to supplementary queries from several other members, Mr Mollah said at present about 63 per cent of West Bengal's total land mass was accounted for as agricultural land and the state government had earmarked a total of 43,180 acres for the development of industry before acquiring these during the next few years in phases.

However, he said, during the past few years, about 300,000 acres of land had also been converted into farm land from non-farm land with the application of latest technologies and to ensure proper balance between the growth of agriculture and industry.

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