West Bengal to start land mapping for industry

Kolkata, Dec 2 (UNI) After Friday's vandalism in West Bengal Assembly on Singur land issue, the government has started land mapping to boost industrialisation.

Speaking at a seminar on "Why not Bengal" organised by Consular Corps and West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said here today,'' We have placed a policy paper on this issue in the state Assembly and a status report on landuse in the state.'' ''We need to come out with a policy in this regard. In our state, about 62 per cent is agricultural land, one per cent waste land, 13 per cent forest land. We need to protect agriland but also increase land for urbanisation and industrialisation.,'' the Chief Minister said.

Replying to a query about the need of an all-party consensus regarding the land allocation issue, Mr Bhattacharjee said, ''A full map of West Bengal will be prepared where concrete mouzas, villages will be demarcated for agricultural, industrial and urbanisation purposes. This work will be done in collaboration with all the parties including the opposition.'' The Chief Minister said data collection has already been started in this regard from various land revenue departments.

Speaking at the seminar the Chief Minister also said for the benefit of the industry, the government has also curbed trade union activities in the state.

The government was trying to train the trade unions and have urged the management to start performance based wages in the state, he added.

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