Industry to be set up only on 1% of land: Hooda

Chandigarh, Mar 13 (UNI) Setting aside apprehensions regarding acquisition of agricultural land for industrial purposes, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today clarified that industry would be set up only on one per cent of land of the state.

The remaining 99 per cent land would be used for agricultural, residential and other purposes, Mr Hooda said in response to a question in assembly session.

Earlier, Agriculture Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha told the House that agriculture sector in the state would not be given status of industry as it would then invite levying of income tax and withdrawal of concessions being given to the farmers.

Moreover, the industrial status to agriculture would not be beneficial to farmers as they would have to pay more for the electricity consumption.

He said the government had taken several steps to make agriculture sector more remunerative.

An ambitious scheme for the reclamation of degraded land costing over Rs 900 crore had been sent to the Central Government, he added.

UNI