BJP opposes Uttarakhand industrial estate

Ahead of the foundation ceremony of a new industrial estate in Uttarakhand’s Sitarganj, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has asked Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna to issue a white paper on the conversion of agricultural land for industrial purpose.

“The chief minister must issue a white paper on how much agricultural land is being acquired for industrial use at Sitarganj and other areas,” Ajay Bhatt, leader of the opposition in Vidhan Sabha, said. Bhatt said the BJP would oppose any move to covert the land use pattern of agricultural land for industrial purposes.

However, Rakesh Sharma, principal secretary, industrial development, said the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand, the nodal agency for industrial development in the state, paid Rs 30 crore to purchase 1,200 acres of land belonging to Sitarganj jail from the state government, to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in 2008 when the BJP was in power in the hill state. “Since the SEZ has already been de-notified, we are now setting up industrial estate,” said Sharma.