Land acquisition policy continues to haunt Bengal

Mamata Banerjee says state is ready to give land in Panagarh, Kharagpur, Medinipur, Kalyani and Rajarhat

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that there was no going back on the government’s stand on land acquisition.

At an open house session with Confederation of Indian Industry national council members, the CM reiterated the state’s position on land acquisition.

“I am transparent; we don’t want to bulldoze farmers. We have a land bank and land use policy. I have provided land for many smart city projects. We have land in Panagarh, Kharagpur, Medinipur, Kalyani and Rajarhat,” she said, in response to a question from Mahindra & Mahindra Executive Director Pawan Goenka.

Banerjee said in the past four years, the state government had granted 14Y exemption to many projects. The Land Reforms Act of 1955 places a ceiling of 25 acres on land acquisition, while section 14Y exempts it in certain cases. “For the industry, 7,500 acres have been cleared for the land bank,” she said.

Banerjee’s land acquisition policy had been a stumbling block for many projects requiring large tracts of land.

“We are clearing applications for new investments within 15 days,” she said.