Yogi govt to create 5,000 acres of land bank

Land bank would be created under different development authorities, including Greater Noida, Lucknow Industrial Development Authority and Yamuna Expressway

To tide over scarcity of industrial land in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government on Wednesday announced to create 5,000 acres of land bank across the state.

The land bank would be created under different development authorities, including Greater Noida, Lucknow Industrial Development Authority (LIDA), Yamuna Expressway etc.

This was informed by UP Industries Minister Satish Mahana in Lucknow on Wednesday afternoon while briefing the media on the achievements of his department during the six month Yogi rule.

Besides, large chunks of industrial land is also likely to get unlocked in UP before January 2018 if industrial plot lease holders failed to set up their units by December 31, 2017.

Earlier, the Yogi government had issued notices to such entrepreneurs, who had been allotted industrial plots for units, but they failed to act even after the lapse of 15-20 years. They had been given the deadline of August 31, 2017, which was later extended to December 31.

Mahana claimed almost 80 per cent of such lease holders had not set up their units and the land had been lying unutilised, while there was scarcity of land for other entrepreneurs.

Besides, the government plans to develop 2,500 acres of land flanking the Agra-Lucknow Expressway as industrial hubs to boost economic activities and create jobs.

The lack of proper industrial land bank has always been a major impediment for the proliferation of industry in UP, which over successive regimes struggled to attract private sector beyond the periphery of the National Capital Region (NCR).

Entrepreneurs have long been demanding the successive state governments for suitable industrial plots at competitive rates for viable expansion of their businesses. Indian Industries Association (IIA), an umbrella of state micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), had in fact suggested the Yogi government to allow conversion of lease hold industrial land to free hold with the stipulation prohibiting land use change to check possible misuse.

Industry players rued that there were enterprises holding land in excess of their current requirement and capacity, which could be disposed off to other prospective units.

“Industrial development is our priority and the announcement of the state industrial policy within 100 days of coming to power shows our commitment,” Mahana said and claimed other state governments were studying the UP industrial policy for possible replication in their states.

“Due to our proactive industrial policy, we have been able to check the flight of industry to other states and several top notch companies are investing in the state,” Mahana said.

The industries minister said the government was looking at ways to reviving sick units and making them viable.

He said the industries department would hold summits in India and abroad to attract industries and sell the UP development model.