Freehold land, not lease in future, says Chief Secretary

SNS, SILIGURI, 23 FEBRUARY 2023 : Government land for various purposes would be offered on free-hold land basis instead of 30/99 years lease agreement in future settlement, Chief Secretary to the West Bengal Government, HK Dwivedi has said.

Speaking to reporters here yesterday, Mr Dwivedi also mentioned that the State Assembly had approved it, after the West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill 2023 was tabled.

Addressing the North Bengal MSME and Business Conclave here, he further pointed out to the matter to encourage entrepreneurs to invest more by setting up various industries with the help of the state government.

Later, in a Press note, the state government highlighted investment potential of Rs 11026 crore in various sectors in the next three to five years--Rs 3506 crore in MSME and Textile, Industries and Commerce, Rs 3626 crore in upcoming Industrial Park, Rs 3044 crore in Agri & allied and Rs 950 crore in Tourism and Tea.

Notably, in a similar meeting last year, the investment potential was Rs 10824 crore for the next three to five years and the expected employment potential was 71,000.

In MSME &Textile, Industries and Commerce, the investment potential was Rs 9093 crore, while it was Rs 1500 crorein ARD and Rs 231 crore in Tourism back then.

Mr Dwivedi reiterated that the state government was relentlessly working for the growth of this region, looking at the opportunity and resources available in this area. He also emphasised on the need to identify more industrial corridors, connecting important towns in North Bengal.

He emphasised on the creation of a park measuring 5 acre to 20 acre in each block of the state so that employment generation through MSME may be increased.

Interacting with officials of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Siliguri yesterday, Mr Dwivedi invited the entrepreneurs and other industry associations to come forward for taking part in the RFP floated by the ARD Department for re-utilization of HIMUL Union of State Government.