Mamata woos investors with large land bank but ‘small’ plots

According to records collected from various districts and state government departments, the land and land reforms department itself has 59,000 acres in its possession. The quantity of land available with 41 departments stands at 31,000 acres.

“There are 13 more departments that are yet to file their reports. Even last month we sent them stern reminders. Our target was December 31 but we believe we will have to wait another month,” a senior official of the land and land reforms department told The Indian Express.

However, the official said that a single large tract of land — such as the one acquired in Singur by the Left Front government — is not available. “Land in West Bengal is very fertile and — except for some districts like Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore — even a 100-acre tract cannot be found lying unused. That is a major problem. We should look at clusters of small industries,” the official added.

Before coming to power, the Trinamool Congress made it clear in its manifesto that it would play no role in arranging for land for industrialists. It had said it would prepare a land bank from which investors could avail themselves of land.

Accordingly, after assuming power,

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