Kolkata: The West Bengal Cabinet has taken steps to unlock land for industrial projects, proposing leasehold allotment across 12 industrial parks to 33 industrial units. The projects are expected to generate around 68,584 jobs, giving a fresh push to industrial development in the state.
Land Allotment for Industrial Units
The Cabinet proposed leasehold allotment of 463.1 acres and 6,397.2 sq ft across eight industrial parks under the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (WBIDCL) to 24 industrial units.
It also approved proposals for allotting land in four industrial parks under the West Bengal Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBIIDC) to nine private companies.
The move is aimed at addressing land-related delays that have held up industrial projects and making suitable land available to companies.
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Land Purchase for Key Projects
The state also approved direct purchase of land for several long-pending infrastructure projects.
In the Sundarbans, the government will purchase 1,592.8 decimals of Raiyati land for ₹3.1 crore for flood-protection works, including embankments, ring bundhs and sluice gates.
Another 13 decimals of land in Howrah will be purchased for ₹67.2 lakh for de-siltation and beautification of Mahisdhara Khal along Andul Road.
For two pump houses under the Ghatal Master Plan, the state will acquire 3.58 acres at a cost of ₹24.6 crore.
Focus on Employment and Land Policy
The Cabinet decisions come shortly after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the state government would not pursue forcible land acquisition for industrial projects.
Instead, the government is considering land-purchase models used in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, where farmers can become partners in the development process.
The Chief Minister has also indicated that employment generation, rather than investment size alone, should play a major role in determining industrial incentives.
Tea Garden Land and Tourism Rules
The Cabinet cleared two land-resumption proposals involving unused tea garden land.
Around 118.4 acres at Sankos Tea Garden in Alipurduar, rendered unusable due to erosion by the Sankos river, will be resumed. Another 0.7 acres at Chamurchi Tea Garden in Jalpaiguri will be handed over for a frontier check post and OCR Complex.
The government also proposed the transfer of 13.9 acres of vested government land across eight mouzas in Habibpur block to the BSF for an India-Bangladesh Border road and fencing project.
At the same time, the state amended its Tea Tourism and Allied Business Policy, reducing the area that can be used for tea tourism and allied activities to 15% of the total granted area, subject to a maximum of 150 acres. The change was linked to environmental concerns.
New Anti-Narcotics and Anti-Terror Units
The Cabinet approved the creation of an Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) with four specialised police stations in Durgapur, Malda, Kharagpur and Nadia, along with 591 new posts. It also approved the formation of the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), West Bengal, with 461 regular posts and five contractual software developer positions.
Separately, the government decided to withdraw 1,600 supernumerary posts in physical education and work education in compliance with a Calcutta High Court order. The decisions aim to strengthen policing and internal security while addressing administrative issues and supporting broader development across West Bengal.
