BJP committee all for corporatisation of Govt land

BJP committee all for corporatisation of Govt land
SHARAD GUPTA

NEW DELHI, FEB 2: The BJP is in favour of corporatisation of agricultural land -- but only the ones owned by the Government and not private one.

BJP's committee on economic affairs met today to discuss the impact of lifting of trade restrictions on all commodities with effect from March 31 this year, per WTO agreement. It was felt that the corporatisation of private land could be an emotive issue and should not be touched.

The Agricultural Policy of the Government, tabled in Parliament recently, too spoke of ``allowing leasing out agricultural land for better productivity''.

However, the committee disapproved leasing of private land since that would leave many landless. In fact, there is a precedent also -- a lot of small farmers were rendered without any land or jobs after the corporatisation of prawn farms in Orissa and Tamil Nadu.

The Agriculture Policy envisages that decreasing the land holdings per family is affecting agricultural production and the only way to increase production is by allowing corporate houses to buy chunks of lands and employ modern methods of farming.

However, it refrained from using the word ``corporatisation'' , instead, recommended ``leasing'' of agricultural land. The move generated protests from trade and agricultural bodies who feared that it would leave small farmers landless.

This is apparently why the BJP has recommended ``leasing'' of only Government wasteland and not private agricultural land.

Besides, the committee, comprising former Rajasthan chief minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, member of Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council Jagdish Shettigar and Andhra leader Venkat Rayudu also discussed the ways to minimise the negative impact of lifting of trade restrictions by the end of next month. The committee will shortly submit its report to party chief Bangaru Laxman.

The committee has also demanded probe into former governments' decision to have a bound rate duty of only 45 per cent on Soya oil -- which forms the largest chunk of imported edible oils -- while agreeing to have a bound rate of 300 per cent on other edible oils like Palmolein.

It advocated rationalisation of subsidy on fertilisers -- amounting to Rs 9,000 crore per annum -- since at least half of the subsidy bill is cornered by the fertiliser factories.