Land acquisition is coming in the way of Bihar’s economic revival plan, particularly in the rural sector. A number of projects cleared by the state Cabinet are yet to get moving because there is no land available.

The worst hit is the sugar industry and it is particularly unfortunate for the state since this industry has the potential to turnaround its rural economy. So far, the Government has not been able to arrange land for any of the proposed 14 greenfield sugar projects and 19 ethanol generation units cleared by the Cabinet.

Farmers are coming up with stiff opposition wherever the Government is proceeding to acquire land and agencies concerned are quietly stepping back as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has made it clear that there will be no forcible acquisition. Kumar certainly is cautious after the experience of Singur and Nandigram in neighbouring West Bengal.

After the initial failure, the Government framed an attractive land acquisition policy in February offering 50 per cent over and above Government rates plus an additional compensation between 30 to 60 per cent. But despite that the farmers are not willing to give up land. The catch is that the market price of even agricultural land in many areas is much above the Government rates.

“Every farmer wants sugar mills but none of them is ready to give land for it. Moreover, our political opponents too are misleading the farmers. It is really tragic,” said Sugarcane Development Minister Nitish Mishra, who had tried hard to frame an attractive sugar policy and rope in sugar majors to invest in Bihar.

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