FICCI to push for review of Bengal land laws

“There are certain laws in West Bengal that hinder industrialists from buying large chunks of land for industry directly from landowners. Laws like Urban Land Ceiling Act say that industrialists cannot acquire more than 23 acres,” said Gaurav Swarup,eastern regional council chairman of FICCI.

FICCI has also set up a task force to trace the availability of unused land with PSUs in the state,FICCI president Harsh Mariwala said.

The representatives of the chamber said there is no problem if private entrepreneurs directly purchase the land from owners,as is proposed by the state government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. According to Rajiv Kumar,secretary general of FICCI,it is possible for private entrepreneurs to acquire large chunks of land directly from the owners. “They have done so in states like Haryana. We want the government to create an enabling condition so that industry can negotiate directly with the land owners,” he said.

InvestIndia,a body jointly promoted by FICCI and the Union government,is looking at actively partnering with the state. “InvestIndia will help in bringing foreign investment in the state. West Bengal has one of the lowest FDI inflows in the country,” Kumar said.

Bengal received around $1.6 billion FDI during 2000-2011,while states like Maharashtra received $ 26.1 billion during the period.

The industry body also presented a vision document on the manufacturing sector in West Bengal.