Bihar won’t allow SEZs on farm land

NEW DELHI: Learning from the recent Nandigram fiasco, the Bihar government has tightened its noose on the development of industrial activities, including special economic zones (SEZs), on agricultural land. The state, which is still waiting to get its first SEZ, has told the commerce ministry that agricultural land would not be given away for industrial development in any form and, instead, it would be conserved for cultivation. Only waste and barren land would be available for industrial activity. Moreover, the ownership of land would not be transferred to the developer and would be leased on a long-term basis with the provision of extension of lease.

“The state government has already taken up infrastructure development projects — construction of roads, flyovers and power projects — for speedy industrialisation of the state. But, land usage of the state government does not interfere with the agricultural fertile land of the farmers as the state is endowed with very good fertile land for crops,” a senior state government official said.

Till now, the state does not have any SEZ project. Earlier, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar had said that the state does not need any SEZ and need to focus on agriculture. But to clear way for SEZs in future, the state government is evolving a land policy where farmers who are losing land do not get a raw deal.

“Forcible acquisition of agricultural land from the farmers for any purpose should be discouraged. Highly productive fertile land will not be disturbed at any cost so as to ensure food security of the state,” the official pointed out.

But, the state has been quite prolific on industrialisation by setting up factories and developing road and rail infrastructure. In a major boost to Bihar’s quest for progress and development, the World Bank has also approved a loan of $225 million to the state to bring improvement in the fiscal policy, public financial management and governance.

World Bank country director for India, Isabel Guerrero, has pointed out that despite fast-changing face of India, Bihar continues to lag in economic areas, with nearly 39% people living below the poverty line.