West Bengal Reclaims Unused Land to Support Industry Growth

The West Bengal government has announced the recovery of approximately 500 acres of land from previously closed industrial units. This move aims to address the shortage of industrial land in the state. State Industry Minister Shashi Panja revealed this during the unveiling of INDPLAS25, an international plastics exhibition.

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Efforts are ongoing to identify more unused land parcels along state and national highways. Panja stressed that reclaiming such plots is a continuous process. This initiative follows Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's earlier announcement about reclaiming unused land designated for industrial purposes.

Growth in the Plastic Industry

Lalit Agrawal, president of the Indian Plastics Federation, highlighted the significant growth of West Bengal's plastic industry. The state's plastic sector is currently growing at a rate of 12-15 per cent, which is notably higher than the national average of 6-7 per cent.

Ashok Jajodia, Chairman of the INDPLAS25 exhibition, emphasized the necessity for a deep-sea port to facilitate the import of raw materials and export of finished products. He specifically urged for the expedited development of the Tajpur deep-sea port project.

Land Recovery Initiative

The recovered land parcels are now available for allocation through the department's land bank. This initiative is part of a broader effort to make more industrial land available in West Bengal.

However, Panja refrained from commenting on the Tajpur project, stating that it is being monitored by the chief minister. Any updates regarding this project will come directly from her.

This strategic move by the West Bengal government aims to boost industrial growth by making more land available for new projects. The focus remains on identifying and reclaiming unused plots to support this objective.