The Bengal government is all set to amend a 68-year-old law- The West Bengal Land Reform Act 1955- to unlock government land parcels for commercial and industrial use. It is likely to introduce a bill in the budget session. This bill is to garner revenue for the state exchequer as far as the land for commercial use was available for a 99-year lease.
The state government is bringing the amendment in the assembly so that the land parcel can be offered to commercial houses for lifelong possession instead of the earlier norm of 99-year lease. Thus instead of the leashold many industries would like to buy land plots and from it the state exchequer is expected to gain.
The proposed bill is going to unlock the government land for the industry. Many land parcels in Kolkata would be offered to the industries, officials said. Thus except khas land- which is used for personal cultivation and land under bargadari will be available for freehold. Industries had welcomed the move thus making land available from leasehold right to freehold right, which was reported after the Cabinet decision of January 11.
Officials are mulling amending section 3A of the 1955 Act which deals with the right of the non-agricultural tenants and under-tenants in non-agricultural lands to vest in the state. The state will have to amend and introduce new clauses in the 1955 Act which deals with the amount to be paid in advance and 0.4% of the land prices had to be paid annually. Now to get freehold rights an additional 10% of the land prices have to be paid. This, sources pointed out changes need to brought about in the old law.
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