BJP wants industries in Bengal. Will the land question stop them?

The BJP government, after unveiling a new investment policy on November 5, is now focusing on creating a new land policy for investors. This is a challenging task, as land disputes have played a significant role in both propelling and breaking parties in power in the state. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari assured that the new government would not repeat the mistakes of the previous administration, which did not acquire any land and told industrialists that they had to acquire land to set up industries in the state.

The BJP government is exploring the land-pooling system, which has been adopted by other states such as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh. Under this system, 25-30% of the land will be returned to the landowners after development, aligning with the policies of the mentioned states. A senior Cabinet Minister mentioned that they have already started some land-pooling experiments and aim to develop a proper land-pooling system within the next two to three years.

The BJP government firmly states that they will not resort to land acquisition, as it has been a sensitive issue in West Bengal's political history.