Bengal Govt To Review Utilisation Status Of Leasehold Land From Previous Trinamool Regime
State examines past leasehold land allotments and usage status.
The West Bengal government has decided to conduct a detailed review of land parcels given on leasehold to private entities during the previous Trinamool Congress-led regime to assess their current utilisation status. The state Land and Land Revenue Department will examine whether such lands have been used for the purposes for which they were allotted or have remained unused for extended periods.
According to a senior official from the department, the review is being undertaken mainly for two reasons. The first objective is to identify cases where leasehold land has not been utilised for the projects mentioned at the time of allotment. In instances where the land has remained completely unused, the government may consider reclaiming the property and reallocating it for industrial or infrastructure-related projects.
In cases where the land has been partially utilised, the government may seek explanations from the concerned individuals or organisations regarding the delay in implementing the proposed projects. Officials said realistic timelines could be set on a case-by-case basis, and further action may be taken if the projects do not progress within the specified period.
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The second objective of the review is to determine whether leasehold lands have been used strictly for the approved industrial or development purposes or diverted for unauthorised activities. If any land is found to have been used for non-scheduled purposes without prior approval, the government may seek clarification from the leaseholders and examine the possibility of imposing financial penalties or cancelling the lease agreements.
The move comes after the state government identified several instances where leasehold land remained unused, was only partly developed for prolonged periods or was allegedly used for purposes other than those approved. Officials said the review is part of a broader effort to ensure effective utilisation of available land resources and prevent misuse of government-allotted properties.
The West Bengal government has recently introduced a direct land-purchase policy under which it acquires land directly from owners and transfers it for industrial and infrastructure projects. Alongside this initiative, the government is also focusing on utilising land belonging to closed industries and unused leasehold parcels. The current review of leasehold land from the previous regime is being seen as an initial step towards identifying available land for future development projects.
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