Land is there but no user?

Most of the major projects, right from steel, iron, textiles, roads, construction, SEZs; almost all infra projects, the biggest reason why new projects have not been able to take off at all is the non-availability of land.  And there are various projects, where the Govt has tried to acquire the land and facilitate the setting up of the projects. Yet, a news report has come out stating that almost 30-50% of land acquired by the state Govts through their industrial development corporations are yet either to be allotted or have been allotted but lies unused.

States like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka have acquired over one lakh acres of land in their respective states over the years while Rajasthan has acquired 74,200.96 acres, UP  has acquired 43,855 acres.

So why is land, which is today a sacred and scarce commodity, lying unused? Well, the report says that failure of the Govt to provide basic amenities like power, water, good connectivity via rail and road have affected the demand.  Other reasons could also be utterly irresponsible official delays, inefficiency and corruption in granting clearances.  

This is indeed an eye-opening fact, especially when the Modi Govt has been egging state Govt’s to make land available for growth, pushing for more land banks and claiming shortage of land for industrial projects. Maybe, the Govt needs to first check its own records….