Centre Eyes Thousands Of Acres In Closed Bengal PSUs For New Industrial Push

It is learnt that the Modi government which is formulating a new industrial policy is exploring the use of land belonging to PSUs and factories closed for ages for creating space for new industries. The industries department is already inspecting the defunct Hindustan Cables and Hindustan Fertiliser units in the Asansol-Durgapur industrial belt. The government is also consulting the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and other industry bodies to identify closed industrial units whose land could be reused. According to secretariat sources, the industries department has prepared a preliminary list based on a BCCI report. The list shows at least five closed PSUs in Asansol-Durgapur together hold around 2,095 acres, including water bodies. Hindustan Cables and Hindustan Fertiliser account for nearly 1,488 acres, though parts of some properties are reportedly encroached upon. Other units identified include Cycle Corporation of India, Sen-Raleigh Cycle Company, Mining and Allied Machinery Corporation (MAMC), Bharat Ophthalmic Glass Ltd, Hindustan Pilkington Glass Factory and Kesoram Industries’ Refractories Division. MAMC has 193.67 acres, including 153.4 acres unused, while Cycle Corporation has around 239.1 acres, of which 178.42 acres is unused and 16.81 acres comprises water bodies. Six closed National Jute Mill Corporation together have nearly 400 acres along the Ganga. Moreover, sources said no legal complications have been found so far, while the Centre plans phased auctions. Industry bodies have also identified about 975 acres at Burn Standard’s Howrah and Raniganj units and 70 acres at Jessop in Dum Dum. The Centre and NCLT are moving to sell these properties to promoters. Other properties include 69 acres of NISCO land at Belur and 250 acres of Dunlop land at Sahaganj.