STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The AIUDF has termed the State Council of Ministers' decision to pass an Ordinance for the setting up of industries on any land in the State without permission from the State Revenue department is disastrous.
In a statement issued to the press on Thursday, AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal said, "The bid to hand over farmers' lands to capitalists has exposed the State government's inclination towards capitalists. The people of Assam will lose their rights over lands if the setting up industries in the state is allowed without permission from the State Revenue department. The State needs new industries, but why in agricultural lands when the State has lands meant for industries.
"In 2018 through a directive the State government declared industrial zones on either side of National Highway 37 between Jalukbari and Kukurmara and between Jalukbari and Tihu. Apart from these, the State has many open areas meant for industries. The State has export promotional industrial parks, industrial growth centres, integrated infrastructure development, industrial estates, commercial estates etc. When most of such lands are suitable for the setting up of industries, the State government doesn't have any need to make agricultural lands available for industrial purposes. If the government is at all interested to set up industries in the State, it should set up such industries in lands meant for them, not in agricultural lands."