Guj mulls junking law for industrial use of farmland

The Gujarat government is toying with the idea of abolishing the nonagriculture (NA) permission needed for converting land meant for agricultural use into industrial and other commercial and noncommercial uses. The certificate has often delayed such conversions and is also a main reason for corruption at the local level. A high-level secretaries’ meeting a few days ago approved the idea of abolishing the NA after chief secretary D Rajagopalan said “there is no need for the NA”, as it is causing unnecessary bureaucratic delay in implementing projects signed at the Vibrant Gujarat summits. A day later, a district collectors’ meeting also discussed the matter and sent it for a final nod from the Modi government. A senior bureaucrat said: “A final decision will have to be political, as abolishing the NA has political overtones. Most states do not have the NA. There are clear-cut guidelines in states like Haryana and Punjab for specified zones in rural areas, where nonagricultural activity can take place without permissions. In these states, town planning goes hand-in-hand with village planning, allowing demarcation of areas for industrial, commercial and educational purposes.” NA abolition is going to be part of the new Gujarat Land Administration Bill, being planned for the next assembly session in July, officials said. If the permit is junked, all one needs to do is to pay a user charge to the government for land use.