Nagpur: Acknowledging that Gadchiroli has limited private holdings due to its large forest tracts, industries minister Uday Samant said it will be ensured that land acquisition for industries would not leave farmers landless. Addressing a review meeting at Gadchiroli, Samant said many farmers depend on agricultural land for their livelihood, and it must be ensured they are not deprived of farm holdings. Deputy guardian minister Ashish Jaiswal, who attended the meeting, sought strict assessment of land requirement for proposed industrial projects and called upon entrepreneurs to stop acquisition for future expansion plans.Jaiswal said often projects are inordinately delayed after land acquisition, which makes oustees restive. An industry must be given a timeline, with a stage-wise review by authorities. He also sought preference to tribals for employment in units proposed in the district.Industries minister said as Gadchiroli will be developed as a steel hub, no industrial development can happen without taking farmers into confidence. Confusion over cropped and barren land would be cleared and officers would directly engage with locals before going ahead with acquisitions, said the minister. Locals need to be convinced about the objective behind industrialisation for which their holdings are being taken over, said the minister, adding the project-hit would get suitable compensation, he said.Samant said youngsters will be encouraged to take up entrepreneurship at the village level and the plan will be implemented in 475 village panchayat areas where small and mid-scale industries would be set up. Like janta darbar, where people come up with their problems, Gadchiroli will also hold udyog darbars in which industrialists will be able to get their issues resolved, he said.
