The Centre is looking at releasing the additional land currently possessed by the Kandla Port Trust (KPT) to the state government.
According to sources, the Centre has instructed KPT to conduct a survey in association with the state government. The Gujarat government has been demanding the handover of the land since long time and had recently stepped up pressure with the Centre.
The survery would decide how much land could be utilised by KPT for its spread plans in future. The sources said the proceedings for conducting the survey would be expedited.
They said the state government had taken up the matter with Union law minister Arun Jaitley and also a Rajya Sabha MP from the state. A 2.3 lakh acre plot is under the possession of KPT since 1952.
A portion of the land was reportedly donated by royal families of Kutch. KPT possesses a portion of Gandhidham and a salt-pan adjoining the sea-shore of Kandla too.
The port trust has lent some acre of the land on a long-term lease. KPT had released some land for the rehabiliation of the quake-hit and colonies are being built up on the land.
However, it is learnt the state
