Many takers for MIDC's new plan

The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation's (MIDC) plan to offer 15 per cent land to farmers in the industrial park at 50 per cent of the cost has evinced interest in other states.

Already Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Andhra have contacted MIDC to get the first-hand information.

To quell resistance from farmers to the land acquisition, MIDC has come up with a novel scheme of offering 15 per cent of the land in the industrial park to farmers' co-operative societies or joint stock companies at half the price which is charged from industries.

Besides, MIDC is also offering 5 per cent of the commercial land in the industrial park to farmers' co-operative societies at 50 per cent rate.

MIDC is also preparing a programme to impart vocational training to farmers' children so that they can find a job in industrial parks.

MIDC's initiative has aroused interest among other states as they are also facing similar hurdles while acquiring land, said Rajiv Jalota, chief executive officer, MIDC.

He further said MIDC was also taking cues from the policies implemented by other states to improve quality.