New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday pledged to find a please-all solution to the issue of land acquisition and displacement of people amid the raging controversy over diversion of farmland for industrial use.
Several industrial projects, including that of Indonesia's Salim Group and domestic major Tata Motors in West Bengal and Tata Steel and Posco's steel plants in Orissa, have been delayed over issues related to land acquisition.
"There are issues pertaining to land alienation and displacement of people, and these must be addressed. We will address them to the satisfaction of all", as quoted by PTI, the Prime Minister said at the 'Steel Summit' organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Ministry of Steel in New Delhi.
"I do not see any reason why there should be a conflict between industry and society. The development of modern industry should be a societal goal", he said.
The Prime Minister said this can only be ensured when every section of society is convinced that it has benefited from the growth process in an equitable and just manner.
"The steel industry has a huge requirement for land but they need to be balanced against larger social concerns with respect to equitable development and inclusive growth", he said.
Singh said though there has been a problem in the recent past on industrial policy, but the people wanted industrial progress.
"As I said recently in the Parliament, we have to recognise that in a country like ours where the average size of landholding is so small, there are limitations to what you can do to improve agricultural productivity," he said.
The Prime Minister suggested that the long-term solution to the problem of agrarian distress has to be to take people away from agriculture to manufacturing and services, besides other non-agricultural pursuits.
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