GUWAHATI, July 3 - In the wake of apprehensions raised vis-a-vis the Assam Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Facilitation of Establishment and Operation) Ordinance, 2020, State Industry and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary on Friday sought to clarify that the ordinance is not going to affect the land rights of the indigenous people in any way.
�The Ordinance does not allow any person to buy or sell any agricultural land for non-agricultural purpose. The bar of agricultural land used or transferred for non-agricultural purpose as provided under the aforesaid Act shall remain as it is and this Ordinance will not affect it at all. In other words, agricultural land will remain with the agriculturalists only,� the Minister said, addressing media persons here on Friday.
Asserting that the Ordinance approved by the Cabinet will be a game changer and an aid to �ease of doing business� in the State, Patowary said it will not affect the restrictions on sale or transfer of agricultural land for non-agricultural purpose as protected under the Assam Agricultural Land (Regulation of Reclassifications and Transfer for Non-Agricultural Purpose) Act 2015.
�The Ordinance does not allow any person to buy or sell any agricultural land for non-agricultural purpose. Therefore, any apprehension that an entrepreneur under the provisions of this Ordinance will buy agricultural land for non-agricultural purpose is totally unfounded,� said the Industry and Commerce Minister.
�Instead, if any genuine owner of the agricultural land intends to set up an MSME unit, his agricultural land which is eligible and capable of reclassification as per the provisions of Assam Agricultural Land (Regulation of Reclassifications and Transfer for Non-Agricultural Purpose) Act 2015 will be deemed to be non-agricultural land only for three years,� he said.
�During that period or within the next six months of expiry of three years, the person will have to get his land converted into non-agricultural land, following all prescribed procedures and after payment of requisite premium as prescribed in the Assam Agricultural Land (Regulation of Reclassifications and Transfer for Non-Agricultural Purpose) Act 2015.�
He further said that the Deputy Commissioner will allow the conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purpose strictly as per the provisions of aforesaid Act.
�Due to COVID 19 pandemic, the economy of the State has been affected adversely. In such a situation, the Ordinance will only create conducive environment, drive the domestic growth, attract investment and accelerate industrial development in the State. The exemption from approval for three years shall be provided in respect of State Acts and Rules,� the Minister added.