State to reclaim unused BHEL, Bhopal land, says Gaur

BHOPAL: Home minister Babulal Gaur, who represents Govindpura, the constituency that covers BHEL, said the government would reclaim its land from the PSU administration. He said almost 2,000 acres of land is lying vacant for past many years. Asked for reaction to a large number of houses lying vacant in several BHEL localities, which have become breeding ground for mosquitoes, Gaur said, "The land was given to them for developing industries, hospitals and market, but it is lying vacant and is being encroached upon. In 2004, the state government wanted the land back and now BJP-ruled government at the Centre, we will exert pressure on them to hand over land to the state." These single story quarters were constructed to accommodate skilled and unskilled employees of BHEL when it was set up long ago. "We want to build an ITI campus on unexploited land so that the state has its own ITI campus and aspiring students need not move to other cities to pursue course, Gaur added. Talking to TOI, BHEL general manager (human resources) S Chaturvedi said, "In last 15 years we have not employed unskilled labourers. Earlier, we had strength of 19,900 employees, now it has been reduced to mere 7000 employees. There has been a drastic decline in the manpower." According to BHEL authorities, now the employees don't want to stay in these small houses. "They take loan and construct their own house according to their need." When asked whether the state government has ever wanted to reclaim the land, he said, "We have not received any notice by any department but if the central government decides to take it back, we will abide by the decision." As far as vacant houses are concerned, these would be demolished soon and some 20 of them have already been demolished, he added. ref: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/State-to-reclaim-unused-BHEL-land-says-Gaur/articleshow/39795709.cms