Maharashtra MIDC Launches Major Crackdown on Unused Industrial Land
The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation has taken decisive action to reclaim 301 industrial plots across the Nagpur division, following years of inactivity by numerous allottees who obtained land in designated industrial zones but never commenced operations.
Widespread Action Across Four Districts
The reclamation drive spans four districts in the Vidarbha region—Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, and Wardha—where multiple industrial plots have remained vacant and unproductive long after their initial allocation. According to MIDC officials, this initiative aims to liberate approximately 411 acres of industrial land, which will be redistributed to new entrepreneurs committed to establishing functional industries.
Significant Discrepancy Between Allocation and Utilization
MIDC data reveals a substantial gap between plot allocation and actual industrial development. The Nagpur division has allotted a total of 6,429 plots across various industrial estates, yet many allottees have neither initiated production nor completed construction within the stipulated timeframe. This has resulted in valuable industrial infrastructure lying dormant for extended periods.
Violations of MIDC Regulations
MIDC regulations explicitly prohibit allottees from selling or leasing plots without prior permission. However, authorities discovered numerous instances where land was effectively blocked for years without any industrial activity. In some cases, entrepreneurs were found to have acquired multiple plots purely as investment assets, rather than for establishing manufacturing units as intended.
Judicial Scrutiny and Public Interest Litigation
The issue of unused industrial land in the region first gained attention through media reports highlighting the problem. Subsequently, the matter came under judicial scrutiny when the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court took suo motu cognisance and registered a public interest litigation, putting additional pressure on authorities to address the situation.
Official Notices and Recovery Proceedings
MIDC officials confirmed that the corporation has issued formal notices to all irregular plot holders across 34 industrial estates in the division. After the notice period expired without compliance from many allottees, the administration began the physical process of reclaiming the land.
Regional officer Manohar Pote stated that the crackdown is already underway in key industrial zones. "Notices were issued to all such plot holders. Since several of them did not respond or surrender the land within the stipulated period, the process of taking back possession has now begun," he explained.
Focus on Major Industrial Hubs
Among the estates where recovery action has commenced are the prominent industrial hubs of Butibori Industrial Area and Hingna Industrial Area. Officials confirmed that five plots in Butibori and thirteen plots in Hingna are currently under recovery proceedings, marking the initial phase of this extensive operation.
Largest Recent Attempt to Curb Speculative Land Holding
This decision represents one of the most significant recent efforts by MIDC in the Vidarbha region to combat speculative land holding and revitalize stalled industrial infrastructure. By reclaiming and redistributing unused plots, the corporation aims to stimulate economic growth and ensure that industrial land serves its intended purpose of fostering manufacturing and employment opportunities.
