Kharagpur (West Bengal) Nov 19 (IANS): West Bengal Industries Minister Partha Chatterjee Friday asked the business community to set up units on the land given by the government or return it, reiterating that "land with industry cannot be kept idle".

"If industrialists cannot set up their units in three years, they must give it back to the government. I also urge sick and idle units to return the land to government so that it can be used for other purposes," Chatterjee said here Friday.

The minister was in this West Midnapore town to lay the foundation stone for a factory in Vidyasagar and inaugurate the first phase of the port and construction equipment factory of Tractors India Limited.

Stating that industrialisation was the way for the state to develop, Chatterjee said the government was mulling making modifications in land reform clauses so as to ensure optimal utilisation of land.

"The land-man ratio in the state is adverse. Therefore, the industry must ensure land and other resources are utilised in the optimum way," said Chatterjee.

The minister visited the 1,149-acre Vidyasagar Industrial Park here where the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation has allotted 540 acres of land to companies for setting up industrial units.

Chatterjee also made a tongue-in-cheek comment on the erstwhile Left Front government's industrial policy.

"Though they rolled out the 'red carpet' for you but gave you only problems. We have rolled out the green carpet and we assure you won't have to face any problems," said Chatterjee while addressing the industrialists.