Centre allows private bids for salt land transfer if states, CPSEs opt out

The Centre on Monday modified the guidelines for transfer of government-owned salt lands, providing for online auction under which the private sector can participate in case there are no takers from CPSEs, or states at the applicable rates. As per the revised guidelines, the land can be allocated for welfare measures, such as slum re-development, affordable housing and PM-Awas Yojana, and for the purpose of schools and colleges, lands can be transferred to CPSEs (central public sector enterprises), states and their enterprises at 25 per cent of the circle rate. These norms were issued in supersession of the internal policy guidelines-2012, after the approval of the Cabinet. "Online auction with the participation of private parties may be held in case CPSEs, state governments or their PSEs are not willing to take such lands at the applicable rates," the guideline said. The reserve price for such land parcel will be fixed through an approved valuer with reference to the circle rate .