(a) whether thousands of acres of salt lands where no salt is being manufactured lying vacant ;
(b) if so, the details thereof ;
(c) the time period since these lands are lying unutilized and the reasons therefor ;
(d) whether there has been any agreement recently with regard to equal sharing of unutilized land between State and Central Governments ; and
(e) if so, the details thereof ?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI E.V.K.S. ELANGOVAN)
(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. Salt lands admeasuring approximately 10,927 acres have been rendered not fit for salt cultivation due to various reasons. The details of such lands are as under :-
S.NO. STATE ACRES
1. Maharashtra 4455#
2. Tamil Nadu 4176##
3. Andhra Pradesh 2125
4. Orissa 155
5. Gujarat 16
Total 10927