KOCHI: It is alleged that the order issued by the Revenue Department to allow relaxation on land possession limit for those starting industrial enterprises is alienating investors and incurring additional liability of crores. Industrialists who welcomed the government's draft industrial policy are protesting against the new order.

The maximum land that industries can hold is 15 acres. Industries have relaxation on this. The new condition is that those who need more than 15 acres of land will have to invest Rs 10 crore per acre and provide employment to 20 people.

Additional Chief Secretary of Revenue Department Dr A Jayathilak issued the order on October 12.

Businessmen say that the provisions of the order will keep investors away. Industrial organizations have submitted a petition to the Chief Minister demanding the withdrawal of the order discouraging those interested in investing in Kerala. The petition said the order would be a setback the Chief Minister’s effort to make Kerala investment-friendly and would hamper industrial growth in the state.

Other conditions in the order

*Applications should be submitted online.

*The committee chaired by the District Collector should check the application and related documents.

*A committee consisting of the revenue minister, the minister concerned with the scheme, the department secretary, the chief secretary and the revenue department secretary will take a decision on the applications.