This will help it to formulate rehabilitation packages for users and owners of land that has to be acquired.

The State government has also been inviting leaders of political parties and representatives of the local people for discussions before deciding on any major project.

This is part of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's policy of seeking political consensus before setting up a major industrial unit or undertaking infrastructure building projects in his government's drive towards greater industrialisation and infrastructure development.

The surveys are expected to include an assessment of the implications of land conversion on the present users, the social costs involved and the benefits from the alternative uses to which the land will be put, particularly in regard to employment and income generation.

Industries Minister Nirupam Sen told the Assembly earlier this week that attempts would be made to ensure that at least one member of the affected families was provided employment. Compensation was being provided to both registered and unregistered sharecroppers in the acquired plots.

He said that once the proposals for new industrial units were implemented, employment opportunities would open up for more than 6.42 lakh people.