In desperation, the state has now planned to convince non-resident Indians (NRIs) to part with their land for industries.

The government hopes to woo the NRIs during Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, a three-day event in New Delhi starting January 7.

The state industries department has plans to identify and convince NRIs who are from Bihar and have land in the state to convert them in accordance with the Private Industrial Area policy so that the entrepreneurs can be provided with the same.

“The Private Industrial Area policy is the latest in the offing from the state government as an attempt to get land for setting up industries. One must accept that the problems though still persist and until now, there have been very little local landowners who have shown interest in the policy. However, any new policy takes time to become popular and run and the department is unfazed,” an official of the industries department said.

Sources said a government delegation, which will include representatives of the state’s industries bodies, would participate in the Delhi event with Bihar focusing on sectors such as tourism, education and health.

“Bihar has been regularly participating in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, organised each year. There are many states, which participate in the event in addition to the businessmen, entrepreneurs and NRIs who look at different avenues of investments in the country. There are several seminars, presentations among others are organised during the event and the third day is important as meetings regarding investments take place,” a department official said.

Representatives of different states would meet the NRIs on January 9, the last day of the event.

“The discussions are mainly on investments. The state government can always tap those NRIs and if they have land, they can help the state towards lending the same for industrial use. If a group of them have land in a single area, they can be tagged to form a special purpose vehicle in accordance with the Private Industrial Area Policy. The government will try and convince them to help and provide their lands to the state,” a department official said.