SIR in West Bengal: Meaning, Purpose, and Document Submission Rules.

What Is SIR (Social Impact Report)?

In West Bengal, the term SIR often refers to the Social Impact Report or Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Report, which is a mandatory part of the land acquisition process under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (RFCTLARR Act, 2013).

In simple terms, before the government or any agency acquires land for a public purpose — like roads, industries, or housing projects — they must study how this acquisition will impact the people and community living there.

This detailed study and its findings are compiled in the SIR (Social Impact Report).

Purpose of the SIR

The main goal of the SIR is to ensure that land acquisition does not harm local communities unfairly and that the process is transparent and fair.

It helps authorities answer questions like:

How many families or people will be affected?

What are their sources of income?

How will their livelihoods or environment be impacted?

What kind of compensation or rehabilitation will be required?

Who Conducts the SIR in West Bengal?

The Department of Land and Land Reforms & Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation (L&LR & RRR Department), Government of West Bengal, is responsible for overseeing the SIR process.

However, the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) itself is usually carried out by:

A state-authorized institution or university, or An independent agency empaneled by the state government.

They visit the affected area, collect data, hold public hearings, and prepare the report.

Steps in the SIR Process

1. Notification for SIA

The government issues a notification under Section 4 of the RFCTLARR Act, 2013, stating the intention to acquire land and the need for a Social Impact Assessment.

2. Conducting the Study

The authorized agency conducts surveys, interviews, and consultations with affected families, local bodies, and other stakeholders.

3. Public Hearing

A public hearing is organized in the affected area where locals can share their views or objections about the project.

4. Preparation of the SIR

The Social Impact Report is prepared based on collected data, outlining:

Details of affected people

Impact on land, livelihoods, and community resources

Recommendations for compensation and rehabilitation

5. Submission and Review

The completed SIR is submitted to the District Land and Land Reforms Officer (DLLRO) or the Collector, who reviews it and forwards it to the State Government for approval.

Documents Required for SIR and Submission

When submitting the SIR or related land acquisition documents in West Bengal, the following key documents are generally required:

A. For the Project Requisitioning Body (Government Department/Private Agency):

Project proposal with purpose and details of land requirement

Ownership details of the land (Khaitan, plot no., mouza map, etc.)

Project site map / layout plan

Approval from competent authority or administrative sanction

Estimated cost of the project

No-objection certificates (if applicable) from relevant departments (e.g., Environment, Forest)

List of affected landowners and families

B. For the Social Impact Assessment Agency:

Detailed SIR/SIA report (in prescribed format)

Executive Summary in English and Bengali

Minutes of public hearing(s)

Attendance sheets of public consultations

Photographic evidence of field visits and meetings

Recommendations and mitigation plan

C. For the District Administration:

Collector’s summary report

Recommendations to the State Government on whether to proceed with acquisition

All relevant annexures and public hearing records

Submission Procedure

Online & Offline Submission:

In most districts of West Bengal, document submission for SIR/SIA is accepted both online (through the departmental portal) and offline (physical submission at the District Land and Land Reforms Office).

Verification & Scrutiny:

The DLLRO or SIA Review Committee verifies all documents for authenticity and completeness.

Approval by State Government:

The final approval of the SIR and the decision to proceed with land acquisition rest with the State Government.

Publication:

Once approved, the summary of the SIR is published in local newspapers and uploaded on the official website of the Department of Land and Land Reforms.

Important Rules and Notifications

Governed by RFCTLARR Act, 2013 and West Bengal Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Rules, 2015.

Rule 5 to Rule 8 of the West Bengal Rules outline the SIA and SIR procedures.

Time limit: The SIR must be completed within six months from the date of notification (unless extended by the State Government).

Transparency: All reports must be made available to the public in the local language (Bengali).

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SK NAJMUL (munna)

Hi. I’m a Mechanical Engineer, are I’m Designer of Blog Magic. I’m Creative Website, Web Designer, Auto Cad 3D and Interaction Designer, Industrial Machine Designer, Web Developer, Business Enthusiast, CNC, Writer and Photo editing and some time research an Mechanical subjects, Inspired to make things looks better.

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