While the Centre and several state governments are facing a tough time over land acquisition issues back home, Ethiopia on Wednesday offered "virgin fertile" land to Indian companies for agricultural developments.
Purchase of three plots of land in Haryana in 2005-06 by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra from a real estate agent is being probed along with a land deal made by his wife Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) claimed in a recently filed money laundering case charge sheet.
Ramesh says the best route now is to refer the amendments to Parliament's standing committee on rural development.
The land acquisition ordinance, which the government could not get converted into a legislation in Rajya Sabha due to stiff opposition, was on Friday re-promulgated, a day before it is to lapse.
Punjab farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said no 'jatha' (group) of farmers will resume their foot march to Delhi on Tuesday. The farmers suspended their march after some were injured in teargas shelling by Haryana security personnel. Pandher accused the Centre of being confused on how the protesters should proceed to the national capital, citing contradictory statements from different ministers. He also criticized the government's lack of response to the hunger strike of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, which has entered its 14th day.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing them of neglecting the welfare of backward sections, Dalits, tribals, and minorities. Gandhi promised a caste census in Delhi if the Congress forms the government, echoing his national call for removing the 50 percent cap on reservations. He also criticized Kejriwal's governance, drawing parallels with Modi's alleged reliance on propaganda and false promises. The Congress and AAP are part of the INDIA bloc, but are contesting the upcoming Delhi assembly polls separately. Gandhi's speech highlights the growing political tension ahead of the polls, where the Congress aims to regain its foothold in Delhi.
Speaking at a programme at Kolaghat in West Midnapore district, the chief minister said, "We are against forceful acquisition of land. In West Midnapore district the Haldia Development Authority and West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation have land banks. "We will allot land for projects from there."
'It may take some time for them to get down to the details, such as the location and capacity.'
According to the survey, conducted by the Land Reforms Department, only 22,412 acres of vested non-agricultural land is available in the state for industrial and commercial use.
'Everybody was ready to agree with the government if the process to acquire land was a judicious one. All of us want industrialisation and development of the country.'
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday questioned the ED slapping a money laundering case against him in the MUDA 'scam' and once again ruled out his resignation over the issue.
Land resources belonging to ailing companies being pitched to pvt players for new initiatives.
Former rural development minister Jairam Ramesh tells Sanjeeb Mukherjee that the Ordinance to amend the land acquisition Act (2013) opens the door for forcible acquisition and undermines the spirit and the substance of the legislation.
The ordinance has returned near absolute power of discretion in land acquisition, except in tribal areas, into the hands of the bureaucracy yet again
The Bombay high court on Thursday said the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is of 'national importance and in public interest', and dismissed a petition filed by Godrej & Boyce company challenging the acquisition proceedings initiated by the Maharashtra government and the NHSRCL in suburban Vikhroli for the project.
The South Korean steel major Posco, facing stiff opposition from the local people for acquisition of land for its 12-million-tonne steel project in Orissa, may have to directly negotiate with the project affected villagers.
As the rising population is building pressure on food demand, the government may not allow acquisition of high-yielding farm land for non-agricultural purposes
Unitech, a New Delhi-based real estate developer, has said various bills related to land and real estate sector may impact the sector's growth if various stakeholders' interests are not taken care of.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley explains the future of the Land Acquisition Law in India
A 62-year-old farmer, who was part of the 'Delhi Chalo' agitation, died of heart attack in Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border, a farmer leader said on Friday.
Various farmer organisations also submitted petitions to Jaitley.
The fact that everyone but Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh is speaking on the issue only gives credence to the specious fears of farmers that this government is out to get them. Aditi Phadnis reports
West Bengal, which has seen many violent protests against land acquisition in the country, is now set to get another exemplary rehabilitation package for land-losers. After the free shares by JSW Bengal Steel, now Bhushan Steel is going one step ahead to give free land to land-losers as a part of its rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) package. Sources said the R&R package has been submitted to the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC).
The amendment Act provides for the elimination of the exemption as it relates to compensation and resettlement and rehabilitation of families.
This alternative is being planned as the existing projects continue to be delayed due to land acquisition troubles. The ministry is thinking of adding new track lines to its existing eastern and western DFCs passing major areas in the proposed stretches, senior officials said.
'When there are no good roads and no buses plying to villages, your spending on development is skewed.'
Local residents have stressed that land acquisition for rehabilitation must be completed promptly, as it has been delayed after estate owners challenged it in the Kerala high court.
The Land Acquisition Bill, which was being pushed by Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council, is set for further delay with the controversial matter being referred to a Group of Ministers because of the opposition by a number of Cabinet ministers.
India's largest IT services company TCS on Thursday reported an 11.95 per cent jump in net profit at Rs 12,380 crore in the December quarter while the overall workforce reduced by over 5,000 employees. The Tata Group company had reported a net profit of Rs 11,058 crore in the year-ago period, and Rs 11,909 crore in the preceding September quarter. The company's revenue grew 5.6 per cent to Rs 63,973 crore as against Rs 60,583 crore a year earlier.
In the past four years, there has been some progress in allocation of iron ore and coal mine--the two key raw materials for steelmaking. The memoranda of understanding for the mineral rich states of Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh started pouring in from 2005. Since then, many steel companies, JSW Steel, Tata Steel, Essar Steel, Tata Metaliks, and even ArcelorMittal have bagged either coal or prospecting licence for iron ore.
States' land acquisition policies need rethinking.
Faced by criticism on its special economic zone policy, the government is preparing guidelines for acquisition of land from farmers for setting up SEZs.
Lok Sabha is set to witness a confrontation over Land Acquisition Bill on Tuesday when it is taken up for voting with opposition bent on opposing it even as the government again offered to make changes in the legislation in the "larger interest" of the farming community.
'The overall market cycle is very positive.'
Stated position of the West Bengal government is that no land should be acquired for private projects.
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Not making it 'prestige' issue: Govt on Land Ordinance.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP-RSS of carrying out a "well-planned conspiracy" against national heroes and said that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's ideology was contrary to the RSS' ideas. He defended the relationship between Sardar Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru, saying they were "two sides of the same coin". He also criticized the BJP-RSS for their alleged attempts to appropriate the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel.
Salboni, in West Medinipur district, is where JSW Steel in 2007 said it would be putting up a 10 million tonne a year steel factory, plus a big captive power plant.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's emphasis on a rigid land policy has pleased the farming community but not the industry.
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