The government on Thursday clinched a "broad consensus" on the contentious Land Acquisition Bill, paving the way for its consideration and passage in Parliament in the Budget Session which resumes on Monday after a month-long recess.
The much-talked about Land Acquisition Bill, which provides for enhanced compensation to land owners and other benefits, was Monday approved by the Union Cabinet notwithstanding reservations from some senior ministers on some aspects.
The controversial Land Acquisition Bill was on Thursday cleared by the Union Cabinet, making mandatory the consent of 80 per cent of people whose land is taken for private projects.
Ahead of a meeting of Group of Ministers, the rural development ministry sought to allay apprehensions of industries and infrastructure sectors over the controversial land acquisition bill, contending that the amendments in the legislation are investor-friendly.
The legislation will now be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee for his assent.
The Trinamool Congress chief opposed a major provision in the Bill which provides for private developers acquiring 70 per cent of the land for a proposed industrial project directly from the farmers and land-owners.
The Land Acquisition Bill, passed by Parliament during the Monsoon Session to replace a 119-year-old legislation, became a law with President Pranab Mukherjee giving assent to it on.
With the Centre clinching a "broad consensus" on the contentious Land Acquisition Bill, the Trinamool Congress, which did not attend the meeting, said it was opposed to many provisions of the Bill. "There is talk of reaching a broad consensus on the issue, which is not true," said Trinamool Congress leader in Lok Sabha Sudip Bandhopadhay.
The controversial Land Acquisition Bill is set for further delay as its consideration was on Tuesday deferred by the Lok Sabha till the next session bowing to the wishes of opposition members.
Not all ministers are on board on certain critical provisions, want revision.
The final draft of the bill now proposes consent of two-third of "land losers" (from whom land would be purchased) for acquiring land for public-private-partnership and private projects, sources said.
The Bill will be tabled in the winter session of Parliament later this year.
Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh believes that renaming the Land Acquisition Bill was felt necessary to eliminate the danger of the price spiralling once the first land is acquired in an area.
The Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill 2011 argues for a perfect land market, unrestrained urbanisation and industrialization, says activist Gopal Krishna.
The Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill 2011 argues for a perfect land market, unrestrained urbanisation and industrialization, says activist Gopal Krishna.
Following Sonia Gandhi's suggestion, the percentage of landowners, whose consent is necessary for acquiring land for private purpose, has been raised from 67 per cent to 80 per cent in the proposed bill.
We present a FAQ on the Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Bill, which the government hopes to table in the Parliament after being held-up for three years because of in-house differences.
The path-breaking Land Acquisition Bill, which seeks to provide just and fair compensation to farmers while ensuring that no land can be acquired forcibly, was passed by the Lok Sabha with overwhelming majority on Thursday.
It has suggested a provision for setting up land bank corporations to facilitate acquisition and disbursement of land for industrial use.
The government seeking to give another push to the controversial measure despite not having the numbers in the Rajya Sabha.
Apart from land owners, both Bills give rights of compensation to tenant farmers, agricultural labourers and even non-agricultural labourers whose livelihood will be impacted by the acquisition of land and displacement.
The definition of affected family includes farm labourers, tenants, sharecroppers and workers in the area for three years prior to acquisition.
Amid a raging controversy over land acquisition, the government on Friday unveiled a new draft Bill putting in place a transparent, legal framework aimed at giving adequate compensation to land owners and ensuring rehabilitation of those displaced.
The government will on Tuesday introduce the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015 in the Parliament to replace the Land Acquisition Ordinance.
C P Joshi, India's Rural Development Minister, on Tuesday claimed that a Bill to provide for acquisition of land for industrial projects and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) has been cleared by the Cabinet and the timing of its introduction in Parliament will be decided by the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry.
Minister of State for Commerce and Industry E M Sudarsana Natchiappan said the industry should reach out to people of those areas where they propose to set up projects and explain about the advantages locals can have in terms of employment and development.
The new land Acquisition Bill has many implications.
No more than 62% of farmland acquired for Special Economic Zones has been used for its intended purpose of boosting manufacturing, exports and jobs
Against the backdrop of rising protests from farmers over acquisition of their land, the Centre has decided to bring in a new legislation governing the exercise with a focus on farmers' welfare, Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said on Saturday.
The stalled Land Acquisition Bill should be completely overhauled, says Pranab Bardhan.
The United Progressive Alliance government is working towards re-introducing the Land Acquisition Bill in Parliament in the Winter Session to ensure the protection of farmers' interests who play an important positive role in food security, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that Trinamool Congress was totally against forcible acquisition of land for industrial purposes and the choice of giving up land should be left to the people. "We are against forcible acquisition of land. Our party fought in Singur and Nandigram against land acquisition. If the people agree to give land, it is their decision," Banerjee said.
The Union government acquired land for widening of an under-construction highway, overruling farmers objections in Rohtak, Haryana.
The meeting took place in the backdrop of recent spat between West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president Manas Bhuiyan and a number of TMC leaders on the Rajarhat land issue.
If the the Amendment Bill to the Land Acquisition Act and the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill are enacted, it will not only help in better implementation of infrastructure and industrial projects, but also safeguard the interests of the farmers. That is because both the Bills contain clear guidelines to be followed while acquiring land, like the compensation package and the quantum of land to be acquired.
As a controversy rages over land acquisition in Uttar Pradesh, the Centre on Thursday said it has plans to introduce a bill in this regard in the next session of Parliament as there appears to be consensus on the issue.
One of the most prickly nettles for governments in India today is land acquisition for industry.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has recently approved procurement proposals worth Rs 79,000 crore across three services and it has cleared AoN (Acceptance of Necessity) of Rs 3.3 trillion in financial year 2026 (FY26).
The nation wants an ex-ante body for endorsing "public purpose" during land acquistion process.
Targeting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday called as 'very unfair' the forcible acquisition of farmers' land in Aligarh and adjoining areas, an issue he raised with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
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