Thaindian News

Bangalore, June 15 (IANS) A new land acquisition policy under the central government’s consideration favours adequate compensation to an owner or a farmer if land is acquired for industries or infrastructure projects, Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy said here Tuesday.
“Though the union cabinet discussed the recommendations of the Group of Ministers (GoM), no decision has been taken so far on the policy and legislative measures required to amend the Land Acquisition Act,” Reddy told reporters on the margins of a meet on infrastructure.

The GoM, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, submitted a report in 2007 with a set of recommendations, which protect the interest, rights and welfare of land owners or farmers as part of adequate compensation.

“The report recommended enhancing compensation for land acquisition by adding 60 percent to the guidance value of the land considered for acquisition and providing a job if the land is bought for an industry in the organised sector,” Reddy said after delivering a keynote address on ‘Infrastructure’, organised by Business Standard as part of its BS Conferences.

Admitting that land acquisition was a major problem in every city for every project in urban or rural areas, Reddy said the GoM report favoured the government, providing 30 percent of the land to an industry or entrepreneur acquiring 70 percent of the land required in large-scale.

“The new policy advocates land acquisition without causing too much sense of loss to the owner, adequate compensation and a job on durable basis for the affected families,” Reddy pointed out.

Noting that the state governments were in agreement on amending the Land Acquisition Act, Reddy said land was primarily a state subject, the central government was putting a legislative framework in place to smoothen the acquisition process and protect the interest of land owners, including farmers.

“If we want to develop industry, urban areas and infrastructure, we need land, which is a precious and scarce commodity due to high population density. Conversion of agricultural land for industrial and other purposes has also to be addressed by states as it is a state issue,” Reddy said.

Asked about the Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) policy, the minister said no timeline was fixed for its implementation.

“One can’t fix a timeline on political matters though protection of land losers in the form of resettlement and rehab is paramount,” Reddy added.