Parl panel on Land Bill likely to seek extension

The Joint Committee of Parliament examining the contentious land bill is likely to seek a fresh extension of its term till the first week of the Monsoon session as several states are yet to furnish details to it on a clause relating to compensation.

At Monday’s meeting, it was decided to seek a sixth extension as members noted out that several of the states have not furnished details on the status of land acquisition proceedings that have lapsed or may lapse in terms of Section 24(2) of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.

Committee Chairman S S Ahluwalia, of the BJP, is likely to move a resolution in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday seeking extension till the first week of the Monsoon session in July-August, a member said after the meeting. The land acquisition law of 2013 had become applicable for National Highway projects from January 2015 and there has been a large number of disputes by affected owners, who were seeking higher compensation.

Section 24 (I) of the new land acquisition law makes land owners eligible for higher compensation, where land proceedings have been initiated as per the earlier provisions but majority of them have not received compensation. Since most of the members of the panel are also busy electioneering for assembly polls in five states, not many were present at Monday’s meet.