Cabinet okays extension of relief part of Land Act to other laws

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval to an order issued by government on August 28 to extend the provisions of compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement available to farmers under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act to 13 other central laws as well.

The controversial issue of land ordinance, which was allowed to lapse on August 31, was also briefly discussed at the meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during which views were exchanged on the feedback from <g data-gr-id="14">grassroot</g> after the lapse of the ordinance. Sources said that the Prime Minister was keen to know what was the reaction of farmers to the two land ordinance- related decisions taken by <g data-gr-id="21">government</g> in the last one week. Some ministers, according to the sources, said the decision to allow the ordinance to lapse was the right move in the backdrop of the "misinformation campaign" by opposition parties and some NGOs on the issue, which was unnecessarily creating "perception problems" for government. 

 "Some decision has been taken. A discussion happened...," Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said when asked whether <g data-gr-id="19">land</g> ordinance was discussed in the meeting and whether government gave the ex-post facto approval to the order it had issued on August 28. <g data-gr-id="16">Government</g> had last week issued <g data-gr-id="17">order</g> to ensure farmers, whose land is acquired under 13 other central laws, continue to get benefits of relief.