Move to end people’s consent in land act
30 Oct 2014 5:38 AM IST
The centre wants to bring amendments in the land acquisition act during the forthcoming winter session of parliament. According to sources, the government wants to weed out clauses which are posing obstacles in acquisition of land for projects either by the states or the corporate houses. To develop a consensus on the matter, union rural development minister Nitin Gadkari plans to call an all-party meeting before the session.
The ministry will prepare a cabinet note after the all party meet to take the consent of finance ministry and other concerned departments. According to sources, the Narendra Modi-led cabinet could take up the matter as early as next week.
According to highly-placed sources in the ministry, the Modi government would tweak some pertinent clauses in the Act which was notified by the ousted UPA government. The clauses such as consent of 70 per cent locals for acquiring lands for PPP projects and 80 per cent for private projects would be annulled in the new act.
Justifying the stand of rural development ministry, a senior official said, ‘These sections of the Act are seen a major hurdle to development by states, including Congress-ruled, states and corporate houses as according to the act it’s must to take nod of at least 70 per cent locals also termed as dependents, for obtaining lands for PPP projects and 80 per cent for private projects.’
The official further said, ‘These are long-drawn process and open to litigation. Both state governments and corporate houses have complained that this clause has worsened the process to acquire land for such projects.’
The reported move of Modi government has drawn flake from land reforms activists. Apart from this, the ministry has also planned to remove the clause mentioning mandatory social impact assessment study for private sector projects. The existing rules mandate this study in consultation with panchayats or municipal corporations.
While accusing Modi government of acting in favour of corporate houses, Madhuresh Kumar, who represents Naltional Alliance of Peoples Movement, said, ‘We condemn this move of the NDA government as these clauses in the Act were added after multi-stake holders meet, including Kalyan Singh and Sumitra Mahajan, who were heading the Parliamentary Standing Committee on land Bill in 2007 and 2009 respectively.’
Kumar further said, ‘We will do our best to stop Modi government from taking such anti-people move and if it happens, it will give rise to incidents of land conflicts in the near future.’
The ministry will prepare a cabinet note after the all party meet to take the consent of finance ministry and other concerned departments. According to sources, the Narendra Modi-led cabinet could take up the matter as early as next week.
According to highly-placed sources in the ministry, the Modi government would tweak some pertinent clauses in the Act which was notified by the ousted UPA government. The clauses such as consent of 70 per cent locals for acquiring lands for PPP projects and 80 per cent for private projects would be annulled in the new act.
Justifying the stand of rural development ministry, a senior official said, ‘These sections of the Act are seen a major hurdle to development by states, including Congress-ruled, states and corporate houses as according to the act it’s must to take nod of at least 70 per cent locals also termed as dependents, for obtaining lands for PPP projects and 80 per cent for private projects.’
The official further said, ‘These are long-drawn process and open to litigation. Both state governments and corporate houses have complained that this clause has worsened the process to acquire land for such projects.’
The reported move of Modi government has drawn flake from land reforms activists. Apart from this, the ministry has also planned to remove the clause mentioning mandatory social impact assessment study for private sector projects. The existing rules mandate this study in consultation with panchayats or municipal corporations.
While accusing Modi government of acting in favour of corporate houses, Madhuresh Kumar, who represents Naltional Alliance of Peoples Movement, said, ‘We condemn this move of the NDA government as these clauses in the Act were added after multi-stake holders meet, including Kalyan Singh and Sumitra Mahajan, who were heading the Parliamentary Standing Committee on land Bill in 2007 and 2009 respectively.’
Kumar further said, ‘We will do our best to stop Modi government from taking such anti-people move and if it happens, it will give rise to incidents of land conflicts in the near future.’
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