Asian Age Correspondent
Delhi, 14 December 2012. The Union Cabinet, to fast-track the passage of the Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill of 2011 in Parliament, on Thursday cleared the legislative proposal to replace the archaic Land Acquisition Act of 1894.
The government, in an attempt to buy peace with industries, has lowered the mandatory consent requirement to 70 per cent from the stakeholders in case of PPP projects, while it would be 80 per cent for private land acquisition.
The government is set to go to Parliament with the amended bill as Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh had earlier stated that a new law for land acquisition was a political commitment of the Congress.
While the amended bill would not be applicable with retrospective effect, it would apply in cases where an award has not been declared for those losing their land or where possession has not been taken. Thus, the recent violent protests in western UP and Greater Noida, too, could come within the ambit of the new law if it is passed.
The bill makes a provision for the first time for reversal of acquired land to the state government’s land bank if it is not utilised for the expressed purpose in 10 years’ time.
http://www.asianage.com/india/cabinet-nod-bill-land-acquisition-451
