Rajya Sabha passes Land acquisition bill
New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Land Acquisition Bill that aims to provide fair compensation to those whose land is taken over, bring transparency to the process and details measures for rehabilitation of those displaced.
BJP’s Vinay Katiyar, who initiated the debate, said acquired land, if not used for more than five years, should go back to farmers and not to land bank. He suggested fast track courts for speedy disposal of disputes related to land acquisition.
CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury said that farmers should be entitled to a share in the enhanced value of land after its acquisition. The BSP and the SP said that the bill had been brought with an eye on upcoming elections.
Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said that the Land Acquisition Bill “attempted to strike a balance between development and land acquisition and protect the right of Tribals who are displaced in the process”.
The minister also said the bill protected the rights of states and left it to states to decide on acquisition of fertile land. He also said irrigation projects would not come under the bill and said special economic zones would be covered by it.
