Govt unveils draft land acquisition bill

New Delhi, Jul 29 (PTI) Amid a raging controversy over
land acquisition, Indian Government on Friday unveiled a new
draft bill putting in place a transparent, legal framework
aimed at giving adequate compensation to land owners and
ensuring rehabilitation of those displaced.
The much-awaited 'The Draft National Land Acquisition
and Rehabilitation & Resettlement Bill, 2011', which has been
put in public domain, says "in case of urban areas, the award
amount would be not less that twice that of the market value
determined whereas in rural areas it would be not less that
six times the original market value".
The draft bill proposes that the consent of 80 per
cent of the project-affected families will be mandatory if the
government acquires land for use by private companies for
stated public purpose or PPP projects other than that for
national highway.
It also states that the public purpose once stated
cannot be changed.
The draft suggests that under no circumstances should
multi-cropped, irrigated land be acquired. Most of such land
lies in the Indo-Gangetic plains covering Punjab, Haryana,
Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar.
Also government will not be acquiring land for private
companies for private purpose.
Observing that land markets in India are "imperfect",
Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said his foreword to
the draft that there is asymmetry of power and information
between those wanting to acquire the land and those whose
lands are being acquired.
"That is why there has to be a role for the government
to put in place a transparent and flexible set of rules and
regulations and to ensure its enforcement," he said.