Land Acquisition Bill will boost opportunities: Venkaiah Naidu

Hyderabad, March 23 (INN): Stating that 'Need for speed' is the mantra of development to trigger the sluggish economy, Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu claimed that the Land Acquisition Bill would give a major boost to employment generation and farmers' development.

'With over four lakh crore worth projects critical to employment generation, rural infrastructure, national security, manufacturing and industrial growth mired in litigation for years due to various clauses of earlier Land Acquisition Act. On December 31, 2014, the newly-elected BJP-led NDA government passed an ordinance with an official mandate to meet the twin objectives of farmers' welfare, along with expeditiously meeting the strategic and developmental needs of the country. This Ordinance was only a reflection of the collective yearning of the states for an enabling legislation in the place of a negative legislation,' said Venkaiah Naidu while addressing a press conference here on Monday.

Venkaiah Naidu claimed that the compensation amount to farmers would be up to four times higher than the market value of land. There is no reduction in compensation to farmers, he said. As per the UPA law, four times higher compensation was not available to the farmers if their land was acquired for most frequently used 13 Central Acts like, National Highways, Railways, Metro Rails, coal mining under various other laws. Now, even if the land is acquired under various other laws given in Schedule 4 of this Act, they will get up to four times higher compensation.

The Union Minister said that as per the Land Acquisition Bill, employment would be given to at least one member of family whose land has been acquired. If job could not be offered, then at least Rs 2000 per month (inflation linked increase) would be given to every family for 20 years. If a house is lost in the process of land acquisition, then the government would provide new house to the affected person. Each displaced family shall be given a monthly subsistence allowance of Rs. 3000per month for one year. And if a cattle shed or small shop is lost during land acquisition then minimum Rs 25,000 will be given to make cattle shed/small shop, he said while explaining the benefits.

Venkaiah Naidu said that no concessions have been given to private companies for setting up private hotels, private schools and private hospital in this Act. Private companies will have to get consent of 80% land owners and also have to get Social Impact Assessment done. 'Farmers need not run anywhere to redress their complaints. Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Authority will redress their grievances in that very district where land is being acquired. A farmer's son who had to travel 200 kms daily to his college will have a college nearby. Farmers can sell his produce easily with better road connectivity. An ailing farmer will not have to go to a hospital which takes hours of travelling,' he said.

Further, the Union Minister said that the Power Plants would help provide electricity which shall improve the lives and productivity of farmers. 'Major and Minor irrigation projects can be completed in time and with less litigation and delays, will bring more irrigated land a boom to farmers. Farming community that needs a boost in terms of opportunities and infrastructure and a share in fruits of development. It's a historic opportunity for the farmers where they can put decades of stagnancy behind and embrace growth and progress. Infrastructure development through enhanced rural connectivity is very vital to make the farmers and rural people, both partners in and beneficiaries of economic development,' he said.

Venkaiah Naidu reiterated that no project or economic activity can be promoted without land acquisition. Pointing out several flaws in laws made or proposed by earlier UPA regime, he said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants housing for all by 2022 and this government is planning to build 4 crore houses in rural areas and 2 crore houses in urban areas for poor people.

He said that the overall land acquisition under selected projects impacted by this Bill would not be more than 0.5 per cent of the cultivated land in India. 'We have come forward with nine amendments to our initial proposal, to take our enabling legislation forward after due consultation with all stake holders. What I am particularly concerned is the disinformation campaign by our political rivals. They have been working over time to market fiction instead of examining facts,' he said while appealing to all political parties not to politicize larger issues of development and nation building.

'I appeal to all parties to enable taking forward this legislation. Meanwhile let there be national debate - State have the liberty and power to implement the New Bill or the old UPA bill - Let them decide. Then where is the problem? Land accusation, GST and black money bills are the next items for the second part of the budget session. I seek the cooperation of all to full fill our development mandate,' Venkaiah Naidu said.